Abstract: A device supported by a user while the user is in locomotion on foot during an outing may monitor a performance parameter of the user. The performance parameter may comprise a pace and/or a speed of the user. Prior to the outing, the device may be configured to specify a first interval and second interval, corresponding to a first and second performance zone, respectively, for the outing. Each performance zone may be different from one another and each zone may comprise one of a zone of paces and a zone of speeds. During the first interval, an action may be taken with the device in response to determining that the monitored performance parameter has fallen outside of the first performance zone. During the second interval, an action may be taken with the device in response to determining that the monitored performance parameter has fallen outside the second performance zone.

Abstract: A user in locomotion on foot during an outing may identify a grade of a surface with at least one device supported by the user. A performance parameter of the user may be determined with the device based upon the grade of the surface, which may be based upon a measured physiological parameter of the user. An average foot contact time and an average pace of a user during a first outing may be identified and a relationship between them may be determined. No other average foot contact times or average paces identified during a different outing may be used to define the relationship. A single user-specific calibration contestant may define a relationship between foot contact times of a user and corresponding paces of the user, wherein no other user-specific calibration constants are used to define the relationship.

Abstract: A body worn patient monitoring device includes at least one disposable module including a plurality of electrical connections to the body. The body worn patient monitoring device also includes at least one communication-computation module, the communication-computation module having at least one microprocessor to actively monitor the patient and to perform a real-time physiological analysis of the physiological signals. A radio circuit communicates a raw physiological signal or a result of the physiological analysis at a predetermined time or on the occurrence of a predetermined event, via a radio transmission to a remote radio receiver, wherein the at least one disposable module is mechanically and electrically coupled directly to the at least one communication-computation module. The body worn patient monitoring device, including the at least one disposable module and the at least one communication-computation module, is directly non-permanently affixed to the skin surface of the patient.

Abstract: One disclosed method involves providing a first device comprising a sensor configured to sense a stimulus experienced by the first device, a controller configured to process data received from the sensor and thereby obtain processed sensor data, a transmitter configured to wirelessly transmit the processed data from the first device to a second device, and a battery configured to supply power to at least the controller and the transmitter. The first device is operated in a first operational mode in which the sensor, the controller, and the transmitter are used at least occasionally to obtain and transmit processed data to the second device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for implementing two-way communication between at least first and second devices comprises steps of: (a1) during finite time periods following transmission of respective first messages from the first device to the second device, using the first device to listen for second messages transmitted from the second device to first device; and (a2) after each of the finite time periods following the transmission of the respective first messages from the first device to the second device, ceasing to use the first device to listen for second messages transmitted from the second device to the first device until after the first device transmits another first message to the second device.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method involves determining at least one calculated parameter based upon at least one determined performance parameter of the user and at least one determined variable physiological parameter of the user. In another embodiment, a method involves identifying at least one of an existence of a non-zero grade of a surface and a value of the grade of the surface based upon at least one determined variable physiological parameter of a user.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method involves, in response to movement of a user during at least one footstep taken by the user, generating a signal that experiences changes during a time period that the foot is airborne during the at least one footstep. At least one change in the signal generated after the foot has become airborne and before the foot contacts a surface is identified that is indicative of the foot being airborne during the at least one footstep. In another embodiment, a method involves generating a signal in response to movement of a user during at least one footstep taken by the user. The signal is monitored to determine when the signal has experienced a minimum degree of smoothness for at least a given period of time. In response to determining that the signal has experienced the minimum degree of smoothness for at least the given period of time, it is identified that the foot of the user is airborne.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method for implementing two-way communication between at least first and second devices comprises steps of: (a1) during finite time periods following transmission of respective first messages from the first device to the second device, using the first device to listen for second messages transmitted from the second device to first device; and (a2) after each of the finite time periods following the transmission of the respective first messages from the first device to the second device, ceasing to use the first device to listen for second messages transmitted from the second device to the first device until after the first device transmits another first message to the second device.

Abstract: An apparatus is mounted to an object, and a signal from the apparatus is used to monitor the acceleration of the object. The apparatus includes a structure that flexes in response to acceleration of the object, and a transducer supported by the structure so as to generate a signal responsive to flexing of the structure. The structure and the transducer may be constructed and arranged such that a neutral axis passes through the structure when the structure flexes, and such that the neutral axis would still pass through the structure when the structure flexes if the first transducer was removed from the structure. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a multi-layer, piezoceramic capacitor disposed on a circuit board. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a disk-shaped, piezoceramic element of the type typically used in microphones or speakers.

Abstract: Various methods for monitoring movement of a person involve using a sensor to generate a signal in response to movement of a person. In one embodiment, a characteristic in the signal is identified that indicates the person is walking or running and, in response to identifying the characteristic, a timer is started. In another embodiment, after the person has begun walking or running, a characteristic in the signal is identified that indicates the person has ceased walking or running and, in response to identifying the characteristic, an action is taken. In another embodiment, a characteristic in the signal is identified that is indicative of a foot of the person being in motion and, in response to identifying the characteristic, a timer is started. In another embodiment, after a foot of the person has been in motion, a characteristic in the signal is identified that is indicative of the foot ceasing to be in motion and, in response to identifying the characteristic, an action is taken.

Abstract: The time period that a foot is in contact with the ground during a stride taken by a user, and the period that the foot is not in contact with the ground between strides taken by the user are determined by processing and analyzing the output signal of an accelerometer. The accelerometer is mounted on the user such that its acceleration sensing axis senses acceleration in a direction substantially parallel to the bottom of the user's foot. The output of the accelerometer is high-pass filtered, amplified, and fed to the input of a micro-controller, which monitors the signal for positive and negative signal spikes that are indicative, respectively, of the moment that the foot of the user leaves the ground and the moment that the foot impacts with the ground. By measuring time intervals between these positive and negative spikes, average "foot contact times" and "foot loft times" of the user may be calculated.

Abstract: The time period that a foot is in contact with the ground during a stride taken by a user, and the period that the foot is not in contact with the ground between strides taken by the user are determined by processing and analyzing the output signal of an accelerometer. The accelerometer is mounted on the user such that its acceleration sensing axis senses acceleration in a direction substantially parallel to the bottom of the user's foot. The output of the accelerometer is high-pass filtered, amplified, and fed to the input of a micro-controller, which monitors the signal for positive and negative signal spikes that are indicative, respectively, of the moment that the foot of the user leaves the ground and the moment that the foot impacts with the ground. By measuring time intervals between these positive and negative spikes, average "foot contact times" and "foot loft times" of the user may be calculated.