Patent Publication Number: US-2019191006-A1

Title: Social media networking based on physiologic information

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/899,704 entitled SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORKING BASED ON PHYSIOLOGIC INFORMATION, filed on Nov. 4, 2013, which is herein entirely incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     INTRODUCTION 
     The present disclosure is related generally to social-networking system based alone or in part on physiologic information. The physiologic information is provided to the social-networking system via a personal body-associated communicator worn by a user. The personal communicator includes sensors and has the capability to detect physiologic parameters associated with the user. The body-associated personal communicator also is capable of detecting ingestion events based on ingestible event marker technology. 
     A social-networking system, which may include a social-networking system website, enable its users (such as persons or organizations) to interact with it and with each other. The social-networking system may, with input from a user, create and store user profiles associated with the users. A user profile may include demographic information, communication-channel information, and information on personal interests of the user. The social-networking system also may, with input from a user, create and store a record of relationships between the user and other users of the social-networking system. The social-networking system also may provide services (e.g., wall posts, photo-sharing, event organization, messaging, games, or advertisements) to facilitate social interaction between or among users. 
     The social-networking system may transmit over one or more networks content or messages related to its services to a mobile or other computing device associated with a user. A user also may install software applications on a mobile or other computing device of the user for accessing a user profile of the user and other data within the social-networking system. The social-networking system may generate a personalized set of content objects to display to a user, such as a newsfeed of aggregated stories of other users connected to the user. 
     A mobile computing device—such as a smartphone, tablet computer, or laptop computer—may include functionality for determining its location, direction, or orientation, such as a GPS receiver, compass, or gyroscope. Such a device may also include functionality for wireless communication, such as BLUETOOTH™ communication, near-field communication (NFC), or infrared (IR) communication or communication with wireless local area networks (WLANs) or cellular-telephone network. Such a device may also include one or more cameras, scanners, touchscreens, microphones, or speakers. Mobile computing devices also may execute software applications, such as games, web browsers, or social-networking applications. With social-networking applications, users may connect, communicate, and share information with other users in their social networks. 
     Social-media technologies take on many different forms including magazines, Internet forums, weblogs, social blogs, microblogging, wikis, social networks, podcasts, photographs or pictures, video, rating and social bookmarking. Technologies include blogging, picture-sharing, vlogs, wall-posting, music-sharing, crowdsourcing and voice over IP, to name a few. Social network aggregation can integrate many of the platforms in use. 
     When social media is used in combination with mobile devices it is called mobile social media. This is a group of mobile marketing applications that allow the creation and exchange of user-generated content. Due to the fact that mobile social media runs on mobile devices, it differentiates from traditional social media as it incorporates new factors such as the current location of the user (location-sensitivity) or the time delay between sending and receiving messages (time-sensitivity). 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, this disclosure is directed to providing access to social-network systems based on physiologic information of individual users associated with the social-network system. In a particular embodiment, a client system receives physiologic and/or ingestion information from a physiologic sensing platform associated with the individual users as described herein. A wireless access point may receive a request from the client system to access a network through the wireless access point using the physiologic and/or ingestion information. For example, the physiologic sensing platform may acquire physiologic information associated with a user and may connect to the client system. The physiologic sensing platform may include a receiver in the form of a body-associated personal communicator configured to detect physiologic parameters associated with the user, ingestion events, and/or provided two-way wireless communication to/from the client system. The client system may include, for example, a desktop computer, in-car computer, game console, handheld game console, laptop, notebook, palmtop, tablet computer, smartphone, smartbook, and PDA (personal digital assistant), programmable calculator, among others. The client device connects to a wired and/or wireless access point and attempts to access the Internet through Wi-Fi provided by the wireless access point. The access point may send an identifier associated with the client system and/or the physiologic information and/or ingestion information associated with the user to the social-networking system. The social-networking system may include user profiles arranged in any organized manner and in one aspect, at least one social graph that stores relationships between the user profiles based on the physiologic and/or ingestion information. The social-networking system may determine whether network access (e.g., Wi-Fi) should be provided to the client system based on the identifier associated with the client system and/or physiologic information and/or ingestion information associated with the user based upon a user profile of the social-networking system. The social-networking system may then send the determination to the wireless access point. The social-networking system may provide network access to the client system in accordance with the determination by the social-networking system. 
     In one aspect, a method is provided for receiving physiologic information at a social-networking system from a body-associated personal communicator. 
     In another aspect, a social-networking system is provided. The social-networking system is configured to receive physiological information from a body-associated personal communicator. 
     In yet another aspect, a body-associated personal communicator is provided. The body-associated personal communicator is configured to receive physiologic information and communicate the physiologic information to a social-networking system. 
    
    
     
       FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  illustrates one aspect of a social media personal communication system. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates an example network environment associated with a social-networking system and an access point. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a subject using a mobile device comprising electrodes for detecting personal electrical signals from the body of the subject. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates one aspect of a mobile device comprising electrodes for detecting electrical signals that may be employed to authenticate the identity of the subject to enable the subject to get access to the mobile device. 
         FIG. 5  is system diagram of one aspect of a mobile device configured to detect electrical signals for authenticating the identity of the subject. 
         FIG. 6  is a block functional diagram of one aspect of an authentication subsystem for detecting and/or generating a transconductance signal to confirm the identity of a person. 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram representation of one aspect of the event indicator system with dissimilar metals positioned on opposite ends. 
         FIG. 8  is a block diagram representation of another aspect of the event indicator system with dissimilar metals positioned on the same end and separated by a non-conducting material. 
         FIG. 9  shows ionic transfer or the current path through a conducting fluid when the event indicator system of  FIG. 9  is in contact with conducting liquid and in an active state. 
         FIG. 9A  shows an exploded view of the surface of dissimilar materials of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 9B  shows the event indicator system of  FIG. 11  with a pH sensor unit. 
         FIG. 10  is a block diagram illustration of one aspect of the control device used in the system of  FIGS. 7 and 8 . 
         FIG. 11  is a functional block diagram of a demodulation circuit that performs coherent demodulation that may be present in a receiver, according to one aspect. 
         FIG. 12  illustrates a functional block diagram for a beacon module within a receiver, according to one aspect. 
         FIG. 13  is a block diagram of the different functional modules that may be present in a receiver, according to one aspect. 
         FIG. 14  is a block diagram of a receiver, according to one aspect. 
         FIG. 15  provides a block diagram of a high frequency signal chain in a receiver, according to one aspect. 
         FIG. 16  provides a diagram of how a system that includes a signal receiver and an ingestible event marker may be employed, according to one aspect. 
         FIG. 17  is a flow diagram of a method associated with a social-networking system 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     Before explaining the various aspects of a social-networking system in detail, it should be noted that the various aspects disclosed herein are not limited in their application or use to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings and description. Rather, any disclosed aspect of the social-networking system may be positioned or incorporated in other aspects, variations, and modifications thereof, and may be practiced or carried out in various ways. Accordingly, aspects of the social-networking system disclosed herein are illustrative in nature and are not meant to limit the scope or application thereof. Furthermore, unless otherwise indicated, the terms and expressions employed herein have been chosen for the purpose of describing the aspects for the convenience of the reader and are not to limit the scope thereof. In addition, it should be understood that any one or more of the disclosed aspects, expressions of aspects, and/or examples thereof, can be combined with any one or more of the other disclosed aspects, expressions of aspects, and/or examples thereof, without limitation. 
     In the following description, like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views. Also, in the following description, it is to be understood that terms such as front, back, inside, outside, top, bottom and the like are words of convenience and are not to be construed as limiting terms. Terminology used herein is not meant to be limiting insofar as devices described herein, or portions thereof, may be attached or utilized in other orientations. The various aspects will be described in more detail with reference to the drawings. 
     It will be appreciated that the term “medication” or “dose form” as used throughout this disclosure includes various forms of ingestible, inhalable, injectable, absorbable, or otherwise consumable medicaments and/or carriers therefor such as, for example, pills, capsules, gel caps, placebos, over capsulation carriers or vehicles, herbal, over-the-counter (OTC) substances, supplements, prescription-only medication, ingestible event markers (IEM), and the like. 
     In one aspect, the present specification provides a body-associated personal wearable communication devices (“body-associated personal communicator”). In one aspect, the body-associated personal communicator is in communication with a living subject. In one aspect, the body-associated personal communicator is in communication with a local node external to the body of the living subject. In one aspect, the local node is in communication with a remote node via a network and, accordingly, the living subject is able to communicate with the remote node. Information also may be communicated from the remote node and/or the local node to the living subject via the body-associated personal communicator. In various aspects, the two-way communication between the living subject and the body-associated personal communicator occurs discreetly such that the communications are non-detectable by humans. Such discreet mode of communication minimizes the intrusiveness into the living subject&#39;s sense of privacy and enhances the likelihood that the living subject will accept the personal communicator and use it in a prescribed manner. 
     In another aspect, the present specification provides a body-associated personal communicator that senses personal physiologic parameters of the living subject and communicates such parameters to the local node and in some aspects to the remote node. Information associated with the personal physiologic parameters also may be communicated from the remote node and/or the local node to the living subject via the body-associated personal communicator. As described above, communications between the individual and the body-associated personal communicator occurs discreetly to enhance the likelihood of acceptance of the body-associated personal communicator by the living subject. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates one aspect of a social media personal communication system  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a receiver, otherwise referred to herein as a body-associated personal communicator  104 , is positioned on a living subject  102 . The living subject  102  may be a human or non-human being. In various aspects, the body-associated personal communicator  104  may be realized in many forms and configurations including sensor-enabled patches, watches, and jewelry, as shown in  FIG. 1 , for example, as well as a bandage with an adhesive portion, wristbands, earrings, bracelets, rings, pendants, clothing, undergarments, hats, caps, scarves, pins, accessories, belts, shoes, eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing-aides, subcutaneous implants, and other devices that are wearable, implantable, or semi-implantable on or in the living subject  102  without limitation. The body-associated personal communicator  104  is configured to communicate with the living subject  102  and an external local node  106 . The external local node  106  is configured to communicate with a remote node  110  via a network  108 . In one aspect, the body-associated personal communicator  104  is configured to communicate with the remote node  110  directly. It will be appreciated that in the context of the present disclosure, communication is intended to encompass communications to and from the personal communicator  104  and the external local node  106 . Likewise, communication is intended to encompass communications to and from the body-associated personal communicator  104  and the remote node  110  as well as communications to and from the external local node  106  and the remote node  110 . 
     The body-associated personal communicator  104  may comprise any number of distinct physiologic parameter or biomarker collecting and/or sensing capabilities. The number of distinct parameters or biomarker collecting and/or sensing capabilities may vary e.g., one or more, two or more, three or more, four or more, five or more, ten or more, and so on. In certain configurations, the body-associated personal communicator  104  comprises one or more active components that are able to dynamically monitor and record individual physiologic parameters and/or biomarkers associated with the living subject  102 . Such components include, without limitation, sensors, electronic recording devices, processors, memory, communication components. In one aspect, the body-associated personal communicator  104  may include an on-board battery to supply electrical power to the active components. The physiologic parameter or biomarker sensing abilities may include sensing cardio-data, including heart rate, electrocardiogram (ECG), and the like, respiration rate, temperature, pressure, chemical composition of fluid, e.g., analyte in blood, fluid state, blood flow rate, physical activity, sleep, accelerometer motion data, without limitation, for example. 
     In one aspect, the body-associated personal communicator  104  provides specific information about the physiologic state of the subject  102 . In another aspect, some of this information may be derived from sensors embedded in the body-associated personal communicator  104 . The subject  102  may obtain the body-associated personal communicator  104  with a prescription, for example, and then wear the body-associated personal communicator  104  for a prescribed period, e.g., hours, days, weeks, months, years. 
     In one aspect, the body-associated personal communicator  104  includes, is configured to (a) monitor and record individual physiology, e.g., physical activity, heart rate, respiration, temperature, sleep, fluidics information, etc., of the living subject  102  and (b) communicate these parameters beyond the body of the living subject  102  to other client devices, e.g., mobile phones, computers, internet servers, etc., in order to (c) enable support and collaboration for fitness, wellbeing, disease management, sport, entertainment, gaming, social goals and other applications on a social media platform. A challenge for such body-associated personal communicators  104  is creating a compelling rationale for the individual  102  to wear or use the body-associated personal communicator  104  on a continuous basis—for example, to apply an adhesive bandage-based body-associated personal communicator  104  to their skin for weeks, months and potentially years and accept the possibility of its inconveniences and limitations, such as (i) potential skin irritation, (ii) the burden of frequent application and removal, and (iii) a feeling of intrusiveness into the wearer&#39;s daily life. An opportunity for the personal communicator  104  is to exploit fundamental “intimacy” advantages they have over other sensor-enabled and communication devices that are not worn on or in the body—a body-associated personal communicator  104  interface with the individual  102  is by definition highly personal and tangible, with the ability to have private, communication between the individual and the personal communicator (leveraging physical, tactile “body language” or other signals), where the communication is substantially undetectable by others. In this manner, the body-associated personal communicator  104  may enable product and service possibilities not feasible with other approaches. The body language opportunity seeks to overcome at least some of the challenges and burdens of the body-associated personal communicator  104  to create a compelling rationale to make the body-associated personal communicator  104  as indispensable to a consumer as the mobile phone as an extension of their mind and body. In one aspect, discreet communications between the body-associated personal communicator  104  and the living subject  102  can be auditory via a small earpiece placed inside the ear canal, or visual via images projected on specialized eye glasses worn by living subject  102 . In other aspects, discreet modes of communication between the living subject  102  and the personal communicator  104  include, without limitation, visual, auditory, vibratory, tactile, olfactory, and taste as described in the form of illustrative examples hereinbelow. 
     In one aspect, the body-associated personal communicator  104 , for example a sensor patch that adheres to the skin of an individual such as the living subject  102 , communicates with its wearer by sending and receiving tactile or other signals. The default settings may be modified such that the body-associated personal communicator  104  discreetly vibrates or pulses in a specific manner or pattern, e.g., time or space based, to remind the subject  102  of important events or to communicate important personalized messages to the wearer. The default settings also may be modified such that the subject  102  can transmit and record meaningful inputs and messages to the body-associated personal communicator  104  by communicating a simple language of finger taps, jiggles, scratches or other physical inputs initiated by the subject  102 . Through the body-associated personal communicator  104  communications architecture, e.g., a BLUETOOTH™ or other communication links to other devices beyond the body, the composite set of sensed physiology, tactile inputs, and outputs can be transmitted to other individuals, groups, caregivers, and related products, e.g., online games, of the subject&#39;s  102  choosing via the external local node  106 , network  108 , and/or the remote node  110 . The features of the body-associated personal communicator  104  are based on a sustained behavior change mechanism and it increases the value and potential of body-associated personal communicators  104  and the likelihood that consumers will seek out, use, and benefit from such body-associated personal communicators  104 . 
