# US 12,213,787 B2 · Identifying sensory inputs affecting working memory load of an individual > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,213,787 B2 - Document ID: US12213787B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/214,260 - Filed: 2023-06-26 - Published: 2023-10-19 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2022-02-10 - Assignees: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) - Applicants: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson (publ) - Inventors: Lars Andersson; Matthew John Lawrenson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12213787B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/168: {Evaluating attention deficit, hyperactivity} - A61B 3/112: {for measuring diameter of pupils} - A61B 5/0036: {including treatment, e.g., using an implantable medical device, ablating, ventilating} - A61B 5/0077: {Devices for viewing the surface of the body, e.g. camera, magnifying lens} - A61B 5/0205: Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition - A61B 5/163: {by tracking eye movement, gaze, or pupil change} - A61B 5/165: {Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety} - A61B 5/378: Visual stimuli - A61B 5/38: Acoustic or auditory stimuli - A61B 5/381: Olfactory or gustatory stimuli - A61B 5/4005: {for evaluating the sensory system (A61B5/12, A61B5/4058 take precedence)} - A61B 5/02: Detecting, measuring or recording for evaluating the cardiovascular system, e.g. pulse, heart rate, blood pressure or blood flow - A61B 5/024: Measuring pulse rate or heart rate - A61B 5/1079: {using optical or photographic means} - A61B 5/4088: {Diagnosing of monitoring cognitive diseases, e.g. Alzheimer, prion diseases or dementia} - A61B 5/4836: {Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods (A61B5/0036 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/6897: {Computer input devices, e.g. mice or keyboards} - A61B 2503/24: Computer workstation operators - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract In an aspect of the invention, a method of identifying sensory inputs affecting working memory load of an individual is provided. The method comprises monitoring (S101) working memory load of the individual using a sensor device, detecting (S102) an increase in the working memory load of the individual, and identifying (S103), in response to the detected increase, at least one sensory input affecting the working memory load of the individual. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A device comprising: processing circuitry, wherein the device is configured to: detect that a user of the device is distracted by a distraction; identify the distraction; and after identifying the distraction, diminish an impact that the distraction has on a working memory load of the user, wherein the device is configured to detect that the user of the device is distracted by performing one or more detection operations comprising obtaining gaze information indicating a direction of the user's visual attention. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the gaze information further comprises duration information indicating an amount of time that the user's visual attention was focused in the indicated direction. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The device of claim 2, wherein the detection operations further comprise determining that the amount of time exceeds a threshold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The device of claim 3, wherein the detection operations further comprise, based on the direction of the user's visual attention, determining that the user's visual attention is on an object producing the distraction. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the detection operations further comprise, based on the direction of the user's visual attention, determining whether the user is concentrating or seeking inspiration. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to identify the distraction by performing one or more identification operations that comprise detecting a sensory input coinciding in time with the user's visual attention being focused in the indicated direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the distraction is a first sensory input, and the device is configured to diminish the impact that the distraction has on a working memory load of the user by performing one or more control operations comprising controlling a source of the first sensory input to diminish the impact that the first sensory input has on the working memory load of the user. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the distraction is a first sensory input, and the device is configured to diminish the impact that the distraction has on a working memory load of the user by performing one or more countermeasure operations comprising initiating a countermeasure to the first sensory input to diminish the impact that the first sensory input has on the working memory load of the user. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to identify the distraction by performing one or more identification operations that comprise: identifying a plurality of sensory inputs; and for each identified sensory input, determining a measure with which said identified sensory input is impacting the working memory load of the user. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The device of claim 9, wherein the identification operations further comprises: based on said determined measure, determining the sensory input having the largest impact on the working memory load of the user, wherein the sensory input determined to have the largest impact on the working memory load of the user is the first sensory input. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the detection operations further comprise monitoring a pupil of the user, monitoring the user's heartbeat, and/or monitoring the user's brain activity. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to perform the identification operations as a result of detecting that the user is distracted. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the distraction is a noise, and the device is configured to diminish the impact that the distraction has on a working memory load of the user by performing one or more control operations comprising producing an out-of-phase representation of the noise. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the distraction is an audible input, a visual input, a change in temperature, a change in humidity, or an odor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the detection operations further comprise using the obtained gaze information to determine whether the user has unexpectedly shifted their gaze. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the detection operations further comprise using the obtained gaze information to determine whether the user has unexpectedly shifted their gaze towards on object producing a sensory input. ### Claim 17 A method performed by a device, the method comprising: detecting that a user of the device is distracted by a distraction; identifying the distraction; and after identifying the distraction, diminishing an impact that the distraction has on a working memory load of the user, wherein detecting that a user of the device is distracted comprises obtaining gaze information indicating a direction of the user's visual attention. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the gaze information further comprises duration information indicating an amount of time that the user's visual attention was focused in the indicated direction, and detecting that the user of the device is distracted further comprises determining that the amount of time exceeds a threshold. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method of claim 18, wherein detecting that the user of the device is distracted further comprises, based on the direction of the user's visual attention, determining that the user's visual attention is on an object producing the distraction. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein detecting that the user of the device is distracted further comprises, based on the direction of the user's visual attention, determining whether the user is concentrating or seeking inspiration. ### Claim 21 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein identifying the distractions comprises detecting a sensory input coinciding in time with the user's visual attention being focused in the indicated direction. ### Claim 22 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the distraction is a first sensory input, and diminishing the impact that the distraction has on a working memory load of the user comprises: controlling a source of the first sensory input to diminish the impact that the first sensory input has on the working memory load of the user; and/or initiating a countermeasure to the first sensory input to diminish the impact that the first sensory input has on the working memory load of the user. ### Claim 23 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein identifying the distraction comprises: identifying a plurality of sensory inputs; for each identified sensory input, determining a measure with which said identified sensory input is impacting the working memory load of the user; and based on said determined measure, determining the sensory input having the largest impact on the working memory load of the user, wherein the sensory input determined to have the largest impact on the working memory load of the user is the first sensory input. ### Claim 24 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the distraction is a noise, and diminishing the impact that the distraction has on the working memory load of the user comprises producing an out-of-phase representation of the noise. ### Claim 25 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the detection operations further comprise using the obtained gaze information to determine whether the user has unexpectedly shifted their gaze towards on object producing a sensory input. ### Claim 26 (depends on 17) A non-transitory computer readable medium storing a computer program comprising computer-executable instructions which when executed by processing circuitry of a device causes the device to perform the method of claim 17.