FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an in-room electronic system e.g. of a room of a vehicle or of a building, particularly the in-room electronic systems become interactive with user's respiration, with the goal to engage the user to actively influence own physiological and mental state by breathing calmly. BACKGROUND

We spend most of our time in a room of a building, and it is our immediate physical surrounding often equipped with electronic systems such as light, visual, sound and tactile systems. When we become stressed in an office or at home, the stress mostly only exists in our head, and does not physically present in the room we are in. In these situations, we lose the sense of the physical surroundings we are in, as all our attention is absorbed by stressful thoughts in the head. Our breaths are typically fast and shallow, and we are not aware of it.

Driving as an activity is, to a large degree, an automatic behaviour. Our mind and body know exactly what to do, which leaves a large part of our attention unfocused and bored. It causes people to do other activities while driving. In the US, 3,328 people were killed, and 421 ,000 people injured in crashes involved a distracted driver in 2012 alone. At the same time, driving (especially in the city) can also be one of the most stressful daily activities. Furthermore, we often need to drive while we are already tired, i.e. after a long day of work, or traveling long distance. Study says 20% of traffic accidents are caused by driver fatigue.

Car manufactures mainly focused on two areas to keep our alertness while driving. The first area is to embed high quality entertainment systems into the car in order to enhance the driving experience, such as the Apple Car Play and Volvo Sensus

Connected Touch. The second area is about developing sophisticated technology to monitor a driver's driving behaviour and physiological conditions in order to detect potential danger, so that the car can remind the driver to take a break, such as the Driver alert assistance system, or even automatically respond to the situation to prevent a potential accident, such as the Ford Smart Car, which blocks incoming calls if sensed that the driver is already stressed. Specialised products, such as Anti Sleep Pilot, have been developed to maintain driving alertness by asking the driver to interact with the device once in a while.

In the area of detecting a driver's physiological conditions, respiration pattern as a scientifically proven factor is used to assess the driver's physiological state and mental capacity. U.S. Pat. No. 20130193727, JP. Pat. No. 201 1 182826 and KR. Pat. No. 1020040046502A focused on how to easily enhance the existing safety belt with sensors to monitor the respiration. Other inventions such as CN. Pat.

No.103300869, CN. Pat. No. 201790818, CN. Pat. No. 203043424 exist for using a separate device to sense a driver's respiration data, in order to detect driving fatigue. These prior arts confirm the feasibility for accurately sensing respiration inside a vehicle. The question is how to use the sensed respiratory signal.

Respiration is a unique physiological parameter, which normally operates without our attention but also can be consciously regulated once we attend to it. Most of us are unaware of our breathing most of the times, and we tend to hold our breath or breathe irregularly when stressed. Until now, majority of technology development focused on sensing the 'unconscious breathing' to evaluate a driver's stress and/or fatigue level. Ford smart car concept uses respiration data to determine the driver's stress level. It blocks incoming calls (an additional stressor) if sensed that the driver is already stressed. U.S.Pat. No. 201 1015468 describes a method for maintaining the desired state for a subject, the desired range is defined by setting an upper threshold (too stressed) and a lower threshold (too relaxed). If the sensed signal is outside the range, system provides feedback, to alert and guide the person back to the desired range. These developments views the driver as an 'unstable factor', where technology takes care of the person by monitoring the instability of the person, filtering information, providing warnings, and takes over the control of the vehicle when determined necessary.

It is a general knowledge that respiration can be regulated. Sustaining a slow and calm breathing is one of the most well documented and practised self-regulation techniques. Breath awareness is a key element in meditative practise. By becoming aware of and continuously observe the breath, the breath naturally slows down. We can also choose to consciously breathe slowly and calmly, as Harvard Medical School states, it "allows you to tap one of your body's strongest self-healing mechanisms." The challenge, however, is to remember breathing calmly amidst daily activities, and it requires a present time conscious choice of attending to the breath, in order to sustain the slow and calm way of breathing. This is difficult, as our attention habitually follows other stimulations, and wanders away from the breathing. Therefore, respiratory regulation has been an active field for research and development of technology intervention, which can be categorised in below two distinctive approaches:

The first approach is 'technology guided respiratory regulation': In this approach, technology dominates the process by setting the pace to gradually guide the person to slow down respiration. The person passively follows the stimulations technology provided to reach a target condition. Various commercial products are available using this approach. RESPeRATE is a Walkman-like device that uses auditory tones to guide relaxed breathing to reduce blood pressure. StressEraser and emWave are portable devices using visual guidance to slow down breathing and reduce stress. Calm Down is an app setting the computer screen to fade in and out to guide people to breathe calmly. This approach has also been introduced into the vehicle context: JP.Pat. No. 2005237456 and WO.Pat.No. 2012039368 both focused on using technology generated stimulations to guide respiration inside a vehicle. The disadvantage of this approach is that the person is seen as being 'incapable of actively self-regulate', thus needing to passively follow technology guidance.