     In-body communications include any communication of data or information via the body of the living subject  102 , i.e., communication via or associated with inter-body aspects, intra-body aspects, and a combination of the same. For example, inter-body aspects include communications associated with devices designed to attach to a body surface. Intra-body aspects include communications associated with data generated from within the body, e.g., by the body itself or by a device implanted, ingested, or otherwise locatable in, or partially in, the body. For example, intra-body communications are disclosed in the U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/251088, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     Communications include and/or may be associated with software, hardware, circuitry, various devices, and combinations thereof. 
     The devices include devices associated with physiologic data generation, transmission, reception, communication. The devices further include various implantable, ingestible, insertable, and/or attachable devices associated with the human body or other living organisms. The devices still further include multimedia devices such as telephones, stereos, audio players, PDAs, handheld devices, and multimedia players. 
     The system for incorporating physiologic data enables exchange, transmission, receipt, manipulation, management, storage, and other activities and events related to physiologic data. Such activities and events may be contained within the system for incorporating physiologic data, partially integrated with the system for incorporating physiologic data, or associated with externalities, e.g., activities, systems, components, and the like which are external to the system for incorporating physiologic data. 
     The physiologic data environment includes any source of information or data, including remote computer systems, local computer devices. The information or data may comprise physiologic data in whole or in part, e.g., aggregated or generated with other types of data. The physiologic data may be pure or refined, e.g., physiologic data from which inferences are drawn. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the body-associated personal communicator  104 , regardless of form factor or implementation is in communication with an external local node  106 . In one aspect, the body-associated personal communicator  104  includes the capability of communicating, e.g., receiving, transmitting, generating, and recording data directly or indirectly from the living subject  102 . Although the data may include physiologic data, it is not limited as such. Any data of a physiologic nature may be associated with the living subject  102 . The physiologic data may include, for example, heart rate, heart rate variability, respiration rate, body temperature, temperature of local environment, three-axis measurement of activity and torso angle, as well as other physiologic data, metrics, inertial measurements comprising at least an accelerometer, a gyroscope, and a magnetometer, and indicators associated with one or more individuals. The physiologic data may be communicated at various times or time intervals to the external local node  106 . For example, the communication may be real-time, i.e., in close temporal proximity to a time in which the physiologic data were generated, measured, ascertained, or on an historical basis, i.e., in far temporal proximity to a time in which the physiologic data was generated, measured, ascertained. In various aspects, the physiologic data may be associated with a variety of devices, e.g., cardiac device. 
     In one aspect, the external local node  106  may be configured as a communication hub and may include any hardware device, software, and/or communications component(s), as well as systems, subsystems, and combinations of the same which generally function to communicate physiologic and non-physiologic data between the personal communicator  104  and the external local node  106 . Communication of the data includes receiving, storing, manipulating, displaying, processing, and/or transmitting the data to the remote node  110  via the network  108 . 
     In various aspects, the external local node  106  also functions to communicate, e.g., receive and transmit, non-physiologic data. Example of non-physiologic data include gaming rules and data generated by a separate cardiac-related device such as an implanted pacemaker and communicated to the hub directly or indirectly, e.g., via the personal communicator  104 . 
     Broad categories of external local nodes  106  include, for example, base stations, personal communication devices, handheld devices, and mobile telephones. In various aspects, the external local node  106  may be implemented as a handheld portable device, computer, mobile telephone, sometimes referred to as a smartphone, tablet personal computer (PC), kiosk, desktop computer, laptop computer, game console, or any combination thereof. Although some aspects of the external local node  106  may be described with a mobile or fixed computing device implemented as a smart phone, personal digital assistant, laptop, desktop computer by way of example, it may be appreciated that the various aspects are not limited in this context. For example, a mobile computing device may comprise, or be implemented as, any type of wireless device, mobile station, or portable computing device with a self-contained power source, e.g., battery, such as the laptop computer, ultra-laptop computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), cellular telephone, combination cellular telephone/PDA, mobile unit, subscriber station, user terminal, portable computer, handheld computer, palmtop computer, wearable computer, media player, pager, messaging device, data communication device, and so forth. A fixed computing device, for example, may be implemented as a desk top computer, workstation, client/server computer, and so forth. 
     The external local node  106  comprises personal communication devices including, for example, devices having communication and computer functionality and typically intended for individual use, e.g., mobile computers, sometimes referred to as “handheld devices.” Base stations comprise any device or appliance capable of receiving data such as physiologic data. Examples include computers, such as desktop computers and laptop computers, and intelligent devices/appliances. Intelligent devices/appliances include consumer and home devices and appliances that are capable of receipt of data such as physiologic data. Intelligent devices/appliances may also perform other data-related functions, e.g., transmit, display, store, and/or process data. Examples of intelligent devices/appliances include refrigerators, weight scales, toilets, televisions, door frame activity monitors, bedside monitors, bed scales. Such devices and appliances may include additional functionality such as sensing or monitoring various physiologic data, e.g., weight, heart rate. Mobile telephones include telephonic communication devices associated with various mobile technologies, e.g., cellular networks. 
     In various aspects, the external local node  106  may provide voice and/or data communications functionality in accordance with different types of cellular radiotelephone systems. Examples of cellular radiotelephone systems may include Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems, Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) systems, North American Digital Cellular (NADC) systems, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) systems, Extended-TDMA (E-TDMA) systems, Narrowband Advanced Mobile Phone Service (NAMPS) systems, 3G systems such as Wide-band CDMA (WCDMA), CDMA-2000, Universal Mobile Telephone System (UMTS) systems, WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access, LTE (Long Term Evolution) and so forth. 
     In various embodiments, the external local node  106  may be configured to provide voice and/or data communications functionality in accordance with different types of wireless network systems or protocols. Examples of suitable wireless network systems offering data communication services may include the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.xx series of protocols, such as the IEEE 802.1a/b/g/n series of standard protocols and variants (also referred to as “WiFi”), the IEEE 802.16 series of standard protocols and variants (also referred to as “WiMAX”), the IEEE 802.20 series of standard protocols and variants, and so forth. A mobile computing device may also utilize different types of shorter range wireless systems, such as a Bluetooth system operating in accordance with the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) series of protocols, including Bluetooth Specification versions v1.0, v1.1, v1.2, v1.0, v2.0 with Enhanced Data Rate (EDR), as well as one or more Bluetooth Profiles, and so forth. Other examples may include systems using infrared techniques or near-field communication techniques and protocols, such as electromagnetic induction (EMI) techniques. 
     In one aspect, the external local node  106 , for example, the hub, includes a software application associated with a mobile telephone of a patient. The application and mobile telephone function to receive physiologic data from a receiver, which, in turn, receives the physiologic data directly from an individual or indirectly, e.g., via a device. Examples of devices include cardiac devices and ingestible devices. The hub stores, manipulates, and/or forwards the data, alone or in combination with other data, via the network  108  to a remote node  110 . 
     In various aspects, the external local node  106  (hub) receives, generates, communicates, and/or transmits, physiologic data, alone or in combination with other data, i.e., non-physiologic data such as ingestion information from IEMs or various sources. Communication from the external local node  106  includes any transmission means or carriers, and combinations thereof, including wireless, wired, RF, conductive, etc. as is known in the art or as may become available in the future. 
     In various aspects, the handheld device includes software, e.g., a software agent/application, associated with the physiologic data. In various aspects of the handheld device, the software is preconfigured, i.e., configurable by the manufacturer/retailer; configurable by the consumer, i.e., downloadable from a website; or a combination of the same. 
     The base station includes systems, subsystems, devices, and/or components that receive, transmit, and/or relay the physiologic data. In various aspects, the base station communicably interoperates with a receiver such as the body-associated personal communicator  104  and a communications network  108  such as the Internet. Examples of base stations are computers, e.g., servers, personal computers, desktop computers, laptop computers, intelligent devices/appliances, etc., as heretofore discussed. 
     In various aspects, the base station may be embodied as an integrated unit or as distributed components, e.g., a desktop computer and a mobile telephone in communication with one another and in communication with a patch receiver and the Internet. 
     In various aspects, the base station includes the functionality to wirelessly receive and/or wirelessly transmit data, e.g., physiologic data received from and transmitted to the body-associated personal communicator  104  and the Internet. 
     Further, in various aspects, the base station may incorporate and/or be associated with, e.g., communicate with, various devices. Such devices may generate, receive, and/or communicate data, e.g., physiologic data. The devices include, for example, “intelligent” devices such as gaming devices, e.g., electronic slot machines, handheld electronic games, electronic components associated with games and recreational activities. 
     The mobile telephone includes, for example, devices such as a short-range, portable electronic device used for mobile voice or data communication over a network of specialized cell site base stations. The mobile telephone is sometimes known as or referred to as “mobile,” “wireless,” “cellular phone,” “cell phone,” or “hand phone (HP).” 
     In addition to the standard voice function of a telephone, various aspects of mobile telephones may support many additional services and accessories such as short message service (SMS) for text messaging, email, packet switching for access to the Internet, Java gaming, wireless, e.g., short range data/voice communications, infrared, camera with video recorder, and multimedia messaging system (MMS) for sending and receiving photos and video. Some aspects of mobile telephones connect to a cellular network of base stations (cell sites), which is, in turn, interconnected to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or satellite communications in the case of satellite phones. Various aspects of mobile telephones can connect to the Internet, at least a portion of which can be navigated using the mobile telephones. 
     In various aspects, the mobile telephone includes software, e.g., a software agent/application, associated with the physiologic data. One example is an auto refill application related to or integrated with an auto refill system to facilitate automated prescription refill functions. In various aspects of the mobile telephone, the software is preconfigured, i.e., configurable by the manufacturer/retailer; configurable by the consumer, i.e., downloadable from a website; or a combination of the same. 
     Further, various aspects of the hub include combinations of devices. One such combination is the body-associated personal communicator  104  in communication with the handheld device or the mobile telephone. Thus, for example, the body-associated personal communicator  104  wirelessly transmits physiologic data to the mobile telephone having a receiver and a software agent available thereon. The receiver of the mobile telephone receives the physiologic data. A software agent, e.g., an application, processes the physiologic data and displays various information related to the physiologic data via, for example, a customized graphical user interface (GUI). In various aspects, the software agent generates displays with a predetermined “look and feel,” i.e., recognizable to a user as belonging to a predetermined group of software programs, GUls, source devices, communities, gaming software, etc. 
     More particularly, the personal communication system  100  includes any environment having therein, or associated with, data or communication of physiologic data for a gaming or recreational purpose. Communication includes any method, act, or vehicle of communication, and/or combinations thereof. For example, communication methods include manual, wired, and wireless. Wireless technologies include radio signals, such as x-rays, ultraviolet light, the visible spectrum, infrared, microwaves, and radio waves, etc. Wireless services include voice and messaging, handheld and other Internet-enabled devices, data networking. 
     Vehicles of communication include the network  108 . In various aspects, the network  108  comprises local area networks (LAN) as well as wide area networks (WAN) including without limitation Internet, wired channels, wireless channels, communication devices including telephones, computers, wire, radio, optical or other electromagnetic channels, and combinations thereof, including other devices and/or components capable of/associated with communicating data. For example, the communication environments include in-body communications, various devices, various modes of communications such as wireless communications, wired communications, and combinations of the same. 
     Wireless communication modes include any mode of communication between points that utilizes, at least in part, wireless technology including various protocols and combinations of protocols associated with wireless transmission, data, and devices. The points include, for example, wireless devices such as wireless headsets, audio and multimedia devices and equipment, such as audio players and multimedia players, telephones, including mobile telephones and cordless telephones, and computers and computer-related devices and components, such as printers. 
     Wired communication modes include any mode of communication between points that utilizes wired technology including various protocols and combinations of protocols associated with wired transmission, data, and devices. The points include, for example, devices such as audio and multimedia devices and equipment, such as audio players and multimedia players, telephones, including mobile telephones and cordless telephones, and computers and computer-related devices and components, such as printers. 
     In one aspect, the remote node  110  comprises social network systems, commercial systems, healthcare systems, pharmacy systems, university systems, financial transaction systems, web communities, physician systems, family caregiver systems, regulatory agency systems, wholesaler/retailer systems as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/522,249 titled “INGESTIBLE EVENT MARKER DATA SYSTEM,” the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. In other aspects, the remote node  110  comprises state games, behavioral reflective games, psychological response games, synchronization games, actual progress games, and recreational games as described in PCT Patent Application No. PCT/US09/60713 dated Oct. 14, 2009 titled “METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INCORPORATING PHYSIOLOGIC DATA IN A GAMING ENVIRONMENT” and published as WO 2010/045385, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
       FIG. 2  illustrates an example network environment  101  associated with a social-networking system  160  and a wireless access point  142 . Network environment  101  includes a user  102  wearing a body-associated personal communicator  104 , a client system  130 , a wireless access point  142  of an entity  140 , a social-networking system  160 , and a third-party system  170  connected to each other by a network  108 . In one aspect, the external local node  106  ( FIG. 1 ) may be represented as client system  130  and wireless access point  142  and remote node  110  ( FIG. 1 ) may be represented as social-networking system  160 . Although  FIG. 2  illustrates a particular arrangement of user  102  wearing a body-associated personal communicator  104 , client system  130 , wireless access point  142 , social-networking system  160 , third-party system  170 , and network  108 , this disclosure contemplates any suitable arrangement of user  101 , client system  130 , wireless access point  142 , social-networking system  160 , third-party system  170 , and network  108 . As an example and not by way of limitation, two or more of client system  130 , wireless access point  142 , social-networking system  160 , and third-party system  170  may be connected to each other directly, bypassing network  108 . As another example, two or more of client system  130 , wireless access point  142 , social-networking system  160 , and third-party system  170  may be physically or logically co-located with each other in whole or in part. Moreover, although  FIG. 2  illustrates a particular number of users  102  wearing a body-associated personal communicator  104 , client systems  130 , entities  140 , wireless access points  142 , social-networking systems  160 , third-party systems  170 , and networks  108 , this disclosure contemplates any suitable number of users  102  each wearing a body-associated personal communicator  104 , client systems  130 , entities  140 , wireless access points  142 , social-networking systems  160 , third-party systems  170 , and networks  108 . As an example and not by way of limitation, network environment  101  may include multiple users  102  each wearing a body-associated personal communicator  104 , client systems  130 , entities  140 , wireless access points  142 , social-networking systems  160 , third-party systems  170 , or networks  108 . 
