Methods and systems for processing social interactive data and sharing of tracked activity associated with locations

• US 8,818,753 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2013
• Issued: 08/26/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Yuen, Shelten Gee Jao, Park, James, Lee, Hans Christiansen
• Primary Examiner(s): Raymond, Edward
• Application Number:
  US14/066,310
• Publication Number:
  US 20140052790A1
• Time in Patent Office: 301 Days
• Field of Search: 702/160, 702/155, 702182-185
• US Class Current: 702/160
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/045 with a separable interface unit, e.g. for communication
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• 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 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• 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 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14546 for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4806 Sleep evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence; devices for inducing sleep A61M21/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4809 Sleep detection, i.e. determining whether a subject is asleep or not
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4812 Detecting sleep stages or cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4815 Sleep quality
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6838 Clamps or clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7264 : Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems neural networks per se G06N3/00; expert systems per se G06N5/00
• 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 5/743 : Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/744 : Displaying an avatar, e.g. an animated cartoon character
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0068 : Comparison to target or threshold, previous performance or not real time comparison to other individuals
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/14 : Geo-tagging, e.g. for correlating route or track location data with specific information related to that specific location
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/72 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/73 : Altitude
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/06 : heartbeat rate only
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/50 : temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/70 : body fat
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2230/75 : calorie expenditure
• 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 24/0075 : Means for generating exercise programs or schemes, e.g. computerized virtual trainer, e.g. using expert databases
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0686 : Timers, rhythm indicators or pacing apparatus using electric or electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 : Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 22/006 : Pedometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 23/00 : Combined instruments indicating more than one navigational value, e.g. for aircraft; Combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement, e.g. distance, speed or acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/00 : Indicating or recording presence, absence, or direction, of movement electric switches H01H; counting moving objects G06M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/00 : Digital computers in general details G06F1/00 – G06F13/00; Data processing equipment in general
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/30 : relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 : Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 : using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds

Abstract

A method includes determining a location of a first monitoring device used while performing an activity. The first monitoring device is worn by a first user. The method includes determining a location of a second monitoring device used while performing an activity. The second monitoring device is worn by a second user. The method further includes determining whether the locations of the first and second monitoring devices are within a range and whether the activities are similar. The method includes sending a prompt to the first monitoring device upon determining that the activities are similar and the locations are within the range. The prompt includes a request for permission from a first user account to allow a second user account to access information from the first user account regarding the activity performed using the first monitoring device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining a location of a first monitoring device used to produce activity data, the first monitoring device configured to be worn by a first user;

determining a location of a second monitoring device used to produce activity data, the second monitoring device configured to be worn by a second user;

determining whether the location of the first monitoring device is within a threshold distance of the location of the second monitoring device;

determining whether the activity data produced using the first monitoring device is similar to the activity data produced using the second monitoring device; and

sending a request to the first monitoring device to enable sharing of the activity data produced using the first monitoring device with the second monitoring device in response to determining that the location of the first monitoring device is within the threshold distance of the location of the second monitoring device and in response to determining that the activity data produced using the first monitoring device is similar to the activity data produced using the second monitoring device,

wherein the method is executed by a processor.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a notification to the second monitoring device regarding approval of the request received by the first monitoring device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the notification includes the activity data produced using the first monitoring device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a request to the second monitoring device to enable sharing of the activity data produced using the second monitoring device with the first monitoring device in response to determining that the location of the first monitoring device is within the threshold distance of the location of the second monitoring device and in response to determining that the activity data produced using the first monitoring device is similar to the activity data produced using the second monitoring device.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising sending a notification to the first monitoring device regarding approval of the request received by the second monitoring device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the request to enable sharing of the activity data produced using the first monitoring device is approved; and

posting the activity data produced using the first monitoring device to a network account of the second user in response to determining that the request is approved.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the request to enable sharing of the activity data produced using the first monitoring device is approved; and

posting the activity data produced using the first monitoring device and the location of the first monitoring device to a network account of the second user in response to determining that the request is approved.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the activity data produced using the first monitoring device includes a number of calories burned by the first user, or an amount of blood pressure of the first user, or a heart rate of the first user, or an amount of weight gained by the first user, or an amount of weight lost by the first user, or a number of stairs ascended by the first user, or a number of stairs descended by the first user, or a number of steps taken by the first user, or a number of floors descended by the first user, or a number of floors climbed by the first user, or a number of rotations of a bicycle pedal rotated by the first user, or sedentary activity data associated with the first user, or an amount of distance covered by the first user, or a number of golf swings taken by the first user, or a number of forehands of a sport played by the first user, or a number of backhands of a sport played by the first user, or a combination thereof.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the activity data produced using the second monitoring device includes a number of calories burned by the second user, or an amount of blood pressure of the second user, or a heart rate of the second user, or an amount of weight gained by the second user, or an amount of weight lost by the second user, or a number of stairs ascended by the second user, or a number of stairs descended by the second user, or a number of steps taken by the second user, or a number of floors descended by the second user, or a number of floors climbed by the second user, or a number of rotations of a bicycle pedal rotated by the second user, or sedentary activity data associated with the second user, or an amount of distance covered by the second user, or a number of golf swings taken by the second user, or a number of forehands of a sport played by the second user, or a number of backhands of a sport played by the second user, or a combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the location of the first monitoring device includes a home, or a place of work, or a park, or a gym, or a coffee shop, or a store.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the location of the second monitoring device includes a home, or a place of work, or a park, or a gym, or a coffee shop, or a store.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first monitoring device is wearable as a watch, or a wrist band, or a clip, and the second monitoring device is wearable as a watch, or a wrist band, or a clip.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the activity data produced using the first monitoring device is similar to the activity data produced using the second monitoring device when a combined activity level obtained using the first monitoring device over a time period is within a pre-determined range of a combined activity level obtained using the second monitoring device over the time period.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the activity data produced using the first monitoring device is similar to the activity data produced using the second monitoring device when the activity data produced using the first monitoring device and the activity data produced using the second monitoring device correspond to the same activity.

