Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US9188460B2/en
Timestamp: 2019-04-18 17:06:16+00:00

Document:
Methods, systems and devices are provided for displaying monitored activity data in substantial real-time on a screen of a computing device. One example method includes capturing motion data associated with activity of a user via an activity tracking device. The motion data is quantified into a plurality of metrics associated with the activity of the user. The method storing the motion data in storage of the activity tracking device. The method connects the activity tracking device with a computing device over a wireless data connection, and sending motion data to the computing device for display of a metric, of the plurality of metrics, on a graphical user interface of an activity application of the computing device. The sending of motion data to the computing device is configured to continue while additional motion data is captured and sent to the computing device. The metric displayed on the graphical user interface is shown to change in an increasing numerical or graphical form in substantial real-time.
This application claims priority from pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/885,966, entitled “Methods, Systems and Devices for Generating Real-Time Activity Data Updates to Display Devices,” filed on Oct. 2, 2013, which is herein incorporated by reference.
This application is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/959,714, filed on Aug. 5, 2013, titled “Methods and Systems for Identification of Event Data Having Combined Activity and Location Information of Portable Monitoring Devices”, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/693,334 (now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,548,770, issued on Oct. 1, 2013), filed on Dec. 4, 2012, titled “Portable Monitoring Devices and Methods for Operating Same”, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/667,229 (now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,437,980, issued on May 7, 2013), filed on Nov. 2, 2012, titled “Portable Monitoring Devices and Methods for Operating Same”, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/469,027, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,311,769, filed on May 10, 2012, titled “Portable Monitoring Devices and Methods for Operating Same”, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/246,843, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,180,591, filed on Sep. 27, 2011, which is a divisional of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/156,304, filed on Jun. 8, 2011, titled “Portable Monitoring Devices and Methods for Operating Same”, which claims the benefit of and priority to, under 35 U.S.C. 119§(e), to expired U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/388,595, filed on Sep. 30, 2010, and titled “Portable Monitoring Devices and Methods for Operating Same”, and to expired U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/390,811, filed on Oct. 7, 2010, and titled “Portable Monitoring Devices and Methods for Operating Same”, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety, except for pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/959,714.
This application is a continuation-in-part of pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/959,714, filed Aug. 5, 2013, titled “Methods and Systems for Identification of Event Data Having Combined Activity and Location Information of Portable Monitoring Devices”, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/759,485, (now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,543,351, issued on Sep. 24, 2013), filed on Feb. 5, 2013, titled “Portable Monitoring Devices and Methods for Operating Same”, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/667,229, (now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,437,980, issued on May 7, 2013), filed on Nov. 2, 2012, titled “Portable Monitoring Devices and Methods for Operating Same”, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/469,027, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,311,769, filed on May 10, 2012, titled “Portable Monitoring Devices and Methods for Operating Same”, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/246,843, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,180,591, filed on Sep. 27, 2011, which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/156,304, filed on Jun. 8, 2011, titled “Portable Monitoring Devices and Methods for Operating Same”, which claims the benefit of and priority to, under 35 U.S.C. 119§(e), to expired U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/388,595, filed on Sep. 30, 2010, and titled “Portable Monitoring Devices and Methods for Operating Same” and to expired U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/390,811, filed on Oct. 7, 2010, and titled “Portable Monitoring Devices and Methods for Operating Same”, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety, except for pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/959,714.
This Application is related to pending U.S. Application No. 14/050,292, filed on Oct. 9, 2013, entitled “Methods, Systems, and Devices for Activity Tracking Device Data Synchronization with Computing Devices,” which claims priority to pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/885,962, filed on Oct. 2, 2013, both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
Embodiments described in the present disclosure provide systems, apparatus, computer readable media, and methods for tracking activity data of a user and enabling the display of the activity to a computing device in substantial real-time. The activity data displayed can be a metric, which is shown to numerically increase on the computing device as the user engages in activity that is tracked. In some embodiments, the data need not numerically increase, but can simply change or update. In one example, as the user engages in walking, a step count metric can be shown to change and/or increase as the user is walking. In one embodiment, the transfer rates for sending real-time updates can be set by scaling the connection interval of data transfers up or down, depending on the type/amount of data to be transferred in accordance with an update condition.
