EMPLOYING NETWORKED GROUPS AND SHARED DATA

Background of the Invention

The present invention relates to sleeping aids, and more particularly, to methods and devices to monitor and manage a user's sleep.

A prevalent and often overlooked cause to many secondary health and social problems is insufficient and/or poor-quality sleep. Estimates show that that 65% of the population has at least a few nights a week suboptimal sleep. Humans require considerable rest each night and if the sleep is broken, brain function, problemsolving, cognitive skills, and reasoning are affected. Other potential consequences of insufficient sleep include short and long-term memory loss, mood changes, a weakened immunity, high blood pressure, weight gain, insulin control, which increases the risk for Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, poor balance, and a lower sex drive. Insufficient and poor-quality sleep will also affect a person's work performance, and likely disrupt their social behavior and social interactions, potentially damaging relationships.

Various methods of improving a person's sleep include physical exercise, breathing exercises and optimizing the user's ambient conditions such as music, light, temperature etc. A variety of monitoring and sleep improvement products have been (or are) on the market, including wearable devices such as wristwatches, armbands, head mounted devices, and non-contact products.

It is an object of the present invention to provide methods and devices to monitor sleep behavior and manage sleep which overcome the deficiencies of the prior art.

Summary

The present invention provides devices, systems, and computer-implemented methods relating to measuring, analyzing, managing and/or improving sleep. In certain aspects, the sleep management of the disclosure makes use of the network of people using sleep measurements devices.

In one aspect, the present invention provides a computer-implemented method for managing sleep for a group of users, comprising: monitoring the sleep of each user of the group of users to thereby obtain monitoring data; and analyzing the monitoring data and identifying at least one common sleep pattern shared by two or more users.

In some embodiments of the method, the common pattern is a shared sleep disruption, the method further comprising: by using at least one computer processor, providing a recommendation via an electronic device user interface for resolving the disruption.

In some embodiments, the common pattern is a similar sleep schedule or similar bedtime, and the method further comprises: by using at least one computer processor, providing a notification via an electronic device user interface to at least one of the two or more users.

In some embodiments, the common pattern is a common sleep disorder, and the method further comprises: by using at least one computer processor, providing a notification via an electronic device user interface to at least one of the two or more users.

In some embodiments, the common pattern is a common sleep disorder, and the method further comprises: providing a notification to another in the group of users who do not share the identified common sleep pattern.

In some embodiments, the group of users live in a same community.

In some embodiments, the group of users are members of the same social network.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises: receiving information from a first user of the plurality of users concerning an environmental condition which may affect or actually adversely affects the users’ sleep; and by using at least one computer processor, providing a recommendation to at least one of the remaining users of the plurality of users to mitigate adverse effects of the environmental condition.

In another aspect, the present invention provides a computer-implemented method for managing sleep for a group of users, comprising: by using at least one computer processor, predicting, based on (a) information of a current environmental condition or a future environmental condition and (b) information about a first user of the group of users, whether the first user’s sleep will be adversely affected at a given future time.

In some embodiments, the information of the current or future environmental condition is provided by other users of the group of users. In some embodiments, the information of the current or future environmental condition is provided by one or more monitoring devices. In other embodiments, the information of the current or future environmental condition is from public news sources.

In some embodiments, the information about the first user includes the geographical location where he or she sleeps, medical record or history, health information, and other biographical information.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises: by using at least one computer processor, providing a recommendation for at least one other user in the group of users to assist the first user to mitigate the adverse impact on his or her sleep.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises: by using at least one computer processor, providing a recommendation on securing a sleep-aid product for the first user to mitigate the adverse impact on the first user’s sleep.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises: by using at least one computer processor, ordering a sleep-aid product for the first user to mitigate the adverse impact on the first user’s sleep.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a computer-implemented method for managing sleep for a group of users, comprising: monitoring the sleep of each user of the group of users to thereby obtain monitoring data; receiving a complaint from a first user of the users of the group about an environmental condition that has adversely impacted or is currently adversely impacting the sleep of the first user; by using at least one computer processor, analyzing the environmental condition and determining if it may be created by a second user of the group of users; and if it is determined that the environmental condition is created by the second user of the group of users, by using at least one computer processor, providing an alert to the second user.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a computer-implemented method for managing sleep for a user, comprising: by using at least one computer processor, predicting, based on information of a current environmental condition or a future environmental condition, a future event that may adversely affect the user’s sleep; and performing an action to counter the adverse effect of the future event on the user’s sleep. In some embodiments, the future event is the presence of a noise, and the action performed is initiating a noise cancelling or noise-masking mechanism to mitigate the impact of the noise. In some embodiments, performing the action comprises sending a notice to the user about a proposed adjustment of the user’s sleep schedule.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a computer-implemented method for analyzing the sleep of at least one user, comprising: monitoring the at least one user's sleep using at least one monitoring device; measuring at least one environmental condition during the at least one user's sleep; and analyzing the effect of the at least one environmental condition on the at least one user's sleep. The method can further comprise: providing a recommendation on an electronic device user interface to the user about a proposed change in an environmental condition of the room.

In some embodiments, the at least one user comprises a plurality of users sleeping in a common room, or a plurality of users sleeping within a predefined geographical location.

In some embodiments, the at least one environment condition includes ambient temperature, humidity, air quality, sound or noise level, light level, and vibration level.

In some embodiments, the method can further comprise: calculating a score indicating the suitability of the environment to the user's sleep. Calculating the score can comprise calculating a plurality of scores for different time slots of a day.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a system or a monitor device comprising at least one computer processor and an associated memory, where the memory stores instructions which when executed by the at least one processor, cause the system or monitor device to perform the various embodiments of the methods as described herein.

In a further aspect, the present invention provides a tangible computer-readable storage medium which includes a computer program product (or software), which when executed by at least one processor of a computing device or system, causes the device or system to perform the various embodiments of the methods as described herein.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a schematic of a sleep monitor, according to some embodiments of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary bedroom, showing a bed, a user sleeping in the bed, a side table and a sleep monitor, according to some embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 3 is a schematic illustrating three apartment rooms, each including a monitor and a central server, according to some embodiments of the invention.

