Patent Publication Number: US-9848803-B2

Title: Modular physical activity monitoring system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/746,626 filed Jun. 22, 2015 to Jonathan Schaffer, titled “MODULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY MONITORING SYSTEM,” which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/018,678 filed Jun. 30, 2014 to Jonathan Schaffer, titled “MODULAR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY MONITORING SYSTEM,” the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field of the Disclosure 
     The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for measuring, collecting, storing, communicating, permissioning, processing, analyzing and displaying data acquired by sensor components distributed on, around or within the body. 
     SUMMARY 
     In an aspect, a system includes an activity-specific article and an activity-agnostic puck. The article includes at least one receptacle and at least one activity-specific sensor coupled to the receptacle. The puck is configured to be removably positioned in the receptacle. The puck includes a processor, a communication interface, and at least one activity-agnostic sensor coupled to the processor. The processor receives information from the activity-specific sensor and the activity-agnostic sensor, and provides the received information through the communication interface. 
     In another aspect, a method includes, while a puck is removably positioned in a first receptacle, collecting first activity-specific sensor information through the first receptacle during a first activity period; and transmitting second activity information from a memory of the puck through a communication interface of the puck. The second activity information represents second activity-specific sensor information received by the puck through a second receptacle during a second activity period prior to the first activity period, and further represents activity-agnostic sensor information received from within the puck during the second activity period 
     In another aspect, a sealed removable puck includes a processor, a communication interface coupled to the processor, a sensor, a sensor interface coupled to the sensor, and a physical interface. The processor identifies, through information received via the physical interface when coupled to the receptacle, an activity-specific article to which the receptacle is attached. The processor receives activity-specific sensor information through the physical interface and activity-agnostic sensor information from the sensor interface. The processor provides the received activity-specific and activity-agnostic sensor information wirelessly through the communication interface. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of a physical activity monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram of an example of a computing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3A  is a side view illustration of an example of a puck according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3B  is a bottom view illustration of an example of the puck of  FIG. 3A  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4A  is a perspective view illustration of an example of a receptacle according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4B  is an end view illustration of the receptacle of  FIG. 4A  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 5A, 5B  illustrate a glove according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 6A, 6B  illustrate a glove according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a removable puck according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates placing a puck into a wristband article. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a shoe article according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 10  illustrates a helmet article according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 11  is a block diagram of components of a physical activity monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 12  is an illustration of a unique ID device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIGS. 13A, 13B  illustrate a prototype weightlifting glove according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 13C  is a plot of information received from the prototype weightlifting glove of  FIGS. 13A, 13B . 
         FIG. 14  illustrates an example of a piezoresistive sensor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     Advantages and features of the present disclosure will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     There is a growing demand in consumer, industrial and clinical environments for systems and devices to measure, record, analyze and share greater amounts of physiological and biomechanical information. The applications for such systems and devices are wide ranging and include, but are not limited to, the automatic capture and identification of strength, resistance, kinesthetic and cardio training data, the permissioned sharing of health and fitness data with third party professionals, the reduction of injury and waste through the wide-scale and unobtrusive measurement of worker time and motion data, and the automatic recognition of symptoms indicative of serious health problems when they arise, as opposed to retrospectively at regularly scheduled appointments. 
     The present disclosure relates generally to systems and methods for measuring, collecting, storing, communicating, permissioning, processing, analyzing and displaying data acquired by sensor components distributed on, around or within the body. 
     Measurements may be taken from one or more sensors. In one or more embodiments, sensors detect forces applied to a body, or forces applied by a body. In one or more embodiments, sensors detect position, motion, and rates of change of motion. 
     Sensors may be associated with or incorporated into garments, apparel, accessories or gear. Sensors may include flexible and stretchable fabric-based force measuring sensors. 
     Uniquely identifiable, interchangeable and assignable sensor sub-systems allow for quick coupling, decoupling and recoupling of activity-agnostic system components and activity-specific system components. Sensors and sensor systems provide real-time, near real-time, and batch processed feedback relating to current or historical body conditions, forces and motion. This feedback allows for the provision of notifications, alerts, trends and anomaly detection, both to users and to permissioned third party professionals. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a modular physical activity monitoring system  100  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. System  100  includes one or more pucks  110  and one or more receptacles  120  for receiving the pucks  110 . One or more of receptacles  120  are attached to each of one or more articles  130 . Pucks  110  communicate with a computing device  140 , and information provided by a puck  110  may be provided through a network  150  to one or more other computing devices  140 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1  for one computing device  140 , but may be generally applicable, computing device  140  may include a display  160  with a graphical user interface  170 , and may further include storage  180 . 
     By way of an example in overview, during a physical activity monitoring session, a subject may wear multiple articles  130 , each of which includes one (or more) receptacle  120 . Each receptacle  120  may have a puck  110  placed therein; however, it is not necessary that each receptacle  120  of article  130  includes a puck  110 . Information related to data received from sensors (described below) is stored in puck  110 , and/or is provided to a local external computing device  140 . In one or more embodiments, information is provided through GUI  170  on display  160  of the local computing device  140 . The information may alternatively or additionally be sent through network  150  to another computing device  140 , such as a device of a third party professional (e.g., a physical trainer or physician). A detailed description of components of system  100  follows. 
