Energy Expenditure Device

• US 20150057943A1
• Filed: 08/21/2014
• Published: 02/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Self, Christina S., White, Kristen L.
• Granted Patent: US 10,292,648 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/19
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1038 Measuring plantar pressure during gait
• 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 5/1123 Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running A61B5/1116, A61B5/112 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6895 Sport equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7278 Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals A61B5/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/743 Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/40 relating to mechanical, radiation or invasive therapies, e.g. surgery, laser therapy, dialysis or acupuncture
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

Athletic activity may be tracked and monitored while providing encouragement and maintaining an individual'"'"'s interest in continuing to perform athletic activity. For example, energy expenditure values and energy expenditure intensity values may be calculated based on the duration and type of activity performed by an individual. These values and other movement data may be displayed on an interface in a manner to motivate the individual and maintain the individual'"'"'s interest. Other individuals (e.g., friends) may also be displayed on an interface through which a user'"'"'s progress is tracked. This may allow the user to also view the other individuals'"'"' progress toward completing an activity goal and/or challenge.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving movement data of a user along a plurality of axes for a first time period and a second time period;

using at least the movement data, calculating a first energy expenditure intensity value for the first time period and a second energy expenditure intensity value for the second time period;

determining that the first energy expenditure intensity value exceeded a first threshold and the second energy expenditure intensity value exceeded a second threshold; and

displaying the first and second energy expenditure intensity values as a function of time, wherein the first value is displayed as a first variation of a display characteristic based upon exceeding the first threshold and the second value is displayed as a second variation of the display characteristic based upon exceeding the second threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the display characteristic relates to at least one of:

color, size, or shape.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first variation of the display characteristic is a first color and the second variation of the display characteristic is a second color.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the movement data is received from a sensor embedded in a mobile electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first time period and the second time period are both within a unitary time frame comprising a plurality of time periods, the method further comprising:

determining a quantity of time periods within the time frame associated with energy expenditure intensity values that exceed the first threshold.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

visually modifying a representation of a virtual object indicating a time period within the time frame associated with energy expenditure intensity values that exceed the first threshold.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing the user an activity recommendation based at least in part on the first threshold or the second threshold.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

using at least the movement data, determining a first total energy expenditure value for the first time period and a second total energy expenditure value for the second time period.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a motivational message to the user based at least in part on a comparison of the first and second total energy expenditure values.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first threshold comprises a threshold rate of energy expenditure point accumulation during a first portion of the first time period.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first portion of the first time period comprises five minutes.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the threshold rate of energy expenditure point accumulation comprises five energy expenditure points per minute.

13. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus at least to perform operations comprising;

receiving movement data of a user along a plurality of axes for a first time period and a second time period;

using at least the movement data, calculating a first energy expenditure intensity value for the first time period and a second energy expenditure intensity value for the second time period;

determining that the first energy expenditure intensity value exceeded a first threshold and the second energy expenditure intensity value exceeded a second threshold; and

displaying the first and second energy expenditure intensity values as a function of time, wherein the first value is displayed as a first variation of a display characteristic based upon exceeding the first threshold and the second value is displayed as a second variation of the display characteristic based upon exceeding the second threshold.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first threshold comprises a threshold rate of energy expenditure point accumulation during a portion of the first time period.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the portion of the first time period comprises five minutes.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the threshold rate of energy expenditure point accumulation comprises five energy expenditure points per minute.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing executable instructions that, when executed, cause an apparatus at least to perform:

receiving movement data of a user along a plurality of axes for a first time period and a second time period;

using at least the movement data, calculating a first energy expenditure intensity value for the first time period and a second energy expenditure intensity value for the second time period;

determining that the first energy expenditure intensity value exceeded a first threshold and the second energy expenditure intensity value exceeded a second threshold; and

displaying the first and second energy expenditure intensity values as a function of time, wherein the first value is displayed as a first variation of a display characteristic based upon exceeding the first threshold and the second value is displayed as a second variation of the display characteristic based upon exceeding the second threshold.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the first time period and the second time period are both within a unitary time frame comprising a plurality of time periods, and wherein the executable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to perform:

determining a quantity of time periods within the time frame associated with energy expenditure intensity values that exceed the first threshold.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the executable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to perform:

visually modifying a representation of a virtual object indicating a time period within the time frame associated with energy expenditure intensity values that exceed the first threshold.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the executable instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to perform:

providing the user an activity recommendation based at least in part on the first threshold or the second threshold.