IN THE UNITED STATJ!!S PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`
`In re Patent Application of: Eric Teller et al.
`Title: SYSTEM FOR DETECTING, MONITORING, AND REPORTING AN iNDIVIDUAL'S PHYSIOLOGICAL OR
`CONTEXTUAL STATUS
`SYS-US Cont.( I.)
`Attorney Docket No.:
`
`PATENT APPLICATION TRANSMITTAL
`
`Commissioner for Patents
`P.O. Box 1450
`Alexandria, VA22313-1450
`
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`TOTAL CLAIMS
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`31·20
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`INDEPENDENT CLAIMS
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`DateofDeposit: vc .... m-e,~ ''I d.O~s- .
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`This paper or fee is being deposited on the date indicated above with the United States Postal Service pursuant to 3 7 CFR 1.1 0, and is addressed to
`The Commissioner for Patents, P.O. Box \450, Alexandria, VA 22313·1450.
`
`By:~~()~
`Jolm A; Monocello, III
`Atty
`Reg. No. 51,022
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`.
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`BEST AVAILABLE COPY
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`1 of 490
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`FITBIT EXHIBIT 1003
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`

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`TITLE
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`SYSTEM FOR DETECTING, MONITORING, AND REPORTING AN INDIVIDUAL'S
`PHYSIOLOGICAL OR CONTEXTUAL STATUS
`
`RELATED APPLICATION DATA
`
`This patent application is a continuation of United States Application No. 09/595,660
`
`filed June 16, 2000 and owned by the assignee of the present application.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a system for monitoring health, wellness and fitness, and in
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`particular, to a system for collecting and storing at a remote site data relating to an individual's
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`physiological state, lifestyle, and various contextual parameters, and making such data and analytical
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`information based on such data available to the individual, preferably over an electronic network.
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`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
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`Research has shown that a large number of the top health problems in society are either
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`caused in whole or in part by an unhealthy lifestyle. More and more, our society requires people to
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`lead fast-paced, achievement-oriented lifestyles that often result in poor eating habits, high stress
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`25
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`levels, lack of exercise, poor sleep habits and the inability to find the time to cente.r the mind and
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`relax. Recognizing this fact, people are becoming increasingly interested in establishing a healthier
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`lifestyle.
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`Traditional medicine, embodied in the form of an HMO or similar organizations, does not
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`have the time, the training, or the reimbursement mechanism to address the needs of those
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`individuals interested in a healthier lifestyle. There have been several attempts to meet the needs of
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`these individuals, including a perfusion of fitness programs and exercise equipment, dietary plans,
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`self-help books, alternative therapies, and most recently, a plethora of health information web sites
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`on the Internet. Each of these attempts are targeted to empower the individual to take charge and get
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`healthy. Each of these attempts, however, addresses only part of the needs of individuals seeking a
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`healthier lifestyle and ignores many of the real barriers that most individuals face when trying to
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`adopt a healthier lifestyle. These barriers include the fact that the individual is often left to himself
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`or herself to find motivation, to implement a plan for achieving a healthier lifestyle, to monitor
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`progress, and to brainstorm solutions when problems arise; the fact that existing programs are
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`directed to only certain aspects of a healthier lifestyle, and rarely come as a complete package; and
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`the fact that recommendations are often not targeted to the unique characteristics of the individual or
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`his life circumstances.
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
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`A system is disclosed for detecting, monitoring and reporting human physiological
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`information. The system includes a sensor device which generates at least one of data indicative of
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`one or more physiological parameters and derived data from at least a portion of the data indicative
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`of one or more physiological parameters when placed in proximity with at least a portion of the
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`human body. The system also includes a central monitoring unit located remote from the sensor
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`device. The central monitoring unit generates analytical status data from at least one of the data
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`indicative of one or more physiological parameters, the derived data, and analytical status data that
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`has previously been generated. The central monitoring unit also includes a data storage device for
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`retrievably storing the data it receives and generates. The disclosed system also includes means for
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`establishing electronic communication between the sensor device and the central monitoring unit.
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`Examples may include various known types of long range wireless transmission devices, or a
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`physical or a short range wireless coupling to a computer which in turn establishes electronic
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`communication with the central monitoring unit over an electronic network such as the Internet.
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`Also included in the system is a means for transmitting the data indicative of one or more
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`physiological parameters, the derived data, and/or the analytical status data to a recipient, such as the
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`individual or a third party authorized by the individual.
