WO2010102312A1

WO2010102312A1 - Method and system for awaking

Info

Publication number: WO2010102312A1
Application number: PCT/AT2009/000107
Authority: WO
Inventors: Boris Eis
Original assignee: Infactory Innovations & Trade Gmbh
Priority date: 2009-03-13
Filing date: 2009-03-13
Publication date: 2010-09-16

Abstract

A method for awaking a person is based on a waking system comprising a waking apparatus (2) and a sensor (1) that is coupled to the waking apparatus by radio, wherein the sensor (1) captures at least one parameter (P) that is significant for the sleep of a monitored person and the at least one wake-significant parameter is used to trigger a waking process. A radio module (6) of the sensor (1) and/or a radio module (7) of the waking apparatus (2) are only activated in a predetermined waking time range (WZB). Values (p1 - p7) captured by the sensor (1) of the at least one wake-significant parameter (P) and/or sleep states determined therefrom are only transmitted within the waking time range (WZB) to the waking apparatus (2).

Description

Procedure as well as system for awakening

The invention relates to a method for awakening a person by means of a wake-up system, which detects a wake-up device and a radio-coupled with the wake-up device sensor, the sensor detects at least one significant for the sleep of a monitored person parameters and at least one awakening significant parameters to trigger a wake-up and a wake-up system for carrying out the method.

In order to cope with the demands of everyday life in a time-dominated world, it is necessary to adapt the rhythm of life not to personal needs but to the given conditions. It is seldom possible to divide the time of day independently of business and leisure appointments into active phases and phases of rest only according to physiological considerations. It is therefore all the more important to use the time spent in the sleep as much as possible for recovery and thus to secure and even improve physical and mental performance.

It has been known for some time that human sleep does not proceed uniformly, but instead alternates deep sleep phases with light sleep phases (active sleep phases), so-called REM phases. Such a REM phase, which is a time of increased dream activity, occurs approximately every 90-110 minutes approximately 4 to 6 times during normal sleep. With increasing sleep duration, the deep sleep phases in healthy adult persons become continuously shorter and less deep, while the REM phases become longer and longer. In children, for example, the deep sleep phases become continuously deeper. An unnatural interruption or reduction of certain sleep phases can lead to functional mental disorders, such as excessive fatigue, irritable mood, conspicuous lack of concentration or even anxiety.

There are known methods and devices for awakening with mechanical, electromechanical and electrical alarms, e.g. from DE-A-2405771, which generate acoustic, optical or tactile stimuli as a function of a predefinable, for example adjustable or programmable wake-up time. The disadvantage here is that the stimuli occur regardless of the sleep state of the awakening.

Also known are a method and a device which enable awakening immediately after a dream phase, ie a REM phase, so that the awakened person is able to reconstruct their dream (DE-A-3102239). The disadvantage is however, in that the waking takes place independently of an adjustable wake-up time and that the sleeper is connected to the wake-up device through sensors on the eyes and via wire connections.

From EP-A - 0496 196 and DE-A - 42 09 336 methods for awakening are known in which the body movements of the sleeper measured over the sleep time and used for the determination of the sleep state, due to a wake-up to a certain desired time can be triggered.

DE-A-19642 316 and DE-A-43 03 933 describe devices for awakening in which a sensor wirelessly coupled to a wake-up device is provided for determining the sleep phases, wherein the wake-up device operates according to variable predefinable conditions during a specific sleep phase is activated.

In the patent DD 263 238 a method for awakening is disclosed in which after registering an alarm time and a wake-up time the sleep state of the person to be aroused continuously or temporarily tested, the current time is compared with a calculated from time and tolerance Weckzeittoleranzbereich and only then awakened if the current time is at or within the waking time tolerance range and there is no unfavorable sleep phase or if the waking time tolerance range is over. The determination of the sleep state via the measurement of physiological parameters such as heart rate, respiratory rate, skin moisture, temperature, brain waves and the like.

