‘Posture transition detection’ patent could make an Apple Watch more efficient at tracking activity

Apple has been granted a patent (number US 11758350 B2) for “posture transition detection” to make the Apple Watch more efficient at measuring your activity.

About the patent

In the patent Apple notes that existing mobile devices include motion sensors that provide motion data, such as acceleration and rotation rate of the mobile device. The motion data can be used to classify user activities. For example, a digital pedometer can use acceleration data to count steps to determine that the user is walking or running. The pedometer together with acceleration and rotation rate data can also be used to determine if the user is riding in a vehicle. 

Apple notes that, although these broad activity classifications are useful for many mobile applications, some mobile applications would benefit from knowing if a user’s physical posture has changed, such as standing from a seated position or vice versa. And the company is considering the implementation of such a feature in upcoming Apple Watches.

Summary of the patent

Here’s Apple’s abstract of the patent: “Embodiments are disclosed for user posture transition detection and classification using a linked biomechanical model. In an embodiment, a method comprises: obtaining motion data from a headset worn by a user; selecting features of a linked biomechanical model based on a current posture state; determining at least one probability that a posture transition occurred based on an output of a classifier, where the output of the classifier is based on the selected features and the motion data; determining a posture transition based on the at least one probability; and performing at least one action based on detection of the posture transition.”