Detailed Description

The present disclosure provides systems, computer readable storage media, computer-implemented methods, software application program adapted to operate on portable electronic devices, e.g., a smart phone or a personal monitor, or a server or cloud, for analyzing, managing, and improving a user’s sleep. As used herein, the term “user” refers to a person or individual.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to a sleep monitoring and recommendation system that acquires various data of both a sleep environment and an area beyond a sleep environment, and also information about a user to make informed predictions regarding a future sleep quality of the user. The present system also offers recommendations for the user to help overcome predicted influencing factors which may otherwise disrupt the user's sleep, or at least negatively affect the user's sleep score, or quality of sleep.

Referring to Fig. 1, and according to some embodiments of the present invention, a block diagram schematic of an example sleep monitor 10 (also referred to as a monitor device in this disclosure) is shown including a computer processor (or simply a processor, or CPU) 12, a power supply 14, a Bluetooth/WIFI communication circuit 16, a memory 18. The monitor device can have an architecture of a general purpose computer, where different components can communicate through a system bus. As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, processor 12 is connected to all components and controls the operation of each. Bluetooth/WIFI communication circuit 16 includes conventional communication circuitry to allow selective communication with Bluetooth and WIFI devices, including a Home Area Network 22, which in turn is connected to the Internet 24. The Bluetooth/WIFI communication circuit 16 includes the use of all types of wireless communication devices and techniques, such as, butnot limited to Bluetooth, WIFI, and Zigbee. In addition, as illustrated in Fig. 1, a radar transducer 20 (e.g., a Doppler type) is shown. It is understood that other types of motion sensors may be used in place of a radar transducer, including, but not limited to SONAR (using sound waves to detect micro displacements), and LIDAR (wherein light is used to deter micro displacements) and IR sensors. The term “radar” and “radar transducer” is used hereinafter to include all types of motion detection and displacement measuring devices.

The diagram shown in Fig. 1 is only a non-limiting example of a “sleep monitor” or “monitor device” (or simply “monitor”) as used in this disclosure. This disclosure contemplates any suitable “sleep monitor” or “monitor device” having any suitable number of any suitable components in any suitable arrangement. It is understood that a “sleep monitor” or “monitor device” can broadly encompass all monitoring devices or systems that can sense or monitor environment conditions (ambient temperature, humidity, sound, vibration, lighting, air quality, etc., of the environment in which the subject person is being monitored) as well as physiological and/or biomechanical signals from a human body (e.g., body movement, noise made by the person, body temperature, breathing, heartbeat, cardiogram, brain activity, etc.), by an either contact or non-contact manner. A monitor device can include all components and functionalities of a general smart phone (e.g., speaker, microphone, camera, GPS, accelerometer, etc.) as well as sensors and other components (e.g., radar/sonar related components) that are typically not included in a general smart phone. The software program of the present invention can be installed/loaded directly in the monitor device(s) to process information and data gathered by the sensors and other signal-acquisition components as well as other data entered by the user or retrieved from other sources. Alternatively, if the monitor device does not include the advanced chips/memory or other components of modern-day smartphones, the monitor device can be configured to work in concert with such a smartphone and utilize the components available on the smartphone (e.g., a microphone or other sensing devices), and in which case, the present software program can also be loaded on the smartphone which can be used to process information received from the monitor device. In some instances, the user’s smart phone or other portable or wearable smart devices can be deemed standalone monitor devices.

In the sleep monitor or the monitor devices described herein, the processor can include one or more processors, which can include hardware for executing instructions, such as those making up a computer program or application, for example, it may retrieve (or fetch) the instructions from an internal register, an internal cache, memory, storage; decode and execute them; and then write one or more results to internal register, internal cache, memory, or storage. In particular embodiments, software executed by processor may include an operating system (OS). As an example and not by limitation, then the OS may be a mobile operating system, such as for example, Android, iOS, Windows. In some embodiments, the memory can include main memory for storing instructions for the processor to execute or data for processor to operate on. One or more buses may connect the processor with the memory. The memory can include random-access memory (RAM). This RAM may be volatile memory, where appropriate. Where appropriate, this RAM may be dynamic RAM (DRAM) or static RAM (SRAM). The monitor device can further include a permanent data storage device which can include non-volatile and/or nontransient mass storage or media for data or instructions, for example HDD, flash memory, optical medium, DVD, etc., or a combination of two or more thereof, solid- state memory, read-only memory (ROM), or any other suitable physical form. The communication component can include hardware, software, or both providing one or more interfaces for communication (such as, for example, packet-based communication) between the monitor device and other devices, for example, a network interface controller (NIC) or network adapter for communicating with an Ethernet or other wire -based network or a wireless NIC (WNIC), wireless adapter for communicating with a wireless network, such as for example a WI-FI network or modem for communicating with a cellular network, such as third generation mobile telecommunications (3G), or Long Term Evolution (LTE) network, wireless PAN (WPAN) (such as, for example, a BLUETOOTH WPAN), a WI-FI network, a WIMAX network, a cellular telephone network (such as, for example, a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), 3G, or LTE network), or other suitable wireless network or a combination of two or more thereof. The bus can include hardware, software, or both coupling components of the personal computing device to each other, for example, a graphics bus, an Enhanced Industry Standard Architecture (EISA) bus, a front-side bus (FSB), a HYPERTRANSPORT (HT) interconnect, an Industry Standard Architecture (ISA) bus, an INFINIBAND interconnect, a low-pin- count (LPC) bus, a memory bus, a Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, a serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) bus, a Video Electronics Standards Association local (VLB) bus, or another suitable bus or a combination of two or more of these.

