Methods, systems and devices for generating real-time activity data updates to display devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9188460-B2
Application number	US-201314050301-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 9, 2013
Priority date	Sep 30, 2010
Publication date	Nov 17, 2015
Grant date	Nov 17, 2015

Abstract

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.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method, comprising,
capturing motion data associated with activity of a user via an activity tracking device, the motion data quantified into a plurality of metrics associated with the activity of the user;
storing the motion data in storage of the activity tracking device;
connecting the activity tracking device with a computing device over a wireless data connection;
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; and
detecting the activity tracking device being within a proximity distance from the computing device, the proximity distance being within a low energy wireless communication distance that enables the wireless data connection;
wherein the sending of motion data to the computing device is configured to continue while additional motion data is captured and while the activity tracking device is within the proximity distance, the metric displayed on the graphical user interface is shown to change in an increasing numerical or graphical form in substantial real-time for the received motion data sent when the activity tracking device was within the proximity distance, and further comprising,
pausing the sending of motion data when the activity tracking device is beyond the proximity distance;
continuing to store motion data captured by the activity tracking device in the storage;
reestablishing the connection between the activity tracking device and the computing device; and
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.

2. A device configured for capture of activity for a user, comprising,
a housing;
a sensor disposed in the housing to capture motion data associated with activity of the user via a device, the motion data being captured over time, the motion data quantified to define a plurality of metrics associated with the activity of the user;
a memory for storing the captured motion data; and
a processor for managing connection of the device with a computing device over a wireless data connection, the processor further managing 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, the metric displayed on the graphical user interface is shown to change in an increasing numerical or graphical form in substantial real-time while the device is within a proximity distance; wherein the processor further,
manages detection of the device being within the proximity distance from the computing device, the proximity distance being within a wireless communication distance; and
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.

5. A device configured for capture of activity for a user, comprising,
a housing;
a sensor disposed in the housing to capture motion data associated with activity of the user via a device, the motion data being captured over time, the motion data quantified to define a plurality of metrics associated with the activity of the user;
a memory for storing the captured motion data; and
a processor for managing connection of the device with a computing device over a wireless data connection, the processor further managing 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, the metric displayed on the graphical user interface is shown to change in an increasing numerical or graphical form in substantial real-time while the device is within a proximity distance, wherein the processor further,
manages pausing the sending of motion data when the device is beyond the proximity distance;
manages continuing to store motion data captured by the device in the storage;
manages reestablishing the connection between the device and the computing device when within the proximity distance; and
manages sending motion data from the storage to the computing device, the sent motion data acting to increment the metric to include metric data stored in the device while the connection was paused;
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.

7. A device configured for capture of activity for a user, comprising,
a housing;
a sensor disposed in the housing to capture motion data associated with activity of the user via a device, the motion data being captured over time, the motion data quantified to define a plurality of metrics associated with the activity of the user;
a memory for storing the captured motion data;
a processor for managing connection of the device with a computing device over a wireless data connection, the processor further managing 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, the metric displayed on the graphical user interface is shown to change in an increasing numerical or graphical form in substantial real-time while the device is within a proximity distance, wherein the processor further,
manages pausing the sending of motion data when the device is beyond the proximity distance;
manages continuing to store motion data captured by the device in the storage;
manages reestablishing the connection between the device and the computing device when within the proximity distance; and
manages sending motion data from the storage to the computing device, the sent motion data acting to increment the metric to include metric data stored in the device while the connection was paused,
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.

9. A device configured for capture of activity for a user, comprising,
a housing;
a sensor disposed in the housing to capture motion data associated with activity of the user via a device, the motion data being captured over time, the motion data quantified to define a plurality of metrics associated with the activity of the user;
a memory for storing the captured motion data;
a processor for managing connection of the device with a

Assignees

• Fitbit Inc

Inventors

• Burton Barry
• Panther Heiko
• Park James
• Friedman Eric
• Yuen Shelten
• Brumback Christine
• Roberts Timothy

Classifications

• A61B2562/0219

  Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches · CPC title

• G06F17/40

  Data acquisition and logging (for input to computer G06F3/00) · CPC title

• A61B5/1118

  Determining activity level · CPC title

• A61B2560/0271

  using a remote monitoring unit · CPC title

• A61B5/4815

  Sleep quality · CPC title