A disadvantage of this method is the fact that the measurement of the parameters must be controlled and can not be triggered automatically by changing a measured parameter, resulting in a higher number of measurements for safe detection of sleep state and the sleeper thus a higher exposure to electromagnetic waves , Radio waves or other radiation is exposed. In addition, most physiological parameters require complex and for the sleepy mostly inconvenient and sometimes permanently connected to a processing unit measuring devices that can affect sleep.

One approach to a solution of the above-mentioned disadvantages is disclosed in EP 1 139 187 A2, which describes a method and a wake-up device for carrying out the method. The alarm device comprises a wake-up device and a motion sensor coupled via radio with the alarm device. The movements of the sleeping person are used to trigger a wake-up process, whereby only after Registration of a movement by the sensor, the radio link between the alarm and motion sensor is activated.

This approach has achieved a significant reduction in the sleeper's burden over the prior art, as well as a significant increase in its sleep quality while still allowing awakening in a sleeping state favorable to the sleeper.

Although the alarm device described in EP 1 139 187 has now proven itself on the market for a number of years, it is still in need of improvement. In particular, it should be mentioned that although the radio unit is activated in the motion sensor only when the motion sensor detects a movement of the sleeping person, but the radio unit is always active in the alarm clock to receive signals from the motion sensor. This leads to an increased power consumption of the alarm, which is particularly disadvantageous in battery operation. Another disadvantage is the increased power consumption in the motion sensor due to frequent activation of the radio unit, as this occurs with each movement of the sleeper to report the detected movements to the alarm. Another disadvantage associated with the frequent activation of the radio unit in the motion sensor is a frequent, albeit extremely low, electromagnetic radiation exposure that is undesirable to some users due to principal considerations.

The object of the invention is to obviate these drawbacks and difficulties, and has as its object to provide a method and a system for awakening which do not expose a sleeping person to unnecessary stress and diminish their quality of sleep but, at the same time, awaken a sleeping state favorable to the sleeping person ensure the conditions for improvement or maintenance of performance. In particular, the burden on the sleeping person by electromagnetic waves should be kept as low as possible. Furthermore, the power consumption of the alarm system should be minimal.

This object is achieved according to the invention in that a radio module of the sensor and / or a radio module of the wake-up device are activated only in a predetermined wake-up time range and values of the at least one wake-up-significant parameter detected by the sensor or sleeping conditions determined therefrom are transmitted to the wake-up device only within the wake-up time range. The present invention is based on the fact that there are significant parameters associated with sleep during a person's sleep. It has been found, for example, that at the beginning and at the end of certain sleep phases there is increased body movement, which makes it possible to distinguish between the individual sleep phases. In addition, there are other awakening significant

Parameters such as pulse rate, blood oxygen, respiratory rate, respiratory type (e.g., transition between chest and abdominal breathing) and / or body temperature, and brain waves. When these wakeful parameters are tracked during sleep of a supervised person, a particular pattern of light sleep, deep sleep, and fast wake phases can be identified that can be used to trigger a person's wakeup.

In order to track the parameters relevant for the sleep phases over a period of time which is considerably longer than the alarm time range, it is expedient for values of the at least one alarm-significant parameter detected in the sensor to be temporarily stored in the sensor and within, for example at the beginning of the alarm time range the alarm device are transmitted. In the wake-up device, an analysis of the sleep behavior of the monitored person is made after receiving these cached values. The long-term empirical values are stored in the receiver, the current short-term in the sensor.

According to a preferred embodiment, the detected values of the at least one alarm-significant parameter are used to conclude the sleep state of the monitored person by means of an algorithm. The use of an algorithm for assessing sleep state has the advantage that errors can be switched off by random parameter values which do not signal a fast-wake phase.

Appropriately, the activation of the alarm is made depending on the sleep state of the person, the alarm is triggered during a mentally and physically favorable sleep phase within the alarm time.

