METHODS FOR MANAGING THE TRANSITION FROM SLEEP TO FINAL WAKE

Abstract

Systems and methods for awakening a user from sleep. The sleep state of the user is determined by a monitor device, and one or more selected stimuli are activated to wake up the user in response and according to the determined state of the user. The stimuli can include light, sound, or scent stimuli, for example, audio or video instructions for the user to follow.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to sleeping aids, and more particularly, to methods and devices to monitor and manage a user's sleep.

A prevalent and often overlooked cause to many secondary health and social problems is insufficient and/or poor-quality sleep. Estimates show that that 65% of the population has at least a few nights a week suboptimal sleep. Humans require considerable rest each night and if the sleep is broken, brain function, problem-solving, cognitive skills, and reasoning are affected. Other potential consequences of insufficient sleep include short and long-term memory loss, mood changes, a weakened immunity, high blood pressure, weight gain, insulin control, which increases the risk for Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, poor balance, and a lower sex drive. Insufficient and poor-quality sleep will also affect a person's work performance, and likely disrupt their social behavior and social interactions, potentially damaging relationships.

Various methods of improving a person's sleep include physical exercise, breathing exercises and optimizing the user's ambient conditions such as music, light, temperature etc. A variety of monitoring and sleep improvement products have been (or are) on the market, including wearable devices such as wristwatches, armbands, head mounted devices, and non-contact products.

It is an object of the present invention to provide methods and devices for wakeup management for a user to provide improved wake experience

SUMMARY

The present invention provides devices, systems, and computer-implemented methods relating to measuring, managing and/or improving sleep. In certain aspects, the wakeup management aspect of the disclosure provides methods for transitioning from sleep to wake depending on the stage or state of sleep one is in at the scheduled time, and if it is determined that at the scheduled time the user is in a deep sleep state, the present system can provide certain transition methods to provide an improved wake experience.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of awakening a user, comprising: by using at least one processor, determining the sleep state of the user; and automatically activating one or more selected stimuli to wake up the user in response and according to the determined sleep state of the user. The stimuli can include light, sound, or scent stimuli, for example, audio, visual or video instructions for the user to follow. In some embodiments, determining the sleep state of the user is at least partly based on body movements of the user. In some embodiments, if the user is determined to be in deep sleep state at the scheduled time, one or more stimuli are activated to prompt the user to perform a certain exercise. In some embodiments, if the user is determined to be in deep sleep state at the scheduled time, the system prompts the user to perform a test on his or her alertness or vigilance.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a system or a monitor device comprising at least one computer processor and an associated memory, where the memory stores instructions which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system or monitor device to perform the various embodiments of the methods as described herein.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a tangible computer-readable storage medium which includes a computer program product (or software), which when executed by at least one processor of a computing device or system, cause the device or system to perform the various embodiments of the methods as described herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic of a sleep monitor, according to some embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary bedroom, showing a bed, a user sleeping in the bed, a side table and a sleep monitor, according to some embodiment of the present invention; and

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure provides systems, computer readable storage media, computer-implemented methods, software application program adapted to operate on portable electronic devices, e.g., a smart phone or a personal monitor, or a server or cloud, for analyzing, managing, and improving a user's sleep. As used herein, the term “user” refers to a person or individual.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a sleep monitoring and recommendation system that acquires various data of both a sleep environment and an area beyond a sleep environment, and also information about a user to make informed predictions regarding a future sleep quality of the user. The present system also offers recommendations for the user to help overcome predicted influencing factors which may otherwise disrupt the user's sleep, or at least negatively affect the user's sleep score, or quality of sleep.

