Personal activity tracking system

Abstract

An activity tracking device is defined to detect and record movement of a person to which the activity tracking device is affixed. A secondary electronic device is defined separate from the activity tracking device. The secondary electronic device is defined to receive data from the activity tracking device regarding the detected and recorded movement of the person. A website is defined to communicate with connected devices including the secondary electronic device. The website is defined to provide a user account for the person. The website is defined to convey information regarding the detected and recorded movement of the person through the user account.

1 . A system, comprising:
 a housing configured to be affixed to a person;   a motion detection device disposed within the housing, the motion detection device including circuitry configured to detect movement of the housing; and   a processor disposed within the housing, the processor configured to periodically sample the motion detection device to determine whether or not movement of the housing has occurred, the processor configured to direct a reduction in an amount of electrical power supplied to the processor upon determining that movement of the housing has not occurred at a sampling of the motion detection device, the processor configured to direct supply of a normal operational amount of electrical power to the processor upon determining that movement of the housing has occurred at a second sampling of the motion detection device.   
     
     
         2 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to periodically sample the motion detection device in accordance with an internal timer. 
     
     
         3 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the motion detection device is configured to signal the processor upon detection of movement by the motion detection device. 
     
     
         4 . The system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the processor is configured to direct supply of the normal operational amount of electrical power to the processor upon receiving the signal from the motion detection device indicating detection of movement by the motion detection device. 
     
     
         5 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the reduction in the amount of electrical power supplied to the processor is defined to put the processor into a sleep mode of operation. 
     
     
         6 . The system as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the processor is configured to direct supply of the normal operational amount of electrical power to the processor for a preset duration upon entering a normal mode of operation from the sleep mode of operation. 
     
     
         7 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a power switch configured to trigger supply of the normal operational amount of electrical power to the processor upon activation of the power switch.   
     
     
         8 . The system as recited in  claim 7 , further comprising: a capacitor configured to maintain the power switch in an on state when a sufficient amount of electrical charge is stored in the capacitor; and a resistor connected to control a reduction in the amount of electrical charge stored in the capacitor as a function of time. 
     
     
         9 . The system as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to direct recharging of the capacitor in accordance with detection of movement by the motion detection device. 
     
     
         10 . The system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the housing is connected to a band configured to be worn by the person. 
     
     
         11 . A method, comprising:
 operating a motion detection device to detect movement of a housing within which the motion detection device is disposed, the housing configured to be affixed to a person;   operating a processor to periodically sample the motion detection device to determine whether or not movement of the housing has occurred, the processor disposed within the housing;   operating the processor to direct a reduction in an amount of electrical power supplied to the processor upon determining that movement of the housing has not occurred at a sampling of the motion detection device; and   operating the processor to direct supply of a normal operational amount of electrical power to the processor upon determining that movement of the housing has occurred at a second sampling of the motion detection device.   
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 operating the processor to periodically sample the motion detection device in accordance with an internal timer.   
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 operating the motion detection device to signal the processor upon detection of movement by the motion detection device.   
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 operating the processor to direct supply of the normal operational amount of electrical power to the processor upon receiving the signal from the motion detection device indicating detection of movement by the motion detection device.   
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the reduction in the amount of electrical power supplied to the processor is defined to put the processor into a sleep mode of operation. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising:
 operating the processor to direct supply of the normal operational amount of electrical power to the processor for a preset duration upon entering a normal mode of operation from the sleep mode of operation.   
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 directing supply of the normal operational amount of electrical power to the processor upon activation of a power switch.   
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 17 , further comprising:
 maintaining the power switch in an on state when a sufficient amount of electrical charge is stored in a capacitor; and   reducing the amount of electrical charge stored in the capacitor as a function time in a controlled manner.   
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , further comprising:
 operating the processor to direct recharging of the capacitor in accordance with detection of movement by the motion detection device.   
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the housing is connected to a band configured to be worn by the person. 
     
     
         21 - 30 . (canceled)