     Puck  110  is small and lightweight so as to minimize interference with a subject&#39;s physical activity. In one or more embodiments, puck  110  is humidity and water resistant, or is waterproof, to allow, for example, physical activity in the rain or in a pool, or to minimize risk of damage if puck  110  is inadvertently laundered. Puck  110  is readily placed in, and readily removed from, receptacle  120 . Puck  110  is not specific to any one receptacle  120 , and is configured generically, to be interchangeably placed in multiple ones of the receptacles  120  at different times. Accordingly, puck  110  is agnostic as to any given receptacle  120 . Further details of puck  110  are provided below. 
     Receptacle  120  is specific to a particular intended positioning on an article  130 . By way of example, in one or more embodiments, an article  130  is a full bodysuit that may include twenty-one (or more, or less) receptacles  120  (e.g., one at the head, one at the upper torso, one at the lower torso, and one at each of the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands, hips thighs, knees, ankles, and feet). Each of the receptacles  120  is specific to the corresponding body portion that it is positioned to monitor. In such a full bodysuit, one or more pucks  110  may be placed in receptacles  120  according to a particular physical activity to be performed. Receptacles  120  include sensors for monitoring specific activities at the associated body portion. Further details of receptacle  120  are provided below. 
     Article  130  is positioned on the body to monitor a portion or portions of the body. In the example of the full bodysuit, one article  130  provides for monitoring of many portions of the body. In other embodiments, article  130  provides for monitoring fewer portions of the body. For example, article  130  may be a glove, a sock, a neck scarf, a knee brace, an elbow pad, or a shoe. Further details of article  130  are provided below. 
     Computing device  140  is a workstation, telephone, desktop computer, laptop or notebook computer, tablet computer, server, mobile telephone (e.g., smart phone), personal digital assistant, media playing device, gaming system, mobile computing device, wearable computing device, or any other type and/or form of computing, telecommunications or media device that is capable of communication, and that has sufficient processor power and memory capacity to perform the operations described herein. In one or more embodiments, the computing device  140  may have different processors, operating systems, and input devices. Further details of computing device  140  are provided below. 
     Network  150  represents any type of network, such as a wide area network or a local area network, mesh network, or a combination of networks. Network  150  may include one or more of analog and digital networks, wide area and local area networks, wired and wireless networks, and broadband and narrowband networks. In some implementations, network  150  may include a cable (e.g., coaxial metal cable), satellite, fiber optic, or other wired connection. 
     Display  160  may be part of computing device  140 , or may be separate from computing device  140 . For example, with respect to a server, display  160  may be physically separate (e.g., in another room) from computing device  140 ; whereas, for a mobile phone, display  160  is integrated into computing device  140 . 
     GUI  170  provides an interface between computing device  140  and a person viewing display  160 . In one or more embodiments, in addition to the graphical portion of GUI  170 , there is an audio portion of GUI  170 , such as for verbal interaction between the person and computing device  140 . In one or more embodiments, in addition to the graphical and audio portion of GUI  170 , there is a haptic portion of GUI  170 , such as for physical feedback to the person from computing device  140 . 
     Storage  180  is information storage external to computing device  140 , providing additional storage space for the potentially large amount of data that may be accumulated from pucks  110  of one or more subjects. 
     Details of certain components of modular physical activity monitoring system  100  are provided next. 
     As noted above, there may be one or more computing devices  140  in modular physical activity monitoring system  100 . Additionally, puck  110  may include a computing device. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an example of a computing device  200  (e.g., computing device  140 ) that includes a processor  210 , a memory  220 , an input/output interface  230 , and a communication interface  240 . A bus  250  provides a communication path between two or more of the components of computing device  200 . The components shown are provided by way of illustration and are not limiting. Computing device  200  may have additional or fewer components, or multiple of the same component. 
     Processor  210  represents one or more of a general-purpose processor, digital signal processor, microprocessor, microcontroller, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field programmable gate array (FPGA), other circuitry effecting processor functionality, or a combination thereof, along with associated logic and interface circuitry. 
     Memory  220  represents one or both of volatile and non-volatile memory for storing information (e.g., instructions and data). Examples of memory include semiconductor memory devices such as EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, RAM, or ROM devices, magnetic media such as internal hard disks or removable disks or magnetic tape, magneto-optical disks, CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks, holographic disks, and the like. 
     Portions of modular physical activity monitoring system  100  may be implemented as computer-readable instructions in memory  220  of computing device  200 , executed by processor  210 . 
     Input/output interface  230  represents electrical components and optional code that together provide an interface from the internal components of computing device  200  to external components. Examples include a driver integrated circuit with associated programming, or an interface to storage  180 . 
     Communication interface  240  represents electrical components and optional code that together provides an interface from the internal components of computing device  200  to external networks, such as network  150 . Communication interface  240  may be bi-directional, such that, for example, data may be sent from computing device  200 , and instructions and updates may be received by computing device  200 . 
     Bus  250  represents one or more interfaces between components within computing device  200 . For example, bus  250  may include a dedicated connection between processor  210  and memory  220  as well as a shared connection between processor  210  and multiple other components of computing device  200 . 
     An embodiment of the disclosure relates to a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium (e.g., a memory  220 ) having computer code thereon for performing various computer-implemented operations. The term “computer-readable storage medium” is used herein to include any medium that is capable of storing or encoding a sequence of instructions or computer codes for performing the operations, methodologies, and techniques described herein. The media and computer code may be those specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the embodiments of the disclosure, or they may be of the kind well known and available to those having skill in the computer software arts. 