Referring to FIG. 1, and according to some embodiments of the present invention, a block diagram schematic of an example sleep monitor 10 (also referred to as a monitor device in this disclosure) is shown including a computer processor (or simply a processor, or CPU) 12, a power supply 14, a Bluetooth/WIFI communication circuit 16, a memory 18. The monitor device can have an architecture of a general purpose computer, where different components can communicate through a system bus. As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, processor 12 is connected to all components and controls the operation of each. Bluetooth/WIFI communication circuit 16 includes conventional communication circuitry to allow selective communication with Bluetooth and WIFI devices, including a Home Area Network 22, which in turn is connected to the Internet 24. The Bluetooth/WIFI communication circuit 16 includes the use of all types of wireless communication devices and techniques, such as, but not limited to Bluetooth, WIFI, and Zigbee. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 1, a radar transducer 20 (e.g., a Doppler type) is shown. It is understood that other types of motion sensors may be used in place of a radar transducer, including, but not limited to SONAR (using sound waves to detect micro displacements), and LIDAR (wherein light is used to deter micro displacements) and IR sensors. The term “radar” and “radar transducer” is used hereinafter to include all types of motion detection and displacement measuring devices.

The diagram shown in FIG. 1 is only a non-limiting example of a “sleep monitor” or “monitor device” (or simply “monitor”) as used in this disclosure. This disclosure contemplates any suitable “sleep monitor” or “monitor device” having any suitable number of any suitable components in any suitable arrangement. It is understood that a “sleep monitor” or “monitor device” can broadly encompass all monitoring devices or systems that can sense or monitor environment conditions (ambient temperature, humidity, sound, vibration, lighting, air quality, etc., of the environment in which the subject person is being monitored) as well as physiological and/or biomechanical signals from a human body (e.g., body movement, noise made by the person, body temperature, breathing, heartbeat, cardiogram, brain activity, etc.), by an either contact or non-contact manner. A monitor device can include all components and functionalities of a general smart phone (e.g., speaker, microphone, camera, GPS, accelerometer, etc.) as well as sensors and other components (e.g., radar/sonar related components) that are typically not included in a general smart phone. The software program of the present invention can be installed/loaded directly in the monitor device(s) to process information and data gathered by the sensors and other signal-acquisition components as well as other data entered by the user or retrieved from other sources. Alternatively, if the monitor device does not include the advanced chips/memory or other components of modern-day smartphones, the monitor device can be configured to work in concert with such a smartphone and utilize the components available on the smartphone (e.g., a microphone or other sensing devices), and in which case, the present software program can also be loaded on the smartphone which can be used to process information received from the monitor device. In some instances, the user's smart phone or other portable or wearable smart devices can be deemed standalone monitor devices.

In the sleep monitor or the monitor devices described herein, the processor can include one or more processors, which can include hardware for executing instructions, such as those making up a computer program or application, for example, it may retrieve (or fetch) the instructions from an internal register, an internal cache, memory, storage; decode and execute them; and then write one or more results to internal register, internal cache, memory, or storage. In particular embodiments, software executed by processor may include an operating system (OS). As an example and not by limitation, then the OS may be a mobile operating system, such as for example, Android, iOS, Windows. In some embodiments, the memory can include main memory for storing instructions for the processor to execute or data for processor to operate on. One or more buses may connect the processor with the memory. The memory can include random-access memory (RAM). This RAM may be volatile memory, where appropriate. Where appropriate, this RAM may be dynamic RAM (DRAM) or static RAM (SRAM). The monitor device can further include a permanent data storage device which can include non-volatile and/or non-transient mass storage or media for data or instructions, for example HDD, flash memory, optical medium, DVD, etc., or a combination of two or more thereof, solid-state memory, read-only memory (ROM), or any other suitable physical form. The communication component can include hardware, software, or both providing one or more interfaces for communication (such as, for example, packet-based communication) between the monitor device and other devices, for example, a network interface controller (NIC) or network adapter for communicating with an Ethernet or other wire-based network or a wireless NIC (WNIC), wireless adapter for communicating with a wireless network, such as for example a WI-FI network or modem for communicating with a cellular network, such as third generation mobile telecommunications (3G), or Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, wireless PAN (WPAN) (such as, for example, a BLUETOOTH WPAN), a WI-FI network, a WI-MAX network, a cellular telephone network (such as, for example, a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), 3G, or LTE network), or other suitable wireless network or a combination of two or more thereof. The bus can include hardware, software, or both coupling components of the personal computing device to each other, for example, a graphics bus, an Enhanced Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, a front-side bus (FSB), a HYPERTRANSPORT (HT) interconnect, an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, an INFINIBAND interconnect, a low-pin-count (LPC) bus, a memory bus, a Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) bus, a Video Electronics Standards Association local (VLB) bus, or another suitable bus or a combination of two or more of these.

