A core body temperature information system and method

Abstract

A core body temperature information system 10 comprises a data processor 12 operable to receive data 14 from a core body temperature sensor 16 and process the received data to provide a core body temp

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a core body temperature information system and method, and particularly to a core body temperature information system and method for providing information on the core temperature of, for example, a mounted or dismounted soldier. BACKGROUND

[0002] Monitoring of human body metrics of mounted and dismounted soldiers is important to ensure soldiers are physically and mentally fit as they engage on the frontline.

[0003] Abnormally high body temperature occurs due to exposure to extreme temperatures, high humidity and heavy workloads. Heat-related injuries are more common than ever now because of high levels of exertion in desert combat areas with heavy protective equipment. Abnormally, high body temperature is known as hyperthermia and can result in heatstroke, which is potentially fatal.

[0004] Abnormally low body temperature occurs due to excessive heat loss due to cold exposure. Hypothermia leads to rapid degradation of operational ability, both cognitively and physically.

[0005] One of the most significant factors in limiting muscular performance during prolonged, high-level work can be the build-up of heat in the body core. When core body temperature rises above a threshold, performance and power decreases. As the body heats and diverts more energy to pumping blood to the skin to cool the body, there is less blood to power muscles and power output drops.

[0006] Core body temperature can be measured using ingested electronic pills or rectal thermometers. However, these are not practicable for a soldier on the frontline. More suitable core body temperature sensors are able to determine the core body temperature of a user from the surface of their skin. The measured core body temperature is then transmitted to a smartphone and viewed by a user on the smartphone screen.

[0007] It is known to improve a soldier’s situational awareness on the frontline by using a suite of situation awareness systems which may include a smartphone-type processing device, a network such as Long-Term Evolution, LTE, network and with a centralised power management component.

[0008] Such systems provide commanders with accurate and real-time locations of soldiers, allowing commanders to visualise geospatial, picture and message data on a digital battle space. Commanders can determine their location, the location of their soldiers, the location of the enemy, and determine the orders and communicate orders to soldiers relatively quickly and easily. Similarly, soldiers are able to view the information from their positions.

[0009] The large quantity of different situational awareness information being simultaneously displayed on the digital display screen can often lead to a problem of cognitive load, especially for front-line soldiers, especially in an active shooting firefight. The increasing quantity of information being displayed on soldier’s screens can result in soldier’s losing concentration and focus on the combative orders. Moreover, a user can only quickly view a screen and, when doing so, at least momentarily, loses sight of the battlefield and possible visible threats on the battlefield. Active service feedback from frontline personnel indicates that it is becoming increasingly difficult to focus and concentrate on fighting a battle while using all the data and information feeds transmitted to the digital display screens on the frontline.

[0010] It is therefore desirable for there to be a system and method which provides information on core body temperature to a soldier without adding to the data and information feeds transmitted to the soldier’s digital display screens.

[0011] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a body metric information system and method which provides information on core body temperature to a soldier while reducing cognitive load on the soldier. SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0012] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a core body temperature information system comprising a data processor operable to receive data from a core body temperature sensor and process the received data to provide a core body temperature signal, wherein the core body temperature signal is an audio signal, and wherein the data processor transmits the audio signal to an audio speaker through which a user can audibly receive core body temperature information.

[0013] The received data may comprise data direct from a measurement of a said core body temperature sensor.

[0014] Alternatively, or additionally, the received data comprises data derived from a measurement of a said core body temperature sensor.

[0015] The received data may be received from a said core body temperature sensor disposed on the skin of a user.

[0016] The audio signal may be bi-directional.

[0017] The data processor may transmit the audio signal to the audio speaker automatically.

[0018] Alternatively, or additionally, the data processor may transmit the audio signal to the audio speaker upon receiving a request to transmit the audio signal.

[0019] The data processor may receive data from said core body temperature sensor through a wireless communication connection.

[0020] Alternatively, or additionally, data processor may receive data from said core body temperature sensor through a wired communication connection.

[0021] The audio signal may be a digital signal.

[0022] Alternatively, or additionally, the audio signal may be an analogue signal.

[0023] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided, a method of providing core body temperature information to a user, the method comprising: providing a data processor; receiving data from a core body temperature sensor; processing the received data to provide a core body temperature information signal; wherein the core body temperature information signal is an audio signal; and, wherein the data processor transmits the audio signal to an audio speaker through which a user can audibly receive situational awareness information.

[0024] The received data may comprise data direct from a measurement of a said core body temperature sensor.

[0025] Alternatively, or additionally, the received data comprises data derived from a measurement of a said core body temperature sensor.

[0026] The received data may be received from a said core body temperature sensor disposed on the skin of a user.

[0027] The audio signal may be bi-directional.

[0028] The data processor may transmit the audio signal to the audio speaker automatically.

[0029] Alternatively, or additionally, the data processor may transmit the audio signal to the audio speaker upon receiving a request to transmit the audio signal.

[0030] The data processor may receive data from said core body temperature sensor through a wireless communication connection.

[0031] Alternatively, or additionally, data processor may receive data from said core body temperature sensor through a wired communication connection.

[0032] The audio signal may be a digital signal.