     Examples of computer code include machine code, such as produced by a compiler, and files containing higher-level code that are executed by a computer using an interpreter or a compiler. For example, an embodiment of the disclosure may be implemented using Java, C++, or other object-oriented programming language and development tools. Additional examples of computer code include encrypted code and compressed code. Moreover, an embodiment of the disclosure may be downloaded as a computer program product, which may be transferred from a remote computer (e.g., a server computer) to a requesting computer (e.g., a client computer or a different server computer) via a transmission channel. Another embodiment of the disclosure may be implemented in hardwired circuitry in place of, or in combination with, machine-executable software instructions. 
     An example of an embodiment of puck  110  is illustrated in  FIG. 3A  (side view) and  FIG. 3B  (bottom view). 
       FIG. 3A  illustrates a side view of an example of an embodiment of a puck  300  shaped for snap-fit placement in a receptacle  120 . Puck  300  includes three portions  320 ,  330 ,  340 , where portion  330  is between portions  320  and  340 . An outer diameter of portion  320  is greater than an outer diameter of portion  340 , and the outer diameter of portion  340  is greater than an outer diameter of portion  330 . Either portion  340  has some flexibility, or receptacle  120  has some flexibility, such that portion  340  may pass through an opening of receptacle  120  with an outer diameter that is less than the outer diameter of portion  340  but greater than the outer diameter of portion  330 . In this way, puck  300  may be snapped into the associated receptacle by a slight deformation of the portion  340  or a slight deformation of the opening of receptacle  120 , allowing portion  340  to pass and portion  330  to rest in the opening. Puck  300  further includes an alignment notch  350  for proper positioning of puck  300  in receptacle  120 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 3A , alignment notch  350  extends through portions  330  and  340 , and slightly into portion  320 . When puck  330  is placed in receptacle  120 , a bottom surface  345  of portion  340  is positioned facing receptacle  120 . 
     Puck  300  includes a housing (e.g., portions  320 ,  330 ,  340 ) with various electronic components inside, as discussed elsewhere in the present disclosure. The housing may be sealed, so that it is water and humidity resistant, or waterproof. 
       FIG. 3B  illustrates a bottom view of puck  300 , where the term “bottom” is relative to the orientation of  FIG. 3A . Because the outer diameter of portion  320  is greater than the outer diameter of portion  340 , an annular view of portion  320  surrounding portion  340  can be seen from the bottom of puck  300 . Alignment notch  350  extends horizontally across the bottom of puck  300 , in addition to extending vertically ( FIG. 3A ). Puck  300  includes contact areas  360 , which may be protrusions, pads, or recesses, or a combination thereof. Contact areas  360  make physical contact with respective areas of receptacle  120 , and some or all of contact areas  360  may also make electrical contact with the respective areas of receptacle  120 . 
     In the embodiment of  FIGS. 3A, 3B , puck  300  has a generally circular form in a bottom view, and contact areas  360  are arranged along generally concentric circles. In other embodiments, puck  300  has as a different form in a bottom view, such as elliptical, square, rectangular, or polygonal. Further, positioning, number and size of contact areas  360  within the scope of the present disclosure may be different than illustrated in  FIG. 3B . 
     An example of an embodiment of receptacle  120  is illustrated in  FIGS. 4A  (perspective view) and  4 B (end view). 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates a perspective view of an example of an embodiment of a receptacle  400  with a configuration corresponding in some respects to puck  300  of  FIGS. 3A, 3B , and thus puck  300  will be referred to in the following description by way of non-limiting example. Receptacle  400  includes a casing or housing  410  that defines a cavity  415  into which puck  300  is placed. A ring  430  (or partial ring, or segments of a ring) is positioned to provide a snap fit between receptacle  400  and puck  300 , such that portion  340  of puck  300  pushes past ring  430  of receptacle  400 , and ring  430  of receptacle  400  rests in portion  330  of puck  300 . Alignment protrusion  450  is connected to (or is part of) casing or housing  410 , extends horizontally into cavity  415 , and vertically to (or beyond) ring  430 . When puck  300  is placed in receptacle  400 , alignment protrusion  450  of receptacle  400  is positioned within alignment notch  350  of puck  300 . 
     Receptacle  400  further includes contact areas  460 . When puck  300  is placed in receptacle  400 , some of contact areas  360  of puck  300  make physical contact with respective contact areas  460  of receptacle  400 ; further, some of contact areas  360  of puck  300  make electrical contact with respective contact areas  460  of receptacle  400 . Puck  300  may have more contact areas  360  than receptacle  400  has contact areas  460 , because receptacle  400  is for a specific use, whereas puck  300  is agnostic to use. In this way, one puck  300  may be used with a variety of specific-use receptacles  400 . 
     Receptacle  400  further includes an optional latch  470  that is positioned over puck  300  to hold puck  300  in place within cavity  415  of receptacle  400 , and may be moved to allow for removal of puck  300  from receptacle  400 . 
     Receptacle  400  further includes optional wiring  480  for connection to sensors of an associated article  130 . In one or more embodiments, the sensors are contained within casing or housing  410 , and wiring  480  is not implemented. 
