Abstract:
The devices and methods of the present invention includes a communication network system that may be used to measure, analyze and distribute psychophysiological and other subject related data in real time from living subjects, such as human beings, or other data sources, who may be close to each other or scattered at different locations. The communication of psychophysiological information or devices may be bi- or multi-directional for psychophysiological intersubject interaction, so that two or more subjects may interchange their psychophysiological data after processing in one or more steps by the means of platforms of different kinds. The representation of processed physiological or other data for oneself or other subjects may be effectuated in different symbolic, functional or physical ways.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
         [0001]    This invention relates to a method and device for measuring, wireless transmission in real time over Internet or other net and processing of psychophysiological data, such as psychic events and states that may be traced in physiological systems.  
         BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The devices and methods of the present invention includes a communication network system that may be used to measure, analyze and distribute psychophysiological and other subject related data in real time from living subjects, such as human beings, or other data sources, who may be close to each other or scattered at different locations. The communication of psychophysiological information or devices may be bi- or multi-directional for psychophysiological intersubject interaction, so that two or more subjects may interchange their psychophysiological data after processing in one or more steps by the means of platforms of different kinds. The representation of processed physiological or other data for oneself or other subjects may be effectuated in different symbolic, functional or physical ways.  
           [0003]    Psychophysiological intersubject interaction may include, but is not restricted to, situations like  
           [0004]    (a) Digital games, such as action games, strategic, role, sport, racing, and family games, childrens&#39; games or any other type of digital game to which psychophysiological signals may be implemented as active parts or added to in stand-alone embodiments. For example: the heart rate and the sweat gland activity may be implemented in interactive digital games over net as conditions, i.e. some tasks cannot be performed unless a subject meets certain psychophysiological conditions, or some processes of the game or some characteristics of the role figures or objects, or some characteristics of the environment in the game, will be modified or exchanged depending on the players own or other players&#39; psychophysiological conditions, or, own and others&#39; psychophysiological signals will be displayed in suitable ways to oneself or to others.  
           [0005]    (b) chatting, i.e. written or vocal or symbolical exchange of information over a net between two or more subjects for interpersonal communication. For example: When two or more subjects are communicating the concomitant psychophysiological reactions may be displayed in some suitable way so the subjects may draw some conclusions about the others. The ability to cheat is not a limiting factor for the use of the method since the uncertainty of the communication in chatting is one of the charms and a normal prerequisite of the phenomenon of chatting.  
           [0006]    (c) group conversation, such as, for example, interactive role playing, theatre, drama or any other similar situation  
           [0007]    (d) other cultural situation such as interactive happenings, arts exhibitions or similar  
           [0008]    (e) entertainments of type interactive television programs including talk shows, musical entertainments, contests, interviews, political events  
           [0009]    (f) emotional strategy games or exercises—new forms of entertainment that is made possible by the present invention.  
           [0010]    (g) any other situation in which two or more subjects want to reveal their psychophysiological reactions or states for each others.  
           [0011]    Other subject related data may include other media like  
           [0012]    (a) sound in real time  
           [0013]    (b) pictures, film, video, web camera pictures in real time  
           [0014]    (c) smell  
           [0015]    (d) any other medium by which a sensation can be transmitted over net  
           [0016]    Other data sources may be  
           [0017]    (a) log data, i.e. data encoded, for example by the usage of unit  14  in the system  10 , for descriptions of observed or felt reactions, states, behaviour or situations in which the subject is.  
           [0018]    (b) time data  
           [0019]    (c) positioning system devices  
           [0020]    (d) light exposure, such as direct, reflected, white or other qualities of light  
           [0021]    (e) ambient temperature  
           [0022]    (f) winds, air humidity or other climatic circumstances  
           [0023]    (g) sound exposure, such as sound levels  
           [0024]    (h) mechanical forces of different kinds  
           [0025]    (i) movement characteristics, i.e. acceleration and similar any other environmental data that are relevant for the situation  
           [0026]    Platforms used may be such as  
           [0027]    (a) computers, i.e. stationary, portable, handheld or other types  
           [0028]    (b) game consoles, i.e. special hardware design mainly for digital games.  
           [0029]    (c) mobile phones, or other communication devices using local or long distance or satellite telephone nets.  
           [0030]    (d) mobile intelligent screens or electronic books or other similar communication devices for local or net communication  
           [0031]    Networks may be  
           [0032]    (a) Internet or other world wide web and related net functions as networks connecting to Internat from mobile telephones.  
           [0033]    (b) Intranets of different types  
           [0034]    (c) Local nets, such as within a home or neighboring houses or vehicles or similar  
           [0035]    (d) micronets, such as connecting a computer or mobile phone with other devices, or, connecting one or more small devices like the measurement unit  12  and log unit  14  and other.  
           [0036]    Symbolical representation of processed physiological or other data may be effectuated by changes on a computer screen or other visual medium in  
           [0037]    (a) pictures  
           [0038]    (b) verbal expressions in text or sounds  
           [0039]    (c) diagrams  
           [0040]    (d) colors  
           [0041]    (e) acoustich codes/signals  
           [0042]    (f) any other symbolic way  
           [0043]    Functional representation of processed physiological or other data may be effectuated by changes in the function of  
           [0044]    (a) computer program or routine, such as the processes of a computer game or other  
           [0045]    (b) mobile phone or other communication device  
           [0046]    (c) any other device or process that brings information to a subject.  