In one embodiment, a method is provided. The method includes capturing motion data associated with activity of a user via an activity tracking device. The motion data is quantified into a plurality of metrics associated with the activity of the user. The method storing the motion data in storage of the activity tracking device. The method connects the activity tracking device with a computing device over a wireless data connection, and sending motion data to the computing device for display of a metric, of the plurality of metrics, on a graphical user interface of an activity application of the computing device. The sending of motion data to the computing device is configured to continue while additional motion data is captured and sent to the computing device. The metric displayed on the graphical user interface is shown to change in an increasing numerical or graphical form in substantial real-time. The method being executed by a processor.
In another embodiment, a device configured for capture of activity for a user and cause the display of activity data in substantial real-time is provided. The device includes a housing and a sensor disposed in the housing to capture motion data associated with activity of the user via a device. The motion data is captured over time, and the motion data is quantified to define a plurality of metrics associated with the activity of the user. The device includes a memory for storing the captured motion data. The device also includes a processor for managing connection of the device with a computing device over a wireless data connection. The processor manages sending of motion data to the computing device for display of a metric, of the plurality of metrics, on a graphical user interface of an activity application of the computing device. The sending of motion data to the computing device is configured to continue while additional motion data is captured and sent to the computing device. The metric is configured to be displayed on the graphical user interface is shown to change in an increasing numerical or graphical form in substantial real-time.
In still another embodiment, a wrist attachable device is disclosed. The device includes a battery, an altimeter for producing altitude data, an accelerometer for capturing motion data associated with activity of a user, and a screen for displaying data. The data including metrics that quantify the captured motion data and altitude data. The screen having dead front operation that is configured to remain in an off-state until activated. The device further including a communication circuit for enabling wireless communication with a computing device and a memory for storing the captured motion data and altitude data. Further included is a processor for managing connection of the wrist attachable device with the computing device. The processor further managing sending data to the computing device for display of a metric on a graphical user interface of an activity application of the computing device. The sending of data to the computing device is configured to continue while additional data that is displayable is available for sending. The metric displayed on the graphical user interface is shown to change in state in substantial real-time, in response to data sent from the wrist attachable device to the device.
FIG. 9 illustrates an example where the computing device is in communication with device, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 10A illustrates an example of a user wearing an activity tracking device on his wrist, and having access to a computing device.
FIG. 10B illustrates an example where the user is wearing a computing device, in the form of computing glasses, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 11 illustrates an example where the user is climbing stairs, and is achieving floor count increases, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 12 illustrates yet another example where user is engaging in physical activity.
FIG. 13 illustrates an example where various types of activities of users can be captured or collected by activity tracking devices, in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.
Embodiments described in the present disclosure provide systems, apparatus, computer readable media, and methods for tracking activity data of a user and enabling the display of the activity to a computing device in substantial real-time. The activity data displayed can be a metric, which is shown to change and/or numerically increase on the computing device as the user engages in activity that is tracked. For instance, as the user engages in walking, a step count metric can be shown to change and increase as the user is walking. In one embodiment, the connection interval for data transfers to and from an activity tracking device can be scaled, depending on an update condition.
The computing device can be a computer that executes an activity tracking application (APP). The computing device can take on any form, so long as it can process information, load and execute an application, and can communicate wirelessly with the activity tracking device. For example purposes, the computing device can be a computer, a tablet computer, a smart phone, a tablet, a laptop, a desktop, a watch computer, glasses computer, or any device having access to memory and processing power.
In some embodiments, the user interface 114 is configured to receive user interaction 104 that is in the form of noncontact input. The noncontact input can be by way of proximity sensors, button presses, touch sensitive screen inputs, graphical user interface inputs, voice inputs, sound inputs, etc. The activity tracking device 100 can communicate with a client and/or server 112 using the wireless transceiver 110. The wireless transceiver 110 will allow the activity tracking device 100 to communicate using a wireless connection, which is enabled by wireless communication logic. The wireless communication logic can be in the form of a circuit having radio communication capabilities. The radio communication capabilities can be in the form of a Wi-Fi™ connection, a BLUETOOTH™ connection, a low-energy BLUETOOTH™ connection, or any other form of wireless tethering or near field communication. In still other embodiments, the activity tracking device 100 can communicate with other computing devices using a wired connection (not shown). As mentioned, the environmental sensors 118 can detect motion of the activity tracking device 100.
