TECHNOLOGIES FOR SYNCHRONIZING PHYSIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS

Technologies for synchronizing physiological functions of people include a wearable compute device. The wearable compute device is to determine physiological rate data of a user of the wearable device based on sensor data produced by at least one physiological sensor included in the wearable compute device, determine a difference between the determined physiological rate data of the user and reference physiological rate data, generate a perceptible signal that is representative of the determined difference, and convey the perceptible signal to the user with at least one signal conveyor device included in the wearable compute device, to facilitate synchronization of the physiological functions of the user with the reference physiological rate data. Other embodiments are described.

BACKGROUND

Some physiological functions, such as heart rates, respiration rates, and heart rate variability (also known as respiratory sinus arrhythmia) have been shown to be more synchronized among people in a social relationship when those people are in close physical proximity to each other. It is believed that synchronization of these physiological functions can be beneficial both physically and mentally. For example, synchronization of the physiological functions may improve cardiovascular health and strengthen the social relationship between the people involved in the relationship. When people are not in close proximity with each other, such as when they are in a long-distance relationship, their physiological functions are unlikely to be synchronized.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now toFIG. 1, in an illustrative embodiment, a system for facilitating synchronization of physiological functions of people includes a set of wearable compute devices100in communication through a network. The wearable compute devices100include a wearable compute device102, another wearable compute device104, and optionally, other wearable compute devices106. In operation, the illustrative wearable compute devices100communicate data with each other regarding physiological functions of their respective users, and provide stimuli to their users based on the communicated data, to assist in helping the users feel as if they are in close proximity to each other when they may be separated by a significant distance. By doing so, the illustrative wearable compute devices100facilitate synchronizing the physiological functions of their respective users. In the illustrative embodiment, each wearable compute device100is configured to communicate data regarding respiration rates, heart beat rates (“heart rates”), and/or heart rate variability. Further, each illustrative wearable compute device100is configured to receive the transmitted physiological rate data and perform actions to aid in synchronizing the wearer's physiological rates (e.g., respiration rate, heart rate, heart rate variability, etc.) with the received rates. The wearable compute devices100may aid in synchronizing these physiological rates by providing stimuli to their wearers, such as haptic signals, visual signals, audible signals, and/or thermal signals that represent the received physiological rate and/or the difference between the wearer's physiological rate and the received physiologic rate data. Additionally, the wearable compute devices100may be configured to provide reminders, such as images, videos, and/or sounds, to their wearers of times when their physiological functions were more synchronized with those of the other wearers. By providing these stimuli, the physiological functions of each wearer may become more synchronized and provide a feeling of closeness.

Referring now toFIG. 2, each wearable compute device100may be embodied as any type of compute device capable of performing the functions described herein. For example, in some embodiments, each wearable compute device100may be embodied as or incorporated into, without limitation, a wearable article of clothing or jewelry, such as a wristband, a head band, a belt, an anklet, a necklace, gloves, eye glasses, a smart phone, a tablet, and/or any other computing device capable of performing functions to synchronize the physiological functions of their wearers, as described herein. As shown inFIG. 2, the illustrative wearable compute device100includes a processor202, a main memory204, an input/output subsystem206, one or more signal conveyor devices208, a communication subsystem220, one or more physiological sensors222, and optionally, one or more context sensors230. Of course, the wearable compute device100may include other or additional components, such as those commonly found in a computer (e.g., data storage, one or more displays, etc.), in other embodiments. Additionally, in some embodiments, one or more of the illustrative components may be incorporated in, or otherwise from a portion of, another component. For example, the memory204, or portions thereof, may be incorporated in the processor202in some embodiments.

The processor202may be embodied as any type of processor capable of performing the functions described herein. For example, the processor may be embodied as a single or multi-core processor(s) having one or more processor cores, a digital signal processor, a microcontroller, or other processor or processing/controlling circuit. Similarly, the main memory204may be embodied as any type of volatile or non-volatile memory or data storage capable of performing the functions described herein. In operation, the main memory204may store various data and software used during operation of the wearable compute device100such as determined physiological rate data from a wearer of the wearable compute device100, reference physiological rate data to which the wearable compute device100may attempt to synchronize the wearer's physiological functions, threshold data indicative of various thresholds used in determining degrees of synchronization between wearers, contextual data indicative of environmental conditions or other surrounding circumstances of the wearer, operating systems, applications, programs, libraries, and drivers. The main memory204is communicatively coupled to the processor202via the I/O subsystem206. Of course, in other embodiments (e.g., those in which the processor202includes a memory controller), the main memory204may be directly communicatively coupled to the processor202.

The I/O subsystem206may be embodied as circuitry and/or components to facilitate input/output operations with the processor202, the main memory204, and other components of the wearable compute device100. For example, the I/O subsystem206may be embodied as, or otherwise include, memory controller hubs, input/output control hubs, firmware devices, communication links (i.e., point-to-point links, bus links, wires, cables, light guides, printed circuit board traces, etc.) and/or other components and subsystems to facilitate the input/output operations. In some embodiments, the I/O subsystem206may form a portion of a system-on-a-chip (SoC) and be incorporated, along with the processor202, the memory204, and other components of the wearable compute device100, on a single integrated circuit chip.