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`Also disclosed is a method of detecting, monitoring and reporting human physiological
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`information. The method includes generating at least one of data indicative of one or more
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`physiological parameters of an individual and derived data from at least a portion of the data
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`indicative of one or more physiological parameters using a sensor device adapted to be placed in
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`proximity with at least a portion of the human body. The at least one of the data indicative of one or
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`more physiological parameters and the derived data are transmitted to a central monitoring unit
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`remote from said sensor device and retrievably stored in a storage device. Analytical status data is
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`generated from at least a portion of at least one of the data indicative of one or more physiological
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`parameters, the derived data and the analytical status data, and at least one of the data indicative of
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`one or more physiological parameters, the derived data and the analytical status data .is transmitted
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`to a recipient.
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`The sensor device includes one or more sensors for generating signals in response to
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`physiological characteristics of the individual. The sensor device may also include a processor that
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`is adapted to generate the data indicative of one or more physiological parameters from the signals
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`generated by the one or more sensors. The process,or may also be adapted to generate the derived
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`data. Alternatively, the derived data may be generated by the central monitoring unit.
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`The central monitoring unit may be adapted to generate one or more web pages containing
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`the data indicative of one or more physiological parameters, the derived data, and/or the analytical
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`status data. The web pages generated by the central monitoring unit are accessible by the recipient
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`over an electronic network, such as the Internet. Alternatively, the data indicative of one or more
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`physiological parameters, the derived data, and/or the analytical status data may be transmitted to the
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`recipient in a physical form such as mail or facsimile.
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`The system and method may also obtain life activities data of the individual and may use
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`such life activities data when generating the analytical status data. Furthermore, the sensor device
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`may also be adapted to generate data indicative of one or more contextual parameters of the
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`individual. The system and method may then use the data indicative of one or more contextual
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`parameters when generating the analytical status data.
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`Also disclosed is a system for monitoring the degree to which an individual has followed a
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`suggested routine. The system includes a sensor device adapted to generate at least one of data
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`indicative of one or more physiological parameters of the individual and derived data from at least a
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`portion of the data indicative of one or more physiological parameters when the sensor device is
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`placed in proximity with at least a portion of the human body. Also included is a means for
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`transmitting the data that is generated by the sensor device to a central monitoring unit remote from
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`the sensor device and means for providing life activities data of the individual to the central
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`monitoring unit. The central monitoring unit is adapted to generate and provide feedback to a
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`recipient relating to the degree to which the individual has followed the suggested routine. The
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`feedback is generated from at least a portion of at least one of the data indicative of one or more
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`physiological parameters, the derived data, and the life activities data.
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`Also disclosed is a method of monitoring the degree to which an individual has followed a
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`suggested routine. The method includes receiving, at a central monitoring unit, at least one of data
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`indicative of one or more physiological parameters of said individual and derived data based on at
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`least a portion of the data indicative of one or more physiological parameters, wherein the data
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`indicative of one or more physiological parameters and the derived data are generated by a sensor
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`device when placed in proximity with at least a portion of the human body. Also received at the
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`central monitoring unit is life activities data of the individual. The method further includes
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`generating at the central monitoring unit feedback relating to the degree to which the individual has
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`followed the suggested routine, the feedback being generated from at least a portion of at least one of
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`the data indicative of one or more physiological parameters of the individual, the derived data, and
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`the life activities data, and providing the feedback to a recipient.
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`The suggested routine may include a plurality of categories, wherein the feedback is
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`generated and provided with respect to each of the categories. Examples of the categories include
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`nutrition, activity level, mind centering, sleep, and daily activities. The feedback may be provided in
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`graphical form and may be contained in one or more web pages generated by the central monitoring
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`unit. Alternatively, the feedback may be transmitted to the recipient in a physical form.
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`Further features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon consideration
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`of the following detailed description of the present invention, taken in conjunction with the
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`following drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts, and in which:
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`Fig. 1 is a diagram of an embodiment of a system for monitoring physiological data
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`and lifestyle over an electronic network according to the present invention;
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`Fig. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the sensor device shown in Fig. 1;
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`Fig. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the central monitoring unit shown in
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`Fig. 1;
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`Fig. 4 is a block diagram of an alternate embodiment of the central monitoring unit
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`shown in Fig. 1;
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`Fig. 5 is a representation of a preferred embodiment of the Health Manager web page
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`according to an aspect of the present invention;
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`Fig. 6 is a representation of a preferred embodiment of the nutrition web page
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`according to an aspect of the present invention;
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`Fig. 7 is a representation of a preferred embodiment of the activity level web page
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`according to an aspect of the present invention;
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`Fig. 8 is a representation of a preferred embodiment of the mind centering web page
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`according to an aspect of the present invention;
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`Fig. 9 is a representation of a preferred embodiment of the sleep web page according
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`to an aspect of the present invention;
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`Fig. 10 is a representation of a preferred embodiment of the daily activities web page
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`according to an aspect of the present invention; and
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`Fig. 11 is a representation of a preferred embodiment of the Health Index web page
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`according to an aspect of the present invention.