       FIG. 4B  illustrates receptacle  400  from a cross-sectional view along line A-A in  FIG. 4A . In this view, a tapering profile of cavity  415  is evident. The tapering profile matches a tapering profile of puck  300  ( FIG. 3A ). As noted above, when puck  300  is placed in receptacle  400 , ring  430  of receptacle  400  is positioned in portion  330  of puck  300 , and alignment protrusion  450  of receptacle  400  is positioned within alignment notch  350  of puck  300 . Contact areas  460  are illustrated in  FIG. 4B  as protrusions; however, contact areas  460  may instead be pads or recesses. The form of contact areas  460  of receptacle  400  and contact areas  360  of puck  300  are complimentary, such as pad-to-pad, protrusion-to-recess, or recess-to-protrusion. In one or more embodiments, contact areas  460  and  360  each include a combination of pads, protrusions, and recesses. 
       FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A and 4B  together thus describe a mating pair of puck  300  and receptacle  400  by way of example. Many other configurations are within the scope of this disclosure. 
       FIGS. 5A, 5B  illustrate an implementation of article  130  in the form of a glove  500 . Glove  500  includes a receptacle  510  (e.g., receptacle  120  or  400 ) positioned thereon, and a puck  515  (e.g., puck  110  or  300 ) placed within receptacle  510 .  FIG. 5A  illustrates a back side of a right glove  500 , and  FIG. 5B  illustrates a palm side of a left glove  500 , where the right and left gloves  500  are constructed in mirror image with respect to each other. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 5A and 5B  together, glove  500  includes a glove body  505  of a flexible material, upon which receptacle  510  is permanently or semi-permanently attached. In one or more embodiments, receptacle  510  is detachable, so that glove  500  may be laundered. In other embodiments, receptacle  510  may be laundered with glove  500 . Puck  515  is shown placed in receptacle  510 , and is removable. Wiring  525  electrically connects a fingertip sensor  540  to receptacle  510 . Wiring  530  electrically connects a palm sensor  545  and a thumb sensor  520  to receptacle  510 . In the embodiment of glove  500 , portions  535  and  550  are structural reinforcements that do not contain sensors. 
       FIGS. 6A, 6B  illustrate a different implementation of article  130  as a glove  600 . Glove  600  includes a receptacle  605  and a puck  610  placed therein.  FIG. 6A  illustrates a back side of a left glove  600 , and  FIG. 6B  illustrates a palm side of the left glove  600 . A right glove  600  (not shown) may be a mirror image of the left glove  600 . Referring to  FIGS. 6A and 6B  together, rather than thumb sensor  520  and fingertip sensor  540  as in glove  500 , glove  600  includes two finger portions  615 , each with one or more sensors  620 . Similar to palm sensor  545  of glove  500 , glove  600  includes palm sensor  625 . Glove  600  further includes an optional wrist strap  630 . In one or more embodiments, glove  600  may include material along fingers/thumb not covered by finger portions  615 ; however, as illustrated in the embodiment of  FIGS. 6A, 6B , a portion  635  of the glove  600  material may leave the remaining fingers/thumb exposed. In one or more embodiments, glove  600  includes a mesh material  640  over portions of glove  600  for breathability. In one or more embodiments, a palm grip  645  is perforated leather to provide improved grip. In one or more embodiments, wrist strap  630  is a compression material. 
       FIG. 7  illustrates a glove  700  similar to the glove  600  of  FIGS. 6A, 6B . As shown, a puck  710  is removable from a receptacle  720  of the glove  700 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates a wristband  800  (or armband or legband). As shown, puck  710  (FIG.  7 ) may be placed in a receptacle  820  of wristband  800 . In one or more embodiments, wristband  800  is an activity-specific article  130 , such as a pedometer with sensors for measuring arm swing, or a bio-feedback device with sensors for measuring heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen level, and such. In one or more embodiments, wristband  800  includes a computing device  140 . In such embodiments, information received by puck  710  during placement in receptacle  720  of glove  700  may be transferred to wristband  820 . In turn, wristband  820  may provide the information from puck  710  via network  150  to another computing device  140 . For example, wristband  820  may provide the information via a local area network such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to a smart phone, or via an Internet protocol to a remote computer of the Internet. In one or more embodiments, puck  710  includes a capability to provide information wirelessly over a local area network. 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  illustrate that puck  710  may be removed from wristband  800  and placed in other receptacles, such as receptacle  920  of shoe  900 , where sensors include pressure sensors  930  in a shoe insert or shoe sole; or such as receptacle  1020  in helmet  1000 , where sensors include force sensors  1030  in a lining of the helmet  1000 . 
       FIG. 11  illustrates in block diagram form how components of modular physical activity monitoring system  100  may interact with each other, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. Puck  110  is represented as being physically connected to (placed in) receptacle  120  by way of line  1105  representing physical connection between puck  110  and receptacle  120  positioned on article  130 . Line  1105  may also represent electrical interconnection. Thus, physical interface  1106  of puck  110  is in physical (and electrical) contact with physical interface  1107  of receptacle  120 . Physical contact may be through alignment of pads, protrusions, or recesses, such as pad-on-pad or protrusion-in-recess contact, as described above. 