As used herein, a system of the present invention can include one or more monitor devices described herein, wherein a memory is installed or stored which computer program product(s) (or software), which when activated or running (e.g., executed by the processor), enables the monitor device(s) to perform certain functions or methods according to the instructions of the computer program product. In some embodiments, when the software on a monitor device is activated (the details of which will be further described below), a user interface (UI), or graphical UI, may be loaded on a display area of the device so as to display information to a user and allow a user to interact with the software, e.g., through areas of a touchscreen designated in the computer software. The system can further include other devices that communicate with the monitor devices, e.g., a user smartphone, a remote server, a smart IOT device, a device designated to perform specific analysis (such as detection of certain chemicals), where the present software application product or components thereof can be installed to perform the functions contemplated, or data inputted or gathered by such devices can be sent to a monitor device or another device or server which may act as a nerve center to control or coordinate the functions of all involved devices. The functions and methods to be performed by the software product and the system are further described herein.

As shown in FIG. 2, monitor 10 is positioned in a user's bedroom, next the user's bedside, such as on the user's side table 30. Radar transducer 20 is directed towards a user 32 as he or she sleeps in a bed 33. Radar transducer 20 is designed to transmit and receive radio waves of a specific frequency to measure minute displacements or movements of user 32 as he or she sleeps, including the subtle movements of breathing, snoring and various muscle contractions (twitching). The received signals are collected and stored as data in local memory 18 and eventually, at prescribed intervals, the data from memory 18 is uploaded to a remote server using the Bluetooth/WIFI communication circuit 16, as controlled by onboard processor 12, and any other necessary appropriate known communication method.

Referring again to FIG. 1, other types of sensors (called auxiliary sensors), according to this invention may be included with the automatic sleep monitor 10. Such auxiliary sensors may include a thermometer 25, for measuring bedroom temperature, a light sensor 26 for measuring any light in the bedroom, and a microphone 27, for measuring sounds that can be heard in the bedroom. The data collected from these auxiliary sensors 25, 26, 27 is combined with the data from radar transducer 20 and time-stamped by processor 12 so collectively, the data from different types of sensors may be analyzed concurrently and locally, using processor 12, or at a later time, using either local processor 12, or a remote server (not shown). In this manner, additional factors of a user's sleeping environment may be considered when analyzing a user's sleep behavior and generally, as in many fields of study, the more information, the better. For example, if the collected data of a certain user shows sudden body movement by the sleeping user at around 4:15 AM every Monday morning, the data from microphone 27, light sensor 26, and thermometer 25 can then be reviewed for clues at what is happening at that time. Perhaps in this example, the microphone data reveals the distinct sounds of a garbage truck outside picking up the trash at this exact time. Based on this, the user would be given a recommendation to either use sound masking (such as using ear plugs or electronic noise cancellation devices) on Mondays or perhaps have double-pane windows installed.

In some embodiments, such auxiliary sensors 25, 26, 27 may be used to detect conditions within the user's bedroom. Processor 12 of monitor 10 may be used to determine if any measured parameter or condition within the bedroom exceeds a predetermined value. In such instance, the user can be informed and corrective measures suggested automatically. For example, if the illumination level in the bedroom is measured by light sensor 26, and the value exceeds a certain predetermined level (as decided by the user or as determined using historical data of the user's bedroom), the present system will inform the user (either by text, email, or through the present software program) of the excessive light condition. In this example, the present system will provide an appropriate suggestion to the user, such as turning off all lights before going to bed, providing a sleep partner with a book-light, if appropriate, using an eye mask, or installing blackout blinds to prevent light from entering the room through windows. If loud sounds are detected in the bedroom at bedtime or during sleep time, the present system may suggest that the user locate the source of the sound and try to eliminate it. If this is not possible, the present system will suggest that the user use ear plugs or an appropriate sound-cancelling device.

