AUTOMATED DETECTION AND CONFIGURATION OF WEARABLE DEVICES BASED ON ON-BODY STATUS, LOCATION, AND/OR ORIENTATION

• US 20160249174A1
• Filed: 02/19/2016
• Published: 08/25/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medidata Solutions Incorporated (Dassault Systemes SA)
• Original Assignee: MC10, Inc.
• Inventors: Patel, Shyamal, McGinnis, Ryan S., Prakash, Aadithya, Silva, Ikaro, Jortberg, Elise, Ghaffari, Roozbeh, Raj, Milan
• Granted Patent: US 10,477,354 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/0219 Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/08 with conversion into electric or magnetic values
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination

Abstract

An electronic device worn on a user includes one or more accelerometers. The one or more accelerometers generate acceleration information based on acceleration experienced by the electronic device. The electronic device further includes a processor and one or more associated memories, and the one or more associate memories include computer program code executable by the processor. The processor, configured by the computer program code, causes the electronic device to process the acceleration information to extract features from the acceleration information. The processor, configured by the computer program code, further causes the electronic device to process the features to determine the location of the electronic device on the user.

Claims

1. An electronic device worn on a user, the electronic device comprising:

one or more accelerometers configured to generate acceleration information based on acceleration experienced by the electronic device;

a processor; and

one or more associated memories, the one or more associated memories including computer program code executable by the processor, the processor, configured by the computer program code, causes the electronic device to;

process the acceleration information to extract features from the acceleration information; and

process the features to determine a location of the electronic device on the user.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the features comprise one or more of a dominant frequency, a frequency range, an acceleration scale, an acceleration range, an energy, and an entropy of the acceleration information.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the processer, configured by the computer program code, and with respect to the processing of the features, causes the electronic device to:

process the features based on a decision tree analysis to determine the location of the electronic device.

4. The electronic device according to claim 3, further comprising:

a temperature sensor configured to measure temperature information associated with the electronic device,

wherein the processor, configured by the computer program code, causes the electronic device to;

process the temperature information to determine a temperature, a change in temperature, a rate of change in temperature, or a combination thereof; and

determine a state of the electronic device based, at least in part, on the temperature, the change in temperature, the rate of change in temperature, or a combination thereof,

wherein the decision tree analysis is based, at least in part, on the state of the electronic device.

5. The electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the temperature sensor is a sub-component of at least one of the one or more accelerometers.

6. The electronic device according to claim 5, wherein the state is an on-body status of the electronic device on the user.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein, in response to determining the location, the processor, configured by the computer program code, causes the electronic device to:

in response to determining the location, process the acceleration information according to one or more location-specific metrics selected based on the location to generate location-specific information.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

one or more components,

wherein, in response to determining the location, the processor, configured by the computer program code, causes the electronic device to;

activate at least one of the one or more components based on the location; and

process information generated by the at least one component according to one or more location-specific metrics selected based on the location to generate location-specific information.

9. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the acceleration information is generated continuously, periodically, and/or on demand.

10. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the acceleration information is processed continuously, periodically, and/or on demand, and the features are processed continuously, periodically, and/or on demand.

11. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein the processor, configured by the computer program code, causes the electronic device to:

compare the location to one or more previously determined locations of the electronic device on the user; and

validate the determination of the location based on the comparison.

13. The method according to claim 9, wherein the features comprise one or more of a dominant frequency, a frequency range, an acceleration scale, an acceleration range, an energy, and an entropy of the acceleration information.

14. The method according to claim 9, wherein the processing of the features comprises:

processing the features based on a decision tree analysis to determine the location of the wearable device.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising:

measuring temperature information associated with the wearable device based on a temperature sensor within the wearable device;

processing the temperature information to determine a temperature, a change in temperature, a rate of change in temperature, or a combination thereof; and

determining a state of the wearable device based, at least in part, on the temperature, the change in temperature, the rate of change in temperature, or a combination thereof,

wherein the decision tree analysis is based, at least in part, on the state of the wearable device.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein a motion sensor within wearable device generates the acceleration information, and the temperature sensor is a sub-component of the motion sensor.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the state is an on-body status of the wearable device on the user.

