Patent ID: 7022072

Claim:
A physiological characteristic monitor, comprising: an input device capable of receiving a signal from a sensor, the signal being based on a sensed physiological characteristic value of a user; and a processor for analyzing the received signal; wherein the processor determines a dynamic behavior of the physiological characteristic value; wherein the processor provides an observable indicator based upon the dynamic behavior of the physiological characteristic value so determined; wherein analyzing the received signal and determining a dynamic behavior includes repeatedly measuring the physiological characteristic value to obtain a series of physiological characteristic values and analyzing a rate of change of the physiological characteristic value over time from the series of physiological characteristic values; wherein analyzing the received signal comprises determining whether a most recent of the series of physiological characteristic values is within a qualifying range; and wherein a slope of a line fit to the series of physiological characteristic values is calculated if the most recent of the series of physiological characteristic values is within the qualifying range.