     In particular embodiments, user  102  wearing a body-associated personal communicator  104  may be an individual (human user) or a group of individuals each wearing a body-associated personal communicator  104  that interacts or communicates with or over other elements of network environment  101  such as devices coupled to network  108  or social-networking system  160 . In particular embodiments, one or more users  102  wearing a body-associated personal communicator  104  may use one or more client systems  130  to access, send data to, and receive data from network  108 , social-networking system  160 , or third-party system  170 . Client system  130  may access network  108 , social-networking system  160 , or other system for e.g., third-party system  170  directly or via a third-party system or device. As an example and not by way of limitation, client system  130  may access third-party system  170  via social-networking system  160 . In particular embodiments, client system  130  may be an electronic device including hardware, software, or embedded logic components or a combination of two or more such components and capable of carrying out the appropriate functionalities implemented or supported by client system  130 . As an example and not by way of limitation, a client system  130  may include a computer system such as a desktop computer, notebook or laptop computer, netbook, tablet computer, e-book reader, GPS device, camera, personal digital assistant (PDA), handheld electronic device, cellular telephone, smartphone, other suitable electronic device, or any suitable combination thereof. This disclosure contemplates any suitable client systems  130 . 
     In particular embodiments, client system  130  may include a web browser, such as MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER, GOOGLE CHROME or MOZILLA FIREFOX, and may have one or more add-ons, plug-ins, or other extensions, such as TOOLBAR or YAHOO TOOLBAR. A user at client system  130  may enter a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or other address directing the web browser to a particular server (such as a server coupled to network  108 , or a server associated with social-networking system  160  or third-party system  170 ), and the web browser may generate a Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) request and communicate the HTTP request to the server. The server may accept the HTTP request and communicate to client system  130  one or more Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) files responsive to the HTTP request. Client system  130  may render a webpage based on the HTML files from the server for presentation to the user. This disclosure contemplates any suitable webpage files. As an example and not by way of limitation, webpages may render from HTML files, Extensible Hyper Text Markup Language (XHTML) files, or Extensible Markup Language (XML) files, according to particular needs. Such pages may also execute scripts such as, for example and without limitation, those written in JAVASCRIPT, JAVA, MICROSOFT SILVERLIGHT, combinations of markup language and scripts such as AJAX (Asynchronous JAVASCRIPT and XML), and the like. Herein, reference to a webpage encompasses one or more corresponding webpage files (which a browser may use to render the webpage) and vice versa, where appropriate. 
     Entity  140  may represent any individual, business, or organization. Entity  140  may be associated with wireless access point  142 . For example, entity  140  may own or control wireless access point  142 . In particular embodiments, entity  140  is a merchant that offers free network access (e.g., to the Internet) to authorized customers via wireless access point  142 . In other embodiments, entity  140  is an owner of a wireless access point  142  located at the residence or business of the owner. In particular embodiments, wireless access point  142  is operable to bridge or route data traffic between client system  130  and network  108 . Wireless access point  142  may include a router, gateway, modem, a network switch, or other suitable device for providing network access to client systems  130 . In particular embodiments, wireless access point  142  is capable of communicating with a plurality of client systems  130  via wired or wireless links  150 . Wireless access point  142  is also capable of communicating with network  108  via link  150 . 
     This disclosure contemplates any suitable network  108 . As an example and not by way of limitation, one or more portions of network  108  may include an ad hoc network, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network (VPN), a local area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network (WAN), a wireless WAN (WWAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a portion of the Internet, a portion of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a cellular telephone network, or a combination of two or more of these. Network  108  may include one or more networks  108 . 
     Links  150  may connect client system  130 , wireless access point  142 , social-networking system  160 , and third-party system  170  to communication network  108  or to each other. This disclosure contemplates any suitable links  150 . In particular embodiments, one or more links  150  include one or more wireline (such as for example Ethernet, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL), or Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS)), wireless (such as for example Wi-Fi or Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX)), or optical (such as for example Synchronous Optical Network (SONET) or Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH)) links. In particular embodiments, one or more links  150  each include an ad hoc network, an intranet, an extranet, a VPN, a LAN, a WLAN, a WAN, a WWAN, a MAN, a portion of the Internet, a portion of the PSTN, a cellular technology-based network, a satellite communications technology-based network, another link  150 , or a combination of two or more such links  150 . Links  150  need not necessarily be the same throughout network environment  101 . One or more first links  150  may differ in one or more respects from one or more second links  150 . 
     In particular embodiments, the wireless access point  142  may communicate with social-networking system  160  to determine whether a user is authorized to use wireless access point  142 . The social-networking system  160  may decide whether to allow a particular user based at least upon social-networking information associated with the user and may communicate this decision to wireless access point  142 . 
     In particular embodiments, social-networking system  160  may be a network-addressable computing system hosting an online social network. Social-networking system  160  may generate, store, receive, and transmit social-networking data, such as, for example, user-physiologic data obtained from body-associated personal communicator  104 , user-profile data, concept-profile data, social-graph information, or other suitable data related to the online social network. Social-networking system  160  may be accessed by the other components of network environment  100  either directly or via network  108 . 
     Social-networking system  160  may provide users of the online social network the ability to communicate and interact with other users wearing a body-associated personal communicator  104 . In particular embodiments, users wearing a body-associated personal communicator  104  may join the online social network via social-networking system  160  and then add connections (i.e., relationships) to a number of other users of social-networking system  160  wearing a body-associated personal communicator  104  whom they want to be connected to. Herein, the term “friend” may refer to any other user of social-networking system  160  with whom a user has formed a connection, association, or relationship via social-networking system  160 . For purposes of the present disclosure, friends and relationships and groupings of friends are based at least in part on user physiologic data provided to the social-networking system  160  via body-associated personal communicator  104 . 
     In particular embodiments, social-networking system  160  may provide users with the ability to take actions on various types of items or objects, supported by social-networking system  160 . As an example and not by way of limitation, the items and objects may include groups or social networks to which users of social-networking system  160  may belong, events or calendar entries in which a user might be interested, computer-based applications that a user may use, transactions that allow users to buy or sell items via the service, interactions with advertisements that a user may perform, or other suitable items or objects. A user may interact with anything that is capable of being represented in social-networking system  160  or by an external system of third-party system  170 , which is separate from social-networking system  160 . In particular embodiments, social-networking system  160  may include an authorization server that allows users  102  wearing a body-associated personal communicator  104  to opt in or opt out of having their actions logged by social-networking system  160  or shared with other systems (e.g., third-party systems  170 ), such as, for example, by setting appropriate privacy settings. 
     In particular embodiments, social-networking system  160  also includes user-generated content objects, which may enhance a user&#39;s interactions with social-networking system  160 . User-generated content may include anything a user can add, upload, send, or “post” to social-networking system  160 . As an example and not by way of limitation, body-associated personal communicator  104  communicates posts to social-networking system  160  from a client system  130 . Posts may include physiologic information associated and/or ingestion information with the user as well as status updates, other textual data, location information, photos, videos, links, music or other similar data or media. Content may also be added to social-networking system  160  by a third-party through a “communication channel,” such as a newsfeed or stream. 
     In particular embodiments, social-networking system  160  may include one or more user-profile stores for storing user profiles based on information received from body-associated personal communicator  104 . A user profile may include, for example, a user name and password, identifiers of client systems used by the user, biographic information, demographic information, behavioral information, social information, physiologic information, ingestpoin information, or other types of descriptive information, such as work experience, educational history, hobbies or preferences, interests, affinities, location, or physical activities. Interest information may include interests related to one or more categories. Categories may be general or specific. As an example and not by way of limitation, if a user “likes” an article about a brand of shoes the category may be the brand, or the general category of “shoes” or “clothing.” A connection store may be used for storing connection information about users. The connection information may indicate users who have similar or common work experience, group memberships, hobbies, educational history, or are in any way related or share common attributes. The connection information may also include user-defined connections between different users and content (both internal and external). A web server may be used for linking social-networking system  160  to one or more client systems  130  or one or more third-party system  170  via network  110 . The web server may include a mail server or other messaging functionality for receiving and routing messages between social-networking system  160  and one or more client systems  130 . An API-request server may allow a third-party system  170  to access information from social-networking system  160  by calling one or more APIs. An action logger may be used to receive communications from a web server about a user&#39;s actions on or off social-networking system  160 . In conjunction with the action log, a third-party-content-object log may be maintained of user exposures to third-party-content objects. A notification controller may provide information regarding content objects to a client system  130 . Information may be pushed to a client system  130  as notifications, or information may be pulled from client system  130  responsive to a request received from client system  130 . Authorization servers may be used to enforce one or more privacy settings of the users of social-networking system  160 . A privacy setting of a user determines how particular information associated with a user can be shared. The authorization server may allow users to opt in or opt out of having their actions logged by social-networking system  160  or shared with other systems (e.g., third-party system  170 ), such as, for example, by setting appropriate privacy settings. Third-party-content-object stores may be used to store content objects received from third parties, such as a third-party system  170 . Location stores may be used for storing location information received from client systems  130  associated with users. Ad-pricing modules may combine social information, the current time, location information, or other suitable information to provide relevant advertisements, in the form of notifications, to a user. 
     In particular embodiments, a third-party system  170  may include one or more types of servers, one or more data stores, one or more interfaces, including but not limited to APIs, one or more web services, one or more content sources, one or more networks, or any other suitable components, e.g., that servers may communicate with. A third-party system  170  may be operated by a different entity from an entity operating social-networking system  160 . In particular embodiments, however, social-networking system  160  and third-party systems  170  may operate in conjunction with each other to provide social-networking services to users of social-networking system  160  or third-party systems  170 . In this sense, social-networking system  160  may provide a platform, or backbone, which other systems, such as third-party systems  170 , may use to provide social-networking services and functionality to users across the Internet. Third-party system  170  may be accessed by the other components of network environment  101  either directly or via network  108 . 
     In particular embodiments, a third-party system  170  may include a third-party content object provider. A third-party content object provider may include one or more sources of content objects, which may be communicated to a client system  130 . As an example and not by way of limitation, content objects may include information regarding things or activities of interest to the user, such as, for example, movie show times, movie reviews, restaurant reviews, restaurant menus, product information and reviews, or other suitable information. As another example and not by way of limitation, content objects may include incentive content objects, such as coupons, discount tickets, gift certificates, or other suitable incentive objects. 
       FIG. 3  describes one aspect of a system employing a sensing subsystem coupled to a subject, an event indicator system, and/or a body-associated personal communicator  104  by way of at least one electrode. A subject can be person or thing that is requesting access to the social-networking system. The body-associated personal communicator  104  and the event indicator system are configured to generate a unique electrical current signal that is detectable by a detection subsystem. In addition, the detection subsystem may be configured to detect various physiologic parameters associated with a living subject. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a subject  102  using a mobile device  102  comprising electrodes  1104   a,    1104   b  for detecting personal electrical signals conducted through the body of the subject  102  where such personal electrical signals represent physiologic data associated with the subject  102 . In the illustrated example, the mobile device  1102  provides access to the social-networking system  160 . The mobile device  1102  comprises electrodes  1104   a,    1104   b  integrated into the housing for detecting electrical signals coupled from the subject  102  to the electrodes  1104   a,    1104   b.  The term personal electrical signal is used to indicate that a signal is intimately associated with the subject  102  and can be used to confirm the identity of the subject  102  for purposes of authentication and provide physiologic information and/or ingestion information to the social-networking system  160 . Personal electrical signals include, without limitation, physiologic signals associated with the subject, transbody conductive signals generated by an ingestible event marker system  1106 , transbody conductive signals generated by a body-associated personal communicator  104 , e.g., an adhesive patch that is applied on the body of the subject  102 , any object in physical contact with the subject for example watch, bracelet, necklace, ring, etc. and/or transbody conductive signals generated by an implanted body-associated device  104  that is located within the body of the subject  102 . Physiologic signals include, without limitation, skin impedance, electro cardiogram signals, conductively transmitted current signal, position of wearer, temperature, heart rate, perspiration rate, humidity, altitude/pressure, global positioning system (GPS), proximity, bacteria levels, glucose level, chemical markers, blood oxygen levels, among other physiologic and physical parameters such as fingerprints of the subject  102 . Transbody conductive signals include, without limitation, electrical currents that are transmitted through the body of a subject, where the body acts as the conduction medium. In one aspect, transbody conductive signals can be generated by an ingestible event marker system  1106 , one example of which is described in connection with  FIGS. 7 and 8 . In other aspects, transbody conductive signals can be generated by electrical circuits placed in electrical contact with the surface of the skin of the subject  100  by way of a body-associated personal communicator  104 . In other aspects, transbody conductive signals can be generated by electrical circuits implanted within the body of the subject  102 . Additional aspects of mobile devices  1102  configured for detecting an electrical signal from an ingestible event marker system  1106 , among others, are described in commonly assigned International PCT Application PCT/US/2012/047076, international publication number WO 2013/012869, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     Regardless of the source, the unique electrical signals suitable for authentication and/or social-network system  160  interfacing are coupled to the target authentication device, e.g., the mobile device  1102 , through at least one of the electrodes  1104   a,    1104   b,  which are suitable for sensing and sourcing electrical signals. In operation, the subject  102  holds the mobile device  1102 , or otherwise contacts electrodes on another type of computer system, and physically contacts at least one of the electrodes  1104   a,    1104   b.  The electrical signals are coupled from the subject  102  through at least one of the electrodes  1104   a,    1104   b  to an authentication subsystem. The authentication subsystem can be integrated with the mobile device  1102  or may be added on. 
     When the ingestible event marker system  1106  is the signal source, a unique electrical current signal is generated when the ingestible event marker system  1106  contacts digestive fluids  1108  in the stomach  1110  of the subject  102 . The unique electrical current signature is conducted through the body of the subject  102 , is detected by at least one of the electrodes  1104   a,    1104   b,  and is coupled to an authentication subsystem, which decodes the signal and provides a decoded signal to a processing subsystem to authenticate the subject  102 . 
     When the body-associated personal communicator  104  is the signal source, an electrical current signal is generated by circuits in the body-associated personal communicator  104 . The body-associated personal communicator  104  is electrically coupled to the body of the subject  102  by another set of electrodes. The electrical signal is conducted by the body and detected by at least one of the input electrodes  1104   a,    1104   b  on the mobile device  1102 . These and other aspects of the personal authentication techniques are discussed hereinbelow. Prior to describing such systems, however, the disclosure now turns to measurement subsystems for detecting electrical signals. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates one aspect of a mobile device  1102  comprising electrodes  1104   a,    1104   b  for detecting personal electrical signals suitable for authenticating the identity of the subject  102  ( FIGS. 1-3 ) and obtaining physiologic and/or ingestion information from the subject  102 . The mobile device  1102  also comprises a housing  202 , a display  204 , an aperture  206  for capturing digital images, and an antenna  208 . The electrodes  1104   a,    1104   b  are located on the back of the housing  202  or at any convenient location of the mobile device  1102 . In one aspect, for example, the electrodes  1104   a,    1104   b  may be located on or embedded within a skin or design cover for a mobile device  1102 . 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram of one aspect of a mobile device  1102  configured for detecting electrical signals for authenticating the identity of a subject  102  ( FIGS. 1-3 ) and obtaining physiologic and/or ingestion information from the subject  102 . The mobile device  1102  may comprise multiple elements. Although  FIG. 5  shows a limited number of elements in a certain topology by way of example, it can be appreciated that additional or fewer elements in any suitable topology may be used in the mobile device  1102  as desired for a given implementation. Furthermore, any element as described herein may be implemented using hardware, software, or a combination of both, as previously described with reference to node implementations. Aspects of the mobile device  1102 , however, are not limited in this context. 
