Methods and Systems for Rendering Three-Dimensional Gait Acceleration Plots on Graphical User Interfaces

Abstract

Embodiments represent acceleration along three orthogonal axes at two or more times as a three dimensional plot. Each point in the plot is positioned according to three coordinates, each of which is proportional to the amount of acceleration along one of the orthogonal axes at a moment in time. Some embodiments render the three dimensional plot as a three dimensional article of manufacture in which each point in the plot is represented by a volume of material. Some embodiments represent the three dimensional plot in two dimensions in a graphical interface. System embodiments may include an accelerometer, processor, output device, and a non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions causing the processor to map points with coordinates proportional to acceleration along the respective axes to a virtual three-dimensional plot and then control the output device to render the plot in two or three dimensions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 receiving, by one or more processors, outputs from an accelerometer that is configured to be coupled to an individual taking one or more steps while coupled to the accelerometer, wherein each of the outputs corresponds to a respective magnitude of acceleration along a respective one of three orthogonal axes at a plurality of time periods;   mapping, by the one or more processors, the outputs to a virtual three-dimensional acceleration plot of the outputs, the virtual three-dimensional acceleration plot comprising a plurality of points, wherein each point is positioned according to coordinates proportional to the magnitudes of acceleration along the three orthogonal axes at a first time period;   generating, by the one or more processors, a virtual two-dimensional image of the virtual three-dimensional acceleration plot; and   rendering, by the one or more processors, the virtual two-dimensional image via a graphic output device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (i) except for a first sequential point, each point is visually coupled to a second point, wherein (a) the second point is positioned according to coordinates proportional to the magnitudes of acceleration along the three orthogonal axes at a second time period, and (b) the second time period occurs before the first time period; and   (ii) except for a final sequential point, each point is visually coupled to a third point, wherein (a) the third point is positioned according to coordinates proportional to magnitudes of acceleration along the three orthogonal axes at a third time period, and (b) the third time period occurs after the first time period.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first sequential point is visually coupled to the final sequential point. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 (i) the first sequential point is positioned according to coordinates proportional to the magnitudes of acceleration along the three orthogonal axes at a first sequential time period;   (ii) the first sequential time period occurs during a first instance of a reference foot of the individual contacting a ground;   (iii) the final sequential point is positioned according to coordinates proportional to the magnitudes of acceleration along the three orthogonal axes at a final sequential time period; and   (iv) the final sequential time period occurs during a second instance of the reference foot of the individual contacting the ground.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more steps comprise multiple strides and:
 (i) the first time period is a first relative time within a gait cycle;   (ii) the magnitudes of acceleration along the three orthogonal axes at the first time period are aggregate measures of acceleration at two or more instances of the first relative time;   (iii) the second time period is a second relative time within the gait cycle;   (iv) the magnitudes of acceleration along the three orthogonal axes at the second time period are aggregate measures of acceleration at two or more instances of the second relative time;   (v) the third time period is a third relative time within the gait cycle; and   (vi) the magnitudes of acceleration along the three orthogonal axes at the third time period are aggregate measures of acceleration at two or more instances of the third relative time.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein generating, by the one or more processors, the virtual two-dimensional image comprises:
 generating, by the one or more processors, two virtual two-dimensional images of the virtual three-dimensional acceleration plot, wherein each of the two virtual two-dimensional images shows different perspectives of the virtual three-dimensional acceleration plot.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 reorientating, by the one or more processors, the virtual two-dimensional image to orient one of the three orthogonal axes in a direction of gravitational pull.   
     