           [0047]    Physical representation of processed psychophysiological or other data may be effectuated by changes in physical effects by devices applied to the subject&#39;s body by  
           [0048]    (a) vibrating devices (as, for example, in some mobile telephones)  
           [0049]    (b) tapping devices (simulating for example the heartbeat  
           [0050]    (c) mechanical effector devices such as devices exerting mechanical pressure or movement to the subjects  
           [0051]    (d) heating or cooling devices  
           [0052]    (e) electrical devices  
           [0053]    (f) any device giving some type of sensation to the subject.  
           [0054]    Additional aspects (applications) of the invention. Of course, the applications of the devices and methods of the present invention are not restricted to psychophysiologically intersubject interactive situations. For example, in embodiments including a mobile phone or palm held computer or similar, with the possibility of connections networks, one or more subjects&#39; psychophysiological or other data together or not with data from other sources, may be monitored at close or far distances in mobile or non-mobile isolated or non-isolated situations in the contexts of  
           [0055]    (a) Psychological research/clinic, such as tele-psychotherapy, tele-dream analysis, Biofeedback, Autodesensibilization  
           [0056]    (b) Sociopsychological research/clinic  
           [0057]    (c) Psycho/behavioural therapy or other psychological psychiatric therapy. For example, when a patient is moving freely in the society or over wide landscapes or sea, and the measurement unit detects signs of anxiety the communication over a mobile telephone of the physiological signals in combination or not with verbal communication to a therapist or computerized device may enable suitable counteractions against the anxiety.  
           [0058]    (d) Depression- or suicide research/clinic  
           [0059]    (e) Menopause research/clinic  
           [0060]    (f) Traffic research  
           [0061]    In addition, the devices and methods of the present investigation may be used when the psychophysiological activity/reactivity of a multitude of subjects, gathered or scattered, should be monitored simultaneously, which has not been possible before. Such situations may be  
           [0062]    (a) commercials research/evaluation. For example: Subjects scattered over many countries receiving commercials over a television satellite may send their psychophysiological reactions over a net to receiving aggregating computers which in turn may send the aggregated data to central computers for final analyses of culturally and in other ways varying subjects&#39; reactions.  
           [0063]    (b) music contests evaluation/monitoring. For example: many subjects&#39; psychophysiological reactions may be measured and distributed over net for analyses evaluating the psychophysiological impact of different appearances. The subjects may be seated in a concert hall or by the television sets.  
           [0064]    (c) film, video or television or similar evaluation/monitoring  
           [0065]    (d) film, theatre, arts, happening contests/evaluations. For example: the actor&#39; psychophysiological status may change the scenery and the audience&#39;s reactions may presented in different ways to the actors or change some qualities in the play.  
           [0066]    (e) monitoring a group of gathered or scattered athletes with or without the possibility to coaching, for example, the monitoring of a group of cyclists in a long cycle race with a global positioning system offers the possibility to compare the cyclists&#39; psychophysiological status and positions on the road, and to give orders who is going to which relative place in the group. Another example is mass athletic events like the “Vasa race” or similar mass or mrathon races when the interest is to monitor a multitude of individuals&#39; psychophysiological status. The psychophysiological data may be accompanied by environmental data or positional data.  
           [0067]    Further, the devices and methods of the present invention may be used for pedagogical or self-knowledge purposes, for example for  
           [0068]    (a) recommended psychological experiments using standard monitoring programmes  
           [0069]    (b)planned psychological experiments with special programmes  
           [0070]    (c) activity monitoring for choice of best time for learning or other activities  
           [0071]    (d) the study of own reactions to certain events, stimuli or objects. Can be used for the study of what evokes psychophysiological reactions  
           [0072]    (e) monitoring of own or others&#39; psychophysiological signal during the day or 24 h periods.  
           [0073]    (f) monitoring sleep  
           [0074]    (g) own dream studies  
           [0075]    (h) ergonomic studies. For example: the electromyogram from a certain group of muscles may be monitored, and when the computer detects an increased muscle tonus according to criteria, an alarm signal or a computer process may be initiated for a defined counteraction from the subject&#39;s side.  
           [0076]    (i) monitoring any activity, for example jogging, mediation, car driving, sun bathing etc. etc. For example: a global positioning system together with environmental data (temperature, sound level or other) and psychophysiological information may be recorded simultaneously from one to several car drivers in interactive driving situations in the traffic during long time and over long distances and sent over mobile telephones and WAP and Internet or telephone net, enabling simultaneous analyses in central receiving computers.  
           [0077]    (j) monitoring and controlling stress/anxiety or embarrassment situations in group or net situations.  
           [0078]    (k) Call-up-alert functions such as when certain psychophysiological conditions are met, an alert signal may go to a computer or /mobile/ phone to call up a certain telephone number to a receiving computerized device or a person.  
           [0079]    (l) Monitoring isolated persons&#39; psychophysiological status. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0080]    [0080]FIG. 1 is a schematic system diagram of the units of the present invention; and  
         [0081]    [0081]FIG. 2 is a schematic flow diagram of the main processes and structures within the units of the present invention.  
         [0082]    [0082]FIG. 3 is a schematic flow diagram of the signals transmitted within the most preferred solution P of the present invention.  