As used herein, a system of the present invention can include one or more monitor devices described herein, wherein a memory is installed or stored which computer program product(s) (or software), which when activated or running (e.g., executed by the processor), enables the monitor device(s) to perform certain functions or methods according to the instructions of the computer program product. In some embodiments, when the software on a monitor device is activated (the details of which will be further described below), a user interface (UI), or graphical UI, may be loaded on a display area of the device so as to display information to a user and allow a user to interact with the software, e.g., through areas of a touchscreen designated in the computer software. The system can further include other devices that communicate with the monitor devices, e.g., a user smartphone, a remote server, a smart IOT device, a device designated to perform specific analysis (such as detection of certain chemicals), where the present software application product or components thereof can be installed to perform the functions contemplated, or data inputted or gathered by such devices can be sent to a monitor device or another device or server which may act as a nerve center to control or coordinate the functions of all involved devices. The functions and methods to be performed by the software product and the system are further described herein.

As shown in Fig. 2, monitor 10 is positioned in a user's bedroom, next the user's bedside, such as on the user's side table 30. Radar transducer 20 is directed towards a user 32 as he or she sleeps in a bed 33. Radar transducer 20 is designed to transmit and receive radio waves of a specific frequency to measure minute displacements or movements of user 32 as he or she sleeps, including the subtle movements of breathing, snoring and various muscle contractions (twitching). The received signals are collected and stored as data in local memory 18 and eventually, at prescribed intervals, the data from memory 18 is uploaded to a remote server using the Bluetooth/WIFI communication circuit 16, as controlled by onboard processor 12, and any other necessary appropriate known communication method.

Referring again to Fig. 1, other types of sensors (called auxiliary sensors), according to this invention may be included with the automatic sleep monitor 10. Such auxiliary sensors may include a thermometer 25, for measuring bedroom temperature, a light sensor 26 for measuring any light in the bedroom, and a microphone 27, for measuring sounds that can be heard in the bedroom. The data collected from these auxiliary sensors 25, 26, 27 is combined with the data from radar transducer 20 and time- stamped by processor 12 so collectively, the data from different types of sensors may be analyzed concurrently and locally, using processor 12, or at a later time, using either local processor 12, or a remote server (not shown). In this manner, additional factors of a user's sleeping environment may be considered when analyzing a user's sleep behavior and generally, as in many fields of study, the more information, the better. For example, if the collected data of a certain user shows sudden body movement by the sleeping user at around 4:15 AM every Monday morning, the data from microphone 27, light sensor 26, and thermometer 25 can then be reviewed for clues at what is happening at that time. Perhaps in this example, the microphone data reveals the distinct sounds of a garbage truck outside picking up the trash at this exact time. Based on this, the user would be given a recommendation to either use sound masking (such as using ear plugs or electronic noise cancellation devices) on Mondays or perhaps have double-pane windows installed.

In some embodiments, such auxiliary sensors 25, 26, 27 may be used to detect conditions within the user's bedroom. Processor 12 of monitor 10 may be used to determine if any measured parameter or condition within the bedroom exceeds a predetermined value. In such instance, the user can be informed and corrective measures suggested automatically. For example, if the illumination level in the bedroom is measured by light sensor 26, and the value exceeds a certain predetermined level (as decided by the user or as determined using historical data of the user's bedroom), the present system will inform the user (either by text, email, or through the present software program) of the excessive light condition. In this example, the present system will provide an appropriate suggestion to the user, such as turning off all lights before going to bed, providing a sleep partner with a book-light, if appropriate, using an eye mask, or installing blackout blinds to prevent light from entering the room through windows. If loud sounds are detected in the bedroom at bedtime or during sleep time, the present system may suggest that the user locate the source of the sound and try to eliminate it. If this is not possible, the present system will suggest that the user use ear plugs or an appropriate sound-cancelling device.

In some situations, it may be determined that a user's measured movements while sleeping consistently increase or otherwise change, possibly indicating a level of restlessness, whenever the user's sleep-partner enters the bed. In such instance, the present system would suggest a new bedtime for either the user or the partner so that the user would more likely reach a deep sleep stage when the partner enters the bed and therefore would be less likely to be disturbed. In more extreme cases, separate beds may be required, or at least the use of separate mattresses, box springs and frames, combined together with a common thin mattress topper. This arrangement would allow two bed partners to sleep in a common bed and be close to each other, but at the same time would help mitigate the migration of vibration or strong displacements across the bed.

In some embodiments of the present invention, a monitor as illustrated in Fig. 3, may be operatively connectable to other nearby monitors via a central server. For example, a monitor 800 is being used in room 1501, monitor 802 is being used in room 1505, and a monitor 804 is being used in room 1701 in an apartment complex. In this arrangement, noises emanating rooms or hallways in or near these three rooms can be picked up by the microphones 27 of each of the monitors 800, 802, and 804. A central server 806 is in communication with all three monitors 800, 802, and 804 and as such can be used to identify and pin-point the location of the unwanted noise. Known triangulation techniques can be used to locate the source of the noise by using the three spaced microphones 27. Also, linked monitors of an apartment complex or neighborhood may be used to show the history of excessive noise in the area, either from another apartment or house, or an outside noise at any time during the day or night. This information may be used and offered to potential renters or buyers of an apartment or home to learn what the quality of life is at the particular location, at least regarding sound.

As mentioned above, based on known factors of a common good sleeping environment, monitor 10, according to the present invention, uses auxiliary sensors 25, 26, and 27 to analyze the environment of the user's bedroom and calculate an "environmental sleepability" rating. According to the invention, the user performs an environment test at an initial installation time (or any other time) and be given not only an environment score, but also suggestions on how to improve the score, i.e., what can be done to the bedroom environment to make the sleeping conditions better for the user. This information is helpful not only for self-assessment of sleeping conditions, but also for property management, property sales, vacation rentals, etc. For example, a landlord can provide a certified environment sleeping score (assuming it is a good score) to prospective renters to show that a particular apartment has a good sleeping environment. Multiple monitors 10 can also be linked within a large house to rate multiple rooms and the information can then be used to map a floor-plan to track inter- room disturbances.

