Method and apparatus for determining blood oxygenation using a mobile communication device

An apparatus comprising:

• a portable electronic device housing;
• a selective call receiver transceiver coupled to the portable electronic device housing, the selective call receiver transceiver configured to engage in selective call receiver communications over a long distance wireless network;
• a camera coupled to the portable electronic device housing, the camera including an array of pixels, the camera configured to capture a plurality of images of skin using the array of pixels;
• a controller coupled to the camera, the controller configured to control operations of the apparatus;
• and
• a blood oxygen level determination module coupled to the controller, the blood oxygen level determination module configured to determine blood oxygen level based on the plurality of captured images.

A method comprising:

• capturing a plurality of images of skin using an array of pixels in a camera on a selective call receiver device, the selective call receiver device configured to engage in selective call receiver communications over a long distance wireless network;
• creating a plurality of binary images from the plurality of captured images, where the plurality of binary images contain information corresponding to pixels of the plurality of captured images exceeding a threshold;
• comparing image characteristics corresponding to the plurality of binary images at the first wavelength with image characteristics corresponding to the plurality of binary images at the second wavelength, the second wavelength being substantially distinct from the first wavelength;
• and
• determining blood oxygen level based on comparing the image characteristics.