         [0083]    [0083]FIG. 4 is a schematic flow diagram of the signals transmitted within the secondary solution S of the present invention.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS  
       [0084]    With reference to FIGS.  1 - 4 , the device and method of the present invention includes a communication system  10  that may be used to measure and analyze psychophysiological signals or data from living subjects such as human beings or animals. The communication of psychophysiological information may be sent in one direction to analyzing device or devices or may be bi-directional for psychophysiological interaction, so that two or more subjects may interchange their psychophysiological data. Such a psychophysiologically interactive situation can be deducted from FIG. 1 in which the example comprises an interaction over the units  18 ,  36 ,  46  from three subjects to three subjects.  
         [0085]    The system  10  is a very small portable measurement- and distribution system for psychophysiological signals via wire or wireless transmission from one or many transmitting subjects to one or many subjects in both directions or one. The subjects may be geographically scattered or gathered and the transmission may occur via mobile telephones or similar devices, or via computers that may be connected to the Internet or other networks of transmitting and receiving devices or to one or many approved receiving subjects&#39; devices including data processing in real time in one or many steps for a great number of global or local applications including, but not limited to, entertainment, scientific, commercial, public, sports, private, clinical, educational and many other applications.  
         [0086]    The psychophysiological signals may include, but are not restricted to, electrical brain activity, sweating, heart rate, blood pressure, blood flow, respiration, eye movements, electrical and mechanical muscle activity, acceleration of movements and other such activities of a living subject. Certain behaviors, such as concentration, anger, emotional engagement, stress, physical exertion and relaxation trigger often different psychophysiological signals that may be analyzed.  
         [0087]    In other words, the psychophysiological signals may be correlated with conditions of the subject who is measured. For example, eye movements and sweating may be analyzed together to find out how a viewer reacts to a television commercial. The eye movements may inform the advertiser what parts of the advertisement that catches a viewer&#39;s attention and the sweating may indicate the level of engagement and attention of the viewer. Another example is an on-line computer game between two or more subjects over a net in which the players&#39; psychophysiological or other data through the system  10  are transmitted to the net and further to the other players, thus allowing the players&#39; emotional reactions in the form of heart rate and sweating or other type of reactions influencing the qualities of the game and role characters and revealing the reactions for all or some subjects. A third example is a situation called “chatting” during which two or many subjects exchange verbal information, written and/or acoustically with or without web camera or other picture generated visual signals over a network, with the addition of their psychophysiological reactions in a similar way as in the example of on-line computer games over a net. Preferably, the system  10  includes a very small and lightweight measuring unit  12  and an optional log unit  14  that are in communication with a transit unit  16  that may be separate or part of a computer  18 , of a mobile telephone  46 , or of other communication device. As mentioned below, the units  12 ,  14  may be communicating directly with another. An important feature of the present invention is that the communication system  10  may be in wireless communication with other communication and computer systems, also described in detail below. The system  10  is fully compatible with any currently available computer and communication devices.  
         [0088]    The measuring unit  12  and the log unit  14  may be in communication with the transit unit  16  via infrared transmission, short wave radio technology (such as “Bluetooth communication” or other) or any other suitable communication medium. This means that psychophysiological data from several subjects, who may be at different locations, may simultaneously be analyzed and results be redistributed to anyone thus enabling situations of psychophysiological interaction. Of course, the communication may be via wires and other suitable links also.  
         [0089]    The measurement unit  12  has a plurality of sensors  20  that may be attached to any part of the body of a subject to be measured or analyzed. Because the unit  12  is small, it may be placed relatively close to the source of the signals which may reduce any interferences. The type of sensors and amplifiers may be adjusted to what is being measured. For example, electrodermal activity (EDA) (sweat gland activity) may require electrodes of certain types and a DC voltage of about 0.5V compared to the measurement of brain activity that may require other types of electrodes and passive filtered amplification of bioelectrical AC signals. Breathing and other conditions may require other filtering amplification characteristics.  
         [0090]    The measurement unit  12  has several modules including signal amplifiers  22  that modulate and amplify signals received from the sensors  20 . The unit  12  may also have a second set of amplifiers  24  that may be designed to measure other psychophysiological data such as for example blood flow. The amplifiers may be adapted to be cooperating with a set of sensors  21 . Of course, the measurement unit  12  may include additional sets of amplifiers for similar or different purposes, if necessary.  
         [0091]    The measurement unit  12  may also have a process module  26  including, for example, a start/activation unit  70 , a timer unit  72  including analog to digital converter functions, a basic data unit  74 , a final logics unit  76  including, for example, buffer handling, a stop unit  78  and an optional reset unit  80 . The signal-formatting module  28  may be used to format the digital signals from the measurement modules  22 ,  24  or other extra measurement modules, and from the process module  26 , or from other sources such. The formatted signals from the signal formatting unit  28  may be fed into a buffer at a certain rate, decided by the process module  26 , if needed, or continuously, to the transmitter module  30 , which may transmit the information out from the set of units  12  and  14 .  
         [0092]    The transmission information may use infrared transmission, radio transmission (for example of type Bluetooth) or any other suitable transmission system, including wire, forward over a unit  16  or directly to a stationary or portable computer or other computerized device, which regardless of type of device is connected to the Internet or other type of net. For example, the transmission information may also be transmitted to a mobile telephone or a palm held computer or portable computerized screens or another portable device that is connected to the Internet or other type of net. The connection to mobile telephones and other portable devices is of particular interest because the subjects to be measured may be freely moving about anywhere in the world if the mobile phone or other device is connectable to the Internet or other net. The subject wearing the measurement unit  12  may connect the computer or other computerized device or the mobile telephone to a suitable web site or remote computer prior to starting a suitable application program to initiate the web-site and prepare the web-site or any other receiver to receive the psychophysiological information that is transmitted by the set of units  12  and  14 .  