In some situations, it may be determined that a user's measured movements while sleeping consistently increase or otherwise change, possibly indicating a level of restlessness, whenever the user's sleep-partner enters the bed. In such instance, the present system would suggest a new bedtime for either the user or the partner so that the user would more likely reach a deep sleep stage when the partner enters the bed and therefore would be less likely to be disturbed. In more extreme cases, separate beds may be required, or at least the use of separate mattresses, box springs and frames, combined together with a common thin mattress topper. This arrangement would allow two bed partners to sleep in a common bed and be close to each other, but at the same time would help mitigate the migration of vibration or strong displacements across the bed.

As mentioned above, based on known factors of a common good sleeping environment, monitor 10, according to the present invention, uses auxiliary sensors 25, 26, and 27 to analyze the environment of the user's bedroom and calculate an “environmental sleepability” rating. According to the invention, the user performs an environment test at an initial installation time (or any other time) and be given not only an environment score, but also suggestions on how to improve the score, i.e., what can be done to the bedroom environment to make the sleeping conditions better for the user. This information is helpful not only for self-assessment of sleeping conditions, but also for property management, property sales, vacation rentals, etc. For example, a landlord can provide a certified environment sleeping score (assuming it is a good score) to prospective renters to show that a particular apartment has a good sleeping environment. Multiple monitors 10 can also be linked within a large house to rate multiple rooms and the information can then be used to map a floor-plan to track inter-room disturbances.

According to guidelines established by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, sleep is clinically defined by four distinct stages, as determined predominantly by measured degrees of brain activity, muscle activity, and eye movement. The four stages are referred to as stages N1, N2, N3 and REM. Stage N1 and stage N2 is often referred to as Light Sleep, stage N3 as deep sleep (or deep state) and the REM stage as “Dream Sleep.”

Sleep is a very dynamic process, with a sleeper moving between different states throughout the night, usually in a somewhat predictable order, and defining a sleep cycle.

A sleeping person typically experiences several sleep cycles each night, moving from being awake to stages N1, N2, to N3, and then finally to the last REM stage, and then repeating (but starting with stage N2), with some occurrence of becoming awake possible between REM and the following light sleep. Typically the episodes of stage N3 sleep are longer in the beginning of the sleep period, whereas the REM sleep periods tend to be longer at the end of the sleep period.

It is usually not recommended to wake a person who is asleep in N3 sleep. If a person is awakened from stage N3, the body is put under extra physiological and cardiovascular stress. This level of stress is strong enough to potentially trigger cardiac irregularity or arrest in some more vulnerable sleepers. Once awake from a deep sleep, it may take 30-40 minutes for a person's body and mind to be fully functional, alert and aware. If a person is awakened from REM stage, he or she might feel confused for a while, the feelings being influenced by the typically irrational content of dreams, commonly occurring during REM stage. Studies have shown that it is much safer to wake a person who is in light or transitional sleep stage.

The present system using the above-described sleep monitor 10 keeps track of the time that a sleeping user enters each stage of sleep, and also the duration that the user resides in each stage. Monitor 10 can monitor minute movements of the sleeping user to establish the particular sleep stage, based on established sleep-stage body-movement and sound signatures. The present system learns sleep patterns and trends of the user over time and uses the stored sleep history of the user to estimate which state of sleep the user will be in a short time window prior to a planned or scheduled wakeup time (e.g, set by the user via an alarm clock). The user will more likely awake fresh and alert when waking up from a light or transitional sleep stage. According to the invention, if it is determined that the user is in a deep sleep stage near a scheduled wakeup time, the present system (by the monitor device, user's smartphone, or other devices) automatically introduce certain programmed light, auditory, and/or tactile stimuli to encourage the user to exit the deep sleep stage and enter a light sleep stage, and then, from the light sleep stage, slowly be awakened. This slow transition from deep sleep to a light sleep stage before awakening will help the user be awakened safely, fresh and alert.