As introduced above, a bedroom environment-testing device may be used to measure sound levels, light levels, temperature, air quality (VOCs, humidity, pollen, dust) and vibration (trains rumbling by in the night) of any bedroom and generate an environment sleep score. The environment-testing device is preferably integral with monitor 10, which also monitors the sleep behavior of a user when sleeping, but may also be a standalone device that only performs the bedroom-environment test, and does not include sleep-monitoring components, according to the invention. Alternatively, according to some embodiments of the invention, the environment-testing device may be a user's smartphone running a dedicated software application, wherein the application would instruct the sensors of the smartphone to "record" data over a prescribed period of time. The phone's light sensor can be used to detect light within the bedroom. The phone's accelerometer can be used to detect vibration. The phone's microphone can be used to pick up any sounds within the room. Temperature and other air-quality parameters may be recorded using an accessory mechanically and electrically attached to the phone that would have appropriate air-quality sensors.

According to embodiments of the invention, the user's smartphone running the software program is positioned in a bedroom for a period of time (preferably throughout the day and night) to perform the required tests. As the phone sensors operate, whenever the phone is located in the bedroom, the running software program can create a history of data based on light, sound and vibration. This information can be used to generate a room quality score overtime by having the user continue the test the bedroom whenever the phone is in the bedroom. The data can be used to generate a score that indicates the suitability for sleep, such as generally quiet and relatively dark, with cool air of good quality. All the parameters have ranges and acceptable limits so perfection is not required, nor easily obtained. The program is preferably standardized so that a bed and breakfast room for rent, for example, can be tested by the owner for different days of the week (day and night) and different days of the year. The test results can be provided to any interested party and the scores may be compared to the user's bedroom score. If the user has an environment sleep suitability score of 87 at home, for example, and the B&B room has a score in the low 70's for the month of May, then the user may anticipate sleep issues during his or her stay and make other arrangements. The details of the score may be expanded for closer inspection. It may be, in this example, that the room score drops suddenly at 9:30AM because of nearby traffic sounds. This may be OK for the user since the user would expect to be up and shopping in the nearby town by that time.

Also, according to the invention, the score can be divided into specific hours and ranges of hours so that the user may input his or her desired or typical sleep time and compare the resulting score of the B&B, or other location with that of his or her own bedroom.

According to embodiments of the invention, the present system may determine an association between user movement during sleep at a certain time in the morning with the loud sounds of a passing train, garbage truck or airplane. These sources of sound all follow schedules and are somewhat predictable. The system, according to the invention, reviews the schedule of various possible sources of sound (e.g., an airplane, a passing train, or garbage truck) using the Internet and generates white noise at the scheduled time in an effort to help block out the harshness of the intruding sound until it passes. The system may also detect loud sounds (usually emanating from outside) over time, as heard in the user's bedroom and establish daily, weekly or other patterns which may be used to predict future sound disturbances.

Social platforms can generate powerful support of any connected member of any support group to answer questions, offer suggestions, or just "talk" out any problem a person may have. According to some embodiments of the present invention, the present sleep monitor 10, described above in reference to Figs. 1 and 2, connected to the present system (which includes a remote server and a database - not shown), uses previously acquired detailed user information to identify and connect (via a web/mobile application accessed using a portable personal device, such as a smartphone, an iPad, or a similar device) with large groups of people who subscribe to the present system. These people are herein referred to as "sleep peers" and are people who share common characteristics, sleep habits, lifestyle, employment or location, and reach out to each other in an effort to improve and maintain good sleep.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the present system connects users within a prescribed proximity, e.g., a neighborhood, within an apartment building, or within a common house, to encourage an open, ongoing dialogue on ways to improve sleep quality. For example, perhaps a user has trouble sleeping and appears to wake up around 3:00AM every day. He connects with the network provided by the present system and posts his issue to his connected group of users. Another connected person in the same group reads the issue and acknowledges a similar sleep disturbance. This odd coincidence leads the two to share additional information, such as their respective location within the neighborhood, and this information, in turn, leads to detecting a source of noise that for some reason occurs only around 3:00AM every day. The noise, for example, could be a dog across the street who barks loudly at that exact time. In this example, neither person acting on their own perhaps would have ever figured out the source of the sound disruption at 3:00AM, but working together and sharing additional information with others within the shared group, the particular issue is finally identified and a resolution is now possible, to the benefit of all parties. In this case, perhaps both disturbed parties may together confront the owner of the dog to work out a solution.

As another example, a neighbor learns that construction will be commencing at a nearby site for three weeks, starting at 7AM each day, and reports this information online to the shared community of sleep peers, using a "Disturbance Alert form" which is a simple online form that is used to capture important details regarding the particular disturbance. Each sleep monitor used in the present system for each respective user located within a predetermined distance of the construction site can automatically import the information from specific input fields of the Disturbance Alert form and use the information to adjust the user's sleep schedule accordingly. Sleep monitor 10 may also use this information to provide specific recommendations to overcome what is expected to be a sleep disturbance event. Perhaps sleep monitor 10 used by one exemplary user of the present system may suggest that the user go to bed an hour sooner each night to avoid the expected noise disturbance during the construction time (assuming night time construction).

The present system, according to this embodiment of the invention uses collected, sensed or otherwise acquired information to predict future potential sleep disturbances that may impact the sleep quality of a particular user and adjusts its operation (user sleep schedule, sleep recommendations, etc.) to mitigate adverse effects to the user's sleep quality. The present system may also predict or determine any such upcoming sleepdisturbing events expected within a specific region or within earshot of aparticular user. Such events include road construction, a nearby concert, or even a late-night protest or celebration (e.g., crowds pouring into the city streets celebrating winning NBA finals) by accessing various relevant databases available to residents of the town or city. Such databases include an "upcoming events" calendar, local news websites and information provided by a city department of building inspection and permits. Other clues to upcoming events may be gathered by combing through various discussions of online neighborhood bulletin boards and chatrooms, and the like.

According to some embodiments of the invention, subscribed users of the present system are notified when another user of the present system moves into the neighborhood and is further notified if the new user has a low sleep score. Neighbors with higher sleep scores can offer their help to anyone with a low sleep score.

According to some embodiments of the invention, subscribed users of the present system are grouped together based on common sleep disorders so that each person in the particular group may be more likely to understand the sleep-related issues other members of the group are having and provide more relevant and meaningful advice.

The members of each group may work together, as a support network and provide sleep aids to each other to help overcome, or at least mitigate sleep-related issues associated with the common sleep disorder.