The illustrative wearable compute device100additionally includes the signal conveyor devices208, each of which is configured to provide perceptible signals to the wearer of the wearable compute device100. In the illustrative embodiment, the wearable compute device100includes at least one of a haptic signal conveyor210, a visual signal conveyor212, an audible signal conveyor214, a thermal signal conveyor216, or other signal conveyors218. Of course, in other embodiments, the wearable compute device100may include additional or different signal conveyor devices208. The haptic signal conveyor210may be embodied as any type of device capable of providing pulses, vibrations, pressure, or other stimuli to be felt by the wearer of the wearable compute device100. For example, the haptic signal conveyor210may be embodied as an eccentric rotating mass, a linear resonant actuator, piezoelectric transducers, an air bladder configured to selectively inflate or deflate, magnets, or shape memory alloys such as nitinol springs, to tighten and loosen the wearable compute device100when worn around a wrist, or otherwise provide tactile sensations to the wearer. In the illustrative embodiment, the haptic signals are indicative of physiological function rates or differences between physiological function rates.

The illustrative visual signal conveyor212may be embodied as any type of device capable of providing visual stimuli to a wearer of the wearable compute device100. The visual signals may be lights or graphical representations of heart rates, respiration rates, or other physiological function rates of the wearer or a person with whom the wearer is to synchronize his or her physiological function rates, or a representation of a difference between the two sets of rates. As described in more detail herein, the visual signal conveyor may also be configured to provide images or video associated with a context in which the physiological functions of the wearer and another person were determined to be synchronized. Accordingly, the visual signal conveyor212may be embodied as, or otherwise use, any suitable display technology including, for example, a light emitting device, such as a light emitting diode (LED), or a graphical display such a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display, a plasma display, and/or other display usable in a compute device.

The illustrative audible signal conveyor214may be embodied as any type of device capable of conveying audible stimuli to a wearer of the wearable compute device100indicative of physiological function rates or differences between physiological function rates. Additionally, in the illustrative embodiment, the audible signal conveyor is further configured to provide audible signals, such as environmental sounds, speech, or other audio associated with a previous context in which the physiological functions of the wearer and another person were determined to be synchronized. For example, the audible signal conveyor214may be embodied as a speaker or other device capable of emitting sound, including bone conduction.

The illustrative thermal signal conveyor216may be embodied as any type of device capable of providing thermal stimuli to a wearer of the wearable compute device100indicative of physiological function rates or differences between physiological function rates. For example, the thermal signal conveyor216may increase in temperature to indicate that the wearable compute device100has determined that the physiological functions of the wearer and another person have become synchronized. In other embodiments, the thermal signal conveyor216may decrease in temperature to indicate that the physiological functions of the wearer and the other person have become synchronized. In some embodiments, the thermal signal generator216may selectively increase or decrease its temperature to indicate other information regarding the wearer's and the other person's physiological function rates. The thermal signal conveyor may be embodied as an electrically resistive material that increases in temperature when an electrical current passes through it, a heat exchanger device to transfer heat away from the portion of the wearer's body in contact with the thermal signal conveyor, or may include other components suitable to perform the functions described above. As referenced above, the signal conveyor devices208may include other signal conveyors218capable of providing perceptible signals to the wearer regarding the physiological functions of the wearer and of another person (i.e., a wearer of another wearable compute device100).

The illustrative wearable compute device100additionally includes the communication subsystem220. The communication subsystem220may be embodied as one or more devices and/or circuitry capable of enabling communications with one or more other wearable compute devices100over a network. The communication subsystem220may be configured to use any suitable communication protocol to communicate with other devices including, for example, wireless data communication protocols, cellular communication protocols, and/or wired communication protocols.

The illustrative wearable compute device100additionally includes the physiological sensor(s)222. Each physiological sensor222may be embodied as any type of device capable of sensing a physiological characteristic of a user. The illustrative physiological sensors222include a heartrate sensor224, a respiration sensor226, and/or other physiological sensors228capable of sensing other physiological functions of the wearer, such as changes in body temperature. The illustrative heartrate sensor224may be embodied as any device capable of detecting electrical signals, changes in blood absorption of light (i.e., infrared light), or changes in blood pressure, associated with beats of the heart. The respiration sensor226may be embodied as any device capable of detecting breathing rates of the wearer, and may include a pressure sensor to detect expansion and contraction of the torso, a microphone to capture the sounds of air moving through the lungs, or other devices capable of detecting respiration rates of the wearer.

The illustrative wearable compute device100additionally includes one or more context sensors230capable of detecting aspects of the environment or circumstances surrounding the wearer of the wearable compute device100. The context sensors230may be embodied as, or otherwise include, a camera232, a microphone234, or other sensors236, such as a thermometer or a location sensor such as a global positioning system (GPS) sensor. As described in more detail herein, the wearable compute device100may determine at various times that the physiological functions of the wearer and other person are similar enough to be deemed synchronized and store information about the context of the wearer using the context sensors230. The context may be embodied as, for example, an image of the wearer and the other person, a video of them, or audio of speech or sounds associated with the time when the physiological functions were determined to be synchronized.

