Physical activity inference from environmental metrics

US9700240B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC · US

Inventors

• Julia Maureen Letchner · Seattle, US
• Scott Saponas · Woodinville, US
• Alice Jane Bernheim Brush · Seattle, US
• Aman Kansal · Redmond, US
• Daniel Morris · Bellevue, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 14, 2012
• Grant date: Jul 11, 2017
• Expiry date: Dec 27, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61B2562/0223
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Portable devices include environmental sensors that generate metrics about the environment (e.g., accelerometers detecting impulses and vibration, and GPS receivers detecting position and velocity). Such devices often use environmental metrics to extract user input directed at the device by the user, and status information about the device and the environment. Presented herein are techniques for using environmental metrics to infer physical activities performed by the user while attached to the device. For example, jogging may be inferred from regular, strong impulses and typical jogging speed; walking may be inferred from regular, weak impulses and typical walking speed; and riding in a vehicle may be inferred from low-level vibrations and high speed (optionally identifying the type of vehicle ridden by the user). Based on these inferences, the device may automatically present applications and/or or adjust user interfaces suitable for the user's physical activity, rather than responsive to user input.