12. A method of determining a location of a wearable device on a user, the method comprising:

generating acceleration information based on acceleration experienced by the wearable device;

processing the acceleration information to extract features from the acceleration information; and

processing the features to determine the location of the wearable device on the user.

18. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

in response to determining the location, processing the acceleration information according to one or more location-specific metrics selected based on the location to generate location-specific information.

19. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

activating one or more components of the wearable device based on the location; and

processing information generated by the one or more components according to one or more location-specific metrics selected based on the location to generate location-specific information.

20. The method according to claim 12, wherein the acceleration information is generated continuously, periodically, and/or on demand.

21. The method according to claim 12, wherein the acceleration information is processed continuously, periodically, and/or on demand, and the features are processed continuously, periodically, and/or on demand.

22. The method according to claim 12, further comprising:

comparing the location to one or more previously determined locations of the electronic device on the user; and

validating the determination of the location based on the comparison.

23. An electronic device worn on a user, the electronic device comprising:

one or more accelerometers configured to determine acceleration information during a first period;

a processor;

one or more associated memories, at least one of the associated memories including computer program code executable by the processor, the processor, configured by the computer program code, causes the electronic device to;

extract features from the acceleration information, the features characterizing the acceleration information during the first period;

determine a location of the wearable device on the user as one of a plurality of predefined locations based on the features; and

configure functionality of the wearable device based on the location and one or more location-specific metrics associated with the one of the plurality of predefined locations.

24. The electronic device according to claim 23, wherein the plurality of predefined locations comprise a chest, an abdomen, an upper arm, a lower arm, a wrist, an upper leg, a lower leg, and an ankle of the user.

25. The electronic device according to claim 23, further comprising:

one or more components configured to generate location-specification information,

wherein the processor, configured by the computer program code, causes the electronic device to;

selectively activate at least one of the one or more components based on the location.

26. The electronic device according to claim 23, wherein the processor, configured by the computer program code, causes the electronic device to:

process the features based on a decision tree analysis to determine the location,

wherein the decision tree analysis is generated based on previously determined acceleration information associated with the plurality of predefined locations.

27. A method of configuring a wearable device based on the wearable device determining its location on a user, the method comprising:

determining acceleration information during a first period based on one or more accelerometers included within the wearable device;

extracting features from the acceleration information, the features characterizing the acceleration information during the first period;

determining the location of the wearable device on the user as one of a plurality of predefined locations based on the features; and

configuring functionality of the wearable device based on the location and one or more location-specific metrics associated with the one of the plurality of predefined locations.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the plurality of predefined locations comprise a chest, an abdomen, an upper arm, a lower arm, a wrist, an upper leg, a lower leg, and an ankle of the user.

29. The method according to claim 27, further comprising:

selectively activating at least one of one or more components within the wearable device configured to generate location-specification information based on the location.

30. The method according to claim 27, wherein the determining of the location comprises:

processing the features based on a decision tree analysis to determine the location,

wherein the decision tree analysis is generated based on previously determined acceleration information associated with the plurality of predefined locations.

31. An electronic device worn on a user, the electronic device comprising:

one or more accelerometers and temperature sensors configured to generate acceleration information and temperature information based on acceleration and skin temperature experienced by the electronic device;

a processor; and

one or more associated memories, the one or more associated memories including computer program code executable by the processor, the processor, configured by the computer program code, causes the electronic device to;

process the acceleration and skin temperature information to extract features from the acceleration information; and

process the features to determine a location of the electronic device on the user.

32. The electronic device according to claim 31, wherein the features comprise one or more of a dominant frequency, a frequency range, an acceleration scale, an acceleration range, an energy, and an entropy of the acceleration information and skin temperature range with 0.01 C precision.

33. An electronic device wearable on a user comprising:

a temperature sensor configured to measure temperature information associated with the electronic device;

a processor; and

one or more associated memories, the one or more associated memories including computer program code executable by the processor, the processor, configured by the computer program code, causes the electronic device to;

process the temperature information to determine a temperature, a change in temperature, a rate of change in temperature, or a combination thereof; and

determine an on-body status of the electronic device on the user based on the temperature, the change in temperature, the rate of the change in temperature, or a combination thereof.