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`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
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`In general, according to the present invention, data relating to the physiological state, the
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`lifestyle and certain contextual parameters of an individual is collected and transmitted, either
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`subsequently or in real-time, to a site, preferably remote from the individual, where it is stored for
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`later manipulation and presentation to a recipient, preferably over an electronic network such as the
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`Internet. Contextual parameters as used herein means parameters relating to the environment,
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`surroundings and location of the individual, including, but not limited to, air quality, sound quality,
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`ambient temperature, global positioning and the like. Referring to Fig.l, located at user location 5 is
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`sensor device 10 adapted to be placed in proximity with at least a portion of the human body. Sensor
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`device 10 is preferably worn by an individual user on his or her body, for example as part of a
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`garment such as a form fitting shirt, or as part of an arm band or the like. Sensor device 10, includes
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`one or more sensors, which are adapted to generate signals in response to physiological
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`characteristics of an individual, and a microprocessor. Proximity as used herein means that the
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`sensors of sensor device 10 are separated from the individual's body by a material or the like, or a
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`distance such that the capabilities of the sensors are not impeded.
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`Sensor device 10 generates data indicative of various physiological parameters of an
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`individual, such as the individual's heart rate, pulse rate, beat-to-beat heart variability, EKG or ECG,
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`respiration rate, skin temperature, core body temperature, heat flow off the body, galvanic skin
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`response or GSR, EMG, EEG, EOG, blood pressure, body fat, hydration level, activity level, oxygen
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`consumption, glucose or blood sugar level, body position, pressure on muscles or bones, and UV
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`radiation absorption. In certain cases, the data indicative of the various physiological parameters is
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`the signal or signals themselves generated by the one or more sensors and in certain other cases the
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`data is calculated by the microprocessor based on the signal or signals generated by the one or more
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`sensors. Methods for generating data indicative of various physiological parameters and sensors to
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`be used therefor are well known. Table 1 provides several examples of such well known methods
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`and shows the parameter in question, the method used, the sensor device used, and the signal that is
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`generated. Table 1 also provides an indication as to whether further processing based on the
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`generated signal is required to generate the data.
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`Table 1
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`Method
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`Sensor
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`Signal
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`EKG
`
`BVP
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`2 Electrodes
`
`DC Voltage
`
`LED Emitter and
`Optical Sensor
`
`Change in Resistance
`
`Heart Rate
`
`2 Electrodes
`
`DC Voltage
`
`Parameter
`
`Heart Rate
`
`Pulse Rate
`
`Beat-to-Beat
`Variability
`
`EKG
`
`Respiration Rate
`
`Skin Temperature
`
`Core Temperature
`
`Skin Surface
`Potentials
`
`Chest Volume
`Change
`
`Surface
`Temperature
`Probe
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`Esophageal or
`Rectal Probe
`
`Further
`Processing
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`No
`
`3-1 0 Electrodes
`
`DC Voltage
`
`Strain Gauge
`
`Change in Resistance
`
`Yes
`
`Thermistors
`
`Change in Resistance
`
`Yes
`
`Thermistors
`
`Change in Resistance
`
`Yes
`
`Heat Flow
`
`Heat Flux
`
`Thermopile
`
`DC Voltage
`
`Galvanic Skin
`Response
`
`EMG
`
`EEG
`
`EOG
`
`Skin Conductance
`
`2 Electrodes
`
`Change in Resistance
`
`Skin Surface
`Potentials
`
`Skin Surface
`Potentials
`
`Eye Movement
`
`3 Electrodes
`
`DC Voltage
`
`Multiple Electrodes
`
`DC Voltage
`
`Thin Film
`Piezoelectric
`Sensors
`
`DC Voltage
`
`Yes
`
`No
`
`No
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`Blood Pressure
`
`Non-Invasive
`Korotkuff Sounds
`
`Electronic
`Sphygromarometer
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`Change in Resistance
`
`Yes
`
`Body Fat
`
`Body Impedance
`
`2 Active Electrodes Change in Impedance
`
`Activity in
`Interpreted G
`Shocks per Minute
`Oxygen
`Consumption
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`Body Movement
`
`Accelerometer
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`DC Voltage,
`Capacitance Changes
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`Oxygen Uptake
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`Electro-chemical
`
`DC Voltage Change
`
`Glucose Level
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`Non-Invasive
`
`Electro-chemical
`
`DC Voltage Change
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
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`Parameter
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`Method
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`Sensor
`
`Signal
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`Further
`Processing
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`Body Position (e.g.
