5,976,083
`[11] Patent Number:
`[19]
`United States Patent
`
`Richardson et al.
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Nov. 2, 1999
`
`U5005976083A
`
`[54] PORTABLE AEROBIC FITNESS MONITOR
`FOR WALKING AND RUNNING
`
`[75]
`
`Inventors: J. Jefi'rey Richardson, Boulder; Ted D.
`Wade, Littleton, both of C010.
`
`[73] Assignee: Living Systems, Inc., Boulder, Colo.
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 08/902,748
`
`Jul. 30: 1997
`Filed:
`[22]
`Int. 0.6 ........................................................ A61B 5/02
`[51]
`[52] US. Cl.
`.......................... 600/300; 600/481; 600/587;
`482/8; 482/901
`[58] Field of Search ..................................... 600/500, 502;
`600/520, 587, 592’ 595; 482/3, 4’ 8, 9’
`900 901 300 481
`’
`’
`’
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U~S- PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3/1980 Lipsey ......................................... 482/8
`3/1984 Jiminez et a1.
`...... 600/502
`
`..
`...... 600/481
`1/1986 Lubell et a].
`
`7/1988 Nasiff .............
`...... 364/415
`
`9/1988 Cavanagh
`...... 364/561
`
`5/1989 Thornton
`------ 600/520
`
`9/1989 Matthews .......
`~~~~~~~~~~ 482/8
`
`5/1992 sum)“ et al‘
`"
`“““ 377/242
`
`5/1994 Dotan ....................... 482/3
`
`...... 600/502
`7/1995 McPhee et a1.
`1/1996 Smith et a1.
`...... 364/566
`
`6/1996 Erickson ................................. 600/592
`
`4,192,000
`4,434,801
`4,566,461
`4,757,453
`4,771,394
`4,830,021
`4,867,442
`
`5’117’444
`5,314,389
`5,435,315
`5,485,402
`5,524,637
`
`Primary Examiner—Cary O’Connor
`Assistant Examiner—Charles Marmer, II
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Jay R Beyer; Stephen C Sheer
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A personal fitness monitoring device and a method for
`assessing the fitness of an individual as the individual
`
`exercises includes using a pedometer to determine and
`output data representing the locomotion of the individual. A
`heart rate monitor determines and outputs data representing
`the heart rate 0f the ihthiduah Adetermihatieh arrangement
`eate‘flatee the fitness 0f the thdtthual as the th‘thdual
`exercises using personal data provided by the individual in
`eemhihatteh With the data entPUte 0f the Pedometer and the
`heart
`rate Without requiring a predetermined exercise
`regime. In one embodiment,
`the pedometer calculates a
`distance traveled by the individual using personal data
`provided by the individual. The personal fitness monitoring
`device may further include a user interface for communi-
`cating With the user. The user interface uses a single user
`commuted 5616“ng meChanism to “bet a deSired one Of
`various user selectable options. The single user controlled
`selecting mechanism is arranged such that the user selects
`the desired option by actuating the selecting mechanism
`during or immediately following the time during Which the
`desired option is being presented by the user interface. The
`personal fitness monitoring device may also include a pre-
`dicting arrangement for tracking and predicting the fitness of
`the individual
`'
`
`23 Claims, 14 Drawing Sheets
`
`096
`
`0 9 4
`
`090
`
`092
`
`Page 1 of 34
`
`SAMSUNG EXHIBIT 1009
`
`Page 1 of 34
`
`SAMSUNG EXHIBIT 1009
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`N0V.2, 1999
`
`Sheet 1 0f 14
`
`5,976,083
`
`FITNESS MONITOR OOI‘fi
`I_ ——————————————— I
`HEART RATE
`INDICATION 009
`
`
`PERSONAL DATA 005
`
`BODILY
`
`MOVEMENT
`O__I7
`OE
`
`
`015
`EUNESS
`HTNESS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`PREDICTION
`SASESSMENT
`PEDOMETER
`ill ARRANGEMENT I ARRANGEMENT
`
`
`USERLZI MESSAGES 024
`9;;
`
`SELECTING ACTIONS 01 H
`
`Aumo
`
`
`r—
`
`INTERFACE
`OUTPUT
`
`
`
`AUXILIARY AUDIO 0131
`SWITCH
`
`I”
`
`Auom
`
`
`
`AumO
`| OUTPUT
`003
`
`
`I I I I I I I I
`
`PEDOMETER 015 J1
`I— ________________ I
`
`I I
`
`PERSONALI
`DATA 005
`
`I
`
`I
`I
`|
`
`I
`
`I
`.