     Puck  110  includes a rechargeable battery  1110 . Receptacle  120  may receive power through physical interface  1107  from puck  110 , or may include a rechargeable battery  1111 . To reduce a size of puck  110  and receptacle  120 , small-footprint batteries are used. Some small-footprint batteries have low charge storage capability. Accordingly, a power management scheme may be implemented, such that one or both of puck  110  and receptacle  120  are moved between power states according to an amount of power currently demanded, or to force lower power usage when a battery  1110 ,  1111  is approaching a low charge state. For example, a subject&#39;s rate of change of motion may be very slow relative to a speed of a microprocessor, and thus, circuitry incorporated into puck  110  and/or receptacle  120  may be put into a low power state between sensor readings. 
     When puck  110  and receptacle  120  are disengaged, there may not be a reason to keep one or both powered up, and thus one or both are powered down to a lower power state, or powered off. In one or more embodiments, physical contact between physical interfaces  1106 ,  1107  engages a mechanical switch that activates power or a change in power level for one or both of puck  110  and receptacle  120 . In one or more embodiments, physical contact between physical interfaces  1106 ,  1107  engages an electrical switch that activates power or a change in power level for one or both of puck  110  and receptacle  120 . 
     In one or more embodiments, one or both of batteries  1110 ,  1111  are recharged by harvesting energy from a motion of the subject. 
     Article  130  includes one or more sensors  1115 . Some examples of sensors are described below. Sensors  1115  may output measurements in digital or analog form, such as digital words representing an analog value, analog signals whose frequencies represent discrete values, analog signals whose magnitudes represent discrete values, analog signals that change with a changing sensed parameter, or digital signals representing a presence or absence of a parameter. A sensor interface  1120  receives the analog or digital signals, and may apply filtering, smoothing, zero offsetting, normalization, or other signal pre-processing prior to providing information related to the signals to physical interface  1107 . In one or more embodiments, sensor interface  1120  is implemented in hardware, and outputs of sensor interface  1120  are hardwired to physical interface  1107  via traces/wires  1125 . In one or more embodiments, sensor interface  1120  includes a computing device, such as a microprocessor, that performs digital signal processing to pre-process the signals, and then provides information related to the signals to physical interface  1107  over traces/wires  1125  connected to physical interface  1107 , such as a serial or parallel interface with traces/wires  1125 , or through dedicated or switched input/output pins connected to traces/wires  1125 . 
     Receptacle  120  includes a unique identifier (UID)  1130 , that identifies receptacle  120 , for example, by one or more of model number, serial number, manufacture date, intended activity, type of article to which it is attached, sensor types, sensor interface information, or other identifying information. The UID  1130  is provided to puck  110  when puck  110  is placed into receptacle  120 . In one or more embodiments, puck  110  may determine from UID  1130  a number and type of contact areas (e.g., contact areas  460  in  FIG. 4A ) of receptacle  120 , and signal types expected at the contact areas. In one or more embodiments, the contact areas of each receptacle  120  in a physical activity monitoring system  100  are the same in number, type, and expected signal configurations. In other embodiments, different receptacles  120  have different number, type, and expected signal configurations. In one or more embodiments, puck  110  stamps data received from receptacle  120  with UID  1130 . In this manner, as puck  110  is moved between receptacles  120 , stored data may be identified as being received from a specific receptacle  120 . Stored data may further be time-stamped. 
     As noted above, article  130  may include multiple receptacles  120 . Thus, it may be envisioned that one puck  110  may be moved between multiple receptacles  120  of an article  130 , or multiple pucks  110  may be moved between multiple receptacles  120  of an article  130 . Alternatively, each of multiple receptacles  120  of an article  130  may be populated with a respective puck  110 . 
     Puck  110  includes activity-agnostic sensors  1116 , which are agnostic to the use of receptacle  120  or of article  130 . For example, article  130  may be a knee brace, and sensors  1115  of the knee brace provide data specific to the knee, such as pressure, bend, angle, and acoustic information. Sensor  1115  data specific to the knee is provided to sensor interface  1120 , and then the data, or information related to the data, is provided by sensor interface  1120  to puck  110  through traces/wires  1125  and physical interfaces  1106 ,  1107 . Meanwhile, a sensor interface  1121  of puck  110  gathers generic (e.g., not specific to the knee) information or data from sensors  1116 , such as, for example, accelerometer, gyroscope, or magnetometer information for determining acceleration, velocity, gravitational force, relative motion, tilt, or orientation with respect to puck  110 . 
     Sensors  1116  may output measurements in digital or analog form, such as digital words representing an analog value, analog signals whose frequencies represent discrete values, analog signals whose magnitudes represent discrete values, analog signals that change with a changing sensed parameter, or digital signals representing a presence or absence of a parameter. Sensor interface  1121  receives the analog or digital signals, and may apply filtering, smoothing, zero offsetting, normalization, or other signal pre-processing. In one or more embodiments, sensor interface  1121  is implemented in hardware, and outputs of sensor interface  1121  are hardwired to data interface  1140 . In one or more embodiments, sensor interface  1121  includes a computing device, such as a microprocessor, that performs digital signal processing to pre-process the signals, and then provides information related to the signals to data interface  1140 , such as over a serial or parallel interface, or through dedicated or switched input/output pins. 
     Information or data from sensor interface  1121  may subsequently be used with information from sensor interface  1120 , such as for verification of data received, or for reconstruction of movement, for example. 