`supine, erect,
`sitting)
`
`N/A
`
`Mercury Switch
`Array
`
`DC Voltage Change
`
`Yes
`
`Muscle Pressure
`
`N/A
`
`Thin Film
`Piezoelectric
`Sensors
`
`DC Voltage Change
`
`Yes
`
`UV Radiation
`Absorption
`
`N/A
`
`UV Sensitive Photo DC Voltage Change
`Cells
`
`Yes
`
`The types of data listed in Table 1 are intended to be examples ofthe types of data that can
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`be generated by sensor device 10. It is to be understood that other types of data relating to other
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`parameters can be generated by sensor device 10 without departing from the scope of the present
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`invention.
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`The microprocessor of sensor device 10 may be programmed to summarize and analyze the
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`data. For example, the microprocessor can be programmed to calculate an average, minimum or
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`maximum heart rate or respiration rate over a defined period of time, such as ten minutes. Sensor
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`10
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`device 10 may be able to derive information relating to an individual's physiological state based on
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`the data indicative of one or more physiological parameters. The microprocessor of sensor device 10
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`is programmed to derive such information using known methods based on the data indicative of one
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`or more physiological parameters. Table 2 provides examples of the type ofinformation that can be
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`derived, and indicates some of the types of data that can be used therefor.
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`Table 2
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`Derived Information
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`Data Used
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`Ovulation
`
`Sleep onset/wake
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`Calories burned
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`Basal metabolic rate
`
`Basal temperature
`
`Activity level
`
`Stress level
`
`Relaxation level
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`Skin temperature, core temperature, oxygen consumption
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`Beat-to-beat variability, heart rate, pulse rate, respiration
`rate, skin temperature, core temperature, heat flow, galvanic
`skin response, EMG, EEG, EOG, blood pressure, oxygen
`consumption
`
`Heart rate, pulse rate, respiration rate, heat flow, activity,
`oxygen consumption
`Heart rate, pulse rate, respiration rate, heat flow, activity,
`oxygen consumption
`
`Skin temperature, core temperature
`
`Heart rate, pulse rate, respiration rate, heat flow, activity,
`oxygen consumption
`
`EKG, beat-to-beat variability, heart rate, pulse rate,
`respiration rate, skin temperature, heat flow, galvanic skin
`response, EMG, EEG, blood pressure, activity, oxygen
`consumption
`
`EKG, beat-to-beat variability, heart rate, pulse rate,
`respiration rate, skin temperature, heat flow, galvanic skin
`response, EMG, EEG, blood pressure, activity, oxygen
`consumption
`
`Maximum oxygen consumption rate
`
`EKG, heart rate, pulse rate, respiration rate, heat flow, blood
`pressure, activity, oxygen consumption
`
`Rise time or the time it takes to rise from
`a resting rate to 85% of a target maximum
`
`Time in zone or the time heart rate was
`above 85% of a target maximum
`
`Recovery time or the time it takes heart
`rate to return to a resting rate after heart
`rate was above 85% of a target maximum
`
`Heart rate, pulse rate, heat flow, oxygen consumption
`
`Heart rate, pulse rate, heat flow, oxygen consumption
`
`Heart rate, pulse rate, heat flow, oxygen consumption
`
`Additionally, sensor device 10 may also generate data indicative of various contextual
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`parameters relating to the environment surrounding the individual. For example, sensor device 10
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`can generate data indicative of the air quality, sound level/quality, light quality or ambient
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`temperature near the individual, or even the global positioning of the individual. Sensor device 10
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`may include one or more sensors for generating signals in response to contextual characteristics
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`relating to the environment surrounding the individual, the signals ultimately being used to generate
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`the type of data described above. Such sensors are well known, as are methods for generating
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`contextual parametric data such as air quality, sound level/quality, ambient temperature and global
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`positioning.
