Portable Monitoring Devices and Methods of Operating Same

Abstract

The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to a portable monitoring device to calculate a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by a user, the portable monitoring device comprising (i) a motion sensor to detect motion of the user and, in response thereto, to generate data which is representative of motion of the user, (ii) an altitude sensor to detect a change in altitude of the user and, in response thereto, to generate data which is representative of the change in altitude of the user, and (iii) processing circuitry, coupled to the motion sensor and the altitude sensor, to 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. The portable monitoring device may include a housing having a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to the body of the user.

1 . A portable monitoring device to calculate a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by a user, the portable monitoring device comprising:
 a motion sensor to detect motion of the user and, in response thereto, to generate data which is representative of motion of the user;   an altitude sensor to detect a change in altitude of the user and, in response thereto, to generate data which is representative of the change in altitude of the user;   processing circuitry, coupled to the motion sensor and the altitude sensor, to 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; and   wherein the portable monitoring device includes a housing having a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to the body of the user.   
     
     
         2 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 1  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. 
     
     
         3 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 1  wherein the processing circuitry:
 calculates an activity state of the user using the data which is representative of motion of the user, and 
 correlates a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user to one or more activity states of the user. 
 
     
     
         4 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 1  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. 
 
     
     
         5 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 4  further including circuitry, coupled to the processing circuitry, to output data which is representative of a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user. 
     
     
         6 . 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. 
     
     
         7 . 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. 
     
     
         8 . 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. 
     
     
         9 . 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. 
     
     
         10 . 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. 
     
     
         11 . 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 first threshold and (ii) the data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user exceeds a second threshold. 
     
     
         12 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 11  wherein the processing circuitry further calculates data which is representative of an accumulation of changes in elevation of the user. 
     
     
         13 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 12  wherein the processing circuitry calculates an altitude metric using the data which is representative of the accumulation of changes in elevation of the user. 
     
     
         14 . A portable monitoring device to calculate a calorie burn and a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by a user, the portable monitoring device comprising:
 a motion sensor to detect motion of the user and, in response, to generate data which is representative of motion of the user;   an altitude sensor to detect a change in altitude of the user and, in response, to generate data which is representative of the change in altitude of the user;   processing circuitry, coupled to the motion sensor and the altitude sensor, to:
 calculate a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by 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 
 calculate the calorie burn 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 
   wherein the portable monitoring device includes a housing having a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to the body of the user.   
     
     
         15 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 14  further including a display, coupled to the processing circuitry, to output (i) a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by the user and (ii) calorie burn. 
     
     
         16 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 14  wherein the processing circuitry further calculates:
 an activity state of the user using the data which is representative of motion of the user, and 
 the calorie burn using (i) the data which is representative of motion of the user, (ii) the data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user, and (iii) the data which is representative of the activity state of the user. 
 
     
     
         17 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 14  wherein the processing circuitry further calculates:
 an activity state of the user using the data which is representative of an ambulatory speed of the user, and 
 the calorie burn using (i) the data which is representative of motion of the user, (ii) the data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user, and (iii) the data which is representative of the activity state of the user. 
 
     
     
         18 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 14  wherein the processing circuitry determines the activity state of the user using user input data or instruction. 
     
     
         19 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 14  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. 
     
     
         20 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 14  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. 
     
     
         21 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 14  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. 
     
     
         22 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 14  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. 
     
     
         23 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 14  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. 
     
     
         24 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 14  wherein the processing circuitry further calculates data which is representative of changes 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. 
     
     
         25 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 24  wherein the processing circuitry further calculates an altitude metric using the data which is representative of a change in elevation of the user. 
     
     
         26 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 25  further including a display, coupled to the processing circuitry, to output the altitude metric. 
     
     
         27 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 24  further including circuitry, coupled to the processing circuitry, to output data which is representative of: (i) the altitude metric and (ii) the calorie burn. 
     
     
         28 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 14  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. 
 
     
     
         29 . A portable monitoring device to calculate a calorie burn and an activity state of a user, the portable monitoring device comprising:
 a motion sensor to detect motion of the user and, in response, to generate data which is representative of the motion of the user;   an altitude sensor to detect a change in altitude of the user and, in response, to generate data which is representative of the change in altitude of the user;   memory to store a plurality of activity specific calorie burn algorithms, wherein each calorie burn algorithm is associated with a specific activity state of the user;   processing circuitry, coupled to the motion sensor and the altitude sensor, to:
 calculate a number of stairs or flights of stairs traversed by 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 
 calculate the calorie burn using (i) an activity specific calorie burn algorithm associated with an activity state of the user, (ii) the data which is representative of the motion of the user and (iii) the data which is representative of the change in altitude, and 
   wherein the portable monitoring device includes a housing having a physical size and shape that is adapted to couple to the body of the user.   
     
     
         30 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 29  wherein the processing circuitry determines the activity state of the user using data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user. 
     
     
         31 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 29  wherein the processing circuitry determines the activity state of the user using (i) data which is representative of the motion of the user and (ii) data which is representative of a change in altitude of the user. 
     
     
         32 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 29  wherein the processing circuitry determines the activity state of the user based on input data or instruction. 
     
     
         33 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 29  wherein the processing circuitry further calculates data which is representative of changes 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. 
     
     
         34 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 33  wherein the processing circuitry further calculates an altitude metric using the data which is representative of a change in elevation of the user. 
     
     
         35 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 34  further including a display, coupled to the processing circuitry, to output the altitude metric. 
     
     
         36 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 33  further including circuitry, coupled to the processing circuitry, to output data which is representative of: (i) the altitude metric and (ii) the calorie burn. 
     
     
         37 . The portable monitoring device of  claim 29  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.