Patents by Inventor Heiko Gernot Albert Panther

Heiko Gernot Albert Panther has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9664795
    Abstract: Assisted-GPS for a portable biometric monitoring device is provided. The portable biometric monitoring device may obtain updated ephemeris data from an associated secondary device via a short-range, low-power communication protocol. The secondary device may be a computing device such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Various rules may control when the ephemeris data is updated. The ephemeris data may be used in the calculation of the global position of the portable biometric monitoring device. Additionally, the portable biometric monitoring device may communicate downloaded position fixing data to the associated secondary device. The associated secondary device may then calculate the global position from the position fixing data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen
  • Patent number: 9655053
    Abstract: A notification signal, intended to be received by a wireless communication device, is repetitively broadcast by a portable activity-monitoring device that generates user-activity data corresponding to activity of an individual bearing the portable activity-monitoring device. The notification signal conveys information that identifies the portable activity-monitoring device and indicates whether or not the portable activity-monitoring device seeks establishment of a wireless communication link to enable transmission of the user-activity data to the wireless communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: FITBIT, INC.
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Barry Christopher Burton, Eric Nathan Friedman
  • Patent number: 9641239
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, James Park
  • Patent number: 9597014
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: Subramaniam Venkatraman, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen
  • Patent number: 9572533
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: Subramaniam Venkatraman, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen
  • Publication number: 20160227484
    Abstract: A notification signal, intended to be received by a wireless communication device, is repetitively broadcast by a portable activity-monitoring device that generates user-activity data corresponding to activity of an individual bearing the portable activity-monitoring device. The notification signal conveys information that identifies the portable activity-monitoring device and indicates whether or not the portable activity-monitoring device seeks establishment of a wireless communication link to enable transmission of the user-activity data to the wireless communication device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 14, 2016
    Publication date: August 4, 2016
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Barry Christopher Burton, Eric Nathan Friedman
  • Publication number: 20160150583
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2016
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventor: Heiko Gernot Albert Panther
  • Patent number: 9335416
    Abstract: Assisted-GPS for a portable biometric monitoring device is provided. The portable biometric monitoring device may obtain updated ephemeris data from an associated secondary device via a short-range, low-power communication protocol. The secondary device may be a computing device such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Various rules may control when the ephemeris data is updated. The ephemeris data may be used in the calculation of the global position of the portable biometric monitoring device. Additionally, the portable biometric monitoring device may communicate downloaded position fixing data to the associated secondary device. The associated secondary device may then calculate the global position from the position fixing data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen
  • Patent number: 9297903
    Abstract: Assisted-GPS for a portable biometric monitoring device is provided. The portable biometric monitoring device may obtain updated ephemeris data from an associated secondary device via a short-range, low-power communication protocol. The secondary device may be a computing device such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Various rules may control when the ephemeris data is updated. The ephemeris data may be used in the calculation of the global position of the portable biometric monitoring device. Additionally, the portable biometric monitoring device may communicate downloaded position fixing data to the associated secondary device. The associated secondary device may then calculate the global position from the position fixing data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen
  • Publication number: 20160077596
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an electronic device to be worn on a user's forearm includes a display and a set of one or more sensors that provide sensor data. In one aspect, a device may detect, using sensor data obtained from a set of sensors, that a first activity state of a user is active. The device may determine, while the first activity state is active, that the sensor data matches a watch check rule associated with the first activity state. Responsive to the detected match, the device may cause a change in visibility of the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Publication date: March 17, 2016
    Inventors: Alexandros PANTELOPOULOS, Shelten Gee Jao YUEN, Heiko Gernot Albert PANTHER
  • Patent number: 9286792
