Smart adaptive device for alerting user of scheduled tasks prior to falling asleep

• US 8,766,805 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2011
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Alameh, Rachid M, Alberth, William P, Dickinson, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US13/305,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20130135108A1
• Time in Patent Office: 946 Days
• Field of Search: 340/575, 340/576, 340/573.1, 340/539.1, 340/539.12, 600/300, 600/372, 600/509, 600/519, 701/1, 701/36, 701/49, 180/272, 180/280
• US Class Current: 340/575
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0266 for time management, e.g. calendars, diaries
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A method is provided for alerting a user of scheduled tasks prior to falling asleep. The method includes associating an alarm device with a user'"'"'s body by securing a wearable device to the user'"'"'s wrist, placing the device in a pocket, integrating the device into the user'"'"'s clothing such as a belt, or otherwise placing the device in contact with or adjacent to the user. The device includes one or more sensors for detecting physiological and/or environmental parameters such as heart, respiration, or pulse rate, body movements, eye movements, ambient light, and the like. Upon detecting a pre-sleep state, the device gathers information about tasks which the user desires to perform or attend to prior to going to sleep, and alerts the user before falling asleep.

Claims

1. A method of alerting a user of scheduled tasks, the method comprising:

sensing a physiological parameter of the user through a sensing device proximate the user'"'"'s body;

detecting the onset of a sleep state of the user;

gathering, upon detecting the onset of the sleep state of the user, a scheduled task pertaining to the user; and

alerting the user of the scheduled task prior to the user going to sleep.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein attaching comprises securing said device to the user'"'"'s wrist using a wrist band.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting comprises monitoring and identifying physiological data associated with a pre-sleep state.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said physiological data comprises user limb movements.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said physiological data comprises at least one of:

galvanic skin response, pulse oxymetry data, heart rate, and respiration.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting comprises detecting a predetermined time of day.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting comprises detecting a pre-sleep state based on prior user history of pre-sleep onset times.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting comprises pattern recognition associated with the user'"'"'s eyes.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein detecting comprises detecting the user is executing tasks historically done prior to sleep.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein detecting comprises determining when the user'"'"'s eyelids are closed.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein detecting comprises detecting nodding of the user'"'"'s head.

12. The method of claim 3, wherein detecting comprises detecting the user'"'"'s skin temperature.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting comprises detecting at least one of:

ambient light, ambient temperature, background noise, breathing rate, and background motion.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein gathering comprises retrieving task information from an on-board database.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein gathering comprises retrieving task information from a remote database.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein gathering comprises retrieving information from at least one of:

a schedule, a calendar, to do list, news brief, traffic alert, email, voice mail, traffic notice, call logs, and text messages.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said alerting comprises at least one of:

audible alarm, vibration, blinking LEDs, text-to-speech, and visual display.

18. A method of reminding the user of a wearable device to attend to scheduled tasks prior to entering a sleep state, the method comprising:

monitoring at least one of physiological and environmental parameters using at least one sensor associated with said device;

detecting, using said at least one sensor, the onset of a pre-sleep state of the user;

retrieving, upon detecting the onset of the pre-sleep state of the user, at least one scheduled task to be attended to by the user before going to sleep;

reminding the user of said scheduled task; and

receiving confirmation that the user has attended to said task.

19. A wearable device for alerting a user of scheduled tasks prior to falling asleep, the device comprising:

a controller;

a user interface module coupled to said controller, wherein the user interface module facilitates user interaction with said device;

a sensor coupled to said controller, wherein the sensor detects a pre-sleep state of the user;

a memory module associated with said device;

wherein the controller is configured to retrieve a scheduled task, upon detecting the onset of the pre-sleep state of the user, from said memory module and thereafter cause an alert to be provided to the user upon receipt of a signal from said sensor indicative of said pre-sleep state.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein said sensor is configured to monitor a physiological parameter of the user associated with said pre-sleep state.