The wearable compute device100may additionally include a data storage device238, which may be embodied as any type of device or devices configured for short-term or long-term storage of data such as, for example, memory devices and circuits, memory cards, hard disk drives, solid-state drives, or other data storage devices. The data storage device238may store data and software used during operation of the wearable compute device100such as determined physiological rate data from a wearer of the wearable compute device100, reference physiological rate data to which the wearable compute device100may attempt to synchronize the wearer's physiological functions, threshold data indicative of various thresholds used in determining whether synchronization has been established between wearers, contextual data indicative of environmental conditions or other surrounding circumstances of the wearer, operating systems, applications, programs, libraries, and drivers, as described in more detail herein.

The wearable compute device100may additionally include a display240, which may be embodied as any type of display device on which information may be displayed to a wearer of the wearable compute device100. The display240may be embodied as, or otherwise use, any suitable display technology including, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, a cathode ray tube (CRT) display, a plasma display, and/or other display usable in a compute device. The display240may include a touchscreen sensor that uses any suitable touchscreen input technology to detect the user's tactile selection of information displayed on the display including, but not limited to, resistive touchscreen sensors, capacitive touchscreen sensors, surface acoustic wave (SAW) touchscreen sensors, infrared touchscreen sensors, optical imaging touchscreen sensors, acoustic touchscreen sensors, and/or other type of touchscreen sensors. In some embodiments, the visual signal conveyor212and the display240may be the same component while in other embodiments, they are distinct components.

Referring back toFIG. 1, the network120may be embodied as any number of various wireless or wired networks. For example, the network120may be embodied as, or otherwise include, a publicly-accessible, global network such as the Internet, a cellular network, a wireless or wired wide area network (WAN), or a wireless local area network (LAN). As such, the network120may include any number of additional devices, such as additional computers, routers, and switches, to facilitate communications among the devices of the system.

Referring now toFIG. 3, in the illustrative embodiment, each wearable compute device100may establish an environment300during operation. The illustrative environment300includes a network communication module320, a physiological sensor manager module330, a physiological rate comparison module340, a signal generator module350, and a context manager module360. Each of the modules, logic, and other components of the environment300may be embodied as hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof. As such, in some embodiments, one or more of the modules of the environment300may be embodied as circuitry or collection of electrical devices (e.g., network communication circuitry320, physiological sensor manager circuitry330, physiological rate comparison circuitry340, signal generator circuitry350, context manager circuitry360, etc.). It should be appreciated that, in such embodiments, one or more of the network communication circuitry320, physiological sensor manager circuitry330, physiological rate comparison circuitry340, signal generator circuitry350, and context manager circuitry360may form a portion of one or more of the processor202, signal conveyor devices208, physiological sensors222, context sensors230, and/or other components of the wearable compute device100. Additionally, in some embodiments, one or more of the illustrative modules may form a portion of another module and/or one or more of the illustrative modules may be independent of one another. Further, in some embodiments, one or more of the modules of the environment300may be embodied as virtualized hardware components or emulated architecture, which may be established and maintained by the processor202or other components of the wearable compute device100.

In the illustrative environment300, the wearable compute device100also includes determined physiological rate data302generated or produced using the physiological sensors222, reference physiological rate data304received by the wearable compute device100that indicates physiological rates of another wearer of another wearable compute device100and to which the wearable compute device100may attempt to synchronize the wearer's physiological functions, threshold data306indicative of thresholds to be used in determining whether physiological rates are synchronized between wearers, and contextual data308indicative of environmental conditions or other surrounding circumstances (e.g., images, audio, and/or video) of the wearer. The determined physiological rate data302, the reference physiological rate data304, the threshold data306, and the contextual data308may be accessed by the various modules and/or sub-modules of the wearable compute device100. It should be appreciated that the wearable compute device100may include other components, sub-components, modules, sub-modules, and/or devices commonly found in a compute device, which are not illustrated inFIG. 3for clarity of the description.

The network communication module320, which may be embodied as hardware, firmware, software, virtualized hardware, emulated architecture, and/or a combination thereof as discussed above, is configured to manage inbound and outbound network communications to and from the wearable compute device100, respectively. For example, the network communication module320is configured to transmit determined physiological rate data302(e.g., heart rate data, respiration rate data, etc.), and receive reference physiological data (e.g., heart rate data, respiration rate data, etc. of at least one wearer of another wearable compute device100). The network communication module320may further be configured to pair with one or more other wearable compute devices100prior to communicating with the wearable compute devices100. Further, the network communication module320may be configured to determine a latency in communications with the other wearable compute devices(s)100. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the functionality of the network communication module320may be performed by the communication subsystem220ofFIG. 2.