The second approach is 'technology augmented respiratory self-regulation':

Everyone knows breathing slowly and calmly is healthy, and everyone can do it for a few times. But most of us cannot sustain a slow and calm breathing, unless specifically trained. The key for sustaining a slow and calm breathing is that the person is able to sustain the attention on the breath, as only then he can actively self-regulate the breath at the present time. Therefore, the focus of the second approach is to use technology as feedback, to make attention to own breathing meaningful and rewarding, and in that way engaging people to keep sustaining the attention to the breath and breath slowly and calmly. BellyBio is a mobile app, which turns the phone into a respiration sensor. By placing the phone on the lower part of the belly, while lying down, it senses the breathing by measuring the

increase/decrease of the angle between the phone and the body. The app plays a relaxing music once detecting the person is actively breathing slowly and deeply. In 2012, Neema Moraveji (Stanford University) published a Ph.D. Dissertation "Augmented self-regulation" stating that with technology augmented feedback, people can work effectively, while sustaining part of attention to keep breathing slowly and calmly. It does not negatively impact people's performance on cognitive intensive tasks. In this study, people were wearing a waist belt like respiration sensor, and an augmented feedback of the breathing rate was indicated to people via their computer in real-time, to assist people self-regulating their own respiration while working. If sensing a too fast breathing rate, the computer showed a visual guidance to guide the person to slow down the breathing.

Furthermore, the study is extended to mobile context. A sensor continuously sensed the breathing rate of a user. If the user breathed too fast, the mobile phone reminded the user with a notification "your body is tense, deep breath". The app also showed a report of how the user's breathing pattern looked throughout the day.

None of the applications of the second approach provides a feedback loop through an in-room electronic system, being an electronic device separated from the respiratory sensor, configured to assist the user to sustain in a slow and deep breathing mode.

SUMMARY

It is an object of the present invention to engage a user to attend to his own respiration inside a room of either a vehicle or a building, in order to positively influence his own physiological and mental states.

A user may be a person, a driver and/or a passenger.

It is a further object of the present invention to enhance the electronic system inside a room of either a vehicle or a building, to be sensitive to a user's slow and calm respiration, and provide engaging feedback. It is a further object of the present invention to add an extra layer of meaning (a relaxing music, nature sound, ambient images etc.) for a user to enjoy, as long as the user sustain his own breathing slowly and calmly. This means breathing slowly and calmly is being rewarded by the electronic system in a room, such as a room of a vehicle or a building.

It is a further object of the present invention to create intuitive ways to assist a user to transiting from normal way of breathing into slow and calm breathing, inside a room, such as a room of a vehicle or a building.

It is a further object of the present invention to anchor the user's attention (at least part of the attention is needed to sustain a slow and calm breathing) always at the present time (breathing is part of the present time), providing a way to gradually train the stability of the user's attention.

It is a further object of the present invention to anchor the user's attention (at least part of the attention is needed to sustain a slow and clam breathing) always at the present time, creating a good opportunity to establish richer relationships with the environment inside a room of a vehicle (car environment is also part of the present time) or a room of a building (interior is also part of the present time).

It is a further object of the present invention to add a social dimension (e.g. with other people inside the same room, or remote) for slow and calm breathing inside a room, such as a room of a vehicle or a building, creating an environment for people to be in the solitude and at the same time feel connected.

Additionally, designing an in-room electronic system, in a room, such as a room of a vehicle or a building, only responding to the user's sustained slow and calm respiration inside the room, depends on different context, and the way electronic system gives feedbacks configurable and adaptable to how the room may be used. Thus the system does not interfere with the normal functionality of a room, such as a room of a vehicle or a building. An overall objective is to promote an in-vehicle environment or an in-room environment as a unique space for people to release/prevent stress, and access solitude amidst the busyness of daily activities. One or more of the above and other objects may be provided by a method for sustaining conscious breathing inside a room. The method comprising:

processing by a signal processing mean, a real-time respiration signal input indicative of a person's breathing inside the room. Furthermore, the method comprising determining, in response to constantly comparing the real-time respiration signal input with at least one predetermined threshold, whether the person may be breathing consciously or not attending to the breath at the present time. Additionally, the method comprising generating feedback through at least one in-room electronic system inside the room, if the person may be breathing consciously at the present time, whereby the feedback may be configured for encouraging the person to continuously breathe consciously. The generation of feedback through the at least one in-room electronic system may be reduced or stopped, as soon as it may be determined that the person may not be attending to the breath at the present time. In one or more embodiments, the real time respiration signal may comprise measurement of breathing rate, breathing depth, inhalation time and/or exhalation time.

In one or more embodiments the signal processing mean may be a CPU or a microprocessor being either implemented into a first unit together with a respiration sensor configured to measure the real time respiration signal, or implemented into a second unit separated from the respiration sensor, i.e. the respiration sensor may be built into a first unit.

In one or more embodiments, the room may be a cabin of a vehicle, motor vehicle, car, airplane, train, truck or any kind of a vehicle with and/or without an engine.

