# US 2012/0084053 A1 · Portable monitoring devices and methods of operating same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2012/0084053 A1 - Document ID: US20120084053A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/246,843 - Filed: 2011-09-27 - Published: 2012-04-05 - Earliest claimed: 2010-09-30 - Assignees: Fitbit, Inc. - Inventors: Shelten Gee Jao Yuen; James Park; Eric Nathan Friedman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20120084053A1 ## CPC - G16H 40/67: for remote operation - A61B 5/0002: {Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network (endoradiosondes A61B5/07)} - A61B 5/0004: {characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted} - A61B 5/02007: {Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance} - A61B 5/0205: Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition - A61B 5/021: Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels - A61B 5/024: Measuring pulse rate or heart rate - A61B 5/0816: {Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency (measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00)} - A61B 5/1118: {Determining activity level} - A61B 5/112: {Gait analysis} - A61B 5/1123: {Discriminating type of movement, e.g. walking or running (A61B5/1116, A61B5/112 take precedence)} - A61B 5/14532: {for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement} - A61B 5/14546: {for measuring analytes not otherwise provided for, e.g. ions, cytochromes} - A61B 5/222: {combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate} - A61B 5/4809: {Sleep detection, i.e. determining whether a subject is asleep or not} - A61B 5/4812: {Detecting sleep stages or cycles} - A61B 5/4815: {Sleep quality} - A61B 5/4866: {Evaluating metabolism (using breath test A61B5/083)} - A61B 5/6801: {specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface} - A61B 5/6838: {Clamps or clips} - A61B 5/7278: {Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesizing signals from measured signals} - A61B 5/7405: {using sound} - A61B 5/743: {Displaying an image simultaneously with additional graphical information, e.g. symbols, charts, function plots} - A61B 5/744: {Displaying an avatar, e.g. an animated cartoon character} - A61B 5/7455: {characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation} - A61B 17/0686: {having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling} - A63B 24/0062: {Monitoring athletic performances, e.g. for determining the work of a user on an exercise apparatus, the completed jogging or cycling distance} - G01C 5/00: Measuring height; Measuring distances transverse to line of sight; Levelling between separated points; Surveyors' levels (G01C3/20, G01C3/30 take precedence) - G01C 22/00: Measuring distance traversed on the ground by vehicles, persons, animals or other moving solid bodies, e.g. using odometers, using pedometers - G01C 22/006: {Pedometers} - G01P 15/00: Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration - G01P 15/003: {Kinematic accelerometers, i.e. measuring acceleration in relation to an external reference frame, e.g. Ferratis accelerometers (G01P15/001, G01P15/16, G01P15/165 take precedence)} - G06F 15/00: Digital computers in general (details G06F1/00 – G06F13/00); Data processing equipment in general - G08B 21/0453: {worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing (detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00)} - G16H 20/30: relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising - G16H 40/63: for local operation - G16Z 99/00: Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass - A61B 5/02055: {Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature} - A61B 5/02438: {with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient} - A61B 5/1112: {Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS} - A61B 5/7264: {Classification of physiological signals or data, e.g. using neural networks, statistical classifiers, expert systems or fuzzy systems} - A61B 2560/0214: of power generation or supply - A61B 2560/0242: adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution - A61B 2560/0456: Apparatus provided with a docking unit - A61B 2562/0219: Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches - A63B 2220/72: Temperature - A63B 2220/73: Altitude - A63B 2230/04: heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulations - A63B 2230/06: heartbeat rate only - A63B 2230/50: temperature - A63B 2230/70: body fat - A63B 2230/75: calorie expenditure - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - G01C: MEASURING DISTANCES, LEVELS OR BEARINGS; SURVEYING; NAVIGATION; GYROSCOPIC INSTRUMENTS; PHOTOGRAMMETRY OR VIDEOGRAMMETRY (measuring liquid level G01F; radio navigation, determining distance or velocity by use of propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effects, propagation time, of radio waves, analogous arrangements using other waves G01S) - G01P: MEASURING LINEAR OR ANGULAR SPEED, ACCELERATION, DECELERATION, OR SHOCK; INDICATING PRESENCE, ABSENCE, OR DIRECTION, OF MOVEMENT (measuring or recording blood flow A61B5/02, A61B8/06; monitoring speed or deceleration of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L3/00; vehicle lighting systems adapted to indicate speed B60Q1/54; determining position or course in navigation, measuring ground distance in geodesy or surveying G01C; combined measuring devices for measuring two or more variables of movement G01C23/00; measuring velocity of sound G01H; measuring velocity of light G01J7/00; measuring direction or velocity of solid objects by reception or emission of radiowaves or other waves and based on propagation effects, e.g. Doppler effect, propagation time, direction of propagation, G01S; measuring speed of nuclear radiation G01T; measuring acceleration of gravity G01V; {measuring or recording the speed of trains B61L23/00; speed indicators incorporated in motor vehicles B60K35/00; measuring frequency or phase G01R; traffic control G08G}) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - G16Z: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to a portable monitoring device comprising (i) a housing having a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to the user, (ii) a motion sensor, disposed in the housing, to detect motion of the user and, in response thereto, to generate motion data, (iii) an altitude sensor, disposed in the housing, to sample an altitude of the user in response to a sample signal, wherein, in response to sampling the altitude of the user, the altitude sensor generates change in altitude data, and (iv) processing circuitry, disposed in the housing, to: generate the sample signal using the motion data, and calculate a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user using the motion data and the change in altitude data. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A portable monitoring device, adapted to couple to a body of a user, to calculate a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user, the portable monitoring device comprising: a housing having a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to the body of the user; a motion sensor, disposed in the housing, to detect motion of the user and, in response thereto, to generate data which is representative of motion of the user; an altitude sensor, disposed in the housing, to sample an altitude of the user in response to a sample signal, wherein, in response to sampling the altitude of the user, the altitude sensor generates data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user; and processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and coupled to the motion sensor and the altitude sensor, to: generate the sample signal using the data which is representative of motion of the user, and calculate a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user using the data which is representative of motion of the user and the data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The portable monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry: calculates a step frequency of the user using the data which is representative of motion of the user, and generates the sample signal based on the step frequency of the user. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The portable monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry detects a motion event of the user based on data which is representative of motion of the user and, in response, generates the sample signal. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The portable monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry generates the sample signal in response to determining a step by the user and/or after a predetermined period of time. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The portable monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry calculates the number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user using (i) data which is representative of a change in altitude per step and (i) data which is representative of a change in altitude for a given time period. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The portable monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry determines the user traverses one or more stairs by calculating a change in altitude over one or more steps of the user using (i) data which is representative of motion of the user and (ii) data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The portable monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry determines the user traverses one or more stairs based on (i) a change in altitude of the user per step exceeding a first threshold and (ii) a change in altitude of the user over a given time period exceeding a second threshold. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The portable monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry determines the user traverses one or more stairs based on (i) a change in altitude of the user per step being within a first threshold range and (ii) a change in altitude of the user over a given time period being within a second threshold range. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The portable monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry determines the user traverses one or more stairs based on evaluating (i) a change in altitude in relation to a first threshold, and (ii) a change in altitude of the user per step in relation to a second threshold range and (iii) a change in altitude of the user over a given time period in relation to a third threshold range. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The portable monitoring device of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry: determines a change in elevation of the user when (i) the data which is representative of motion of the user exceeds a motion-related threshold and (ii) the data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user exceeds an altitude-related threshold, and calculates data which is representative of an accumulation of changes in elevation of the user. ### Claim 11 A portable monitoring device, adapted to couple to a body of a user, to calculate a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user, the portable monitoring device comprising: a housing having a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to the body of the user; a motion sensor, disposed in the housing, to sample motion of the user in response to a motion sample signal, wherein, in response to sampling the motion of the user, the motion sensor generates data which is representative of motion of the user; an altitude sensor, disposed in the housing, to sample an altitude of the user in response to an altitude sample signal, wherein, in response to sampling the altitude of the user, the altitude sensor generates data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user; processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and coupled to the motion sensor and the altitude sensor, to: generate the altitude sample signal in response to detecting a motion event using the data which is representative of motion of the user, and calculate a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user using the data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The portable monitoring device of claim 11 further including a display, coupled to the processing circuitry, to output data of a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The portable monitoring device of claim 11 wherein the motion event is a step by the user. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The portable monitoring device of claim 11 wherein the processing circuitry generates the motion sample signal at a predetermined rate and detects a motion event in response to determining a step by the user. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The portable monitoring device of claim 11 wherein the processing circuitry generates the altitude sample signal in response to detecting a motion event or after a predetermined period of time. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The portable monitoring device of claim 11 wherein the processing circuitry: calculates data which is representative of a change in elevation of the user using (i) the data which is representative of motion of the user and (ii) the data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user, and correlates data which is representative of the change in elevation of the user to a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The portable monitoring device of claim 11 wherein the processing circuitry calculates the number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by a user using (i) data which is representative of a change in altitude per step and (i) data which is representative of a change in height for a given time period. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The portable monitoring device of claim 11 wherein the processing circuitry determines the user traverses one or more stairs by calculating a change in altitude over one or more steps of the user using (i) data which is representative of motion of the user and (ii) data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The portable monitoring device of claim 11 wherein the processing circuitry determines the user traverses one or more stairs based on (i) a change in altitude of the user per step exceeding a first threshold and (ii) a change in altitude of the user over a given time period exceeding a second threshold. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The portable monitoring device of claim 11 wherein the processing circuitry determines the user traverses one or more stairs based on (i) a change in altitude of the user per step being within a first threshold range and (ii) a change in altitude of the user over a given time period being within a second threshold range. ### Claim 21 (depends on 11) The portable monitoring device of claim 11 wherein the processing circuitry determines the user traverses one or more stairs based on evaluating (i) a change in altitude in relation to a threshold, and (ii) a change in altitude of the user per step in relation to a first threshold range and (iii) a change in altitude of the user over a given time period in relation to a second threshold range. ### Claim 22 A portable monitoring device, adapted to couple to a body of a user, to calculate a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user, the portable monitoring device comprising: a housing having a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to the body of the user; a motion sensor, disposed in the housing, to sample motion of the user in response to a motion sample signal, wherein, in response to sampling the motion of the user, the motion sensor generates data which is representative of motion of the user; an altitude sensor, disposed in the housing, to sample an altitude of the user in response to an altitude sample signal, wherein, in response to sampling the altitude of the user, the altitude sensor generates data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user; processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and coupled to the motion sensor and the altitude sensor, to: generate the altitude sample signal using the data which is representative of motion of the user, calculate data which is representative of a change in elevation of the user using (i) the data which is representative of motion of the user and (ii) the data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user, and correlate data which is representative of the change in elevation of the user to a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user; and a display, coupled to the processing circuitry, to output data of the number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The portable monitoring device of claim 22 wherein the processing circuitry generates the motion sample signal at a predetermined rate and generates the altitude sample signal in response to detecting a step by user. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The portable monitoring device of claim 22 wherein the processing circuitry generates the altitude sample signal in response to determining a step by the user and/or after a predetermined period of time. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The portable monitoring device of claim 22 wherein the processing circuitry generates the motion sample signal at a predetermined rate. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The portable monitoring device of claim 22 wherein the processing circuitry: calculates a step frequency of the user based on the data which is representative of motion of the user, and generates the altitude sample signal based on the step frequency of the user.