     In various aspects, in addition to a housing  202 , a display  204 , an aperture  206  for capturing digital images, and an antenna  208 , the mobile device  1102  comprises a radio subsystem  302  connected via a bus to a processing subsystem  304 . The radio subsystem  302  may perform voice and data communications operations using wireless shared media for the mobile device  1102 . The processing subsystem  304  may execute software for the mobile device  1102 . A bus may comprise a USB or micro-USB bus and appropriate interfaces, as well as others. 
     In various aspects, an authentication and/or protection subsystem  306  is coupled to the electrodes  1104   a,    1104   b.  The electrodes  1104   a,    1104   b  are configured to be in physical contact with the subject  102  ( FIGS. 1-3 ) to electrically couple the unique electrical signals to and from the authentication subsystem  306 . When the subject  102  physically contacts at least one of the electrodes  1104   a,    1104   b  the authentication subsystem  306  can receive or transmit a unique electrical current signal for authenticating the identity of the subject  102  and, once authenticated, providing access to the mobile device  1102  and/or the social-networking system  160 . Also, when the authentication subsystem  306  detects physiologic signals associated with the subject  102 , the authentication subsystem  306  builds a database, which over time provides an average of the physiologic signals associated with the subject  102 . Authentication occurs only when the detected physiologic signals match the running average physiologic signals stored in the database. 
     In various aspects, the detection subsystem  306  is coupled to the processing subsystem  304 . The detection subsystem  306  converts the detected electrical signals into a secret word or string of characters. A processing subsystem  304  coupled to the detection subsystem  306  uses the string of characters for user authentication to prove identity of the subject  102  ( FIGS. 1-3 ), for access approval to gain access to the mobile device  1102 , and/or for access to the social-networking system  160  ( FIGS. 1-2 ). When the subject  102  is authenticated, the processing subsystem  304  activates the radio subsystem  304  and other functional modules of the computing device  1102 , such as, for example, an imaging subsystem  308  or a navigation subsystem  310 . When the subject  100  is not authenticated, the processing subsystem  304  denies access to the functional modules of the mobile device  1102  until the proper electrical signals are detected by the detection subsystem  306 . 
     In various aspects, the display  204  may comprise any suitable display unit for displaying information appropriate for a mobile device  1102 . The I/O system may comprise any suitable I/O device for entering information into the mobile device  1102 . Examples for the I/O system may include an alphanumeric keyboard, a numeric keypad, a touch pad, a capacitive touch screen panel, input keys, buttons, switches, rocker switches, voice recognition device and software, and so forth. The I/O system may comprise a microphone and speaker, for example. Information also may be entered into the mobile device  1102  by way of the microphone. Such information may be digitized by a voice recognition device. 
     In various aspects, the radio subsystem  320  may perform voice and data communications operations using wireless shared media for the mobile device  1102 . The processing subsystem  304  may execute software for the mobile device  1102 . A bus may comprise a universal serial bus (USB), micro-USB bus, dataport, and appropriate interfaces, as well as others. In one aspect the radio subsystem  302  may be arranged to communicate voice information and control information over one or more assigned frequency bands of the wireless shared media. 
     In various aspects, the imaging subsystem  308  processes images captured through the aperture  206 . A camera may be coupled (e.g., wired or wirelessly) to the processing subsystem  304  and is configured to output image data (photographic data of a person or thing, e.g., video data, digital still image data) to the processing subsystem  304  and to the display  204 . In one aspect, the imaging subsystem  308  may comprise a digital camera implemented as an electronic device used to capture and store images electronically in a digital format. Additionally, in some aspects the digital camera may be capable of recording sound and/or video in addition to still images. In other implementations, the imaging subsystem may comprise a fingerprint scanner to obtain one or more fingerprints of the subject  100 . 
     In various aspects, the imaging subsystem  308  may comprise a controller to provide control signals to components of a digital camera, including lens position component, microphone position component, and a flash control module, to provide functionality for the digital camera. In some aspects, the controller may be implemented as, for example, a host processor element of the processing subsystem  304  of the mobile device  1102 . Alternatively, the imaging controller may be implemented as a separate processor from the host processor. 
     In various aspects, the imaging subsystem  308  may comprise memory either as an element of the processing subsystem  304  of the mobile device  1102  or as a separate element. It is worthy to note that in various aspects some portion or the entire memory may be included on the same integrated circuit as the controller. Alternatively, some portion or the entire memory may be disposed on an integrated circuit or other medium (e.g., hard disk drive) external to the integrated circuit of the controller. 
     In various aspects, the aperture  206  includes a lens component and a lens position component. The lens component may consist of a photographic or optical lens or arrangement of lenses made of a transparent material such as glass, plastic, acrylic or Plexiglass, for example. In one aspect, the one or more lens elements of the lens component may reproduce an image of an object and allow for zooming in or out on the object by mechanically changing the focal length of the lens elements. In various aspects, a digital zoom may be employed in the imaging subsystem  308  to zoom in or out on an image. In some aspects, the one or more lens elements may be used to focus on different portions of an image by varying the focal length of the lens elements. The desired focus can be obtained with an autofocus feature of the digital imaging subsystem  308  or by manually focusing on the desired portion of the image, for example. 
     In various aspects, the navigation subsystem  310  supports navigation using the mobile device  1102 . In various aspects the mobile device  1102  may comprise location or position determination capabilities and may employ one or more location determination techniques including, for example, Global Positioning System (GPS) techniques, Cell Global Identity (CGI) techniques, CGI including timing advance (TA) techniques, Enhanced Forward Link Trilateration (EFLT) techniques, Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) techniques, Angle of Arrival (AOA) techniques, Advanced Forward Link Trilateration (AFTL) techniques, Observed Time Difference of Arrival (OTDOA), Enhanced Observed Time Difference (EOTD) techniques, Assisted GPS (AGPS) techniques, hybrid techniques (e.g., GPS/CGI, AGPS/CGI, GPS/AFTL or AGPS/AFTL for CDMA networks, GPS/EOTD or AGPS/EOTD for GSM/GPRS networks, GPS/OTDOA or AGPS/OTDOA for UMTS networks), among others. 
     In various aspects, the mobile device  1102  may be configured to operate in one or more location determination modes including, for example, a standalone mode, a mobile station (MS) assisted mode, and/or a MS-based mode. In a standalone mode, such as a standalone GPS mode, the mobile device  1102  may be configured to determine its position without receiving wireless navigation data from the network, though it may receive certain types of position assist data, such as almanac, ephemeris, and coarse data. In a standalone mode, the mobile device  1102  may comprise a local location determination circuit such as a GPS receiver which may be integrated within the housing  202  configured to receive satellite data via the antenna  208  and to calculate a position fix. Local location determination circuit may alternatively comprise a GPS receiver in a second housing separate from the housing  202  but in the vicinity of the mobile device  102  and configured to communicate with the mobile device  1102  wirelessly (e.g., via a PAN, such as Bluetooth). When operating in an MS-assisted mode or an MS-based mode, however, the mobile device  1102  may be configured to communicate over a radio access network (e.g., UMTS radio access network) with a remote computer (e.g., a location determination entity (LDE), a location proxy server (LPS) and/or a mobile positioning center (MPC), among others). 
     In various aspects, the mobile device  1102  also may comprise a power management subsystem (not shown) to manage power for the mobile device  1102 , including the radio subsystem  302 , the processing subsystem  304 , and other elements of the mobile device  1102 . For example, the power management subsystem may include one or more batteries to provide direct current (DC) power, and one or more alternating current (AC) interfaces to draw power from a standard AC main power supply. 
     In various aspects, the radio subsystem  302  may include an antenna  208 . The antenna  208  may broadcast and receive RF energy over the wireless shared media. Examples for the antenna  208  may include an internal antenna, an omni-directional antenna, a monopole antenna, a dipole antenna, an end fed antenna, a circularly polarized antenna, a micro-strip antenna, a diversity antenna, a dual antenna, an antenna array, a helical antenna, and so forth. The aspects are not limited in this context. 
     In various aspects, the antenna  208  may be connected to a multiplexer. The multiplexer multiplexes signals from a power amplifier for delivery to the antenna  208 . The multiplexer demultiplexes signals received from the antenna for delivery to an RF chipset. 
     In various aspects, the multiplexer may be connected to a power amplifier, where the power amplifier may be used to amplify any signals to be transmitted over the wireless shared media. The power amplifier may work in all assigned frequency bands, such as four ( 4 ) frequency bands in a quad-band system. The power amplifier also may operate in various modulation modes, such as Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK) modulation suitable for GSM systems and 8-ary Phase Shift Keying (8-PSK) modulation suitable for EDGE systems. 
     In various aspects, the power amplifier may be connected to an RF chipset. The RF chipset also may be connected to the multiplexer. In one aspect, the RF chipset may comprise an RF driver and an RF transceiver. The RF chipset performs all of the modulation and direct conversion operations required for GMSK and 8-PSK signal types for quad-band E-GPRS radio. The RF chipset receives analog in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) signals from a baseband processor, and converts the I/Q signals to an RF signal suitable for amplification by the power amplifier. Similarly, the RF chipset converts the signals received from the wireless shared media via the antenna  208  and the multiplexer to analog I/Q signals to be sent to the baseband processor. Although the RF chipset may use two chips by way of example, it may be appreciated that the RF chipset may be implemented using more or less chips and still fall within the intended scope of the aspects. 
     In various aspects, the RF chipset may be connected to the baseband processor, where the baseband processor may perform baseband operations for the radio subsystem  514 . The baseband processor may comprise both analog and digital baseband sections. The analog baseband section includes I/Q filters, analog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analog converters, audio circuits, and other circuits. The digital baseband section may include one or more encoders, decoders, equalizers/demodulators, GMSK modulators, GPRS ciphers, transceiver controls, automatic frequency control (AFC), automatic gain control (AGC), power amplifier (PA) ramp control, and other circuits. 
     In various aspects, the baseband processor also may be connected to one or more memory units via a memory bus. In one aspect, for example, the baseband processor may be connected to a flash memory unit and a secure digital (SD) memory unit. The memory units may be removable or non-removable memory. In one aspect, for example, the baseband processor may use approximately 1.6 megabytes of static read-only memory (SRAM) for E-GPRS and other protocol stack needs. 
     In various aspects, the baseband processor also may be connected to a subscriber identity module (SIM). The baseband processor may have a SIM interface for the SIM, where the SIM may comprise a smart card that encrypts voice and data transmissions and stores data about the specific user so that the user can be identified and authenticated to the network supplying voice or data communications. The SIM also may store data such as personal phone settings specific to the user and phone numbers. The SIM can be removable or non-removable. 
     In various aspects, the baseband processor may further include various interfaces for communicating with a host processor of the processing subsystem  304 . For example, the baseband processor may have one or more universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter (UART) interfaces, one or more control/status lines to the host processor, one or more control/data lines to the host processor, and one or more audio lines to communicate audio signals to an audio subsystem of processing subsystem  514 . The aspects are not limited in this context. 
     In various aspects, the processing subsystem  304  may provide computing or processing operations for the mobile device  1102  and/or for the authentication subsystem  306 . For example, the processing subsystem  304  may be arranged to execute various software programs for the mobile device  1102  as well as several software programs for the authentication subsystem  306 . Although the processing subsystem  304  may be used to implement operations for the various aspects as software executed by a processor, it may be appreciated that the operations performed by the processing subsystem  304  also may be implemented using hardware circuits or structures, or a combination of hardware and software, as desired for a particular implementation. 
     In various aspects, the processing subsystem  304  may include a processor implemented using any processor or logic device, such as a complex instruction set computer (CISC) microprocessor, a reduced instruction set computing (RISC) microprocessor, a very long instruction word (VLIW) microprocessor, a processor implementing a combination of instruction sets, or other processor device. In one aspect, for example, a processor may be implemented as a general purpose processor, such as a processor made by Intel Corporation, Santa Clara, Calif. The processor also may be implemented as a dedicated processor, such as a controller, microcontroller, embedded processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), a network processor, a media processor, an input/output (I/O) processor, a media access control (MAC) processor, a radio baseband processor, a field programmable gate array (FPGA), a programmable logic device (PLD), and so forth. 
     In one aspect, the processing subsystem  304  may include a memory to connect to the processor. The memory may be implemented using any machine-readable or computer-readable media capable of storing data, including both volatile and non-volatile memory. For example, the memory may include ROM, RAM, DRAM, DDRAM, SDRAM, SRAM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, flash memory, polymer memory such as ferroelectric polymer memory, ovonic memory, phase change or ferroelectric memory, silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) memory, magnetic or optical cards, or any other type of media suitable for storing information. It is worthy to note that some portion or all of the memory may be included on the same integrated circuit as the processor thereby obviating the need for a memory bus. Alternatively some portion or all of the memory may be disposed on an integrated circuit or other medium, for example a hard disk drive, that is external to the integrated circuit of the processor, and the processor may access the memory via a memory bus, for example. 
     In various aspects, the memory may store one or more software components (e.g., application client modules). A software component may refer to one or more programs, or a portion of a program, used to implement a discrete set of operations. A collection of software components for a given device may be collectively referred to as a software architecture or application framework. A software architecture for the mobile device  102  is described in more detail below. 
     A software architecture suitable for use with the mobile device  102  may include a user interface (UI) module, an interface module, a data source or backend services module (data source), and a third party API module. An optional LBS module may comprise a user based permission module, a parser module (e.g., National Maritime Electronic Association or NMEA), a location information source module, and a position information source module. In some aspects, some software components may be omitted and others added. Further, operations for some programs may be separated into additional software components, or consolidated into fewer software components, as desired for a given implementation. The mobile device  102  software architecture may comprise several elements, components or modules, collectively referred to herein as a “module.” A module may be implemented as a circuit, an integrated circuit, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC), an integrated circuit array, a chipset comprising an integrated circuit or an integrated circuit array, a logic circuit, a memory, an element of an integrated circuit array or a chipset, a stacked integrated circuit array, a processor, a digital signal processor, a programmable logic device, code, firmware, software, and any combination thereof. 