In one or more embodiments, the in-room electronic system inside the room may be any kind of electronic devices or mechanical devices which for example is able to transmit an audio sound, a fragrance, a video, a picture and/or any kind of transmittable data which may stimulate the senses of a person being within the room. In one or more embodiments, the consciously breathing of the person may be determined by a personalised breathing rate threshold, which may be determined by measuring the person's breathing rate in resting state. The personalised breathing rate threshold may be the person's breathing rate in resting state. The personalised breathing rate threshold may be the person's breathing rate in resting state lowered by a value of 5%, 10 %, 15% or 30%. The personalised breathing rate threshold may be the person's breathing rate in resting state lowered by a value between 5 % to 50 %, 15 % to 30 %, 20 % to 50 %, or 5 % to 10 %.

With the personalized breathing rate threshold the method is able to be customized to a certain user or to a certain group of user.

In one or more embodiments, unconsciously breathing of a person may be defined as being where the person does not focus on the breathing causing the breathing rate to be more susceptible to external stimulations, such as in-room electronic systems, external noise sources located outside the room, causing the breathing rate to be faster and shallower than when the person is breathing consciously.

In one or more embodiments, the feedback may be configured for encouraging the person through one or more of the person's five senses, e.g. by stimulating the hearing, feeling, seeing, tasting, and/or smelling, and thereby, causing the breathing rate to be stable and constantly below the predetermined breathing rate threshold.

In one or more embodiments, the present invention focus on bringing the

'technology augmented respiratory self-regulation' seamlessly integrated into the in- vehicle context, by introducing the feedback loop between the present time conscious choice of attending to the breath (measured by slow and calm breathing) and the feedback provided by a vehicle's existing electronics. It takes advantage of the below 3 aspects, which makes the in-vehicle environment a unique space for technology augmented respiratory self-regulation: 1 ) it may be a true private space for solitude in the social world we live in,

2) everything may be economically designed to support comfort,

3) it may be surrounded with sophisticated technology.

In one or more embodiments the present invention focus on utilising sensed respiration signal inside a room, such as a room of a vehicle or a building, regardless what sensing technology (could be sensor enhanced safety belt, sensor enhanced seat, microphone, special waist belt sensor, sensor enhanced furniture, sensor enhanced floor etc.) was used for detection.

In one or more embodiments, a feedback loop consists of the person's slow and calm respiration as the input, and the in-room electronic system's feedback as the output. There are 2 primary ways for the in-room electronic system to provide feedback.

1 ) 'Amplified reflection'.

2) 'Augmented media'.

In one or more embodiments, the present invention includes the social aspects, where an in-room electronic system inside a room, such as in a room of a vehicle or a building responds to multiple people breathing calmly together, e.g. inside the same vehicle or inside the same building, or remotely in other places. In this way people can stay in the solitude and at the same time, feel connected.

Additionally, in one or more embodiments, the present invention also includes examples on different ways that an in-room electronic system, such as an in-vehicle electronic system or an in-building electronic system, assists the person transiting from normal way of breathing to the slow and calm breathing, in order to trigger the feedback loop mentioned above:

1 ) Discrete reflection,

2) Guidance,

3) A special breathing gesture. In one or more embodiments, the present invention further includes intuitive ways to initiate respiration sensing system. Depending on the contexts of how a room, such as a room of a vehicle, may be used, the in-room electronic system provides adapted ways to give feedbacks to the person's respiration. For example, identified according to the level of attention the vehicle requires from the person, this invention describes below examples on different use contexts, and how the feedback loop systems may be initialized accordingly:

1 ) Parked.

2) Automatic driving.

3) Stuck in traffic jam or traffic light.

4) Normal driving.

In one or more embodiments, the present invention covers for all kinds of transportation vehicles including aircraft, boat, train etc. and for drivers, pilots, and passengers.

The room may be an area restricted between doors and/or between a floor and a ceiling of a vehicle or a building. In one or more embodiments, the vehicle may be a motorised vehicle, a car, a truck, a motorbike, a non-motorised vehicle, a train, an airplane etc.

In one or more embodiments, the building may be a private home or a public building,

Furthermore, the room may comprise an interior environment which includes at least one in-room electronic system configured to generate a feedback that encourage the person to continuously breathe consciously. According to an embodiment of the invention, a system for sustaining conscious breathing inside a room, comprises a respirator sensor configured to measure a real time respiration of a person and providing a real time respiration signal input indicative of the real time respiration. Furthermore, the system comprises a signal processing mean configured to process the real-time respiration signal input of the person breathing inside the room, and wherein the signal processing mean determines, in response to constantly comparing the real-time respiration signal input with at least one predetermined threshold, whether the person is breathing consciously or not attending to the breath at the present time. Furthermore, the system comprises an in-room electronic system configured to generate a feedback, if the person is breathing consciously at the present time, whereby the feedback is configured for encouraging the person to continuously breathe consciously. The in- room electronic system is configured to reduce or stop the generation of the feedback, as soon as it is determined that the person is not attending to the breath at the present time.

According to the present invention, the method may further comprise monitoring the respiration, at the present time, of the person inside the room. The method may further comprise generating the real-time respiration signal input. The metod may further comprise sending the real-time respiration signal input to the signal processing mean.

