# US 2013/0158369 A1 · Activity Monitoring Systems and Methods of Operating Same

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- Number: US 2013/0158369 A1
- Document ID: US20130158369A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/767,836
- Filed: 2013-02-14
- Published: 2013-06-20
- Earliest claimed: 2010-09-30
- Assignees: Fitbit, Inc.
- Inventors: Shelten Gee Jao Yuen; James Park; Eric Nathan Friedman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158369A1

## 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, is an activity monitoring system comprising a fixture having size/shape adapted to couple to a location on the user's body and a particular signature; and a portable monitoring device adapted to detect the fixture's particular signature. The monitoring device includes a housing that is adapted to engage the fixture; an activity sensor, disposed in the housing, to detect activity of the user and to generate data which is representative of the activity of the user; and processing circuitry, disposed in the housing, to calculate an activity-related quantity of the user, wherein the processing circuitry determines the monitoring device is engaging the fixture by detecting the fixture's particular signature and calculates the activity-related quantity.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An activity monitoring system comprising:
a plurality of fixtures, wherein each fixture includes a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to an associated location on the body of the user;
a portable monitoring device adapted to separately and physically engage each fixture of the plurality of fixtures, the portable monitoring device including:
a housing to separately and physically engage each fixture;
an activity sensor, disposed in the housing, to detect activity of the user and, in response thereto, to generate data which is representative of the activity of the user; and
processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and coupled to the activity sensor, to calculate one or more activity-related quantities of the user using the data which is representative of the activity of the user, wherein the processing circuitry:
automatically determines a particular fixture of the plurality of fixtures is physically engaging the portable monitoring device, and
calculates at least one activity-related quantity of the user which is associated with the particular fixture.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The activity monitoring system of claim 1 wherein:
at least one fixture of the plurality of fixtures includes an associated signature, and
the processing circuitry automatically determines the portable monitoring device is engaging the at least one fixture based on detecting the signature associated with the at least one fixture.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The activity monitoring system of claim 2 wherein the processing circuitry of the portable monitoring device, in response to detecting the signature associated with the at least one fixture, calculates the at least one activity-related quantity of the user using data from the activity sensor.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The activity monitoring system of claim 2 wherein the signature associated with the at least one fixture is generated via one or more buttons, electrical contacts and/or proximity sensors.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The activity monitoring system of claim 2 wherein the signature associated with the at least one fixture is generated via one or more RF beacons or transmitters.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The activity monitoring system of claim 2 wherein the signature associated with the at least one fixture is generated magnetically.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The activity monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of fixtures includes a sleep fixture and wherein the at least one activity-related quantity of the user corresponds to one or more sleep metrics.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The activity monitoring system of claim 7 wherein the one or more sleep metrics includes (i) an amount of time asleep, (ii) onset, duration, and/or number of awakenings while attempting to sleep, (iii) a time spent in various stages of sleep, (iv) sleep latency, and/or (v) sleep efficiency.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The activity monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of fixtures includes a swim fixture and wherein the at least one activity-related quantity of the user corresponds to one or more swimming metrics.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The activity monitoring system of claim 9 wherein the one or more swimming metrics include lap count, swim stroke count, swim stroke type, swim lap time, swim stroke time and swim distance traveled.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The activity monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of fixtures includes a bicycle fixture and wherein the at least one activity-related quantity of the user corresponds to one or more bicycling metrics.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The activity monitoring system of claim 11 wherein the one or more bicycling metrics include (i) pace, (ii) distance traveled, (iii) number of pedal rotations, (iv) rate of pedal rotations or cadence, (v) altitude and/or changes therein, (vi) time of a downward and/or upward climb, and/or (vii) the grade of the surface and/or changes therein.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The activity monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of fixtures includes a running-walking fixture adapted to couple to a foot of the user and wherein the at least one activity-related quantity of the user includes (i) a distance traveled, (ii) number of steps, (iii) speed and/or pace of the user, (iv) altitude and/or changes therein, (v) time of a downward and/or upward climb, and/or (vi) the grade of the surface and/or changes therein.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The activity monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the portable monitoring device further includes an optical sensor to detect a signature associated with at least one of the fixtures.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The activity monitoring system of claim 1 wherein at least one fixture of the plurality of fixtures includes an optically responsive material corresponding to a signature associated with at least one of the fixtures.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The activity monitoring system of claim 15 wherein the optically responsive material includes reflective material or anti-reflective material.

