Heart Rate Variability Metrics for Cognitive State Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining a person's thinking state, such as convergent thinking, divergent thinking, or relaxed state, are not accurate enough, particularly when relying on heart rate data alone.

Innovation Solution

An information processing method that calculates the coefficient of variation of R-R interval (CVRR) and low frequency/high frequency (LF/HF) of a user's heart rate, and uses these metrics to determine the user's thinking state with higher accuracy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If heart rate data alone is used to determine thinking state, then the measurement process is simple, but the determination accuracy is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethinking state determination accuracyVSAvoidmeasurement method complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple heart rate parameters (CVRR and LF/HF) into a unified determination system. By merging these complementary indicators that reflect different aspects of autonomic nervous system activity, the system achieves more accurate thinking state classification than any single parameter could provide alone.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms raw heart rate data into derived parameters (CVRR coefficient of variation and LF/HF spectral ratio) that better represent cognitive states. This parameter transformation enables more nuanced detection of thinking states by capturing temporal and frequency-domain characteristics of heart rate variability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If multiple parameters (CVRR and LF/HF) are calculated and combined, then the determination accuracy improves, but the calculation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethinking state determination accuracyVSAvoidparameter calculation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the analysis into distinct computational segments: first calculating CVRR from R-R intervals, then calculating LF and HF power through spectral analysis, and finally computing their ratio. This segmentation allows each parameter to be derived using established algorithms, making the overall complex process more manageable and implementable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses heart rate variability as an intermediary between raw physiological data and cognitive state determination. The multiple parameters (CVRR, LF, HF, LF/HF) serve as intermediate representations that bridge the gap between simple heart rate measurements and complex thinking state classification, enabling accurate inference through staged processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20250176882A1Information processing methods and information processing system

Publication Date: 2025.06.05 PANASONIC HOLDINGS CORP

AI summary

An information processing method includes receiving or calculating a coefficient of variation of R-R interval (CVRR) of a user and low frequency/high frequency (LF/HP) of the user, and causing a processor to perform a determination process for determining, based on the CVRR and the LF/HF, which of a convergent thinking state, a divergent thinking state, or a relaxed state corresponds to a state related to the user's thinking.