In one or more embodiments, the monitoring of the respiration, at the present time, may be provided by one or more of following sensors;

· motion sensors, audio sensors or visual sensors,

• accelerometers, thermistors,

• acoustic modelling based sensors,

• transcutaneous C02 monitoring based sensors,

• pulse oximetry based sensors,

· Doppler sensors, optical sensors, stretch sensors, thermal sensors,

• elastomeric plethysmographies,

• respiratory inductance plethysmographies or

• impedance plethysmographies,

which may be dedicated to detect and measure the person's respiration.

In one or more embodiments, the sensor or the respiration sensor may be a stretch sensor. The stretch sensor may be configured to sense contraction or expansion of breast of a person inhaling or exhaling. In one or more embodiments, the sensor or the respiration sensor may be a camera. The camera may be configured to sense whether the person is inhaling and/or exhaling.

In one or more embodiments, the predetermined threshold may be a breathing rate threshold.

For example, if the real-time respiration signal input represents lower breathing rate than the predetermined breathing rate threshold, the person may be considered as breathing consciously at the present time.

For example, if the real-time respiration signal input represents an equal or higher breathing rate than the predetermined breathing rate threshold, the person may be considered as not attending to the breath at the present time.

Alternatively or additionally, the predetermined threshold may be a breathing depth threshold.

For example, if the real-time respiration signal input represents higher breathing depth than the predetermined breathing depth threshold, the person may be considered as breathing consciously at the present time.

For example, if the real-time respiration signal input represents an equal or lower breathing depth than the predetermined breathing depth threshold, the person may be considered as not attending to the breath at the present time.

The predetermined breathing rate threshold may be a personalised value, which may be determined by measuring the person's breathing rate in resting state. The personalised value may be lowered by a value between 5 % to 10 % of the breathing rate in resting state.

The personalised value may be lowered by a value between 5 % to 25 % of the breathing rate in resting state. The personalised value may be lowered by a value between 1 % to 6 % of the breathing rate in resting state.

The personalised value may be lowered by a value between 20 % to 50 % of the breathing rate in resting state.

The personalised value may be lowered by a value between 40 % to 50 % of the breathing rate in resting state. In one or more embodiments, the predetermined threshold may be a time period. The time period may be a period of an inhalation time, a period of an exhalation time, or a period of a complete breathing cycle, e.g. the inhalation time plus the exhalation time. For example, if the real-time respiration signal input represents longer time period than the predetermined time period threshold, the person may be considered as breathing consciously at the present time.

For example, if the real-time respiration signal input represents an equal or shorter time period than the predetermined time period threshold, the person may be considered as not attending to the breath at the present time.

The predetermined time period threshold may be a personalised value, which may be determined by measuring the time period of the person's inhalation time, or exhalation time, or complete breathing cycle time in resting state.

The personalised value may be lowered by a value between 5 % to 10 % of the breathing rate in resting state.

The personalised value may be lowered by a value between 5 % to 25 % of the breathing rate in resting state.

The personalised value may be lowered by a value between 1 % to 6 % of the breathing rate in resting state. The personalised value may be lowered by a value between 20 % to 50 % of the breathing rate in resting state.

The personalised value may be lowered by a value between 40 % to 50 % of the breathing rate in resting state.

In one or more embodiments, the generated feedback may be organised to reflect the person's conscious breathing at a present time. The generated feedback may be organised to reflect the person's conscious breathing at a present time starting with a feedback, providing a reflection for the person's presently conscious breathing, generated from at least one in-room electronic system, and gradually adding further in-room electronic systems to the generated feedback to amplify the reflection of the person's conscious breathing.

An in-room electronic system, such as the in-room electronic system, may be an in- room electronic audio system, in-room visual indication system, in-room

infotainment system and/or other in-room electronic systems.

In-room electronic systems, such as the in-room electronic systems, may comprise one or more of in-room electronic audio systems, in-room visual indication systems, in-room infotainment systems and/or other in-room electronic systems.

In one or more embodiments, the generated feedback may be organised to add an extra layer of meaning to the person's conscious breathing at the present time, where in-room electronic system(s), such as the at least one in-room electronic system, are configured to provide an output encouraging the person to sustain a conscious attention to the breath.

In one or more embodiments, the present invention may comprise generating feedback through at least one in-room electronic system, in response to a plurality of persons breathing consciously together at the present time. Thereby a feedback loop is formed to assist the plurality of persons to sustain conscious breathing as a social activity. In one or more embodiments, the generated feedback may be a compound feedback. For example, so that the generated feedback may be a dynamic visual composition where each person of the plurality of persons represents a specific colour, visual pattern, or a dynamic sound composition where each person of the plurality of persons represents a specific sound or music instrument.

The plurality of persons breathing consciously together may be all inside the room. The plurality of persons may be distributed elsewhere with at least one person being located physically inside the room.

In one or more embodiments, the present invention comprising assisting in transiting the person's unconscious breathing into conscious breathing, where at least one in- room electronic system is configured to generate one or more responses to reflect the person's unconscious breathing at the present time, to assist enhancing the person's awareness of own breathing state.

In one or more embodiments the room may be a cabin of a vehicle. In one or more embodiments the room may be a room of a building. The vehicle may be a motorised vehicle, such as a car, truck, train aircraft.

Furthermore, the vehicle may be a non-motorised vehicle.

