Patent Application
20190333610
The present disclosure is related generally to mobile electronic communications devices and, more particularly, to systems and methods for verifying or enhancing user wellness information via a mobile electronic communications device.
A person's health and well-being can be sensed or inferred from various biological parameters. These include, for example, heart rate, blood pressure, glucose level, and so on. Typically, biological parameter measurements are intrusive, even if not invasive. For example, a person interested in one or more of their biological parameters related to health must typically visit a health care practitioner or obtain and use a specialized medical device. This makes it inconvenient to check such parameters, and thus reduces a person's desire and ability to be aware of their health.
Before proceeding to the remainder of this disclosure, it should be appreciated that the disclosure may address some of the shortcomings listed or implicit in this Background section. However, any such benefit is not a limitation on the scope of the disclosed principles, or of the attached claims, except to the extent expressly noted in the claims.
Additionally, the discussion of technology in this Background section is reflective of the inventors' own observations, considerations, and thoughts, and is in no way intended to be, to accurately catalog, or to comprehensively summarize any prior art reference or practice. As such, the inventors expressly disclaim this section as admitted or assumed prior art. Moreover, the identification or implication herein of one or more desirable courses of action reflects the inventors' own observations and ideas, and should not be assumed to indicate an art-recognized desirability.
While the appended claims set forth the features of the present techniques with particularity, these techniques, together with their objects and advantages, may be best understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
Before presenting a detailed discussion of embodiments of the disclosed principles, an overview of certain embodiments is given to aid the reader in understanding the later discussion. As noted above, it is often inconvenient for users to check biological parameters related to their health. For example, a person's breath may be analyzed to make medical findings and inferences regarding the person's health. However, a person interested in such analysis must typically obtain and use multiple devices, e.g., for personal VOC (Volatile Organic Compound) analysis as well as environmental VOC analysis.
In an embodiment of the described principles, a system is provided for seamlessly monitoring a person's emitted VOC when the person is speaking into a mobile electronic communication device. The user's breath is isolated in an embodiment, from VOCs in the ambient environment to provide a more accurate reading of the user's VOC levels. The system may be integrated into the device, e.g., via gas sensors embedded with the device speech microphone assembly, or may be in the form of an add-on device such as a MOTOROLA MOD, that is usable with one or more types of cellular device. Additional and alternative features will become more apparent below.
With this overview in mind, and turning now to a more detailed discussion in conjunction with the attached figures, the techniques of the present disclosure are illustrated as being implemented in or via a suitable device environment. The following device description is based on embodiments and examples within which or via which the disclosed principles may be implemented, and should not be taken as limiting the claims with regard to alternative embodiments that are not explicitly described herein.
Thus, for example, while
In the illustrated embodiment, the components of the user device 110 include a display screen 120, applications (e.g., programs) 130, a processor 140, a memory 150, one or more input components 160 such as RF input facilities or wired input facilities, including, for example one or more antennas and associated circuitry and logic. The antennas and associated circuitry may support any number of protocols, e.g., WiFi, Bluetooth, cellular, etc.
The device 110 as illustrated also includes one or more output components 170 such as RF (radio frequency) or wired output facilities. The RF output facilities may similarly support any number of protocols, e.g., WiFi, Bluetooth, cellular, etc., and may be the same as or overlapping with the associated input facilities. It will be appreciated that a single physical input may serve for both transmission and receipt.
The processor 140 can be any of a microprocessor, microcomputer, application-specific integrated circuit, and the like. For example, the processor 140 can be implemented by one or more microprocessors or controllers from any desired family or manufacturer. Similarly, the memory 150 is a nontransitory media that may reside on the same integrated circuit as the processor 140. Additionally or alternatively, the memory 150 may be accessed via a network, e.g., via cloud-based storage. The memory 150 may include a random access memory (i.e., Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM), Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM), RAMBUS Dynamic Random Access Memory (RDRM) or any other type of random access memory device or system). Additionally or alternatively, the memory 150 may include a read-only memory (i.e., a hard drive, flash memory or any other desired type of memory device).
