Wearable badge with sensor

• US 8,715,178 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2010
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Original Assignee: Bank of America Corp.
• Inventors: Price, David D., Nallasivan, Srinivasan
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomson, Bill
• Assistant Examiner(s): SORIANO, BOBBY GILES
• Application Number:
  US12/707,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20110201959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,538 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301, 434/236, 434156-185, 705 2- 4
• US Class Current: 600/300
• 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 5/022 by applying pressure to close blood vessels, e.g. against the skin; Ophthalmodynamometers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/11 Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb for measuring pulse A61B5/02 ;A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4261 Evaluating exocrine secretion production A61B3/101 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6804 Garments; Clothes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6825 Hand
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6898 Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 25/63 for estimating an emotional state
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Abstract

Systems and methods for a wearable badge with a sensor are provided. The badge may include a sensor. The sensor may monitor a response of a wearer. The sensor may monitor a response of an individual facing the wearer. A reference index may correlate the response to a known condition. A processor device may detect the known condition or a threshold number of known conditions. The processor may relate the known condition to feedback. A feedback mechanism may provide the feedback to the wearer. The feedback mechanism may provide the feedback to the individual facing the wearer. The feedback may be provided based on the known condition. The feedback may be configured to provide guidance to the wearer and the individual facing the wearer. The feedback may be based on the threshold number.

Claims

1. A system for inducing a change in a performance characteristic comprising:

a wearable badge having a sensor configured to sense the performance characteristic;

a machine readable memory configured to store a performance characteristic reference index;

a processor device configured to provide a comparison of said sensed performance characteristic to said reference index; and

a feedback channel configured to transmit feedback information based on said comparison to induce said change.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor includes a transmitter configured to transmit a wireless signal based on said performance characteristic.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor is configured to sense temperature.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said performance characteristic reference index includes a logical link between a sensor output and an emotional state.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said reference index includes a supplemental entry associated with said emotional state.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein said emotional state is associated with a change in a performance characteristic over time.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said wearable badge includes an acoustic receiver.

8. A method for inducing a change in a performance characteristic of an individual, the method comprising:

using a receiver of a computer system, receiving from a wearable badge sensor an electronic signal corresponding to the performance characteristic; and

using a processor of the computer system;

correlating the signal with a metric of the performance characteristic; and

linking the metric to an emotional state.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising, using a transmitter of the computer system, providing to the individual feedback based on the emotional state.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein, when the individual is a first individual, the method further comprises, using the transmitter, providing to a second individual feedback based on the emotional state.

11. The method of claim 8 further comprising promoting a change in said performance characteristic.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said promoting comprises applying biofeedback techniques.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said promoting includes issuing to the individual an instruction to seek assistance.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein said promoting includes communicating via a real time textual chat dialogue.

15. One or more computer-readable media storing computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a processor on a computer system, perform a method for inducing a change in a performance characteristic of a first individual participating in a dialogue with a second individual, the method comprising:

receiving from a wearable badge sensor a signal corresponding to the performance characteristic;

correlating the signal with a metric of the performance characteristic;

linking the metric to an emotional state; and

providing to the first individual feedback based on the emotional state, wherein the feedback comprises an instruction formulated to affect the first individual'"'"'s participating in the dialogue.

16. The one or more media of claim 15 wherein, in the method, the linking comprises linking the metric to an emotion selected from the group consisting of happiness, sadness, fear, anger, disgust, contempt, and surprise.

17. The one or more media of claim 15 wherein the method further comprises transmitting said feedback to a third individual.

18. The one or more media of claim 15 wherein the feedback is formulated to induce a change in said performance characteristic.

19. The one or more media of claim 15 wherein the feedback is formulated using biofeedback techniques.

20. The one or more media of claim 15 wherein the providing comprises issuing to the first individual an instruction to seek assistance.

21. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 15 wherein, in the method, the providing comprises providing audible information.