Method for displaying communication status in blood glucose measurement system

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for displaying a communication state in a blood glucose measurement system, comprising: a step of displaying a communication state of a communication module at a terminal that transmits and receives data to and from a sensor transmitter; a step in which, when the communication module is turned off, the terminal delays the display of the turn-off of the communication module during a period of time; and a step of displaying the closing of the communication module when the closing of the communication module continues for the one period of time.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present embodiment relates to a method of displaying a communication state in a blood glucose measurement system, and more particularly, to a technology of displaying a communication state in order to inform a user when a communication module is turned off. BACKGROUND

[0002] Recently, as medical technology has developed, a variety of medical devices attached to a user's body have been developed and distributed. The medical devices attached to the user's body can be attached to the skin of a chronic disease patient and effectively applied to monitoring of biological information or treatment.

[0003] For example, a chronic disease such as diabetes requires continuous management, and a medical device attached to the skin to measure blood glucose can be used to monitor the blood glucose of a diabetes patient. Diabetes is characterized by having almost no subjective symptoms in the early stage, but as the disease progresses, symptoms unique to diabetes such as polydipsia, polyphagia, polyuria, weight loss, general malaise, skin itching, long-term non-healing of hand and foot wounds, etc. occur. As diabetes further progresses, complications such as progression to visual impairment, hypertension, nephropathy, stroke, periodontal disease, muscle spasm, neuralgia, gangrene, etc. occur. In order to diagnose such diabetes and manage it so as to prevent it from progressing to complications, systematic blood glucose measurement and treatment must be simultaneously performed.

[0004] In order for diabetes patients and people who, although not progressing to diabetes, have a higher-than-normal level of sugar detected in the blood, many medical device manufacturers are providing a variety of types of blood glucose meters that can measure blood glucose.

[0005] The blood glucose meter employs a method in which the user collects blood from a fingertip to perform blood glucose measurement on a one-time basis, and a method in which it is attached to the user's abdomen or arm, etc. to continuously perform blood glucose measurement.

[0006] For diabetes patients, it is common to alternate between hyperglycemic and hypoglycemic states, and the emergency comes from the hypoglycemic state, and there can also be a loss of life when the hypoglycemic state continues for a long time without sugar supply or when losing consciousness. Therefore, it is very important for diabetes patients to immediately find the hypoglycemic state, but the blood sampling type blood glucose meter that measures blood glucose intermittently has limitations in accurately grasping such a situation.

[0007] Recently, in order to overcome such a limitation, a continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) that measures blood glucose values at intervals of several minutes by being inserted into the human body has been developed and used. In order to minimize pain and resistance of a user caused by blood sampling, the continuous glucose monitoring system can continuously measure blood glucose after inserting a needle-shaped transcutaneous sensor into a site such as an abdomen and an arm where pain is relatively light.

[0008] The continuous glucose monitoring system includes a sensor transmitter for measuring blood glucose in the body by being inserted into the skin of a user and transmitting a measured blood glucose value, and a terminal that outputs the received blood glucose value.

[0009] On the other hand, the terminal is connected with the sensor transmitter and can communicate with each other. Also, the terminal can output the communication state to the user in a visual manner. The terminal needs to provide the user with a blood glucose value in real time, and needs to continuously receive biological information for the blood glucose value from the sensor transmitter, and thus must secure a stable communication state. Therefore, the terminal informs the user of the communication state by variously displaying the communication state by classifying the communication state into a plurality of cases, so that the user can immediately take measures when a communication problem occurs. In recent years, the communication state is provided to the user in a visual manner through an application program provided by the terminal, and in particular, it is necessary to accurately determine a turn off state of the communication module, and to promptly inform the user of the communication module off state through the application program. SUMMARY

[0010] Technical Problem to be Solved

[0011] In this regard, an object of the present embodiment is to accurately determine a turn off state of the communication module and to promptly display the communication state.

[0012] In this regard, another object of the present embodiment is to display the communication state after a certain period of time for which display is delayed in order to determine the turn off of the communication module.

[0013] Solution to the Problem

[0014] In order to achieve the foregoing object, an embodiment can provide a method of displaying a communication state in a blood glucose measurement system, including: a step of displaying a communication state of a communication module of a terminal that transmits and receives data with a sensor transmitter; a step of delaying display of the turn off of the communication module by the terminal for a period of time when the communication module is turned off; and a step of displaying the turn off of the communication module when the turn off of the communication module is continued during the period of time.

[0015] In the above method, the communication state can indicate a Bluetooth communication connection between the terminal and the sensor transmitter.

[0016] In the above method, the one period can be preset or input by a user.

[0017] In the above method, the method further includes a step of performing a judgment on whether to display the communication module off, and the step of displaying the communication module off can display the communication module off according to a result of the judgment.

[0018] In the above method, the step of performing a judgment on whether to display the communication module off judges whether to display the communication module off based on whether a communication failure is continuous during the one period, and the step of displaying the communication module off can display the communication module off when the communication failure is continuous during the one period.

[0019] In the above method, the communication failure can include a case where a communication connection between the terminal and the sensor transmitter is disconnected or a case where data reception from the sensor transmitter to the terminal is suspended in a state where the communication connection is established.

[0020] In the above method, the method includes a step of receiving biological information by the terminal in response to an advertisement transmitted by the sensor transmitter, and the step of delaying display of the communication module off during the one period can delay display of the communication module off during the one period from one advertisement time point after a time point of the communication module off.

[0021] In the above method, the method includes a step of receiving biological information by the terminal in response to an advertisement transmitted by the sensor transmitter, and the step of delaying display of the communication module off during the one period can delay display of the communication module off during the one period from a time point of the communication module off.

[0022] