Peripheral Device Case with Separate Computer Hardware for Recording and Protecting Health Information

Abstract

New peripheral device cases and methods of use are provided. In some embodiments, specialized hardware for acquiring and protecting personal data is provided within a smartphone case. A new form of transparent overlaid touchscreen is provided, configured to be overlayed onto the screen of a smartphone held within a case, recording both visual data and user input related to the screen, while permitting normal actuation of the smartphone screen through the overlaid touchscreen. In some embodiments, data is secured and managed within separate computer hardware within a case, and shared with a smartphone held within it, and/or with a network, upon obtaining user consent. In some such embodiments, a case with squeezable sections is provided, configured to monitor pressure applied by a user and record a user's grip strength.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A smartphone case peripheral device comprising:
 a housing comprising:
 at least one exterior surface(s); and 
 a smartphone-receiving section configured to receive a smartphone therein; 
   at least one pressure sensor(s) located on or about one or more lengthwise side(s) of said housing, the at least one pressure sensor(s) being configured to:
 sense inward pressure applied on or about said at least one pressure sensor(s) from a human hand; and 
   a communications device configured to provide a communications connection between the smartphone case peripheral device and a smartphone held by the smartphone-receiving section; and   specialized computer hardware and software in communication with the at least one pressure sensor(s) and the communications device.   
     
     
         2 . A smartphone case peripheral device according to  claim 1 , wherein the specialized computer hardware and software monitor an amount and/or a rate of said inward pressure. 
     
     
         3 . A smartphone case peripheral device according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one pressure sensor(s) are each operatively connected to at least one member(s) configured to move relative to the housing. 
     
     
         4 . A smartphone case peripheral device according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one member(s) comprises at least one compressible hand grip(s). 
     
     
         5 . A smartphone case peripheral device according to  claim 3 , wherein the at least one member(s) comprises at least one shock-absorbing bumper(s). 
     
     
         6 . A smartphone case peripheral device according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 at least one of the compressible hand grip(s) extends outward from at least one of the at least one exterior surface(s).   
     
     
         7 . A smartphone case peripheral device according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 at least one force transmission strut(s) operatively connected to the at least one member(s), wherein the at least one member(s) is configured to drive the at least one force transmission strut(s).   
     
     
         8 . A smartphone case peripheral device according to  claim 7 , wherein at least one of the at least one force transmission strut(s) is configured to drive at least one shock absorber(s). 
     
     
         9 . A smartphone case peripheral device according to  claim 3 , wherein the specialized computer hardware and software is configured to apply an outward-directed force to at least one of the at least one member(s). 
     
     
         10 . A smartphone case peripheral device according to  claim 1 , wherein the specialized computer hardware and software are configured to transmit at least one reminder(s) to a user to perform a periodic handgrip strength test. 
     
     
         11 . A smartphone case peripheral device according to  claim 10 , wherein the specialized computer hardware and software are configured to transmit the at least one reminder(s) in a unique pattern that is used to identify the reminder to a user. 
     
     
         12 . A peripheral device for a smartphone comprising:
 an outer housing;   specialized computer hardware and software configured to monitor behavior of a user of a smartphone, the specialized computer hardware comprising at least one smartphone actuation sensor(s) comprised in a flat, at least partially transparent touchscreen, configured to be auxiliary to, and overlaid onto, a touchscreen of the smartphone; and   a communications connection device configured to provide a communications connection between the peripheral device and the smartphone,   wherein said specialized computer hardware and software and said at least one smartphone actuation sensor are each configured to monitor and record data related to actuation of said smartphone.   
     
     
         13 . A peripheral device for a smartphone according to  claim 12 , wherein said specialized computer hardware is configured to classify at least some of said data as private or non-private, and to treat said data classified as private or non-private differently 
     
     
         14 . A peripheral device for a smartphone according to  claim 13 , wherein the at least partially transparent touchscreen comprises a touch transmission medium configured to permit a user to actuate said touchscreen of the smartphone through said at least partially transparent auxiliary touchscreen. 
     
     
         15 . A peripheral device for a smartphone according to  claim 14 , wherein the at least partially transparent touchscreen comprises a set of actuators. 
     
     
         16 . A peripheral device for a smartphone according to  claim 15 , wherein the matrix of actuators is configured to modify touch actuation of said touchscreen of said smartphone. 
     
     
         17 . A peripheral device for a smartphone according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least partially transparent touchscreen is configured to add visual augmentations to the touchscreen of the smartphone. 
     
     
         18 . A peripheral device for a smartphone according to  claim 17 , wherein said visual augmentations comprise graphical user interface (“GUI”) elements. 
     
     
         19 . A peripheral device for a smartphone according to  claim 18 , wherein said GUI elements comprise instructions for a user performing a manual strength, agility and/or dexterity test. 
     
     
         20 . A peripheral device for a smartphone according to  claim 19 , wherein said GUI elements comprise a measure of manual strength, agility and/or dexterity of a user.