34. The electronic device according to claim 33, wherein the processor, configured by the computer program code, causes the electronic device to:

change a mode of operation based, at least in part, on the on-body status.

35. The electronic device according to claim 33, wherein the processor, configured by the computer program code, causes the electronic device, upon determining the on-body status as an on-body state, to:

determine a location of the electronic device on the user based on the temperature, the change in temperature, the rate of change in temperature, or a combination thereof.

36. The electronic device according to claim 35, wherein the processor, configured by the computer program code, causes the electronic device to:

configure functionality of one or more components of the electronic device, one or more devices associated with the electronic device, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the location.

37. The electronic device according to claim 33, wherein the temperature sensor is a sub-component of a component of the electronic device.

38. The electronic device according to claim 37, wherein the component is a microelectromechanical system.

39. The electronic device according to claim 38, wherein the microelectromechanical system is a motion sensor.

40. The electronic device according to claim 33, wherein the temperature information is based, at least in part, on a skin temperature of the user when the electronic device is in an on-body state.

41. The electronic device according to claim 33, wherein the temperature information is based, at least in part, on ambient air temperature when the on-body status is an off-body state.

42. A method for determining a status of an electronic device, the method comprising:

measuring temperature information associated with the electronic device based on a temperature sensor within the electronic device;

processing the temperature information to determine a temperature, a change in temperature, a rate of change in temperature, or a combination thereof; and

determining an on-body status of the electronic device based, at least in part, on the temperature, the change in temperature, the rate of change in temperature, or a combination thereof.

43. The method according to claim 42, further comprising:

changing a mode of operation of the electronic device based, at least in part, on the on-body status.

44. The method according to claim 42, further comprising:

determining a location of the electronic device on a user based, at least in part, on the temperature, the change in temperature, the rate of change in temperature, or a combination thereof based on the on-body status being determined as an on-body state,

wherein the temperature information is based, at least in part, on a skin temperature at the location.

45. The method according to claim 44, further comprising:

configuring functionality of one or more components of the electronic device, one or more devices associated with the electronic device, or a combination thereof based, at least in part, on the location.

46. The method according to claim 44, further comprising:

monitoring the temperature, the change in temperature, the rate of change in temperature, or a combination thereof; and

updating the location of the electronic device based, at least in part, on the monitoring.

47. The method according to claim 42, wherein the temperature sensor is a sub-component of a component of the electronic device.

48. The method according to claim 47, wherein the component is a microelectromechanical system.

49. The method according to claim 48, wherein the microelectromechanical system is a motion sensor.

50. The method according to claim 44, further comprising:

monitoring the temperature, the change in temperature, the rate of change in temperature, or a combination thereof; and

updating the on-body status of the electronic device based, at least in part, on the monitoring.

51. A method of configuring a wearable device comprising:

generating acceleration information based on acceleration experienced by one or more motion sensors within the wearable device;

measuring temperature information experienced by the wearable device based on a temperature sensor within the wearable device;

determining an on-body status of the wearable device based on the acceleration information, the temperature information, or a combination thereof; and

configuring functionality of the wearable device based, at least in part, on the on-body status.

52. The method of configuring the wearable device according to 51, wherein configuring the functionality of the wearable includes operating the wearable device in a selected one of an on mode, a sleep mode, an off mode, and a recharge mode.

53. The method of configuring the wearable device according to claim 51, further comprising:

determining a location of the wearable device on a user, with the on-body status in an on-body state, based on the acceleration information, the temperature information, or a combination thereof; and

configuring the functionality of the wearable device based, at least in part, on the location.

54. An electronic device worn on a user, the electronic device comprising:

at least two electrical contacts configured to detect an electrical signal at the surface of the user, the electrical signal being an electrocardiogram signal;

an accelerometer configured to generate acceleration information experienced by the at least two electrical contacts;

a processor; and

one or more associated memories, the one or more associated memories including computer program code executable by the processor, the processor, configured by the computer program code, causes the electronic device to;

acquire the electrical signal at the surface of the user through the at least two electrical contacts;

process the acceleration information generated by the accelerometer to determine an orientation of the at least two electrical contacts relative to the user; and

determine which limb lead electrocardiogram signal the electrical signal represents based on the orientation.

