Systems and methods for providing audio and visual cues via a portable electronic device

Abstract

Methods and systems for providing a lifestyle companion system are provided. The lifestyle companion system can provide a platform to conduct a user interview. Based on the user interview responses, the system can suggest activities, references, and/or plug-in modules. During performance of activities, the system can provide audio and/or visual cues related to the activities and collect data indicative of the user's performance. Based on the collected data, the system can dynamically adapt the user's goals and/or activities the user is performing or will perform. In some embodiments of the present invention, the lifestyle companion system of the present invention can be applied to fitness, nutrition, and/or medical modules. The system also can be used to facilitate synchronous group activities.

1 .- 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . A method for an electronic device to collect data during a user's performance of a fitness activity, the method comprising:
 accepting first sensor data with the electronic device from at least a first sensor during the user's performance of the fitness activity, wherein the first sensor data is indicative of the user's performance of the fitness activity;   accepting second sensor data with the electronic device from at least a second sensor during the user's performance of the fitness activity, wherein the second sensor data is indicative of the user's performance of the fitness activity, and wherein the second sensor is a duplicative data source for the first sensor for a particular type of data; and   identifying, using the electronic device, a particular one of the accepted first sensor data and the accepted second sensor data as the more accurate sensor data for the particular type of data.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein:
 the first sensor is integrated within an exercise machine; and   the user's performance of the fitness activity comprises the user using the exercise machine.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the particular type of data comprises a performance metric of the user during the use of the exercise machine by the user. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising generating, using the electronic device, a control signal for influencing operation of the exercise machine based on the identified particular one of the accepted first sensor data and the accepted second sensor data. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein:
 the identifying the particular one of the accepted first sensor data and the accepted second sensor data comprises identifying the particular one of the accepted first sensor data and the accepted second sensor data during the use of the exercise machine by the user; and   the generating the control signal comprises generating the control signal during the use of the exercise machine by the user.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 36 , further comprising transmitting the control signal from the electronic device to the exercise machine for influencing the operation of the exercise machine during the use of the exercise machine by the user. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising generating, using the electronic device, a control signal for influencing operation of the exercise machine based on the identified particular one of the accepted first sensor data and the accepted second sensor data but not based on the other one of the accepted first sensor data and the accepted second sensor data. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the exercise machine is a treadmill. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the second sensor is attached to the user during the user's performance of the fitness activity. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the second sensor is integrated into the electronic device. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein:
 the particular type of data comprises a performance metric of the user during the user's performance of the fitness activity; and   the performance metric comprises a calorie count of the user during the user's performance of the fitness activity.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the identifying comprises comparing, using the electronic device, each one of the accepted first sensor data and the accepted second sensor data to historic data of the user. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the identifying comprises comparing, using the electronic device, each one of the accepted first sensor data and the accepted second sensor data to a reference value. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the identifying comprises comparing, using the electronic device, each one of the accepted first sensor data and the accepted second sensor data to a range of reference values. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the identifying comprises the electronic device automatically selecting the particular one of the accepted first sensor data and the accepted second sensor data as the more accurate sensor data for the particular type of data. 
     
     
         48 . An electronic device for use by a user during the user's performance of an activity, the electronic device comprising:
 a communication module configured to:
 accept first sensor data from at least a first sensor during the user's performance of the activity; and 
 accept second sensor data from at least a second sensor during the user's performance of the activity, wherein the second sensor is a duplicative data source of the first sensor for a type of data indicative of the user's performance of the activity; and 
   a control module configured to identify one of the accepted first sensor data and the accepted second sensor data as the more accurate sensor data for the type of data.   
     
     
         49 . The electronic device of  claim 48 , wherein the control module is further configured to generate a control signal for influencing operation of an exercise machine based on the identified one of the accepted first sensor data and the accepted second sensor data. 
     
     
         50 . The electronic device of  claim 49 , wherein:
 the first sensor is integrated within the exercise machine; and   the second sensor is integrated within the electronic device.   
     
     
         51 . The electronic device of  claim 48 , wherein the control module is further configured to generate a control signal for influencing operation of an exercise machine based on the identified one of the accepted first sensor data and the accepted second sensor data but not based on the other one of the accepted first sensor data and the accepted second sensor data. 
     
     
         52 . A method for an electronic device to collect data during a user's performance of an activity, the method comprising:
 accepting first sensor data with the electronic device from at least a first sensor during the user's performance of the activity;   accepting second sensor data with the electronic device from at least a second sensor during the user's performance of the activity, wherein the second sensor is a duplicative data source of the first sensor for a type of data indicative of the user's performance of the activity; and   identifying, using the electronic device, one of the accepted first sensor data and the accepted second sensor data as the more accurate sensor data for the type of data.