Step count measuring system

• US 8,311,768 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2009
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Creatures, Inc., Nintendo Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Creatures, Inc., Nintendo Company Limited
• Inventors: Morimura, Naoya, Matsuoka, Hirofumi, Fukutome, Hideaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Teixeira Moffat, Jonathan C
• Assistant Examiner(s): VO, HIEN XUAN
• Application Number:
  US12/492,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20090323888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 702/160, 702/141, 235/105, 482/8, 482/74, 600/300, 600/587, 377/20, 377/24.2
• US Class Current: 702/160
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 Pedometers

Abstract

A step count measuring system includes a pedometer and a step count managing apparatus which are able to communicate with each other. In the pedometer, a step count value sequentially detected for each unit of time is stored, and a time counted in the pedometer is stored as first time data by being brought into associated with each of the step count values. When a battery is replaced in the pedometer, a reset is executed to start initialization processing, and the time stored as first time data is stored as second time data which can be discriminated from the first time data. A recording time of each of the step count values being associated with the first time data before the initialization processing is set on the basis of the time counted by the step count managing apparatus, and a recording time of each of the step count values being associated with the second time data after the initialization processing is set on the basis of the second time data.

Claims

1. A step count measuring system including a pedometer and a step count managing apparatus which are able to communicate with each other, wherein said pedometer comprises:

a first time-counting unit for counting a time,

a detecting unit for detecting a step count value for each unit of time,

a step count data storing unit for storing the step count value sequentially detected by said detecting unit,

a first time data storing unit for storing, as first time data, the time counted by said first time-counting unit by bringing the first time data into association with the step count value stored by said step count data storing unit, and

a second time data storing unit for storing said time stored as said first time data by said first time data storing unit as second time data being distinguishable from said first time data in initialization processing started in response to a reset, wherein

said step count managing apparatus comprises;

a second time-counting unit for counting a time,

a first recording time setting unit for setting a recording time of each step count value associated with said first time data on the basis of the time counted by said second time-counting unit, and

a second recording time setting unit for setting a recording time of each step count value associated with said second time data on the basis of said second time data.

2. A step count measuring system according to claim 1, wherein

said step count managing apparatus further comprises a data acquiring unit for acquiring at least the step count value stored by said step count data storing unit and said second time data stored by said second time data storing unit from said pedometer, and

said first recording time setting unit and said second recording time setting unit are provided to said step count managing apparatus, and performs settings of said recording times on the basis of the data acquired by said data acquiring unit.

3. A step count measuring system according to claim 2, wherein

said pedometer further comprises an initializing flag storing unit for storing a flag to indicate whether or not said initialization processing is executed,

said step count managing apparatus further comprises a first determining unit for determining whether or not said initialization processing is executed in said pedometer by said flag acquired from said pedometer, and

said data acquiring unit acquires said second time data and said step count value associated with said second time data from said pedometer when said first determining unit determines that said initialization processing is executed.

4. A step count measuring system according to claim 2, wherein

said step count managing apparatus further comprises a previously-acquired-time storing unit for storing the time counted by said second time-counting unit as a previously-acquired time when the recording time of said step count value associated with said first time data by said first recording time setting unit is set,

said pedometer further comprises a number detecting unit for detecting the number of step count values stored from said previously-acquired time acquired from said step count managing apparatus to the present,

said step count managing apparatus further comprises a second determining unit for determining whether or not said initialization processing is executed in said pedometer on the basis of the number of step count values acquired from said pedometer, and

said data acquiring unit acquires said second time data and said step count value associated with said second time data from said pedometer when said second determining unit determines that said initialization processing is executed.

5. A step count measuring system according to claim 1, wherein

said step count data storing unit stores each step count value in an address order,

said first time data storing unit stores the time corresponding to one step count value as said first time data,

said first recording time setting unit sets the recording time of each of the step count values associated with said first time data on the basis of the address order and the time counted by said second time-counting unit, and

said second recording time setting unit sets the recording time of each of the step count values associated with said second time data on the basis of the address order and said second time data.

6. A step count measuring system according to claim 1, wherein

said first time data storing unit stores the time counted by said first time-counting unit every predetermined timing by changing a storing position.

7. A step count measuring system according to claim 1, wherein

said step count managing apparatus further comprises a time transmitting unit for transmitting the time counted by said second time-counting unit to said pedometer, and

said pedometer further comprises a time setting melt it for setting, when said time transmitted by said time transmitting unit is received, the time counted by said first time-counting unit to the received time.

8. A step count measuring system according to claim 7, wherein

said first time data storing unit further stores a flag for indicating whether or not said time is the time on which the setting by said time setting unit has been performed, and

said second recording time setting unit does not perform setting of the recording time of each step count value associated with said second time data when it is determined by said flag that said second time data is not the time on which the setting by said time setting unit has been performed.

9. A step count measuring system according to claim 1, wherein

a plurality of pedometers are included,

said first recording time setting unit sets the recording time of each step count value of each pedometer associated with said first time data on the basis of the time counted by said second time-counting unit, and

said second recording time setting unit sets the recording time of each step count value of each pedometer associated with said second time data on the basis of said second time data of each pedometer.