In order to ensure that the user of the wake-up system is woken up in good time, it is favorable if the end of the wake-up time range is defined by a user-settable wake-up time. If the user cares to not be awakened too early (although physiologically, it may be better for him), it is optional that the duration of the alarm time range be user adjustable. The activation of the wake-up device is preferably carried out after predefinable sleep cycles of successive .Steffschlaf- and light sleep phases or in an occurring immediately before or after a REM phase Fast-wake sleep phase. In many people, a certain number of deep sleep and light sleep phases will suffice for complete recovery. The otherwise unnecessarily dormant time spent after the required

Sleep phases can be meaningfully used by waking up according to a specific sleep cycle.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the radio module of the sensor is determined as a function of the at least one alarm-significant parameter

Sleep state, e.g. certain types of movement or respiratory behavior, activated. As a result, the radio connection time between the sensor and the wake-up device and consequently the power consumption can be shortened, with a (pre-) evaluation of the alarm-relevant parameters taking place in the sensor.

The present invention can also be used in a particularly advantageous manner for the detection of sleeping disorders and, if appropriate, reactions thereto, by analyzing sleeping sickness indicators from the wake-relevant parameters, e.g. Movement patterns for sleepwalking, the risk of SIDS, restless legs syndrome and / or sleep apnea.

In the case of detecting disease states requiring or advising an immediate intervention of people in the sleeping person's environment, such as e.g. in the event of the risk of sudden infant death syndrome or in sleepwalking, to be able to react aftertaste, in a further embodiment of the invention the sensor comprises an alarm operating mode in which the radio module of the sensor is also activated outside of the alarm time range depending on certain sleep conditions. This embodiment of the invention assumes that the radio module of the alarm device is activated outside the alarm time range.

In order to increase the reliability of detection and response to the above-mentioned disease indicators, it is useful if the alarm device outputs a connection loss signal, if no radio connection to the sensor can be established in the alarm time range.

In order to track sleeping behavior, such as talking in sleep, teeth grinding, etc., and to be able to analyze it later, in one embodiment of the invention Noises that the. asleep, recorded, possibly assigned to the real time and subsequent assignment to a sleep phase.

A wake-up system for carrying out the above method comprises a wake-up device and a radio-coupled with the wake-up device sensor, wherein the

Funkkoppelung both the alarm device and the sensor is provided with a radio module. According to the invention, the radio module of the sensor and / or the radio module of the wake-up device are activated only at the beginning of a predetermined wake-up time range and values of the at least one wake-up-triggering parameter detected by the sensor or sleep conditions determined therefrom are transmitted to the wake-up device only within the wakeup time range.

In a preferred embodiment, the sensor comprises one or more detectors for detecting movements, pulse rate, blood oxygen, respiratory frequency, type of respiration and / or body temperature as well as brain waves. Motion detectors can as

Accelerometer, be designed as an ultrasonic, infrared or microwave sensor or as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification).

In a preferred embodiment, which is very convenient for the user to carry during sleep, the sensor is in the form of an arm band or wristwatch.

In one embodiment of the invention, the alarm device is designed as a mobile phone. Modern mobile phones contain all the hardware components that are necessary for the construction of a wake-up device of the invention, for example Bluetooth. The invention, i. the functional connection of the hardware components is implemented in this case by means of software.

Advantageously, the alarm device and optionally the sensor comprises an adjustment device for specifying an alarm time and optionally the duration of the alarm time range.

The awakening can take place individually differently by means of sensory, acoustic or optical stimuli, for which purpose the alarm device comprises an acoustic, visual or tactile wake-up signal generator.