According to some embodiments of the invention, particular users of a particular connected neighborhood sleep group of the present system are automatically, or by request, provided with sleep aids, based on known user data and received information regarding an upcoming sleep-disturbance event. In such instance, other users within the particular group may be notified by the present system that a fellow member within the group will likely experience poor sleep quality during an upcoming night due to a forecasted sleep-disturbance event. The other members, upon learning this, may offer to the future- affected user suggested sleep aids that they may have to give, lend or rent, until the particular event has passed. For example, the present system learns, through an Internet connection that a certain area will be affected by a heatwave for one week, beginning in two days. Based on a particular user's profile, including sleep history and sleep environment data, the present system learns that this user is elderly, does not have air-conditioning and has trouble sleeping when the air temperature is warm. Based on this information, the system immediately and automatically sends out a request to nearby neighbors of the particular user, using the connected network, for a fan that the heatsensitive elderly user may borrow (or rent) during the upcoming heat- wave. In this example, a couple of people respond and the elderly user is provided with a spare fan to use during the upcoming heatwave. As a result, the user's sleep quality is not adversely affected during the heatwave and he sleeps well.

The present system, in such interactions may act as a "middleman" and guarantee any loans through verified profiles and credit cards on file that automatically reimburse product owners in cases of damage or theft. The present system could provide reservations, directions for pickup, and reminders to return the rented item, once the event has passed. This system of renting out products needed by specific users within a neighborhood could be extended to local businesses.

According to another aspect of this embodiment, the present system searches the sleep-aid inventories of all nearby users of the present system to target specific members of the connected group that appear to have extra sleep aids that could help in this situation, e.g., a spare fan. The system in this case would only send notifications to the targeted group. Most people want to help others, if they know that others need help.

The present system attempts to connect people who need help with those who want to help.

According to some embodiments of the invention, a user may pay for a subscription service wherein the present system determines what sleep-aids the particular user requires to improve his or her sleep quality and automatically purchases (within predetermined parameters) any required sleep aid which would benefit the user's sleep, either under normal circumstances, such as a firmer pillow, or during a forecasted event, such as a heat-wave. In such instance, the present system can purchase the item, such as a pillow, or rent an item, such as a fan, or purchase or rent a pre-packaged set of products that are relevant and known to help overcome a particular sleep condition or disorder. Rented items can be provided with a means to easily return the item when done. The user may be given an option to purchase the rented item.

For an example, the present system determines that a particular user could benefit using a fan to avoid sleep disruptions from an upcoming heat-wave event. The system alerts the user that a weeklong heat-wave event is forecasted to affect the user's areain two days. The system suggests that the user use an air conditioner or a fan during this time to avoid a restless sleep. The user, following this example, answers the system's recommendation by stating that he or she has no AC or fan to use. The system would then learn (through Internet connection) of nearby sales of fans and AC units at local stores and offer details of these products to the user. The user may then quickly and easily follow through with a purchase using the present system. Alternatively, a purchase may automatically be made by the present system (following pre-established criteria, e.g., cost, brands, etc.) so that the potentially affected user would automatically receive the suggested item before the sleep-disrupting event even commences. Typical items that may be rented out or loaned to a user in need include AC units, fans, heated blankets, snow shovels, etc.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the present system, as mentioned above, and shown in Figs. 1 and 2, includes a sleep monitor device for each subscribing user. As described above, multiple sleep monitor devices 10 in a predetermined area, such as a neighborhood may be interconnected via Internet or other wireless means. In this arrangement, multiple connected sleep monitor devices 10 can communicate with each other and by doing so may use onboard microphone 26 and conventional well known triangulation techniques to locate sound-generating events in the area which may potentially affect the sleep quality of at least one subscribing user. The triangulation process may employ basic artificial intelligence (Al), and in doing so, utilize other information besides sound from microphone 26 of the connected sleep monitor devices 10 to focus in on any sleep-disturbing event. For example, a user may type in a street address of a nearby construction site into the system under his or her account. The present system would then be able to connect with select or all connected sleep-monitoring devices 10 to establish a 3-D sound profile of the construction site, including volume levels at various points around the site, and use the information to predict how the sound from the construction site (assuming the work continued into the night) would affect not only the concerned user who inputted the address at the start, but also any other subscriber of the present system. Anyone located within earshot of the construction site, continuing with this example, and according to the invention, would be forewarned of a potential sleep-disturbance, including suggestions on how to avoid the disturbance, such as using ear-plugs for the next few days. According to the invention, the present system can effectively measure the actual sound from the construction site, or any other source of noise in the area, as heard at the bedside of each user and use this information to determine which users located around the construction site should be notified, based on the volume of the sound as recorded in each respective bedroom.

The collected 3-D sound profile information may be particularly useful to hospitality businesses, such as hotels, motels, bed and breakfast locations and Airbnb® locations. Such businesses may establish and continually update sound pollution levels affecting specific rooms they offer for rent. The businesses may use the information to either help mitigate rooms with poor sound scores (high noise levels detected), or advertise the benefits of rooms having good sound scores (low noise).

According to some embodiments of the present invention, any potentially harmful sound in an area can be continuously monitored by the present system using the network of connected sleep monitoring devices 10. The present system can also utilize a software application running on each smartphone being carried by each user. In such instance, if a loud sound (measured to be above a predetermined decibel threshold) is picked up by the microphone of a smartphone, the present software running on the phone will measure the decibels of the sound and also read the current GPS location.

This information can be recorded and stored in the phone (it is preferred that each user opt- in and permit the present software to employ the use of his or her phone's microphone, according to this embodiment). The collected data of all loud sounds recorded by the individual phones (and sleep monitors 10) of subscribed users is used by the present system to again generate a 3-D sound map of an area and notify if any such sound is sufficiently loud to affect the sleep quality of any nearby user. A first user may be located far from his or her home, yet his or her smartphone is actively "listening" to any loud sounds which may not affect the user of the phone, but may help others who live near the sound. The present system may label certain recorded sounds as repeating or regular, such as a metro train passing by a certain location each day at a certain time.

