ZzzCatcher: AI Snore Monitor User Manual

1. The Unified Calibration Bar

Control exactly when ZzzCatcher begins a recording.

• Smart AI (Recommended): Set the TRIP handle to 90dB. The AI will automatically identify and record snoring even if the room is quiet.
• Loudness Level: The bar fills with color (Green or Red) based on the current volume in your room on a scale of 0 to 100dB.
• The TRIP Handle: Drag the handle labeled 'TRIP' to set a manual loudness trigger.
• Interactive Gate: If the live noise level crosses the 'TRIP' handle, a recording begins instantly.

2. "Console" Dashboard

The monitoring screen serves as a clean, high-density nightstand display.

• Smart Shortcuts: Use the sidebar buttons for instant navigation. NIGHTLY takes you to your history, while TRENDS opens your 30-day health analysis.
• Optimized View: The dashboard displays the latest 1 hour of your sleep session data for maximum clarity.
• Trailing Labels: Loudness levels (0-100dB) are displayed on the right edge of the chart for maximum visibility.
• Standardized Units: All monitoring and snoring durations are displayed in Decimal Hours (X.XX hr) for precise health tracking.

3. 30-Day Trends & Analytics Pro

Track your long-term sleep health with our new analytics engine.

• Integrated Analytics: View your Sleep Quality Score (0-100), Snore Burden (Hours), and Peak Snore Loudness (0-100dB) over a 30-day window.
• Export Trends: Tap the Print icon to generate a visual PDF report, or use the Share icon to export raw data as a CSV file.
• Unit Optimization: All trend data is presented in Hours (hr) to provide a clear, forward-moving health timeline.

4. Auto Monitoring & Scheduling

Monitoring starts automatically when you launch the app to ensure you never miss a session.

• Daily Automation: In Settings, enable 'Auto Start/Stop'. Once set, the app will automatically handle your monitoring every single night based on your chosen window.
• Intelligent Catch-up: If you open the app anywhere within your scheduled window, it will instantly recognize the time and begin monitoring for you automatically.
• ⚠️ The "Side Button" Rule: To ensure the scheduler triggers reliably, do not lock your phone using the physical side button. If you manually lock the phone, iOS may eventually suspend the app, which stops the internal timer.
• Safe Darkening: Use the Moon icon (Blackout Mode) instead of the side button. This keeps the app "alive" and the scheduler active while keeping your room perfectly dark.
• STOP/START: You can manually override the scheduler at any time using the large center button. The app is smart enough to skip its next auto-trigger for that day if you manually stop it, preventing "fighting" with your overrides.
• Video Mode Pro: Use Video Mode to record your sleeping position. If Night Light is enabled, the screen will emit a soft 'Candlelight' glow during recordings.

5. Blackout Mode & Screen Safety

Tap the Moon icon at any time to darken your screen. This is the recommended way to darken your device overnight as it prevents the app from being suspended by the system.

• Exit: Simply double-tap anywhere on the black screen to return to the dashboard.
• Auto-Wake: For your convenience, ZzzCatcher will automatically exit Blackout Mode and restore your screen whenever you return to the app from another screen or notification.
• Brightness: ZzzCatcher will automatically lower your system brightness when entering Blackout mode and restore it when you exit.

6. Nightly Summary & Reports Pro

Pro users can access a full nightly dashboard designed for clinical review.

• Summary-First: Every night begins with an instant summary of your Sleep Score and a visual Loudness Timeline, visible directly in the History list.
• Visual Sleep Story: A consolidated chart overlays room loudness (0-100dB) with every snoring and abnormal event (markers) for the entire night.
• Clinical Sharing: Tap the Print icon to generate a PDF report or use the Share icon to send raw logs and recordings.

7. Privacy & Automatic Stop

To preserve your device's battery and protect your daytime privacy, ZzzCatcher will automatically stop monitoring after 12 hours. Monitoring will also automatically pause if you receive a phone call, and will resume automatically once the call has ended.

8. Review, Playback & Deletion

In the History view, your recordings are organized by date for easy review.

• Playback Navigation Pro: When reviewing a recording, use the Forward and Backward buttons to browse all session files sequentially. A persistent progress bar and time labels remain visible even when the video controls hide, allowing for easy scrubbing and progress tracking.
• Auto-Rotation Pro: To ensure recordings are easy to share and email, long sessions are automatically split into 20-minute segments. You can navigate these seamlessly using the playback controls.
• Nightly Recordings: To keep the list clean, recordings are tucked away in a collapsible dropdown. Tap to view all audio and video files for that night.
• Abnormal Tags: Recordings triggered by health events like gasping or coughing are automatically tagged with a '⚠️' icon for rapid review.
• Selective Cleanup: To save device space, ZzzCatcher automatically prunes heavy media files older than 3 days (Free) or 30 days (Pro). Crucially, your Sleep Scores and health logs are permanently preserved so your long-term Trends remain functional.
• Event Logs: Tap 'View Events' to see a chronological log. Pro Tip: Long-press 'View Events' to reveal the technical Diagnostic Log.
• Robust Sharing: Use the Share icon in the player or file list to securely attach recordings to an email for your doctor or specialist.

9. Smart Detection & Abnormal Events

Smart Snore Detection is now free for all users. When enabled, a 'SMART AI' badge will appear, and a 'SNORE' indicator will show when the AI identifies a snore. ZzzCatcher Pro adds advanced detection for abnormal sounds like gasping or coughing.

10. Troubleshooting & Best Practices

To ensure 100% reliable monitoring, please check the following:

• Permissions: Ensure both 'Microphone' and 'Camera' are enabled for ZzzCatcher in your device Settings. If the Microphone toggle is missing on newer iOS 18+ devices, tap 'Start Monitoring' in the app once to trigger the standard system prompt.
• Active Monitoring: Verify that the 'Start' button has been clicked or that your 'Auto Schedule' window is active. The dashboard should show a live decibel bar and active 'Monitoring Duration' if the system is running.
• Foreground Rule: For best results, ZzzCatcher should be the active app on your screen. Do not swipe the app out of the screen (backgrounding) or lock your device with the side button, as iOS may pause the high-accuracy AI engine.
• Blackout for Sleep: Instead of locking your device, use the Moon icon (Blackout Mode). This darkens your screen and restores your privacy while allowing the AI to maintain full performance throughout the night.
• Power: For 'Audio Only' mode, the app is highly efficient and can typically run through the night on battery. If using 'Video + Audio' mode, we recommend connecting your device to a charger as video recording is more power-intensive.