55. The electronic device of claim 54, wherein the limb lead is one of Lead I, Lead II, or Lead III.

56. The electronic device of claim 55, wherein an orientation of the at least two electrical contacts of about 0°

relative to horizontal represents Lead I, an orientation of the at least two electrical contacts of about 60°

below horizontal represents Lead II, and an orientation of the at least two electrical contacts of about 120°

below horizontal represents Lead III.

57. The electronic device of claim 54, wherein one electrical contact of the at least two electrical contacts is configured as a positive contact and one electrical contact of the at least two electrical contacts is configured as a negative contact.

58. The electronic device of claim 54, wherein the processor, configured by the computer program code, causes the electronic device to:

apply one or more algorithms to the electrical signal based on the determined limb lead.

59. The electronic device of claim 54, wherein the processor, configured by the computer program code, causes the electronic device to:

acquire the electrical signal, process the acceleration information, or a combination thereof continuously, periodically, and/or on demand.

60. The electronic device of claim 59, wherein the processor, configured by the computer program code, causes the electronic device to:

acquire the electrical signal, process the acceleration information, or a combination thereof during detected movement of the electronic device, the user, or a combination thereof based on the acceleration information.

61. A sensor system worn on a surface of a user, the sensor system comprising:

at least three wearable devices, each wearable device including;

a pair of electrical contacts configured to detect an electrical signal at the surface of the user, the electrical signal being an electrocardiogram signal; and

an accelerometer configured to generate acceleration information experienced by the pair of electrical contacts;

a processor; and

one or more associated memories, the one or more associated memories including computer program code executable by the processor, the computer program code causes the processor to;

cause the three pairs of electrical contacts to acquire electrical signals at the surface of the user;

process the acceleration information generated by the three accelerometers to determine orientations of the three pairs of electrical contacts relative to the user; and

assign limb leads to the three electrical signals based on the orientations of the three pairs of electrical contacts.

62. The sensor system of claim 61, wherein the computer program code causes the processor to:

process at least two of the three electrical signals to determine R-waves of the two electrical signals; and

calculate, based on the R-waves of the two electrical signals and the orientations of the two pairs of electrical contacts associated with the two electrical signals, an electrical cardiac axis of the user.

63. The sensor system of claim 62, wherein the two electrical signals represent Lead I and Lead II.

64. A method of classifying an electrical signal within an electrocardiography process, the method comprising:

attaching a wearable device to a surface of a user, the wearable device including;

a pair of electrical contacts configured to detect an electrical signal at the surface of the user, the electrical signal being an electrocardiogram signal; and

an accelerometer configured to generate acceleration information experienced by the pair of electrical contacts;

detecting the electrical signal at the surface of the user with the pair of electrical contacts;

determining an orientation of the pair of electrical contacts relative to the user based on the acceleration information; and

determining whether the electrical signal represents a Lead I, Lead II, or Lead III electrocardiogram signal based on the orientation.

65. The method of claim 64, wherein the orientation of the pair of electrical contacts is based on an angle of the electrical contacts with respect to a coronal axis of the user.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein an angle of about 10°

above to about 10°

below the coronal axis corresponds to Lead I, an angle of about 50°

below to about 70°

below the coronal axis corresponds to Lead II, and an angle of about 110°

below to about 130°

below to the coronal axis corresponds to Lead III.

67. The method of claim 64, further comprising:

configuring the wearable device based on which electrocardiogram signal the electrical signal represents.

68. The method of claim 64, further comprising:

modifying a waveform of the electrical signal based on which electrocardiogram signal the electrical signal represents.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the modification is one or more visual modifications with respect to displaying the waveform on a display.

70. The method of claim 64, further comprising:

determining that the electrical signal represents none of the Lead I, Lead II, or Lead III electrocardiogram signal based on the orientation; and

providing one or more visual, tactile, and/or audible indications on how to manipulate the wearable device to orient the wearable device to acquire one of the Lead I, Lead II, or Lead III electrocardiogram signals.