15. A method comprising:

determining a location of a first monitoring device used to produce activity data, the first monitoring device configured to be worn by a first user;

determining a location of a second monitoring device used to produce activity data, the second monitoring device configured to be worn by a second user;

determining whether the location of the first monitoring device is within a threshold distance of the location of the second monitoring device;

determining whether the activity data produced using the first monitoring device is similar to the activity data produced using the second monitoring device;

posting the activity data produced using the first monitoring device to a user account of the first user to make the activity data produced using the first monitoring device available to a user account of the second user in response to determining that the location of the first monitoring device is within the threshold distance of the location of the second monitoring device and that the activity data produced using the first monitoring device is similar to the activity data produced using the second monitoring device.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising posting the location of the first monitoring device to the user account of the first user for making the location of the first monitoring device available to the user account of the second user in response to determining that the location of the first monitoring device is within the threshold distance of the location of the second monitoring device and that the activity data produced using the first monitoring device is similar to the activity data produced using the second monitoring device.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the activity data produced using the first monitoring device includes a number of calories burned by the first user, or an amount of blood pressure of the first user, or a heart rate of the first user, or an amount of weight gained by the first user, or an amount of weight lost by the first user, or a number of stairs ascended by the first user, or a number of stairs descended by the first user, or a number of steps taken by the first user, or a number of floors descended by the first user, or a number of floors climbed by the first user, or a number of rotations of a bicycle pedal rotated by the first user, or sedentary activity data associated with the first user, or an amount of distance covered by the first user, or a number of golf swings taken by the first user, or a number of forehands of a sport played by the first user, or a number of backhands of a sport played by the first user, or a combination thereof.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the activity data produced using the second monitoring device includes a number of calories burned by the second user, or an amount of blood pressure of the second user, or a heart rate of the second user, or an amount of weight gained by the second user, or an amount of weight lost by the second user, or a number of stairs ascended by the second user, or a number of stairs descended by the second user, or a number of steps taken by the second user, or a number of floors descended by the second user, or a number of floors climbed by the second user, or a number of rotations of a bicycle pedal rotated by the second user, or sedentary activity data associated with the second user, or an amount of distance covered by the second user, or a number of golf swings taken by the second user, or a number of forehands of a sport played by the second user, or a number of backhands of a sport played by the second user, or a combination thereof.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the location of the first monitoring device includes a home, or a place of work, or a park, or a gym, or a coffee shop, or a store.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the location of the second monitoring device includes a home, or a place of work, or a park, or a gym, or a coffee shop, or a store.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the first monitoring device is wearable as a watch, or a wrist band, or a clip, and the second monitoring device is wearable as a watch, or a wrist band, or a clip.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the activity data produced using the first monitoring device is similar to the activity data produced using the second monitoring device when a combined activity level obtained using the first monitoring device over a time period is within a pre-determined range of a combined activity level obtained using the second monitoring device over the time period.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the activity data produced using the first monitoring device is similar to the activity data produced using the second monitoring device when the activity data produced using the first monitoring device and the activity data produced using the second monitoring device correspond to the same activity.

24. A system comprising:

a server configured to determine a location of a first monitoring device used to produce activity data, the first monitoring device configured to be worn by a first user,

wherein the server is configured to determine a location of a second monitoring device used to produce activity data, the second monitoring device configured to be worn by a second user;

wherein the server is configured to determine whether the location of the first monitoring device is within a threshold distance of the location of the second monitoring device;

wherein the server is configured to determine whether the activity data produced using the first monitoring device is similar to the activity data produced using the second monitoring device; and

wherein the server is configured to send a request to the first monitoring device to enable sharing of the activity data produced using the first monitoring device with the second monitoring device in response to determining that the location of the first monitoring device is within the threshold distance of the location of the second monitoring device and in response to determining that the activity data produced using the first monitoring device is similar to the activity data produced using the second monitoring device.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the server is further configured to:

determine whether the request to enable sharing of the activity data produced using the first monitoring device is approved; and

post the activity data produced using the first monitoring device to a network account of the second user in response to determining that the request is approved.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the server is further configured to:

determine whether the request to enable sharing of the activity data produced using the first monitoring device is approved; and

post the activity data produced using the first monitoring device and the location of the first monitoring device to a network account of the second user in response to determining that the request is approved.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the activity data produced using the first monitoring device is similar to the activity data produced using the second monitoring device when a combined activity level obtained using the first monitoring device over a time period is within a pre-determined range of a combined activity level obtained using the second monitoring device over the time period.