Wearable device and method of operating the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9809228-B2
Application number	US-201514817368-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 4, 2015
Priority date	Aug 11, 2014
Publication date	Nov 7, 2017
Grant date	Nov 7, 2017

Abstract

Provided is a wearable device including a main body that is configured to be worn on a specific portion of a user's body, a sensing unit, provided in the main body, that senses a biological signal of a user, a storage unit that collects log information relating to the biological signal, and in which an index pattern relating to a state of the user included in the collected log information is stored, and a controller that sets a reference driving index, using the stored index pattern, in which when it is sensed that the user gets in a vehicle, the controller determines a current driving index corresponding to the biological signal that is sensed before and after the user gets in the vehicle, based on the reference driving index being set, and outputs feedback that notifies the state of the user that corresponds to a result of the determination.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wearable device comprising:
a main body configured to be worn by a user;
a sensing unit configured to sense a biological signal of the user;
a controller configured to:
collect log information including information relating to the biological signal of the user and information relating to a state of the user;
store an index pattern that indicates a correspondence between the information relating to the biological signal of the user with the information relating to the state of the user that are included in the collected log information;
determine a reference driving index that indicates values of the stored index pattern that are suitable for the user to drive a vehicle, wherein when the stored index pattern is changed based on the biological signal that is accumulated for a predetermined period of time, the reference driving index is updated;
based on detecting a vehicle entry event for the user, determine, relative to the reference driving index, a current driving index corresponding to the biological signal of the user that is sensed during a period of time extending before and after the vehicle entry event for the user; and
output feedback for notifying the user of the state of the user corresponding to a result of determining the current driving index,
wherein the reference driving index and the current driving index each includes a stress index and a drowsiness index,
wherein the reference driving index includes threshold values of the stress index and the drowsiness index for which the stress index and the drowsiness index are suitable for the user to safely drive a vehicle,
wherein the stress index and the drowsiness index each includes an index ascending section and an index recovering section, and
wherein the controller is further configured to, based on determining that the current driving index is not suitable for the user to drive:
search the collected log information for information related to a situation that is recorded in the index recovering section corresponding to a current state of the user for which the current driving index is not suitable for the user to drive, and
output, based on the searched log information, the feedback in a manner configured to recreate the situation that is recorded in the index recovering section corresponding to the current state of the user.

2. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to, based on determining that the current driving index for the user is not suitable for the user to drive, output the feedback in a variable manner according to deviation of the current driving index from the reference driving index.

3. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to, based on determining whether the current driving index for the user is suitable for the user to drive, output at least one of an alert indicating that a current state of the user is not suitable for safe driving, or a notification indicating that the current state of the user is suitable for safe driving.

4. The wearable device of claim 3 , wherein the alert comprises one or more of a sound, a vibration, a light, or a screen change, and
wherein the controller is further configured to adjust a level of the alert according to the current state of the user.

5. The wearable device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a touch screen;
wherein the controller is further configured to:
based on determining that the current driving index is not suitable for the user to drive, display visual information on the touch screen indicating a current state of the user, and
output corresponding feedback based on a predetermined touch input being applied to the touch screen.

6. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to, based on determining that the current driving index is not suitable for the user to drive, search the collected log information for the information related to the situation that is recorded in the index recovering section having the shortest time duration for the current state of the user.

7. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to, based on determining that the current driving index is not suitable for the user to drive and using the biological signal of the user detected during the index recovering section for the current state of the user and using external context information, output the feedback in a manner that is configured to adjust the current driving index of the user, relative to the reference driving index, to be suitable for the user to drive.

8. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
based on determining that the current driving index is not suitable for the user to drive, output a message requesting an input from the user regarding a current state of the user, and
adjust the reference driving index to reflect the user's input in response to the message that was output.

9. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the index pattern includes a physical index pattern and an emotional index pattern for the user,
wherein the physical index pattern is generated based on the biological signal of the user being sensed during a predetermined time of day, and
wherein the emotional index pattern is generated based on the biological signal of the user being sensed in a predetermined situation.

10. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to, based on detecting the vehicle entry event of the user, determine that the current driving index has changed based on determining a difference between the biological signal of the user sensed during the period of time before the vehicle entry event and the biological signal sensed after the vehicle entry event.

11. The wearable device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a wireless communication unit, connected to a vehicle-mounted control apparatus, that is configured to receive information relating to a state of the vehicle,
wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine the vehicle entry event for the user based on the received information relating to the state of the vehicle, and
control the wireless communication unit such that information regarding the state of the user corresponding to the current driving index is provided to the vehicle-mounted control apparatus.

12. The wearable device of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to, based on the information regarding the state of the user corresponding to the current driving index, control the wireless communication unit such that a control signal for changing a destination or a moving path that is set in advance in the vehicle-mounted control apparatus is provided to the vehicle system.

13. The wearable device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
based on detecting the vehicle entry event for the user, compare the stored index pattern with the biological signal of the user sensed over a period of time before the vehicle entry event;
recognize information regarding an activity of the user that occurred before the vehicle entry event;
output a message asking for the user's confirming of the recognized information regarding the activity of the user; and
based on the user's confirming of the recognized information regarding the activity of the user, determine the current driving index reflecting the recognized information regarding the activity of the user.

14. A method of operation of a wearable device that is worn by a user, the method comprising:
sensing, by a sensing unit of the wearable device, a bi

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Hong Seungbum
• Hong Sungwook
• Lee Seungyong

Classifications

• B60K28/066

  actuating a signalling device (B60K28/063 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60K28/06 Primary

  responsive to incapacity of driver · CPC title

• G08B21/06

  indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms · CPC title

• B60W40/08 Primary

  related to drivers or passengers · CPC title

• B60W2040/0827

  due to sleepiness · CPC title