`
`BOONY
`
`
`
`MOVEMENT 007
`
`92E
`ACCELEROMETER
`SUBSYSTEM
`
`
`£7612
`
`Page 2 of 34
`
`
`
`l
`
`
`
`l
`
`LOCOMONON
`
`
`
`___
`929
`Qél
`STEP PARAMETER
`PEDOMETER
`REAL-MME
`
`
`
`ASSGNMENT
`STORAGE
`CLOCK
`
`ARRANGEMENT
`MODULE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Page 2 of 34
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`N0V.2, 1999
`
`Sheet 2 0f 14
`
`5,976,083
`
`USER INTERFACE 021
`
`I ________:l ______ j
`
`I
`
`
`CURRENT STATE 049 #1
`__
`I
`
`
`MENU
`TRIGGER SIGNAL 051
`STORAGE
`
`
`SELECTING
`0390
`ARRANGEMENT
`
`
`
`
`ACTION 110
`CURRENT
`
`
`SELECTION
`
`TRANSDUCER
`OPTION
`
`
`
`DESIGNATION
`I
`
`
`
`I CURRENT
`SELECTING
`
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`ACTION 11b I
`
`
`
`
`
`
`037 PRESENTATION
`SELECTION
`
`
`
`
`I
`047
`TRANSDUCER
`
`RECITATION—
`
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`SELECTING
`MECHANISM
`ACTION IIC 0390
`
`SELECTION
`TRANSDUCER
`
`________________________________________.
`
`
`
`figémgfi
`
`AUDIO OUTPUT SWITCH 0231
`I—
`
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`I
`
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`AUDIO 013:
`
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`MESSAGES 0241:
`I
`I
`INTERRUPT
`CONTROL
`SIGNAL 059135
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`
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`ARRANGEMENT
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`
`
`
`F/G.4
`
`Page 3 of 34
`
`Page 3 of 34
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`N0V.2, 1999
`
`Sheet 3 0f 14
`
`5,976,083
`
`FITNESS ASSESSMENT ARRANGEMENT 03171
`
`
`90
`
` L..___..___
`
`| |
`
`I
`
`_
`
`| I
`
`
`
`PRIOR FITNESS
`STORAGE
`|
`
`
`ARRANGEMENT
`LOCOMOT|0N .