     Information or data received from sensor interface  1120  through physical interfaces  1106 ,  1107  is provided to data interface  1140 . Information received from sensor interface  1121  is also provided to data interface  1140 . A form of the information received at data interface  1140  is provided to a processor  1150 . 
     Data interface  1140  includes circuitry for converting the information received at data interface  1140  into a format suitable for use by processor  1150 . In one or more embodiments, the circuitry includes one or more filters, such as low-pass, band-pass, or high-pass filters, implemented in hardware or software (e.g., in a secondary processor or an FPGA). In one or more embodiments, the circuitry includes analog-to-digital (A/D) and/or digital-to-analog (D/A) converters. In one or more embodiments, the circuitry includes level-shifting and/or zero offsetting capability. In one or more embodiments, the circuitry includes a capability to convert from data received in one form to data received in another form, such as converting from parallel data to serial data, serial data to parallel data, data formatted in a first protocol to data formatted in a second protocol, and so forth. Further, in one or more embodiments, data interface  1140  performs data fusion. 
     In one or more embodiments, data interface  1140  time stamps information received. For example, data interface  1140  may stamp information from sensor interfaces  1120 ,  1121  with the time that it was received at data interface  1140 . In one or more embodiments, data interface  1140  stamps information from sensor interface  1120  with UID  1130  of receptacle  120  from which it was received, and stamps information from sensor interface  1121  with UID  1131  of puck  110 . 
     In other embodiments, time stamps and/or UID  1130 ,  1131  stamps are applied by processor  1150  instead of by data interface  1140 . In yet further embodiments, one or both of time stamps and UID  1130 ,  1131  stamps are not applied. 
     Processor  1150  receives information provided by data interface  1140 , and stores the information in a memory  1160  (such as described with respect to memory  220  in  FIG. 2 ). In one or more embodiments, processor  1150  includes a direct memory access (DMA) controller that automatically stores information from data interface  1140  to memory  1160 , or from sensor interface  1121  to memory  1160 . Processor  1150  may pre-process information received from data interface  1140 , such as by frequency band filtering (e.g., low-pass, band-pass, or high-pass filtering), decimating or otherwise down-sampling, smoothing, integrating or otherwise averaging, normalizing, error checking, validity checking (e.g., “sanity” checking), and so forth. Such pre-processing may be performed on information as it is received (e.g., in near real time), or may be performed on information retrieved from memory  1160 . The term near real time in this context accounts for system and processing delays. 
     Processor  1150  provides information received from data interface  1140  to a communication interface  1170  (such as described with respect to communication interface  240  in  FIG. 2 ). Processor  1150  provides the information formatted according to the protocol used for communication interface  1170 . For example, the information may be provided as data packets with or without headers, as serial data words, as parallel data words, or other formats. In one or more embodiments, near real time information is provided to communication interface  1170 . In one or more embodiments, processor  1150  provides the information stored in memory  1160  without further data processing; in other embodiments, processor  1150  further processes the information prior to providing the information to communication interface  1170 . For example, processor  1150  may perform data fusion, and/or may apply the information to a model to identify activities (e.g., deep knee bends in the example of the knee brace), and send information related to the identified activities to the communication interface  1170 . Such information may include activity, number of repetitions, repetition rate, time between repetitions, increasing or decreasing time between repetitions, or other such information useful for tracking activity. 
     In one or more embodiments, communication interface  1170  is wireless, and thus near-real time information may be gathered and processed. In one or more embodiments, puck  110  includes an audio, visual, or haptic device that provides feedback to a wearer of article  130 . For example, a computing device  140  within physical activity monitoring system  100  may receive information from puck  110 , identify an activity being performed, and provide audio, visual, or haptic feedback to the wearer indicating whether the activity is being performed correctly. 
     In one or more embodiments, puck  110  is placed in an upload receptacle to provide information from memory  1160  to a computing device  140  through a wired or wireless connection. An upload receptacle may include multiple bays for wired connection, to allow for uploading data from multiple pucks  110  concurrently. The upload receptacle may include wired or wireless charging to recharge puck(s)  110 . 
     Communication from puck  110  to computing device  140  may be encrypted, or may include other data security measures, such as for limiting access to personal information to only those designated for access. 
     In one or more embodiments, puck  110  includes a sensor  1116  for detecting pulse. Characteristics of a subject&#39;s pulse may be matched to characteristics stored in a database to identify whether the subject is the person registered to puck  110 . 
     By way of an example of a physical activity monitoring system  100 , an embodiment is next described in which physical activity monitoring system  100  is used to improve training of a hypothetical subject who is a weightlifter and also a bicycle enthusiast. In this example, the subject is monitored remotely by a physical trainer. On a first day, the subject is provided with a list of weightlifting activities to perform in a given sequence with a defined number of repetitions. On the first day, the subject wears two gloves, described by way of example as gloves  600  illustrated in  FIGS. 6A, 6B . Each glove  600  incorporates sensors  620 ,  625  coupled to receptacle  605 . On the first day, a puck  610  is placed in each glove  600 , such that sensor  620 ,  625  data may be received at both hands. Sensors  620 ,  625  include pressure or force sensors, so that the subject&#39;s grip strength may be monitored, among other things. The subject progresses through the list of weightlifting activities, and when finished, removes both pucks  110 , and downloads data from both pucks  110  through communication interface  1170  to a smart phone, tablet, or other computing device. The subject then submits the data from the computing device to the trainer, such as via email, a data exchange site, or submission into website associated with the trainer or with physical activity monitoring system  100 . The trainer analyzes the data, such as to see whether instructions were followed, whether the subject was able to perform the list of activities, to determine repetition rates, to identify a weak arm or hand, or other analyses applicable to the training. The trainer prepares a list of activities for the second day, and provides the list to the subject. 
