Fitbit subscription notification sending different step data for same time interval throughout day

[Govida]

Hello,

We have an application where multiple users subscribe to fitbit and sync data regularly.

We observed that notification came in afternoon for a particular user was showing some steps at some time interval and when next notification came for the same user there were no steps for that time interval (it shows 0 steps). How come notifications throughout the day for give different step data for same user?

Please look into the same and guide further.

Thank you.

[GordonFitbit]

Hi @Govida 

The notifications for the activity collection are not specific to steps.  You'll get notifications for any data related to the activity collection (i.e. distance, elevation, calories, etc).  People burn calories throughout the day even when not in motion.   It's possible you are receiving a notification because there is new data on calories burn that is not related to movement.

Gordon

[Govida]

Thank you @GordonFitbitfor the reply,

We are specifically tracking steps data, (intra day activity api for exp GET /1/user/-/activities/steps/date/2014-09-01/1d.json) so that we can get minute wise data for user steps. So there is no chance of any other activity data to come in this api respone.

Regards.

[JohnFitbit]

Hi @Govida,

At this time, there isn't a way to exclude other activity data that you don't want to be notified of, unfortunately. As Gordon mentioned, if you are subscribed to a user's activity data, you'll receive notifications to changes in steps, distance, calories, and elevation whenever the Fitbit user syncs their device, even if you're not particularly interested in that data. So it is entirely possible to be notified that you received a notification for a Fitbit user with 0 steps but a change in their calorie burn.

We are tracking interest in improving the Subscriptions API to notify applications of specific data they want to see, instead of all data as a collective whole. Please check out this feature suggestions post and share your experience so our product teams can see the challenges developers are facing with the Subscriptions API. 

I hope this helps clarify. Let us know if you have any additional questions.

[Govida]

Thank you for the feedback,

For activities we are using https://api.fitbit.com/1/user/-/activities/date/{date}.json api. 

For intra day step data we are using https://api.fitbit.com/1/user/-/activities/steps/date/{date}/1d/1min.json api

The total step count given by activity api (first one) is not matching with total step count received from intra day step data api(second one).

Can you please look into this and guide.

Thank you.

[GordonFitbit]

Hi @Govida 

We have some information in our documentation regarding the step count totals.  See https://dev.fitbit.com/build/reference/web-api/activity/#get-activity-intraday-time-series.   The documentation states

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Note: Any discrepancies between time series detail-level totals vs daily summary totals is likely due to how the device calculates on-wrist and off-wrist data. On-wrist data is defined as data collected while the device is worn. On-wrist data is also referred to as Intraday data. Off-wrist data is defined as data collected while the device is not worn. For example, step data can be collected if the device was in a bag while driving down a bumpy road. By design, daily summary totals include on-wrist totals and off-wrist totals; while Intraday totals include on-wrist totals only.

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[Govida]

Thank you @GordonFitbit for info,

Is there any way that fitbit users can check their on-wrist and off-wrist step count separately?

Thanks in advance.

[JohnFitbit]

Hi @Govida,

There isn't a way to differentiate on-writ and off-wrist totals. However, if you suspect that Fitbit users are falsely recording steps (like steps recorded from cooking, washing dishes, etc), you can ask your users to log a "Driving" activity for that period of time (source). This activity was created with the intention of negating falsely recorded step counts during bumpy drives that could mistakenly add steps to a user's daily total. By negating falsely recorded steps from a known time period, you'll have a closer representation of daily summary totals vs intraday totals.

I hope this helps. Let me know if you have any additional questions.

[Govida]

Hello @JohnFitbit @GordonFitbit ,

We have a user who has successfully connected Fitbit through our app and has given required permissions. I can see her subscription is active at our end. But we are not receiving step data for her from Fitbit server. I tried to hit intraday data api through postman with her token but it shows 0 steps. Can you please help us with the same, have sent email with necessary details.

Thanks in advance.