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GoogleGranted patentWearablesInterest 6/10

Google patents wearable that scores mindfulness via heart rate

Google has been granted a patent for a method that uses a wearable device to measure how mindful a user is during a guided breathing exercise. The system analyzes heart rate variability data from sensors on the device to calculate a score based on the balance of the user's nervous system and displays this score along with the actual breathing rate on the screen.

Why it mattersThis filing suggests a way for smartwatches to provide real-time feedback on meditation or breathing exercises, helping users adjust their pace to achieve a relaxed state.

In the filing’s own words

A computer-implemented method for determining a score indicative of mindfulness of a user is provided. The method includes obtaining heart rate variability data of the user during a guided breathing exercise in which the user inhales and exhales to mimic a respiration rate associated with mindfulness. The method includes filtering the heart rate variability data to generate filtered heart rate variability. The method includes determining a first standard deviation of interbeat intervals indicative of respiratory sinus arrythmia and included in a first segment of the filtered heart rate variability data that spans a discrete interval of time. The method includes determining a second standard deviation of all interbeat intervals included in the first segment of the filtered heart rate variability data. The method includes determining a score indicative of mindfulness of the user based on the first standard deviation and the second standard deviation.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A computer-implemented method for determining mindfulness of a user performing a guided breathing exercise, the computer-implemented method comprising: initiating the guided breathing exercise via a software application of a wearable computing device; prompting the user to attain a desired respiration rate that results in respiratory sinus arrythmia for the user; obtaining heart rate variability data of the user via one or more biometric sensors arranged on a bottom side of the wearable computing device and in contact with skin of the user performing the guided breathing exercise; filtering the heart rate variability data to generate filtered heart rate variability data; determining a first standard deviation of interbeat intervals included in a first segment of the filtered heart rate variability data and indicative of the respiratory sinus arrythmia for the user, the first segment spanning a discrete interval of time; determining a second standard deviation of the interbeat intervals included in the first segment of the filtered heart rate variability data; determining a score indicative of mindfulness of the user for the discrete interval of time based, at least in part, on the first standard deviation to the second standard deviation, wherein mindfulness is a state in which a parasympathetic branch of the user's autonomic nervous system (ANS) is more dominant than a sympathetic branch of the user's ANS; determining an actual respiration rate of the user for the discrete interval of time based, at least in part, on the first segment of the filtered heart rate variability data; and causing a display screen of the wearable computing device worn by the user to display the score and the actual respiration rate while the user is performing the guided breathing exercise so as to notify the user whether the actual respiration rate is preventing the user from achieving mindfulness by deviating from the desired respiration rate.

Facts

Company
Google (Google LLC)
Official title
Score indicative of mindfulness of a user
Patent number
US12740735B2
Application number
18044470
Filed
Oct 20, 2022
Granted
Sep 22, 2026
Inventors
1
Claims
16

Classified under

A61B 5/165 Human necessitiesA61B 5/02405 Human necessitiesA61B 5/681 Human necessitiesA61B 5/7225 Human necessitiesA61B 5/7257 Human necessitiesA61B 5/742 Human necessities

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.