Extendable modular tracking device

Abstract

Provided is a tracking device. The tracking device may include an internal sensor, a receiver, and a controller. The receiver may include a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact each configured to receive an electrical signal from an external device. The controller may be configured to analyze a first electrical signal from the internal sensor to determine first data. The controller may be configured to detect a presence of a second electrical signal in the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact and, identify the external device based on a portion of the second electrical signal and analyze, based on the result of the identification, the electrical signal to determine second data. The controller can perform combined analysis of the first data and the second data to determine an additional value of physiological parameters of a user, behavioral parameters of the user, or environmental parameters.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A tracking device comprising:
 an internal sensor configured to sense a first electrical signal indicative of at least one of a physiological parameter of a user, a behavioral parameter of the user, or an environmental parameter;   a receiver including a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact being configured to receive, via a wire, a second electrical signal from an external device, the second electrical signal being indicative of the at least one of physiological parameters of the user, the behavioral parameter of the user, or the environmental parameter; and   a controller coupled to the receiver and configured to:
 analyze the first electrical signal data from the internal sensor to determine first data; 
 detect a presence of the second electrical signal in the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact; 
 identify, based on the second electrical signal, the external device; 
 analyze, based on a result of the identification, the second electrical signal to determine second data; and 
 perform a combined analysis of the first data and the second data to determine at least one additional value of the at least one of the physiological parameter, the behavioral parameter of the user, or the environmental parameter. 
   
     
     
         2 . The tracking device of  claim 1 , wherein the internal sensor includes one of: a motion sensor, a barometer, a bioimpedance sensor, and a heart rate sensor. 
     
     
         3 . The tracking device of  claim 1 , wherein the external device includes one of: an electrocardiography sensor, an electroencephalography sensor, a galvanic skin response sensor, an electromyography sensor, a sensor for measuring a glucose level in blood of the user, a sensor for measuring an alcohol level in the blood of the user, a capnography sensor, a blood pressure sensor, an ultraviolet sensor, a radiation meter, a nitrate concentration sensor, a metabolite sensor, a video camera, a body thermometer, an environment thermometer, a humidity sensor, an electromagnetic radiation sensor, a noise level sensor, a barometer, an air pollution sensor, an illumination sensor, a smart scale, a smart home device, a training apparatus, a computer of a transportation device, an inhaler, a smart toilet, a physiotherapeutic device, and a power bank. 
     
     
         4 . The tracking device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first data include first raw data indicative of the at least one of the physiological parameter of the user, the behavioral parameter of the user, or the environmental parameter;   the second data include second raw data indicative of the at least one of the physiological parameter of the user, the behavioral parameter of the user, or the environmental parameter; and   the combined analysis includes at least one of the following:
 increasing a signal-to-noise ratio of the first data or the second data; or 
 determining a new parameter having an additional meaning related to a health or a life of the user, wherein the new parameter is based on one of the following: a coherence between the first data and the second data and a phase between the first data and the second data. 
   
     
     
         5 . The tracking device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first data include first values of the at least one of the physiological parameters of the user, the first values being a result of measurements of the at least one of the physiological parameters at a first segment of a body of the user;   the second data include second values of the at least one of the physiological parameters, the second values being determined by the external device as result of measurement the at least one of the physiological parameters at a second segment of the body of the user; and   the combined analysis includes estimating, based on the first values and the second values, third values of the at least one of the physiological parameters for the body of the user.   
     
     
         6 . The tracking device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first data include first values of a first physiological parameter of the user;   the second data include second values of a second physiological parameter of the user, a behavioral parameter of the user, or an environmental parameter; and   the combined analysis includes:
 correlating the first values and the second values by performing a coherence and a phase analysis of the first values and the second values; and 
 based on results of the correlation, estimating or increasing assurance of one of the following:
 a risk to a health of the user; or 
 a capacity and resources of health resilience of the user against diseases and adverse events. 
 
   
     
     
         7 . The tracking device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the controller is configured to:
 upon detection of the presence of the second electrical signal, determine, based on a portion of the second electrical signal, a type of the electrical signal; 
 based on the type of the signal, selectively switch the receiver to receive the rest of the second electrical signal in one of a digital mode or an analog mode; and 
   the detecting the presence of the second electrical signal includes:
 periodically switching the receiver from the analog mode to the digital mode for a first period of time and from the digital mode to the analog mode for a second period of time; 
 wherein during the first period of time, the second electrical signal is analyzed to detect a digital code associated with the external device; and 
 during the second period of time, a voltage difference is analyzed between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact. 
   
     
     
         8 . The tracking device of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the receiver includes a multiplexer wired to the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact; and   the controller is configured to switch the receiver to the digital mode or the analog mode by configuring the multiplexer.   
     
     
         9 . The tracking device of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to identify the external device based on a magnitude of the voltage difference. 
     
     
         10 . The tracking device of  claim 1 , further comprising a power supply, wherein the receiver includes two power lines configured to provide a power of the power supply to the external device. 
     