` 065
`
`PARAMETERS 015
`
`EXERTIoN —
`
`FITNESS
`
`
`
`
`MEASURING
`@
`PERSONAL DATA 005 I
`ASSESSMENT
`
`
`
`ARRANGEMENT
`
`071
`
`FITNESS
`
`
`DETERMINATION
`
`I
`HEART RATE
` (£7
`ARRANGEMENT
`
`
`
`INDICATION 009 L
`HEART BEAT
`
`
`SUBSYSTEM
`
`F/G.5
`
`FITNESS PREDICTION ARRANGEMENT 0191
`I_______________
`
`
`TIME TO NEXT ZONE 082
`
`I I I |
`
`I
`I
`
`FITNESS
`PREDICTION
`081
`
`
`
`
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`FITNESS —
`
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`STORAGE
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`ARRANGEMENT
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`
`PERSONAL DATA 005/\ FITNESS
`> PREDICTION
`MODULE
`
`FITNESS
`I
`ASSESSMENT O71
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`I I IL
`
`Page 4 of 34
`
`Page 4 of 34
`
`

`

`
`
`US. PatentUS. Patent
`
`
`
`N0V.2, 1999N0V.2, 1999
`
`
`
`Sheet 4 0f 14Sheet 4 0f 14
`
`
`
`5,976,0835,976,083
`
`
`
` 096 096
`
`
`
`092092
`
`
`
`Page 5 of 34Page 5 of 34
`
`Page 5 of 34
`
`

`

`
`
`US. PatentUS. Patent
`
`
`
`Nov. 2, 1999Nov. 2, 1999
`
`
`
`Sheet 5 0f 14Sheet 5 0f 14
`
`
`
`5,976,0835,976,083
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Page 6 of 34Page 6 of 34
`
`Page 6 of 34
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`N0V.2,1999
`
`Sheet6 0f14
`
`5,976,083
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`Page 7 of 34
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`Page 7 of 34
`
`
`
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`
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`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`N0V.2,1999
`
`Sheet 7 0f 14
`
`5,976,083
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`Page 8 of 34
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`N0V.2, 1999
`
`Sheet 8 0f 14
`
`5,976,083
`
`
`
`
`BEGIN PROGRAM
`
`
`
`YES
`
`
`
`BUTTON IS
`
`PRESSED FOR
`FIRST TIME
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`NEED
`PERSONAL
`
`
`
`
`
`
`STATE/MENU
`
`MONHOR SENSORS
`LOOP lgg
`
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`
`PROCESS 1§1
`
`
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`
`
`
`ADD Q STATES:
`
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`
`LONG PAUSE
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`
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`
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`
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`
`
`
`
`STATE QUEUE
`
`LOCOMONON
`
`STARTS ?
`
`ADD 0 STATES:
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`
`
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`
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`PROCESS 156
`
`
`
`
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` SESSION
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`
`
`
`
`
`ADD 0 STATES:
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`
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`
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`
`F/G.77
`
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`SENSORS
`
`PROCESS 1§A
`
`
`
`
`
`SUMMARHE
`SESQON
`PROCESS 1§§
`
`ADD Q STATES:
`'STOP RESULTS'
`'STOP GOODBYE'
`
`
`
`
`
`FRONT STATE:
`'STOP GOODBYE
`
`END
`PROGRAM
`
`
`
`
`
`Page 9 of 34
`
`Page 9 of 34
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`N0V.2, 1999
`
`Sheet 9 0f 14
`
`5,976,083
`
`154
`
`\I
`
`SESSION END
`
`MESSAGE
`
`SAMPLE
`
`DNER
`
`STOP
`
`
`
`
`
`INTERIM
`EggfigRggBAD
`
`
`
`
`START
`lgi
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`SCAN B(A)
`
`
`
`USE RAW SAMPLES FROM
`
`A(B) T0 COMPUTE MOVING
`
`AVERAGE ACCELERATION
`
`
`
`
`DETECT FOOTFALLS AND
`ADD SUMMARIZED STEPS
`
`TO STEP QUEUE
`
` LONG WITH YES
`
`
`
`DETECT HEART BEATS
`AND ADD TO BEAT QUEUE
`
`SESSION
`STARTED
`?
`
`N0
`
` STEPS?
