METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ADJUSTING A CRITERION FOR QUALIFYING A CALCULATED VALUE

1 . A subject monitoring system for processing physiological information of a subject, comprising:

a sensor configured to generate a physiological signal, wherein the sensor detects light attenuated by the subject; and

processing equipment coupled to the sensor, wherein the processing equipment is configured to:

receive a calculated value that may be indicative of a physiological rate of the subject;

determine a value indicative of noise in the physiological signal;

adjust at least one criterion for qualifying or disqualifying the calculated value based on the value indicative of noise; and

qualify or disqualify the calculated value based on the at least one adjusted criterion.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processing equipment is further configured to loosen the criterion when the value indicative of noise exceeds a threshold.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processing equipment is further configured to tighten the criterion when the value indicative of noise is below a threshold.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processing equipment is further configured to adjust a type of the criterion.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one criterion comprises a threshold, and wherein the processing equipment is further configured to:

determine a metric based on the physiological signal; and

compare the metric to the threshold.

6 . A processing module for processing physiological information of a subject, wherein the processing module is configured to:

receive a physiological signal derived from a detector output, wherein the detector detects light attenuated by the subject;

receive a calculated value that may be indicative of a physiological rate of the subject;

determine a value indicative of noise in the physiological signal;

adjust at least one criterion for qualifying or disqualifying the calculated value based on the value indicative of noise; and

qualify or disqualify the calculated value based on the at least one adjusted criterion.

7 . The processing module of claim 6 , further configured to loosen the criterion when the value indicative of noise exceeds a threshold.

8 . The processing module of claim 6 , further configured to tighten the criterion when the value indicative of noise is below a threshold.

9 . The processing module of claim 6 , further configured to adjust a type of the criterion.

10 . The processing module of claim 6 , wherein the at least one criterion comprises a threshold, the processing module further configured to:

determine a metric based on the physiological signal; and

compare the metric to the threshold.

11 . A method for processing physiological information of a subject, comprising:

receiving, using processing equipment, a physiological signal derived from a detector output, wherein the detector detects light attenuated by the subject;

receiving, using the processing equipment, a calculated value that may be indicative of a physiological rate of the subject;

determining, using the processing equipment, a value indicative of noise in the physiological signal;

adjusting, using the processing equipment, at least one criterion for qualifying or disqualifying the calculated value based on the value indicative of noise; and

qualifying or disqualifying, using the processing equipment, the calculated value based on the at least one adjusted criterion.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein adjusting the at least one criterion comprises loosening the criterion when the value indicative of noise exceeds a threshold.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein adjusting the at least one criterion comprises tightening the criterion when the value indicative of noise is below a threshold.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein adjusting the at least one criterion comprises adjusting a type of the criterion.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one criterion comprises a threshold, and wherein qualifying or disqualifying the calculated value comprises:

determining a metric based on the physiological signal; and

comparing the metric to the threshold.

16 . A computer-readable medium for use in processing physiological information of a subject, the computer-readable medium having computer program instructions recorded thereon for:

receiving a physiological signal derived from a detector output, wherein the detector detects light attenuated by the subject;

receiving a calculated value that may be indicative of a physiological rate of the subject;

determining a value indicative of noise in the physiological signal;

adjusting at least one criterion for qualifying or disqualifying the calculated value based on the value indicative of noise; and

qualifying or disqualifying the calculated value based on the at least one adjusted criterion.

17 . The computer-readable medium of claim 16 , having further computer program instructions recorded thereon for loosening the criterion when the value indicative of noise exceeds a threshold.

18 . The computer-readable medium of claim 16 , having further computer program instructions recorded thereon for tightening the criterion when the value indicative of noise is below a threshold.

19 . The computer-readable medium of claim 16 , having further computer program instructions recorded thereon for adjusting a type of the criterion.

20 . The computer-readable medium of claim 16 , wherein the at least one criterion comprises a threshold, the computer-readable medium having further computer program instructions recorded thereon for:

determining a metric based on the physiological signal; and

comparing the metric to the threshold.