Communication system having automated filtering based on mental state decisions

• US 9,148,768 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2014
• Issued: 09/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ruggero Scorcioni
• Original Assignee: Ruggero Scorcioni
• Inventors: Scorcioni, Ruggero
• Primary Examiner(s): Thomas, Ashish K
• Application Number:
  US14/159,418
• Publication Number:
  US 20140206323A1
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

A communication device having automated filtering based on mental state decisions of the present invention includes a brainwave sensing device that has sensors positioned on a user which can wirelessly communicate the mental state(s) of the user through a signal conditioner to portable electronic device. Subsequently, when the portable electronic device receives signals from a communication system, such as a call or a message, the calls or messages can be either be allowed or interrupted and stored depending on the mental state of the user. Thus, by using the mental state of the user, the portable electronic device can control the communication between the device and a telephone or message system to prevent interruptions during periods of intense focus, for example. In addition, this application provides methods for operating the communication device having automated filtering based on mental state decisions of the present invention.

Claims

1. A communication device for automated filtering based on mental state decisions, comprising:

a brainwave sensing device, positioned on a user and having at least one sensor;

a signal conditioner, having a sensor interface hardware, a state detector, a controller, a mental state predictor, a mental state database, a mental state log database, a memory and a transceiver;

wherein said at least one sensor of said brainwave sensing device has a signal that passes through said signal conditioner;

wherein said transceiver of said signal conditioner communicates said signal to a portable electronic device;

wherein said portable electronic device further communicates with a telecommunication system over a channel; and

wherein said channel can be interrupted or allowed to said portable electronic device based on said signal.

2. The communication device in claim 1, wherein said brainwave sensing device is a electroencephalograph (EEG) headset having at least one EEG sensor capable of perceiving the electrical characteristics of a brain within a skull.

3. The brainwave sensing device in claim 1, further comprising a microphone.

4. The brainwave sensing device of claim 3, wherein said microphone is a telephone headset microphone.

5. The signal conditioner in claim 1, further comprising at least one additional state sensor

6. The signal conditioner in claim 1, further comprising a EEG sensor input in electrical communication with said sensor interface hardware.

7. A method for operating a communication system for automated filtering based on mental state decisions, comprising:

initializing said system, including calibrating one or more electronics, and initializing a controller and a memory;

determining if a call filtering function is “

ON”

, wherein if said filtering function is “

OFF”

, all incoming calls and messages are passed through to a communication device and wherein if said filtering function is “

ON”

, a user may select a target mental state to be used for a filter function sensing one or more brain input signal;

predicting a mental state prediction from said one or more brain input signal;

logging said mental state prediction into in a mental state database; and

monitoring said mental state of said user, wherein if said target mental state is not sensed a call interruption flag is cleared, allowing ordinary operation of a portable electronic device and wherein if said target mental state is sensed a call interrupt flag is set.

8. The method for operating a communication system for automated filtering based on mental state decisions in claim 7, wherein initializing said system further comprises initializing at least one microprocessor.

9. The method for operating a communication system for automated filtering based on mental state decisions in claim 7, wherein monitoring said mental state of said user considers one or more, or combinations, of mental states for an evaluation.

10. The method for operating a communication system for automated filtering based on mental state decisions in claim 7, wherein monitoring said mental state of said user and said target mental state is not sensed a call interruption flag is cleared, further comprising:

determining if one or more previously logged messages exist which were previously prevented from delivery, wherein if said one or more messages do not exist, calling voicemail, and wherein if said one or more messages do exist, transferring said one or more messages to said portable electronic device; and

determining if a call is received, wherein if said call is not received, the brain input is sensed; and

wherein if said call is received said call is transferred to said phone.