         [0093]    The measurement unit  12  has also a power supply module  32  for supplying the unit  12  and sensors  20 ,  21  and others, if needed, with the necessary power. The unit  12  may, optionally, also be equipped with a module  44  containing for example a positioning system, such as global positioning system (GPS) that indicates the geographical position of the subject wearing the measurement unit  12 .  
         [0094]    Two or more measurement units of type  12  with one or more amplifiers each applied to one or more subjects can connect to a ‘micronet’. The micronet can include a local signal receiver like the transit unit  16  of a computer  18  or of a mobile telephone or of any communication device for further transmission to a net. Such a solution will, for example, enable the measurement and sending electromyographical (muscle activity) signals from left and right legs and arms separately to a mobile telephone or other device, without uncomfortable wire interconnections between the extremities. In addition, such a micronet enables situations of psychophysiological interaction locally without a transmission via the Internet.  
         [0095]    The optional transit unit  16  may be adapted to demodulate the signals received from the transmitter module  30  so that the transmitted data is in a format that may easily be used in the computer  18 , mobile telephone  46  or other communication device. As mentioned above, preferably, the unit  16  is an integral component of a computer such as  18 ,  36 , mobile telephone  46  or other communication or computer device. Alternatively, depending on the type of data format, the transit unit  16  is not needed and the transmission information is fed directly to an existing input port of the computer, mobile phone or other communication or computer device in connection with a net such as for example the Internet. An important feature of the unit  16  is that it may simultaneously receive information from several sources, for example, a module  30  and a log unit  14 .  
         [0096]    In this way, the log unit  14  may be used to simultaneously transmit information to the transit unit  16  together with the transmitter module  30 . Alternatively, the information from the log unit  14  can be sent to the module  28  in the measurement unit  12 , a solution that is described in FIG. 3 (communication from unit  254  to unit  234 , solution P) and in FIG. 4 (communication from unit  14 , i.e. the ID register unit  168  and the data register  170  to the validity register unit  172 ). One advantage of simultaneously using the log unit  14  is that an observer may observe the subject connected to the sensors  20 ,  21  or other sensors and enter behavioral or environmental patterns such as anger, smile, provocation, external events or states etc. and transmit the information so that the information from the log unit  14  may appear in the same data body as the information transmitted from the measurement unit  12 . The use of a unit  14  or similar makes it easier to interpret the information transmitted by the unit  12 . Alternatively, the subject being measured may him/herself enter own or others behavioral or environmental patterns via the log unit  14  and further.  
         [0097]    The log unit  14  may have a log key board module  13  consisting of a numerical key pad with coded messages so that a first button may be associated with a certain behavior such as anger, facial expression, provocation, calmness, physical aggression, crying, running away etc. A second button may be associated with a different behavior and so on. The current combination of coded keys may be held in a data module  15  which continuously is available to a transmit module  17  for wired or wireless continuous or timed transmission to a transit unit  16  or to a signal formatting module  28  of the measurement unit  12 . The coded message from the log unit  14  may be matched with the information from the measurement unit  12  to confirm the if behavior of the subject to be measured by the unit  12 . The log unit  14  may also provide information about the status of the subject prior to the observed behavior as measured by the measurement unit  12 . Perhaps the subject was calm prior to the provocation.  
         [0098]    When a computer  18  or other communication device receives the information, the device optionally may synchronize the information which may include identifiers so that it is possible to identify which of the measurement units  12 , if there are more than one unit  12 , that transmitted the information. Similarly, the computer  18  or other communication device optionally may identify which of the log units  14  that transmitted the information so that the transmitted information may be associated with the correct subject to be measured.  
         [0099]    The format of the data may enable communication from unit  30  to unit  16  in connection with a computer  18 , mobile telephone  46  or other communication device, in a way that is independent of ‘handshaking’ based communication protocol. This construction avoids problems in reestablishing communication after unwanted communication interrupts.  
         [0100]    The computer  18  may be connected to the Internet or other net  34  so that the information may be sent to one or more other computers  36  that is disposed remotely, thus enabling situations of psychophysiological/emotional interaction and/or aggregated analyzes in one to several steps including one to several levels of information processing and/or groups of connected subjects with units  12  and/or  14 . The computer  36  may be any suitable device including stationary, laptop or handheld or other computer, mobile phone or any other computerized communication device.  
         [0101]    An extra module, the measurement module  44 , may be used for collecting extra data such as, for example, light exposure, sound level, mechanical pressure and/or GPS data including clock time and positioning information. The module  44  may be treated as one of other measurement modules of type  22 ,  24 . A log unit  42 , that is similar to the log unit  14 , may transmit information via the measurement unit  43 , that is similar to the measurement unit  12 , directly to a mobile telephone  46  that in turn may be in communication with the Internet or other net  34 . The mobility of units  42 ,  43 ,  44 , may, for example, be used to analyze the training of athletes so that the psychological information is continuously transmitted to a coach for further analysis of the condition of the athlete and several athletes in real time. In other words, the flexibility of the system  10  permits the measurement of psychophysiological signals in real time from one or many independently moving subjects or subjects that may be very remote from another.  
