Method and apparatus for determining, recommending, and applying a calibration parameter for activity measurement

• US 10,302,469 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2016
• Issued: 05/28/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Myfitnesspal Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Under Armour Incorporated
• Inventors: Bhatt, Abhi, Boam, Eric, Torchin, Evan, Sargeant, Daniel, Arora, Mayank, Arnold, Jr., John, Martin, John, Green, Christopher, Desai, Nimesh, Fries, Breyna
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Paul D
• Application Number:
  US15/176,599
• Publication Number:
  US 20170356770A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,084 Days
• Field of Search: 702 94
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0223 of calibration, e.g. protocols for calibrating sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1121 Determining geometric values, e.g. centre of rotation or angular range of movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1123 Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running A61B5/1116, A61B5/112 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6831 Straps, bands or harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 25/005 initial alignment, calibration or starting-up of inertial devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 18/00 Testing or calibrating apparatus or arrangements provided for in groups G01D1/00 - G01D15/00

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are provided for determining, recommending, and applying a calibration parameter to collected activity data. In one embodiment, calibration parameter is estimated based on physical aspects of the user and automatically applied to collected data. In another embodiment, the calibration parameter is determined based on secondary data which is more precise than the data which is collected. The calibration factor based on the more precise data may comprise a recommended calibration factor, yet the user may be enabled to select any calibration factor he/she prefers via an interactive display. In one specific variant, the activity comprises a walk or run activity of the user, and the calibration parameter comprises the user'"'"'s specific stride length. In another variant, the user selects a calibration factor by reviewing a list of previous activity against that same activity after calibration given a particular calibration factor is applied.

Claims

1. A method of determining a recommended calibration parameter for measurement of a user'"'"'s activity, said method comprising:

collecting a plurality of data relating to said user'"'"'s activity;

displaying said plurality of data relating to said user'"'"'s activity;

collecting a plurality of secondary data relating to said user'"'"'s activity;

utilizing said plurality of secondary data to calculate a recommended calibration parameter for measurement of said user'"'"'s activity;

generating an interactive display comprising a scale, a first identifier and a second identifier provided in association with said scale, said first identifier moveable relative to said scale and relating to a current calibration parameter, and said second identifier stationary relative to said scale and relating to said recommended calibration parameter;

enabling said user to move the first identifier relative to the scale and thereby select the current calibration parameter from said display; and

calibrating said user'"'"'s activity data using said user-selected calibration parameter to generate calibrated data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of data relating to said user'"'"'s activity comprises global positioning satellite (GPS) data;

and wherein said displaying thereof comprises a display of a total distance travelled as determined from said GPS data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said plurality of secondary data comprises geolocation data relating to a user'"'"'s position and various points within said user'"'"'s activity.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said recommended calibration parameter comprises a number representative of a relationship between said GPS determined distance and a distance determined from said geolocation data.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said recommended calibration parameter comprises a number by which said GPS determined distance is away from a next nearest quarter mile.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said user'"'"'s activity comprises a walking, running, cycling, and/or rowing activity for a distance.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

calculating a default calibration parameter based on at least one physical characteristic of said user input by said user; and

wherein said interactive display further comprises a third identifier provided in association with said scale and relating to said default calibration parameter.

8. A system configured to determine a recommended calibration parameter for measurement of a user'"'"'s stride length, said system comprising:

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver;

at least one activity monitor including an accelerometer configured to detect user steps; and

at least one user device, said user device configured to;

receive an input by said user of said user'"'"'s height;

utilize said height to calculate a default calibration parameter to estimate said user'"'"'s stride length;

receive a step count of said user during at least one first activity from said at least one activity monitor;

receive position data of said user during said at least one first activity from said GPS receiver;

utilize said step count and said position data to determine a recommended calibration parameter to calculate said user'"'"'s stride length;

display a first calculated distance using said default calibration parameter, a second calculated distance using said recommended calibration parameter to said user, and an indicator associated with a current calibration parameter;

enable said user to select from said display a third distance associated to said at least one first activity by adjusting the position of an indicator on said display, said third distance being associated to a third calibration parameter which would be used to calculate said user-selected distance; and

apply said third calibration parameter to calculate a stride length and distance for subsequent activity of said user.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said at least one first activity comprises said user running.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said at least one first activity comprises said user walking.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said positioning system, said activity monitor, and said at least one user device comprise a single apparatus.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein said positioning system comprises one or more satellite apparatus, said at least one activity monitor comprises a wrist band, and said at least one user device comprises a smart phone apparatus.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein said user device is further configured to display said third distance on the display adjacent to one of said first calculated distance and said second calculated distance and said second calibrated distance, wherein said third calibration parameter comprises one of said default calibration parameter or said recommended calibration parameter.

14. A non-transitory, computer readable medium comprising a plurality of instructions which are configured to, when executed, cause a user device to:

receive an input by a user of at least one user parameter used in calibration;

utilize said at least one user parameter to calculate a current calibration of activity data of said user;

receive data relating to at least one first activity of said user;

receive position data of said user during said at least one first activity;

utilize said data relating to said at least one first activity of said user and said position data to determine a recommended calibration;

enable said user to select a user-selected calibration from a display by moving a first identifier associated with said recommended calibration relative to a second identifier associated with said current calibration; and

calibrate said activity data of said user using said user-selected calibration.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein said at least one user parameter used in calibration comprises a height of said user.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein said at least one first activity of said user comprises said user walking or running and said calibration parameter comprises a stride length.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein said plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed, apply said current calibration to said at least one first activity in order to determine a measurable quantity thereof.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein said at least one first activity comprises a number of steps and said measurable quantity thereof comprises a distance.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein said position data comprises global positioning system (GPS) data relating to a user'"'"'s position and various points within said at least one first activity.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein said first identifier is provided on a scale and said scale is moveable relative to said second identifier, and wherein said plurality of instructions are further configured to, when executed, store said user-selected calibration to calibrate future activity data of said user.