Activity monitoring, tracking and synchronization

• US 9,943,724 B2
• Filed: 05/25/2017
• Issued: 04/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Mestas, Alex
• Primary Examiner(s): CUFF, MICHAEL A
• Application Number:
  US15/605,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20170259116A1
• Time in Patent Office: 327 Days
• Field of Search: 463 36, 463 42, 700 91
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• 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: G16H 20/30 relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A physical activity monitoring method and system may include a competition component requiring users to compete based on various metrics. The challenge may be device-specific, activity type-specific, user-type specific and the like. In some examples, the users'"'"' performance might only affect the status of the competition if the user synchronizes the information to an activity monitoring system.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause an apparatus to:

detect, from data received from an accelerometer sensor integrated into the apparatus, activity performed by a user for an activity competition;

determine that the activity performed by the user has been registered toward the activity competition only upon determining that activity data corresponding to the detected activity has been synchronized through a network system with at least one other apparatus;

determine further activity data;

determine a required synchronization frequency specified by the activity competition;

trigger synchronization of the further activity data by movement of the apparatus; and

determine whether synchronization of the further activity data was requested in accordance with the required synchronization frequency.

2. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the network system is located remotely from the apparatus.

3. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein detecting activity performed by the user includes:

receiving data corresponding to the activity performed by the user;

determining a type of activity specified for the competition; and

extracting only data corresponding to the determined type of activity as the activity data to be synchronized.

4. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein detecting activity performed by the user includes:

receiving data corresponding to the activity performed by the user;

determining a type of device specified for the competition; and

extracting only data corresponding to the determined type of device as the activity data to be synchronized.

5. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to:

connecting to the at least one other apparatus through a wireless connection; and

transmitting the activity data to the at least one other apparatus.

6. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein determining that the activity data corresponding to the detected activity has been synchronized with the at least one other apparatus includes receiving a synchronization confirmation from the at least one other apparatus.

7. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the apparatus to:

determine further activity data;

determine a required synchronization frequency specified by the activity competition; and

synchronize the further activity data with the at least one other apparatus based on the required synchronization frequency.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 7, wherein synchronizing the further activity data include receiving information from the at least one other apparatus.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1, where in response to determining that the synchronization of the further activity data was not requested in accordance with the required synchronization frequency, preventing the further activity data from being synchronized with the at least one other apparatus.

10. A method comprising:

detecting, from data received from an accelerometer sensor integrated into an apparatus, activity performed by a user for an activity competition;

determining that the activity performed by the user has been registered toward the activity competition only upon determining that activity data corresponding to the detected activity has been synchronized through a network system with at least one other apparatus;

determine further activity data;

determine a required synchronization frequency specified by the activity competition;

trigger synchronization of the further activity data by movement of the apparatus; and

determine whether synchronization of the further activity data was requested in accordance with the required synchronization frequency.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the network system is located remotely from the apparatus.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein detecting activity performed by the user includes:

receiving data corresponding to the activity performed by the user;

determining a type of activity specified for the competition; and

extracting only data corresponding to the determined type of activity as the activity data to be synchronized.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein detecting activity performed by the user includes:

receiving data corresponding to the activity performed by the user;

determining a type of device specified for the competition; and

extracting only data corresponding to the determined type of device as the activity data to be synchronized.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

connecting to the at least one other apparatus through a wireless connection; and

transmitting the activity data to the at least one other apparatus.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein determining that the activity data corresponding to the detected activity has been synchronized with the at least one other apparatus includes receiving a synchronization confirmation from the at least one other apparatus.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

in response to determining that the synchronization of the further activity data was not requested in accordance with the required synchronization frequency, preventing the further activity data from being synchronized with the at least one other apparatus.