Methods and systems for reducing energy consumption of a heart rate monitor

1. A method, comprising:

capturing, using a heart rate sensor, heart rate data from a user, where the heart rate sensor is coupled with a mobile device;

providing the heart rate data to a heart rate calculator for determining a heart rate of the user;

monitoring an activity state of the user from activity data captured by the mobile device; and

detecting, using a processor, a constant activity state of the user based on the captured activity data; wherein, when the constant activity state is detected;

stopping, using the processor, the capture of new heart rate data during a period in which the user remains in the constant activity state,

inferring, using the processor, heart rate data for the user from the captured heart rate data during the period in which the user remains in the constant activity state regardless of an activity level of the user,

providing, using the processor, the inferred heart rate data to the heart rate calculator, and

determining, using the heart rate calculator, the heart rate of the user based on the inferred heart rate data during the period in which the user remains in the constant activity state.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

sampling heart rate data for the user for a period of time after the constant activity state is detected and prior to stopping the capture of new heart rate data;

determining that the inferred heart rate data during the period of time after the constant activity state is detected matches the sampled heart rate data; and

stopping the capture of new heart rate data by the heart rate sensor for providing to the heart rate calculator in response to the determining the match;

wherein the period of time after the constant activity state is detected and prior to stopping the capture of new heart rate data is less than the period of time in which the user remains in the constant activity state.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

in response to detection of the constant activity state of the user, selecting a heart rate inference protocol based on the constant activity state of the user; and

inferring heart rate data for the user based on the selected heart rate inference protocol.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

collecting one or more test heart rate data samples for the user with the heart rate sensor of a mobile device, wherein the one or more test heart rate data samples are collected based on the heart rate inference protocol, and wherein the heart rate inference protocol defines, based on the constant activity state, one or more of a collection period, sample frequency, and time between samples for collection of the one or more test heart rate data samples; and

resuming the capture of heart rate data for the user by the heart rate sensor for providing to the heart rate calculator when the inferred heart rate data does not correspond with the one or more test heart rate data samples.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein capturing heart rate data for the user comprises:

selecting a continuous heart rate data capture collection protocol based on the monitored user activity; and

performing continuous heart rate data capture for the user with the mobile device based on the selected continuous heart rate data capture collection protocol.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mobile device is a wearable device.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the heart rate calculator utilizes the inferred heart rate data to provide the heart rate of the user to a fitness application.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting the constant activity state of the user further comprises:

detecting one of a plurality of different activity states; and

determining that user has remained in the detected one of the plurality of different activity states for a threshold period of time.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of different activity states comprises a high activity state, a moderate activity state, a low activity state, and an inactivity state.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of different activity states comprises a plurality of different types of user activity comprising at least a running activity state, a walking activity state, and a sleeping activity state.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein capturing the heart rate data for the user further comprises:

capturing the heart rate data for the user based on a sampling protocol, wherein the sampling protocol defines one or more of a collection period, sample frequency, and time between samples;

adjusting the sampling protocol based on the monitored activity state of the user.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein adjusting the sampling protocol further comprises:

adjusting one or more of the collection period, sample frequency, and time between samples based on the monitored activity state;

determining whether a user heart rate determined from the adjusted one or more of the collection period, sample frequency, and time between samples based on the monitored activity is within an accuracy threshold of the user's actual heart rate; and

continuing to adjust the one or more of the collection period, sample frequency, and time between samples based on the monitored activity state until the determined user heart rate is within the accuracy threshold of the user's actual heart rate.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions that are executed by a processor, causing the processor to perform a method comprising:

capturing, using a heart rate sensor, heart rate data from a user, where the heart rate sensor is coupled with a mobile device;

providing the heart rate data to a heart rate calculator for determining a heart rate of the user;

monitoring an activity state of the user from activity data captured by the mobile device; and

detecting a constant activity state of the user based on the captured activity data; wherein, when the constant activity state is detected:

stopping the capture of new heart rate data during a period in which the user remains in the constant activity state,

inferring heart rate data for the user from the captured heart rate data during the period in which the user remains in the constant activity state regardless of an activity level of the user,

providing the inferred heart rate data to the heart rate calculator, and

determining, using the heart rate calculator, the heart rate of the user based on the inferred heart rate data during the period in which the user remains in the constant activity state.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , further comprising:

sampling heart rate data for the user for a period of time after the constant activity state is detected and prior to stopping the capture of new heart rate data;

