Abstract: The disclosure provides BMDs that have multiple device modes depending on operational conditions of the devices, e.g., motion intensity, device placement, and/or activity type, the device modes are associated with various data processing algorithms. In some embodiments, the BMD is implemented as a wrist-worn or arm-worn device. In some embodiments, methods for tracking physiological metrics using the BMDs are provided. In some embodiments, the process and the BMD applies a time domain analysis on data provided by a sensor of the BMD when the data has a high signal (e.g., high signal-to-noise ratio), and applies a frequency domain analysis on the data when the data has a low signal, which contributes to improved accuracy and speed of biometric data.

Abstract: Biometric monitoring devices, including various technologies that may be implemented in such devices, are discussed herein. Additionally, techniques, systems, and apparatuses are discussed herein for utilizing two different Bluetooth communications interfaces, one that provides Bluetooth classic (base rate/enhanced data rate) communications functionality and one that provides Bluetooth low-energy communications functionality, in a common device. The techniques, systems, and apparatuses may elect to use a particular Bluetooth interface based on various criteria.

Abstract: Biometric monitoring devices, including various technologies that may be implemented in such devices, are discussed herein. Additionally, techniques, systems, and apparatuses are discussed herein for providing power-conserving techniques and systems for efficiently utilizing a GPS receiver are described. The positional fix frequency of the GPS receiver may, according to some implementations, be modified or adjusted between various levels according to data from one or more non-GPS sensors. Such non-GPS sensors may include, for example, ambient light intensity or spectrum sensors, accelerometers, gyroscopes, magnetometers, heart rate sensors, galvanic skin response sensors, infrared sensors, etc.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for audio pass-through are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of operating a wearable audio device may involve receiving an ambient audio signal, detecting a first audio signal from within the received ambient audio signal, and determining that the first audio signal meets a first metric for pass-through to a user of the wearable audio device. The first metric may be indicative of a first priority level of the first audio signal to the user. The method may further involve isolating the first audio signal based on filtering the ambient audio signal in response to determining that the first audio signal meets the first metric and adjusting playback of the isolated first audio signal for the user via a speaker.

Abstract: Biometric monitoring devices, including various technologies that may be implemented in such devices, are discussed herein. Additionally, techniques for enhancing GPS speed and distance measurements based on step counts measured by a biometric monitoring device are provided. Such techniques may, in some implementations, involve blending two independently-measured data streams of raw distance traveled—one based on inter-coordinate GPS coordinate distances and one based on step count and stride length—using a Kalman filter to provide an enhanced-accuracy measurement of distance or speed traveled. In some other or additional implementations, distances or speeds calculated based on inter-coordinate GPS coordinate distances may be smoothed with a smoothing constant that is proportional to the variance in measured step count.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing biofeedback during a meditation exercise are disclosed. In one aspect, the wearable device includes one or more biometric sensors and a user interface. The method may involve prompting the user, via the user interface, to perform a meditation exercise, the meditation exercise being associated with a target physiological metric related to the physiology of the user. The method may involve measuring, based on output of at least one of the one or more biometric sensors, a physiological metric of the user during the meditation exercise. The method may involve determining a performance score indicating the user's performance during the meditation exercise based on comparing the measured physiological metric with the target physiological metric. The method may involve providing, via the user interface, based on the performance score, feedback information indicative of the user's performance during the meditation exercise.

Abstract: The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to systems and circuitry for and/or methods of establishing communication having one or more pairing facilitator-intermediary devices (for example, a network connected server) to enable or facilitate pairing and/or registering at least two devices (e.g., (i) a portable biometric monitoring device and (ii) a smartphone, laptop and/or tablet) to, for example, recognize, interact and/or enable interoperability between such devices. The pairing facilitator-intermediary device may responsively communicates information to one or more of the devices (to be paired or registered) which, in response, enable or facilitate such devices to pair or register. The present inventions may be advantageous where one or both of the devices to be paired or registered is/are not configured (e.g., include a user interface or certain communication circuitry that is configured or includes functionality) to pair devices without use of a facilitator-intermediary device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for capacitive off-wrist detection for wearable device are disclosed. In one aspect, the wearable device includes one or more biometric sensors including a capacitive sensor. The method may involve measuring, based on output of the capacitive sensor, a capacitance value indicative of proximity of the wearable device to a user. The method may also involve detecting a change in the capacitance value within a defined time interval, the change being greater than or equal to a threshold change indicative of the wearable device not being proximate to the user's skin. The method may further involve determining that the wearable device has been removed from the user in response to detecting that the change in the capacitance value within the defined time interval is greater than or equal to the threshold change.

