# US 2021/0241745 A1 · Dynamic sound masking based on monitoring biosignals and environmental noises

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- Number: US 2021/0241745 A1
- Document ID: US20210241745A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/233,706
- Filed: 2021-04-19
- Published: 2021-08-05
- Earliest claimed: 2019-02-18
- Assignees: Bose Corporation
- Applicants: Bose Corporation
- Inventors: Kathleen Elizabeth KREMER; Jeffrey M. ELLENBOGEN; Matthew Chace CARPENTER; Steven Carl PLETCHER; Chia-Ling LI
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210241745A1

## CPC

- G10K 11/175: using interference effects; Masking sound
- H04R 1/1083: {Reduction of ambient noise (active noise reduction per se G10K11/175; protective devices for the ear, e.g. providing acoustic protection A61F11/06)}
- A61B 5/4815: {Sleep quality}
- A61M 21/02: for inducing sleep or relaxation, e.g. by direct nerve stimulation, hypnosis, analgesia (for massage A61H; electrotherapy A61N, e.g. applying alternating or intermittent electric currents for producing anaesthesia A61N1/36021)
- G10K 11/1752: {Masking}
- G10K 11/178: by electro-acoustically regenerating the original acoustic waves in anti-phase
- G10K 11/1783: {handling or detecting of non-standard events or conditions, e.g. changing operating modes under specific operating conditions}
- H04R 29/001: {for loudspeakers (H04R29/007 takes precedence)}
- A61B 5/0002: {Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network (endoradiosondes A61B5/07)}
- A61B 5/024: Measuring pulse rate or heart rate
- A61B 5/02405: {Determining heart rate variability}
- A61B 5/11: Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor or mobility of a limb {(A61B5/1038 takes precedence; motion detection to correct for motion artifacts in physiological signals A61B5/721)}
- A61M 16/026: {specially adapted for predicting, e.g. for determining an information representative of a flow limitation during a ventilation cycle by using a root square technique or a regression analysis}
- A61M 2021/0027: {by the hearing sense}
- A61M 2205/3375: Acoustical, e.g. ultrasonic, measuring means
- A61M 2205/3592: using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
- A61M 2205/42: Reducing noise
- A61M 2205/50: with microprocessors or computers
- A61M 2205/505: Touch-screens; Virtual keyboard or keypads; Virtual buttons; Soft keys; Mouse touches
- A61M 2205/52: with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
- A61M 2209/088: on the body
- A61M 2230/04: Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
- A61M 2230/06: Heartbeat rate only
- A61M 2230/10: Electroencephalographic signals
- A61M 2230/14: Electro-oculogram [EOG]
- A61M 2230/42: Rate
- A61M 2230/60: Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
- A61M 2230/63: Motion, e.g. physical activity
- H04R 2410/05: Noise reduction with a separate noise microphone
- H04R 2420/07: Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
- H04R 2430/01: Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
- G10K: SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES; METHODS OR DEVICES FOR PROTECTING AGAINST, OR FOR DAMPING, NOISE OR OTHER ACOUSTIC WAVES IN GENERAL; ACOUSTICS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04R: LOUDSPEAKERS, MICROPHONES, GRAMOPHONE PICK-UPS OR LIKE ACOUSTIC ELECTROMECHANICAL TRANSDUCERS; ELECTRIC HEARING AIDS; PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS (producing sounds with frequency not determined by supply frequency G10K)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}

## Abstract

Aspects of the present disclosure provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for closed-loop sleep protection and/or sleep regulation. According to an aspect, sleep disturbing noises are predicted and a biosignal parameter is measured to dynamically mask predicted disturbing environmental noises in the sleeping environment with active attenuation. Environmental noises in a sleeping environment of a subject are detected, input, or predicted based on historical data of the sleeping environment collected over a period of time. The biosignal parameter is used to determine sleep physiology of a subject. Based on the environmental noises in the sleeping environment and the determined sleep physiology, the noises are predicted to be disturbing or non-disturbing noises. For predicted disturbing noises, one or more actions are taken to regulate sleep and avoid sleep disruption by using sound masking prior to or concurrently with the occurrence of the predicted disturbing noises.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for regulating a sleep pattern of a subject, comprising:
analyzing a stored history of at least one biosignal parameter of the subject over a period of time and environmental noises over the period of time;
determining timings of sleep disruptions of the subject based, at least in part, on the stored history of the at least one biosignal parameter of the subject over the period of time and the environmental noises over a period of time;
obtaining a current measurement of the at least one biosignal parameter of the subject;
predicting, using the determined timings of sleep disruptions of the subject and the current measurement of the least one biosignal parameter, whether a potentially disturbing noise will disturb the subject based on a similarity between the potentially disturbing noise and the environmental noises; and
outputting a masking sound to maintain a current sleep condition based on the analyzing of the stored history prior to an occurrence of the predicted disturbing noise.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
upon determining the potentially disturbing noise will not disturb the subject, either refraining from outputting the masking sound or refraining from increasing a volume of a masking sound that is currently being played to the subject.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein:
the analyzing comprises analyzing the stored history of the at least one biosignal parameter of the subject over the period of time and the environmental noises over the period of time to determine how the subject reacted to decibel levels, frequencies, and a recorded timing of the environmental noises; and
the predicting comprises, using the determined timings of sleep disruptions of the subject and the at least one biosignal parameter, to predict whether the potentially disturbing noise will disturb the subject based on the obtained current measurement of the of the at least one biosignal parameter and the potentially disturbing noise having similar values to the decibel levels, the frequencies, and the recorded timing.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the masking sound to maintain the current sleep condition of the subject and prevent disruption by the potentially disturbing noise comprises:
output the masking sound immediately prior to an occurrence of the predicted disturbing noise.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein outputting a masking sound to maintain the current sleep condition comprises gradually increasing the masking sound over a first time period prior to the potentially disturbing noise, and gradually decreasing the masking sound over a second time period after the potentially disturbing noise has stopped.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
receiving, from the subject, at least one known disturbing noise to mask prior to outputting the masking sound.