FIG. 1C illustrates another example of an activity tracking device 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The form factor of the activity tracking device 100 is shown as a clickable device that includes a screen 122, a button 126, and device components 102 integrated within the housing 130. The housing 130 can include a clip that allows for attachment to clothing or articles of the user, or to simply place the device within a pocket or holder of the user. Accordingly, the physical contact 124 shown with respect to FIG. 1B can also be implemented upon the surface 120 of activity tracking device 100 of FIG. 1C. It should be understood, therefore, that the form factor of the activity tracking device 100 can take on various configurations and should not be limited to the example configurations provided herein.
A non-audible alarm can provide such alarm by way of a vibration. The vibration can be produced by a motor integrated in the activity tracking device 100. The vibration can be defined to include various vibration patterns, intensities, and custom set patterns. The vibration produced by the motor or motors of the activity tracking device 100 can be managed by the alarm management logic 146 in conjunction with processing by the processor 106. The wireless communication logic 148 is configured for communication of the activity tracking device with another computing device by way of a wireless signal. The wireless signal can be in the form of a radio signal. As noted above, the radio signal can be in the form of a Wi-Fi™ signal, a BLUETOOTH™ signal, a low energy BLUETOOTH™ signal, or combinations thereof. The wireless communication logic can interface with the processor 106, storage 108 and battery 154 of device 100, for transferring activity data, which may be in the form of motion data or processed motion data, stored in the storage 108 to the computing device.
In one embodiment, remote device 200 communicates with activity tracking device 100 over a BLUETOOTH™ connection. In one embodiment, the BLUETOOTH™ connection is a low energy BLUETOOTH™ connection (e.g., BLUETOOTH™ LE, BLE, or BLUETOOTH™ Smart). Low energy BLUETOOTH™ is configured for providing low power consumption relative to standard BLUETOOTH™ circuitry. Low energy BLUETOOTH™ uses, in one embodiment, a 2.4 GHz radio frequency, which allows for dual mode devices to share a single radio antenna. In one embodiment, low energy BLUETOOTH™ connections can function at distances up to 50 meters, with over the air data rates ranging between 1-3 megabits (Mb) per second. In one embodiment, a proximity distance for communication can be defined by the particular wireless link, and is not tied to any specific standard. It should be understood that the proximity distance limitation will change in accordance with changes to existing standards and in view of future standards and/or circuitry and capabilities.
Remote device 200 can also communicate with the Internet 160 using an Internet connection. The Internet connection of the remote device 200 can include cellular connections, wireless connections such as Wi-Fi™, and combinations thereof (such as connections to switches between different types of connection links). The remote device, as mentioned above, can be a smartphone or tablet computer, or any other type of computing device having access to the Internet and with capabilities for communicating with the activity tracking device 100.
In one embodiment, the first transfer rate is defined by scaling up the connection interval of the communication channel established between the activity tracking device and the client device. For example, if the communication channel is a low energy BLUETOOTH™ connection, the connection interval can be scaled to enable a transfer of packets that is more frequent than the second transfer rate.
Returning to FIG. 4A, activity begins in operation 402 where the activity tracking device detects and stores activity data associated with motion or data collected by the device. In the example of FIG. 4A, it is assumed that the activity tracking device has never been synchronized a website (e.g., site) of a server. Therefore, a pairing of the activity tracking device to the site needs to occur, at least once 403.
The client device, in operation 408 may detect that an application is opened on the client device. The application that is opened is the activity tracking application 202, for example. In operation 410, the client device begins to pair with the activity tracking device 403. Pairing may occur, for example, upon request of a user that initiates the pairing.
The update condition has now changed, which causes a scale down of the connection intervals between the activity tracking device and the computing device. This, as noted above, causes the second transfer rate to govern for data exchanged to the computing device for real-time data display. In one embodiment, arrow 436 indicates a request from the computing device for real time updates 420. Arrows 438 indicate data transfers of any data available for transfer, using the second data transfer rate. Arrow 439 indicate a command that the client device has closed the application 414, so that the device can stop sending updates.
In this embodiment, the transfer of updates takes place to the computing device, which can display updates from the tracker in substantial real time.
