Hierarchical de-duplication techniques for tracking fitness metrics

Abstract

A method for tracking fitness data includes receiving within a time window a first instance of fitness data from a first monitoring device coupled to a user and a second instance of fitness data from a second monitoring device coupled to the user. The method further includes selecting a preferred instance of fitness data based on a classification of the fitness data as active fitness data or passive fitness data. The method further includes incorporating the selected preferred instance of the fitness data into a fitness profile of the use, and omitting the non-selected instance of the fitness data from incorporation into the fitness profile. The method further includes transmitting a portion of the fitness profile for display on a display device, the portion of the fitness profile including the selected preferred instance of the fitness data and not including the omitted non-selected instance of the fitness data.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for tracking fitness data, the method comprising:
 receiving within a time window a first instance of fitness data from a first monitoring device coupled to a user;   receiving within the time window a second instance of fitness data from a second monitoring device coupled to the user, wherein the first instance of fitness data and the second instance of fitness data are both a same type of fitness data;   determining a classification of each of the first instance and the second instance of the fitness data as either active fitness data or passive fitness data;   selecting a preferred instance of fitness data within the time window based on a set of rules, wherein said rules define the first instance as the preferred instance of the fitness data and the second instance as a non-selected instance when the first instance is classified as active fitness data and the second instance is classified as passive fitness data;   incorporating the selected preferred instance of the fitness data into a fitness profile of the user;   omitting the non-selected instance of the fitness data from incorporation into the fitness profile of the user; and   transmitting a portion of the fitness profile of the user for display on a display device, the portion of the fitness profile including the selected preferred instance of the fitness data and not including the omitted non-selected instance of the fitness data.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the type of fitness data is heart rate data, step count data, or distance data. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device are both step counters. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device are both heart rate monitors. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the time window is a duration of time defined by the server during which the received first instance and second instance of fitness data are classified as being received simultaneously or substantially simultaneously. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the time window is less than five seconds. 
     
     
         7 . A method for tracking fitness data, the method comprising:
 receiving within a first time window a first instance of fitness data from a monitoring device coupled to a user;   receiving within a second time window a second instance of fitness data from the monitoring device, wherein the first instance of fitness data and the second instance of fitness data are both a same type of fitness data;   determining a classification of the first instance of the fitness data as active fitness data, and determining a classification of the second instance of fitness data as passive fitness data;   incorporating the active fitness data into a fitness profile of the user;   omitting the passive fitness data from incorporation into the fitness profile of the user; and   transmitting a portion of the fitness profile of the user for display on a display device, the portion of the fitness profile including the active fitness data and not including the passive fitness data.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the type of fitness data is heart rate data, step count data, or distance data. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the first time window and the second time window both occur during a workout session for the user. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the user is running during the workout session. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the time window is greater than five seconds. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the monitoring device is a heart rate monitor or a step counter. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7  wherein the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device are both step counters. 
     
     
         14 . A method for tracking fitness data, the method comprising:
 receiving within a first time window a first instance of fitness data from a first monitoring device coupled to a user;   receiving within a second time window a second instance of fitness data from a second monitoring device coupled to the user;   receiving within a third time window a third instance of fitness data from the first monitoring device and a fourth instance of fitness data from the second monitoring device, wherein the first, second, third and fourth instances of fitness data are all a same type of fitness data;   determining a classification of each of the third instance of the fitness data as active fitness data and the fourth instance of fitness data as passive fitness data;   selecting the third instance of the fitness data as a preferred instance of fitness data within the time window based on the third instance of fitness data as active fitness data;   incorporating the first and third instance of fitness data from the first monitoring device and the second instance of fitness data from the second monitoring device into a fitness profile of the user;   omitting the fourth instance of the fitness data from the second monitoring device incorporation into the fitness profile of the user; and   transmitting a portion of the fitness profile of the user for display on a display device, the portion of the fitness profile including the selected third instance of the fitness data and not including the omitted fourth instance of the fitness data.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the type of fitness data is heart rate data, step count data, or distance data. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device are both step counters. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the first monitoring device and the second monitoring device are both heart rate monitors. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the time window is greater than five seconds.