Abstract: A physiological monitor uses a light source and a number of detectors to determine whether a physiological monitor is positioned for acquisition of physiological data. More specifically, an intensity of the light source, as measured at two photodetectors at different distances from the light source, can be used to accurately detect whether the monitor is properly positioned for use. The disclosed methods may advantageously leverage existing physiological monitoring hardware (such as light emitting diodes and photodetectors), and may improve on the accuracy of prior art techniques using, e.g., capacitive sensors and/or other hardware to detect proper device positioning.

Abstract: A controllable window of time is provided for waking a user from sleep. A system uses this window to variably control the acquisition of physiological data from a device such as a wearable monitor, such as by initiating data acquisition at the beginning of the window, and the acquired data can be used in turn to control when, during the window, an active alarm to the user might be provided. Using this technique, data acquisition from a physiological monitoring device or the like can be increased around the onset of the window to more accurately calculate a suitable waking time for the user within the window. This advantageously avoids the need for continuous, high-frequency data communications during long intervals of sleep, and focuses data transmission, related communications, and computing resources on those intervals when up-to-date data might be most useful for optimizing the user's wake up experience.

Abstract: A garment provides infrastructure for using one or more physiological monitoring devices. This may include connecting infrastructure such as physical restrains to securely retain monitoring devices during use, supporting infrastructure such as an intra-garment communications bus, external communications infrastructure, power sources, and the like, as well as augmentation infrastructure to augment monitors with, e.g., processing power, geolocation services, user interfaces, additional sensors, and so forth.

Abstract: A pocket for a removable and replaceable physiological monitoring device can be incorporated into an article of clothing and configured to retain the device in a position for monitoring during physical activity, while facilitating removal and replacement of the device as needed.