In one embodiment, the updates are transferred at a rate that is substantially not noticeable to a user viewing a changing screen or display of the computing device (e.g., the display of a smartphone, a smart watch, glasses device, etc.). In one example, the substantial real-time updates occur with transfer delay to the display that is less than about 2 seconds. In other embodiments, the transfer delay is less than about 1 second. In still other embodiments, the transfer delay is less than about 0.6 second. To human perception, the updates would appear to occur in real-time, wherein the updated activity data is continuously updated to the client device, and the display changes continuously or intermittently, depending on whether activity was captured or not. In some embodiments, the real time display will show numbers on a screen changing, such as counting steps, counting stairs, showing distance traveled, etc.
The communication between the client device and the server is executed using an Internet connection link, such as a Wi-Fi™ connection or cellular connection. As noted in this disclosure, the activity tracking device can be a wearable device on the wrist of a user, or a device that can be held by the user or attached to the user's clothing. As the user engages in motion or activities, the captured information can be transferred directly to the client device, such as a smart phone having an activity tracking application 202.
FIG. 5 is a diagram 500 illustrating the dynamic switching between first connection interval settings 502 and second connection interval settings 504, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the vertical axis is the transfer rate, while the horizontal axis is time. At some point in time, an application is opened at a client device at 510. The application that is opened is, in one example, an activity tracking application 202, as described in FIG. 3. When the activity tracking application 202 is opened, the communication between activity tracking device and the client device will be scaled up in terms of the connection interval. The connection interval defines a first transfer rate 506 where packets are sent during a period of time, or the frequency.
As mentioned above, the first connection interval setting 502 may transfer one packet every about 10 ms to about 30 ms. The packet transfer occurs over a low-energy BLUETOOTH™ connection, which saves energy by the activity tracking device. In one embodiment, the first connection interval setting 502 will remain during the data transfer. The data transfer that occurs upon first opening the application 202 is to transfer data that has been stored in the activity tracking device for some time. This data may include data held by the activity tracking device for several hours, days, or even months.
The transfer of firmware to the activity tracking device generally includes transferring a larger chunk of data, and the increased or scaled up connection interval allows for such transfer to occur at a relatively fast rate. By using a scaled up connection interval, over a BLUETOOTH™ low-energy connection, the scaled-up connection interval provides for essentially a serialized transmission channel between the client device and the activity tracking device. In BLUETOOTH™ low-energy, serial data transfers are not allowed, but by scaling up the connection interval, it is possible to simulate an actual serial connection. In the context of firmware updates, it is noted that the firmware image is running on the activity tracking device, so updates need to be coordinated with the transmission of commands to save state, stop running the image, install the image, and resume execution of the firmware image update. Because the connection between the activity tracking device and the client devices is essentially serialized (due to the scaled up connection interval setting), the firmware image files and commands to update can be managed by the server.
In one embodiment, a device 100 can have two operating systems (OSs) so that each can be updated independently, and without risk of leaving device unable to communicate over BLUETOOTH™. In one configuration, the firmware update protocol includes deciding which OS the tracker will boot. The site on the server stores information about every firmware version and can compute deltas and data migration instructions from any version to any other version. For example, the computing device client can iteratively query current state from device 100, send the state to the site, receives in response a particular command to send to the device, and then after executing the command again queries the device for its current state. In this manner, no details about any particular version needs to be known by the client, as the site can manage the firmware updates.
When the activity tracking application 202 is not open, but the computing device is within a range of communication with the activity tracking device, background updates 602 are enabled. Background updates are programmed at predetermined times depending on how often or how infrequent updates have been received from an activity tracking device. In the graph, background updates occurred at times t1-t2, t3-t4, and t5-t6. In one embodiment, background syncing can be triggered by the tracker advertising that it has data to sync and typically the real world time between these data syncs is 15-90 minutes, or typically occurring in the 20-30 minute range. Background mode updates/syncing, however, is enabled when the activity tracking device is within communication range of the computing device (client device). In one embodiment, the range can be defined by capabilities of low-energy BLUETOOTH™ standards, and also taking into consideration the environment and/or structures between the tracker and the client.