### Claim 17 (depends on 1)

The activity monitoring system of claim 1 wherein the processing circuitry of the portable monitoring device determines the at least one activity-related quantity to calculate based on an output signal of the activity sensor.

### Claim 18

An activity monitoring system comprising:
a plurality of fixtures, wherein each fixture includes a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to an associated location on the body of the user;
a portable monitoring device adapted to separately and physically engage each fixture of the plurality of fixtures, the portable monitoring device including:
a housing to separately and physically engage each fixture;
an activity sensor, disposed in the housing, to detect activity of the user and, in response thereto, to generate data which is representative of the activity of the user;
a physiological sensor, disposed in the housing, to detect physiological data of the user and, in response thereto, to generate data which is representative of at least one physiological condition of the user, and
processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and coupled to the activity sensor, to calculate one or more activity-related quantities of the user using the data which is representative of the activity of the user, wherein the processing circuitry:
determines a particular fixture of the plurality of fixtures is physically engaging the portable monitoring device,
calculates at least one activity-related quantity of the user which is associated with the particular fixture, and
calculates at least one physiological-related quantity of the user.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The activity monitoring system of claim 18 wherein:
at least one fixture of the plurality of fixtures includes an associated signature, and
the processing circuitry determines the portable monitoring device is engaging the at least one fixture based on detecting the signature associated with the at least one fixture.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The activity monitoring system of claim 19 wherein the processing circuitry of the portable monitoring device, in response to detecting the signature associated with a fixture, calculates the at least one activity-related quantity of the user using data from the activity sensor.

### Claim 21 (depends on 19)

The activity monitoring system of claim 19 wherein the signature associated with the at least one fixture is generated via one or more buttons, electrical contacts and/or proximity sensors.

### Claim 22 (depends on 19)

The activity monitoring system of claim 19 wherein the signature associated with the at least one fixture is generated via one or more RF beacons or transmitters.

### Claim 23 (depends on 19)

The activity monitoring system of claim 19 wherein the signature associated with the at least one fixture is generated magnetically.

### Claim 24 (depends on 18)

The activity monitoring system of claim 18 wherein the at least one physiological-related quantity of the user includes heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, arterial stiffness, blood glucose levels, cholesterol, and/or the waveform shape corresponding to the heart beat.

### Claim 25 (depends on 18)

The activity monitoring system of claim 18 wherein the processing circuitry determines where the portable monitoring device is mounted on the user and, in response, uses data which is representative of at least one physiological condition of the user to calculate the at least one physiological-related quantity of the user.

### Claim 26

An activity monitoring system comprising:
a plurality of fixtures, wherein each fixture includes a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to an associated location on the body of the user;
a portable monitoring device adapted to separately and physically engage each fixture of the plurality of fixtures, the portable monitoring device including:
a housing to separately and physically engage each fixture;
an activity sensor, disposed in the housing, to detect activity of the user and, in response thereto, to generate data which is representative of the activity of the user;
an environmental sensor, disposed in the housing, to detect at least one ambient environmental condition and, in response thereto, to generate data which is representative of at least one environmental condition, and
processing circuitry, disposed in the housing and coupled to the activity sensor, to calculate one or more activity-related quantities of the user using the data which is representative of the activity of the user, wherein the processing circuitry:
determines a particular fixture of the plurality of fixtures is physically engaging the portable monitoring device,
calculates at least one activity-related quantity of the user which is associated with the particular fixture, and
calculates at least one at least one ambient environmental-related quantity.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The activity monitoring system of claim 26 wherein the at least one ambient environmental-related quantity includes ambient pressure, temperature, sound, light, humidity, atmosphere, noise pollution/levels, weather, UV exposure, lighting conditions, and/or air quality.

### Claim 28 (depends on 26)

The activity monitoring system of claim 26 wherein:
at least one fixture of the plurality of fixtures includes an associated signature, and
the processing circuitry determines the portable monitoring device is engaging the at least one fixture based on detecting the signature associated with the at least one fixture.

### Claim 29 (depends on 26)

The activity monitoring system of claim 26 wherein the processing circuitry of the portable monitoring device, in response to detecting the signature associated with a fixture, calculates the at least one activity-related quantity of the user using data from the activity sensor.

### Claim 30 (depends on 26)

The activity monitoring system of claim 26 further including:
a physiological sensor, disposed in the housing, to detect physiological data of the user and, in response thereto, to generate data which is representative of at least one physiological condition of the user, and
wherein the processing circuitry calculates at least one physiological-related quantity of the user using the data which is representative of at least one physiological condition of the user.