Portable electronic device and computer software product

• US 7,728,723 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2007
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Original Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Inventors: Heikkilä, Ilkka, Kinnunen, Hannu, Niva, Arto, Posio, Tero
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fan; Hongmin
• Application Number:
  US11/789,024
• Publication Number:
  US 20070249470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.11, 340/539.12, 340/539.16, 340/539.24, 340/573.1, 340/566, 340/870.05, 340/870.09, 340/870.16, 340/870.19, 480/54, 480/8, 480/3, 600/587, 600/595, 600/300
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0638 Displaying moving images of recorded environment, e.g. virtual environment
• 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 2220/17 Counting, e.g. counting periodical movements, revolutions or cycles, or including further data processing to determine distances or speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/20 Distances or displacements
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/62 Time or time measurement used for time reference, time stamp, master time or clock signal
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0062 Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means

Abstract

The invention relates to a portable electronic device and computer software product. The portable electronic device comprises a motion detector for generating motion data characterizing the local movement of the portable electronic device, a motion intensity determiner for determining a instantaneous motion intensity value of the user of the portable electronic device from the motion data, and an active time counter for determining an active time accumulation that sums up the time periods, during which the instantaneous motion intensity value meets predefined activity criteria.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

a motion detector for generating motion data characterizing local movement of the portable electronic device;

a motion intensity determiner configured to determine an instantaneous motion intensity value for the user of the portable electronic device from the motion data; and

an active time counter configured to determine an active time accumulation that sums up the time periods, during which the instantaneous motion intensity value meets predefined activity criteria, the active time counter being configured to start determining the active time accumulation after a time threshold that is proportional to a user parameter.

2. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the active time counter is configured to determine the active time accumulation for a predefined time period.

3. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 2, further comprising an active time indication means for indicating the time instant of the active time accumulation preceding said time period.

7. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the active time counter is configured to determine an inactive time accumulation that contains the summed-up time periods, during which the instantaneous motion intensity value meets predefined inactivity criteria.

8. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 7, further comprising a motion indicator controller connected to the motion detector and active time counter, wherein the motion indicator controller is configured to compare the inactive time accumulation with a predefined threshold value and to switch the motion detector into a measuring mode, if the inactivity time accumulation reaches a predefined threshold value, the measuring mode generating motion data discontinuously at predefined time intervals.

9. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a classifier configured to divide instantaneous motion intensity values into at least two intensity classes based on predefined intensity class limits;

and

wherein the active time counter is configured to determine a class-specific active time accumulation.

10. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an intensity indicator configured to indicate to the user the latest time instant of a motion intensity value meeting activity criteria.

11. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for generating a performance instruction on the basis of the active time accumulation.

12. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portable electronic device is a wrist device.

13. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predefined activity criterion is set according to a predefined physiological benefit effect that is obtained by exceeding the predefined activity criterion.

14. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for calculating the predefined activity criterion from user parameters.

4. A portable electronic device comprising:

a motion detector for generating motion data characterizing local movement of the portable electronic device;

a motion intensity determiner configured to determine an instantaneous motion intensity value for the user of the portable electronic device from the motion data;

an active time counter configured to determine an active time accumulation that sums up the time periods, during which the instantaneous motion intensity value meets predefined activity criteria; and

at least one game application whose operation depends on at least one parameter proportional to the active time accumulation.

5. A portable electronic device comprising:

a motion detector for generating motion data characterizing local movement of the portable electronic device;

a motion intensity determiner configured to determine an instantaneous motion intensity value for the user of the portable electronic device from the motion data;

an active time counter configured to determine an active time accumulation that sums up the time periods, during which the instantaneous motion intensity value meets predefined activity criteria; and

a communication unit configured to communicate the active time accumulation information to a game application external to the portable electronic device, the operation of which game application depends on at least one parameter proportional to the active time accumulation.

6. A portable electronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein the communication unit is configured to communicate wirelessly.

15. A computer-readable medium comprising encoded instructions that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to perform a computer process suitable for determining the intensity of a performance, the computer process comprising:

inputting motion data characterizing local movement of the portable electronic device;

determining an instantaneous motion intensity value of the user of the portable electronic device from the motion data;

determining an active time accumulation that sums up the time periods, during which the instantaneous motion intensity value meets predefined activity criteria; and

determining the active time accumulation after a time threshold that is proportional to a user parameter.

16. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 15, wherein the computer process further comprises determining an active time accumulation for a predefined time period.

17. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 15, wherein the computer process further comprises indicating the time instant of the active time accumulation preceding said time period to the user.

21. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 15, wherein the computer process further comprises determining an inactive time accumulation that sums up the time periods, during which the instantaneous motion intensity value meets predefined inactivity criteria.

22. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 21, wherein the computer process further comprises:

comparing the inactive time accumulation with a predefined threshold value; and

switching into a measuring mode if the inactive time accumulation exceeds the predefined threshold value, the measuring mode generating motion data discontinuously at predefined time intervals.

23. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 15, wherein the computer process further comprises:

dividing instantaneous motion intensity values into at least two intensity classes based on predefined intensity class limits; and

determining a class-specific active time accumulation.

24. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 15, wherein the computer process further comprises indicating the latest time instant of the motion intensity value meeting the activity criteria to the user.

25. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 15, wherein the computer process further comprises generating for the user a performance instruction on the basis of the active time accumulation.

26. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the computer process is executable in a wrist device.

27. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 15, wherein the predefined activity criterion is set according to a predefined physiological benefit effect that is obtained by exceeding the predefined activity criterion.

28. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 15, wherein the computer process further comprises calculating the predefined activity criterion from user parameters.

18. A computer-readable medium comprising encoded instructions that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to perform a computer process suitable for determining the intensity of a performance, the computer process comprising:

inputting motion data characterizing local movement of the portable electronic device;

determining an instantaneous motion intensity value of the user of the portable electronic device from the motion data;

determining an active time accumulation that sums up the time periods, during which the instantaneous motion intensity value meets predefined activity criteria; and

performing at least one game application whose operation depends on at least one parameter proportional to the active time accumulation.

19. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 18, wherein the computer process further comprises communicating the active time accumulation information to a game application external to the portable electronic device, the operation of which game application depends on at least one parameter proportional to the active time accumulation.

20. A computer-readable medium as claimed in claim 19, wherein the computer process further comprises communicating the active time accumulation information to the game application wirelessly.