Systems and methods for collecting biometrically verified actigraphy data

• US 9,030,294 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2011
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pulsar Informatics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pulsar Informatics, Inc.
• Inventors: Mollicone, Daniel Joseph, Mott, Christopher Grey, Thomas, Sean Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Backer, Firmin
• Assistant Examiner(s): TUN, NAY L
• Application Number:
  US13/237,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20120068820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• Field of Search: 340575-576, 340/5.82
• US Class Current: 340/5.82
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2139 Recurrent verification
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/068 using credential vaults, e.g. password manager applications or one time password [OTP] applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/33 using wearable devices, e.g. using a smartwatch or smart-glasses

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided to collect biometrically-verified actigraphy data, comprising: obtaining and processing a subject'"'"'s measured biometric input from a biometric sensor to generate a current biometric signature of the subject; verifying the subject'"'"'s identity by comparing the current biometric signature to one previously obtained from a database and evaluating a proximity metric of the current biometric signature of the subject to the previously obtained biometric signature from the database; if the subject passes identity verification, obtaining actigraphy data from an actigraphy sensor worn by the subject; at one or more times while obtaining the actigraphy data, repeating the steps of obtaining and processing a subject'"'"'s measured biometric input from a biometric sensor to generate a current biometric signature of the subject, and verifying the identity of the subject to ensure that the identity of the subject passes the identity verification at the one or more times.

Claims

1. A method for collecting biometrically-verified actigraphy data, the method comprising:

obtaining measured biometric input in respect of a subject from a biometric sensor and processing the measured biometric input to generate a current biometric signature of the subject;

verifying an identity of the subject by comparing the current biometric signature of the subject to a previously obtained biometric signature from a database of previously obtained biometric signatures and evaluating a proximity metric of the current biometric signature of the subject to the previously obtained biometric signature from the database;

if it is concluded that the identity of the subject passes the identity verification, obtaining actigraphy data in respect of the subject from an actigraphy sensor worn by the subject;

at one or more times while obtaining the actigraphy data, repeating the steps of obtaining the measured biometric input, processing the measured biometric input to generate the current biometric signature of the subject and verifying the identity of the subject to ensure that the identity of the subject passes the identity verification at the one or more times; and

providing, while obtaining the actigraphy data, monitoring an on-body sensor associated with the actigraphy sensor to determine if the subject attempts to remove the actigraphy sensor from the subject'"'"'s body, wherein if monitoring the on-body sensor leads to the conclusion that the subject has attempted to remove the actigraphy sensor from the subject'"'"'s body, then re-setting a status of the identity verification to an unverified state.

2. The method according to claim 1 comprising randomly generating the one or more times.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein monitoring the on-body sensor to determine if the subject attempts to remove the actigraphy sensor from the subject'"'"'s body comprises comparing a signal from the on-body sensor to a threshold.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein if monitoring the on-body sensor leads to the conclusion that the subject has attempted to remove the actigraphy sensor from the subject'"'"'s body, then repeating the steps of obtaining the measured biometric input, processing the measured biometric input to generate the current biometric signature of the subject and verifying the identity of the subject to re-evaluate whether the identity of the subject passes the identity verification.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein obtaining the measured biometric input in respect of the subject from the biometric sensor comprises obtaining a electrocardiogram (ECG) signal from an ECG sensor.

6. The method according to claim 1 comprising obtaining subject credentials from the subject and wherein comparing the current biometric signature of the subject to the previously obtained biometric signature from the database of previously obtained biometric signatures comprises using the subject credentials to identify the previously obtained biometric signature from the database.

7. The method according to claim 1 comprising recording the obtained actigraphy data in a record together with an indicator of the identity of the subject.

8. The method according to claim 1 comprising recording any of the one or more times at which the identity of the subject does not pass the identity verification.

9. A system for collecting biometrically-verified actigraphy data, the system comprising:

a biometric sensor that outputs measured biometric input in respect of a subject;

an actigraphy sensor wearable by the subject that outputs actigraphy data when worn by the subject;

a controller connected to receive the measured biometric input and configured to;

process the measured biometric input to generate a current biometric signature of the subject;

verify an identity of the subject by;

comparing the current biometric signature of the subject to a previously obtained biometric signature from a database of previously obtained biometric signatures; and

evaluating a proximity metric of the current biometric signature of the subject to the previously obtained biometric signature from the database;

if it is concluded that the identity of the subject passes the identity verification, procure actigraphy data in respect of the subject from the actigraphy sensor; and

at one or more times while obtaining the actigraphy data, repeat the steps of obtaining the measured biometric input, processing the measured biometric input to generate the current biometric signature of the subject and verifying the identity of the subject to ensure that the identity of the subject passes the identity verification at the one or more times; and

an on-body sensor configured detect a parameter indicative of whether the actigraphy sensor is being worn by the subject, wherein the controller is configured to monitor the on-body sensor to determine if the subject attempts to remove the actigraphy sensor from the subject'"'"'s body, and wherein the controller is configured to re-set a status of the identity verification to an unverified state if monitoring the on-body sensor leads to the conclusion that the subject has attempted to remove the actigraphy sensor from the subject'"'"'s body.

10. The system according to claim 9 wherein the controller is configured to randomly generate the one or more times.

11. The system according to claim 9 wherein the controller is configured to monitor the on-body sensor to determine if the subject attempts to remove the actigraphy sensor from the subject'"'"'s body by comparing the detected parameter to a threshold.

12. The system according to claim 9 wherein the controller is configured, if monitoring the on-body sensor leads to the conclusion that the subject has attempted to remove the actigraphy sensor from the subject'"'"'s body, to repeat the steps of obtaining the measured biometric input, processing the measured biometric input to generate the current biometric signature of the subject and verifying the identity of the subject to re-evaluate whether the identity of the subject passes the identity verification.

13. The system according to claim 9 wherein the biometric sensor comprises an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor.

14. The system according to claim 9 wherein the controller is configured to obtain subject credentials from the subject and to compare the current biometric signature of the subject to the previously obtained biometric signature from the database of previously obtained biometric signatures by using the subject credentials to identify the previously obtained biometric signature from the database.

15. The system according to claim 9 wherein the controller is configured to record the obtained actigraphy data in a record together with an indicator of the identity of the subject.

16. The system according to claim 9 wherein the controller is configured to record any of the one or more times at which the identity of the subject does not pass the identity verification.