     Having described the mobile device  1102  as one example of computer system, it will be appreciated that any of the following computer systems, without limitation, computer networks, desktop computers, laptop computers, notebook computers, tablet computers, tablet computers, mobile phones, personal digital assistants, appliances, positioning systems, media devices, automatic teller machines (ATM), kiosks, public modes of transportation (bus, train, subway, airplane, boat, rental car, . . . ), building entrances, stadiums, turnstiles, medical systems that dispense medication in any form could be equipped with at least one electrode and a detection subsystem to authenticate the user as the owner of the computer system for security purposes. For the sake of conciseness and clarity, not all of these computer systems will be discussed here. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 6 , which is a block functional diagram of one aspect of a subsystem  306  for detecting and/or generating personal electrical signals to authenticate the user and prove the identity of the subject  102  ( FIGS. 1-3 ). The subsystem  306  comprises an electrode input/output interface circuit  401  to receive/transmit electrical signals from/to the electrodes  1104   a,    1104   b  ( FIGS. 3-5 ). The subsystem  306  can be configured to operate in receive mode, broadcast mode, or combinations thereof. In receive mode, the input/output interface circuit  401  receives electrical signals from the electrodes  1104   a,    1104   b.  In broadcast mode, the input/output interface circuit  401  transmits electrical signals to the electrodes  1104   a,    1104   b.    
     A transbody conductive communication module  402  and a physiologic sensing module  404  are electrically coupled to the electrode input/output interface circuit  401 . In one aspect, the transbody conductive communication module  402  is implemented as a first, e.g., high, frequency (HF) signal chain and the physiologic sensing module  404  is implemented as a second, e.g., low, frequency (LF) signal chain. Also shown are CMOS temperature sensing module  406  (for detecting ambient temperature) and a  3 -axis accelerometer  408 . The subsystem  306  also comprises a processing engine  418  (for example, a microcontroller and digital signal processor), a non-volatile memory  410  (for data storage), and a wireless communication module  412  to receive data from and/or transmit data to another device, for example in a data download/upload action, respectively. In various aspects, the communication module  412  may comprise one or more transmitters/receivers (“transceiver”) modules. As used herein, the term “transceiver” may be used in a very general sense to include a transmitter, a receiver, or a combination of both, without limitation. In one aspect, the transbody conductive communication module  402  is configured to communicate with an ingestible event marker system  1106  ( FIG. 3 ). In receive mode, the transbody conductive communication module  402  is configured to receive a transconduction current signal from the subject  102  ( FIGS. 1-3 ) via at least one of the electrodes  1104   a,    1104   b  ( FIGS. 3-5 ). In broadcast mode, the transbody conductive communication module  402  is configured to transmit a transconduction current signal to the subject  100  via at least one of the electrodes  1104   a,    1104   b.  In one aspect, the transbody conductive communication module  402  is configured as a skin or design cover for a mobile device. 
     The sensors  414  typically contact the subject  102  ( FIGS. 1-3 ), e.g., are removably attachable to the torso. In various aspects, the sensors  414  may be removably or permanently attached to the authentication subsystem  306 . For example, the sensors  414  may be removably connected to another device by snapping metal studs. The sensors  414  may comprise, for example, various devices capable of sensing or receiving the physiologic data. The types of sensors  414  include, for example, electrodes such as biocompatible electrodes. The sensors  414  may be configured, for example, as a pressure sensor, a motion sensor, an accelerometer, an electromyography (EMG) sensor, an event marker system, a biopotential sensor, an electrocardiogram sensor, a temperature sensor, a tactile event marker sensor, and an impedance sensor. 
     The feedback module  416  may be implemented with software, hardware, circuitry, various devices, and combinations thereof. The function of the feedback module  416  is to provide communication with the subject  102  ( FIGS. 1-3 ) in a discreet, tactful, circumspect manner as described above. In various aspects the feedback module  416  may be implemented to communicate with the subject  102  using techniques that employ visual, audio, vibratory/tactile, olfactory, and taste. 
     With reference to  FIG. 7 , there is shown one aspect of an ingestible device event indicator system (e.g., IEM) with dissimilar metals positioned on opposite ends as system  2030 . The system  2030  can be used in association with any pharmaceutical product, as mentioned above, to determine when a patient takes the pharmaceutical product. As indicated above, the scope of the present invention is not limited by the environment and the product that is used with the system  2030 . For example, the system  2030  may be placed within a capsule and the capsule is placed within the conducting liquid. The capsule would then dissolve over a period of time and release the system  2030  into the conducting liquid. Thus, in one aspect, the capsule would contain the system  2030  and no product. Such a capsule may then be used in any environment where a conducting liquid is present and with any product. For example, the capsule may be dropped into a container filled with jet fuel, salt water, tomato sauce, motor oil, or any similar product. Additionally, the capsule containing the system  2030  may be ingested at the same time that any pharmaceutical product is ingested in order to record the occurrence of the event, such as when the product was taken. 
     In the specific example of the system  2030  combined with the pharmaceutical product, as the product or pill is ingested, the system  2030  is activated. The system  2030  controls conductance to produce a unique current signature that is detected, thereby signifying that the pharmaceutical product has been taken. The system  2030  includes a framework  2032 . The framework  2032  is a chassis for the system  2030  and multiple components are attached to, deposited upon, or secured to the framework  2032 . In this aspect of the system  2030 , a digestible material  2034  is physically associated with the framework  2032 . The material  2034  may be chemically deposited on, evaporated onto, secured to, or built-up on the framework all of which may be referred to herein as “deposit” with respect to the framework  2032 . The material  2034  is deposited on one side of the framework  2032 . The materials of interest that can be used as material  2034  include, but are not limited to: Cu or Cul. The material  2034  is deposited by physical vapor deposition, electrodeposition, or plasma deposition, among other protocols. The material  2034  may be from about 0.05 to about 500 .mu.m thick, such as from about 5 to about 100 .mu.m thick. The shape is controlled by shadow mask deposition, or photolithography and etching. Additionally, even though only one region is shown for depositing the material, each system  2030  may contain two or more electrically unique regions where the material  2034  may be deposited, as desired. 
     At a different side, which is the opposite side as shown in  FIG. 7 , another digestible material  2036  is deposited, such that materials  2034  and  2036  are dissimilar. Although not shown, the different side selected may be the side next to the side selected for the material  2034 . The scope of the present invention is not limited by the side selected and the term “different side” can mean any of the multiple sides that are different from the first selected side. Furthermore, even though the shape of the system is shown as a square, the shape maybe any geometrically suitable shape. Material  2034  and  2036  are selected such that they produce a voltage potential difference when the system  2030  is in contact with conducting liquid, such as body fluids. The materials of interest for material  2036  include, but are not limited to: Mg, Zn, or other electronegative metals. As indicated above with respect to the material  2034 , the material  2036  may be chemically deposited on, evaporated onto, secured to, or built-up on the framework. Also, an adhesion layer may be necessary to help the material  2036  (as well as material  2034  when needed) to adhere to the framework  2032 . Typical adhesion layers for the material  2036  are Ti, TiW, Cr or similar material. Anode material and the adhesion layer may be deposited by physical vapor deposition, electrodeposition or plasma deposition. The material  2036  may be from about 0.05 to about 500 μm thick, such as from about 5 to about 100 μm thick. However, the scope of the present invention is not limited by the thickness of any of the materials nor by the type of process used to deposit or secure the materials to the framework  2032 . 
     Thus, when the system  2030  is in contact with the conducting liquid, a current path, an example is shown in  FIG. 7 , is formed through the conducting liquid between material  2034  and  2036 . A control device  2038  is secured to the framework  2032  and electrically coupled to the materials  2034  and  2036 . The control device  2038  includes electronic circuitry, for example control logic that is capable of controlling and altering the conductance between the materials  2034  and  2036 . 
     The voltage potential created between the materials  2034  and  2036  provides the power for operating the system as well as produces the current flow through the conducting fluid and the system. In one aspect, the system operates in direct current mode. In an alternative aspect, the system controls the direction of the current so that the direction of current is reversed in a cyclic manner, similar to alternating current. As the system reaches the conducting fluid or the electrolyte, where the fluid or electrolyte component is provided by a physiologic fluid, e.g., stomach acid, the path for current flow between the materials  2034  and  2036  is completed external to the system  2030 ; the current path through the system  2030  is controlled by the control device  2038 . Completion of the current path allows for the current to flow and in turn a receiver, not shown, can detect the presence of the current and recognize that the system  2030  has been activate and the desired event is occurring or has occurred. 
     In one aspect, the two materials  2034  and  2036  are similar in function to the two electrodes needed for a direct current power source, such as a battery. The conducting liquid acts as the electrolyte needed to complete the power source. The completed power source described is defined by the physical chemical reaction between the materials  2034  and  2036  of the system  2030  and the surrounding fluids of the body. The completed power source may be viewed as a power source that exploits reverse electrolysis in an ionic or a conductive solution such as gastric fluid, blood, or other bodily fluids and some tissues. Additionally, the environment may be something other than a body and the liquid may be any conducting liquid. For example, the conducting fluid may be salt water or a metallic based paint. 
     In certain aspects, these two materials are shielded from the surrounding environment by an additional layer of material. Accordingly, when the shield is dissolved and the two dissimilar materials are exposed to the target site, a voltage potential is generated. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 7 , the materials  2034  and  2036  provide the voltage potential to activate the control device  2038 . Once the control device  2038  is activated or powered up, the control device  2038  can alter conductance between the materials  2034  and  2036  in a unique manner. By altering the conductance between materials  2034  and  2036 , the control device  2038  is capable of controlling the magnitude of the current through the conducting liquid that surrounds the system  2030 . This produces a unique current signature that can be detected and measured by a receiver (not shown), which can be positioned internal or external to the body. In addition to controlling the magnitude of the current path between the materials, non-conducting materials, membrane, or “skirt” are used to increase the “length” of the current path and, hence, act to boost the conductance path, as disclosed in the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/238,345 entitled, “In-Body Device with Virtual Dipole Signal Amplification” filed Sep. 25, 2008, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, throughout the disclosure herein, the terms “non-conducting material”, “membrane”, and “skirt” are interchangeably with the term “current path extender” without impacting the scope or the present aspects and the claims herein. The skirt, shown in portion at  2035  and  2037 , respectively, may be associated with, e.g., secured to, the framework  2032 . Various shapes and configurations for the skirt are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention. For example, the system  2030  may be surrounded entirely or partially by the skirt and the skirt maybe positioned along a central axis of the system  2030  or off-center relative to a central axis. Thus, the scope of the present invention as claimed herein is not limited by the shape or size of the skirt. Furthermore, in other aspects, the materials  2034  and  2036  may be separated by one skirt that is positioned in any defined region between the materials  2034  and  2036 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , in another aspect of an ingestible device is shown in more detail as system  2040 . The system  2040  includes a framework  2042 . The framework  2042  is similar to the framework  2032  of  FIG. 7 . In this aspect of the system  2040 , a digestible or dissolvable material  2044  is deposited on a portion of one side of the framework  2042 . At a different portion of the same side of the framework  2042 , another digestible material  2046  is deposited, such that materials  2044  and  2046  are dissimilar. More specifically, material  2044  and  2046  are selected such that they form a voltage potential difference when in contact with a conducting liquid, such as body fluids. Thus, when the system  2040  is in contact with and/or partially in contact with the conducting liquid, then a current path, an example is shown in  FIG. 9 , is formed through the conducting liquid between material  2044  and  2046 . A control device  2048  is secured to the framework  2042  and electrically coupled to the materials  2044  and  2046 . The control device  2048  includes electronic circuitry that is capable of controlling part of the conductance path between the materials  2044  and  2046 . The materials  2044  and  2046  are separated by a non-conducting skirt  2049 . Various examples of the skirt  2049  are disclosed in U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/173,511 filed on Apr. 28, 2009 and entitled “HIGHLY RELIABLE INGESTIBLE EVENT MARKERS AND METHODS OF USING SAME” and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/173,564 filed on Apr. 28, 2009 and entitled “INGESTIBLE EVENT MARKERS HAVING SIGNAL AMPLIFIERS THAT COMPRISE AN ACTIVE AGENT”; as well as U.S. application Ser. No. 12/238,345 filed Sep. 25, 2008 and published as 2009-0082645, entitled “IN-BODY DEVICE WITH VIRTUAL DIPOLE SIGNAL AMPLIFICATION”; the entire disclosure of each is incorporated herein by reference. 
     Once the control device  2048  is activated or powered up, the control device  2048  can alter conductance between the materials  2044  and  2046 . Thus, the control device  2048  is capable of controlling the magnitude of the current through the conducting liquid that surrounds the system  2040 . As indicated above with respect to system  2030 , a unique current signature that is associated with the system  2040  can be detected by a receiver (not shown) to mark the activation of the system  2040 . In order to increase the “length” of the current path the size of the skirt  2049  is altered. The longer the current path, the easier it may be for the receiver to detect the current. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , the system  2030  of  FIG. 7  is shown in an activated state and in contact with conducting liquid. The system  2030  is grounded through ground contact  2052 . The system  2030  also includes a sensor module  2074 , which is described in greater detail with respect to  FIG. 9  ion or current paths  2050  form between material  2034  to material  2036  through the conducting fluid in contact with the system  2030 . The voltage potential created between the material  2034  and  2036  is created through chemical reactions between materials  2034 / 2036  and the conducting fluid. 
       FIG. 9A  shows an exploded view of the surface of the material  2034 . The surface of the material  2034  is not planar, but rather an irregular surface  2054  as shown. The irregular surface  2054  increases the surface area of the material and, hence, the area that comes in contact with the conducting fluid. 
     In one aspect, at the surface of the material  2034 , there is chemical reaction between the material  2034  and the surrounding conducting fluid such that mass is released into the conducting fluid. The term “mass” as used herein refers to protons and neutrons that form a substance. One example includes the instant where the material is CuCl and when in contact with the conducting fluid, CuCI becomes Cu (solid) and Cl.sup.- in solution. The flow of ions into the conduction fluid is depicted by the ion paths  2050 . In a similar manner, there is a chemical reaction between the material  2036  and the surrounding conducting fluid and ions are captured by the material  2036 . The release of ions at the material  2034  and capture of ion by the material  2036  is collectively referred to as the ionic exchange. The rate of ionic exchange and, hence the ionic emission rate or flow, is controlled by the control device  2038 . The control device  2038  can increase or decrease the rate of ion flow by altering the conductance, which alters the impedance, between the materials  2034  and  2036 . Through controlling the ion exchange, the system  2030  can encode information in the ionic exchange process. Thus, the system  2030  uses ionic emission to encode information in the ionic exchange. 