In other embodiments, other communication distances may be enabled if other wireless standards are used now or in the future. As further shown, the background update 602, in one embodiment occur at the first transfer rate 502, which implement the first connection interval setting. In an alternate embodiment, the background update 602 can be performed using the second interval connection setting 504. Also when the app is closed, the connection may or may not be maintained. In other words, even when the app is closed, there may be a constant “Second Transfer Rate” connection that is scaled up to the “First Transfer Rate” at certain intervals in order to sync data. But it is also possible that there is no connection between the background data sync intervals. But in either case, the data sync may occur at the First Transfer Rate so that we keep the BTLE hardware in high power transmitting state for as short a time as possible.
Download updates 604 occur at the first connection interval setting, where larger chunks of data are transferred from storage of the activity tracking device when it is detected that the application has opened at time t7. Between time t7 and t8, the download updates 604 occur, or firmware updates to the activity tracking device.
The transfer rate is set at the first transfer rate by scaling up the connection interval between the activity tracking device and the computing device (transferring at the first connection interval setting 502). After it is detected that the application has closed at time t8, the second connection interval setting 504 is set by scaling down the connection interval. The scaling down can occur immediately or after some period of time, or based on a predefined state or condition. This places real-time updates 606 at the second transfer rate 508. As illustrated by the vertical bars, transfers are less continuous during this time, and depend on whether or not data is being produced by the activity tracking device and there is a need to transfer the data to the client device. For any such transfers of data, the transfers will occur at the second transfer rate, dictated by the second connection interval setting 504. At time t9, it is determined that the application has closed. If the computing device goes out of range of the activity tracking device, no updates will occur during time 608.
The update condition is determined at operation 706 and 708, in one example. For instance, in operation 706 it is determined if the application (e.g., activity tracking application 202) is open and is connectable (e.g., within range for connection) with the activity tracking device. If the application is not opened, it is determined in operation 708 if the computing device is connectable with the device within a transfer range. If the computing devices is within a transfer range, the method moves to operation 712. In operation 712, a background data transfers performed to the computing device using the first transfer rate, which is at a pre-defined scaled interval connection speed.
In another embodiment, background transfers can be executed at the second transfer rate. If it is determined that the device is not within the range of transfer with the computing device in operation 708, the method returns to operation 702 where that activity tracking device continues to collect data. If it is determined in operation 706 that the application is open and is within the transfer range, the method moves to operation 710 where a download of data stored in the storage of the activity tracking device is transferred to the computing device at the first transfer rate. As noted above, the first transfer rate is faster than the second transfer rate, and is designed to transfer larger amounts of data over a low-energy BLUETOOTH™ wireless connection.
FIG. 9 illustrates an example where the computing device 200 is in communication with device 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the computing device 200 is shown to be executing an activity tracking application 202. Although activity tracking application 202 can include any number of screens, icons, pages, navigational features, graphics, etc., several metrics are shown for ease of discussion.
The metrics include, for example, step count, stairs or floors ascended or descended, distance traveled, calories burned, altitude measurements, speed information, heart rate information, and other metrics that may be measured, calculated, monitored, obtained, or captured. As noted above, the computing device 200 is capable, in one embodiment, to communicate with the Internet 160. Servers 220 are made accessible over the Internet, which can provide access to an activity management application 224.
In one embodiment, real-time updates between the computing device 200 and the activity tracking device 100 can occur without Internet connection. As noted above, communication to provide real-time updates may occur utilizing a second data transfer rate. The second data transfer rate is set based on a scaling down of the connection interval between the computing device 200 and the activity tracking device 100. The second data transfer rate is sufficient to provide information to the computing device from the activity tracking device 100, and computing device 200 to display the changing information on a screen.
The changing information can be represented as numerically increasing data that changes as the motion data/activity data from the activity tracking device 100 changes. In some embodiments, it is not necessary that the data be numerically increasing, so long as some change or update is generated, shown, or displayed. Therefore, the numerical changes on the display will appear to the user to be occurring in substantial real-time. As noted above, substantial real-time may include a slight delay, such as less than 2 seconds, less than 1 second, or less than a fraction of a second. The delay, in one embodiment is configured to be less than what would be normally perceived by a human to be delayed data. Thus, the screen output changes as the motion produced by that activity tracking device 100 changes.