The physiological sensor manager module330, which may be embodied as hardware, firmware, software, virtualized hardware, emulated architecture, and/or a combination thereof as discussed above, is configured to determine physiological rate data302of the wearer based on sensor data produced by the physiological sensors222. The illustrative physiological sensor manager module330may be configured to receive sensor data indicative of heart beats or inhalations and/or exhalations over a predefined time period, such as ten seconds, and extrapolate the sensor data from that time period to a longer time period, such as a minute. The physiological sensor manager module330may also be configured to determine average rates of various physiological functions (e.g., breathing, heart beats, etc.). Further, the physiological sensor manager module330may be configured to determine a variability in the heart rate and/or the respiration rates. Moreover, the physiological sensor manager module330may be configured to apply one or more filters or otherwise refine sensor data received from the physiological sensors222to remove noise, such as by applying a bandpass filter to the sensor data.

The illustrative physiological rate comparison module340, which may be embodied as hardware, firmware, software, virtualized hardware, emulated architecture, and/or a combination thereof as discussed above, is configured to compare physiological rates indicated in the determined physiological rate data302to physiological rates represented in the reference physiological rate data304. The illustrative physiological rate comparison module340is configured to determine a difference between the physiological rates of the respective sets of data, such as a difference in frequency, phase (i.e., a time offset), and/or amplitude. The physiological rate comparison module340may be configured to adjust the reference physiological rate data304by a latency determined by the network communication module320prior to performing the comparison. The physiological rate comparison module340may additionally be configured to identify an anomaly in the determined physiological rate data302and remove the anomaly from the determined physiological rate data302prior to performing the comparison with the reference physiological rate data304. For example, the physiological rate comparison module340may be configured to determine whether the wearer of the wearable compute device100is presently engaged in a strenuous activity, such as running, swimming, or other exercise, based on an increase in the physiological rates of the wearer that satisfies a predefined threshold change (i.e., a 25% increase in heart rate or respiration rate) and delete or ignore information pertaining to this time period when comparing the determined physiological rate data302to the reference physiological rate data304.

The illustrative signal generator module350, which may be embodied as hardware, firmware, software, virtualized hardware, emulated architecture, and/or a combination thereof as discussed above, is configured to generate a perceptible signal that is representative of the determined difference between the determined physiological rate data302and the reference physiological rate data304and convey the perceptible signal to the user with at least one of the signal conveyor devices208to facilitate synchronization of the physiological functions of the user with the wearer(s) of the other wearable compute device(s)100. To do so, the illustrative signal generator module350includes a signal intensity determination module352, a signal frequency determination module354, and a signal conveyor module356.

The signal intensity determination module352is configured to determine an intensity of the perceptible signal to be conveyed to the wearer of the wearable compute device100. In the illustrative embodiment, the signal intensity determination module352is configured to selectively increase or decrease the intensity based on the determined difference between the determined physiological rate data302and the reference physiological rate data304. As an example, the signal intensity determination module352may be configured to increase the intensity from a baseline level in response to an increase in the determined difference, and to decrease the intensity in response to a decrease in the determined difference decrease. The intensity may be embodied differently depending on the type of signal conveyor device208used to output the signal. For a haptic signal, the intensity may be a pressure or an amplitude of vibration. For a visual signal, the intensity may be a brightness, color, graphical image, or pattern. For an audible signal, the intensity may be a volume, and for a thermal signal, the intensity may be a temperature.

The illustrative signal frequency determination module354is configured to determine a frequency of the perceptible signal to be conveyed to the wearer of the wearable compute device100. In the illustrative embodiment, the determined frequency is the frequency of a reference physiological function (e.g., a heart rate or respiration rate) represented in the reference physiological rate data304. The frequency may be embodied in various forms, depending on the signal conveyor device208used to output the signal. For example, the frequency may be a vibration rate, a color or rate or rate of blinking, a pitch or rate of beeping, etc.

The illustrative signal conveyor module356is configured to transmit an electrical signal to the corresponding signal conveyor device(s)208to produce a perceptible signal in accordance with the intensity and frequency determined by the signal intensity determination module352and the signal frequency determination module354, respectively. The electrical signal may be a data signal, in which the signal indicates the determined intensity and frequency, or may be a power signal, in which the signal provides the electrical power to produce the signal at the determined intensity and frequency.

It should be appreciated that each of the signal intensity determination module352, the signal frequency determination module354, and the signal conveyor module356may be separately embodied as hardware, firmware, software, virtualized hardware, emulated architecture, and/or a combination thereof. For example, the signal intensity determination module352may be embodied as a hardware component, while the signal frequency determination module354and the signal conveyor module356are embodied as virtualized hardware components or as some other combination of hardware, firmware, software, virtualized hardware, emulated architecture, and/or a combination thereof.