    Abstract: A notification signal, intended to be received by a wireless communication device, is repetitively broadcast by a portable activity-monitoring device that generates user-activity data corresponding to activity of an individual bearing the portable activity-monitoring device. The notification signal conveys information that identifies the portable activity-monitoring device and indicates whether or not the portable activity-monitoring device seeks establishment of a wireless communication link to enable transmission of the user-activity data to the wireless communication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Barry Christopher Burton, Eric Nathan Friedman
  • Publication number: 20160066844
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 12, 2015
    Publication date: March 10, 2016
    Inventors: Subramaniam VENKATRAMAN, Heiko Gernot Albert PANTHER, Shelten Gee Jao YUEN
  • Patent number: 9253168
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventor: Heiko Gernot Albert Panther
  • Publication number: 20160027409
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an electronic device to be worn on a user's forearm includes a display and a set of one or more sensors that provide sensor data. In one aspect, a device may detect, using sensor data obtained from a set of sensors, that a first activity state of a user is active. The device may determine, while the first activity state is active, that the sensor data matches a watch check rule associated with the first activity state. Responsive to the detected match, the device may cause a change in visibility of the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2015
    Publication date: January 28, 2016
    Inventors: Alexandros PANTELOPOULOS, Shelten Gee Jao YUEN, Heiko Gernot Albert PANTHER
  • Publication number: 20160004323
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an electronic device to be worn on a user's forearm includes a display and a set of one or more sensors that provide sensor data. In one aspect, a device may detect, using sensor data obtained from a set of sensors, that a first activity state of a user is active. The device may determine, while the first activity state is active, that the sensor data matches a watch check rule associated with the first activity state. Responsive to the detected match, the device may cause a change in visibility of the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Alexandros PANTELOPOULOS, Shelten Gee Jao YUEN, Heiko Gernot Albert PANTHER
  • Patent number: 9198604
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: FITBIT, INC.
    Inventors: Subramaniam Venkatraman, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen
  • Publication number: 20150309182
    Abstract: Assisted-GPS for a portable biometric monitoring device is provided. The portable biometric monitoring device may obtain updated ephemeris data from an associated secondary device via a short-range, low-power communication protocol. The secondary device may be a computing device such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Various rules may control when the ephemeris data is updated. The ephemeris data may be used in the calculation of the global position of the portable biometric monitoring device. Additionally, the portable biometric monitoring device may communicate downloaded position fixing data to the associated secondary device. The associated secondary device may then calculate the global position from the position fixing data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen
  • Publication number: 20150286285
    Abstract: In one embodiment, an electronic device to be worn on a user's forearm includes a display and a set of one or more sensors that provide sensor data. In one aspect, a device may detect, using sensor data obtained from a set of sensors, that a first activity state of a user is active. The device may determine, while the first activity state is active, that the sensor data matches a watch check rule associated with the first activity state. Responsive to the detected match, the device may cause a change in visibility of the display.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Publication date: October 8, 2015
    Inventors: Alexandros PANTELOPOULOS, Shelten Gee Jao YUEN, Heiko Gernot Albert PANTHER
  • Publication number: 20150257189
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention include a system and method for wirelessly identifying and validating an electronic device in order to initiate a communication process with another device or a service. In an embodiment, the system includes a portable biometric monitoring device that is identified by a client device or a server for the purpose of initiating a pairing process. In an embodiment, pairing implies pairing the portable device to an online user account with minimal user interaction. After pairing, the portable device and appropriate client devices and servers communicate with little or no user interaction, for example to upload sensor data collected by the portable device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Inventors: Peter Andrew MOLETTIERE, James PARK, Aislinn Abigail BILODEAUX-DEWEY, Christine Boomer BRUMBACK, Eric Nathan FRIEDMAN, Robert Curtis COLE, Heiko Gernot Albert PANTHER, Andrew Cole AXLEY
  • Patent number: 9121935
    Abstract: Assisted-GPS for a portable biometric monitoring device is provided. The portable biometric monitoring device may obtain updated ephemeris data from an associated secondary device via a short-range, low-power communication protocol. The secondary device may be a computing device such as a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Various rules may control when the ephemeris data is updated. The ephemeris data may be used in the calculation of the global position of the portable biometric monitoring device. Additionally, the portable biometric monitoring device may communicate downloaded position fixing data to the associated secondary device. The associated secondary device may then calculate the global position from the position fixing data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen