Detecting the starting and stopping of movement of a person...

Data processing: measuring – calibrating – or testing – Measurement system – Time duration or rate

Reexamination Certificate

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C073S865400, C235S105000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06298314

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the monitoring of the orthopedic motion of a person and, more particularly, to the detecting of when the person starts and stops engaging in Such motion.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
One known device for monitoring the orthopedic motion of a person is a pedometer. A pedometer typically is mounted on the waist of a person and is configured to count the footsteps of the person by measuring the number of times the person's body moves up an down during footsteps taken by the person. One prior art pedometer design uses a weight mounted on a spring to count the number of times that the person's body moves up and down as the person is walking. By properly calibrating the pedometer according to a previously measured stride length of the person, the distance traveled by the person may be measured by this device.
Another prior art pedometer device uses an accelerometer to measure the number of times that a foot impacts the ground when a person is in locomotion. That is, an accelerometer is mounted on a person so as to produce a signal having pronounced downward going peaks that are indicative of moments that the person's foot impacts the ground. These devices therefore produce results similar to the prior art weight-on-a-spring pedometer devices in that they merely count the number of footsteps of a person.
Some walkers and runners find it useful to measure a time between when they begin and when they finish walking or running. Heretofore, this time measurement has been accomplished by means of a stopwatch held in the hand of a person or worn on the person's wrist. Using a stopwatch, a person can manually start a timer when he or she begins to run or walk, and can manually stop the timer when he or she stops walking or running, thereby measuring a total time that the person was in locomotion, e.g., during a particular exercise session. This manual starting and stopping of a timer can be burdensome for the person because it requires the person to physically depress a button to accomplish the same.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for monitoring movement of a person in locomotion on foot involves using a sensor to generate a signal in response to movement of a person. A characteristic in the signal is identified that indicates the person is walking or running. In response to identifying the characteristic, a timer is started.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system for monitoring movement of a person in locomotion on foot includes a sensor and at least one controller. The sensor generates a signal in response to movement of the person. The least one controller is configured to identify a characteristic in the signal that indicates the person is walking or running, and to, in response to identifying the characteristic, start a timer.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for monitoring movement of a person in locomotion on foot involves using a sensor to generate a signal in response to movement of a person. After the person has begun walking or running, a characteristic in the signal is identified that indicates the person has ceased walking or running. In response to identifying the characteristic, an action is taken.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system for monitoring movement of a person in locomotion on foot includes a sensor and at least one controller. The sensor generates a signal in response to movement of the person. The least one controller is configured to, after the person has begun walking or running, identify a characteristic in the signal that indicates the person has ceased walking or running, and to, in response to identifying the characteristic, take an action.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method for monitoring movement of a person involves using a sensor to generate a signal in response to movement of a person. A characteristic in the signal is identified that is indicative of a foot of the person being in motion. In response to identifying the characteristic, a timer is started.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system for monitoring movement of a person includes a sensor and at least one controller. The sensor generates a signal in response to movement of the person. The at least one controller is configured to identify a characteristic in the signal indicative of a foot of the person being in motion, and to, in response to identifying the characteristic, start a timer.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method for monitoring movement of a person involves using a sensor to generate a signal in response to movement of a person. After a foot of the person has been in motion, a characteristic in the signal is identified that is indicative of the foot ceasing to be in motion. In response to identifying the characteristic, an action is taken.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system for monitoring movement of a person includes a sensor and at least one controller. The sensor generates a signal in response to movement of the person. The at least one controller is configured to, after a foot of the person has been in motion, identify a characteristic in the signal indicative of the foot ceasing to be in motion, and to, in response to identifying the characteristic, take an action.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method for monitoring movement of a person in locomotion on foot involves using a sensor to generate a signal in response to movement of a person. In response to identifying that the person is not walking or running, a characteristic in the signal is identified that indicates the person has begun walking or running. In response to identifying the characteristic, an action is taken.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system for monitoring movement of a person in locomotion on foot includes a sensor and at least one controller. The sensor generates a signal in response to movement of the person. The least one controller is configured to identify that the person is not walking or running, to, in response to identifying that the person is not walking or running, identify a characteristic in the signal that indicates the person has begun walking or running, and to, in response to identifying the characteristic, take an action.
According to another aspect of the invention, a method for monitoring movement of a person involves using a sensor to generate a signal in response to movement of a person. In response to identifying that a foot of the person is stationary, a characteristic in the signal is identified that indicates the foot is in motion. In response to identifying the characteristic, an action is taken.
According to another aspect of the invention, a system for monitoring movement of a person includes a sensor and at least one controller. The sensor generates a signal in response to movement of the person. The at least one controller is configured to identify that a loot of the person is stationary, to, in response to identifying that the foot is stationary, identify a characteristic in the signal that indicates the foot is in motion, and to, in response to identifying the characteristic, take an action.


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