Proximity-Based Sensing, Communicating, and Processing of User Physiologic Information

Abstract

The present invention relates to systems and methods that sense, communicate and process one or more of a user's physiologic parameters, such as during a time when the user is in proximity with an object of interest. Objects may be products, locations and other people. One embodiment of the present invention enables users, designers, manufacturers, marketers and sellers to secure valuable information about how an object is (or many object are) perceived and used by a user (or many users). Various embodiments of the present invention may be used in conjunction with smart objects (e.g., Internet-connected objects) and dumb objects (e.g., objects having no Internet or other network connection).

1 . A method comprising:
 (A) determining that a device is in proximity to a first object, wherein the device and the first object are distinct from each other;   (B) after (A), wirelessly transmitting, to a remote server, a first signal indicating that the device is in proximity to the first object;   (C) identifying a first identifier representing an identity of the first object;   (D) after (C), wirelessly transmitting a second signal comprising the first identifier to the remote server;   (E) at the device, wirelessly transmitting a third signal comprising a second identifier representing at least one of an identity of the device and an identity of a first user;   (F) at a first sensor module, sensing a first value of a first physiologic parameter of the first user;   (G) after (F), at the first sensor module, transmitting a fourth signal comprising first physiologic data representing the first value of the first physiologic parameter to the device;   (H) after (G), at the device, receiving a fifth signal comprising the first physiologic data;   (I) after (G), at the device, transmitting a sixth signal, the sixth signal comprising the first physiologic data representing the first value of the first physiologic parameter, to the remote server;   (J) at a second sensor module, sensing a second value of a second physiologic parameter of the first user, wherein the second physiologic parameter differs from the first physiologic parameter;   (K) after (J), at the second sensor module, transmitting a seventh signal comprising second physiologic data representing the second value of the second physiologic parameter to the device; and   (L) after (K), at the device, receiving an eighth signal comprising the second physiologic data;   (M) after (K), at the device, transmitting a ninth signal, the ninth signal comprising the second physiologic data representing the second value of the second physiologic parameter, to the remote server.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (A) comprises determining that the device is in proximity to the first object based on the first identifier. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first signal and the second signal are the same signal. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor module and the second sensor module are the same module. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (G) comprises:
 (G)(1) deriving the first physiologic data from the first value; and   (G)(2) transmitting the fourth signal.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein (G)(1) comprises deriving the first physiologic data from the first value and at least one other value. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device includes the first sensor module and the second sensor module. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (N) at the device, after (M), determining that the device is not in proximity to the first object; and   (O) in response to determining that the device is not in proximity to the first object, wirelessly transmitting, to the remote server, a tenth signal indicating that the device is not in proximity to the first object.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (N) at the device, after the first time, identifying location data representing a current location of the first object; and   (O) at the device, wirelessly transmitting the location data to the remote server.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein (N) comprises identifying the location data in response to determining that the device is in proximity to the first object. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (A) comprises:
 (A)(1) identifying a current location of the device;   (A)(2) identifying a current location of the first object; and   (A)(3) determining that the device is in proximity to the first object in response to determining that the current location of the device and the current location of the first object satisfy a proximity condition.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (A) comprises using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to determine that the device is in proximity to the first object. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (A) comprises using near field communication (NFC) technology to determine that the device is in proximity to the first object. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (A) comprises using optical identification technology to determine that the device is in proximity to the first object. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (A) comprises using sound detection technology to determine that the device is in proximity to the first object. 
     
     
         16 . A system comprising:
 a proximity determination module to determine that a device is in proximity to a first object, wherein the device and the first object are distinct from each other;   a first transmitter module to wirelessly transmit, to a remote server, a first signal indicating that the device is in proximity to the first object;   a first identification module to identify a first identifier representing an identity of the first object;   a second transmitter module to wirelessly transmit a second signal comprising the first identifier to the remote server;   a third transmitter module, in the device, to wirelessly transmit a third signal comprising a second identifier representing at least one of an identity of the device and an identity of a first user;   a first value sensing module, in a first sensor module, to sense a first value of a first physiologic parameter of the first user;   a fourth transmitter module, in the first sensor module, transmitting to transmit a fourth signal comprising first physiologic data representing the first value of the first physiologic parameter to the device;   a first receiver module, in the device, to receive a fifth signal comprising the first physiologic data;   a fifth transmitter module, in the device, to transmit a sixth signal, the sixth signal comprising the first physiologic data representing the first value of the first physiologic parameter, to the remote server;   a second value sensing module, in a second sensor module, to sense a second value of a second physiologic parameter of the first user, wherein the second physiologic parameter differs from the first physiologic parameter;   a sixth transmitter module, in the second sensor module, to transmit a seventh signal comprising second physiologic data representing the second value of the second physiologic parameter to the device; and   a second receiver module, in the device, to receive an eighth signal comprising the second physiologic data;   a seventh transmitter module, in the device, to transmit a ninth signal, the ninth signal comprising the second physiologic data representing the second value of the second physiologic parameter, to the remote server.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first signal and the second signal are the same signal. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first sensor module and the second sensor module are the same module. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the device includes the first sensor module and the second sensor module.