Integrating personal data capturing functionality into a portable computing device and a wireless communication device

• US 7,454,002 B1
• Filed: 01/08/2001
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Harry Heslop
• Original Assignee: SportBrain Holdings Inc. (SportBrain Holdings LLC)
• Inventors: Gardner, Deane, Kurobe, Mitz
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phan, Joseph T
• Application Number:
  US09/757,241
• Time in Patent Office: 2,871 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 455/414.1, 455/403, 455/404.1, 455/412.2, 455/95, 455/91, 455/557, 455/556.2, 455/556.1, 455/100, 379/201.05
• US Class Current: 379/201.05
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/00 Exercising apparatus specially adapted for conditioning the cardio-vascular system, for training agility or co-ordination of movements force-resisting aspects A63B21/00; for particular parts of the body, e.g. to strengthen particular limbs or muscles A63B23/00; electric or electronic controls therefor A63B24/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/12 Absolute positions, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/685 for electronic devices, e.g. phone, PDA, GPS device, notebook
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/202 glucose
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/30 blood pressure A63B2230/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 : including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

In one embodiment, personal data capturing functionality is integrated into a wireless communication device or a portable computing device by incorporating one or more personal parameter receivers into the wireless communication device or the portable computing device. In another embodiment, personal data capturing functionality is integrated into a wireless communication device or a portable computing device by attaching a personal data capture device to the wireless communication device or the portable computing device. The personal data capture device is configured to receive personal data of a user and transmit the personal data to the wireless communication device or the portable computing device, either of which is capable of transmitting the personal data to a network server over a wireless network.

Claims

1. A method for integrating personal data capturing functionality into a wireless communication device and for analyzing and supplying feedback information to a user, the method comprising:

receiving personal data of said user by at least one personal parameter receiver, the personal data comprising step data corresponding to a number of steps counted during an activity of said user;

capturing the personal data in the wireless communication device;

periodically transmitting the personal data from the wireless communication device to a network server over a wireless network;

at the network server, storing in a repository of personal data maintained by, or accessible from, the network server, the personal data from said user;

at the network server, analyzing the personal data to generate feedback information for said user;

at the network server, posting the feedback information to a web site that is accessible to said user;

wherein said receiving, capturing, periodically transmitting, storing, analyzing and posting are performed with respect to personal data for each of a plurality of users received from their corresponding wireless communication devices, and wherein said analyzing further comprises comparing personal data for said user with personal data for at least one other different user from the received personal data from said plurality of users, and wherein posting comprises posting comparisons between the personal data of said user and personal data for said at least one other different user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one personal parameter receiver is contained in a personal data capture device attachable to the wireless communication device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one personal parameter receiver is contained in the wireless communication device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein analyzing comprises analyzing the personal data according to health and/or fitness of said user such that the feedback information comprises information pertaining to health or fitness of said user.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein posting comprises posting the feedback information and the personal data in a form comprising one or more of:

graphs, charts, tables and map overlays.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein analyzing further comprises generating for presentation to said user in the feedback information instructions from one or more of:

a fitness instructor, physician, athletic trainer, nutritionist.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein posting comprises posting the feedback information to a web site that is accessible by said plurality of users.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein posting comprises posting the feedback information and the personal data of said user to a personal web site of said user.

9. A method for integrating personal data capturing functionality into a portable computing device and for analyzing and supplying feedback information to a user, the method comprising:

receiving personal data of said user by at least one personal parameter receiver, the personal data comprising step data corresponding to a number of steps counted during an activity of said user;

capturing the personal data in the portable computing device;

periodically transmitting the personal data from the portable computing device to a network server over a wireless network;

at the network server, storing in a repository of personal data maintained by, or accessible from, the network server, personal data from said user;

at the network server, analyzing the personal data to generate feedback information for said user; and

at the network server, posting the feedback information to a web site that is accessible to said user;

wherein said receiving, capturing, periodically transmitting, storing, analyzing and posting are performed with respect to personal data for each of a plurality of users received from their corresponding wireless communication devices, and wherein said analyzing further comprises comparing personal data for said user with personal data for at least one other different user from the received personal data from said plurality of users, and wherein posting comprises posting comparisons between the personal data of said user and personal data for said at least one other different user.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one personal parameter receiver is contained in a personal data capture device attachable to the portable computing device.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one personal parameter receiver is contained in the portable computing device.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein analyzing comprises analyzing the personal data according to health and/or fitness of said user such that the feedback information contains information pertaining to health or fitness of said user.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein posting comprises posting the feedback information and the personal data in a form comprising one or more of:

graphs, charts, tables and map overlays.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein analyzing further comprises generating for presentation to said user in the feedback information instructions from one or more of:

a fitness instructor, physician, athletic trainer and nutritionist.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein posting comprises posting the feedback information to a web site that is accessible by said plurality of users.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein posting comprises posting the feedback information and the personal data of said user to a personal web site of said user.