     
         11 . A method for providing a tracking device, the method comprising:
 providing an internal sensor configured to sense a first electrical signal indicative of at least one of a physiological parameter of a user, a behavioral parameter of the user, and an environmental parameter;   providing a receiver including a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact being configured to receive, via a wire, a second electrical signal from an external device, the electrical signal being indicative of the at least one of the physiological parameters of the user, the behavioral parameter of the user, and the environmental parameter; and   providing a controller coupled to the receiver, wherein the controller is configured to:
 analyze the first electrical signal data from the internal sensor to determine first data; 
 detect a presence of the second electrical signal in the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact; 
 identify, based on the second electrical signal, the external device; 
 analyze, based on a result of the identification, the second electrical signal to determine second data; and 
 perform a combined analysis of the first data and the second data to determine at least one additional value of the at least one of the physiological parameter of the user, the behavioral parameter of the user, or the environmental parameter. 
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the internal sensor includes one of: a motion sensor, a barometer sensor, a bioimpedance sensor, and a heart rate sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the external device includes one of: an electrocardiography sensor, an electroencephalography sensor, a galvanic skin response sensor, an electromyography sensor, a sensor for measuring a glucose level in blood of the user, a sensor for measuring an alcohol level in the blood of the user, a capnography sensor, a blood pressure sensor, an ultraviolet sensor, a radiation meter, a nitrate concentration sensor, a metabolite sensor, a video camera, a body thermometer, an environment thermometer, a humidity sensor, an electromagnetic radiation sensor, a noise level sensor, a barometer, an air pollution sensor, an illumination sensor, a smart scale, a smart home device, a training apparatus, a computer of a transportation device, an inhaler, a smart toilet, a physiotherapeutic device, and a power bank. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first data include first raw data indicative of the at least one of the physiological parameter of the user, the behavioral parameter of the user, or the environmental parameter;   the second data include second raw data of the at least one of the physiological parameters of the user, behavioral parameter of the user, or the environmental parameter; and   the combined analysis includes at least one of the following:
 increasing a signal-to-noise ratio of the first data or the second data: or 
 determining a new parameter having an additional meaning related to a health or a life of the user, wherein the new parameter is based on one of the following: a coherence between the first data and the second data and a phase between the first data and the second data. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first data include first values of the at least one of the physiological parameters of the user, the first values being a result of measurements of the at least one of the physiological parameters at a first segment of a body of the user;   the second data include second values of the at least one of the physiological parameters, the second values being determined by the external device as result of measurement the at least one of the physiological parameters at a second segment of the body of the user; and   the combined analysis includes estimating, based on the first values and the second values, third values of the at least one of the physiological parameters for overall body of the user.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the first data include first values of a first physiological parameter of the user;   the second data include second values of a second physiological parameter of the user, a behavioral parameter of the user, or an environmental parameter; and   the combined analysis includes:
 correlating the first values and the second values by performing a coherence and a phase analysis of the first values and the second values; and 
   based on a result of the correlation, estimating or increasing assurance of one of the following:
 a risk to a health of the user; or 
 a capacity and resources of health resilience of the user against diseases and adverse events. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the controller is configured to:
 upon detection of the presence of the second electrical signal, determine, based on a portion of the second electrical signal, a type of the second electrical signal; 
 based on the type of the second electrical signal, selectively switch the receiver to receive the rest of the second electrical signal in one of a digital mode or an analog mode; and 
   the detecting the presence of the second electrical signal includes:
 periodically switching the receiver from the analog mode to the digital mode for a first period of time and from the digital mode to the analog mode for a second period of time; 
 during the first period of time, analyzing the second electrical signal to detect a digital code associated with the external device; and 
 during the second period of time, analyzing the voltage difference between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact. 
   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the receiver includes a multiplexer wired to the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact; and   the controller is configured to switch the receiver in the digital mode or the analog mode by configuring the multiplexer.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the controller is configured to identify the external device based on a magnitude of the voltage difference. 
     
     
         20 . A tracking device comprising:
 an internal sensor configured to sense a first electrical signal indicative of at least one of a physiological parameter of a user, a behavioral parameter of the user, and an environmental parameter;   a receiver including a first electrical contact and a second electrical contact, the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact being configured to receive, via a wire, a second electrical signal from an external device, the second electrical signal being indicative of at least one of the physiological parameter of the user, the behavioral parameter of the user, and the environmental parameter;   a controller coupled to the receiver and configured to:
 analyze the first electrical signal data from the internal sensor to determine first data; 
 detect a presence of the second electrical signal in the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact; 
 upon detection of the presence of the second electrical signal, determine, based on a portion of the second electrical signal, a type of the electrical signal; 
 based on the type of the second electrical signal, selectively switch the receiver to receive the rest of the second electrical signal in one of a digital mode or an analog mode; 
 identify, based on the second electrical signal, the external device; and 
 analyze, based on a result of the identification, the second electrical signal to determine second data; and 
   perform combined analysis of the first data and the second data to determine at least one additional value of the at least one of the physiological parameters of the user, a behavioral parameter of the user, or the environmental parameters.