Abstract: A tangless buckle system for straps for watches, fitness monitors, and other limb-worn devices. In such tangless buckle systems, a buckle with a tooth is provided. In contrast to a traditional buckle, the tooth and the buckle are fixed with respect to one another, i.e., the tooth does not rotate relative to the buckle. As this new buckle design does not include the rotating tang that extends all the way across the buckle loop in a traditional buckle design, the new design may be referred to as a “tangless” buckle. Such buckles may provide a simpler, yet highly secure, mechanism for securing such devices.

Abstract: A biometric monitoring device with a display is provided. The biometric monitoring device may track the completion progress towards one or more biometric performance goals and provide a goal celebration indicator upon completion of a biometric performance goal and subsequent receipt of an input signal. In some implementations, the completion of a biometric performance goal may be signaled prior to receipt of the input signal using a secondary indicator.

Abstract: A biometric monitoring device is used to determine a user's heart rate by using a heartbeat waveform sensor and a motion detecting sensor. In some embodiments, the device collects output data from the heartbeat waveform sensor and output data from the motion detecting sensor, determines an expected heart rate range from the output data from the motion detecting sensor, and determines the user's heart rate within the expected heart rate range using the output data from the heartbeat waveform sensor.

Abstract: Biometric monitoring devices, including various technologies that may be implemented in such devices, are discussed herein. Additionally, techniques, systems, and apparatuses are discussed herein for providing a hybrid antenna including an RF radiator and an electrically coupled inductive loop. The hybrid antenna is capable of providing both RF and induction functionality, e.g., radio frequency transmission/reception capabilities for Bluetooth as well as near-field-communications (NFC) functionality via the inductive loop. The inductive loop may be in conductive contact with the RF radiator or may be inductively coupled with the RF radiator and not in conductive contact with the RF radiator. The inductive loop may act as a planar element of a planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA).

Abstract: An activity monitoring device accumulates a count of steps taken as an individual bearing the activity monitoring device travels by foot along a route, and wirelessly acquires positioning data from a discrete global-positioning device corresponding to a sequence of locations along the route. The activity monitoring device iteratively revises an estimated stride length of the individual based on the positioning data and the step count and iteratively updates a travel distance on a display of the activity monitoring device according to the step count and the estimated stride length as the individual proceeds from one location in the sequence to the next.

Abstract: Mechanisms for providing inductance-based user interface elements are provided. Some implementations of such inductance-based devices may feature very small gaps between the housing and the inductive coil, as well as various features to aid in improving sensor sensitivity and reducing the possibility of false button-push events.

Abstract: In one aspect of the disclosed implementations, a device includes one or more motion sensors for sensing motion of the device and providing activity data indicative of the sensed motion. The device also includes one or more processors for monitoring the activity data, and receiving or generating annotation data for annotating the activity data with one or more markers or indicators to define one or more characteristics of an activity session. The device also includes one or more feedback devices for providing feedback, a notice, or an indication to a user based on the monitoring. The device further includes a portable housing that encloses at least portions of the motion sensors, the processors and the feedback devices.

Abstract: The present inventions, in one aspect, are directed to a system comprising a portable sensor device including a housing having a physical size/shape that is adapted to couple to a user's body, an identification tag including identification data which is associated with the sensor device and an identification tag transmitter to responsively and wirelessly transmit the identification data according to a first communication protocol. The system further includes a portable electronic device including an identification tag receiver to wirelessly receive the identification data of the identification tag according to the first communication protocol, transceiver circuitry to wirelessly and responsively communicate with the sensor device according to a second communication protocol, and processing circuitry to instruct the transceiver circuitry, after receiving the identification data, to wirelessly request, from the sensor device the sensor data and/or data which is representative of the sensor data.

Abstract: Methods, systems and devices are provided for motion-activated display of messages on an activity monitoring device. In one embodiment, method for presenting a message on an activity monitoring device is provided, including the following method operations: storing a plurality of messages to the device; detecting a stationary state of the device; detecting a movement of the device from the stationary state; in response to detecting the movement from the stationary state, selecting one of a plurality of messages, and displaying the selected message on the device.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to methods, devices, and systems to identify a user of a wearable fitness monitor using data obtained using the wearable fitness monitor. Data obtained from motion sensors of the wearable fitness monitor and data obtained from heartbeat waveform sensors of the wearable fitness monitor may be used to identify the user.