In one or more embodiments, the in-room electronic system comprises an electronically enhanced vehicle brand logo located at the centre of a steering wheel.

In one or more embodiments, the in-room electronic systems, within the cabin of the vehicle, comprises an electronically enhanced vehicle brand logo located at the centre of the steering wheel, where it discretely reflects the person's breathing by fading in and out, changing colours, and/or changing visual patterns, in

synchronization with how the person may be breathing at the present time.

In one or more embodiments, the motion sensor may be a sensor enhanced safety belt, which detects and measures the body movement caused by the person's respiration. In one or more embodiments, the present invention may comprise activating the monitoring of the respiration, at the present time, as soon as the person click in a safety belt, e.g. while seated normally in a corresponding seat, and/or without needing to ignite a vehicle engine.

In one or more embodiments, the present invention may comprise dynamically adapting the availability of different types of the generated feedback according to different in-vehicle situations.

For example the different in vehicle situations may include: whether:

a. the vehicle is parked or the vehicle is in automatic driving mode;

b. the vehicle is in a traffic jam;

c. the vehicle is in a normal driving mode

For example, if the vehicle is parked or the vehicle is in automatic driving mode, then all types of feedback may be available, as the vehicle does not require attention from the person in the driver seat. For example, if the vehicle is in a traffic jam, then the generated feedback which invite visual attention from the person in the driver seat may be limited.

For example, if the vehicle is in a normal driving mode, then any the generated feedback which invite visual attention from the person in the driver seat may be reduced to minimum.

In one or more embodiments, the present invention may comprise activating the monitoring of the respiration, at the present time. For example activating the monitoring of the respiration, at the present time, as soon as the person activates an electronic system, the person enters the room at a predetermined time, and/or the person enters the room at a specific weekday.

In one or more embodiments, the present invention may comprise obtaining the real-time respiration signal input indicative of the person's breathing inside the room. In one or more embodiments, the respirator sensor may be one or more of following sensors:

• motion sensors, audio sensors or visual sensors,

· accelerometers, thermistors,

• acoustic modelling based sensors,

• transcutaneous C02 monitoring based sensors,

• pulse oximetry based sensors,

• Doppler sensors, optical sensors, stretch sensors, thermal sensors,

· elastomeric plethysmographies,

• respiratory inductance plethysmographies or

• impedance plethysmographies,

configured to detect and measure the person's respiration. In one or more embodiments, the real time respiration signal may be measured by multiple respirator sensors being a combination of similar types of respirator sensors and/or a combination of different types of respirator sensors.

In one or more embodiments, the signal processing mean and the respirator sensor may be configured within a first unit. Alternatively, the signal processing mean may be configured within a first unit and the respirator sensor may be configured within a second unit.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a method for sustaining conscious breathing inside a vehicle, comprising processing by signal processing mean, a realtime respiration signal input of a person breathing inside said vehicle. Furthermore, the method comprising determining, in response to constantly comparing said realtime respiration signal input with at least one predetermined threshold, whether said person is breathing consciously or not attending to the breath at the present time. Additionally, the method comprising generating feedback through at least one of in- vehicle electronic audio system, visual indication systems, infotainment system or other electronic response indications, if said person is breathing consciously at the present time, whereby said feedback is configured for encouraging said person to continuously breath consciously. The generation of feedback through said in-vehicle electronic audio system, visual indication systems, infotainment system or other electronic response indications is stopped or reduced, as soon as it is determined that said person is not attending to the breath at the present time.

In one or more embodiments, the present invention may comprising monitoring the moment to moment respiration of said person inside said vehicle, generating said real-time respiration signal, and sending said real-time respiration signal to said signal processing mean.

In one or more embodiments, the present invention may comprising monitoring the moment to moment respiration provided by at least one of motion sensors, audio sensors or visual sensors, which may be dedicated to detect and measure said person's respiration.

In one or more embodiments, the motion sensor may be a sensor enhanced safety belt, which detects and measures the body movement caused by said person's respiration. In one or more embodiments, the present invention may comprising: activating the monitoring of the moment to moment respiration as soon as said person click in the safety belt while seated normally in the corresponding seat, inside said vehicle, without needing to ignite the vehicle engine. In one or more embodiments, the predetermined threshold may be breathing rate threshold:

a. if said real-time respiration signal input represents lower breathing rate than said predetermined breathing rate threshold, said person may be considered as breathing consciously at this moment; b. if said real-time respiration signal input represents an equal or higher breathing rate than said predetermined breathing rate threshold, said person may be considered as not attending to the breath at this moment. In one or more embodiments, said predetermined threshold may be a personalised value, which may be determined by measuring said person's breathing rate in resting state, and lowering said breathing rate in resting state by a value between 5- 50%.

In one or more embodiments, said predetermined threshold may be a time duration, said time duration may be of inhalation time, or exhalation time, or a complete breathing cycle that may be an inhalation plus an exhalation:

a. if said real-time respiration signal input represents longer time duration than said predetermined time duration threshold, said person may be considered as breathing consciously at this moment; b. if said real-time respiration signal input represents an equal or shorter time duration than said predetermined time duration threshold, said person may be considered as not attending to the breath at this moment.