The present system will maintain a history of sounds detected and recorded by the phones of users over time. The collected data preferably includes the decibel levels of the sound, the duration of the sound, the GPS location of the pickup microphone, time of day, the day of the week, and the date. This information is then used by the present system to determine which sounds can be ignored, such as a one-time car honking, and which sounds are regular, such as a train passing at a certain time. The data of repeating sounds is used to determine which users reside "near" the GPS location of the particular sound, as determined by the measured decibels of the sound. Users who live near any sound that occurs (or is expected to occur) close in time to a user's bedtime or during the user's sleep will be so notified, again including suggestions of how to avoid a sleep disturbance.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a user may use a software program running on his or her smartphone (or device) to measure a sound located near his or her home, but outside his or her home. According to this embodiment, a feature of the running software program causes the user's home-based sleep monitor device 10 to listen and record any surrounding sound when the user activates the particular feature (by pushing an on-screen button). This feature allows the present system to determine how a nearby sound, discovered by a remote user (a user walking in the neighborhood, for example), sounds like in the user's bedroom. For example, if the user is walking one evening in his neighborhood and walks past a nearby house where there is a group of people playing loud music. The user, in this situation, opens the present software application on his smartphone so that the phone's microphone samples the loud music. The present application(knowing profile details of the user) would then activate the user's sleep-monitor 10 located in his bedroom to record any sound "heard" in his room at that exact moment. The sampled noise of the user's bedroom is time-stamped and compared with the sampled noise at the source (the location of the party). If a matching sound signature is detected, then the bedroom sampled noise signal is analyzed to determine how loud the sound actually is. If the bedroom sampled sound is not very loud, then the noise from the party would be considered harmless and can be ignored for that particular user since it would not affect that user's sleep. However, as mentioned above, the present system would keep track of the GPS location of the sampled noise, along with the date, duration and time of the noise to help other users living nearby determine if the particular type of sound discovered by the passing user will be a sleep disruption to them. If so, as mentioned above, select users would be notified.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the present software application provides a complaint feature wherein a user who can hear a loud sound in his or her bedroom, as recorded (sound intensity, duration, date and time), can hit a single button on the screen of the phone to effectively register a complaint to that sound. The present system would attempt to locate the source of any sound that is subject to a complaint, with a priority given to common sounds having higher complaints registered. The present system uses triangulation and microphones 26 of select nearby sleep-monitor devices 10 (including user smartphones) to attempt to locate the sound. If the sound is repetitive, the present system may be able to locate its source. If it is determined that the source of the sound is emanating from a location of a subscribed user, then that user is automatically notified by the present system, such as: "There appears to be a loud noise from your location at this time and date and that one or more complaints have been lodged against the sound." The person making the noise is asked by the present system to attenuate the sound or not make the noise at all during a specific time range. The present system can offer a warning and thereafter administer more harsh punishment, such as cancellation of an account, or temporary suspending certain features of the account, etc. If the source of the sound is not from the location of a subscriber, the present system may automatically notify a building manager (if the sound is emanating from an apartment complex), or even the police, if the sound is coming from a residence, or nearby park. The notification can include a recording of the sound and a list of contact information of the complaining parties, and the predicted location (address, GPS location, or POI) of the sound (e.g., "Hamilton Park").

According to some embodiments of the present invention, like-users, those with common characteristics (such as age, gender, sleep behavior, etc.) and/or sleep issues, such as insomnia are encouraged to connect through the present system. Such a connection would help each connected party to work out common sleep issues, such as giving advice regarding sleep - what works for me. According to this embodiment, like- users can work together to encourage and help each other to be compliant to sleepimprovement issues. The present system in this regard is similar to conventional support groups by providing a person who may be experiencing common issues andwill therefore be understanding and more likely to provide meaningful support and advice.

The present system, according to some embodiments of the invention, allows a first user experiencing sub-optimal sleep to receive real-time notifications regarding advice other users provide each other (e.g., a group chat) which relates to the first user's sleep pattern. Once the present system classifies the type of sub-optimal sleep of a user, the present system finds an appropriate group of subscribers (such as, the Night Owls, or the sleep-onset insomniacs, who have alike sleep patterns, preferably who are located relatively close, but this is not necessary. The present system automatically sends the user an invitation to the group. This arrangement, according to the invention, connects sleep users who have similar sub-optimal sleep patterns and thereby allows people to connect with other people, the type of people who already empathize, owing to their common sleep issues. Human-to-human connections are, for some people, preferred and/or are more effective than automated advice typed out on a user's phone display. This interaction, proposed by the present invention, is similar to how people enrolled in a common weight-management program, such as "Weight- Watchers® keep each other accountable, as they work on their particular sleep improvements.

Continuing with this embodiment, the present system will recognize, based on measured sleep data, which members have successfully improved their sleep and currently enjoy a high sleep number. These members will be asked by the present system to help coach other users having similar sleep issues. The present system can provide benefits to the user who accept the coaching request. The present system could allow such coaches to sell their services (advice and coaching) to select users, or all users. Any user who is experiencing a particular sleep problem can select a coach based on the particular problem. The coaches are listed by their own specialty, such as the particular sleep improvement category that they themselves have successfully achieved, such as falling asleep fast, or sleeping with a snorer, etc. The present system can provide a prospective client (that is a user looking to hire a particular coach) with data or certification that qualifies the coach to be proficient in the particular sleep improvement. With permission by the user, the coach, once hired is given access to the user's sleep data for review.

According to some embodiments of the present invention, a dating service is provided with people's sleeping behavior so that it may be used for consideration to connect people of common interests, common sleep schedules and/or common sleep issues. It is known that a relationship between two people having similar interests, lifestyles, and behaviors is more likely to succeed. A common sleep schedule is one such behavior. For example, if a user is looking for a relationship with someone and happens to be a snorer, it would perhaps be in the best interest of both people to connect that person with another snorer, since perhaps both people, should they connect, would then be a good sleep match. Alternatively, perhaps a non-snorer looking for a partner may choose to select only from a group of non-snorers. The present system may provide connections with people matching selected sleep issues. Each user may choose to enter a matching service provided by the present system, wherein they can input standard profile information and allow the present system to use the information, include they sleep behavior to find a person matching the requested criteria within a desired distance. The system may also connect with an established dating application as part of a partner program.

