# US 9,396,642 B2 · Control using connected biometric devices > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,396,642 B2 - Document ID: US9396642B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/522,157 - Filed: 2014-10-23 - Published: 2015-04-23 - Granted: 2016-07-19 - Earliest claimed: 2013-10-23 - Assignees: Quanttus, Inc. - Applicants: Quanttus, Inc. - Inventors: David Da He; Richard Robehr Bijjani; Shahid Azim; Bogart Vargas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9396642B2 ## CPC - G08B 21/0453: {worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing (detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00)} - A61B 5/0022: {Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet} - A61B 5/02028: {Determining haemodynamic parameters not otherwise provided for, e.g. cardiac contractility or left ventricular ejection fraction} - A61B 5/0205: Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition - A61B 5/02055: {Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature} - A61B 5/02108: {from analysis of pulse wave characteristics} - A61B 5/02125: {of pulse wave propagation time} - A61B 5/02416: {using photoplethysmograph signals, e.g. generated by infrared radiation (A61B5/14552 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/02427: {Details of sensor} - A61B 5/0285: Measuring or recording phase velocity of blood waves - A61B 5/029: Measuring blood output from the heart, e.g. minute volume - A61B 5/08: Measuring devices for evaluating the respiratory organs - 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)} - A61B 5/1102: {Ballistocardiography} - A61B 5/1118: {Determining activity level} - A61B 5/113: occurring during breathing - A61B 5/117: Identification of persons (methods or arrangements for recognising patterns, e.g. fingerprints, G06F18/00, G06V40/00; identification of persons by analysing their voice or speech G10L17/00) - A61B 5/14542: {for measuring blood gases (A61B5/14551 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/165: {Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety} - A61B 5/4809: {Sleep detection, i.e. determining whether a subject is asleep or not} - A61B 5/4815: {Sleep quality} - A61B 5/4818: {Sleep apnoea} - A61B 5/4833: {Assessment of subject's compliance to treatment} - A61B 5/486: {Biofeedback (using electroencephalography [EEG] A61B5/375)} - A61B 5/6801: {specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface} - A61B 5/681: {Wristwatch-type devices} - A61B 5/6824: {Arm or wrist} - A61B 5/6898: {Portable consumer electronic devices, e.g. music players, telephones, tablet computers} - A61B 5/7275: {Determining trends in physiological measurement data; Predicting development of a medical condition based on physiological measurements, e.g. determining a risk factor} - A61B 5/7278: {Artificial waveform generation or derivation, e.g. synthesizing signals from measured signals} - A61B 5/7282: {Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition (cough events A61B5/0823; seizures A61B5/4094; sleep apnoea A61B5/4818)} - A61B 5/742: {using visual displays (displays for heart-related electrical signals, e.g. ECG, A61B5/339)} - A61B 5/746: {Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms} - G06F 3/0481: based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance - G06F 21/32: using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints - G08B 21/06: indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms - A61B 5/02007: {Evaluating blood vessel condition, e.g. elasticity, compliance} - A61B 5/02405: {Determining heart rate variability} - A61B 5/02438: {with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient} - A61B 5/0531: Measuring skin impedance - A61B 5/0816: {Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency (measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00)} - A61B 5/363: Detecting tachycardia or bradycardia - H04L 67/12: specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## Abstract The technology described in this document is embodied in a method that includes processing data in a first dataset that represents time-varying information about at least one pulse pressure wave propagating through blood in a subject acquired at a location of the subject. The method also includes providing information related to the data to a remote device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: obtaining, using a first sensor, a first dataset that represents time-varying information about at least one pulse wave propagating through blood in a subject, wherein the first dataset is obtained from a particular portion of the body of the subject; determining, based at least in part on the data in the first dataset, two or more of a blood pressure, a heart rate, and a respiratory rate of the subject; processing the first dataset to determine a condition of the subject, the condition comprising one or both of a stress level and an interest level; and transmitting, using a wireless transmission module, a control signal related to the condition of the subject, the control signal configured to cause a parameter of a remote device to be changed based on one or both of the stress level and the interest level of the subject, wherein one or both of the stress level and the interest level is determined based on comparing two or more of the blood pressure, the heart rate, and the respiratory rate of the subject to corresponding baseline values associated with the subject. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining, using a second sensor, a second dataset that represents time-varying information about motion of the subject, wherein the second dataset is obtained from the particular portion of the body of the subject. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the information about at least one pulse wave propagating through blood in the subject comprises photoplethysmographic (PPG) data and the information about motion of the subject comprises one or both of motioncardiogram (MoCG) data and gross motion data. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, based on the data in the first dataset, a heart rate variability of the subject, wherein the condition of the subject is based on one or more of the blood pressure, the heart rate, the heart rate variability, and the respiratory rate of the subject. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the condition of the subject is related to whether the subject is experiencing or has experienced one or more of hypertension, a stroke, abnormal heart function, tachycardia, arrhythmia, and a concussion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal is transmitted to an intermediate device, and the intermediate device transmits a second signal to the remote device. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal is transmitted directly to the remote device. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first dataset is acquired continuously. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the first dataset is acquired by a device worn by the subject, and the device does not reduce a mobility of the subject. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the particular portion of the body of the subject is a wrist of the subject. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal is configured to generate an alert on the remote device that indicates that the subject is experiencing or has experienced a health-related problem. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the remote device is a mobile phone. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: identifying a first point in the first dataset, the first point representing an arrival time of the pulse wave at a first body part of the subject; identifying a second point in a second dataset that represents time-varying information about motion of the subject, the second point representing an earlier time at which the pulse wave traverses a second body part of the subject; and computing a pulse transit time (PTT) as a difference between the first and second points, the PTT representing a time taken by the pulse wave to travel from the second body part to the first body part of the subject. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the blood pressure of the subject is determined based on the PTT. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second datasets are obtained from the first body part, and the second body part is an artery extending from the heart of the subject. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal is further related to a location of the subject. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein information related to the location of the subject is obtained using a third sensor. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method of claim 16, wherein the remote device is a light, the control signal causes the light to adjust a lighting setting at a time that is based on the location of subject, and the lighting setting is adjusted when the subject is within a predefined distance from a location that is illuminated by the light. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the control signal is further related to a temperature of the subject. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein information related to the temperature of the subject is obtained using a fourth sensor. ### Claim 21 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the remote device is a thermostat, the control signal causes the thermostat to adjust a temperature setting in accordance with a location and the temperature of the subject, the time when the thermostat adjusts the temperature setting is based on the location of the subject, and the temperature setting of the thermostat is adjusted when the subject is within a predefined distance from a location that is temperature-controlled by the thermostat. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the remote device is an entertainment device. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the condition of the subject indicates whether the subject has exercised for a predetermined length of time, and the control signal prohibits the entertainment device from being turned on unless the subject has exercised for the predetermined length of time. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The method of claim 22, wherein the control signal causes the entertainment device to provide content personalized for the subject based on the condition of the subject. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method of claim 24, wherein the condition of the subject comprises one or both of an interest level in the content and a stress level of the subject while the subject is experiencing the content. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein the stress level of the subject is based on the first dataset and information that is obtained using an impedance sensor. ### Claim 27 (depends on 25) The method of claim 25, wherein the control signal causes the entertainment device to provide content designed to excite the subject if the interest level in the content is below a threshold, or provide content designed to calm the subject if the stress level of the subject while the subject is experiencing the content is above a threshold. ### Claim 28 A method comprising: receiving, from a wireless device, a first dataset that represents time-varying information about at least one pulse wave propagating through blood in a subject, wherein the first dataset is obtained from a particular portion of the body of the subject; determining, based at least in part on the data in the first dataset, two or more of a blood pressure, a heart rate, and a respiratory rate of the subject processing the first dataset to determine a condition of the subject, the condition comprising one or both of a stress level and an interest level; and transmitting, to a remote device, a control signal related to the condition of the subject, the control signal configured to cause a parameter of the remote device to be changed based on one or both of the stress level and the interest level of the subject, wherein one or both of the stress level and the interest level is determined based on comparing two or more of the blood pressure, the heart rate, and the respiratory rate of the subject to corresponding baseline values associated with the subject. ### Claim 29 A system comprising: a wireless device comprising: a first sensor configured to obtain a first dataset that represents time-varying information about at least one pulse wave propagating through blood in a subject, wherein the first sensor is configured to obtain the first dataset from a particular portion of the body of the subject; one or more processing devices configured to determine, based at least in part on the data in the first dataset, two or more of a blood pressure, a heart rate, and a respiratory rate of the subject, and process the first dataset to determine a condition of the subject, the condition comprising one or both of a stress level and an interest level; and a transmission module configured to transmit a control signal related to the condition of the subject, the control signal configured to cause a parameter of a remote device to be changed based on one or both of the stress level and the interest level of the subject, wherein one or both of the stress level and the interest level is determined based on comparing two or more of the blood pressure, the heart rate, and the respiratory rate of the subject to corresponding baseline values associated with the subject. ### Claim 30 A system comprising: memory; and one or more processors configured to: receive a first dataset that represents time-varying information about at least one pulse wave propagating through blood in a subject, wherein the first dataset is obtained from a particular portion of the body of the subject; determine, based at least in part on the data in the first dataset, two or more of a blood pressure, a heart rate, and a respiratory rate of the subject process the first dataset to determine a condition of the subject, the condition comprising one or both of a stress level and an interest level; and transmit, to a remote device, a control signal related to the condition of the subject, the control signal configured to cause a parameter of the remote device to be changed based on one or both of the stress level and the interest level of the subject, wherein one or both of the stress level and the interest level is determined based on comparing two or more of the blood pressure, the heart rate, and the respiratory rate of the subject to corresponding baseline values associated with the subject.