In one or more embodiments, said predetermined threshold may be a personalised value, which may be determined by measuring said time duration of said person's inhalation, or exhalation, or the complete breathing cycle in resting state, and increasing said time duration in resting state by a value between 5-50%.

In one or more embodiments, said generated feedback may be organised to reflect said person's conscious breathing moment to moment, it starts with at least one in- vehicle electronic audio system, visual indication systems, infotainment system or other electronic response indications, providing a reflection for said person's conscious breathing, and then plurality of other in-vehicle electronic audio system, visual indication systems, infotainment system or other electronic response indications can gradually join in to amplify said reflection of said person's conscious breathing.

In one or more embodiments, said generated feedback may be organised to add an extra layer of meaning to said person's conscious breathing moment to moment, where in-vehicle electronic audio system, visual indication systems, infotainment system or other electronic response indications providing an output encouraging said person to sustain in a conscious attention to the breath; and said output includes ambient visual, nature sound, calm music, game incentives, and social connections. In one or more embodiments, the present invention may comprising: generating feedback through at least one of in-vehicle electronic audio system, visual indication systems, infotainment system or other electronic response indications, if plurality of persons breathing consciously together at this moment, thus a feedback loop may be formed to help said plurality of persons to sustain conscious breathing as a social activity.

In one or more embodiments, said generated feedback may be compound feedback; it can be a dynamic visual composition where each person of said plurality of persons represents a specific colour, visual pattern; or a dynamic sound composition where each person of said plurality of persons represents a specific sound or music instrument.

In one or more embodiments, said plurality of persons breathing consciously together can either be all inside said vehicle, or distributed elsewhere with at least one person located physically inside said vehicle.

In one or more embodiments, the present invention may comprising: helping to transition said person's unconscious breathing into conscious breathing, where at least one of in-vehicle electronic audio system, visual indication systems, infotainment system or other electronic response indications generate response to reflect said person's unconscious breathing at the moment, to help enhancing said person's awareness of own breathing state.

In one or more embodiments, said in-vehicle electronic response indication may be an electronically enhanced vehicle brand logo located at the centre of the steering wheel, where it discretely reflects said person's breathing by fading in and out, or changing colours, or changing visual patterns, in sync with how said person may be breathing at the moment. In one or more embodiments, the present invention may comprising: dynamically adapting the availability of different types of said generated feedback according to different in-vehicle situations, especially if said person may be in a driver seat of said vehicle, for example:

a. if said vehicle may be parked or the vehicle may be in automatic driving mode, then all types of feedback can be available, as said vehicle does not require attention from said person in said driver seat;

b. if said vehicle may be in a traffic jam, then said generated feedback which invite visual attention from said person in said driver seat should be limited;

c. if said vehicle may be in a normal driving mode, then any said generated feedback which invite visual attention from said person in said driver seat should be reduced to minimum.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

A more detailed description follows below with reference to the drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a diagram of the feedback loop,

Fig. 2 shows an example of an amplified reflection within a room of a vehicle,

Fig. 3 shows an example of an augmented media inside a room of a vehicle,

Fig. 4 shows an example of the amplified reflection and/or the augmented media inside a room of a building,

Fig. 5 shows possible feedbacks the in-room electronic system can provide to a person,

Fig. 6 shows two different ways of embedding social dimension into the activity of breathing slowly and calmly inside a room,

Fig. 7A and 7B show an example of social breathing in a room of a building, Fig. 8 shows three different ways of assisting people to easily transit from normal way of unconscious breathing (fast and shallow) to the slow and calm way of breathing, Fig. 9 shows an example of discrete reflection for enhance awareness of the person,

Fig. 10 shows an example of guiding the user's breathing,

Fig. 1 1 shows an example of intuitive ways of activating the respiration sensing system,

Fig. 12 shows examples of how the feedback loop adapts to different situations of a vehicle, Fig. 13 shows a flow diagram of a method for sustaining conscious breathing inside a room,

Fig. 14A and 14B show a diagram of a system for sustaining conscious breathing inside a room, where the respiration sensor is either attached to the person or distantly located from the person.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 shows the feedback loop 2. The pre-requisite of the feedback loop 2 is that a room 12 is able to sense the person's 10 current breathing pattern in a clean and stable manner. This means the system 1 will exit the feedback loop 2 if the sensed respiration signal becomes unstable or with too much noise (as this might imply the person's attention is not on maintaining the slow and calm breathing anymore) The feedback loop 2 consists two parts. When the slow & calm breathing signal is sensed and fed into the system 1 , the in-room electronic system 4 provides feedbacks 2 to recognise and engage the person 10 to continuously breath slowly and calmly. The slow and calm breathing can be determined by breath rate (breaths per min, or bpm), which is calculated by the number of times the chest rises (inhalations) in a minute. For instance, when the breath rate is less than, for example 10 bpm, the system regards the breathing as slow and calm. It can also be measured by the length of an inhalation and/or exhalation. For instance when the inhalation is longer than 2 seconds, the system 1 regards the breathing as slow and calm.

In one or more embodiments, the system 1 may comprise a personalisation module to learn about individuals comfortable way of breathing slowly and calmly, and uses that as the threshold to trigger the feedback loop 2.