     The control device  2038  can vary the duration of a fixed ionic exchange rate or current flow magnitude while keeping the rate or magnitude near constant, similar to when the frequency is modulated and the amplitude is constant. Also, the control device  2038  can vary the level of the ionic exchange rate or the magnitude of the current flow while keeping the duration near constant. Thus, using various combinations of changes in duration and altering the rate or magnitude, the control device  2038  encodes information in the current flow or the ionic exchange. For example, the control device  2038  may use, but is not limited to any of the following techniques namely, Binary Phase-Shift Keying (PSK), Frequency modulation, Amplitude modulation, on-off keying, and PSK with on-off keying. 
     As indicated above, the various aspects disclosed herein, such as systems  2030  and  2040  of  FIGS. 7 and 8 , respectively, include electronic components as part of the control device  2038  or the control device  2048 . Components that may be present include but are not limited to: logic and/or memory elements, an integrated circuit, an inductor, a resistor, and sensors for measuring various parameters. Each component may be secured to the framework and/or to another component. The components on the surface of the support may be laid out in any convenient configuration. Where two or more components are present on the surface of the solid support, interconnects may be provided. 
     As indicated above, the system, such as system  2030  and  2040 , control the conductance between the dissimilar materials and, hence, the rate of ionic exchange or the current flow. Through altering the conductance in a specific manner the system is capable of encoding information in the ionic exchange and the current signature. The ionic exchange or the current signature is used to uniquely identify the specific system. Additionally, the systems  2030  and  2040  are capable of producing various different unique exchanges or signatures and, thus, provide additional information. For example, a second current signature based on a second conductance alteration pattern may be used to provide additional information, which information may be related to the physical environment. To further illustrate, a first current signature may be a very low current state that maintains an oscillator on the chip and a second current signature may be a current state at least a factor of ten higher than the current state associated with the first current signature. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , a block diagram representation of the control device  2038  is shown. The device  2030  includes a control module  2062 , a counter or clock  2064 , and a memory  2066 . Additionally, the device  2038  is shown to include a sensor module  2072  as well as the sensor module  2074 , which was referenced in  FIG. 9 . The control module  2062  has an input  2068  electrically coupled to the material  2034  and an output  2070  electrically coupled to the material  2036 . The control module  2062 , the clock  2064 , the memory  2066 , and the sensor modules  2072 / 2074  also have power inputs (some not shown). The power for each of these components is supplied by the voltage potential produced by the chemical reaction between materials  2034  and  2036  and the conducting fluid, when the system  2030  is in contact with the conducting fluid. The control module  2062  controls the conductance through logic that alters the overall impedance of the system  2030 . The control module  2062  is electrically coupled to the clock  2064 . The clock  2064  provides a clock cycle to the control module  2062 . Based upon the programmed characteristics of the control module  2062 , when a set number of clock cycles have passed, the control module  2062  alters the conductance characteristics between materials  2034  and  2036 . This cycle is repeated and thereby the control device  2038  produces a unique current signature characteristic. The control module  2062  is also electrically coupled to the memory  2066 . Both the clock  2064  and the memory  2066  are powered by the voltage potential created between the materials  2034  and  2036 . 
     The control module  2062  is also electrically coupled to and in communication with the sensor modules  2072  and  2074 . In the aspect shown, the sensor module  2072  is part of the control device  2038  and the sensor module  2074  is a separate component. In alternative aspects, either one of the sensor modules  2072  and  2074  can be used without the other and the scope of the present invention is not limited by the structural or functional location of the sensor modules  2072  or  2074 . Additionally, any component of the system  2030  may be functionally or structurally moved, combined, or repositioned without limiting the scope of the present invention as claimed. Thus, it is possible to have one single structure, for example a processor, which is designed to perform the functions of all of the following modules: the control module  2062 , the clock  2064 , the memory  2066 , and the sensor module  2072  or  2074 . On the other hand, it is also within the scope of the present invention to have each of these functional components located in independent structures that are linked electrically and able to communicate. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 10 , the sensor modules  2072  or  2074  can include any of the following sensors: temperature, pressure, pH level, and conductivity. In one aspect, the sensor modules  2072  or  2074  gather information from the environment and communicate the analog information to the control module  2062 . The control module then converts the analog information to digital information and the digital information is encoded in the current flow or the rate of the transfer of mass that produces the ionic flow. In another aspect, the sensor modules  2072  or  2074  gather information from the environment and convert the analog information to digital information and then communicate the digital information to control module  2062 . In the aspect shown in  FIG. 9 , the sensor modules  2074  is shown as being electrically coupled to the material  2034  and  2036  as well as the control device  2038 . In another aspect, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the sensor module  2074  is electrically coupled to the control device  2038  at connection  2078 . The connection  2078  acts as both a source for power supply to the sensor module  2074  and a communication channel between the sensor module  2074  and the control device  2038 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9B , the system  2030  includes a pH sensor module  2076  connected to a material  2039 , which is selected in accordance with the specific type of sensing function being performed. The pH sensor module  2076  is also connected to the control device  2038 . The material  2039  is electrically isolated from the material  2034  by a non-conductive barrier  2055 . In one aspect, the material  2039  is platinum. In operation, the pH sensor module  2076  uses the voltage potential difference between the materials  2034 / 2036 . The pH sensor module  2076  measures the voltage potential difference between the material  2034  and the material  2039  and records that value for later comparison. The pH sensor module  2076  also measures the voltage potential difference between the material  2039  and the material  2036  and records that value for later comparison. The pH sensor module  2076  calculates the pH level of the surrounding environment using the voltage potential values. The pH sensor module  2076  provides that information to the control device  2038 . The control device  2038  varies the rate of the transfer of mass that produces the ionic transfer and the current flow to encode the information relevant to the pH level in the ionic transfer, which can be detected by a receiver (not shown). Thus, the system  2030  can determine and provide the information related to the pH level to a source external to the environment. 
     As indicated above, the control device  2038  can be programmed in advance to output a pre-defined current signature. In another aspect, the system can include a receiver system that can receive programming information when the system is activated. In another aspect, not shown, the switch  2064  and the memory  2066  can be combined into one device. 
     In addition to the above components, the system  2030  may also include one or other electronic components. Electrical components of interest include, but are not limited to: additional logic and/or memory elements, e.g., in the form of an integrated circuit; a power regulation device, e.g., battery, fuel cell or capacitor; a sensor, a stimulator, etc.; a signal transmission element, e.g., in the form of an antenna, electrode, coil, etc.; a passive element, e.g., an inductor, resistor, etc. 
       FIG. 11  provides a functional block diagram  2200  of how a receiver (e.g., body-associated personal communicator  104 ) may implement a coherent demodulation protocol, according to one aspect of the invention. It should be noted that only a portion of the receiver is shown in  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 11  illustrates the process of mixing the signal down to baseband once the carrier frequency (and carrier signal mixed down to carrier offset) is determined. A carrier signal  2221  is mixed with a second carrier signal  2222  at mixer  2223 . A narrow low-pass filter  2220  is applied of appropriate bandwidth to reduce the effect of out-of-bound noise. Demodulation occurs at functional blocks  2225  in accordance with the coherent demodulation scheme of the present invention. The unwrapped phase  2230  of the complex signal is determined. An optional third mixer stage, in which the phase evolution is used to estimate the frequency differential between the calculated and real carrier frequency can be applied. The structure of the packet is then leveraged to determine the beginning of the coding region of the BPSK signal at block  2240 . Mainly, the presence of the sync header, which appears as an FM porch in the amplitude signal of the complex demodulated signal is used to determine the starting bounds of the packet. Once the starting point of the packet is determined the signal is rotated at block  2250  on the IQ plane and standard bit identification and eventually decoded at block  2260 . 
     In addition to demodulation, the transbody communication module may include a forward error correction module, which module provides additional gain to combat interference from other unwanted signals and noise. Forward error correction functional modules of interest include those described in PCT Application Serial No. PCT/US2007/024225; the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference. In some instances, the forward error correction module may employ any convenient protocol, such as Reed-Solomon, Golay, Hamming, BCH, and Turbo protocols to identify and correct (within bounds) decoding errors. 
     Receivers of the invention, such as the body-associated personal communicator  104 , may further employ a beacon functionality module. In various aspects, the beacon switching module may employ one or more of the following: a beacon wakeup module, a beacon signal module, a wave/frequency module, a multiple frequency module, and a modulated signal module. 
     The beacon switching module may be associated with beacon communications, e.g., a beacon communication channel, a beacon protocol, etc. For the purpose of the present disclosure, beacons are typically signals sent either as part of a message or to augment a message (sometimes referred to herein as “beacon signals”). The beacons may have well-defined characteristics, such as frequency. Beacons may be detected readily in noisy environments and may be used for a trigger to a sniff circuit, such as described below. In one aspect, the beacon switching module may comprise the beacon wakeup module, having wakeup functionality. Wakeup functionality generally comprises the functionality to operate in high power modes only during specific times, e.g., short periods for specific purposes, to receive a signal, etc. An important consideration on a receiver portion of a system is that it be of low power. This feature may be advantageous in an implanted receiver, to provide for both small size and to preserve a long-functioning electrical supply from a battery. The beacon switching module enables these advantages by having the receiver operate in a high power mode for very limited periods of time. Short duty cycles of this kind can provide optimal system size and energy draw features. 
     In practice, the receiver may “wake up” periodically, and at low energy consumption, to perform a “sniff function” via, for example, a sniff circuit. For the purpose of the present application, the term “sniff function” generally refers to a short, low-power function to determine if a transmitter is present. If a transmitter signal is detected by the sniff function, the device may transition to a higher power communication decode mode. If a transmitter signal is not present, the receiver may return, e.g., immediately return, to sleep mode. In this manner, energy is conserved during relatively long periods when a transmitter signal is not present, while high-power capabilities remain available for efficient decode mode operations during the relatively few periods when a transmit signal is present. Several modes, and combination thereof, may be available for operating the sniff circuit. By matching the needs of a particular system to the sniff circuit configuration, an optimized system may be achieved. 
     Another view of a beacon module is provided in the functional block diagram shown in  FIG. 12 . The scheme outlined in  FIG. 12  outlines one technique for identifying a valid beacon. The incoming signal  2360  represents the signals received by electrodes, bandpass filtered (such as from 10 KHz to 34 KHz) by a high frequency signaling chain (which encompasses the carrier frequency), and converted from analog to digital. The signal  2360  is then decimated at block  2361  and mixed at the nominal drive frequency (such as, 12.5 KHz, 20 KHz, etc.) at mixer  2362 . The resulting signal is decimated at block  2364  and low-pass filtered (such as  5  KHz BW) at block  2365  to produce the carrier signal mixed down to carrier offset-signal  2369 . Signal  2369  is further processed by blocks  2367  (fast Fourier transform and then detection of two strongest peaks) to provide the true carrier frequency signal  2368 . This protocol allows for accurate determination of the carrier frequency of the transmitted beacon. 
       FIG. 13  provides a block functional diagram of an integrated circuit component of a signal receiver (e.g., body-associated personal communicator  104 ) according to an aspect of the invention. In  FIG. 13 , receiver  2700  includes electrode input  2710 . Electrically coupled to the electrode input  2710  are transbody conductive communication module  2720  and physiologic sensing module  2730 . In one aspect, transbody conductive communication module  2720  is implemented as a high frequency (HF) signal chain and physiologic sensing module  2730  is implemented as a low frequency (LF) signal chain. Also shown are CMOS temperature sensing module  2740  (for detecting ambient temperature) and a 3-axis accelerometer  2750 . Receiver  2700  also includes a processing engine  2760  (for example, a microcontroller and digital signal processor), non-volatile memory  2770  (for data storage) and wireless communication module  2780  (for data transmission to another device, for example in a data upload action). 
       FIG. 14  provides a more detailed block diagram of a circuit configured to implement the block functional diagram of the receiver (e.g., body-associated personal communicator  104 ) depicted in  FIG. 14 , according to one aspect of the invention. In  FIG. 14 , receiver  800  (e.g., body-associated personal communicator  104 ) includes electrodes e1, e2 and e3 ( 2811 ,  2812  and  2813 ) which, for example, receive the conductively transmitted signals by an IEM and/or sense physiologic parameters or biomarkers of interest. The signals received by the electrodes  2811 ,  2812 , and  2813  are multiplexed by multiplexer  820  which is electrically coupled to the electrodes. 
     Multiplexer  2820  is electrically coupled to both high band pass filter  2830  and low band pass filter  2840 . The high and low frequency signal chains provide for programmable gain to cover the desired level or range. In this specific aspect, high band pass filter  2830  passes frequencies in the 10 KHz to 34 KHz band while filtering out noise from out-of-band frequencies. This high frequency band may vary, and may include, for example, a range of 3 KHz to 300 KHz. The passing frequencies are then amplified by amplifier  2832  before being converted into a digital signal by converter  2834  for input into high power processor  2880  (shown as a DSP) which is electrically coupled to the high frequency signal chain. 
     Low band pass filter  2840  is shown passing lower frequencies in the range of 0.5 Hz to 150 Hz while filtering out out-of-band frequencies. The frequency band may vary, and may include, for example, frequencies less than 300 Hz, such as less than 200 Hz, including less than 150 Hz. The passing frequency signals are amplified by amplifier  842 . Also shown is accelerometer  850  electrically coupled to second multiplexer  2860 . Multiplexer  2860  multiplexes the signals from the accelerometer with the amplified signals from amplifier  2842 . The multiplexed signals are then converted to digital signals by converter  864  which is also electrically coupled to low power processor  2870 . 
     In one aspect, a digital accelerometer (such as one manufactured by Analog Devices), may be implemented in place of accelerometer  2850 . Various advantages may be achieved by using a digital accelerometer. For example, because the signals the digital accelerometer would produce signals already in digital format, the digital accelerometer could bypass converter  2864  and electrically couple to the low power microcontroller  2870 —in which case multiplexer  2860  would no longer be required. Also, the digital signal may be configured to turn itself on when detecting motion, further conserving power. In addition, continuous step counting may be implemented. The digital accelerometer may include a FIFO buffer to help control the flow of data sent to the low power processor  2870 . For instance, data may be buffered in the FIFO until full, at which time the processor may be triggered to turn awaken from an idle state and receive the data. 
     Low power processor  2870  may be, for example, an MSP430 microcontroller from Texas Instruments. Low power processor  2870  of receiver  2800  maintains the idle state, which as stated earlier, requires minimal current draw—e.g., 10 μA or less, or 1 μA or less. 
     High power processor  2880  may be, for example, a VC5509 digital signal process from Texas Instruments. The high power processor  2880  performs the signal processing actions during the active state. These actions, as stated earlier, require larger amounts of current than the idle state—e.g., currents of 30 μA or more, such as 50 μA or more—and may include, for example, actions such as scanning for conductively transmitted signals, processing conductively transmitted signals when received, obtaining and/or processing physiologic data, etc. 