10. A pedometer which is able to communicate with a step count managing apparatus for setting a recording time of a step count in a step count measuring system, comprising:

a first time-counter for counting a time,

a detector for detecting a step count value for each unit of time,

a step count data storage device for storing the step count value sequentially detected by said detector,

a first time data storage device for storing, as first time data, the time counted by said first time-counter by bringing the first time data into association with the step count value stored by said step count data storage device,

a second time data storage device for storing said time stored as said first time data by said first time data storage device as second time data being distinguishable from said first time data in initialization processing started in response to a reset, and

a data transmitter for transmitting at least the step count value stored by said step count data storage device and said second time data stored by said second time data storage device to said step count managing apparatus.

11. A non-transitory storage medium storing a program of a pedometer which is able to communicate with a step count managing apparatus which sets a recording time of a step count in a step count measuring system, wherein said program causes a computer of said pedometer to provide functionality comprising:

a first time-counting for counting a time,

a detection for detecting a step count value for each unit of time,

a step count data storage for storing the step count value sequentially detected by said detection,

a first time data storage for storing, as first time data, the time counted by said first time-counting by bringing the first time data into association with the step count value stored by said step count data storage,

a second time data storage for storing said time stored as said first time data by said first time data storage as second time data being distinguishable from said first time data in initialization processing started in response to a reset, and

a data transmission for transmitting at least the step count value stored by said step count data storage and said second time data stored by said second time data storage to said step count managing apparatus.

12. A step count managing apparatus for setting a recording time of a step count detected by a pedometer in a step count measuring system, wherein said pedometer comprises:

a first time-counter for counting a time,

a detector for detecting a step count value for each unit of time,

a step count data storing unit for storing the step count value sequentially detected by said detector,

a first time data storing unit for storing, as first time data, the time counted by said first time-counter by bringing the first time data into association with the step count value stored by said step count data storing unit and

a second time data storing unit for storing said time stored as said first time data by said first time data storing unit as second time data being distinguishable from said first time data in initialization processing started in response to a reset, and

the step count managing apparatus comprising;

a second time-counter for counting a time,

a data acquiring unit for acquiring at least the step count value stored by said step count data storing unit and said second time data stored by said second time data storing unit from said pedometer,

a first recording time setter for setting a recording time of each step count value associated with said first time data on the basis of the time counted by said second time-counter, and

a second recording time setter for setting a recording time of each step count value associated with said second time data on the basis of said second time data.

13. A non-transitory storage medium for storing a program of a step count managing apparatus which sets a recording time of a step count detected by a pedometer in a step count measuring system, wherein

said pedometer comprises

a first time-counter for counting a time,

a detector for detecting a step count value for each unit of time,

a step count data storing unit for storing the step count value sequentially detected by said detector,

a first time data storing mean unit for storing, as first time data, the time counted by said first time-counting unit by bringing the first time data into association with the step count value stored by said step count data storing unit, and

a second time data storing unit for storing said time stored as said first time data by said first time data storing unit as second time data being distinguishable from said first time data in initialization processing started in response to a reset, wherein

said program causes a computer of said step count managing apparatus to provide execution comprising:

a second time-counting for counting a time,

a data acquisition for acquiring the step count value stored by said step count data storing unit and said second time data stored by said second time data storing unit from said pedometer,

a first recording time setting for setting a recording time of each step count value associated with said first time data on the basis of the time counted by said second time-counting, and

a second recording time setting for setting a recording time of each step count value associated with said second time data on the basis of said second time data.

14. A method of operating a step count measuring system including a pedometer and a step count managing apparatus which are able to communicate with each other, the method comprising:

counting a time with a first time counter,

detecting a step count value for each unit of time,

storing the step count value,

storing, as first time data, the time counted by said first time counter by bringing the first time data into association with the stored step count value, the first time data being stored in a first time data storing unit,

storing said time stored as said first time data by said first time data storing unit as second time data being distinguishable from said first time data in initialization processing started in response to a reset, the second time data being stored in a second time data storing unit,

counting a time with a second time-counter,

setting a recording time of each step count value associated with said first time data on the basis of the time counted by said second time-counter, and

setting a recording time of each step count value associated with said second time data on the basis of said second time data.

15. A method of operating a pedometer to communicate with a step count managing apparatus for setting a recording time of a step count in a step count measuring system, the method comprising:

counting a time with a first time counter,

detecting a step count value for each unit of time,

storing the detected step count value, the step count being sequentially detected,

storing, as first time data, the time counted by said first time-counter by bringing the first time data into association with the stored step count value, the first time data being stored in a first time data storage,

storing said time stored as said first time data by said first time data storage as second time data being distinguishable from said first time data in initialization processing started in response to a reset, the second time data storage being stored in a second time data storage, and

transmitting at least the stored step count value and said second time data stored in said second time data storage to said step count managing apparatus.