FIG. 10A illustrates an example of a user wearing an activity tracking device 100 on his wrist, and having access to a computing device 200. While the user walks, jogs, or runs, the user is able to view the activity captured by the activity tracking device 100 on the display screen of the computing device 200. As illustrated, the user may have selected a screen of the activity tracking application 202, where step count is displayed.
At time t1, the step count is shown to be 9623, at time t2, the step count is shown to be 9624, at time t3, the step count is shown to be 9625, at time t4, the step count is shown to be 9626. The display of step count, in this example, will continue to numerically increase as the user continues to engage in motion that can be categorized as step count. The motion categorized as step count can include simple walking activity, jogging activity, writing activity, sprinting activity, or simple moving of the activity tracking device.
FIG. 10B illustrates an example where the user is wearing a computing device 200, in the form of computing glasses, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the computing glasses are configured to include a screen that will display a selected metric. In this example, the selected metric is step count. Step count is shown to be changing from 7265, 7266, and then 7920, as time progresses and motion by the user continues to change. If the user stops walking or moving, the step count display will pause and hold the current step count without increasing. When the user resumes motion, the step count will then resume and numerically increase and/or change is state or update from the current or previous step count.
By communicating the step count to the users glasses, the information provided to the user can be monitored in substantial real-time as the user walks around or engages in activity. Providing information to the users glasses (which include a display coupled to a computing device, having wireless communication logic), also frees the user from having to hold a computing device in his or her hands. This may become more important when certain activities require the user to have full use of his or her hands, but still the user desires to see or understand the current physical activity and metrics associated with the physical activity as it changes. Certain activities can include, for example, running marathons, engaging in obstacle course running, bicycle riding, working in an office, walking in the park, walking at home, or any activity that requires the user to have freer use of his or her hands, but still providing the user real-time updates concerning the activity.
By way of this example, it should be understood that the activity tracking device 100 can be made to communicate with any number of devices. The devices can include, as mentioned above, smart phones, watch computers, glasses, wearable displays, tablet computers, touch base computers, desktop computers, etc.
FIG. 11 illustrates an example where the user is climbing stairs, and is achieving floor count increases, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. In this example, the user has engaged in a number of floor ascending motions, which are displayed as 52 floors ascended at time t1. When the user climbs another floor, the floor metric will show 53 floors, on the screen of the computing device 200. The changes are dynamic and is in substantial real-time as the user continues to move from floor to floor. Although the measurement of floor count is occurring, step count is also concurrently being calculated (as well as all other metrics that can be calculated based on motion). If the activity tracking application 202 remains open, the user can navigate to another screen and view the step count, distance traveled, calories burned, altitude, speed, heart rate, or other metrics that may be changing (or had changed since the last view).
In some examples, a screen can provide metric information concerning a plurality of metrics. In that configuration, the real-time changes can be occurring to more than one metric at the same time. For instance, step count can be increasing at the same time as calorie increases change, and at the same time that distance changes. Therefore, any number of viewing configurations can be provided to a user, depending on the navigational screens provided by the activity tracking application 202.
FIG. 12 illustrates yet another example where user is engaging in physical activity. The user at time t1, is shown to be walking while viewing the heart rate metric on the computing device 200. As the user continues to walk and exert physical energy, at time t2, the user's heart rate will show a real-time increase from 67 bpm (beats per minute) up to 84 bpm. Although only 67 bpm and 84 bpm are shown in the illustration, it should be understood that as the heart rate changed from 67 to 84, the substantial real-time display of the computing device 200 could have shown the progression increase up to 84 beats per minute.
In one embodiment, heart rate can be monitored by the activity tracking device 100 using various technologies. One technology can include using optical sensors that measure beats in a user's blood vessels, while the activity is occurring. The optical sensors can emit light toward a blood vessel, and then measure the reflections from the blood vessel. The reflections of light can then be processed to determine the beats per minute associated with the current monitoring. In one embodiment, the measurement of beats can occur at the wrist where the activity tracking device 100 is worn. In another embodiment, the user can place his or her finger over the activity tracking device 100 (e.g., over a sensing location), which would then allow the activity tracking device to measure beats from the users hand or fingers, and then produce the heart rate in beats per minute.
In some embodiments, a device is provided. The device is defined in a form of a wearable wrist attachable structure. In one embodiment, the device has a housing that is at least partially constructed or formed from a plastic material. In one embodiment, the housing of the device includes an altimeter. The defines can further include a transiently visible display, or a dead-front display, a touch screen display, a monochrome display, a digital display, a color display, or combination thereof.
