Menstrual cycle tracking and prediction
AssigneeApple Inc.
InventorsShunan Zhang, Carey Y. Zhang, Jihyun Park, Vincent M. Chan, Roxanne B. Brittain, You Ren, Yikai Wang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mechanism for estimating windows for menstrual cycles and fertility. The mechanism tracks menstrual cycles based on accuracy of predictions as compared to user input logging the start and stop of a cycle; this user input and the accuracy of prior cycle predictions is used to improve and update future predictions. Thus, as the mechanism receives additional data, it refines its predicted fertility window and period. A user’s heart rate may be used to estimate fertility windows, periods, and other portions of a menstrual cycle.
Claims20
A wearable device for estimating portions of a menstrual cycle, comprising:
- a calendar module;
- a heart rate sensor;
- a preprocessing module operative to:
- receive an initial period estimate from the calendar;
- receive heart rate data from the heart rate sensor;
- and
- process the initial period estimate and heart rate data into a processed data set;
- an ovulation estimator operative to:
- receive the processed data set from the preprocessing module;
- and
- use the processed data set to estimate a fertility window;
- and
- a period estimator operative to:
- receive the processed data set and an output from the ovulation estimator;
- and
- use the processed data set and the output from the ovulation estimator to estimate a period date.
A method for providing estimates of a fertile window, comprising:
- receiving an initial estimate of a fertile window and an initial estimate of a period;
- receiving heart rate data;
- determining whether the heart rate data covers a sufficient period of time;
- in the event the heart rate data covers the sufficient period of time, estimating an ovulation window using the heart rate data and the initial estimate of the fertile window;
- and
- in response to estimating the fertile window, updating a display of the fertile window that is electronically accessible by a user.
A system for estimating portions of a menstrual cycle, comprising:
- a wearable device comprising heart rate sensor;
- a calendar module;
- a preprocessing module operative to:
- receive an initial period estimate from the calendar;
- receive heart rate data from the heart rate sensor;
- and
- process the initial period estimate and heart rate data into a processed data set;
- an ovulation estimator operative to:
- receive the processed data set from the preprocessing module;
- and
- use the processed data set to estimate a fertility window;
- and
- a fertile window update module configured to:
- receive the estimate of the fertility window from the ovulation estimator;
- and
- in the event the estimate of the fertility window starts in the future, provide the estimate of the fertility window to the calendar.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.