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).

  • Publication number: 20150230735
    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: April 29, 2015
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Inventors: Subramaniam Venkatraman, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen
  • Patent number: 9106307
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: FITBIT INC.
    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
  • Publication number: 20150186613
    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: March 12, 2015
    Publication date: July 2, 2015
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen
  • Publication number: 20150180842
    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: March 9, 2015
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventor: Heiko Gernot Albert Panther
  • Patent number: 9063164
    Abstract: In a portable activity-monitoring device, an instruction to display information regarding activity of an individual bearing the portable activity-monitoring device is received via a user-interface. In response to the instruction to display information, a command is wirelessly transmitted to a discrete data-collection device requesting the discrete data-collection device to collect data via one or more sensors thereof and to convey the collected data to the portable activity-monitoring device. Thereafter, the portable activity-monitoring device wirelessly receives the collected data from the discrete data-collection device and displays the information regarding activity of the individual bearing the portable activity-monitoring device, the displayed information being based, at least in part, on the collected data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: Shelten Gee Jao Yuen, Timothy M. Roberts, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Barry Christopher Burton
  • Publication number: 20150153457
    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: December 4, 2014
    Publication date: June 4, 2015
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen
  • Patent number: 9044171
    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: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: FITBIT, INC.
    Inventors: Subramaniam Venkatraman, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen
  • Patent number: 9048923
    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: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    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
  • Publication number: 20150138014
    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: January 28, 2015
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen
  • Patent number: 9035825
    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: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen
  • Patent number: 9026053
    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: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    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: 9013351
    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: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen
  • Patent number: 8976062
    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 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen
  • Publication number: 20150042490
    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: October 26, 2014
    Publication date: February 12, 2015
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Barry Christopher Burton, Eric Nathan Friedman
  • Patent number: 8892749
    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: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Barry Christopher Burton, Eric Nathan Friedman
  • Publication number: 20140316305
    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: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Publication date: October 23, 2014
    Applicant: Fitbit, Inc.
    Inventors: Subramaniam Venkatraman, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen
  • Publication number: 20140293059
    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: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen
  • Publication number: 20140292566
    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: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen
  • Publication number: 20140292565
    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: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen
  • Publication number: 20140292564
    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: April 1, 2014
    Publication date: October 2, 2014
    Inventors: James Park, Heiko Gernot Albert Panther, Shelten Gee Jao Yuen