Method and apparatus for user-transparent system control using bio-input

• US 10,045,718 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2013
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: West Texas Technology Partners LLC
• Original Assignee: Atheer, Inc.
• Inventors: Yang, Allen Yang, Chehade, Mohamed Nabil Hajj, Fateh, Sina, Itani, Sleiman
• Primary Examiner(s): BROWN, VERNAL U
• Application Number:
  US14/087,452
• Publication Number:
  US 20140159862A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,726 Days
• Field of Search: 340 552
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/117 Identification of persons methods or arrangements for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints, G06F18/00, G06V40/00; identification of persons by analysing their voice or speech G10L17/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1171 based on the shapes or appearances of their bodies or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6803 Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7445 Display arrangements, e.g. multiple display units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/10 Protecting distributed programs or content, e.g. vending or licensing of copyrighted material protection in video systems or pay television H04N7/16 ; Digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/015 Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/15 Biometric patterns based on physiological signals, e.g. heartbeat, blood flow
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition

Abstract

A wearable sensor vehicle with a bio-input sensor and a processor. When the vehicle is worn, the sensor is arranged so as to sense bio-input from the user. The sensor senses bio-input, the processor compares the bio-input to a standard, and if the standard is met the processor indicates a response. The user may be uniquely identified from the bio-input. One or more systems on or communicating with the vehicle may be controlled transparently, without requiring direct action by the user. Control actions may include security identification of the user, logging in to accounts or programs, setting preferences, etc. The sensor collects bio-input substantially without instruction or dedicated action from the user; the processor compares bio-input against the standard substantially without instruction or dedicated action from the user; and the processor generates and/or implements a response based on the bio-input substantially without instruction or dedicated action from the user.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a vehicle adapted to be worn by an individual without restricting activity of the individual;

a first sensor disposed on the vehicle, the first sensor to sense a cardiac wave of the individual with substantially no dedicated sensing action required from the individual and with sufficient sensitivity to identify the individual using a characteristic heart function of the body of the individual;

a second sensor disposed on the vehicle, the second sensor to measure a variable input with substantially no dedicated sensing action required from the individual;

a processor coupled to the first sensor, wherein the processor is to;

identify a standard cardiac wave associated with the individual;

receive the variable input from the second sensor;

adjust the standard cardiac wave associated with the individual in view of the variable input to obtain an adjusted standard cardiac wave;

compare data representative of the cardiac wave with data representative of the adjusted standard cardiac wave associated with the individual; and

in response to data representative of the cardiac wave matching the data representative of the adjusted standard cardiac wave, perform a first subject service associated with the cardiac wave and the individual without any direct interaction by the individual with the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a head-mounted display.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor comprises at least one of an electrocardiogram, a magnetocardiogram, a monochromatic visible light imager, a color visible light imager, a monochromatic near-infrared imager, a color near-infrared imager, a spectrometer, or an imaging spectrometer.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is a contact sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is a non-contact sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is disposed on the vehicle such that when the individual wears said the vehicle, the first sensor is proximate a bridge of a nose of the individual.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is disposed on the vehicle such that when the individual wears the vehicle, the first sensor is proximate a temple of the individual.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is disposed on the vehicle such that when the individual wears the vehicle, the first sensor is behind and proximate an ear of the individual.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is disposed on the vehicle such that when the individual wears the vehicle, the first sensor is proximate a forehead of the individual.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is removably engaged with the vehicle.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first subject service comprises at least one of activating an entity, authorizing access to the entity, or activating a preference of the entity.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the entity comprises at least one of an electronic device, an electronic device component, or a data entity storing executable instructions.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further comprises a communicator adapted to communicate between the processor and an external entity.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the first subject service comprises establishing communication between the processor and the external entity.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first subject service comprises communicating at least one of the data representative of the cardiac wave, data representative of a time of sensing said cardiac wave, or data representative of a location of sensing the cardiac wave to the external entity.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to record data.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is operable to record at least one of the data representative of the cardiac wave, data representative of a time of sensing said cardiac wave, or data representative of a location of sensing the cardiac wave.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first sensor is operable to repeatedly sense the cardiac wave;

the processor is operable to repeatedly compare the data representative of the cardiac wave with the data representative of the adjusted standard cardiac wave; and

the processor is operable to repeatedly perform the first subject service.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first sensor is operable to substantially continuously sense the cardiac wave;

the processor is operable to substantially continuously compare the data representative of the cardiac wave with the data representative of the adjusted standard cardiac wave; and

the processor is operable to substantially continuously perform the first subject service.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the cardiac wave is dynamic.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is shaped to engage the body of the individual at a first location and a second location, wherein the processor is to:

perform the subject service associated with the cardiac wave and the individual when the first sensor is engaged at first location and the data representative of the cardiac wave matches the data representative of the adjusted standard cardiac wave; and

update the adjusted standard cardiac wave and perform the subject service when the first sensor located at the second location and the data representative of the cardiac wave matches data representative of the updated adjusted standard cardiac wave.

