Sleep Assistance Device

Abstract

A sleep assistance device is provided-for, including a processor, communications hardware, memory, and a speaker. The processor receives information from an other device via the communications hardware. The processor may then provide a wake up alarm to a first user via the speaker based on the information received from the other device.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A sleep assistance device comprising:
 a processor;   communications hardware coupled to the processor;   memory; and   a speaker;   wherein said processor is configured to:   receive information from an other device via the communications hardware; and   provide a wake up alarm to a first user via the speaker based on the information received from the other device.   
     
     
         2 . The sleep assistance device of  claim 1 , wherein the information from the other device corresponds to a disruption in an other person's sleep pattern detected by the other device. 
     
     
         3 . The sleep assistance device of  claim 1 , wherein the information from the other device corresponds to a temperature measurement, an activation of a smoke alarm, or an activation of a motion sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The sleep assistance device of  claim 3 , wherein the other device comprises a home automation system. 
     
     
         5 . The sleep assistance device of  claim 1 , further comprising a first biometric sensor for determining at least one of a heart rate, a respiratory rate, a presence, or movement of a first user; 
     
     
         6 . The sleep assistance device of  claim 5 , wherein the first biometric sensor comprises a contactless biometric sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The sleep assistance device of  claim 5 , wherein said processor is configured to:
 detect the first user's sleep state by reading signals from said first biometric sensor based on at least one of a detected change in the first user's heartrate, body movement, respiration, or presence;   initiate a first wind-down routine upon detecting a sleep-readiness state of the first user, the first wind-down routine comprising at least one of playing relaxing sounds or playing a respiration entrainment sound; and   play noise-masking sounds upon detecting that the first user has fallen asleep.   
     
     
         8 . The sleep assistance device of  claim 5 , wherein said processor is configured to:
 detect the first user's sleep state by reading signals from said first biometric sensor based on at least one of a detected change in the first user's heartrate, body movement, respiration, or presence;   initiate a first wind-down routine upon detecting a sleep-readiness state of the first user, the first wind-down routine comprising playing at least one of relaxing sounds or a respiration entrainment sound via the speaker.   
     
     
         9 . The sleep assistance device of  claim 5 , wherein said processor is configured to:
 detect the first user's sleep state by reading signals from said first biometric sensor based on at least one of a detected change in the first user's heartrate, body movement, respiration, or presence;   detect a second user's sleep state by reading signals from a second biometric sensor, based on at least one of a detected change in the second user's heartrate, body movement, respiration, or presence;   initiate a first wind-down routine upon detecting a sleep-readiness state of one of the first user or the second user, the first wind-down routine comprising at least one of playing relaxing sounds or playing a respiration entrainment sound; and   play noise-masking sounds upon detecting that one of the first user or the second user has fallen asleep.   
     
     
         10 . The sleep assistance device of  claim 9 , wherein, if the detected sleep-readiness state is of the first user, then the processor is configured to play the sounds of the first wind-down routine using the speaker, and
 if the detected sleep-readiness state is of the second user, then the processor is configured to play the sounds of the first wind-down routine using headphones in wireless communication with the sleep assistance device.   
     
     
         11 . The sleep assistance device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is further configured to initiate a second wind-down routine upon detecting a sleep readiness state of the other of the first user or the second user, the second wind-down routine comprising at least one of playing relaxing sounds or playing a respiration entrainment sound. 
     
     
         12 . The sleep assistance device of  claim 11 , wherein the sounds of the second wind-down routine are played over a different output than the sounds of the first wind-down routine. 
     
     
         13 . The sleep assistance device of  claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to play the sounds of the first wind-down routine for the first user and play the noise-masking sounds simultaneously for a second user. 
     
     
         14 . The sleep assistance device of  claim 13 , wherein the processor is configured to:
 play the sounds of the first wind-down routine using one of the speaker or headphones in wireless communication with the sleep assistance device, and   play the noise-masking sounds using the other of the speaker or the headphones.   
     
     
         15 . The sleep assistance device of  claim 14 , wherein at least one of the noise-masking sounds or the sounds of the first wind-down routine mask the other from being heard by at least one of the first or the second user.