         [0102]    In an alternative embodiment, the measurement unit  12  may be a stand-alone biofeedback device that is not required to be connected to any computerized external device at all. The measurement unit  12  may, for example, have output possibilities for an acoustic signal that is proportional in frequency to the magnitude of a selected signal channel for the feedback. The measurement unit  12  may also have a digitally based visual messenger, for example, a small digital display, that conveys information related to the absolute or relative value of one or more selectable signal channels for the feedback. The display may, if equipped with suitable devices, such as GPS, show the exact time and the position in digital form and/or on a map. The measurement unit  12 , log unit  14 , transit unit  16  and computerized device or phone  18  may be used locally without being connected to the Internet and in such stand-alone configuration be useful in a wide range of applications.  
         [0103]    In another alternative embodiment, the measurement unit  12  may send data via wire or via wireless communication, such as infrared or radio signals (for example, Bluetooth) or other communication means to external devices like, for example, sound equipment (such as, for example, head phones or sound amplifiers), visual equipment (such as, for example, digital displays, TV sets or projectors) or any equipment exerting sensory activation such as, for example, vibrating devices (as, for example, in some mobile telephones) or tapping devices (simulating the heartbeat or other physiological signals) or shifts in mechanical pressure or temperature applied to the subject&#39;s body or nerve stimulation devices through mechanical, electrical or magnetic stimulation of a subject&#39;s senses or nervous system.  
         [0104]    [0104]FIG. 2 shows the main processes and structures of a schematic flow diagram  100  of the signals that are transmitted when the measurement unit  12  and the optional log unit  14  are in operation. FIG. 3 displays the most preferred solution (P) of that main processes and structures because of its simplicity, low cost and the possibility to shrink its size extremely much. FIG. 4 contains a secondary solution (S) that offers very high fidelity of the digital signals to the receiving equipment to the original analog signals from the subject. The two solutions P and S are mutually exclusive within one single set of a measurement unit  12  and a log unit  14 , but can be mixed within a measurement system  10  consisting of two or more sets of units  12  and  14 .  
         [0105]    First, the FIG. 2 regarding the main structures and processes is explained, then the most preferred solution P, and last the secondary solution S.  
         [0106]    In FIG. 2, showing the main structures and processes in the measurement system  100 , a start/activation unit  70  of the measurement unit  12  sends, from when the start button has been pressed, may set a continuous activation signal  104  high to a timer unit  72  of the process module  26 . The timer unit  72  sends at regular intervals time pulses that govern the timing of processes in the measurement modules  22  (measurement channel number 1, ch1) and  24  (optional measurement channels number 2, 3, 4 up to an unspecified number of measurement channels). The timer unit  72  also influences processes, directly or indirectly, in the log unit  14 , and the signal formatting module  28 . Further, processes in the transmitter module  30  may be timed by the timer unit  72 .  
         [0107]    The measurement unit  22  (ch1) and optional measurement channels 2 etc. (ch2 etc.) in the measurement symbolically represented by the module  24 , includes amplification and signal conditioning functions specific to the type of signals measured through the sensors  20 ,  21 . The units  22 ,  24  etc. provides digitalized information from analog to digital converters of different kinds and varying capacity regarding resolution in magnitude and time.  
         [0108]    The optional basic data module  74  contains, if present, basic information specifically related to the measurement unit  12 . The basic data, if module  74  is present, are, together with the digital information from the measurement modules  22  and  24  etc. and that from the optional log unit  14 , if present, available to the signal-formatting module  28  continuously, or at times governed by the timer unit  72 . The signal-formatting module  28  provides continuous or timed availability of information in formatted, i.e. encoded, form to the transmitter module  30 . The transmitter unit  30  may, in turn, continuously or in a timed way, transmit the encoded information by infrared or radio signals or by wire to receiver units  82  that may be an optional transit unit  16  for further transmission, after suitable data conversion, to a computer  18 ,  36  input port or a mobile telephone  46  input or other receiving device. The signals from units  18 ,  36 ,  46  may further be transmitted to the Internet or other net  34 . The optional buffer handling unit  76  in the process module  26  handles possible stop signals and buffer functions. The stop function  78  and the optional reset function  80  of the process module  26  may take care of possible maneuvers from the subject, having pressed a stop or reset button. The process continues-as long as the stop button has not been pushed-further via the start/activation function  72  of the process module  26 .  
         [0109]    The most preferred solution P is generally characterized by one-bit analog to digital conversion of analog measurement signals and continuous binarily summation of an amplitude-modulated electrical wave, the amplitude of the wave being dependent on the order number of the channel number generating the signal at any moment, and the modulation activated by logical high signals from different information sources such as, for example, amplifiers (one bit high) and buttons (button pressed). Further, the amplitude-modulated signals are continuously added to each other into one single signal comprising the sum of all binarily amplitude-modulated single channels with currently logical signals set high. In addition, the continuously summated signal is also continuously sent further to a transmitter unit preferably designed for, but not restricted to, audio signal transmission.  
         [0110]    [0110]FIG. 3, shows a schematic flow diagram of the most preferred solution P in detail, illustrating the signals that are transmitted when the units  12  and  14  are in operation. A start/activation unit  102  of the measurement unit  12  may send, from when the start button has been pressed, a continuous activation signal  104  to an analog timer unit  300  of the process module  26 . The analog timer unit  300  may send at regular intervals time pulses to the calibration unit  302  in the measurement module  22 , calibration unit  304  of units  24  (symbolizing additional measurement channels) and calibration unit  306  for an optional, wired log unit  24 . The calibration units send activation signals to the logical signal unit  314  of the measurement module  22 , the logical signal units  324  in optional additional measurement units  24 , and the logical signal unit  252  of the optional log unit  14  in order to set then logically high, thus simultaneously producing maximal level output signals from the logical signal units  314 ,  324 ,  252 .  