     
         8 . A system comprising at least one processor and at least one memory storing instructions that, with the at least one processor, cause the system to:
 receive outputs from an accelerometer that is configured to be coupled to an individual taking one or more steps while coupled to the accelerometer, wherein each of the outputs corresponds to a respective magnitude of acceleration along a respective one of three orthogonal axes at a plurality of time periods;   map the outputs to a virtual three-dimensional acceleration plot, the virtual three-dimensional acceleration plot comprising a plurality of points, wherein each point is positioned according to coordinates proportional to the magnitudes of acceleration along the three orthogonal axes at a first time period;   generate a virtual two-dimensional image of the virtual three-dimensional acceleration plot; and   render the virtual two-dimensional image via a graphic output device.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 (i) except for a first sequential point, each point is visually coupled to a second point, wherein (a) the second point is positioned according to coordinates proportional to the magnitudes of acceleration along the three orthogonal axes at a second time period, and (b) the second time period occurs before the first time period; and   (ii) except for a final sequential point, each point is visually coupled to a third point, wherein (a) the third point is positioned according to coordinates proportional to magnitudes of acceleration along the three orthogonal axes at a third time period, and (b) the third time period occurs after the first time period.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 (i) the first sequential point is positioned according to coordinates proportional to the magnitudes of acceleration along the three orthogonal axes at a first sequential time period;   (ii) the first sequential time period occurs during a first instance of a reference foot of the individual contacting a ground;   (iii) the final sequential point is positioned according to coordinates proportional to the magnitudes of acceleration along the three orthogonal axes at a final sequential time period; and   (iv) the final sequential time period occurs during a second instance of the reference foot of the individual contacting the ground.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the one or more steps comprise multiple strides and:
 (i) the first time period is a first relative time within a gait cycle;   (ii) the magnitudes of acceleration along the three orthogonal axes at the first time period are aggregate measures of acceleration at two or more instances of the first relative time;   (iii) the second time period is a second relative time within the gait cycle;   (iv) the magnitudes of acceleration along the three orthogonal axes at the second time period are aggregate measures of acceleration at two or more instances of the second relative time;   (v) the third time period is a third relative time within the gait cycle; and   (vi) the magnitudes of acceleration along the three orthogonal axes at the third time period are aggregate measures of acceleration at two or more instances of the third relative time.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the virtual two-dimensional image is a first virtual two-dimensional image of the virtual three-dimensional acceleration plot, and wherein the system is caused to generate a second virtual two-dimensional image of the virtual three-dimensional acceleration plot, wherein the first virtual two-dimensional image shows a different perspective of the virtual three-dimensional acceleration plot than the second virtual two-dimensional image. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the time periods are measured using one or more of: the outputs generated by the accelerometer; a time cycle of the at least one processor in a computing device; a quartz clock; an electric clock; or a radio-controlled clock, the radio-controlled clock being wirelessly synchronized with an atomic clock. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the system is powered by one or more of: a lithium ion battery; a nickel metal hydride battery; a photo-voltaic cell; a body heat ambient energy collector; or a body motion ambient energy collector. 
     
     
         15 . A graphical user interface (GUI), wherein the GUI:
 is configured to display an image of a virtual three-dimensional acceleration plot in two dimensions via a graphic output device, wherein the virtual three-dimensional acceleration plot comprises a plurality of points, and wherein:
 (i) each point is positioned according to coordinates proportional to magnitudes of acceleration along three orthogonal axes at a first time period of a plurality of time periods, 
 (ii) the magnitudes of acceleration are based at least in part on outputs received from an accelerometer that is configured to be coupled to an individual while the individual takes one or more steps, and 
 (iii) each of the outputs corresponds to a respective magnitude of acceleration along a respective one of three orthogonal axes at the time periods. 
   
     
     
         16 . The GUI of  claim 15 , wherein:
 (i) except for a first sequential point, each point is visually coupled to a second point, wherein (a) the second point is positioned according to coordinates proportional to the magnitudes of acceleration along the three orthogonal axes at a second time period, and (b) the second time period occurs before the first time period; and   (ii) except for a final sequential point, each point is visually coupled to a third point, wherein (a) the third point is positioned according to coordinates proportional to magnitudes of acceleration along the three orthogonal axes at a third time period, and (b) the third time period occurs after the first time period.   
     
     
         17 . The GUI of  claim 16 , wherein the first sequential point is visually coupled to the final sequential point. 
     
     
         18 . The GUI of  claim 16 , wherein:
 (i) the first sequential point is positioned according to coordinates proportional to the magnitudes of acceleration along the three orthogonal axes at a first sequential time period;   (ii) the first sequential time period occurs during a first instance of a reference foot of the individual contacting a ground;   (iii) the final sequential point is positioned according to coordinates proportional to the magnitudes of acceleration along the three orthogonal axes at a final sequential time period; and   (iv) the final sequential time period occurs during a second instance of the reference foot of the individual contacting the ground.   
     
     
         19 . The GUI of  claim 16 , wherein the one or more steps comprise multiple strides and:
 (i) the first time period is a first relative time within a gait cycle;   (ii) the magnitudes of acceleration along the three orthogonal axes at the first time period are aggregate measures of acceleration at two or more instances of the first relative time;   (iii) the second time period is a second relative time within the gait cycle;   (iv) the magnitudes of acceleration along the three orthogonal axes at the second time period are aggregate measures of acceleration at two or more instances of the second relative time;   (v) the third time period is a third relative time within the gait cycle; and   (vi) the magnitudes of acceleration along the three orthogonal axes at the third time period are aggregate measures of acceleration at two or more instances of the third relative time.   
     
     
         20 . The GUI of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of the three orthogonal axes is an adjusted axis.