`
`
` REPORT
`LOCOMOTION STARTS
`
`TO EAR MENU
`PROCESS 12
`
`
`DEQUEUE UNREPORTED
`STEPS AS STEP_STATISTICS
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`REPORT ONGOING REST
`PERIOD AS STEP
`STADSDCS 1gg
`
`ADD Q STATES:
`'LONG PAUSE’
`
`STATE/MENU
`LOOP Igg
`
`F/G.72
`
`Page 10 of 34
`
`Page 10 of 34
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`N0V.2, 1999
`
`Sheet 10 0f 14
`
`5,976,083
`
`DETECTING STEPS AS FOOTFALLS
`
`ACCELERKHON
`
`FOOTFALLS
`
`................... BASELINE (AVG)
`
`ACCELERATION168ING
`
`HEEL STRIKE
`1 95
`
`ELAPSED TIME IN SECONDS
`
`/Ei/<5?. 7.33c3'
`
`COMPONENTS OF A STEP
`
`TOE PUSH-OFF
`197
`
`CYCLHT
`
`200
`
`
`FFALLB
`I 96
`
`
`
`
`202
`
`F/G. 73b
`
`Page 11 0f34
`
`Page 11 of 34
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`4
`
`5,976,083
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`Page 12 of 34
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`Page 12 of 34
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`US. Patent
`
`N0V.2, 1999
`
`Sheet 12 0f 14
`
`5,976,083
`
`192
`
`/
`
`DEQUEUE
`
`
`
`RELATED STATES
`EXECUTE CURRENT
`STATE 953
`
`
`
`DEQUEUE
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`
`
`
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`STATE
`QUEUE IS
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`
`BEGIN FRONT UTTERANCE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`STOP
`ONGOING OR BEFORE
`
`
`
`BUTTON IS PRESSED
`
`
`UTTERANCES
`
`
`
`WHILE UTTERANCE
`
`NEXT UTTERANCE
`
`UTTERANCE
`
`FINISHED
`
`UTTERANCE
`
`CHAIN:
`TRUE?
`
`
`
`F/G‘.75
`
`Page 13 0f34
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`Page 13 of 34
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 2, 1999
`
`Sheet13 0f14
`
`5,976,083
`
`
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`US. Patent
`
`N0V.2, 1999
`
`Sheet 14 0f 14
`
`5,976,083
`
`HEART RATE (HR) VS ENERGY EXPENDITURE (EE)
`PER STEP
`
`MAX HR
`227
`
`HEART
`RATE
`226
`
`REST HR
`
`
`
`I
`BASAL EE
`
`ENERGY
`EXPENDHURE
`228
`
`I
`MAX EE 23o=RAw FHNESS 232
`
`HTNESS TREND
`CURVE 229
`
`TODAY
`
`PRENCTED
`HTNESS 234
`
`PRESENT
`HTNESS 236
`
`MAX EE
`230
`
`‘,
`
`O
`
`I
`
`-100 DAYS
`
`l
`
`0
`TODAY
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`l
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`+100 DAYS
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`MAX EE OVER DAYS
`
`F/G.77
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`Page 15 0f34
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`Page 15 of 34
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`

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`5,976,083
`
`1
`PORTABLE AEROBIC FITNESS MONITOR
`FOR WALKING AND RUNNING
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to personal fitness monitor-
`ing devices. More specifically,
`the invention relates to a
`personal fitness monitoring device that may be worn by an
`individual while the individual is exercising. The fitness
`monitoring device monitors the aerobic fitness of the user as
`the user exercises and provides the user with information
`about the current exercise session, an assessment of the
`user’s current fitness level, and a prediction of the user’s
`future fitness.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`A personal fitness monitoring device and a method for
`assessing the fitness of an individual as the individual
`exercises is herein disclosed. The fitness monitoring device
`includes a pedometer for determining and outputting data
`representing the locomotion of the individual. A heart rate
`monitor determines and outputs data representing the heart
`rate of the individual. A determination arrangement calcu-
`lates the fitness of the individual as the individual exercises
`
`using personal data provided by the individual in combina-
`tion with the data outputs of the pedometer and the heart rate
`monitor without requiring a predetermined exercise regime.
`In one embodiment, the pedometer of the personal fitness
`monitoring device includes an accelerometer for measuring
`and outputting data representing the vertical accelerations
`caused by each step of the individual as the individual is
`walking or running. A clock is used to segment the output of
`the accelerometer into a time series of data points repre-
`senting the output of the accelerometer. A distance determi-
`nation arrangement calculates a distance traveled by the
`individual using personal data provided by the individual in
`combination with the data outputs of the accelerometer and
`the clock.