         [0111]    Still describing the most preferred solution P, FIG. 3, the analog signals from amplifiers  310 ,  320  or similar devices within the measurement units  22 ,  24  etc., are continuously digitalized by analog to digital one bit converters  312 ,  322 , built on analog technique. Increasing analog signal levels are converted to a logical one (high) signal, equal or decreasing signal levels are converted to a logical zero (low) signal, the logical signals being stored in the logical signal units  314 ,  324 . The logical one-bit signals in the units  314 ,  324 , are continuously modulating a sinus, or other form of, wave by the wave modulator units  316 ,  326  of the measurement units  22 ,  24 , into amplitudes of the wave different for different measurement modules. The wave is generated in the wave generator  330  and distributed by the wave distribution unit  332  to each of the measurement units&#39; wave modulator units  316 ,  326 . The modulation of the signal in measurement unit  22 , i.e. channel #1 (ch1), results in an amplitude of value 1 (arbitrary scale). The modulation of the signal in the first optional additional measurement unit  24 , i.e. channel #2 (ch2), results in an amplitude of value 2. The modulation of the signal in the next optional additional measurement unit  24 , i.e. channel #3 (ch3), results in an amplitude of value 4. Thus, the amplitude of the modulation is computed by the formula 2^ (Ch#-1) units, where “units” is the amplitude of channel #1 and “Ch#” is the order number from 1 up to the order number of an unidentified maximum number of channels in the measurement unit  12 . In a similar way, each of the keys in the keyboard module  13  of the log unit  14  can be seen as separate channels ch2, ch3 etc, or ch3, ch4 etc if there are two measurement modules  22 ,  24 , or, ch4, ch5 etc if there three measurement modules  22 ,  24  and similar. Thus, each current key code in effect in the key code register  250  results through the logical signal unit  252  and the wave modulator unit  254  an amplitude modulated wave representing the order number of the currently activated key. The units  252  and  254  symbolize similar units up to an undefined maximum of number corresponding to the number of keys available. The wave to be modulated is generated in the wave generator  330  and distributed by the wave distribution unit  332  to each of the log unit&#39;s wave modulator units. The amplitude-modulated signal is continuously available in the wave modulator unit  254 .  
         [0112]    Alternatively, a similar wave generator, distributor and summator as  330 ,  332 ,  334 , may also be part of the log unit  14  in the case the log unit is not connected by wire to the measurement unit  12  but transmitting by the log transmitter unit  171  in the transmit module  17 . The summated signal from the log unit  14  is then transmitted to a receiving system  80  as described below for the measurement unit  12 .  
         [0113]    Those in the wave modulator units  316 ,  326 ,  254  continuously available wave signals are summated by the summating unit  334  in the signal formatting module  28 , into one single summated output signal  336  comprising the sum of all binaurally amplitude modulated singles channels with currently logical signals set high. In addition, the continuously summated signal  336  is also continuously sent further to a transmitter unit  338  preferably designed for, but not restricted to, audio signal transmission. The by the transmitter unit  338  sent summated signal  336  may reach a receiving system  82  comprising an optional transit unit  16  and a computer  18 ,  36  or a mobile phone  46  or other suitable receiving device for analyzes or presentation and may further be transmitted to a net  34 .  
         [0114]    The summation in the signal-formatting module is followed by a stop button check  210  in the stop function unit  78  in the process module  26 . If the stop button has been pressed the process is terminated by the process termination unit  215  which lets the activation signal  104  go low. In the optional reset function unit  80  the reset button check  218  chooses to reset the measurement unit  12  to its original status by the reset process unit  224 . If not, the process goes on as long as the activation signal  104  is high.  
         [0115]    The measurement unit  14  comprises a log unit keyboard module  13 , a log data module  15  and an optional log data transmit module  17 . The log unit start/activation unit  240  activates the log key check unit  242  to check whether a log key has been pressed. If not, the log key check unit  242  allows the unit  240  to continue the loop. If the log key check unit  242  determines that a key has been pressed then the log stop key check  244  determines whether the log stop key was the one pressed. If yes, the log stop key check  244  forwards the process to a log process termination unit  246  that terminates the process in the log unit  14 . If, on the other hand, the log stop key check  244  finds that the key was not the log stop key, the code of the key is sent to the log key codes register  250  together with current other key codes. The key codes are transformed into logical signals in the way that the first key code is treated as channel #2 in a logical signal units  324 , the second as channel #3 etc. Thus, each of the keys in the keyboard module  13  of the log unit  14  is seen as a separate channel. Thus, each current key code in effect in the key code register  250  results through the logical signal unit  252  and the wave modulator unit  254  an amplitude modulated wave representing the order number of the currently activated key. The units  252  and  254  symbolize similar units up to an undefined maximum of number corresponding to the number of keys available.  14  are mutually exclusive. The  254  loaded into the log unit key register  154   
         [0116]    The secondary solution S is generally characterized by analog to digital conversion of a resolution by at least 8 bits, preferably higher, of the analog measurement signals. The conversion is typically timed to a high rate. The digitalized signals are kept in registers that, together with basic data such as unit ID:s, time ticks since start of conversion and maybe other information kept in registers, constitute the hardware base for the special data format that is used for each single sample that may or not be temporarily stored in an output data buffer for a timed transmission to a receiver system.  