22. A method, comprising:

transparently sensing, by a first sensor, a cardiac wave from an individual at a first location on a body of the individual without restricting activity of the individual, wherein;

the first location is a place on the body for measuring the cardiac wave for a cardiac system of the body;

the first sensor being adapted to sense the cardiac wave with substantially no dedicated sensing action required from the individual and with sufficient sensitivity as to identify the individual using a characteristic heart function of the body;

identifying, by a processor, a standard cardiac wave associated with the individual;

receiving the variable input from a second sensor;

adjusting the standard cardiac wave associated with the individual in view of the variable input to obtain an adjusted standard cardiac wave;

comparing data representative of the cardiac wave with data representative of the adjusted standard cardiac wave associated with the individual; and

in response to data representative of the cardiac wave matching the data representative of the adjusted standard cardiac wave, transparently performing a first subject service associated with the cardiac wave and the individual without any direct interaction by the individual with the apparatus.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising sensing the cardiac wave using at least one of electrocardiography, magnetocardiography, monochromatic visible light imaging, color visible light imaging, monochromatic near-infrared imaging, color near-infrared imaging, spectrometry, or imaging spectrometry.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising sensing the cardiac wave via contact sensing.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising sensing the cardiac wave via non-contact sensing.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein the first sensor is located proximate a bridge of a nose of the individual.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the first sensor is located behind and proximate an ear of the individual.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the first sensor is located proximate a forehead of the individual.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the first sensor is disposed on the vehicle and is adapted to be worn by the individual.

30. The method of claim 22, wherein transparently performing the first subject service further comprises at least one of activating an entity, authorizing access to the entity, or activating a preference of the entity.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the entity comprises at least one of an electronic device, an electronic device component, or a data entity operable to store executable instructions.

32. The method of claim 22, wherein performing the first subject service further comprises performing the first subject service in an augmented reality environment or a virtual reality environment.

33. The method of claim 22, wherein performing the first subject service further comprises establishing a communication channel between the processor and an external entity.

34. The method of claim 22, wherein performing the first subject service further comprises communicating at least one of the data representative of the cardiac wave, data representative of a time of sensing the cardiac wave, or data representative of a location of sensing the cardiac wave to the external entity.

35. The method of claim 22, further comprising recording at least one of the data representative of the cardiac wave, data representative of a time of sensing the cardiac wave, or data representative of a location of sensing the cardiac wave.

36. The method of claim 22, comprising:

repeatedly sensing the cardiac wave with the first sensor;

repeatedly comparing the data representative of the cardiac wave with the data representative of the adjusted standard cardiac wave; and

in response to the data representative of the cardiac wave repeatedly matching the data representative of the adjusted standard cardiac wave, repeatedly and transparently performing the first subject service.

37. The method of claim 22, comprising:

substantially and continuously sensing with the cardiac wave with the first sensor;

substantially continuously comparing the data representative of the cardiac wave with the data representative of the adjusted standard cardiac wave; and

in response to the data representative of the cardiac wave repeatedly matching the data representative of the adjusted standard cardiac wave, substantially and continuously performing the first subject service.

38. The method of claim 22, wherein the cardiac wave is dynamic.

39. The method of claim 22, wherein the first sensor is shaped to engage the body of the individual at the first location and a second location, wherein the method further comprises:

performing the subject service associated with the cardiac wave and the individual when the first sensor is engaged at the first location and the data representative of the cardiac wave matches the data representative of the adjusted standard cardiac wave; and

updating the adjusted standard cardiac wave and performing the subject service when the first sensor located at the second location and the data representative of the cardiac wave matches data representative of the updated adjusted standard cardiac wave.