According to some embodiments of the invention, a first user of the present system may select another person to be automatically notified if it is determined that the first user is having trouble sleeping. In many instances, a person may be having sub- optimal sleep (e.g., tossing and turning), but may not be otherwise aware of the sub- optimal condition (i.e., not fully awake), but sleep monitor 10 is aware, based on monitored data. According to the invention, the present system automatically notifies a select person (with preapproval) by generating a sound or light on the first user's sleep monitor 10 (so that the select person, assuming that he or she is the user's sleeping partner and is located in sight or earshot of the user's sleep monitor may see or hear the signal generated by the user's sleep monitor), or texting the selected person's phone, regardless of where the select person is, such as in the same bed, or in another room, preferably nearby. Regardless, the purpose of this embodiment of the present invention is to allow a nearby friend or partner of the user to be notified, in real time, if the user is having trouble sleeping and to provide useful intervention, as necessary. Alternatively, the select person may be so notified, but after the fact, such as the following morning.

In such instance, the select person may decide when he or she should receive the notifications.

Also, sleep monitor 10, according to the invention, can include indication of which stage of sleep the user is currently in. For example, if the user is in REM or deep sleep, then perhaps a red light (not bright enough to disturb a sleeper - or a light that will change its intensity based on the detected sleep stage of the user) will appear on the sleep monitor (or perhaps on the user's phone), indicating perhaps, the best time for the sleeping user to be awakened. Once the user returns to a light sleep in his or her sleep cycle, a green light, for example may appear, indicating that the user may safely be awakened, if necessary. It has been shown that a person who is forced awake from a deep sleep stage might experience extra stress, potentially resulting in a rise in risk of a heart attack, confusion, blurred vision, dizziness, and headaches. It would therefore be desirable to quickly and easily understand when it would be safer to awaken aperson.

Also, the user's smartphone can be controlled to limit notifications based on sleep stage of the user. If a user is in REM or deep sleep, only emergency calls and calls from a predetermined list of people, for example, can cause the user's phone to generate an alert (vibration or ring tone, etc.) and wake the user. Otherwise, all other calls and texts, and any notifications will be blocked from generating an alert. If monitor 10 determines that the user is in a light sleep stage, then a different group of people may reach the user through his or her smartphone. According to this embodiment of the invention, the present system will determine which stage of sleep the user is presently residing and based on that information instruct the user's smartphone (running the present software program) to control incoming alerts (calls, texts, emails, etc.) of which people are permitted and which are blocked from notifying (via activation of any of many disruptive notifications, including vibration, sound alerts, lights, etc.). The present system allows the user to control his or her phone notifications based on the specific caller (including people sending texts or emails or any other transmission that typically generates an alert of receipt on the recipient's smartphone) and based on the sleeping user's monitored stage of sleep.

A) Select people on a first list is approved to alert a sleeping user when the user is in any stage of sleep, including REM and DEEP sleep;

B) People on a second list (which may be the user's entire contact list) is approved to awaken a sleeping user only when the user is in light sleep; and

C) All other incoming callers may only alert the user when the user is awake.

According to some embodiments of the invention, the present system uses various sources of information and signals received by local microphone 26 located on local sleep monitor 10 to anticipate a future noise event (or detect a current noise event) and automatically generate either a noise cancellation signal or a gradually increasing and automatically decreasing noise-masking signal, using local speakers (not shown) and/or nearby mobile device and/or dedicated ear-buds, or bone-conductive speakers (which would help isolate sound correction to each user). The effort here is to overcome a potential, or known, noise disturbance to a sleeping user, so that the user is either not disturbed at all, or at least just minimally disturbed, by a noise event. The present system retains a history of known noises that have occurred in the past and which have been detected by local microphone located on a user's smartphone, when the smartphone is located in the user's bedroom (as determined by WIFI connection, Bluetooth, GPS, or other), or by the local microphone 26 located on the user's sleep monitor 10, also located in the user's bedroom. If the recorded history of noise events reveals that a regular loud noise is heard consistently from the user's bedroom at a certain time on a certain day each week, then the present system can anticipate the same noise at that time and day. In response to the expected noise event, exactly when the noise occurs, the present system generates an inverse-phase noise signal through local speakers in an attempt to cancel or attenuate the noise signal reaching the user's ears. According to some embodiments of the invention, a surface acoustic transducer is used to transmit correction sounds through the headboard of the user's bed, an adjacent furniture item, or one of the walls of the bedroom. This may be helpful for cancelling noise that is emanating on the opposite side of a wall (such as loud music playing in an adjacent apartment. The device and measure (via microphone) and cancel using the same wall. Noise cancellation technology is a well-known art. For example, a loud truck noise is heard every Monday at 3:15 AM, and the present system generates a record every Monday, confirming the regularity and time of the noise and calculating a noise signal signature of the noise event. After three or more similar events, with similar sound signatures occurring at similar times, the present system determines that the particular truck noise event is going to be a regular noise event and schedules the particular noise event in a calendar of upcoming expected noise events. At 3:15AM, the following Monday (and every Monday thereafter), the present system broadcasts a sound signal through the local speakers in the user's bedroom which is as close as possible to being the exact opposite (e.g., inverse-phase) of the expected truck noise signal, which has been stored in memory by the system. The end result is that the truck noise is automatically and effectively cancelled and the user's sleep is not meaningfully disturbed. According to the invention, the efficacy of the noise cancellation can be assessed immediately by evaluating the effect on the user's sleep as measured by the sleep monitor 10, and can thereby automatically adapt to optimize the noise cancellation.

Some noises can be anticipated by the present system by either by checking known transit schedules and activities (e.g., using data uploaded from https://flightaware.com/live/ to learn current flight schedules). The masking noise or noise cancellation can ramp up in anticipation of these disturbances. The present system can link to services to acquire scheduled runtimes of planes, trains, and buses, as well as city services, such as trash pickup, police and medical, to track a path of anticipated noise generating objects around the neighborhood of the present user.