The illustrative context manager module360, which may be embodied as hardware, firmware, software, virtualized hardware, emulated architecture, and/or a combination thereof as discussed above, is configured to determine contextual data indicative of a present context of the wearer. In the illustrative embodiment, the context manager module360is configured to store time stamps in association with the contextual data, data indicative of the determined difference between the determined physiological rate data302and the reference physiological rate data304of at least one other person, an indication of an identity of the other person or of the other person's wearable compute device100, and an indication of whether the physiological rate comparison module340determined that the compared physiological rates of the wearer and the other person were synchronized. The context manager module360is illustratively configured to determine the contextual data using one or more of the context sensors230, such as by storing image or video data of an environment of the wearer and the other person (e.g., an image or video of the wearer and the other person walking on a beach) or audio data (e.g., a recording of a conversation between the wearer and the other person). Further, the illustrative context manager module360is configured to present contextual data308associated with a time when the physiological rates were determined to be synchronized. The illustrative context manager module360may be configured to present the contextual data308to the wearer in response to a request from the wearer (e.g., a spoken request, a request through a user interface displayed by the display240, etc.) and/or in response to the physiological rate comparison module340determining that the difference between a physiological rate of the wearer and of other person presently satisfies a predefined threshold difference. By presenting the wearer with such contextual data, the wearable compute device100may prompt the wearer to experience a feeling of closeness with the other person and begin to synchronize his or her physiological functions with those of the other person.

Referring now toFIG. 4, in use, the wearable compute device100may execute a method400for facilitating synchronization of physiological functions between a wearer of the wearable compute device100(e.g., the wearable compute device102) and a wearer of another wearable compute device (e.g., the wearable compute device104). The method400begins with block402, in which one of the wearable compute devices100, such as the wearable compute device102, determines whether to facilitate synchronization of physiological functions with those of at least one other person wearing another wearable compute device100, such as a wearer of the wearable compute device104. In the illustrative embodiment, the wearable compute device100determines to facilitate synchronization of physiological functions in response to a user request provided through a graphical user interface (not shown) presented by the wearable compute device100. In other embodiments, the wearable compute device100may determine to facilitate synchronization of physiological functions in response to detecting the presence, such as a wireless data signal, of one or more other wearable compute devices104,106. Regardless, if the wearable compute device100determines to facilitate synchronization of physiological functions, the method400advances to block404in which the wearable compute device100establishes communication with the wearable compute device(s)100of other user(s). In doing so, as indicated in block406, the wearable compute device100may receive a selection of one or more of the other wearable compute devices100to communicate with, such as through a graphical user interface (not shown) presented by the wearable compute device100. As indicated in block408, the wearable compute device100may pair with the other wearable compute device(s)100, such as by exchanging device identifiers (e.g., names, serial numbers, media access control (MAC) addresses, etc.), communication settings, and, in some embodiments passwords, PINs, or other authorization credentials.

In block410, the wearable compute device100determines the physiological rate data302of the user (i.e., wearer) of the present wearable compute device100using the physiological sensor(s)222. In doing so, the wearable compute device100may determine a heart rate of the user as indicated in block412. As indicated in block414, the wearable compute device100may determine a heart rate variability of the user. Additionally or alternatively, the wearable compute device100may determine a respiration rate of the user, as indicated in block416. In determining the above rates, the wearable compute device100may receive sensor data produced by the respective physiological sensors222over a time period, such as ten seconds, and extrapolate the sensor data to a longer time period, such as a minute. Further, the wearable compute device100may determine an average physiological rate over several iterations of a predefined time period, such as an average heart rate over several minutes. As indicated in block418, the wearable compute device100may filter anomalies from the determined physiological rate data302such as by applying a bandpass filter to eliminate noise in frequency bands that are not associated with the physiological functions to be monitored and/or removing physiological rate data associated with exercise or other activities that temporarily change the rate of the physiological functions by a threshold amount.

In the illustrative embodiment, in block420, the wearable compute device100transmits the determined physiological rate data302to the wearable compute device(s)100of the other user(s) with which the wearable compute device100established communication in block404. Subsequently, in block422, the wearable compute device100receives reference physiological rate data304. In the illustrative embodiment, the wearable compute device100receives the reference physiological rate data304from the wearable compute device(s) of the other user(s). In receiving the reference physiological rate data, the wearable compute device100may determine latencies in the communications and adjust the received reference physiological rate data304based on the transmission latencies, as indicated in block424. This may be beneficial in enabling the wearable compute device100to more accurately determine a degree to which the physiological rates of the wearer differ from those of the other user(s). In some embodiments, the wearable compute device100receives or obtains predefined reference physiological rate data that is not necessarily indicative of physiological function rates of any of the users. Rather, the predefined reference physiological rate data may be representative of a target set of physiological function rates that the users wish to synchronize their physiological functions with (e.g., a target heart rate during an exercise class, etc.).