The information that is stored by the memory 150 can include program code associated with one or more operating systems or applications as well as informational data, e.g., program parameters, process data, etc. The operating system and applications are typically implemented via executable instructions stored in a non-transitory computer readable medium (e.g., memory 150) to control basic functions of the electronic device 110. Such functions may include, for example, interaction among various internal components and storage and retrieval of applications and data to and from the memory 150.
Further with respect to the applications and modules such as a VOC module 180, these typically utilize the operating system to provide more specific functionality, such as file system service and handling of protected and unprotected data stored in the memory 150. In an embodiment, the VOC module 180 is a software agent that includes or interacts with hardware components such as one or more VOC sensors, and that manages the device 110's operations and interactions with respect to VOC detection and analysis functions.
With respect to informational data, e.g., program parameters and process data, this non-executable information can be referenced, manipulated, or written by the operating system or an application. Such informational data can include, for example, data that are preprogrammed into the device during manufacture, data that are created by the device or added by the user, or any of a variety of types of information that are uploaded to, downloaded from, or otherwise accessed at servers or other devices with which the device is in communication during its ongoing operation.
In an embodiment, a power supply 190, such as a battery or fuel cell, is included for providing power to the device 110 and its components. Additionally or alternatively, the device 110 may be externally powered, e.g., by a vehicle battery or other power source. In the illustrated example, all or some of the internal components communicate with one another by way of one or more shared or dedicated internal communication links 195, such as an internal bus.
In an embodiment, the device 110 is programmed such that the processor 140 and memory 150 interact with the other components of the device 110 to perform a variety of functions. The processor 140 may include or implement various modules (e.g., the software portions of the VOC module 180) and execute programs for initiating different activities such as launching an application, transferring data and toggling through various graphical user interface objects (e.g., toggling through various display icons that are linked to executable applications). As noted above, the device 110 may include one or more display screens 120. These may include one or both of an integrated display and an external display.
As noted above, a person's breath may be analyzed to determine carious things about the person. When a person breathes out, they emit a mixture of many chemicals and compounds including water, carbon dioxide (CO2), aldehyde, sulfides, acetone, ammonia, ethanol and hydrogen. These various chemicals and compounds are VOC's (volatile organic compounds) as touched on briefly above. However, the ambient environment may also contain background VOCs of the same types found in breath, and as will be discussed below, the user's breath is isolated from these background VOCs in an embodiment of the described principles.
Analysis of the relative amounts of these VOCs in a person's breath can be used to determine various health and wellness values for the person. For example, a high relative contribution from ethanol may indicate a state of alcohol impairment or intoxication, while a high relative contribution from volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs) can indicate that the person may be experiencing bad breath or halitosis. In addition, the VOCs in a person's breath can be analyzed to identify other conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease and lung disease.
As noted above, it is traditionally not practical to routinely monitor the VOC content of a person's exhalations, since specialized equipment is generally needed. People are unlikely to own or carry around with them such equipment. However, in an embodiment of the described principles, a system is provided wherein a VOC analysis module is included with (integrated into) or usable with (dockable onto) a mobile electronic communications device such as a mobile phone.
In the illustrated embodiment, the device microphone assembly 200 includes a number of gas sensors 205, 207, 209, 211 as well as a microphone 201. Because they are in close proximity to the user's mouth while the user is speaking into the microphone 201, the gas sensors 205, 207, 209, 211 are able to sample the user's breath during each call or spoken interaction with the device.
In operation, the VOC module 180 includes or employs a processor in low power (a low power core) to monitor VOCs. When the user is speaking, as detected by the microphone 201, the low power core monitors the user's breath based on the detection of speech amplitude. For example, if no speech is detected, the device may monitor ambient VOCs, and when speech is detected, the known ambient level of VOCs can be used to identify the true VOC level in the user's breath. Alternatively, the device may analyze VOCs only when the user is speaking, based on the assumption that the incoming air at such times will be almost exclusively user breath.