The invention is explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, wherein FIG. 1 is a sleep phase diagram with associated pattern awakenignikikanter parameters, Fig. 2 a Embodiment of the alarm system according to the invention in a schematic representation, and Fig. 3 illustrate a timing diagram for explaining the method according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows an average Schlaφhasendiagrarnrn, in which above the time T, the different sleep phases S of a monitored person for a sleep period, starting from 00:00 clock is plotted. The sleep phases S include the wake state W, the REM state, a fast awake state FW, and various sleep stages as levels 1 through 4. In the lower part of the sleep phase diagram, a pattern of a wake significant parameter P is plotted, in this example only two values 0 and 1 can be distinguished. However, it should be emphasized that, depending on the awakening significant parameter, a large number of different parameter values can also be distinguished. The diagram clearly shows a change of deep sleep and light sleep phases (REM phases), whereby the lengths of the deep sleep phases decrease with increasing sleep duration. The lengths of the REM phases, on the other hand, increase towards sleeping people.

The slightly simplified and abstracted pattern of the weck-significant parameter indicates that 1 and 1 values occur frequently at the beginning and at the end of the REM phases.

Because of this relationship between certain values of the wake-significant parameter and REM phases, it is possible to use the wake-significant parameter for awakening a human, taking into account the sleep phases, since it is relatively easy to determine a favorable wake-up time. Wake-up parameters include, in particular, movements, pulse rate, blood oxygen, respiratory rate, respiratory and / or body temperature, and brain waves.

Thus, for example, with a wake-up time range WZB of half an hour (FIG. 1: 07:00 to 07:30), a wake-up time z1 (or a wake-up period) which is favorable for the sleeping person is determined with the aid of the value curve of the wake-up-significant parameter, if such within the wake-up time range WZB by pre-calculating the occurrence of a fast-wake phase by means of an algorithm. Whether the wake-up process is to be triggered at the first possible favorable wake-up time z1 or at a later time within the wake-up period can be chosen as desired.

It is also possible to activate the alarm clock after predetermined sleep cycles with a certain number of consecutive deep sleep and To make light sleep phases by counting the elapsed sleep phases by registering the value curves of the alarm-significant parameter.

The method according to the invention for waking a person runs in a wake-up system shown in a block diagram in FIG. 2, which comprises a wake-up device 2 and a sensor 1 coupled to the wake-up device via radio.

The sensor 1 comprises one or more detectors 8a to 8g for detecting movements, pulse rate, blood oxygen, respiratory frequency, type of respiration and / or body temperature as well as brain waves which represent awake-significant parameters. The outputs of the detectors 8a to 8g are fed to a controller 9, e.g. is designed as a microcontroller and communicates with a memory 10. Furthermore, a timer 11 is connected to the controller 9, optionally also a user interface 13 for inputting information by the user and possibly also for displaying information to the user. The user interface 13 may include buttons, light emitting diodes, alphanumeric displays, etc. Furthermore, a radio module 6 is connected to the controller 9, which can be activated and deactivated by the controller 9. Optionally, the controller 9 also controls a device for tactile stimuli 12. All these components have a very small size, so that it is possible to design the sensor 1 in the form of an arm or headband or a wristwatch.

The alarm device 2 comprises a radio module 7, a real-time device 4, e.g. is designed as a quartz watch, radio time receiver, etc., and a user interface 5, e.g. Includes buttons, a display or a touch screen. All said devices are connected to a processing unit 3, e.g. a microprocessor, volatile and non-volatile memory, etc. The processing unit 3 controls the radio module 7 and can both activate and deactivate it. Furthermore, the processing unit 3 controls a wake-up signal generator 14, which emits acoustic, visual and / or tactile wake-up signals. The alarm device 2 can be realized in the form of a mobile phone.

If the radio modules 6, 7 of the sensor 1 or the alarm device 2 are activated, a radio link F between the sensor 1 and the wake-up device 2 can be built.