In one example, the screen having dead front operation configures the screen to remain in an off-state until activated. In one embodiment, a dead front display is visible only when it needs to be lit. For instance, it can conceal an LED or a printed message on a display window, metric data, time of day, a warning light, a caution light, or data that may go unnoticed if the normal transparent LED were visible at all times. In one embodiment, a dead front display may blend in with the background of the device. Thus, dead fronting “cleans up” the appearance of the panel and avoids end user confusion during operation. Additionally, power savings are achieved, as the device is off/unlit when not in use or the user does not need information displayed and lit when activated by the user.
In yet another embodiment, the device can include one or more accelerometers. In one specific example, the device can include a 3-axis accelerometer. On still another embodiment, a 3-axis accelerometer can be replaced with or replicated by use of separate accelerometers (e.g., 3 accelerometers) positioned orthogonally to each other.
FIG. 13 illustrates an example where various types of activities of users 1300A-1300I can be captured by activity tracking devices 100, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. As shown, the various types of activities can generate different types of data that can be captured by the activity tracking device 100. The data, which can be represented as motion data (or processed motion data) can be transferred 1320 to a network 176 for processing and saving by a server, as described above. In one embodiment, the activity tracking device 100 can communicate to a device using a wireless connection, and the device is capable of communicating and synchronizing the captured data with an application running on the server. In one embodiment, an application running on a local device, such as a smart phone or tablet or smart watch can capture or receive data from the activity tracking device 100 and represent the tract motion data in a number of metrics.
sending motion data from the storage to computing device, the sent motion data acting to increment the metric to include metric data stored in the activity tracking device while the connection was paused the method being executed by a processor.
manages enablement of the wireless data connection.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein in response to processing by the processor, the metric of the plurality of metrics is defined as a step count quantified from the motion data.
4. The device of claim 2, wherein in response to processing by the processor, the metric is defined as a step count that is shown increasing numerically or graphically on the graphical user interface of the computing device as motion quantified as steps is captured by the device and the step count is shown to pause when the motion quantified is insufficient or lacking to qualify as a step count.
wherein the housing is part of a wearable wrist attachable structure, or an attachable structure than can be carried or worn by the user.
6. The device of claim 5, wherein the wearable wrist attachable structure is defined at least partially from a plastic material.
wherein the housing further includes wireless communication logic for transferring data over the wireless data connection.
8. The device of claim 7, wherein the wireless communication logic includes one a wireless processing logic, or a low energy wireless processing logic, or a radio processing logic.
wherein the computing device is configured for access with an activity management server over the Internet, the activity management server receives the motion data of the device.
a processor for managing connection of the wrist attachable device with the computing device, the processor further managing sending data to the computing device for display of a metric on a graphical user interface of an activity application of the computing device, the sending of data to the computing device is configured to continue while additional data that is displayable is available for sending, the metric displayed on the graphical user interface is shown to change in state in substantial real-time, in response to data sent from the wrist attachable device to the device.
11. The wrist attachable device of claim 10, wherein the communication circuit includes one of a wireless processing logic, or a low energy wireless processing logic, or a radio processing logic.
12. The wrist attachable device of claim 10, wherein the screen having dead front operation is transiently visible.
13. The wrist attachable device of claim 10, wherein the screen is lit to enable display of the metric or data, and is not lit when off.
14. The wrist attachable device of claim 10, wherein the accelerometer is a 3-axis accelerometer.
15. The wrist attachable device of claim 10, further comprising a clock for displaying time of day, the clock used in setting or managing vibration alarms at particular times of day.
16. The wrist attachable device of claim 10, wherein the processor sets a data transfer rate based on a scaled-down connection interval between the wrist attachable device and the computing device while sending the motion data for substantial real-time display on a screen of the computing device.
17. The wrist attachable device of claim 10, wherein in response to processing by the processor, the metric is quantified as a step count that is shown increasing numerically or graphically on the graphical user interface of the computing and the step count is shown to pause when the motion quantified is insufficient or lacking to be quantified as a step count.
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 Application No. 61
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 Application No. 61
 Application No. 14
 Application No. 61