     Continuing with the example, on the second day, the trainer wishes to receive information from hands and knees to verify correct motion or identify stress points, but knows that the subject has no more than two pucks  110 . Thus, on the second day, the subject is directed to use one puck  110  in the glove of the weak arm, and one puck  110  in a biker knee brace on the same side of the body. At the end of the second day, the subject provides the data from pucks  110  to the trainer, and the trainer analyzes the data. On the third day, the trainer instructs the subject to go biking, wearing two biker knee braces, and placing one of the subject&#39;s two pucks  110  in each biker knee brace. At the end of the third day, the subject provides the data from pucks  110  to the trainer, and the trainer analyzes the data to identify whether the biking is augmenting or detracting from the weight training, such as whether the joints are becoming overstressed from similar use in both weightlifting and biking. Pucks  110  each provide activity-agnostic information to augment the information received from gloves  600  and the biker knee braces. Thus, whether placed in glove  600  or placed in a biker knee brace, puck  110  gathers activity-agnostic information from internal sensors  1116 , such as three-dimensional acceleration data or biological data (e.g., pulse or temperature). When the activity-agnostic information from puck  110  and activity-specific information (such as data from sensors  1115  in weightlifting gloves) is combined, the result is a more detailed picture of the activity performed. 
     The example of the hypothetical weightlifting/biking subject provides one scenario for use of physical activity monitoring system  100 . Many other scenarios are within the scope of the present disclosure. Such scenarios include, but are not limited to, physical therapy regimens, training for synchronous sports, proof of activity performed, analysis of workplace injury-inducing tasks, detection of injury-inducing movements, modeling of human behavior, teaching of robotic systems through mimicking of movements, providing activity models for character animation, interactive gaming, remote manipulation of tools (e.g., manufacturing or surgical) or vehicles (e.g., drones and bomb disposal units), retraining human behavior following a stroke, and many other scenarios. 
       FIG. 12  illustrates an example of a receptacle  120  including a programmable (and possibly reprogrammable) UID device  1205 . UID device  1205  may be electrically connected to one or more contact areas  1210  (similar to contact areas  460  in  FIG. 4B ) of receptacle  120  as shown. In one or more embodiments, UID device  1205  is a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip or screen print. In one or more embodiments, UID  1205  is an ASIC. In one or more embodiments, UID device  1205  is a programmable resistor or set of programmable resistors, and the resistive value is read by puck  110  through contact areas  1210 . In such embodiments, a number of programmable resistors, or a resolution of the resistor value of a programmable resistor, provides sufficient different UIDs for the application, such as sufficient different UIDs for each type of receptacle  120 , for each receptacle  120  manufactured, or for each receptacle  120  provided to a particular user. 
     Sensors 
     Referring back to  FIG. 11 , article  130  is, or includes, a flexible textile, such as a flexible upper or flexible inner sole for a shoe, a flexible shirt material with stiff elbow guards for skateboarding, a flexible pant material for skiing, a flexible body suit for surfing, a flexible inner surface material of a helmet, and so forth. Article  130 , or portions thereof, are washable. 
     Activity-specific sensors  1115  are incorporated into or onto the material of article  130 . Examples of sensors  1115  include piezoresistive, piezoelectric, photoelectric, capacitive or inductive sensors, and resistive thermal detectors (RTD, also known as resistive temperature detectors). Sensors  1115  may be used to detect, for example, electrodermal activity (such as skin conductance, galvanic skin response, electrodermal response, psychogalvanic reflex, skin conductance response, and skin conductance level), muscle cell electrical potential (such as for electromyography), proximity, luminescence, heart rate, temperature, touch, force, motion and pressure. 
     In one or more embodiments, a piezoelectric ink or paint is used to form sensor  1115 . In one or more embodiments, a piezoresistive ink is disposed on a portion of the material of article  130 , or a piezoresistive material is used for a portion of, or all of, article  130 . Resistance can be measured with resistor ladders, Wheatstone bridges, matrix (row and/or column) threshold sensing, or other techniques. Resistance sensing may be absolute or relative. In either case, resistivity of sensor  1115  may be characterized, and measurements adjusted according to a calibration determined from the characterization. 
     Piezoresistive or piezoelectric sensors may be formed using multiple alternating layers of conductive material. For example, piezoresistive material can include conductive fibers, conductive fragments: when the piezoresistive material is compressed, the conductive fibers or fragments become closer together, which changes a resistance of the material locally to where the material was compressed. Conductors or conductive layers on both sides of the material are used to detect the resistance. Layers of such piezoresistive material may be stacked with an insulating material between to provide additional range, sensitivity or resolution for the intended application. 
     For example, different piezo ink formulas have different impedance curves, some having good sensitivity for lighter weights, and others having little sensitivity for lighter weights but useful over a wide range of weights. Thus, different inks could be used alone to achieve, for example, good sensitivity for lighter weights, or sensitivity over a wide range of weights. Alternatively, a combination of the inks can be used, such as on different layers, or side-by-side, to achieve a desired sensitivity for a given weight range. 
