Systems and methods to facilitate sleep are described. In on example, a cognitive alarm clock system for children learns sleep patterns and activities towards recommending sleep schedules and teaching independence. The system may detect the cognitive state of a child based on voice or cry pattern recognition, a time of day or night, scheduled activities, and social context, among other factors. The system may initiate actions to facilitate sleep in response to the cognitive factors. For example, the system may adjust lighting or push back a wakeup time. In another example, the system may use the cognitive analysis to teach children good sleeping habits by making recommendations to facilitate a good night's rest and encourage independence.

A method is provided for measuring a wake up indicator, where the wake up indicator gives the likelihood of a user waking up undesirably. It is based on the knowledge that waking up during deep NREM sleep is not desirable due to sleep inertia and on the recognition that it is also undesirable to wake up during REM sleep due to atonia. A sleep inertia estimation is determined to estimate if the user is in NREM sleep and an atonia estimation is determined to estimate if the user is in REM sleep. The wake up indicator is determined from the sleep inertia estimation and the atonia estimation. The wake up indicator thus may be used as an indicator for the time when it is suitable to wake up the user in a way which avoids arousal from a deep sleep state or from REM sleep, during which atonia may arise.

Techniques are disclosed for facilitating disabling an alarm in response to particular types of activity-indicative data. More specifically, activity-indicative data (e.g., sensor data or input(s) can be detected prior to a preset alarm time. Upon determining, based on the activity-indicative data, that a wakefulness condition is satisfied (e.g., that the activity-indicative data corresponds to one or more predefined characteristics), a disablement query can be displayed that includes an option to disable the alarm. In response to detecting a selection of the option, the alarm can be disabled such that the alarm stimuli is not to be presented at the preset alarm time.

Techniques are disclosed for facilitating disabling an alarm in response to particular types of activity-indicative data. More specifically, activity-indicative data (e.g., sensor data or input(s) can be detected prior to a preset alarm time. Upon determining, based on the activity-indicative data, that a wakefulness condition is satisfied (e.g., that the activity-indicative data corresponds to one or more predefined characteristics), a disablement query can be displayed that includes an option to disable the alarm. In response to detecting a selection of the option, the alarm can be disabled such that the alarm stimuli is not to be presented at the preset alarm time.

The present technology relates to information processing apparatus and method, and a program that make a stress level controllable depending on circumstances. A stress level measuring unit measures a stress level of a user on the basis of a result of detection by various types of sensors included in an input unit. A stress factor specifying unit specifies a factor causing an increase or decrease in the stress level on the basis of an action of the user in a period in which the stress level is increased or decreased. The present technology is applicable to a stress control system, for example.

An alarm unit includes an apparatus and a method of maximizing the efficiency of an alarm function that wakes up a sleeping user. An image input unit capable of photographing an eye image as a criterion for determining if the user has woken up is mounted on an alarm control apparatus. The image input unit mounted alarm control apparatus photographs a face image of the user, detects the eye region from the face image, and then determines a state of whether the user has woken up or not based on movement of the pupils in the eye region. If it is determined that the user keeps a waking state for a certain time, an alarm function is cancelled. By doing this, the alarm unit can help prevent the user from easily cancelling an alarm and maximize the efficiency of an alarm function that wakes up a sleeping user.

A timer apparatus is described. A shape of the timer apparatus includes a cube, a pyramid, a pentagonal prism, a hexagonal prism, or a polygonal prism. The shape of the timer apparatus is preferable a cube. The timer apparatus also includes timing surface(s). Each of the timing surface(s) displays a value in minutes/seconds from which to countdown. The timer apparatus also includes a display surface. The display surface provides a timer and controls associated with the timer apparatus. The timer is configured to countdown from the value displayed by the timing surface when the timing surface is detected in a top position. The timer apparatus also includes a stop surface. When the stop surface is detected in the top position, the timer is reset. Furthermore, the timer apparatus includes a controller and an orientation sensor.

The present invention is directed to devices that may be used to help young children stay in bed or their room until it is time to get up. The device may be configured as a clock. The clock may be programmable to have a duration of a nap time, or a time when the child is able to get up. A visual countdown timer may be provided with the device (e.g., on the clock face), which may include a graphical representation of the remaining fraction of time before get up time. The visual countdown timer may not include number indicia, but rather includes a graphic (e.g., ring extending about the perimeter of the clock face), which gradually diminishes as the predetermined get up time is approached. A reward drawer may also be provided, which automatically unlocks at the get up time, and provides the child with a prize.

Aspects of the present disclosure provide methods, apparatuses, and systems for a personalized wake-up system. A sleep assistance device outputs a sound. In response to detecting a sound that exhibits one or more predetermined sound properties, actions are taken to adjusting the sound in an effort to wake the subject. Examples of predetermined sound properties include any sound detected over a threshold decibel level, sounds detected at a certain frequency spectrum. According to aspects, subject may further configure the system to alert the subject based on a set of personalized sounds the subjects considers to be important. According to aspects, the audio device or system is configured to determine the subject is awake based on collected biosignal parameters. The audio device or system takes further actions to disrupt the subject's sleep until the subject is determined to be awake.

The present invention is directed to devices that may be used to help young children stay in bed or their room until it is time to get up. The device may be configured as a clock. The clock may be programmable to have a duration of a nap time, or a time when the child is able to get up. A visual countdown timer may be provided with the device (e.g., on the clock face), which may include a graphical representation of the remaining fraction of time before get up time. The visual countdown timer may not include number indicia, but rather includes a graphic (e.g., ring extending about the perimeter of the clock face), which gradually diminishes as the predetermined get up time is approached. A reward drawer may also be provided, which automatically unlocks at the get up time, and provides the child with a prize.