         [0117]    [0117]FIG. 4 shows a schematic flow diagram of the secondary, alternative solution S in detail, illustrating the signals that are transmitted when the units  12  and  14  are in operation. More particularly, an activation unit  102  of the measurement unit  12  sends an activation signal  104  to a clock device  106 . The device  106  sends an increment signal  108  to an increment device  110 . The device  110  sends an increment signal  111  to a time counter  112  and the unit  112  sends a trace signal  113  to a time tracer  114  in the basic data unit  74  of the process module  26  that traces the time from the start of the unit  102 . The clock device  106  also sends an interval signal  116  to an interval increment device  118  that transmits an interval increment signal  120  to an interval counter  122  that counts the number of intervals. The counter  122  sends an interval comparison signal  124  to an interval comparison unit  126  that compares the number of intervals to a preset interval value received from a preset interval unit  127 . If the number of intervals is equal to the preset interval value then the comparison unit  126  sends an interval equal “yes”-signal  128  to a reset interval counter unit  130  that in turn sends a reset interval counter signal  132  to the interval counter  122 . Additionally, the reset interval counter unit  130  sends a “load activate” signal  134  to a central “download all registers” unit  136 . If the interval comparison unit  126  determines that the number of intervals is insufficient, then the unit  126  sends a continuation interval equal “no”-signal  129  to the activation unit  102  to instruct the device to continue sending information to the unit  118 .  
         [0118]    The registers may include a unit  12  ID code  137  that includes an identification of measurement unit  12 , loading its content into a unit  12  ID register  138 , a unit  12  base register  140  that includes information about which sample interval that is used and data about how the system is configured such as indicating whether the log unit  14  is included or not. The base register  140  also includes information about channel identifiers, number of channels of the data. The system  100  has at least one channel #1 measurement module  22  that may be a unit that is especially designed for electrodermal activity (EDA) that may be received from sweat glands of the subject measured and the channel #1 ID code  139  may be used to identify the hardware unit that is tracing the EDA. The channel #1 ID register  145  holds the channel 1# ID code  159  of the measurement unit  22 . The measurement unit  22  is used as an example to illustrate a typical channel, however, other types of measurement devices may also be used. The channel #1 analog device  151  mediates the analog data from the measurement unit  22  amplifier and the channel #1 digital device  146  contains the, by some analog to digital conversion circuit as the analog-to-digital converter  149 , digitalized EDA data that is loaded into the channel #1 digital data register  147 .  
         [0119]    The system  100  may also have extra measurement units up to an undefined maximum number for measurements into channels #2 and up. Such extra measurement units are symbolized by depicting only one single measurement unit  24  in the system  100 . The ID of that unit is held in the optional channels ID code  141  which is loaded into the optional channels ID register  142 . The optional channels analog device  153  mediates the analog data from the measurement unit  24  amplifiers/amplifiers and the optional channels digital device  148  contains the, by some analog to digital conversion circuit as the analog-to-digital converter  149 , digitalized optional data that is loaded into the optional channels digital data register  143 . Such data may be, for example, other psychophysiological data, light exposure, integrated sound level or GPS data including clock time and positioning information and other variables. The measurement unit  24  may represent one to several extra optional units measuring several psychophysiological or other variables.  
         [0120]    The measurement unit  14  is similar to that used in the most preferred solution P. However, in the present secondary solution S, the hardware log unit ID code  152  is loaded into the log unit ID register  150 . The log unit key register  154  includes the digital code that the log unit  14  currently is holding. That code comprises the current key combinations set by key operations at the log unit keyboard module  13 .  
         [0121]    Preferably, and in the embodiment that the optional log unit  14  transmits its data to the signal formatting unit  28  of the measurement unit  12 , the received signals in the registers  138 ,  140 ,  114 ,  145 ,  147 ,  142 ,  143 ,  150 ,  154  are downloaded at the “download all registers” signal  135  from the “download all registers” unit  136  to special download registers  156 ,  158 ,  162 ,  164 ,  166 ,  160 ,  161 ,  168 ,  170 , respectively. The registers may range from at least 8 bits, preferably 32 or higher number of bits, if necessary. All the special download registers each sends a signal to a download validity register  172 . The unit  172  is in invalid state until all the registers have sent an acceptable signal. The unit  172  therefore sends a validity signal  174  to a validity comparison unit  176  that determines if all the registers have sent a suitable signal. If the unit  176  determines that not all the registers have sent an acceptable signal, then the unit  176  sends back a validity “no”-signal  178  so that the unit  172  must wait a certain time period until the unit  172  again sends the validity signal  174  to the unit  176 . If the unit  176  determines that all the registers have a sent a signal for valid register data, the unit  176  transmits a validity “yes”-signal  180  to a load buffer unit  181  that at the place pointed to by the sample counter/pointer  182  loads the current sample of data held by the special download registers  156 ,  158 ,  162 ,  164 ,  166 ,  160 ,  161 ,  168 ,  170 , and possibly other registers belonging to other modules, such as, for example, unit  24  for ECG, respectively, into the data buffer. The sample counter comparison unit  186  compares the sample counter/pointer  182  to the transmit sample preset  188 , then it sends an sample increment signal  206  to the increment sample/pointer unit  183  to increment the sample counter/pointer  182  to the buffer with one unit. Concomitantly, a signal from the increment sample/pointer unit  183  forwards a toggle signal  197  to the toggle data unit  198  for toggling extra data in the extra data register unit  161 . If, on the other hand, the comparison unit  186  determines that the sample counter/pointer  182  is equal to the transmit sample preset unit  188 , the unit  186  sends a send “yes”-signal  190  to a forwarding send buffer data unit  192  that may forward through the transmitter medium  230  the infonnation in the data buffer (the buffer length may be one sample) to a signal receiver system  82 . The medium  230  may be a wire, short distance radio wave or an infra-red signal or other suitable medium, and the receiver system  82  may contain an optional transit unit  16  consisting of a radio signal receiver or infra-red light receiver, or a computer  18 ,  36 , a mobile phone  46 , or other suitable receiving device etc. The send buffer data unit  192  also sends a sample counter reset signal  194  to a sample counter reset unit  196  that forwards a reset signal  195  to the sample counter/pointer  182 . The sample counter reset unit  196  forwards a toggle signal  199  to the toggle data unit  198  for optionally toggling extra data in the optional channels digital data download register  161  which contains data, from for example a GPS unit, of such a total size that it has to be toggled on part of the total data at a time into the sample data. The toggle unit  198  sends forward a control signal  200  to a stop bit check unit  201  to check if the user has pressed a stop button on the measurement unit  12  that in turn activates a stop bit. If the stop-bit check unit  201  determines that the stop bit has been activated, the unit  201  sends a stop signal  202  to a stop unit  204  to stop the operation of the start/activation unit  102 , i.e., the operation of the measurement unit  12 .  