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`Fig. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of sensor device 10. Sensor device 10 includes
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`at least one sensor 12 and microprocessor 20. Depending upon the nature of the signal generated by
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`sensor 12, the signal can be sent through one or more of amplifier 14, conditioning circuit 16, and
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`1 o
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`analog-to-digital converter 18, before being sent to microprocessor 20. For example, where sensor
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`12 generates an analog signal in need of amplification and filtering, that signal can be sent to
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`amplifier 14, and then on to conditioning circuit 16, which may, for example, be a band pass filter.
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`The amplified and conditioned analog signal can then be transferred to analog-to-digital converter
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`18, where it is converted to a digital signal. The digital signal is then sent to microprocessor 20.
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`15 Alternatively, if sensor 12 generates a digital signal, that signal can be sent directly to
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`microprocessor 20.
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`A digital signal or signals representing certain physiological and/or contextual characteristics
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`of the individual user may be used by microprocessor 20 to calculate or generate data indicative of
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`physiological and/or contextual parameters of the individual user. Microprocessor 20 is
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`20
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`programmed to derive information relating to at lease one aspect of the individual's physiological
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`state. It should be understood that microprocessor 20 may also comprise other forms of processors
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`or processing devices, such as a microcontroller, or any other device that can be programmed to
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`perform the functionality described herein.
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`The data indicative of physiological and/or contextual parameters can, according to one
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`embodiment of the present invention, be sent to memory 22, such as flash memory, where it is stored
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`until uploaded in the manner to be described below. Although memory 22 is shown in Fig. 2 as a
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`discrete element, it will be appreciated that it may also be part of microprocessor 20. Sensor device
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`5
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`10 also includes input/output circuitry 24, which is adapted to output and receive as input certain
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`data signals in the manners to be described herein. Thus, memory 22 of the sensor device 1 0 will
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`build up, over time, a store of data relating to the individual user's body and/or environment. That
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`data is periodically uploaded from sensor device 10 and sent to remote central monitoring unit 30, as
`
`shown in Fig. 1, where it is stored in a database for subsequent processing and presentation to the
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`1 o
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`user, preferably through a local or global electronic network such as the Internet. This uploading of
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`data can be an automatic process that is initiated by sensor device 10 periodically or upon the
`
`happening of an event such as the detection by sensor device 1 0 of a heart rate below a certain level,
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`or can be initiated by the individual user or some third party authorized by the user, preferably
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`according to some periodic schedule, such as every day at 10:00 p.m. Alternatively, rather than
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`storing data in memory 22, sensor device 10 may continuously upload data in real time.
`
`The uploading of data from sensor device 1 0 to central monitoring unit 30 for storage can be
`
`accomplished in various ways. In one embodiment, the data collected by sensor device 1 0 is
`
`uploaded by first transferring the data to personal computer 35 shown in Fig. 1 by means of physical
`
`connection 40, which, for example, may be a serial connection such as an RS232 or USB port. This
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`20
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`physical connection may also be accomplished by using a cradle, not shown, that is electronically
`
`coupled to personal computer 35 into which sensor device 10 can be inserted, as is common with
`
`many commercially available personal digital assistants. The uploading of data could be initiated by
`
`then pressing a button on the cradle or could be initiated automatically upon insertion of sensor
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`device 10. The data collected by sensor device 10 may be uploaded by first transferring the data to
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`personal computer 35 by means of short-range wireless transmission, such as infrared or radio
`
`transmission, as indicated at 45.
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`Once the data is received by personal computer 35, it is optionally compressed and encrypted
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`by any one of a variety of well known methods and then sent out over a local or global electronic
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`network, preferably the Internet, to central monitoring unit 30. It should be noted that personal
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`computer 35 can be replaced by any computing device that has access to and that can transmit and
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`receive data through the electronic network, such as, for example, a personal digital assistant such as
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`the Palm VII sold by Palm, Inc., or the Blackberry 2-way pager sold by Research in Motion, Inc.
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`10
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`Alternatively, the data collected by sensor device 10, after being encrypted and, optionally,
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`compressed by microprocessor 20, may be transferred to wireless device 50, such as a 2-way pager
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`or cellular phone, for subsequent long distance wireless transmission to local telco site 55 using a
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`wireless protocol such as e-mail or as ASCII or binary data. Local telco site 55 includes tower 60
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`that receives the wireless transmission from wireless device 50 and computer 65 connected to tower
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`60. According to the preferred embodiment, computer 65 has access to the relevant electronic
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`network, such as the Internet, and is used to transmit the data received in the form of the wireless
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`transmission to the central monitoring unit 30 over the Internet. Although wireless device 50 is
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`shown in Fig. 1 as a discrete device coupled to sensor device 10, it or a device having the same or
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`similar functionality may be embedded as part of sensor device 10.