`
`In another embodiment, the personal fitness monitoring
`device further includes a user interface for communicating
`with the user. The user interface includes menus having a
`plurality of various user selectable options available to the
`user for controlling the operation of the personal fitness
`monitoring device. The various user selectable options of the
`menus are successively presented to the user. A single user
`controlled selecting mechanism is used for selecting a
`desired one of the various user selectable options of the
`menus. The single user controlled selecting mechanism is
`arranged such that the user selects the desired option by
`actuating the selecting mechanism during or immediately
`following the time during which the desired option is being
`presented by the user interface.
`In one version of the above described embodiment, the
`arrangement for presenting the various user selectable
`options to the user is provided by an audio producing
`arrangement which presents the options to the user in the
`form of recorded or synthesized speech. This embodiment
`may further include an auxiliary audio fader arrangement.
`The audio fader arrangement has an auxiliary audio input
`connector for receiving an auxiliary audio input signal from
`an auxiliary audio device. Afader, which is controlled by the
`operation of the personal fitness monitoring device, connects
`the auxiliary audio input signal to an audio output device
`used by the user interface of the personal fitness monitoring
`device to present the user interface messages. The fader is
`configured to suppress the auxiliary audio input signal when
`the user interface of personal fitness monitoring device
`presents a message to the user.
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`In another embodiment, the personal fitness monitoring
`device further includes a predicting arrangement for tracking
`and predicting the fitness of the individual. The predicting
`arrangement includes a memory arrangement for storing the
`data representing the fitness of the individual each time the
`individual exercises using the personal fitness monitoring
`device. A fitness projecting arrangement calculates a pro-
`jected fitness of the individual. The fitness projecting
`arrangement uses the stored data representing the fitness of
`the individual each time the individual exercises using the
`personal fitness monitoring device to calculate the projected
`fitness of the individual.
`
`In another aspect of the invention, a pedometer and a
`method for calculating the distance traveled by an individual
`as the individual walks or runs is herein disclosed. The
`
`pedometer includes an accelerometer for measuring and
`outputting data representing the vertical accelerations of
`each step of an individual as the individual is walking or
`running. A clock is used to segment
`the output of the
`accelerometer into a time series of data points representing
`the output of the accelerometer. The pedometer also includes
`a determination arrangement for calculating a distance trav-
`eled by the individual. The determination arrangement uses
`personal data provided by the individual in combination
`with the data outputs of the accelerometer and the clock to
`calculate the distance traveled.
`
`In another aspect of the invention, a user interface for use
`in a personal fitness monitoring device and a user interface
`method are herein disclosed. The user interface includes
`
`menus having a plurality of various user selectable options
`available to the user for controlling the operation of the
`personal fitness monitoring device. An audio producing
`arrangement is used to present the various user selectable
`options of the menus to the user in the form of recorded or
`synthesized speech. A single user controlled selecting
`mechanism is used to select a desired one of the various user
`
`selectable options of the menus. The single user controlled
`selecting mechanism is arranged such that the user selects
`the desired option by actuating the selecting mechanism
`during or immediately following the time during which the
`desired option is being presented in the form of recorded or
`synthesized speech.
`In another aspect of the invention, an auxiliary audio fader
`arrangement and method for use in a personal fitness moni-
`toring device which includes an audio user interface for
`presenting user interface audio messages to a user in order
`to interface with the user is herein disclosed. An auxiliary
`audio input connector receives an auxiliary audio input
`signal from an auxiliary audio device. A fader, which is
`controlled by the operation of the personal fitness monitor-
`ing device, connects the auxiliary audio input signal to an
`audio output device used by the audio user interface of the
`personal fitness monitoring device to present the user inter-
`face audio messages. The fader is configured to suppress the
`auxiliary audio input signal when the audio user interface of
`personal fitness monitoring device presents an audio mes-
`sage to the user.
`And finally, in another aspect of the invention, a personal
`fitness monitoring device and method for tracking and
`predicting the fitness of an individual is herein disclosed.
