Method, apparatus and computer program product for collecting activity data via a removable apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10241127-B2
Application number	US-201414540261-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2014
Priority date	Jul 30, 2009
Publication date	Mar 26, 2019
Grant date	Mar 26, 2019

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for collecting activity data with a removably attached mobile device. The mobile device may be moved to various holders configured to be used in different activities. The data is collected according to a determined activity. The start and end of a session is automatically detected based on connectivity to the holder. Metrics may be tracked for specific gear, as well as various spans of time such as sessions, seasons, and/or lifetimes. Milestones and highlights may be determined for various combinations of the various activities, gear and/or terms.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A method for determining a plurality of metrics corresponding to activity data to be collected by an apparatus, the method comprising:
receiving, by a processor of the apparatus and via a proximity based communication, an indication that the apparatus is connected to a holder, the indication comprising a holder identifier, the apparatus comprising the processor, a memory storing computer program code, and one or more sensors, the holder comprising (a) one or more fastening mechanisms configured to fasten the apparatus into the holder such that a holder tag configured to communicate with the apparatus via the proximity based communication is positioned in a position in which the apparatus is configured to receive the holder identifier from the tag via the proximity based communication and (b) one or more securing mechanisms for securing the holder to at least one of a user's body or activity equipment appropriate for a category of physical activity corresponding to the holder;
receiving, by the processor, an indication of a detected movement, the movement detected by at least one of the one or more sensors;
responsive to receiving at least one of (a) the indication that the apparatus is connected to the holder or (b) the indication of the detected movement, determining, by the processor, whether data stored in a memory of the apparatus associates the holder identifier with an activity type, wherein the activity type indicates the category of physical activity engaged in by a user of the apparatus when the apparatus is connected to the holder;
responsive to determining that the data stored in the memory of the apparatus associates the holder identifier with an activity type, identifying the activity type by executing at least a portion of the computer program code by the processor to process the holder identifier to determine the activity type associated with the holder identifier by the data stored in the memory of the apparatus;
responsive to determining that the data stored in the memory of the apparatus does not associate the holder identifier with an activity type, identifying the activity type by executing at least a portion of the computer program code by the processor to process at least one of a speed or a direction of the movement of the apparatus;
identifying, by executing at least a portion of the computer program code by the processor, a plurality of metrics for which to collect the activity data based on the activity type, wherein the plurality of metrics correspond to the category of physical activity indicated by the identified activity type; and
collecting, via the one or more sensors, the activity data for the identified plurality of metrics.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that the activity type is an activity comprising phases, wherein collecting the activity data comprises distinguishing between the phases.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an indication that the apparatus is removed from the holder;
receiving an indication that the apparatus is returned to the holder within a threshold amount of time; and
in response to receiving the indication that the apparatus is returned to the holder within the threshold amount of time, resuming collecting the activity data in a same session.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving an indication that the apparatus is removed from the holder in a first location;
receiving an indication that the apparatus is returned to the holder in a second location that is a greater distance from the first location than a threshold distance; and
in response to receiving the indication that the apparatus is returned to the holder in a second location that is a greater distance from the first location than a threshold distance, resuming collecting the activity data in a different session.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
associating the collected activity data with a particular piece of gear; and
tracking milestones for the activity type and the particular piece of gear.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
tracking milestones for at least one of a session, season, or lifetime.

7. A system for collecting activity data, the system comprising:
a holder comprising:
one or more fastening mechanisms configured to fasten an apparatus into the holder such that a holder tag configured to communicate with the apparatus via a proximity based communication is positioned in a position in which the apparatus is configured to receive a holder identifier from the tag via the proximity based communication, and
one or more securing mechanisms for securing the holder to at least one of a user's body or activity equipment appropriate for a category of physical activity corresponding to the holder; and

the apparatus comprising at least one processor, at least one memory including computer program code, and one or more sensors, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least:
receiving, via a proximity based communication, an indication that the apparatus is connected to a holder, the indication comprising a holder identifier;
receiving an indication of a detected movement, the movement detected by at least one of the one or more sensors;
responsive to receiving at least one of (a) the indication that the apparatus is connected to the holder or (b) the indication of the detected movement, determining, by the processor, whether data stored in a memory of the apparatus associates the holder identifier with an activity type, wherein the activity type indicates the category of physical activity engaged in by a user of the apparatus when the apparatus is connected to the holder;
responsive to determining that the data stored in the memory of the apparatus associates the holder identifier with an activity type, identifying the activity type by executing at least a portion of the computer program code by the processor to process the holder identifier to determine the activity type associated with the holder identifier by the data stored in the memory of the apparatus;
responsive to determining that the data stored in the memory of the apparatus does not associate the holder identifier with an activity type, identifying the activity type by executing at least a portion of the computer program code by the processor to process at least one of a speed or a direction of the movement of the apparatus;
identifying, by executing at least a portion of the computer program code by the processor, a plurality of metrics for which to collect the activity data based on the activity type, wherein the plurality of metrics correspond to the category of physical activity indicated by the identified activity type; and
collecting, via the one or more sensors, the activity data for the identified plurality of metrics.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least:
determining that the activity type is an activity comprising phases, wherein collecting the activity data comprises distinguishing between the phases.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the at least one memory and the computer program code are further configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least:
receiving an indication that the apparatus is removed from the holder;
receiving an indication that the apparatus is returned to the holder within a threshold amount of time; and
in response to receiving the indication that the apparatus is returned to the holder within the threshold amount of time

Assignees

• Here Global Bv

Inventors

• Adams Alistair
• Chan Joe
• Burns Duncan
• Samanta Vidyut
• Scheunig Stephan
• Scotti Clovis
• Söhner Jens-Uwe
• Renwick James

Classifications

• G01C21/265 Primary

  constructional aspects of navigation devices, e.g. housings, mountings, displays (G01C21/3688 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01P15/00 Primary

  Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration · CPC title

• G01C22/006

  Pedometers · CPC title