Device for monitoring and sharing heart rate data

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a device for continuous physiological monitoring as well as systems and methods for interpreting and sharing data from such a device. The device may include a wearable strap that automatically and continually determines a heart rate of a user and provides continuous heart rate data. In addition, the device may include a communication system for transmitting and sharing the continuous heart rate data subject to a privacy switch operable by the user that can restrict such communication. For example, the privacy switch may include a shared setting where continuous heart rate data is available to a shared data repository, and a private setting where continuous heart rate data is not shared by the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a wearable strap configured to be couplable to an appendage of a user;   one or more light emitters for emitting light toward the user's skin;   one or more light detectors for receiving light reflected from the user's skin;   a processor configured to analyze data corresponding to the reflected light to automatically and continually determine a heart rate of the user, thereby providing continuous heart rate data;   a communication system configured to transmit the continuous heart rate data to a remote data repository; and   a privacy switch operable by the user to controllably restrict communication of a portion of the continuous heart rate data to the remote data repository.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the privacy switch includes a shared setting where continuous heart rate data is available to a shared data repository. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the shared data repository is maintained by an administrator for a sports team. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the shared data repository is maintained on a social networking website available to one or more members of a social network of the user. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the privacy switch includes a private setting where continuous heart rate data is not shared by the user. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 5  wherein continuous heart rate data is stored locally for private use by the user when in the private setting. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 5  wherein continuous heart rate data is not saved when in the private setting. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the privacy switch toggles between a private setting and a shared setting. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the device includes a display with an indicator of a current privacy setting of the privacy switch. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the privacy switch is located on the strap of the device. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the privacy switch is located on a local computing device associated with the user. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 11  wherein the local computing device includes a mobile computing device. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12  wherein the mobile computing device includes one or more of a laptop, a table, and a smart phone. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the privacy switch is hosted on a website accessible to the user through a web page. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 1  further comprising a schedule configured to automatically change a setting of the privacy switch on a predetermined schedule. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the privacy switch provides three or more different user-selectable privacy settings. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the continuous heart rate data includes summary data for a continuous heart rate of the user. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the privacy switch is operable by the user to controllably restrict communication of other fitness data obtained by the device. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 18  wherein the other fitness data includes an activity of the user, the activity selected from a group consisting of exercising, resting, and sleeping. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19  comprising one or more sensors, wherein the other fitness data includes data from the one or more sensors.