`The fitness device includes an exertion determining arrange-
`ment for determining and outputting data representing the
`exertion of the individual as the individual is exercising. A
`heart rate monitor is used to determine and output data
`representing the heart rate of the individual. A fitness deter-
`mination arrangement calculates and outputs data represent-
`ing the fitness of the individual as the individual exercises.
`
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`5,976,083
`
`3
`The determination arrangement uses personal data provided
`by the individual in combination with the data outputs of the
`exertion determining arrangement and the heart rate monitor
`to calculate the fitness of the individual. A memory arrange-
`ment stores the data representing the fitness of the individual
`each time the individual exercises using the personal fitness
`monitoring device. A fitness projecting arrangement calcu-
`lates a projected fitness of the individual. The fitness pro-
`jecting arrangement uses the stored data representing the
`fitness of the individual each time the individual exercises
`
`using the personal fitness monitoring device to calculate the
`projected fitness of the individual.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The features of the present invention may best be under-
`stood by reference to the following description of the
`presently preferred embodiments together with the accom-
`panying drawings in which:
`FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of one embodiment
`of a personal fitness monitor in accordance with the present
`invention.
`
`FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of one embodiment
`of a pedometer in accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of a user interface in
`accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of an audio fader
`arrangement in accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of a fitness assess-
`ment arrangement in accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic illustration of a fitness prediction
`arrangement in accordance with the present invention.
`FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic illustration of another embodi-
`ment of a personal fitness monitor device in accordance with
`the present invention showing how the device is worn by an
`individual.
`
`FIG. 8 is a perspective illustration of the personal fitness
`monitoring device of FIG. 7
`FIG. 9 is a schematic illustration showing various com-
`ponents which make up the personal fitness monitoring
`device of FIG. 7.
`
`FIG. 10 is a data flow diagram illustrating the operation
`of the personal fitness monitoring device of FIG. 7.
`FIG. 11 is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of an
`ear menu process of the personal fitness monitoring device
`of FIG. 7.
`
`FIG. 12 is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of a
`monitor sensors process of the personal fitness monitoring
`device of FIG. 7.
`
`FIG. 13a is diagrammatic illustration of one embodiment
`detailing how the personal fitness monitoring device of FIG.
`7 detects steps as footfalls.
`FIG. 13b is a diagrammatic illustration of one embodi-
`ment detailing the different components of a step interpreted
`by the personal fitness monitoring device of FIG. 7.
`FIG. 14 is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of a
`gait model used by the personal fitness monitoring device of
`FIG. 7.
`
`FIG. 15 is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of a
`state/menu process used by the personal fitness monitoring
`device of FIG. 7.
`
`FIG. 16 is a time line illustrating the state/menu process
`illustrated in FIG. 15.
`
`FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic illustration of one embodiment
`of how the personal fitness monitoring device of FIG. 7
`computes a fitness trend.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a fitness monitor 001,
`designed in accordance with the invention. When worn on
`the human body while exercising on multiple occasions over
`the course of many days, fitness monitor 001 provides the
`user, as its primary output, an audio output 003. Audio
`output 003 may take the form of synthesized or digitized
`voice messages detailing the user’s current exercise session,
`an assessment of the user’s current level of fitness, and a
`prediction of the user’s future fitness.
`Fitness monitor 001 takes as primary input certain user’s
`personal data 005, an indication of the user’s bodily move-
`ment 007, an indication of the user’s heart rate 009, any user
`selecting actions 011, and an auxiliary audio input 013, all
`of which will be described hereinafter. Fitness monitor 001
`has as constituent components a pedometer 015, a fitness
`assessment arrangement 017, a fitness prediction arrange-
`ment 019, a user interface 021, and an audio output switch
`023, all of which will also be discussed hereinafter.
`Taking as inputs bodily movement 007 and personal data
`005, pedometer 015 produces a locomotion parameters
`signal 016 representing the users walking or running loco-
`motion. Signal 016 indicates locomotion parameters asso-
`ciated with each step that the user takes during an exercise
`session. The locomotion parameters include the gait,
`duration, speed, and distance of each step, and optionally,
`grade and terrain characteristics.
