METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR MONITORING STRESS USING BIOMETRIC PARAMETERS MEASURED USING A WEARABLE MONITOR

• US 20140364751A1
• Filed: 08/24/2014
• Published: 12/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dugan Patents, LLC
• Original Assignee: Dugan Patents, LLC
• Inventors: Dugan, Brian M., Dugan, Valerie G.
• Application Number:
  US14/467,036
• Publication Number:
  US 20140364751A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/508
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0015 characterised by features of the telemetry system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02444 Details of sensor A61B5/02427 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6802 Sensor mounted on worn items
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7278 Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesising signals from measured signals A61B5/327 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/747 in case of emergency, i.e. alerting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/04 based on user or terminal location or mobility data, e.g. moving direction, speed

Abstract

In a first aspect, a method of tracking stress on a mobile telephone includes (a) employing a wearable monitor to detect a biometric parameter of a user; (b) communicating biometric parameter information from the wearable monitor to a mobile telephone of the user; and (c) employing the mobile telephone to: (i) obtain a current stress level of the user, the current stress level being determined based on biometric parameter information received from the wearable monitor; (ii) obtain a preferred stress level for the user; and (iii) display stress level information of the user on a display of the mobile telephone, the displayed stress level information including a comparison of the current stress level and the preferred stress level of the user. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Claims

1. A method of tracking stress on a mobile telephone comprising:

employing a wearable monitor to detect a biometric parameter of a user;

communicating biometric parameter information from the wearable monitor to a mobile telephone of the user; and

employing the mobile telephone to;

obtain a current stress level of the user, the current stress level being determined based on biometric parameter information received from the wearable monitor;

obtain a preferred stress level for the user; and

display stress level information of the user on a display of the mobile telephone, the displayed stress level information including a comparison of the current stress level and the preferred stress level of the user.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising employing the mobile telephone to identify a pattern of stress for the user based on biometric parameter information provided from the wearable monitor.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the pattern of stress includes a time of day that causes the user stress.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the pattern of stress includes an activity that causes the user stress.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising employing the mobile telephone to compare stress levels of two or more users.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein comparing the stress levels of two or more users includes employing the mobile telephone to obtain stress level information from a remote server that receives stress level information from two or more mobile telephones.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein stress levels of the two or more users are obtained for the users while the users have similar experiences.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising employing the mobile telephone to calm the user by communicating with the user.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising employing the mobile telephone to determine a stress level of the user while the user is driving a vehicle.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the wearable monitor is a wrist band.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the wearable monitor is a heart rate monitor.

12. A system comprising:

a wearable monitor that detects a biometric parameter of a user and communicates biometric parameter information; and

a mobile telephone that receives biometric information from the wearable monitor, the mobile telephone including computer program code that causes the mobile telephone to;

obtain a current stress level of the user, the current stress level being determined based on biometric parameter information received from the wearable monitor;

obtain a preferred stress level for the user; and

display stress level information of the user on a display of the mobile telephone, the displayed stress level information including a comparison of the current stress level and the preferred stress level of the user.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the mobile telephone includes computer program code to identify a pattern of stress for the user based on the biometric parameter information.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the pattern of stress includes a time of day that causes the user stress.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the pattern of stress includes an activity that causes the user stress.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein the mobile telephone includes computer program code to compare the stress level of two or more users.

17. The system of claim 12 wherein the mobile telephone includes computer program code that causes the mobile telephone to communicate stress level information of the user to a remote server.

18. The system of claim 12 wherein the mobile telephone includes computer program code to calm the user by communicating with the user.

19. The system of claim 12 wherein the mobile telephone includes computer program code to determine a stress level of the user while the user is driving a vehicle.

20. The system of claim 12 wherein the mobile telephone includes computer program code that causes the mobile telephone to notify a third party of the user'"'"'s stress level.