Monitoring sleep stages to determine optimal arousal times and to alert an individual to negative states of wakefulness

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring sleep stages to determine optimal arousal times and to alert an individual to negative states of wakefulness. In an embodiment, a device receives pressure data from at least one pressure sensor, where the pressure sensor is associated with furniture used for an individual to sleep. The device uses the pressure data to determine a sleep stage for the individual. The sleep stage is used to determine whether it is an optimal arousal time for the individual. The device sends an indication to not wake the individual if it is not the optimal arousal time for the individual. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A device comprising:
 a communication port configured to receive pressure data from at least one pressure sensor, wherein the at least one pressure sensor is associated with an object; and   a physical processor in communication with a memory for storing program instructions, wherein the program instructions when executed by the physical processor cause the physical processor to:
 set an adjustable trigger point of the at least one pressure sensor based on one or more of a size or weight of the object, weight of an individual associated with the object, and a location of the pressure sensor, and 
 determine a sleep stage for the individual based on the pressure data. 
   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the program instructions causing the physical processor to determine the sleep stage for the individual further cause the physical processor to:
 extract actigraphy data from the pressure data;   filter the actigraphy data to obtain respiration rates; and   determine sleep stage for the individual based on the respiration rates.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the program instructions further cause the physical processor to determine whether the sleep stage is an optimal arousal time for the individual. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 an alert indicator configured output an indication to not wake the individual if it is not the optimal arousal time for the individual.   
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one pressure sensor is incorporated into the object. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the object comprises a mattress, a matt, a chair, a sofa, a rug, or furniture used for the individual to sleep. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the communication port is configured to receive the pressure data over a wired or a wireless communication channel. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the program instructions further cause the physical processor to determine whether the individual is oversleeping based on the pressure data. 
     
     
         9 . A system, comprising:
 a monitoring device configured to receive pressure data from at least one pressure sensor, wherein the at least one pressure sensor is associated with an object,   wherein the monitoring device is further configured to:
 set an adjustable trigger point of the at least one pressure sensor based on one or more of a size or weight of the object, weight of an individual associated with the object, and a location of the pressure sensor, and 
 determine a sleep stage for the individual based on the pressure data. 
   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the said determining of the sleep stage for the individual comprises:
 extracting actigraphy data from the pressure data;   filtering the actigraphy data to obtain respiration rates; and   determining sleep stage for the individual based on the respiration rates.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an alert indicator configured to output an indication to not wake up the individual based on an indication from the monitoring device that it is not an optimal arousal time for the individual, wherein the optimal arousal time for the individual is determined based on the sleep stage for the individual.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the object associated with the at least one pressure sensor comprises a mattress, a matt, a chair, a sofa, a rug, or furniture used by the individual to sleep. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising the object associated with the at least one pressure sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the monitoring device is further configured to determine whether the individual is oversleeping based on the pressure data. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising an arousal device configured to arouse the individual during the optimal arousal time upon determination that the individual is oversleeping. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising at least one environmental sensor configured to monitor an environment of the individual and determine whether the individual is approaching a dangerous situation. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the monitoring device is further configured to determine whether the individual is in a negative state of wakefulness when the individual wakes from sleep. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising an alert indicator configured to cause a warning to the individual when the individual is in a negative state of wakefulness and is approaching a dangerous situation. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the environmental sensor is a door switch sensor. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the environmental sensor is configured to detect the individual entering one of the one or more rooms.