In one or more embodiments, the in-room electronic system 4 may comprise an in- room mechanical system 5. Alternatively, the in-room electronic system 4 may be replaced with the in-room mechanical system 5. The system 1 has two primary ways to respond to the slow and calm breathing. First is 'Amplified reflection' 6, and second is 'Augmented media' 8.

Fig. 2 shows an example of an amplified reflection 6 within a room 12 of a vehicle, e.g. a cabin 12A of a vehicle. The amplified reflection 6 of the person's 10 slow and calm breathing is to use the in-room electronic systems 4 within the cabin, to reflect the person's 10 breathing in real-time, for example, the vehicle's infotainment display 4A glowing in sync with the person's 10 slow and calm breathing, to create a sense that the vehicle is breathing together with the person 10. The effect of the reflection can be amplified 6 with having multiple electronic elements gradually joining the reflection. In this example, the lighting system 4B and the dashboard display 4C could join the infotainment display 4A and glowing together, after the driver 10 has sustained the slow and calm breathing for a while.

Fig. 3 shows an example of an augmented media 8 inside a room 12 of a vehicle, e.g. a cabin 12A of a vehicle. The augmented media 8 means that the in-room electronic system 4 inside the vehicle responds to the person's 10 slow and calm breathing by adding an extra layer of meaning, such as an augmented layer 8A, for instance playing a relaxing music, nature sound, display ambient animations, and game... etc. It rewards the person 10 with enjoyable and restful contents, to recognise the person 10 is actively sustaining the breathing slowly and calmly.

Fig. 4 shows an example of the amplified reflection 6 and/or the augmented media 8 inside a room 12B of a building. The amplified reflection 6 of the person's 10 slow and calm breathing is to use the in-room electronic systems 4 within the room (12, 12B), to reflect the person's 10 breathing in real-time, for example, the room's lightning 4B or display 4C glowing in sync with the person's 10 slow and calm breathing, to create a sense that the room 12B is breathing together with the person 10. The effect of the reflection can be amplified 6 with having multiple electronic elements, i.e. in-room electronic systems 4, gradually joining the reflection. In this example, the lighting system 4B could join the display 4C and glowing together, after the user 10 has sustained the slow and calm breathing for a while. Additionally, Fig. 4 shows an example of an augmented media 8 inside the room

12B. The augmented media 8 means that the in-room electronic system 4 inside the room responds to the person's 10 slow and calm breathing by adding an extra layer of meaning, such as an augmented layer 8A, for instance playing a relaxing music 4D, nature sound 4D, display ambient animations 4C, game 4C, vibrational or massaging furniture 4E, and augmented windows 4F. It rewards the person 10 with enjoyable and restful contents, to recognise the person 10 is actively sustaining the breathing slowly and calmly.

Fig. 5 shows possible feedbacks 2 the in-room electronic system 4 can provide to a person 10, in order to indicate that the room 12 is aware the person is breathing slowly and calmly. It may include, but not limited to, below categories:

- displays of infotainment and navigation system (4A, 4C)

- lighting system 4B,

- stereo sound system 4D,

- tactile feedback, such as vibration or massaging 4E,

- augmented windows 4F,

- etc. Fig. 6 shows two different ways of embedding social dimension into the activity of breathing slowly and calmly inside a room 12. Furthermore, the in-room electronic system 4 is configured to generate a feedback 2 in a harmonious way, i.e. the generated feedback 2 is either based on the breathing of multiple persons located within the same room 12 or outside the room 12 and the breathing of the person located within the room 12.

Social breathing (remote) 14; the room 12 creates an experience for the person 10 to breath slowly and calmly together with people from outside the room 12, who are breathing the same way at the same time. The in-room electronic system 4 generates feedback 2 in a harmonious way, which expressing your slow and calm breathing is in sync with other people's breathing at the present time. This creates an opportunity to connect with others at a level beyond words and information, it creates connection through conscious breathing. In this way the person 10 stays in the solitude, and at the same time feels connected.

Social breathing (in-room) 16; same principle can also apply to multiple person breathing slowly and calmly at the same time inside the same room 12. Fig. 7A and 7B show examples of social breathing in a room of a building, however, the same principle could be applied to a room of a vehicle.

Fig. 7a shows an example of social breathing wherein the feedback is based on the breathing of multiple persons located outside the room 12 and the breathing of the person located within the room 12, i.e. the feedback 2 is in a remote social breathing mode 14.

Fig. 7b shows an example of social breathing wherein the feedback 2 is based on the breathing of multiple persons located inside the room 12 and the breathing of the person 10 located within the same room 12, i.e. the feedback 2 is in an in-room social breathing mode 16.

Fig. 8 shows three different ways of assisting people to easily transit from normal way of unconscious breathing (fast and shallow) to the slow and calm way of breathing, which triggers the feedback loop 2. The three different ways are discrete reflection 20, guidance 22 and special breathing gesture 18.