determining that the inferred heart rate data during the period of time after the constant activity state is detected matches the sampled heart rate data; and

stopping the capture of new heart rate data by the heart rate sensor for providing to the heart rate calculator in response to the determining the match;

wherein the period of time after the constant activity state is detected and prior to stopping the capture of new heart rate data is less than the period of time in which the user remains in the constant activity state.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , further comprising:

in response to detection of the constant activity state of the user, selecting a heart rate inference protocol based on the constant activity state of the user; and

inferring heart rate data for the user based on the selected heart rate inference protocol.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , further comprising:

collecting one or more test heart rate data samples for the user with the heart rate sensor of a mobile device, wherein the one or more test heart rate data samples are collected based on the heart rate inference protocol, and wherein the heart rate inference protocol defines, based on the constant activity state, one or more of a collection period, sample frequency, and time between samples for collection of the one or more test heart rate data samples; and

resuming the capture of heart rate data for the user by the heart rate sensor for providing to the heart rate calculator when the inferred heart rate data does not correspond with the one or more test heart rate data samples.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein capturing heart rate data for the user comprises:

selecting a continuous heart rate data capture collection protocol based on the monitored user activity; and

performing continuous heart rate data capture for the user with the mobile device based on the selected continuous heart rate data capture collection protocol.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the mobile device is a wearable device.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein the heart rate calculator utilizes the inferred heart rate data to provide the heart rate of the user to a fitness application.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein detecting the constant activity state of the user further comprises:

detecting one of a plurality of different activity states; and

determining that user has remained in the detected one of the plurality of different activity states for a threshold period of time.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20 , wherein the plurality of different activity states comprises a high activity state, a moderate activity state, a low activity state, and an inactivity state.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20 , wherein the plurality of different activity states comprise a plurality of different types of user activity comprising at least a running activity, a walking activity, and a sleeping activity.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13 , wherein capturing the heart rate data for the user further comprises:

capturing the heart rate data for the user based on a sampling protocol, wherein the sampling protocol defines one or more of a collection period, sample frequency, and time between samples;

adjusting the sampling protocol based on the monitored activity state of the user.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 23 , wherein adjusting the sampling protocol further comprises:

adjusting one or more of the collection period, sample frequency, and time between samples based on the monitored activity state;

determining whether a user heart rate determined from the adjusted one or more of the collection period, sample frequency, and time between samples based on the monitored activity is within a accuracy threshold of the user's actual heart rate; and

continuing to adjust the one or more of the collection period, sample frequency, and time between samples based on the monitored activity state until the determined user heart rate is within the accuracy threshold of the user's actual heart rate.

25. A mobile device, comprising:

an activity sensor;

a heart rate sensor; and

a processor coupled with the activity sensor and the heart rate sensor, wherein the processor is configured to

capture heart rate data from a user with the heart rate sensor,

provide the heart rate data to a heart rate calculator for determining a heart rate of the user,

monitor an activity state of the user from activity data captured by the activity sensor,

detect a constant activity state of the user based on the captured activity data, wherein, when the constant activity state is detected, the processor is further configured to

stop the capture of new heart rate data during a period in which the user remains in the constant activity state,

infer heart rate data for the user from the captured heart rate data during the period in which the user remains in the constant activity state regardless of an activity level of the user, and

provide the inferred heart rate data to the heart rate calculator, and

determine the heart rate of the user based on the inferred heart rate data during the period in which the user remains in the constant activity state.

26. The mobile device of claim 25 , further comprises the processor configured to

in response to detection of the constant activity state of the user, select a heart rate inference protocol based on the constant activity state of the user, and

infer heart rate data for the user based on the selected heart rate inference protocol.

27. A system comprising:

means for capturing heart rate data from a user with a heart rate sensor that is coupled with a mobile device;

means for providing the heart rate data to a heart rate calculator for determining a heart rate of the user;

means for monitoring an activity state of the user from activity data captured by the mobile device;

means for detecting a constant activity state of the user based on the captured activity data,

means for stopping the capture of new heart rate data during a period in which the user remains in the constant activity state;

means for inferring heart rate data for the user from the captured heart rate data during the period in which the user remains in the constant activity state regardless of an activity level of the user; and

means for providing the inferred heart rate data, to the heart rate calculator for determining the heart rate of the user based on the inferred heart rate data during the period in which the user remains in the constant activity state.