Activity identification using an optical heart rate monitor

1. A method for determining a type of physical activity being performed by a user wearing an electronic device that includes a photoplethysmograph (PPG) sensor, the method comprising:

receiving, by a processing device, an optical heart rate monitor (OHRM) signal from the PPG sensor;

analyzing, by the processing device, the OHRM signal to detect one or more signal characteristics of the OHRM signal;

analyzing, by the processing device, the one or more signal characteristics to detect repeated motion artifacts that are produced by the type of physical activity being performed by the user;

based on the repeated motion artifacts:

determining, by the processing device, the type of physical activity being performed by the user;

identifying a time period in which the determined type of physical activity is being performed by the user; and

determining, by the processing device and using the repeated motion artifacts during the identified time period, at least one of a number of steps taken by the user during the type of physical activity or a calorie consumption by the user during the type of physical activity; and

providing, to the user, information regarding the type of physical activity and at least one of the number of steps taken by the user during the type of physical activity or the calorie consumption by the user during the type of physical activity.

2. The method as in claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving a sensor signal from at least one other type of sensor; and

analyzing the sensor signal when determining the type of physical activity being performed by the user.

3. The method as in claim 1 , wherein analyzing the OHRM signal comprises analyzing at least one amplitude peak in the OHRM signal during a given time period.

4. The method as in claim 1 , wherein analyzing the OHRM signal comprises analyzing a shape of the OHRM signal during a given time period.

5. The method as in claim 1 , wherein analyzing the OHRM signal comprises analyzing a frequency of the OHRM signal during a given time period.

6. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises a device that provides time.

7. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises a health assistant.

8. An electronic device wearable by a user, comprising:

a photoplethysmograph (PPG) sensor; and

processing device that is operatively connected to the PPG sensor and adapted to:

receive an optical heart rate monitor (OHRM) signal from the PPG sensor;

analyze the OHRM signal to detect one or more signal characteristics of the OHRM signal;

analyze the one or more signal characteristics to detect repeated motion artifacts that are produced by a type of physical activity being performed by a user;

based on the repeated motion artifacts, determine the type of physical activity being performed by the user;

identify a time period in which the determined type of physical activity is being performed by the user; and

determine, using the repeated motion artifacts during the identified time period, at least one of a number of steps taken by the user during the type of physical activity or a calorie consumption by the user during the type of physical activity; and

provide, to the user, information regarding the type of physical activity and at least one of the number of steps or the calorie consumption.

9. The electronic device as in claim 8 , further comprising a memory adapted to store one or more OHRM signals that each represent a particular type of physical activity.

10. The electronic device as in claim 8 , wherein the processing device analyzes the OHRM signal by analyzing at least one amplitude peak in the OHRM signal during a given time period.

11. The electronic device as in claim 8 , wherein the processing device analyzes the OHRM signal by analyzing a shape of the OHRM signal during a given time period.

12. The electronic device as in claim 8 , wherein the processing device analyzes the OHRM signal by analyzing a frequency of the OHRM signal during a given time period.

13. The electronic device as in claim 8 , wherein the electronic device comprises a health assistant.

14. The electronic device as in claim 8 , wherein the electronic device comprises a device that provides time.

15. A system, comprising:

a photoplethysmograph (PPG) sensor;

a motion or position sensor; and

a processing device operatively connected to the PPG sensor and the motion or position sensor, wherein the processing device is adapted to:

receive from the PPG sensor an OHRM signal;

determine one or more signal characteristics of the OHRM signal;

analyze the one or more signal characteristics to detect repeated motion artifacts that are produced by a type of physical activity being performed by a user;

determine the type of physical activity being performed by the user based on the repeated motion artifacts;

receive a sensor signal from the motion or position sensor;

analyze the sensor signal to further categorize the type of physical activity being performed by the user;

identify, based on the repeated motion artifacts, a time period in which the determined type of physical activity is being performed by the user;

determine, using the repeated motion artifacts during the identified time period, at least one of a number of steps taken by the user during the type of physical activity or a calorie consumption by the user during the type of physical activity; and

provide, to the user, information regarding the type of physical activity and at least one of the number of steps or the calorie consumption.

16. The system as in claim 15 , wherein the system comprises a wearable electronic device.

17. The system as in claim 16 , wherein the PPG sensor and the processing device are included in a wearable electronic device and the motion or position sensor is included in an external electronic device communicably connected to the PPG sensor.

18. A method for operating a wearable electronic device for determining a type of physical activity being performed by a user, the wearable electronic device including a photoplethysmograph (PPG) sensor, the method comprising:

receiving, by a processing device, an optical heart rate monitor (OHRM) signal from the PPG sensor when a user performs a particular type of physical activity;

determining first signal characteristics of the OHRM signal;

detecting first motion artifacts that are produced by the particular type of physical activity based on the first signal characteristics;

receiving an activity identifier from a user of the wearable electronic device;

associating the activity identifier to the OHRM signal to associate the particular type of physical activity to the OHRM signal;

storing, in a memory of the wearable electronic device, the activity identifier and the OHRM signal;

determining a subsequently received a OHRM signal is associated with the particular type of physical activity, by:

determining second signal characteristics of the subsequently received OHRM signal;

detecting second motion artifacts based on the second signal characteristics; and

comparing the second motion artifacts with the first motion artifacts;

identifying, based on the second motion artifacts, a time period in which the particular type of physical activity is being performed by the user;

determining, using the second motion artifacts during the identified time period, at least one of a number of steps taken by the user during the particular type of physical activity or a calorie consumption by the user during the particular type of physical activity; and

providing, to the user, information regarding the type of physical activity associated with the subsequently received OHRM and at least one of the number of steps or the calorie consumption; and

updating the stored OHRM signal with the subsequently received OHRM signal, the updating comprising maintaining a running average of the OHRM signal associated with the particular type of physical activity.