Post by Aiden on Jun 20, 2014 0:31:16 GMT 8
As noted in a comprehensive report by Appleinsider, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has published three patent applications by Apple covering a range of activity sensors on an iPhone and other wearable devices that seek to gather and process raw data to facilitate a user’s daily activities.
Key to the patent is the use of a smartphone or a “similar portable device” as a central hub for the tracking system, in which information and data collected by various sensors will be relayed to the hub for processing. Upon analysis of the data, the central device, likely an iPhone, will be able to deduce a user’s current activity, be it running, walking or sleeping.
One example detailed by Appleinsider is that of a device detecting that a user is running on a track mill:
Another interesting example of the system’s application involves two people wearing a tracking bracelet that connects to a hub, such as an iPhone:
Of course, it should be noted that these are just patent applications, which means Apple may not even include them in future iterations of devices. However, with the company rumoured to be developing an ‘iWatch’ smartwatch that incorporates various health and fitness tracking sensors, it is highly likely that some of these features might be implemented in the device.
Rumours of the iWatch have been rampant in recent months, with an earlier report hinting that the device is set for launch in October this year.
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A batch of Apple patent filings published on Thursday describe a system of interconnected sensors — some being wearable devices — that work with an iPhone hub to monitor activity levels, dynamically set or cancel alarms and manage push notification settings, among other automated tasks.
Key to the patent is the use of a smartphone or a “similar portable device” as a central hub for the tracking system, in which information and data collected by various sensors will be relayed to the hub for processing. Upon analysis of the data, the central device, likely an iPhone, will be able to deduce a user’s current activity, be it running, walking or sleeping.
One example detailed by Appleinsider is that of a device detecting that a user is running on a track mill:
For example, the process may begin with motion sensor or wrist-worn pulse rate sensor data that indicates a user is running. In this particular scenario, a location sensor determines the user is not moving and is in a building. Armed with the data, the system can apply further processing like pattern recognition to conclude that a user is running on a treadmill. From there the information can be sent to an offsite server for storage and compilation in an ongoing personal scorecard. For example, the treadmill activity may show up in a table as “Activity: Run; Environment: indoors; Distance: 3 miles; Time: 21 mins; Location: Home; Date: Jul. 23, 2012 3:00 PM.”
Another interesting example of the system’s application involves two people wearing a tracking bracelet that connects to a hub, such as an iPhone:
One interesting example brings another person into the mix. If both people are wearing biometric bracelets that can connect to one iPhone, Apple’s invention can dynamically change an alarm’s alert from a noise to a vibration based on the proximity to a sleeping user. In this case a first user is sleeping with their iPhone on a nightstand. If a second user is determined to be sleeping in between the first user and their iPhone, the alarm would switch from an audible alert to a bracelet vibration.
Of course, it should be noted that these are just patent applications, which means Apple may not even include them in future iterations of devices. However, with the company rumoured to be developing an ‘iWatch’ smartwatch that incorporates various health and fitness tracking sensors, it is highly likely that some of these features might be implemented in the device.
Rumours of the iWatch have been rampant in recent months, with an earlier report hinting that the device is set for launch in October this year.
Article