40. An apparatus, comprising:

a vehicle shaped to be worn transparently by an individual without restricting activity of the individual, the vehicle comprising a head-mounted display;

a first sensor disposed on the vehicle such that when the individual wears the vehicle, the first sensor is proximate a bridge of a nose of the individual, wherein the first sensor comprises a color visible light imaging sensor operable to sense a cardiac wave of the individual with sufficient sensitivity to enable identification of the individual by a characteristic heart function of a body of the individual; and

a processor coupled to the first sensor, wherein the processor is to;

identify a standard cardiac wave associated with the individual;

receive a variable input from a second sensor;

adjust the standard cardiac wave associated with the individual in view of the variable input to obtain an adjusted standard cardiac wave;

repeatedly compare data representative of the cardiac wave with data representative of the adjusted standard cardiac wave associated with the individual;

in response to data representative of the cardiac wave matching the data representative of the adjusted standard cardiac wave, transparently performing a first subject service, the first subject service comprising at least one of activating an entity, authorizing access to the entity, or activating a preference of the entity, the entity comprising at least one of an electronic device, an electronic device component, or a data entity operable to store executable instructions; and

record at least one of the data representative of the cardiac wave, data representative of a time of sensing said cardiac wave, or data representative of a location of sensing the cardiac wave.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the first sensor is shaped to engage the body of the individual at a first location and a second location, wherein the processor is to:

perform the subject service associated with the cardiac wave and the individual when the first sensor is engaged at first location and the data representative of the cardiac wave matches the data representative of the adjusted standard cardiac wave; and

update the adjusted standard cardiac wave and perform the subject service when the first sensor located at the second location and the data representative of the cardiac wave matches data representative of the updated adjusted standard cardiac wave.

42. A method, comprising:

sensing, by a first sensor, a cardiac wave of an individual, the sensing requiring substantially no dedicated sensing action from the individual;

sensing, by a second sensor, a variable input with substantially no dedicated sensing action required from the individual;

identifying a standard cardiac wave associated with the individual;

receiving the variable input from the second sensor;

adjusting the standard cardiac wave associated with the individual in view of the variable input to obtain an adjusted standard cardiac wave;

comparing the cardiac wave with the adjusted standard cardiac wave; and

in response to data representative of the cardiac wave matching the data representative of the adjusted standard cardiac wave, executing a response associated with the cardiac wave and the individual, the response comprising at least one of activating an entity, authorizing access to the entity, or activating preferences in the entity, the entity comprising at least one of an electronic device, an electronic device component, or a data entity operable to store executable instructions.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the first sensor is shaped to engage the body of the individual at a first location and a second location, wherein the method further comprises:

performing the subject service associated with the cardiac wave and the individual when the first sensor is engaged at first location and the data representative of the cardiac wave matches the data representative of the adjusted standard cardiac wave; and

updating the adjusted standard cardiac wave and performing the subject service when the first sensor located at the second location and the data representative of the cardiac wave matches data representative of the updated adjusted standard cardiac wave.

44. An apparatus, comprising:

means for disposing a first sensor on a vehicle adapted to be worn by an individual so as to enable transparently engagement at a first location on a body of the individual without restricting activity of the individual, wherein the first location is a place on the body for measuring a cardiac wave for a cardiac system of the body;

means for disposing a second sensor on the vehicle, the second sensor to measure a variable input with substantially no dedicated sensing action required from the individual;

means for sensing the cardiac wave from the individual, wherein the first sensor is operable to sense the cardiac wave with substantially no dedicated sensing action required from the individual and with sufficient sensitivity to identify the individual using a characteristic heart function of the body;

means for identifying a standard cardiac wave associated with the individual;

means for receiving the variable input from the second sensor;

means for adjusting the standard cardiac wave associated with the individual in view of the variable input to obtain an adjusted standard cardiac wave;

means for comparing data representative of the cardiac wave with data representative of the adjusted standard cardiac wave associated with the individual; and

means for, in response to data representative of the cardiac wave matching the data representative of the adjusted standard cardiac wave, transparently perform a subject service, the subject service comprising at least one of a communication function, an augmented reality function, a virtual reality function, a videogame, heads-up information, or a navigation information.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the first sensor is shaped to engage the body of the individual at the first location and a second location, the apparatus further comprising:

means for performing the subject service associated with the cardiac wave and the individual when the first sensor is engaged at the first location and the data representative of the cardiac wave matches the data representative of the adjusted standard cardiac wave; and

means for updating the adjusted standard cardiac wave and perform the subject service when the first sensor located at the second location and the data representative of the cardiac wave matches data representative of the updated adjusted standard cardiac wave.