According to another feature of this embodiment of the invention, the present system can generate a noise-masking signal, instead of a noise-cancellation signal. The noise masking signal, which is broadcast by the local speakers at the time of the noiseevent, is selected to generally match the noise signal of the disturbance. The effect is to washout any sharp peaks of the sound signal of the noise disturbance event so that the overall combined noise, reaching the sleeping user's ear, is less harsh and the user's sleep is not meaningfully disturbed.

Also, known active noise-cancellation techniques may be employed by the present system within the user's bedroom at the moment that any noise, above a preset threshold is detected. In this instance, the noise-cancellation signal is generated automatically and essentially instantly, in real time as the noise disturbance event occurs.

According to the invention, the present system uses microphones 26 in the user's bedside sleep monitor device 10 (or in the user's phone) to “listen” to the environment. If the system detects a specific type of noise disturbance, based on stored “sound signatures” (e.g. an airplane flying overhead, a siren approaching), the present system can measure the sound levels of an approaching source of sound and adjust any local soundmasking accordingly, (e.g., as a police car approaches, its siren will increase in magnitude). The masking noise sound level adjusts as needed to match the sound level of any noise disturbance. Adjust Sleep Schedule:

According to some embodiments of the present invention, any potential sleep disturbing event scheduled at or near the scheduled, or usual bedtime of the user is taken into account to delay a recommended sleep/wake time or to extend sleep and wake times either earlier or later to avoid adverse effects of the disturbance. If a truck sound is regularly heard at 10:00PM every Saturday, and the noise it makes exceeds a predetermined limit, then the present system could recommend that the user wait until after 10:00PM before he or she goes to bed, to avoid being awakened or disturbed by the noise. Also, according to the invention, the present system receives data relating to seasonal disturbances and weather forecasts, such as an approaching storm, a heat wave, poor air quality, allergies, traffic forecasts, holidays, and others and considers using this received information as primary or secondary considerations to adjusting a user's sleep schedule accordingly, that is to mitigate any adverse effects such events have on a user's sleep quality, schedule and duration. The present system utilizes the sleep history during similar events in the past to determine the likelihood of disruption of such events occurring again. Members of a social networked group who are similarly affected by such events may provide additional information to other members of the social network, in the same group or in all groups. Information regarding the members (number, and profile information) who are affected by specific events may be provided to other members of the same group to help them better understand reasons for their sleep issue regarding the particular event.

For example, every April, a user sleeps with his or her window open, but has trouble sleeping due to excess Spring pollen in the air. Before the anniversary of this event, the present system will predict a poor sleep score and suggest that the user keep their window closed and use either air conditioning or a fan to keep cool. Updated sleep data will either confirm that the suggestions have worked, or show that other suggestions are warranted. In another example, if a user has a history of sleep difficulty when it is hot (above a certain temperature at a certain time), the present system can determine from accessible weather forecasts that a heat-wave is approaching and may suggest that the user either purchase a fan, an AC unit, or may alternatively suggest that he or she go to bed 2 hours later, when the evening air is a bit cooler.

According to another some embodiments of the invention, the present system can upload traffic forecasts each morning and establish trends and predictions regarding the best time for the user to commute to work. The present system may further access the user's meeting/calendar information from the user's smart devices and use this information to determine the best time for the user to leave home for work to make any scheduled appointments. If the user does not have any scheduled meetings in the morning, the present system may suggest that the user sleep in if the user requires additional sleep. Based on this information, the system may suggest a certain bedtime that will ensure that the user receives the proper amount of sleep (a value based on the user's sleep history) and will also allow the user to wake up at a time that ensures he or she will enjoy the quickest commute time in the morning. If, for example, it is determined that severe weather is in the forecast and road-travel is expected to be hazardous, such as during a severe snow storm, the present system may adjust the user's bedtime to allow the user to "sleep in," a period of time to take advantage of the unsafe event to allow the user to catch up on sleep.

The present system can also adjust a user's sleep schedule based on seasonal events that occur in certain latitudes, such as how the length of daylight changes from season to season in the northern latitudes. A sleep schedule may be adjusted to take advantage of increased darkness, or to avoid an increase in daylight. The present system may also use algorithms and location data (such as GPS) obtained from a user's smartphone to automatically adjust a user's sleep schedule, in a controlled manner, to acclimate a user to a new time-zone, such as when a user has travelled across the country, or daylight savings time. The adjustment may occur before, during or after the user has traveled, depending on certain factors, such as the user's work schedule. For example, the present system may learn, from the user's calendar that the user is traveling from California to New York in a week. The system can automatically move the user's sleep schedule ahead a predetermined amount each night to help the user adjust to the time in New York, even before the user leaves for his or her trip. If there is insufficient time to allow for a slow adjustment, the present system may offer medical intervention to help the user pre-adjust to a new time-zone, such as prescribing melatonin. Also, if the expected climate of the travel destination is different than that of the user's home location, the present system can adjust the user's home location, again slowly each day over a period of time to try to match the new climate so that the user may more easily adapt upon arrive to the new location.

Herein, “or” is inclusive and not exclusive, unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context. Therefore, herein, “A or B” means “A, B, or both,” unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context. Moreover, “and” is both joint and several, unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context. Therefore, herein, “A and B” means “A and B, jointly or severally,” unless expressly indicated otherwise or indicated otherwise by context.

This disclosure encompasses all changes, substitutions, variations, alterations, and modifications to the example embodiments herein that a person having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend. Moreover, although this disclosure describes and illustrates respective embodiments herein as including particular components, elements, functions, operations, or steps, any of these embodiments may include any combination or permutation of any of the components, elements, functions, operations, or steps described or illustrated anywhere herein that a person having ordinary skill in the art would comprehend. Furthermore, reference in the appended claims to an apparatus or system or a component of an apparatus or system being adapted to, arranged to, capable of, configured to, enabled to, operable to, or operative to perform a particular function encompasses that apparatus, system, component, whether or not it or that particular function is activated, turned on, or unlocked, as long as that apparatus, system, or component is so adapted, arranged, capable, configured, enabled, operable, or operative.