FIG. 3 shows a timing diagram which explains the sequence of the wake-up procedure according to the invention during a sleep period. The sensor 1 continuously detects values pl to p7 of at least one for sleep by means of at least one of the detectors 8a to 8g monitored person significant parameters. As can be seen, the parameter values pl to ρ5 lie before the start of the alarm time range WZB. According to the invention, these parameter values p1 to p5 which are present before the start of the alarm time range WZB are not transmitted from the sensor 1 to the wake-up device 2 immediately after their detection. Rather, these parameter values p1 to p5 are initially stored temporarily in the memory 10 of the sensor 1 and the radio module 6 of the sensor 1 remains in a deactivated state in which it has no (or minimum) power consumption and does not emit electromagnetic waves. Only at the beginning of the alarm time range WZB (at 07 '.0O), the radio module 6 of the sensor 1 is activated. Then, the previously acquired parameter values p1 to p5 are transmitted to the wake-up device 2. According to a variant of the invention, the radio module 6 of the sensor 1 is not activated automatically at the beginning of the alarm time range WZB, but only when a parameter value p6 of the at least one significant parameter is detected for the first time within the alarm time range. Then, the newest parameter value p6 and the previously cached parameter values p 1 to p 5 are transmitted jointly (Σ p 1 -p6) to the alarm device 2 and processed in the alarm device 2, compared with previous data and a wake-up time zl calculated by the detected values the at least one awakeignirlkanten parameter is closed by means of an algorithm on the ScMafzustand the monitored person and depending on the sleep state of the person within the alarm time range WZB a wake-up in the wake-up device 2 is triggered. It can be provided that the end of the alarm time range WZB is defined by the user by means of the user interface 5 (or optionally also by means of the user interface 13 of the sensor 1) by the user setting an alarm time which marks the end of the alarm time range WZB. Optionally, the duration of the WZB alarm time range can also be set by the user. If the sensor 1 detects further parameter values p7 within the wake-up time range WZB, it immediately sends them to the wake-up device 2, which uses these parameter values p7 to compare with the previous data and, if necessary, to recalculate the wake-up time zl. It can also be provided that the wake-up device 2 sends information RC to the sensor 1, wherein this information, for example, a trigger signal for starting the device for tactile stimuli 12 in the sensor 1, or the announcement of the wake-up zl, eg automatic triggering of the device for tactile stimuli 12 by the sensor 1, or a synchronization signal] for synchronization between the timers in the alarm device 2 and the sensor 1 can act.

Depending on the performance of the controller 9 of the sensor 1, it may be provided that the controller 9 derives from the values detected by the detectors δa to 8g determines itself sleep conditions and sends information about these sleep conditions to the alarm device 2 instead of the parameter values p1 to p7; but only within the alarm time range WZB. In such an embodiment, a portion of the computing work would thus be outsourced to the sensor 1.

In order to keep the energy consumption and the radiation exposure as low as possible, it can be provided that the radio module 7 of the alarm device 2 is deactivated outside the alarm time range WZB. However, there are embodiments of the invention described below in which it is favorable if the radio module 7 of the alarm device 2 remains activated outside the alarm time range WZB in order to be able to receive radio signals from the sensor 1.

Namely, when sleep conditions are calculated directly in the sensor 1, it is provided in one embodiment of the invention that the controller 9, the radio module 6 in response to the sleep conditions, e.g. certain types of movement or

Respiratory behavior, activated, and this can also happen outside the alarm time range WZB. This embodiment is particularly important when the calculated sleep conditions include sleeping sickness indicators, e.g. Movement patterns for sleepwalking that include the risk of sudden infant death syndrome, restless leg syndrome, and / or sleep apnea. If such sleeping sickness indicators are determined, then the sensor 1 goes into an alarm operating mode in which the radio module 6 is activated independently of the alarm time range WZB and an alarm message AL is sent to the wake-up device 2. In this context, it is provided as an additional security feature that the alarm device 2 checks at intervals whether a radio link F with the sensor 1 is. If there is no radio coupling, the alarm 2 emits an acoustic or visual loss of connection signal, e.g. by activating the wake-up signal generator 14.

