Intelligent Sampling Of Heart Rate

摘要

An activity monitor reduces power consumption by providing a heart rate sensor in an inactive mode at times when the heart rate is relatively unimportant. Data from a motion sensor is used to determine when to activate the heart rate monitor to obtain heart rate readings. For example, the motion data may indicate that the user is becoming active after a period of inactivity, or the user is vigorously exercising, then terminates the exercising, or the user is in a sleep-related activity such as the onset of sleep, non-REM (rapid-eye movement sleep) sleep, REM sleep and the user waking from sleep. The heart rate sensor may be in a continuously active mode, an alternating mode, or an inactive mode. In the alternating mode, a delay between readings is set adaptively based on the user's level of activity.

主权项

1. A method for monitoring a heart rate of a user, comprising:
obtaining motion data from a motion sensor worn by the user which indicates the user is not engaging in a threshold level of activity; keeping a heart rate sensor worn by the user in a schedule-based mode in response to the motion data indicating the user is not engaging in the threshold level of activity, the heart rate sensor in the schedule-based mode obtains a heart rate of the user at scheduled times which are not based on the motion data and does not obtain a heart rate of the user at other times; obtaining motion data from the motion sensor which indicates the user is engaging in the threshold level of activity; in response to the motion data which indicates the user is engaging in the threshold level of activity, providing the heart rate sensor in an alternating mode instead of in the schedule-based mode, the heart rate sensor in the alternating mode repeatedly alternates between an active state in which the heart rate sensor obtains the heart rate of the user and an inactive state in which the heart rate sensor does not obtain the heart rate of the user; obtaining motion data from the motion sensor during the alternating mode; and setting a duration of the inactive state based on the motion data which is obtained from the motion sensor during the alternating mode.