     A coating may be applied over the conductive fibers or material, to electrically insulate the conductive fibers or material, as well as to protect the conductive fibers or material from degradation during use and laundering. 
     A Prototype of an Embodiment 
       FIGS. 13A-13C  illustrate a version 2.3 of a prototype weightlifting glove  1300  according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 13A  illustrates prototype glove  1300  in a view from a back side of the hand when worn. In this prototype glove  1300 , two fingers of the hand are fully covered by material, as shown by a third (middle) finger area  1305 , and a fourth (ring) finger area  1310 . The remaining fingers are partially covered in this embodiment. Third finger area  1305  and fourth finger area  1310  include sensors, as described below. 
     A prototype puck  1315  is shown placed within a receptacle  1320 . A set of wires  1325  extend from puck  1315  to a connector  1330  on a programmable logic unit  1335  development board, which is a computing device  200 . In this version of the prototype glove  1300 , programmable logic unit  1335  is an Arduino Uno. A micro SD RAM memory is included with the Arduino Uno, and the Arduino Uno includes a Bluetooth™ protocol communication module. 
     Another set of wires  1340  extends from prototype glove  1300  to programmable logic unit  1335 , as discussed below. A power source connector  1345  is attached to programmable logic unit  1335 , as also discussed below. 
     In prototype glove  1300 , programmable logic unit  1335  and a power source (discussed below) are mounted on the prototype glove  1300  for development. In a planned version, prototype puck  1315  will be replaced with a puck (e.g.,  110 ) that includes a computing device and a power source (such as described with respect to  FIG. 11 ). 
       FIG. 13B  illustrates components of the prototype glove  1300  of  FIG. 13A , including an outer glove portion  1301  and an inner glove portion  1302 . Power source connector  1345  is attached to power source  1350 . 
     Inner glove portion  1302  includes finger sensors  1355 , positioned at the fingertips of third finger area  1305  and fourth finger area  1310 . Inner glove portion  1302  further includes a palm sensor  1360 . Finger sensors  1355  and palm sensor  1360  are piezoresistive fabric sensors in this prototype. As a weightlifting activity is performed, a pressure or change in pressure is detected from a measured resistance of the piezoresistive fabric. Conductors  1341  connect finger sensors  1355  and palm sensor  1360  through a connector  1342  to wires  1340 . 
     As can be seen, prototype glove  1300  is an activity-specific article  130  (weight-lifting) in physical activity monitoring system  100 . Activity-agnostic sensors are included in puck  1315 . The activity-agnostic sensors of puck  1315  are in an inertial measurement unit (IMU) of an InvenSense MPU-9150. The IMU includes a 3-axis accelerometer, a 3-axis gyroscope, and a 3-axis magnetometer. 
     A subject wears prototype glove  1300  as shown in  FIG. 13A , with inner glove portion  1302  against the skin, and outer glove portion  1301  over inner glove portion  1302 . As the subject lifts a weight, the resistivity at finger sensors  1355  and palm sensor  1360  changes, and the resistivity or change in resistivity is measured by programmable logic unit  1335 . Additionally, activity-agnostic acceleration, gyroscopic, and magnetometric information is acquired from the IMU. The information from the finger sensors  1355 , palm sensor  1360  and IMU is stored in the micro SD memory and/or transmitted via Bluetooth to a computing device. 
       FIG. 13C  is a plot of data received by programmable logic unit  1335  and transmitted to an external computing device via Bluetooth. Data of nine IMU signals are shown on the plot: accelerometer data in three axes (x, y, z), gyroscope data in three axes (x, y, z) and magnetometer data in three axis (x, y, z). Also plotted is resistivity from piezoresistive finger sensors  1355  and the palm sensor  1360 . As indicated in  FIG. 13C , the combination of information from the activity-specific finger sensors  1355  and the palm sensor  1360  with information from the IMU allows for a recognition of the specific activity that was performed. Specifically, a sequence of ten dumbbell curls, ten dumbbell side raises and ten dumbbell presses was performed. The combined information further provides for a determination that the activities were performed using a ten pound dumbbell. 
     When the weightlifting session is complete, puck  1315  may be removed from prototype glove  1300  and placed in a receptacle of another article  130 , such as armband/wristband  1360 . 
       FIG. 14  illustrates one prototype finger sensor  1355  used in a version of prototype glove  1300 . Finger sensor  1355  is a piezoresistive ink applied to a flexible fabric. Conductors  1341  are conductive ink applied to the flexible fabric. A dielectric material may be coated over one or both of the piezoresistive ink and the conductive ink, such as for electrical isolation or humidity protection. In other prototype versions, conductive thread or wire was applied to or woven into the material of the prototype gloves  1300  to form conductors  1341 . 
     While the disclosure has been described with reference to the specific embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the true spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation, material, composition of matter, method, operation or operations, to the objective, spirit and scope of the disclosure. All such modifications are intended to be within the scope of the claims appended hereto. In particular, while certain methods may have been described with reference to particular operations performed in a particular order, it will be understood that these operations may be combined, sub-divided, or re-ordered to form an equivalent method without departing from the teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, unless specifically indicated herein, the order and grouping of the operations is not a limitation of the disclosure.