After the wearable compute device100receives the reference physiological rate data304in block424, the method300advances to block426ofFIG. 5in some embodiments. In block426, the illustrative wearable compute device100may convey a perceptible signal indicative of the reference physiological rate data304to the user of the present wearable compute device100. In block428, the wearable compute device100determines a difference between the determined physiological rate data302and the reference physiological rate data304. In doing so, the wearable compute device100may determine differences of various aspects, including phases, amplitudes, and/or frequencies, of the corresponding physiological rates. In some embodiments, the wearable compute device100may consolidate the differences into a total value that is representative of the differences in the various aspects. In block430, the wearable compute device100generates a perceptible signal indicative of the determined difference between the determined physiological rate data302and the reference physiological rate data304. In doing so, the wearable compute device100may determine a signal intensity based on the determined difference, as indicated in block432. For example, the wearable compute device100may set the intensity (i.e., volume, brightness, etc.) of the signal higher the more out of synchronization (i.e., the greater the difference) the compared physiological rates are, and lower the intensity the more synchronized the compared physiological rates are. In other embodiments, the wearable compute device100may operate in the opposite manner, increasing the intensity as the determined difference decreases and decreasing the intensity as the determined difference increases. As indicated in block434, the wearable compute device100may determine a signal frequency (i.e., pitch, color, rate of blinking, rate of beeping, rate of vibration, etc.) based on the determined difference. In other embodiments, the frequency may be the rate of a physiological function represented in the reference physiological rate data304, such as the heart rate or respiration rate of a person to whom the wearer of the wearable compute device100is to synchronize their physiological functions.

In block436, the wearable compute device100conveys the perceptible signal to the user of the present wearable compute device100. As described above, the perceptible signal may be embodied in various forms depending on the signal conveyor device(s)208used to produce the perceptible signal. As indicated in block438, the wearable compute device100may convey a haptic signal to the wearer. As described above, the haptic signal may be a vibration, a pulse, a tightening or loosening of the wearable compute device around a portion of the wearer's body, or other tactile sensation. Additionally or alternatively, as indicated in block440, the wearable compute device100may convey a visual signal to the wearer, such as a blinking and/or colored light, a graphical display of the determined difference such as a numeric value, an icon, or other visual representation of the determined difference. As indicated in block442, the wearable compute device100may convey an audible signal, such as a breathing sound, a heartbeat sound, a beeping sound, a tone, or other audible representation of the determined difference. Additionally or alternatively, as indicated in block444, the wearable compute device100may convey a thermal signal, such as increase in temperature in an area where the wearable compute device100is in physical contact with the wearer. The wearable compute device100may, in some embodiments, decrease in temperature as the determined difference between the wearer's physiological functions and the reference physiological functions decreases, and increase in temperature as the determined difference increases, or vice versa.

In block446, the wearable compute device100determines whether the compared physiological functions of the wearer and the person associated with the reference physiological rate data are synchronized, based on the determined difference. In doing so, as indicated in block448, the illustrative wearable compute device100compares the determined difference to a threshold difference. For example, the determined difference may be a numeric value indicative of a difference in frequency, phase, and/or amplitude between compared heart rate data, respiration rate data, or heart rate variability data and the threshold difference may be a numeric value indicative of an acceptable level of synchronization. It should be appreciated that the threshold difference may be greater than zero, meaning the compared physiological rates need not be identical in order to be determined to be synchronized by the wearable compute device100.

After the wearable compute device100determines whether the compared physiological functions of the wearer and the person associated with the reference physiological rate data are synchronized in block446, the method400advances to block450ofFIG. 6. In block450, the wearable compute device100determines whether the compared physiological rates of the wearer are synchronized with those of the one or more other wearers. If so, the method advances to block452, in which the wearable compute device100obtains contextual data. In doing so, as indicated in block454, the wearable compute device100may obtain an image or video, such as an image or video of the wearer and a person or people with whom the wearer is synchronized. As indicated in block456, the wearable compute device100may obtain audio, such a recording of environmental sounds, a conversation, or other audio indicative of the present circumstances of the wearer. In other words, the wearable compute device100obtains data regarding the surrounding circumstances of the wearer that are associated with the physiological functions being synchronized with the other wearer(s). In block458, the wearable compute device100stores the obtained contextual data with an indicator that the physiological functions were synchronized at that time. As indicated in block460, the wearable compute device100may store the obtained contextual data in association with an identification of the person or people with whom the wearer's physiological functions were synchronized. Also, as indicated in block462, the wearable compute device100may store a timestamp of the time associated with the obtained contextual data.

If, in block450, the wearable compute device100instead determines that the physiological functions are not synchronized, the illustrative wearable compute device100presents stored contextual data indicative of a previous synchronization of the physiological functions. In doing so, the wearable compute device100may presented a stored image or video clip, as indicated in block466. As indicated in block468, the wearable compute device100may additionally or alternatively present stored audio. In the illustrative embodiment, the wearable compute device100selects stored contextual data that is associated with the one or more people with whom the wearer is to be synchronized (i.e., the wearer(s) of the wearable compute device(s) that are in communication with the present wearable compute device100). In response to receiving the presented contextual data from a previous time when the wearer was synchronized with the one or more other people, the wearer may be physiologically prompted to adjust his or her physiological function rates to be more synchronized with those of the one or more other people. Of course, if the wearable compute device100does not presently have any previously stored contextual data associated with a time when the physiological functions were synchronized, the wearable compute device100will not present any such contextual data. In block470, the wearable compute device100determines whether to continue synchronization. In the illustrative embodiment, the wearable compute device100may continually operate to achieve and maintain synchronization unless the wearable compute device100receives a request to stop, such as through a user interface or from another wearable compute device100, after a predefined time limit elapses, or after any other condition associated with discontinuing synchronization has occurred. If the wearable compute device100determines to continue operating to achieve and/or maintain synchronization, the method400loops back to block410ofFIG. 4, in which the wearable compute device100again determines the physiological rate data302of the wearer of the wearable compute device100. Otherwise, the method400loops back to block402ofFIG. 4, in which the wearable compute device100determines whether to synchronize physiological functions.