`The output signal 016 of pedometer 015 is taken as input
`to fitness assessment arrangement 017 which also takes as
`input heart rate indication 009 and personal data 005. The
`fitness assessment arrangement 017 then computes an esti-
`mate of the user’s current fitness, a measure of the aerobic
`capacity of the user. This output may be expressed in one of
`several common units of measure, including ml oxygen per
`minute and kilogram body weight, known as V02, metabolic
`equivalents, known as METs, or any commonly used mea-
`sure of indication of fitness, including qualitative measures
`such as “good” or “poor.”
`The output of fitness assessment arrangement 017 is input
`to fitness prediction arrangement 019, which also takes as
`input personal data 005. The fitness prediction arrangement
`019 produces as output a signal that represents the rate of
`change and future trajectory of the user’s aerobic fitness.
`This output
`is reported on demand to the user through
`suitable means according to the particular embodiment of
`the invention, for example as a text display or as pre-
`recorded or synthesized speech. However, the format of the
`output is not a requirement of the invention and it may vary
`considerably.
`The fitness monitor 001 also includes a user interaction
`
`arrangement, user interface 021. User interface 021 provides
`a means for the user to communicate with fitness monitor
`
`001 by coordinating the timing of a selecting action 011 with
`the temporal period during which a choice is presented. User
`interface 021 provides as an output certain audio messages
`024.
`
`Finally, fitness monitor 001 includes audio output switch
`023 which takes as input both audio messages 024 of fitness
`monitor 001 and auxiliary audio 013 the user may wish to
`hear. The purpose of the audio output switch 023 is to permit
`users to attend to their desired auxiliary programming yet to
`also permit this programming to be interrupted or faded out
`in order that users can hear important messages initiated by
`fitness monitor 001. For example, users will be able to listen
`to a portable tape recorder or radio and to fitness monitor
`001 through the same set of earphones as will be described
`hereinafter.
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`5,976,083
`
`5
`While fitness monitor 001 is described as being composed
`of pedometer 015,
`fitness assessment arrangement 017,
`fitness prediction arrangement 019, user interface 021, audio
`output switch 023, and inputs representing bodily movement
`007, personal data 005, heart rate indication 009, selecting
`actions 011, and auxiliary audio 013, the presence of all of
`these components is not essential to this invention, and the
`existence of certain additional components would be con-
`sistent with the invention. For example, a non-audio version
`of fitness monitor 001 could be constructed without the
`requirement of audio output switch 023.
`Aversion of fitness monitor 001 comprised of any of its
`components alone would be a useful device, for example,
`pedometer 015 alone, or fitness prediction arrangement 019
`alone. Or several constituents could be present, while others
`are absent, for example, pedometer 015, fitness assessment
`arrangement 017, and fitness prediction arrangement 019
`would provide a useful fitness monitoring device employing
`some means of user interaction other than user interface 021
`
`as described herein. Similarly, pedometer 015 is not a
`requirement of the invention because other methods of
`detecting and reporting distance traveled, speed of traveling,
`or expended energy in general might be employed, such as
`global positioning systems or Doppler sound ranging tech-
`niques. In a like manner, fitness prediction arrangement 019
`is not a requirement of the invention because the fitness
`monitoring function can be fully realized by computing and
`reporting the user’s current fitness without regard to or need
`to predict the future trends in fitness.
`In summary, the constituent components of this invention
`can be assembled into numerous configurations by including
`some components and leaving others out. All such useful
`combinations would be consistent with the invention. On the
`
`other hand, the invention may be augmented with additional
`components without changing the nature of this invention.
`For example, the invention could include in its function-
`ing access to sources of auditory programming, such as
`recorded audio, broadcasts, or digital text that could be
`translated to voice for presentation to the user. That is, the
`invention could include a component designed to provide
`the user with pager messages, email messages, and Internet
`information bulletins. Audio messages could also be used
`for encouragement, advice, and inspiration. A remote clin-
`ic’s computer could send fitness goals and a suggested
`exercise regimen to the fitness monitor 001, which could in
`turn report back on compliance with the regimen and fitness
`changes for review by clinic personnel.