For the treatment of sleep problems, the alarm device 2 may be equipped with a sound recorder 15 and a microphone 16 to record noises that the sleeping person makes, possibly with assignment to the real time and subsequent assignment to a sleep phase.

Claims

claims:

1. A method for waking a person by means of a wake-up system comprising a wake-up device (2) and a radio-controlled sensor (1), the sensor (1) having at least one parameter (P) significant for the sleep of a monitored person and at least one alarm-relevant parameter is used to trigger a wake-up process, characterized in that a radio module (6) of the sensor (1) and / or a radio module (7) of the alarm device (2) is activated only in a predetermined wake-up time range (WZB) and the sensor (1) detected values (pl - p7) of the at least one Wakeignifikanten parameter or determined therefrom

Sleep conditions can only be transmitted to the alarm clock (2) within the alarm time range (WZB).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor (1) detected sleep significant parameters movements, pulse rate, blood oxygen,

Respiratory, respiratory and / or body temperature and brain waves include.

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that values (p1-p5) of the at least one alarm-significant parameter (P) detected by the sensor (1) before the start of the alarm time range (WZB) are buffered in the sensor (1) and stored within the sensor Wake-up time range (WZB) to the wake-up device (2) are transmitted.

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that is closed by the detected values (pl - p7) of the at least one awakening significant parameter by means of an algorithm on the sleep state of the monitored person.

5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that depending on the sleep state of the person within the alarm time range (WZB) a wake-up in the alarm device (2) is triggered.

6. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the end of the alarm time range (WZB) is defined by a user-settable alarm time and optionally the duration of the alarm time range (WZB) is adjustable by the user.

7. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the triggering of the wake-up after a predetermined sleep cycle of successive deep sleep and light sleep phases or in a fast-wake sleep phase occurring immediately before or after a REM phase.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radio module (6) of the sensor (7) in response to determined from the at least one awake-significant parameter sleep states, e.g. certain types of movement or respiratory behavior is activated.

A method according to claim 8, characterized in that the sleep conditions include sleeping sickness indicators, e.g. Movement patterns for sleepwalking, the danger of sleep

Occurrence of sudden infant death syndrome, restless legs syndrome and / or sleep apnea.

10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the sensor (1) comprises an alarm operating mode in which the radio module (6) of the sensor is activated in response to sleep conditions outside the alarm time range (WZB).

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the alarm device (2) emits a connection loss signal when no radio coupling (F) can be established with the sensor.

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that noises that the sleeping person gives of him, are recorded, optionally with assignment to real time and subsequent assignment to a sleep phase.

13. Wake-up system for carrying out a method according to one of claims 1 to 12, with a Weckvprrichtung (2) and a radio with the wake-up device (2) coupled sensor (1), wherein for radio coupling (F) both the alarm device (2) as the sensor (1) is also provided with a radio module (6, 7), characterized in that the radio module (6) of the sensor (1) and / or the radio module (7) of the alarm device (2) only in a predetermined wake-up time range ( WZB) are activated and detected by the sensor (1) values (pl - p7) of the at least one Wakeignifikanten parameter or sleep conditions determined therefrom only within the alarm time range (WZB) to the wake-up device (2).

14. Wake-up system according to claim 13, characterized in that the sensor (1) one or more detectors (8a to 8g) for detecting movements, pulse rate, Blood oxygen, respiratory rate, respiratory and / or body temperature and brain waves.

15. Wake-up system according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the sensor (1) is designed in the form of an arm or headband or a wristwatch.

16. Wake-up system according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the alarm device (2) is designed as a mobile phone.

17. Wake-up system according to one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that the wake-up device (2) and optionally the sensor (1) comprises an adjusting device (5; 13) for specifying an alarm time and optionally the duration of the alarm time range.

18. Wake-up system according to one of claims 13 to 17, characterized in that the wake-up device (2) comprises an acoustic, visual or tactile wake-up signal generator (14).