[0033] Alternatively, or additionally, the audio signal may be an analogue signal.

[0034] According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a computer program product comprising a non-transitory readable medium holding computer program instructions, the computer program instructions executed by a hardware processor to carry out the method of the second aspect of the present invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0035] The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing.

[0036] Figure 1 is a schematic drawing showing a core body temperature information system and method, according to the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0037] Referring to Figure 1, a core body temperature information system and method 10 comprises a data processor 12 operable to receive data 14 from a core body temperature sensor 16 of a type known in the prior art. The processor 12 may be a portable communication device such as, for example, a smartphone, or an accessory for communicating with a portable communication device such as, for example, a smartphone. The core body temperature sensor 16 is preferably of the type disposable on the skin of a user, such as, for example, on the skin of a mounted or dismounted soldier.

[0038] The received data 14 may be one or more direct measurements of the core body temperature sensor 16. Additionally, or alternatively, the received data 14 may be pre-processed data derived from one or more of the direct measurements of the core body temperature sensor 16. Pre-processing of the received data 14 may include, for example, mathematical, computer coding or data logging processing. The received data 14 may also include pre-processed data, derived from datasets using machine learning or artificial intelligence.

[0039] The data 14 is transmitted to the processor 12 over a communication network 18, which may be a wired or a wireless network, or a combination of both wired and wireless networks.

[0040] The processor 12 processes the received data 14 into an audio core body temperature information signal 20. The audio core body temperature information signal 20 includes a digital signal or analogue signal and is a bi-directional signal. The audio core body temperature information signal 20 is transmitted to one or more speakers 22, through which a user, such as a soldier, receives their core body temperature information as an audible signal. The one or more speakers 22 are preferably housed in one or a pair of earpieces or headphones.

[0041] The processor 12 transmits the audio core body temperature information signal 20 automatically, which may occur upon the core body temperature of the soldier reaching one or more high temperature thresholds or one or more low temperature thresholds. Alternatively, or additionally, the processor 12 transmits the audio core body temperature information signal 5 20 upon request by a system user, such as, for example, the soldier. The request is preferably an audio request through a microphone.

[0042] In use, because the audio core body temperature information signal 20 is an audio signal which is audibly received by the soldier, the core body temperature information 10 system and method 10, as described above, provides important, accurate and immediately discernible core body temperature information, while reducing cognitive load on the soldier, thereby enabling frontline personnel to focus and concentrate and continually engage in a heads-up manner with visual awareness maintained in the theatre of war and, for example, in a gun battle. 15

Claims

1. A core body temperature information system comprising a data processor operable to receive data from a core body temperature sensor and process the received data to provide a core body temperature signal, wherein the core body temperature signal is an audio signal, and wherein the data processor transmits the audio signal to an audio speaker through which a user can audibly receive core body temperature information.

2. A situational awareness information system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the received data comprises data direct from a measurement of a said core body temperature sensor.

3. A situational awareness information system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the received data comprises data derived from a measurement of a said core body temperature sensor.

4. A situational awareness information system as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the received data is received from a said core body temperature sensor disposed on the skin of a user.

5. A situational awareness information system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the audio signal is bi-directional.

6. A situational awareness information system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the data processor transmits the audio signal to the audio speaker automatically.

7. A situational awareness information system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the data processor transmits the audio signal to the audio speaker upon receiving a request to transmit the audio signal.

8. A situational awareness information system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the data processor receives data from said core body temperature sensor through a wireless communication connection.

9. A situational awareness information system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the data processor receives data from said core body temperature sensor through a wired communication connection.

10. A situational awareness information system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the audio signal is a digital signal.

11. A situational awareness information system as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the audio signal is an analogue signal.

12. A method of providing core body temperature information to a user, the method comprising:providing a data processor;receiving data from a core body temperature sensor;processing the received data to provide a core body temperature information signal;wherein the core body temperature information signal is an audio signal; and, wherein the data processor transmits the audio signal to an audio speaker through which a user can audibly receive situational awareness information.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, whereby the received data comprises data direct from a measurement of a said core body temperature sensor.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12 or 13, whereby the received data comprises data derived from a measurement of a said core body temperature information sensor.

15. A method as claimed in claims 12 to 14, whereby the received data is received from a said core body temperature sensor disposed on the skin of a user.

16. A method as claimed in claims 12 to 15, whereby the audio signal is bi-directional.

17. A method as claimed in claims 12 to 16, whereby the data processor transmits the audio signal to the audio speaker automatically.

18. A method as claimed in claims 12 to 17, whereby the data processor transmits the audio signal to the audio speaker upon receiving a request to transmit the audio signal.

19. A method as claimed in claims 12 to 18, whereby the data processor receives data from said core body temperature sensor through a wireless communication connection.

20. A method as claimed in claims 12 to 19, whereby the data processor receives data from said core body temperature sensor through a wired communication connection.

21. A method as claimed in claims 12 to 20, whereby the audio signal is a digital signal.

22. A method as claimed in claims 12 to 21, whereby the audio signal is an analogue signal.

23. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory readable medium holding computer program instructions, the computer program instructions executed by a hardware processor to carry out the method of claims 12 to 22.11

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