As noted above, the described principles can be implemented in an integrated design, an example of which is shown in
The illustrated module 300, shown in cross-section, includes a fan 301 for drawing air into an opening 303 via an internal passage 305 and fan inlet 307, and expelling the air from fan exhaust 309. A circuit board 311 such as a PCB (printed circuit board) for controlling the module 300 is located, in the illustrated embodiment, as the floor of the passage 305. The fan may be operated in synch with the user's speech, to assure that primarily user breath and not ambient air is drawn in and analyzed.
The module 300 is configured to mate to a mobile electronic communications device 317 such that the opening 303 extends past the lower edge of the electronic communications device 317 and can receive the user's breath. In this embodiment, the gas sensors 319 need not include or be accompanied by a microphone, since the microphone of the device 317 serves that purpose.
The module 300 may mate to and interact with the mobile electronic communications device 317 via an interface 313. A mating interface 315 on the rear of the mobile electronic communications device 317 completes the connection, allowing the module 300 and the device 317 to communicate data, control signals and other matter. The module 300 may have its own power supply or may use the power supply of the mobile electronic communications device 317. Moreover, the module 300 may include its own processor (e.g., on PCB 311) and may use its processor solely or in conjunction with processor of the mobile electronic communications device 317.
In an optional embodiment, the module 300 includes a scoop (not shown) located over the opening 303. This serves to more efficiently direct the user's exhalations into the passage 305.
In an embodiment, the module housing is of a smooth and sculpted form as shown in
The module 300 may include a camera hole 501 for fitting over a camera or lens assembly protruding from a mating device. Moreover, a scoop chin 503 may be included to more smoothly direct the user's exhalations to the fan intake 307. In this embodiment, two gas sensors 319 are located in the passage 305.
Having described the structure and functional relationships of the module and its various components and counterpart devices, certain processes executed in an embodiment in support of the described functions will be described hereinafter. Turning to
The VOC module 180 in the illustrated embodiment includes a variable speed fan 701 (e.g.,
A number of separate sensors are also provided to provide environmental and context information to the microprocessor 703. In the illustrated embodiment, these include an accelerometer 707, a proximity sensor 709, a humidity sensor 711 and a temperature sensor 713. The information from these sensors 707, 709, 711, 713 is usable by the microprocessor 703 to better analyze incoming gas data. For example, a gas reading in humid air may show a lower ethanol content in a user's breath for the same blood alcohol level. While the illustrated steps are taken by the VOC module 180 microprocessor 703 in an embodiment, it will be appreciated, as discussed above, that another processor, such as the mobile device processor, may execute all or some of the steps.
The operation of the system in an example embodiment may be more fully understood from the flow chart of
Turning to the details of the illustrated process 900, the process 900 begins at stage 901, corresponding to a user speaking into or close to the device microphone. The module fan, e.g., fan 301, is then activated at stage 903. Contemporaneously at stage 905, one or more gas sensors, e.g., one or more of sensors 319, may be activated if they are not already powered.
At stage 907, time-stamped gas data is gathered from the one or more gas sensors and time-stamped audio data is gathered by the device microphone. At stage 909, after a predetermined period of time, the time-stamped gas data and time-stamped audio data are correlated, and any gas data corresponding to a non-speech interval is discarded. Non-speech intervals can be identified in a number of ways as discussed above.
Subsequently at stage 911, the remaining gas data is analyzed to identify one or more VOCs and their respective levels. The VOC levels may be calibrated at this stage as well if needed. The VOC module 180 then outputs these values to the mated mobile electronic communications device at stage 913, whereupon the mobile electronic communications device may derive associated health status data at stage 915 and display or otherwise provide associated health conclusions and notifications to the user at stage 917. Alternatively, stage 913 may be skipped and the VOC module 180 may itself execute one or both of stages 915 and 917.
It will be appreciated that various systems and processes have been disclosed herein. However, in view of the many possible embodiments to which the principles of the present disclosure may be applied, it should be recognized that the embodiments described herein with respect to the drawing figures are meant to be illustrative only and should not be taken as limiting the scope of the claims. Therefore, the techniques as described herein contemplate all such embodiments as may come within the scope of the following claims and equivalents thereof.
