Wearing Dependent Operation of Wearable Device

Abstract

A wearable device that attaches to a body part of a user via an attachment member operates in at least a connected and a disconnected state. One or more sensors located in the wearable device and/or the attachment member detect the user's body part when present. Such detection may only be performed when the attachment member is in a connected configuration and may be used to switch the wearable device between the connected and disconnected states. In this way, the wearable device operates in the connected state when worn by a user and in the disconnected state when not worn by the user.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A wearable electronic device, comprising:
 a housing;   a band configured to attach the housing to a user;   an element operative to determine that the band is connected; and   a processing unit disposed within the housing that is operative to:   use the element to determine that the band is connected;   authenticate the user as a particular user; and   allow the user to remain authenticated as the particular user until the element indicates that the band is disconnected.   
     
     
         23 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 22 , wherein the processing unit biometrically authenticates the user as the particular user. 
     
     
         24 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 22 , wherein the processing unit requires re-authentication of the user as the particular user after the band is disconnected and reconnected. 
     
     
         25 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the band comprises a first band portion and a second band portion; and   the element is operative to determine that the band is connected when a first conductive element coupled to the first band portion is electrically connected to a second conductive element coupled to the second band portion.   
     
     
         26 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the band comprises a first capacitive element and a second capacitive element; and   the element is operative to determine that the band is connected using a capacitance between the first capacitive element and the second capacitive element.   
     
     
         27 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 22 , wherein:
 a magnetic element is positioned on the band;   a Hall effect sensor is positioned on the band; and   the element is operative to determine that the band is connected using a capacitance between the magnetic element and the Hall effect sensor.   
     
     
         28 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 22 , wherein:
 the band comprises a first magnetic element and a second magnetic element; and   the element is operative to determine that the band is connected using a magnetic field between the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element.   
     
     
         29 - 35 . (canceled) 
     
     
         36 . A wearable electronic device, comprising:
 a housing;   a band configured to attach the housing to a user;   an element operative to detect that the wearable electronic device is worn by the user; and   a processing unit disposed within the housing that is operative to:   authenticate the user as a particular user while the wearable electronic device is worn by the user; and   allow the user to remain authenticated as the particular user until the element indicates that the wearable electronic device is no longer worn.   
     
     
         37 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 36 , wherein the element comprises a photoplethysmographic sensor. 
     
     
         38 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 37 , wherein the processing unit operates the photoplethysmographic sensor more frequently when the wearable electronic device is worn than when the wearable electronic device is unworn. 
     
     
         39 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 36 , wherein:
 the wearable electronic device further includes an input component; and   the processing unit authenticates the user as the particular user using input received from the input component.   
     
     
         40 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 36 , wherein the processing unit authenticates the user as the particular user using an identification number. 
     
     
         41 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 36 , wherein the processing unit requires re-authentication of the user as the particular user after the wearable electronic device is no longer worn and is then worn again. 
     
     
         42 . The wearable electronic device of claim  29 , wherein the element is a proximity sensor. 
     
     
         43 . The wearable electronic device of claim  29 , wherein the processing unit requires re-authentication of the user as the particular user after the housing is moved away from the body part and is then moved adjacent the body part again. 
     
     
         44 . The wearable electronic device of claim  29 , wherein the element is a photoplethysmographic sensor. 
     
     
         45 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 36 , wherein the processing unit authenticates the user as the particular user using a password. 
     
     
         46 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 36 , wherein the processing unit requires re-authentication of the user as the particular user after the housing is moved away from the body part and is then moved adjacent the body part again. 
     
     
         47 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 36 , wherein the element is a conductive element or a capacitive element. 
     
     
         48 . The wearable electronic device of  claim 36 , wherein the element is a proximity sensor.