Gait-based biometric system for detecting weight gain or loss

摘要

Systems and methods for determining a user's static weight while standing as well as the user's load bearing weight. A sensor module with multiple sensors is placed inside a user's shoe and biometric data is gathered from the sensors when the user stands and when the user takes a step or walks. The data is used to generate data loops as the various sets of data are plotted against each other. The loops obtained from the data are then compared against stored loops previously obtained. Using the biometric loop baseline data, it can be determined whether the user has lost or gained weight, whether a specific load bearing weight condition is worsening while standing and while walking or running. The system can also determine whether a specific load bearing weight condition is improving or worsening.

主权项

1. A method for determining changes in a user's weight using a foot-based gait device, said device having a plurality of sensors for gathering gait-based data, the method comprising:
a) selecting two of said plurality of sensors, said plurality of sensors being in said device worn by said user; b) gathering data from each of said two sensors selected in step a); c) correlating said data gathered from said two sensors such that data points gathered at similar instances are matched with one another to result in data pairs; d) determining at least one characteristic loop from said data pairs, each of said at least one characteristic loop being a loop formed when said data pairs are plotted; e) retrieving baseline characteristic data, said baseline characteristic data being derived from data resulting from biometric data previously gathered from said user; f) determining a baseline characteristic loop from said baseline characteristic data; g) comparing characteristics of said at least one characteristic loop determined in step d) with characteristics of said baseline characteristic loop determined in step f) to thereby compare baseline characteristic data relating to said user's previous weight with characteristic data relating said user's current weight; h) if a comparison of said characteristics of said at least one characteristic loop and said characteristics of said baseline characteristic loop compared in step g) produces differences which exceed a predetermined amount or percentage, generating an alarm indicating a change in said user's weight; i) if a comparison of said characteristics of said at least one characteristic loop and said characteristics of said baseline characteristic loop compared in step g) produces differences which do not exceed said predetermined amount or percentage, generating an alarm indicating that a change has not occurred in said user's weight wherein step d) comprises determining multiple characteristic loops using multiple sets of data gathered from sensors selected in step a) and averaging said multiple characteristic loops to result in an average loop.