     The receiver (e.g., body-associated personal communicator  104 ) may include a hardware accelerator module to process data signals. The hardware accelerator module may be implemented instead of, for example, a DSP. Being a more specialized computation unit, it performs aspects of the signal processing algorithm with fewer transistors (less cost and power) compared to the more general purpose DSP. The blocks of hardware may be used to “accelerate” the performance of important specific function(s). Some architectures for hardware accelerators may be “programmable” via microcode or VLIW assembly. In the course of use, their functions may be accessed by calls to function libraries. 
     The hardware accelerator (HWA) module comprises an HWA input block to receive an input signal that is to be processed and instructions for processing the input signal; and, an HWA processing block to process the input signal according to the received instructions and to generate a resulting output signal. The resulting output signal may be transmitted as needed by an HWA output block. 
     Also shown in  FIG. 14  is flash memory  2890  electrically coupled to high power processor  2880 . In one aspect, flash memory  2890  may be electrically coupled to low power processor  2870 , which may provide for better power efficiency. 
     Wireless communication element  2895  is shown electrically coupled to high power processor  2880  and may include, for example, a BLUETOOTH™ wireless communication transceiver. In one aspect, wireless communication element  2895  is electrically coupled to high power processor  2880 . In another aspect, wireless communication element  2895  is electrically coupled to high power processor  2880  and low power processor  2870 . Furthermore, wireless communication element  2895  may be implemented to have its own power supply so that it may be turned on and off independently from other components of the receiver—e.g., by a microprocessor. 
       FIG. 15  provides a view of a block diagram of hardware in a receiver (e.g., body-associated personal communicator  104 ) according to an aspect of the invention related to the high frequency signal chain. In  FIG. 15 , receiver  2900  includes receiver probes (for example in the form of electrodes  2911 ,  2912  and  2913 ) electrically coupled to multiplexer  2920 . Also shown are high pass filter  2930  and low pass filter  2940  to provide for a band pass filter which eliminates any out-of-band frequencies. In the aspect shown, a band pass of  10  KHz to  34  KHz is provided to pass carrier signals falling within the frequency band. Example carrier frequencies may include, but are not limited to, 12.5 KHz and 20 KHz. One or more carriers may be present. In addition, receiver  2900  includes analog to digital converter  2950 —for example, sampling at 500 KHz. The digital signal can thereafter be processed by the DSP. Shown in this aspect is DMA to DSP unit  960  which sends the digital signal to dedicated memory for the DSP. The direct memory access provides the benefit of allowing the rest of the DSP to remain in a low power mode. 
     Example configurations for various states 
     As stated earlier, for each receiver state, the high power functional block may be cycled between active and inactive states accordingly. Also, for each receiver state, various receiver elements (such as circuit blocks, power domains within processor, etc.) of a receiver may be configured to independently cycle from on and off by the power supply module. Therefore, the receiver may have different configurations for each state to achieve power efficiency. 
     In certain aspects, the receivers are part of a body-associated system or network of devices, such as sensors, signal receivers, and optionally other devices, which may be internal and/or external, which provide a variety of different types of information that is ultimately collected and processed by a processor, such as an external processor, which then can provide contextual data about a living subject, such as a patient, as output. For example, the receiver may be a member of an in-body network of devices which can provide an output that includes data about IEM ingestion, one or more physiologic sensed parameters, implantable device operation, etc., to an external collector of the data. The external collector, e.g., in the form of a health care network server, etc., of the data then combines this receiver provided data with additional relevant data about the patient, e.g., weight, weather, medical record data, etc., and may process this disparate data to provide highly specific and contextual patient specific data. 
     Systems of the invention include, in certain aspects, a signal receiver aspect of a receiver and one or more IEMs. IEMs of interest include those described in PCT application serial no. PCT/US2006/016370 published as WO/2006/116718; PCT application serial no. PCT/US2007/082563 published as WO/2008/052136; PCT application serial no. PCT/US2007/024225 published as WO/2008/063626; PCT application serial no. PCT/US2007/022257 published as WO/2008/066617; PCT application serial no. PCT/US2008/052845 published as WO/2008/095183; PCT application serial no. PCT/US2008/053999 published as WO/2008/101107; PCT application serial no. PCT/US2008/056296 published as WO/2008/112577; PCT application serial no. PCT/US2008/056299 published as WO/2008/112578; and PCT application serial no. PCT/US2008/077753 published as WO 2009/042812; the disclosures of which applications are herein incorporated by reference. 
     In certain aspects the systems include an external device which is distinct from the receiver (which may be implanted or topically applied in certain aspects), where this external device provides a number of functionalities. Such an external device can include the capacity to provide feedback and appropriate clinical regulation to the patient. Such a device can take any of a number of forms. For example, the device can be configured to sit on the bed next to the patient, e.g., a bedside monitor. Other formats include, but are not limited to, PDAs, smart phones, home computers, etc. 
     An example of a system of the invention is shown in  FIG. 16 . In  FIG. 16 , system  1500  includes a pharmaceutical composition  1510  that comprises an IEM. Also present in system  1500  is signal receiver  1520 , such as the signal receiver illustrated in  FIG. 11 . Signal receiver  1520  is configured to detect a signal emitted from the identifier of the IEM  1510 . Signal receiver  1520  also includes physiologic sensing capability, such as ECG and movement sensing capability. Signal receiver  1520  is configured to transmit data to a patient&#39;s an external device or PDA  1530  (such as a smart phone or other wireless communication enabled device), which in turn transmits the data to a server  1540 . Server  1540  may be configured as desired, e.g., to provide for patient directed permissions. For example, server  1540  may be configured to allow a family caregiver  1550  to participate in the patient&#39;s therapeutic regimen, e.g., via an interface (such as a web interface) that allows the family caregiver  1550  to monitor alerts and trends generated by the server  1540 , and provide support back to the patient, as indicated by arrow  1560 . The server  1540  may also be configured to provide responses directly to the patient, e.g., in the form of patient alerts, patient incentives, etc., as indicated by arrow  1565  which are relayed to the patient via PDA  1530 . Server  1540  may also interact with a health care professional (e.g., RN, physician)  1555 , which can use data processing algorithms to obtain measures of patient health and compliance, e.g., wellness index summaries, alerts, cross-patient benchmarks, etc., and provide informed clinical communication and support back to the patient, as indicated by arrow  1580 . In other embodiments, server  1540  is a social-networking system. 
     Having described social-network environment associated in which information can be provided to a social-networking system  160  by a body-associated personal communicator  104 , the description now turns to various social media applications of social-networking system  160  employing physiologic information received from body-associated personal communicator  104 . Various aspects include by way of example and not limitation, timelines, awards/incentives, analytics, grouping, mentoring, mood, emotion, access, identification, among others. Physical networks may be captured by the social-networking system  160  via passive searching of information from body-associated personal communicators  104 . 
       FIG. 17  is a flow diagram  1700  of a method associated with a social-networking system. In accordance with the method, a social-networking system  160  ( FIG. 2 ) receives  1702  physiologic information from a body-associated personal communicator  104  ( FIGS. 1-3 ). Once the physiologic information is received  1702  by the social-networking system  160 , the social- networking system  160  may perform any one of the following. In one aspect, the social-networking system  160  may generate  1704  a private or public timeline for a user of the social-networking system  160  based on the physiologic information. In another aspect, the social-networking system  160  may provide  1706  rewards, awards, or incentives to users of the social-networking system  160  based on the physiologic information. In another aspect, the social-networking system  160  may provide  1708  an analytical framework to users of the social-networking system based on the physiologic information. In another aspect, the social-networking system  160  may group  1710  a plurality of users of the social-networking system  160  based on the physiologic information. In another aspect, the social-networking system  160  identifies  1712  a mentor or leader from a plurality of users of the social-networking system  160  based on the physiologic information. In another aspect, the social-networking system  160  determines  1714  a mood or emotional state of a user of the social-networking system  160  based on the physiologic information. In another aspect, the social-networking system  160  receives  1716  identification information of a user of the social-networking system  160  based on the physiologic information. In a further aspect, the social-networking system  160  provides  1718  access to a user of the social-networking system  160  based on the identification information. These and other aspects of the present social-networking system base don physiologic information are described hereinbelow. 
     Timelines 
     Accordingly, in one aspect, the social-networking system  160  provides a social media platform to enable users to create and maintain public and private timelines. In one aspect, a public timeline located in a public profile page of the user may be pulled into a private timeline located in a private profile page of the user and private information may be added either manually or automatically to the private timeline. Present solutions and postings on social-networking systems include only a user&#39;s “best” information. Postings on the social-networking system  160  in accordance with the present disclosure enables a user to add private information, wellness information, physiologic information, and ingestion information and to mix and match public information with private information on the private timeline. Timeline changes may be based on food, activities, algorithms, private or shared information with the public, among others. A private timeline is a timeline that is only visible to the user where the user can record and review his/her own timeline. A user can add personal details and things that are important to the user such as health information provided to the social-networking system  160  by the body-associated personal communicator  104 . The personal public or private timelines may provide personal insights into the user. In one example, the private timeline may include a health and wellness timeline. Private health timelines can be based on events, mood, food, activity, behavior adherence, among others. 
     Rewards/Awards/Incentives 
     In another aspect, the social-networking system  160  provides a social media platform to issue rewards/awards/incentives to enable users to rank and compete with other. Ranking and competition using personal or team metrics and goals may be employed to encourage manual or automatic data entry. Team metrics can be used to allocate points to track rankings and competition. Team versus team data displays which team has the best individual aggregated statistics. Ranking and/or competition may be based on the amount of information provided to the social-networking system  160 , whether the information is provided automatically, through the body-associated personal communicator  104 , or manually. Awards may be given based on product specific criteria. Rewards such as “likes” are powerful motivators for users. A large motivating number of “likes” for a goal can translate into positive incentives for the user. In other aspects, caregivers may be incentivized for intervention and/or outreach. In summary, ranking and competition encourages users to enter information. 
     Other rewards may be based on IQ, which quantifies our logical Intelligence, EQ, which quantifies emotional intelligence, and/or BQ, which quantifies body intelligence. It will be appreciated that BQ information can be provided to the social-networking system  160  by the body-associated personal communicator  104 , either manually or automatically. BQ information also may be supplemented with medication ingestion information provided by an ingestible event marker (IEM). 
     Likes for a goal set by a user can trigger other incentives, offers of help, people with similar goals, etc. In other aspects, community feedback is a reward for taking medications, which is confirmed by the body-associated personal communicator  104 . In another aspect, the body-associated personal communicator  104  may provide physiologic information to the social-networking system  160  in the form of body temperature measurements, which can be displayed as a heat map to indicate exercise levels of several users within the group. This may be relative to the group and key to award (motivation to group awards-personal tie in). Other rewards may be based on a user&#39;s resume rather than job title. Rewards may be based on group health behavior. For example, Cleveland clinic cheek swab or the idea that one cannot be employed if one is a smoker. Other rewards may be base don posting images of healthy foods. Still other rewards may be based on the insurance marketplace where the insurance benefit rewards for positive behavior. Physiologic and ingestion information from the body-associated personal communicator  104  may be utilized to prove that the user is taking care of him/herself to obtain benefit reduction. In other insurance related aspects, the physiologic and ingestion information provided to the social-networking system  160  by the body-associated personal communicator  104  may be utilized in a health insurance auction where the insurance company is bidding for healthy users. 
     Analytics 
     In another aspect, the social-networking system  160  provides social media platform that employs analytics to measure performance and enable the social-networking system  160  to rank users and/or activities. Use metrics may include a Nielson-type ratings methodology where advertisement revenue is based on viewership. Other techniques include look-a-like analysis where health outcomes are based on clustering and predictive analytics. 
     Grouping 
     In another aspect, the social-networking system  160  provides a social media platform for grouping users. In various aspects, groupings may be made automatically based on association metrics, data, or sensor related data provided by the body-associated personal communicator  104 . In other aspects, groupings may be based on social support networks to provide users with support based on unexpected events in nature, health, fitness, and community building activities. Examples include social support networks for users with similar issues or interests including, for example, groupings based on recovering alcoholics, community building based on interaction, physical proximity, interest factors such as hiking, timing of hike, running, difficulty of run/hiking trail/elevation, decisions, caregiver communities. Automatic grouping may be based on location or forming communities, for example, a social network operator may suggest that a user be a team leader or mentor for a particular group (catalyst). Other grouping features may include understanding support networks and advanced use of search to find people. Support networks can be provided to achieve a goal (e.g., Yoga expert that travels too much) and for group alignment. A virtual walk to support a particular cause or charity may be conducted in real time on the social-networking system  160  utilizing physiologic information and/or ingestion information received from the body-associated personal communicator  104 . A support network may include collective live display of physiologic information such the number of steps taken either for a cause or to make a statement or ingestion information. 
     Groupings allow users to find people that are engaged in similar activities with similar abilities such as, for example, people who like to run in a certain area, at the same pace, and at the same time can be automatically grouped based on physiologic information input into the social-networking system  160 . Rapid exchange of information in a specific region to people who are in the same region may be provided. Users may suggest running paths to other users with the same fitness level among other criteria such as, time of run, running, difficulty of run, elevation, etc.. Grouping also may be based on collective live display of steps, ingestions, other physiologic information to make a statement, support a cause, etc. In other grouping or forming of communities, information can be shared within the group anonymously, for example, during a crisis information may be aggregated by location and an event happening in that area without revealing user identities. In other aspects, grouping may be based on geographic location (e.g., as determined by GPS), age, interests, time overlays, among others. Relationships may be via sensors located on the body-associated personal communicator  104  rather than pictures. Accordingly, groups may be formed automatically based on sensor detected behavior/sickness. In another aspect, groups may be formed based on relationships between mentors and mentees. In one aspect the social-networking system  160  is configured to automatically determine mentors and/or mentees based on sensor detected behavior. 
     As a service model the IEM may be used as an identifier that is unique to the user and can be used for authentication and also social interaction. Other groupings may be based on blood donations or voting. 
     In addition to ingestion information, or in place thereof, groupings also may be based on goal setting and rewards for achieving certain goals. 
     Mentoring 
     In another aspect, the social-networking system  160  provides a social media platform for determining and recommending users for leadership and/or mentoring roles based on any of the social media categories described herein. For example, social-networking system  160  may recommend a user as a leader or mentor for a specific group based on the user&#39;s profile. The user may then choose whether or not to accept such recommendation. The social-networking system  160  also may associate a user fro remote to coaching roles for groups based on associations with sports and physical activity. Remote coaching association may be peer based, people who have previously accomplished goals you have set, many-to-one or one-to-one. 