### Claim 7

A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions which when executed by at least one processor on an audio output device cause the audio output device to perform a method comprising:
analyzing a stored history of at least one biosignal parameter of a subject over a period of time and environmental noises over the period of time;
determining timings of sleep disruptions of the subject based, at least in part, on the stored history of the at least one biosignal parameter of the subject over the period of time and the environmental noises over a period of time;
obtaining a current measurement of the at least one biosignal parameter of the subject;
predicting, using the determined timings of sleep disruptions of the subject and the current measurement of the least one biosignal parameter, whether a potentially disturbing noise will disturb the subject based on a similarity between the potentially disturbing noise and the environmental noises; and
outputting a masking sound to maintain a current sleep condition based on the analyzing of the stored history prior to an occurrence of the predicted disturbing noise.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The computer-readable medium of claim 7, further comprising:
upon determining the potentially disturbing noise will not disturb the subject, either refraining from outputting the masking sound or refraining from increasing a volume of a masking sound that is currently being played to the subject.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein:
the analyzing comprises analyzing the stored history of the at least one biosignal parameter of the subject over the period of time and the environmental noises over the period of time to determine how the subject reacted to decibel levels, frequencies, and a recorded timing of the environmental noises; and
the predicting comprises, using the determined timings of sleep disruptions of the subject and the at least one biosignal parameter, to predict whether the potentially disturbing noise will disturb the subject based on the obtained current measurement of the of the at least one biosignal parameter and the potentially disturbing noise having similar values to the decibel levels, the frequencies, and the recorded timing.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein adjusting the masking sound to maintain the current sleep condition of the subject and prevent disruption by the potentially disturbing noise comprises:
output the masking sound immediately prior to an occurrence of the predicted disturbing noise.

### Claim 11 (depends on 7)

The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein outputting a masking sound to maintain the current sleep condition comprises gradually increasing the masking sound over a first time period prior to the potentially disturbing noise, and gradually decreasing the masking sound over a second time period after the potentially disturbing noise has stopped.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the instructions further cause the audio output device to:
receive, from the subject, at least one known disturbing noise to mask prior to outputting the masking sound.

### Claim 13

An audio output device comprising:
at least one processor; and
memory coupled to the at least one processor, the memory including code executable by the audio output device to:
analyze a stored history of at least one biosignal parameter of a subject over a period of time and environmental noises over the period of time;
determine timings of sleep disruptions of the subject based, at least in part, on the stored history of the at least one biosignal parameter of the subject over the period of time and the environmental noises over a period of time;
obtain a current measurement of the at least one biosignal parameter of the subject;
predict, using the determined timings of sleep disruptions of the subject and the current measurement of the least one biosignal parameter, whether a potentially disturbing noise will disturb the subject based on a similarity between the potentially disturbing noise and the environmental noises; and
output a masking sound to maintain a current sleep condition based on the analyzing of the stored history prior to an occurrence of the predicted disturbing noise.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The audio output device of claim 13, wherein upon determining the potentially disturbing noise will not disturb the subject, the memory further includes code executable by the at least one processor to cause the audio output device to either refrain from outputting the masking sound or refrain from increasing a volume of a masking sound that is currently being played to the subject.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The audio output device of claim 13, wherein:
the analyzing comprises analyzing the stored history of the at least one biosignal parameter of the subject over the period of time and the environmental noises over the period of time to determine how the subject reacted to decibel levels, frequencies, and a recorded timing of the environmental noises; and
the predicting comprises, using the determined timings of sleep disruptions of the subject and the at least one biosignal parameter, to predict whether the potentially disturbing noise will disturb the subject based on the obtained current measurement of the of the at least one biosignal parameter and the potentially disturbing noise having similar values to the decibel levels, the frequencies, and the recorded timing.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The audio output device of claim 13, wherein in order to adjust the masking sound to maintain the current sleep condition of the subject and prevent disruption by the potentially disturbing noise, the memory further includes code executable by the at least one processor to cause the audio output device to:
output the masking sound immediately prior to an occurrence of the predicted disturbing noise.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The audio output device of claim 13, wherein in order to output a masking sound to maintain the current sleep condition, the memory further includes code executable by the at least one processor to cause the audio output device to gradually increasing the masking sound over a first time period prior to the potentially disturbing noise, and gradually decreasing the masking sound over a second time period after the potentially disturbing noise has stopped.

### Claim 18 (depends on 13)

The audio output device of claim 13, wherein the memory further includes code executable by the at least one processor to cause the audio output device to:
receive, from the subject, at least one known disturbing noise to mask prior to outputting the masking sound.