EXAMPLES

Example 1 includes a wearable compute device for synchronizing physiological functions of a user with reference physiological rate data, the wearable compute device comprising at least one physiological sensor to produce sensor data indicative of one or more physiological functions of the user; at least one signal conveyor device; a physiological sensor manager module to determine physiological rate data of the user based on the sensor data produced by the at least one physiological sensor; a physiological rate comparison module to determine a difference between the determined physiological rate data of the user and the reference physiological rate data; and a signal generator module to generate a perceptible signal that is representative of the determined difference and convey the perceptible signal to the user with the at least one signal conveyor device to facilitate synchronization of the physiological functions of the user with the reference physiological rate data.

Example 2 includes the subject matter of Example 1, and further including a network communication module to receive the reference physiological rate data from a second wearable compute device associated with at least one other person.

Example 3 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1 and 2, and further including a network communication module to transmit the detected physiological rate data to a second wearable compute device worn by another person.

Example 4 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-3, and wherein the physiological rate comparison module is further to identify an anomaly in the detected physiological rate data; and remove the anomaly from the detected physiological rate data before the determination of the difference between the detected physiological rate data and the reference physiological rate data.

Example 5 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-4, and wherein to identify the anomaly comprises to identify a change in the detected physiological rate data; determine whether the change satisfies a predefined threshold; and identify, in response to a determination that the change satisfies the predefined threshold, the change as an anomaly.

Example 6 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-5, and wherein to detect the physiological rate data comprises to detect at least one of a heart rate, a respiration rate, or a heart rate variability.

Example 7 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-6, and wherein the physiological rate comparison module is further to determine that the difference satisfies a predefined threshold and the wearable compute device further comprises at least one context sensor to produce sensor data; and a context manager module to determine contextual data indicative of a present context of the user and another person based on the sensor data produced by the context sensor, and store the obtained contextual data.

Example 8 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-7, and wherein the physiological rate comparison module is further to determine that the difference satisfies a predefined threshold and the wearable compute device further comprises a context manager module to present contextual data to the user indicative of an identified time when the physiological functions of the user were determined to be synchronized with physiological functions of another person.

Example 9 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-8, and wherein to present the contextual data comprises to present an image of a context of the user and the other person associated with the identified time when the physiological functions of the user were determined to be synchronized with the physiological functions of the other person.

Example 10 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-9, and wherein to convey the perceptible signal comprises to convey at least one of a haptic signal, a visual signal, an audible signal, or a thermal signal.

Example 11 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-10, and wherein to generate the perceptible signal comprises to determine an intensity of the perceptible signal based on a magnitude of the determined difference.

Example 12 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-11, and wherein to generate the perceptible signal comprises to determine a frequency of the perceptible signal based on a magnitude of the determined difference.

Example 13 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-12, and further including a network communication module to pair with a second wearable compute device associated with another person; and receive the reference physiological rate data from the second wearable compute device after the wearable compute device has paired with the second wearable compute device.

Example 14 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-13, and wherein the signal generator module is further to convey a haptic signal representative of the reference physiological rate data to the user.

Example 15 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 1-14, and further including a network communication module to determine a transmission latency associated with the reference physiological rate data, and the physiological rate comparison module is further to adjust the reference physiological rate data based on the determined transmission latency.

Example 16 includes a method for synchronizing physiological functions of a user with reference physiological rate data, comprising determining, by the wearable compute device, physiological rate data of the user of the wearable compute device based on sensor data produced by at least one physiological sensor included in the wearable compute device, wherein the sensor data is indicative of one or more physiological functions of the user; determining, by the wearable compute device, a difference between the determined physiological rate data of the user and the reference physiological rate data; generating, by the wearable compute device, a perceptible signal that is representative of the determined difference; and conveying, by the wearable compute device, the perceptible signal to the user with at least one signal conveyor device included in the wearable compute device, to facilitate synchronization of the physiological functions of the user with the reference physiological rate data.

Example 17 includes the subject matter of Example 16, and further including receiving, by the wearable compute device, the reference physiological rate data from a second wearable compute device associated with at least one other person.

Example 18 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 16 and 17, and further including transmitting, by the wearable compute device, the detected physiological rate data to a second wearable compute device worn by another person.

Example 19 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 16-18, and further including identifying, by the wearable compute device, an anomaly in the detected physiological rate data; and removing, by the wearable compute device, the anomaly from the detected physiological rate data before the determination of the difference between the detected physiological rate data and the reference physiological rate data.

Example 20 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 16-19, and wherein identifying the anomaly comprises identifying a change in the detected physiological rate data; determining whether the change satisfies a predefined threshold; and identifying, in response to a determination that the change satisfies the predefined threshold, the change as an anomaly.

Example 21 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 16-20, and wherein detecting the physiological rate data comprises detecting at least one of a heart rate, a respiration rate, or a heart rate variability.

