METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR SNORE DETECTION AND CORRECTION

• US 20160331303A1
• Filed: 01/22/2015
• Published: 11/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nexus Engineering Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: Entanti Limited
• Inventors: Shen, Haoye, Khatam, Bahman, Li, Zhan
• Application Number:
  US15/112,412
• Publication Number:
  US 20160331303A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14551 for measuring blood gases
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4806 Sleep evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence; devices for inducing sleep A61M21/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4818 Sleep apnoea
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• 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

Abstract

A method of detecting snoring includes: at a first smart mobile device: receiving a first audio signal from a microphone of the first smart mobile device; determining that the first audio signal includes characteristics of snoring; and in response to a determination that the first audio signal includes characteristics of snoring: transmitting a signal to an external alert unit.

Claims

1. A method of detecting snoring comprising:

at a first smart mobile device;

receiving a first audio signal from a microphone of the first smart mobile device;

determining that the first audio signal includes characteristics of snoring; and

in response to a determination that the first audio signal includes characteristics of snoring;

transmitting a signal to an external alert unit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the first audio signal includes characteristics of snoring further comprises:

receiving a communication from a second smart mobile device, wherein the communication comprises information about a second audio signal captured by the second smart mobile device;

determining whether at least one of the first audio signal and second audio signal is associated with a user of the first smart mobile device;

in response to a determination that at least one of the first audio signal and second audio signal is associated with a user of the first smart mobile device;

transmitting the signal to the external alert unit; and

in response to a determination that at least one of the first audio signal and second audio signal is not associated with a user of the first smart mobile device;

foregoing transmission of the signal to the external alert unit.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining whether at least one of the first audio signal and second audio signal is associated with a user of the first smart mobile device comprises determining, from the information in the communication, at least one of a time of capture of the second audio signal at the second smart mobile device and an amplitude of the second audio signal.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert unit is a wearable unit.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the alert unit is a vibratory unit.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a measurement of an oxygen level of a user and wherein determining that the first audio signal includes characteristics of snoring further comprises determining whether the oxygen level is lower than a predetermined threshold.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein receiving a measurement of an oxygen level comprises receiving the measurement from the alert unit.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first audio signal is recorded and the recorded audio signal is transmitted to an external server.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a third audio signal from the microphone of the first smart mobile device;

determining whether the third audio signal includes characteristics of snoring; and

in response to a determination that the third audio signal includes characteristics of snoring;

transmitting a second signal to an alert unit.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second signal includes an instruction to increase an intensity of a stimulus produced by the alert unit.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining whether a first snore associated with the first audio signal and a second snore associated with the third audio signal occurred within a predetermined period of time, and wherein the second transmitted signal includes an instruction to increase an intensity of a stimulus produced by the alert unit.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the first audio signal includes characteristics of snoring comprises determining that at least one of a frequency, an amplitude, and a duration of the first audio signal meets a predetermined threshold.

13. A method of detecting snoring comprising:

at a first smart mobile device;

receiving a first audio signal from a microphone of the first smart mobile device;

receiving a communication from a second smart mobile device, wherein the communication comprises information about a second audio signal captured by the second smart mobile device;

determining whether the first audio signal includes characteristics of snoring; and

determining whether at least one of the first audio signal and second audio signal is associated with a user of the first smart mobile device;

in response to a determination that (a) at least one of the first audio signal and second audio signal is associated with a user of the first smart mobile device and (b) the first audio signal includes characteristics of snoring;

providing an alert; and

in response to a determination that (a) at least one of the first audio signal and second audio signal is not associated with a user of the first smart mobile device or (b) the first audio signal does not include characteristics of snoring;

forgoing providing an alert.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein providing an alert comprises transmitting a signal to an external alert unit.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein determining whether at least one of the first audio signal and second audio signal is associated with a user of the first smart mobile device comprises determining, from the information in the communication, at least one of a time of capture of the second audio signal at the second smart mobile device and an amplitude of a second audio signal.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a first smart mobile device, cause the device to:

determine whether a first audio signal, received from a microphone of the first smart mobile device, includes characteristics of snoring; and

in response to a determination that the first audio signal includes characteristics of snoring;

transmit a signal to an external alert unit.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a first smart mobile device, cause the device to:

determine whether a first audio signal, received from a microphone of the first smart mobile device, includes characteristics of snoring; and

determine whether at least one of the first audio signal and second audio signal is associated with a user of the first smart mobile device, wherein the second audio signal is detected by a second smart mobile device;

in response to a determination that (a) at least one of the first audio signal and second audio signal is associated with a user of the first smart mobile device and (b) the first audio signal includes characteristics of snoring;

provide an alert; and

in response to a determination that (a) at least one of the first audio signal and second audio signal is not associated with a user of the first smart mobile device or (b) the first audio signal does not include characteristics of snoring;

forgo providing an alert.