`As another example of additional components, the fitness
`monitor 001, when combined with a personal digital assis-
`tant scheduling program, could arrange times for the user to
`exercise. A home scale could supply body weight, which is
`needed by the fitness monitor 001 for many of its calcula-
`tions. A kitchen appliance used for recipes, diet and menu
`planning could give an estimate of dietary fat, which the
`fitness monitor 001 could use in recommending fitness
`goals, and explaining fitness progress. The fitness monitor
`001 in turn could supply fitness and body weight to the
`dietary computer, which could use them to make dietary
`recommendations.
`
`While several examples have been cited of additional
`components to which the invention might be connected,
`these examples are only indicative of the range of inputs to
`and outputs from the invention described herein. Custom-
`ized inputs for these components could be readily provided
`and/or user interface 021 could be designed to accommodate
`all of these components through one or more auxiliary
`inputs.
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`The principal advantage of the invention consistent with
`the embodiment as fitness monitor 001 is that previous
`approaches have provided no equivalent function of calcu-
`lating fitness while the user is engaged in normal exercise
`activity and without the requirement that the user follow a
`specific testing protocol conducted in a specific location in
`order to determine fitness. Afurther advantage is that, due to
`the ease of calculating fitness, it is possible to obtain a time
`series of fitness data points across a number days which
`permits a trend in fitness to be computed and reported to the
`user.
`Pedometer 015
`
`Although pedometer 015 has been described as being
`included in fitness monitor 001, this is not a requirement of
`the invention. Instead, pedometer 015 may be used alone
`while walking or running to provide information about
`locomotor activity, including gait, total distance traveled,
`calories consumed, current and average speed of travel, and
`current grade of the terrain.
`FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of pedometer 015 designed
`in accordance with the invention. Pedometer 015 includes an
`
`accelerometer subsystem 025, a step parameter assignment
`module 027, a pedometer storage arrangement 029, and a
`real-time clock 031. Pedometer 015 takes as input personal
`data 005 and bodily movement 007 and provides as output
`locomotion parameters 016. Accelerometer subsystem 025
`measures the on-going instantaneous profile of the user’s
`movement as magnitudes of acceleration in or near the
`vertical plane and stores these magnitudes in pedometer
`storage arrangement 029 as a time series wherein each
`instantaneous moment’s acceleration is associated with a
`
`time provided by the real-time clock 031. A more detailed
`discussion of the way in which pedometer 015 operates will
`be provided hereinafter in conjunction with FIGS. 13 and
`14.
`
`Step parameter assignment module 027 makes use of the
`varying magnitude of acceleration in the vertical or near-
`vertical plane as an individual walks or runs as recorded in
`pedometer storage arrangement 029. Prior art pedometers
`base the measurement of distance on ascribing (a) a prede-
`termined length to each step, (b) a variable length based only
`on the stride time, (c) or, one of several alternative prede-
`termined lengths associated with one of several predeter-
`mined gaits. The present invention bases the measurement of
`distance covered by a series of steps by assigning a certain
`distance and speed to each step depending on the charac-
`teristics of the near-vertical acceleration waveform produced
`by that step.
`It is not a requirement of this invention that the vertical or
`near-vertical acceleration magnitude be associated with any
`one temporal
`instant during the course of a step. For
`example, the magnitude employed by step parameter assign-
`ment module 027 might be associated with the heel strike,
`or the toe push-off. Given embodiments of the invention
`could require that step parameter assignment module 027
`employs acceleration magnitudes from multiple or even all
`temporal instants during the course of a step. A step begins
`with a left (or right) foot heel strike and continues through
`and ends with the right (or left) foot heel strike.
`The step parameter assignment module 027 employs
`personal data 005 in ascribing the correct gait and speed to
`associate with a step. Step parameter assignment module
`027 employs