If a user is awakened during a deep sleep stage, the present invention, according to some embodiments, provides a feature in the present software program wherein a wakeup coach appears on the user's smartphone display and instructs the user to perform well-described physical exercises to help him or her to become more alert. Also, the user's display of his or her smartphone can be controlled by the present system so that the display emits a particular color of light and brightness level. The user is asked to stare at the screen for a predetermined amount of time.

If it is important that a user be fully alert as quickly as possible after awakening, various methods can be used to quickly increase a user's alertness and cognitive skills. A program running on the user's smartphone can be used to test the progress of so-called recovery exercises, including the use of a psychomotor vigilance test, which is the “gold standard” used in the industry to measure alertness or vigilance of a person. In use, once a person awakens, he or she may continue to lie in bed holding their smartphone to take the various tests using the phone. The tests will include simple games that although are simple, require a medium-to-high level of cognitive skill, reaction, and dexterity. The background scene of the game (or just a blank background) can be illuminated at a certain wavelength of light and intensity. By exposing the user to light in the green-blue bandwidth with preferably a high brightness, for example, for a set period of time, the user will become more alert more quickly. According to some embodiments of the invention, an aromatherapy feature can be introduced to the present sleep monitor, wherein a specific and repeatable scent is released for the user to smell in response to any of various actions, functions, or events occurring. For example, the scent of fresh roses may be released into the air from a local supply adjacent the sleeping user, close enough that the user will smell the scent, but not so close as to “suffocate” the user in “roses.” In this example, the rose scent is released around the time that the user typically wakes up so that the user is provided with a pleasant fresh scent as he or she awakens. Another example is to release a lavender scent if the user's sleep score is above average and another scent if it is below average. The user will learn to associate the particular message by just smelling the particular scent, once they awaken. Conventional scent-release technology can be used in combination with the present sleep monitor, or can be a separate device that is connected to either the present software application running on the user's smartphone, or the sleep monitor, by WIFI or Bluetooth or similar.

Herein, “or” is inclusive and not exclusive, unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context. Therefore, herein, “A or B” means “A, B, or both,” unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context. Moreover, “and” is both joint and several, unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context. Therefore, herein, “A and B” means “A and B, jointly or severally,” unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context.

This disclosure encompasses all changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications to the example embodiments herein that a person having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend. Moreover, although this disclosure describes and illustrates respective embodiments herein as including particular components, elements, functions, operations, or steps, any of these embodiments may include any combination or permutation of any of the components, elements, functions, operations, or steps described or illustrated anywhere herein that a person having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend. Furthermore, reference in the appended claims to an apparatus or system or a component of an apparatus or system being adapted to, arranged to, capable of, configured to, enabled to, operable to, or operative to perform a particular function encompasses that apparatus, system, component, whether or not it or that particular function is activated, turned on, or unlocked, as long as that apparatus, system, or component is so adapted, arranged, capable, configured, enabled, operable, or operative.

Claims

1. A method of awakening a user from sleep at a scheduled time, comprising: by using at least one processor, determining the sleep state of the user at the scheduled time; andautomatically activating one or more selected stimuli to wake up the user in response and according to the determined sleep state of the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the stimuli comprise light, sound, or scent stimuli.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the stimuli comprise audio or visual instructions for the user to follow.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the sleep state of the user is at least partly based on body movements of the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein if the user is determined to be in deep sleep state at the scheduled time, automatically activating one or more selected stimuli comprises prompting the user to perform a certain physical exercise.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein if the user is determined to be in deep sleep state at the scheduled time, automatically activating one or more selected stimuli comprises causing the user to perform a test on his or her alertness or vigilance.

7. A system comprising at least one computer processor and an associated memory, where the memory stores instructions which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system to perform the method of claim 1.

8. A tangible computer-readable storage medium comprising a computer program product which when executed by at least one processor of a computing device, causes the computing device to performs the method of claim 1.