Example 22 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 16-21, and wherein the wearable compute device includes a context sensor to produce sensor data, the method further comprising determining, by the wearable compute device, that the difference satisfies a predefined threshold; determining, by the wearable compute device, contextual data indicative of a present context of the user and another person based on the sensor data produced by the context sensor; and storing, by the wearable compute device, the obtained contextual data.

Example 23 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 16-22, and further including determining, by the wearable compute device, that the difference satisfies a predefined threshold; and presenting, by the wearable compute device, contextual data to the user indicative of an identified time when the physiological functions of the user were determined to be synchronized with physiological functions of another person.

Example 24 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 16-23, and wherein presenting the contextual data comprises presenting an image of a context of the user and the other person associated with the identified time when the physiological functions of the user were determined to be synchronized with the physiological functions of the other person.

Example 25 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 16-24, and wherein conveying the perceptible signal comprises conveying at least one of a haptic signal, a visual signal, an audible signal, or a thermal signal.

Example 26 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 16-25, and wherein generating the perceptible signal comprises determining an intensity of the perceptible signal based on a magnitude of the determined difference.

Example 27 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 16-26, and wherein generating the perceptible signal comprises determining a frequency of the perceptible signal based on a magnitude of the determined difference.

Example 28 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 16-27, and further including pairing the wearable compute device with a second wearable compute device associated with another person; and receiving the reference physiological rate data from the second wearable compute device after pairing with the wearable compute device with the second wearable compute device.

Example 29 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 16-28, and further including conveying a haptic signal representative of the reference physiological rate data to the user.

Example 30 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 16-29, and further including determining, by the wearable compute device, a transmission latency associated with the reference physiological rate data; and adjusting, by the wearable compute device, the reference physiological rate data based on the determined transmission latency.

Example 31 includes one or more computer-readable storage media comprising a plurality of instructions that, when executed by a wearable compute device, cause the wearable compute device to perform the method of any of Examples 16-30.

Example 32 includes a wearable compute device for synchronizing physiological functions of a user with reference physiological rate data, comprising means for determining physiological rate data of the user of the wearable compute device based on sensor data produced by at least one physiological sensor included in the wearable compute device, wherein the sensor data is indicative of one or more physiological functions of the user; means for determining a difference between the determined physiological rate data of the user and the reference physiological rate data; means for generating a perceptible signal that is representative of the determined difference; and means for conveying the perceptible signal to the user with at least one signal conveyor device included in the wearable compute device, to facilitate synchronization of the physiological functions of the user with the reference physiological rate data.

Example 33 includes the subject matter of Example 32, and, further including means for receiving the reference physiological rate data from a second wearable compute device associated with at least one other person.

Example 34 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 32 and 33, and further including means for transmitting the detected physiological rate data to a second wearable compute device worn by another person.

Example 35 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 32-34, and further including means for identifying an anomaly in the detected physiological rate data; and means for removing the anomaly from the detected physiological rate data before the determination of the difference between the detected physiological rate data and the reference physiological rate data.

Example 36 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 32-35, and wherein identifying the anomaly comprises means for identifying a change in the detected physiological rate data; means for determining whether the change satisfies a predefined threshold; and means for identifying, in response to a determination that the change satisfies the predefined threshold, the change as an anomaly.

Example 37 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 32-36, and wherein the means for detecting the physiological rate data comprises means for detecting at least one of a heart rate, a respiration rate, or a heart rate variability.

Example 38 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 32-37, and further including means for determining that the difference satisfies a predefined threshold; means for determining contextual data indicative of a present context of the user and another person based on sensor data produced by a context sensor; and means for storing the obtained contextual data.

Example 39 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 32-38, and further including means for determining that the difference satisfies a predefined threshold; and means for presenting contextual data to the user indicative of an identified time when the physiological functions of the user were determined to be synchronized with physiological functions of another person.

Example 40 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 32-39, and wherein the means for presenting the contextual data comprises means for presenting an image of a context of the user and the other person associated with the identified time when the physiological functions of the user were determined to be synchronized with the physiological functions of the other person.

Example 41 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 32-40, and wherein the means for conveying the perceptible signal comprises means for conveying at least one of a haptic signal, a visual signal, an audible signal, or a thermal signal.

Example 42 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 32-41, and wherein the means for generating the perceptible signal comprises means for determining an intensity of the perceptible signal based on a magnitude of the determined difference.

Example 43 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 32-42, and wherein the means for generating the perceptible signal comprises means for determining a frequency of the perceptible signal based on a magnitude of the determined difference.

Example 44 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 32-43, and further including means for pairing the wearable compute device with a second wearable compute device associated with another person; and means receiving the reference physiological rate data from the second wearable compute device after pairing with the wearable compute device with the second wearable compute device.

Example 45 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 32-44, and further including means for conveying a haptic signal representative of the reference physiological rate data to the user.

Example 46 includes the subject matter of any of Examples 32-45, and further including means for determining a transmission latency associated with the reference physiological rate data; and means for adjusting the reference physiological rate data based on the determined transmission latency.