         [0122]    If the stop-bit check unit  201  determines that the user has not activated the stop button, then the unit  201  sends a stop “no”-signal  208  to the stop button check  210  that determines if the user has pressed the stop button on the measurement unit  12 . If the stop button has been activated then the stop button check  210  sends a stop button “yes”-signal  212  to a set stop bit unit  214  that through the stop flag signal  216  sets the stop bit in the unit  12  base register  140 . If the stop button check  210  determines that the stop button has not been pressed then the unit  210  sends a stop “no”-signal to a reset button check  218  that determines if the reset button has been pressed. If the reset button check  218  determines that the reset button has not been pressed then the unit  218  sends a stop/reset “no”-signal  220  to the start/activation unit  102  to permit the system to continue taking samples. If the reset button check  218  determines that the reset button has been set, the unit  218  sends a reset “yes”-signal  222  to a reset process unit  224  that resets the system.  
         [0123]    Reference figures  
                                       10   measurement system       12   measurement unit       13   log unit key board module       14   optional log unit       15   log data module       16   optional transit unit       17   optional log data transmit module       18   computer       20   sensors       21   sensors       22   channel #1 measurement module       24   measurement module       26   process module       28   signal formatting module       30   transmitter module       34   Internet       36   computer       44   measurement module       46   mobile telephone       70   start/activation unit       72   timer unit       74   optional basic data module       76   optional buffer handling unit       78   stop function unit       80   optional reset function unit       82   receiving system       100   measurement system       102   start/activation unit       104   continous activation signal       106   clock device       108   increment signal       110   increment device       111   increment signal       112   time counter       135   “download all registers” signal       113   trace signal       114   time tracer       116   interval signal       118   interval increment device       120   interval increment signal       122   interval counter       124   interval comparison signal       126   an interval comparison unit       127   preset interval unit       128   interval equal “yes”-signal       129   continuation interval equal “no” signal       130   reset interval counter unit       132   reset interval counter signal       134   load activate signal       135   “download all registers” signal       136   “download all registers” unit       137   unit 12 ID code       138   unit 12 ID register       139   channel #1 ID code       140   unit 12 base register       141   optional channels ID code       142   optional channels ID register       143   optional channels digital data register       145   channel #1 ID register       146   channel #1 digital device       147   channel #1 digital data register       148   optional channels digital device       149   analog-to-digital converter       151   channel #1 analog device       150   log unit ID register       152   log unit ID code       153   optional channels analog device       154   log unit key register       156   unit 12 ID download register       158   unit 12 base download register       160   optional channels ID download register       161   optional channels digital data download register       162   time tracer download register       164   channel #1 ID download register       166   channel #1 digital data download register       168   log unit ID download register       170   log unit key download register       172   download validity register       174   validity signal       176   validity comparison unit       178   validity “no”-signal       180   validity “yes”-signal       181   load buffer unit       182   sample counter/pointer       183   increment sample/pointer unit       186   sample counter comparison unit       188   transmit sample preset       190   send “yes”-signal       192   send buffer data unit       194   sample counter reset signal       195   reset signal       196   sample counter reset unit       197   toggle signal       198   toggle data unit       199   toggle signal       200   control signal       201   stop bit check unit       202   stop signal       204   stop unit       206   sample increment signal       208   stop “no”-signal       210   stop button check       212   stop button “yes”-signal       214   set stop bit unit       215   process termination unit       216   stop flag signal       218   reset button check       220   stop/reset “no”-signal       222   reset “yes”-signal       224   reset process unit       230   transmitter medium       240   log unit start/activation unit       242   log key check unit       244   log stop key check       250   log key codes register       252   logical signal unit       254   wave modulator unit       300   analog timer unit       302   calibration unit       304   calibration unit       306   calibration unit       310   amplifyer       312   digital one bit converters       314   logical signal unit/s/       316   wave modulator unit       320   amplifyer       322   digital one bit converters       324   logical signal unit/s/       326   wave modulator unit       330   wave generator       332   wave distribution unit       334   summating unit 334       336   single summated output signal       338   transmitter unit§