     Mood/Emotion 
     In another aspect, the social-networking system  160  provides a social media platform for determining the mood and emotional state of a user based on information gathered from the body-associated personal communicator  104  or other techniques. Additionally, the social-networking system  160  provides a social media platform for intervention. A display of the user&#39;s mood or emotional state may be visualized during a crisis or specific event such as, for example, sleep, stress level, etc. Mood or emotion based on visualizations may be analogous to visualizations of weather forecast. The pulse of a community or city and its present mood may be based on outcomes of local events such as local team winning or losing other events unique to that location. Mood or emotion may be based on sociability on the social-networking system  160 , which may prompt interventions by applications executing on the body-associated personal communicator  104 . Physiologic and emotional responses can be monitored during certain events such as debates, voting, etc. Other outcomes include detection of sickness, condition, depression, pregnancy, sociability, or death. 
     In another aspect, the social-networking system  160  provides a social media platform for adding emotional states into written communications such as text messaging and email postings. Text messages and email are notorious for being easily misread as having the wrong agenda or with implied emotion, intent. Physiologic measurements from the body-associated personal communicator  104  communicated to the social-networking system  160  may be leveraged to create an emotional language that becomes imparted into messaging. The content of the text or email message combined with the measured emotional state of the user may be utilized by an algorithm to differentiate and classify differences in emotional states between fear, anger, excitement, etc. This added emotional language may be useful in other application and places, some more wholesome than others and provides a new dimension to all forms of written communication. The continuous information collected by body-associated personal communicator  104  could be used to validate measurements with timing of measurements, previous but recent measurements, time of message, if the message is a response to another message, when the message was viewed, etc. 
     Identification/Access 
     In another aspect, the social-networking system  160  provides a social media platform for identifying a user and enabling the user to access to the social-networking system  160  based on the identity. In one aspect, identification by and access to the social-networking system  160  may be based on uniquely identifiable ingestion information as communicated by an IEM to the body-associated personal communicator  104  or physiologic parameters associated with the user. The ingestion information may be utilized to unlock and provide access to the social-networking system  160  or to provide access to certain features of the social-networking system  160  or to obtain rewards. 
     In another aspect, the body-associated personal communicator  104  or client device  130  includes a fingerprinting module to capture the user&#39;s fingerprint(s). The fingerprint information can be utilized as an advanced form of user identification to access the social-networking system  160 . In another aspect, the IEM ingestion information, which includes a unique identification number, may be utilized as another form of user identification to access the social-networking system  160 . In yet another aspect, the physiologic information measured by the body-associated personal communicator  104  may be utilized as another form of user identification to access the social-networking system  160 . In yet another aspect, device identification associated with the body-associated personal communicator  104  may be utilized as another form of user identification to access the social-networking system  160 . In other aspects any combination of fingerprint information, IEM ingestion information, physiologic information, and/or device identification information may be utilized as a form of identification to enable access to the social-networking system  160  or features thereof. These various forms of identification may provide access to the private timeline and generally provide for better overall authentication. 
     Other Examples 
     In other aspects, the physiologic and ingestion information from the body-associated personal communicator  104  may be employed in other social media websites, such as, for example dating sites. People inherently like to receive feedback on their dates. Physiologic information is great feedback in such instances not only for the user from user&#39;s date. Social dating websites may be configured to provide feedback based on physiologic information received from a body-associated personal communicator  104 . This would provide more comprehensive feedback information on dating and may help people understand their behaviors in not so ideal social situations and learn how to handle them. In one aspect, the body-associated personal communicator  104  would also provide fitness levels of the user as another parameter in the user profile. This information could be utilized to confirm whether a date is “athletically toned” as indicated in the user profile. The physiologic information provided by the body-associated personal communicator  104  would lend more credibility to user profiles. This aspect may extend to other social media websites reporting on events. People post pictures, write words, now post body data related to events. A user post may include “went out with someone last night here is the photo, here is how my body behaved.” 
     In another aspect, the body-associated personal communicator  104  may be a component of hardware-augmented Internet businesses, otherwise referred to as the Internet-of-things. The body-associated personal communicator  104  and the social-networking system  160  provide a health and wellness social network. In one aspect, an FDA-approved physiologic sensing platform, including the body-associated personal communicator  104 , capable of tracking exercise, recovery, and integrating data from other sources is combined with a worldwide social media network platform such as the social-networking system  160 . The social-networking system  160  communities would be utilized to support health and wellness goals and healthy behaviors of all kinds. Information generated by the body-associated personal communicator  104  may be employed to login into the social-networking system  160  and tailor the personalized interaction model on the social-networking system  160  user profile. The social-networking system  160  may be configured to distribute alerts and data via its mobile platform, creating a new engagement mechanism for athletes and other social-networking system  160  users intent on achieving health and wellness goals. 
     Initially, users join a social-networking system  160  as individuals and do not attach to any particular community. They create linkages to friends who become part of their network, including companies, churches, charities, etc., and create social media networking pages. People also can create groups, like sports clubs, etc. that individuals can join or be invited to join. Depending on how the users set up their account, they can receive notifications when anything new is posted to that site. They are generally private but a user can make them public if desired. Companies, churches, charities, etc., create social media networking pages generally as a way to advertise. They might also choose to create a group that is more private. In one aspect, the social-networking system  160  creates specific groups to which users can or are subscribed. The linkages between the users are essentially created by the social-networking system  160  rather than by the users based on their choices. The social-networking system  160  has all the data associated with how users classify themselves, what they associate with, and how they think about sports, etc. The targeting tools provided by the social-networking system  160  may be used to reach out to specific users or groups of users based on demographics, likes, associations, etc. Finally, there are many social media pages/groups for specific sports and fitness. Everything from individual sports stars down to users who like football. In one aspect, the social-networking system  160  may be utilized for competition or as the engine to manage that process. Companies and clubs use the social-networking system  160  to drive users to their applications and their websites. Sports equipment companies build elements into their applications that allow users to compete with and challenge strangers or friends. In each case, a device agnostic application (e.g., Strava) or a hardware business that feeds their application. In one aspect, a mobile device application leverages the body-associated personal communicator  104  device agnostic hardware. Users use the device in simple to extreme ways from friendly banter about sitting too much to athletic competitions. Through device use, groups of users will become apparent and can be targeted and use that targeting to market the application and devices to similar users through the exhaustive database of information about what people like, do, buy, eat, support, etc., available from the social-networking system  160 . The social-networking system  160  can leverage their game learning on rewards, progress towards goals, status upgrades, exclusive clubs, etc. 
     While various details have been set forth in the foregoing description, it will be appreciated that the various aspects of the personal authentication apparatus, system, and method may be practiced without these specific details. For example, for conciseness and clarity selected aspects have been shown in block diagram form rather than in detail. Some portions of the detailed descriptions provided herein may be presented in terms of instructions that operate on data that is stored in a computer memory. Such descriptions and representations are used by those skilled in the art to describe and convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. In general, an algorithm refers to a self-consistent sequence of steps leading to a desired result, where a “step” refers to a manipulation of physical quantities which may, though need not necessarily, take the form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated. It is common usage to refer to these signals as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like. These and similar terms may be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these quantities. 
     Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from the foregoing discussion, it is appreciated that, throughout the foregoing description, discussions using terms such as “processing” or “computing” or “calculating” or “determining” or “displaying” or the like, refer to the action and processes of a computer system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer system&#39;s registers and memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computer system memories or registers or other such information storage, transmission or display devices. 
     It is worthy to note that any reference to “one aspect,” “an aspect,” “one embodiment,” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the aspect is included in at least one aspect. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one aspect,” “in an aspect,” “in one embodiment,” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same aspect. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more aspects. 
     Some aspects may be described in accordance with the expression “coupled” and “connected” along with their derivatives. It should be understood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other. For example, some aspects may be described using the term “connected” to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact with each other. In another example, some aspects may be described using the term “coupled” to indicate that two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contact. The term “coupled,” however, also may mean that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, but yet still co-operate or interact with each other. 
     It is worthy to note that any reference to “one aspect,” “an aspect,” “one embodiment,” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the aspect is included in at least one aspect. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one aspect,” “in an aspect,” “in one embodiment,” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same aspect. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more aspects. 
     Although various embodiments have been described herein, many modifications, variations, substitutions, changes, and equivalents to those embodiments may be implemented and will occur to those skilled in the art. Also, where materials are disclosed for certain components, other materials may be used. It is therefore to be understood that the foregoing description and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and variations as falling within the scope of the disclosed embodiments. The following claims are intended to cover all such modification and variations. 
     In a general sense, those skilled in the art will recognize that the various aspects described herein which can be implemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof can be viewed as being composed of various types of “electrical circuitry.” Consequently, as used herein “electrical circuitry” includes, but is not limited to, electrical circuitry having at least one discrete electrical circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one integrated circuit, electrical circuitry having at least one application specific integrated circuit, electrical circuitry forming a general purpose computing device configured by a computer program (e.g., a general purpose computer configured by a computer program which at least partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein, or a microprocessor configured by a computer program which at least partially carries out processes and/or devices described herein), electrical circuitry forming a memory device (e.g., forms of random access memory), and/or electrical circuitry forming a communications device (e.g., a modem, communications switch, or optical-electrical equipment). Those having skill in the art will recognize that the subject matter described herein may be implemented in an analog or digital fashion or some combination thereof. 
     The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments of the devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, flowcharts, and/or examples contain one or more functions and/or operations, it will be understood by those within the art that each function and/or operation within such block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented, individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software, firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment, several portions of the subject matter described herein may be implemented via Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), digital signal processors (DSPs), or other integrated formats. However, those skilled in the art will recognize that some aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein, in whole or in part, can be equivalently implemented in integrated circuits, as one or more computer programs running on one or more computers (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more computer systems), as one or more programs running on one or more processors (e.g., as one or more programs running on one or more microprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof, and that designing the circuitry and/or writing the code for the software and or firmware would be well within the skill of one of skill in the art in light of this disclosure. In addition, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the mechanisms of the subject matter described herein are capable of being distributed as a program product in a variety of forms, and that an illustrative embodiment of the subject matter described herein applies regardless of the particular type of signal bearing medium used to actually carry out the distribution. Examples of a signal bearing medium include, but are not limited to, the following: a recordable type medium such as a floppy disk, a hard disk drive, a Compact Disc (CD), a Digital Video Disk (DVD), a digital tape, a computer memory, etc.; and a transmission type medium such as a digital and/or an analog communication medium (e.g., a fiber optic cable, a waveguide, a wired communications link, a wireless communication link (e.g., transmitter, receiver, transmission logic, reception logic, etc.), etc.). 
     All of the above-mentioned U.S. patents, U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreign patents, foreign patent applications, non-patent publications referred to in this specification and/or listed in any Application Data Sheet, or any other disclosure material are incorporated herein by reference, to the extent not inconsistent herewith. As such, and to the extent necessary, the disclosure as explicitly set forth herein supersedes any conflicting material incorporated herein by reference. Any material, or portion thereof, that is said to be incorporated by reference herein, but which conflicts with existing definitions, statements, or other disclosure material set forth herein will only be incorporated to the extent that no conflict arises between that incorporated material and the existing disclosure material. 
     One skilled in the art will recognize that the herein described components (e.g., operations), devices, objects, and the discussion accompanying them are used as examples for the sake of conceptual clarity and that various configuration modifications are contemplated. Consequently, as used herein, the specific exemplars set forth and the accompanying discussion are intended to be representative of their more general classes. In general, use of any specific exemplar is intended to be representative of its class, and the non-inclusion of specific components (e.g., operations), devices, and objects should not be taken limiting. 
     With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations are not expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity. 
     The herein described subject matter sometimes illustrates different components contained within, or connected with, different other components. It is to be understood that such depicted architectures are merely exemplary, and that in fact many other architectures may be implemented which achieve the same functionality. In a conceptual sense, any arrangement of components to achieve the same functionality is effectively “associated” such that the desired functionality is achieved. Hence, any two components herein combined to achieve a particular functionality can be seen as “associated with” each other such that the desired functionality is achieved, irrespective of architectures or intermedial components. Likewise, any two components so associated can also be viewed as being “operably connected,” or “operably coupled,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality, and any two components capable of being so associated can also be viewed as being “operably couplable,” to each other to achieve the desired functionality. Specific examples of operably couplable include but are not limited to physically mateable and/or physically interacting components, and/or wirelessly interactable, and/or wirelessly interacting components, and/or logically interacting, and/or logically interactable components. 
     In some instances, one or more components may be referred to herein as “configured to,” “configurable to,” “operable/operative to,” “adapted/adaptable,” “able to,” “conformable/conformed to,” etc. Those skilled in the art will recognize that “configured to” can generally encompass active-state components and/or inactive-state components and/or standby-state components, unless context requires otherwise. 
     While particular aspects of the present subject matter described herein have been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that, based upon the teachings herein, changes and modifications may be made without departing from the subject matter described herein and its broader aspects and, therefore, the appended claims are to encompass within their scope all such changes and modifications as are within the true spirit and scope of the subject matter described herein. It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to claims containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should typically be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. 
     In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that typically a disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms unless context dictates otherwise. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be typically understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.” 
     With respect to the appended claims, those skilled in the art will appreciate that recited operations therein may generally be performed in any order. Also, although various operational flows are presented in a sequence(s), it should be understood that the various operations may be performed in other orders than those which are illustrated, or may be performed concurrently. Examples of such alternate orderings may include overlapping, interleaved, interrupted, reordered, incremental, preparatory, supplemental, simultaneous, reverse, or other variant orderings, unless context dictates otherwise. Furthermore, terms like “responsive to,” “related to,” or other past-tense adjectives are generally not intended to exclude such variants, unless context dictates otherwise. 
     In certain cases, use of a system or method may occur in a territory even if components are located outside the territory. For example, in a distributed computing context, use of a distributed computing system may occur in a territory even though parts of the system may be located outside of the territory (e.g., relay, server, processor, signal-bearing medium, transmitting computer, receiving computer, etc. located outside the territory). 
     A sale of a system or method may likewise occur in a territory even if components of the system or method are located and/or used outside the territory. Further, implementation of at least part of a system for performing a method in one territory does not preclude use of the system in another territory. 
     Although various embodiments have been described herein, many modifications, variations, substitutions, changes, and equivalents to those embodiments may be implemented and will occur to those skilled in the art. Also, where materials are disclosed for certain components, other materials may be used. It is therefore to be understood that the foregoing description and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and variations as falling within the scope of the disclosed embodiments. The following claims are intended to cover all such modification and variations. 
     In summary, numerous benefits have been described which result from employing the concepts described herein. The foregoing description of the one or more embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting to the precise form disclosed. Modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The one or more embodiments were chosen and described in order to illustrate principles and practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the claims submitted herewith define the overall scope.