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`20
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`Sensor device 1 0 may be provided with a button to be used to time stamp events such as time
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`to bed, wake time, and time of meals. These time stamps are stored in sensor device 10 and are
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`uploaded to central monitoring unit 30 with the rest of the data as described above. The time stamps
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`may include a digitally recorded voice message that, after being uploaded to central monitoring unit
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`30, are translated using voice recognition technology into text or some other information format that
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`can be used by central monitoring unit 30.
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`In addition to using sensor device 10 to automatically collect physiological data relating to an
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`individual user, a kiosk could be adapted to collect such data by, for example, weighing the
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`individual, providing a sensing device similar to sensor device 10 on which an individual places his
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`or her hand or another part of his or her body, or by scanning the individual's body using, for
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`example, laser technology or an iS tat blood analyzer. The kiosk would be provided with processing
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`capability as described herein and access to the relevant electronic network, and would thus be
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`adapted to send the collected data to the central monitoring unit 30 through the electronic network.
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`10 A desktop sensing device, again similar to sensor device 1 0, on which an individual places his or her
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`hand or another part ofhis or her body may also be provided. For example, such a desktop sensing
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`device could be a blood pressure monitor in which an individual places his or her arm. An
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`individual might also wear a ring having a sensor device 10 incorporated therein. A base, not
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`shown, could then be provided which is adapted to be coupled to the ring. The desktop sensing
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`device or the base just described may then be coupled to a computer such as personal comp~ter 35
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`by means of a physical or short range wireless connection so that the collected data could be
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`uploaded to central monitoring unit 30 over the relative electronic network in the manner described
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`above. A mobile device such as, for example, a personal digital assistant, might also be provided
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`with a sensor device 10 incorporated therein. Such a sensor device 10 would be adapted to collect
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`20
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`data when mobile device is placed in proximity with the individual's body, such as by holding the
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`device in the palm of one's hand, and upload the collected data to central monitoring unit 30 in any
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`of the ways described herein.
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`Furthermore, in addition to collecting data by automatically sensing such data in the manners
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`described above, individuals can also manually provide data relating to various life activities that is
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`ultimately transferred to and stored at central monitoring unit 30. An individual user can access a
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`web site maintained by central monitoring unit 30 and can directly input information relating to life
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`activities by entering text freely, by responding to questions posed by the web site, or by clicking
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`through dialog boxes provided by the web site. Central monitoring uilit 30 can also be adapted to
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`periodically send electronic mail messages containing questions designed to elicit information
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`relating to life activities to personal computer 35 or to some other device that can receive electronic
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`mail, such as a personal digital assistant, a pager, or a cellular phone. The individual would then
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`1 o
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`provide data relating to life activities to central monitoring unit 30 by responding to the appropriate
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`electronic mail message with the relevant data. Central monitoring unit 30 may also be adapted to
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`place a telephone call to an individual user in which certain questions would be posed to the
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`individual user. The user could respond to the questions by entering information using a telephone
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`keypad, or by voice, in which case conventional voice recognition technology would be used by
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`central monitoring unit 30 to receive and process the response. The telephone call may also be
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`initiated by the user, in which case the user could speak to a person directly or enter information
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`using the keypad or by voice/voice recognition technology. Central monitoring unit 30 may also be
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`given access to a source of information controlled by the user, for example the user's electronic
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`calendar such as that provided with the Outlook product sold by Microsoft Corporation ofRedmond,
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`20 Washington, from which it could automatically collect information. The data relating to life
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`activities may relate to the eating, sleep, exercise, mind centering or relaxation, and/or daily living
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`habits, patterns and/or activities of the individual. Thus, sample questions may include: What did
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`you have for lunch today? What time did you go to sleep last night? What time did you wake up
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`this morning? How long did you run on the treadmill today?
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`Feedback may also be provided to a user directly through sensor device 10 in a visual form,
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`for example through an LED or LCD or by constructing sensor device 1 0, at least in part, of a
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`thermochromatic plastic, in the form of an acoustic signal or in the form of tactile feedback such as
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`vibration. Such feedback may be a reminder or an alert to eat a meal or take medication or a
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`supplement such as a vitamin, to engage in an activity such as exercise or medi