Discrete reflection 20 enhances the awareness of the person 10, The in-room electronic system 4 provides discrete reflection to the person's 10 current respiration, with the goal to make the person 10 more aware of own breathing. When becoming more aware of our breathing, the breathing rate naturally slows down. One example can be the car logo 24 located at the centre of the steering wheel glowing in sync with the driver's breathing, see Fig. 9;

Guidance 22: the user 10 can choose a program from the in-room electronic system 4 to guide the user 10 to gradually slows down the breathing. Fig. 10 shows an example of visual guidance (22, 4A), where a floating feather gradually guides the breath to slow down. The guidance can be a visual guide, a voice guide, or other kinds of guidance.

Special breathing gesture 18: the person 10 can consciously choose to breath in a special way. It works as an intuitive command to trigger the feedback loop 2. One example is a deep and slow inhalation and/or exhalation.

Fig. 1 1 shows an example of intuitive ways of activating 26 the respiration sensing system without the requirement of starting the engine of a vehicle.

For instance, if the safety belt was used as the sensor, the respiration sensing system is activated, as soon as the person clicks in safety belt 30. Or if the seat was enhanced with respiration sensor, the sensing starts as soon as the person is seated 28.

Fig. 12 shows examples of how the feedback loop (2, 34) adapts to different situations of a vehicle 32. Breathing consciously in a slow and calm way (attending to the breath) is possible to do in different in-vehicle situations. However, the amount of attention the vehicle requires from the person (especially the driver) varies quite a lot depending on different situation. This invention includes an context adaptable element, it's purpose is to configure the in-vehicle electronics system to dynamically find a balance between conveying outward information(entertainment, navigation, internet... etc.) and inward information(providing feedback for slow and calm breathing, to help people self-regulate), according to different situations and personal preferences.

Four different in-vehicle contexts 32 have been identified according the required attention and whether the vehicle is moving or not. The four in-vehicle contexts are as following;

• A parked vehicle (parked)

· An automatic driving vehicle (automatic driving)

• A vehicle in a traffic jam or a traffic light (traffic jam/light)

• A vehicle in normal driving situation. (normal driving)

The four in-vehicle contexts is one possible configuration of the feedback loop system 1 . The feedback loop (2, 34) could be available in different in-vehicle contexts. For instance the function of 'the vehicle is breathing together with you' (amplified reflection 6, see Fig. 1 ) is only available while the vehicle is parked, where the playing a relaxing music (augmented media 8 with audio, see Fig. 3 bottom) can be available across all kinds of in-vehicle situations.

The function 'discrete reflection' may be activated when the vehicle is not moving due to the traffic jam or the traffic light. The function 'discrete reflection' may be deactivated when the vehicle starts to move again. Fig. 13 shows a flow diagram of a method 40 for sustaining conscious breathing inside a room. The method 40 comprising; processing, by a signal processing mean, a real-time respiration signal input of a person breathing inside the room 40A, determining, in response to constantly comparing the real-time respiration signal input with at least one predetermined threshold, whether the person is breathing consciously or not attending to the breath at the present time 40B; generating feedback through at least one of in-room electronic system inside the room, if the person is breathing consciously at the present time, whereby the feedback is configured for encouraging the person to continuously breath consciously 40C; and wherein generation of feedback through at least one of the in-room electronic systems is stopped or reduced, as soon as it is determined that the person is not attending to the breath at the present time 40D. Fig. 14A and 14B show examples of a system 1 for sustaining conscious breathing inside a room 12. The system 1 comprises a respirator sensor 3 configured to measure a real time respiration signal of a person. Furthermore, the system 1 comprises a signal processing mean 7 (not shown in Fig. 14A and 14B) configured to process the real-time respiration signal input of the person 10 breathing inside the room 12, and wherein the signal processing mean 7 determines, in response to constantly comparing the real-time respiration signal input with at least one predetermined threshold, whether the person is breathing consciously or not attending to the breath at the present time. Additionally, the system 1 comprises an in-room electronic system 4 configured to communicate 36 wirelessly or wired with the respiration sensor. The in-room electronic system could for example be an infotainment display 4A, lighting system 4B, or a display 4C.

The in-room electronic system 4 may be configured to emit sound, visually displaying, and/or providing tactile feedback. For example, the in-room electronic system 4 may comprise one or more of an in-room electronic audio system, in-room visual indication system, in-room infotainment system and/or other in-room electronic systems.

Alternatively, the signal processing mean 7 may be configured to communicate wirelessly with the respiration sensor 3 and the in-room electronic system 4.

Furthermore, the in-room electronic system 4 is configured to generate a feedback 2, if the person 10 is breathing consciously at the present time, whereby the feedback 2 is configured for encouraging the person 10 to continuously breath consciously. The in-room electronic system 4 is configured to stop or reduce the generation of the feedback 2, as soon as it is determined that the person 10 is not attending to the breath at the present time. The signal processing mean 7 may either be built into the respiration sensor 3 or the in-room electronic system 4, or the signal processing mean 7 may be an

independent unit being separated from the respiration sensor 3 and the in-room electronic system 4. Fig. 14A shows the system wherein the respirator sensor is attached to the person.

Fig. 14B shows the system wherein the respirator sensor is not attached to the person. In this specific example, the respirator sensor may be for example a Doppler sensor or a camera sensor, both configured to detect breathing movements of the person.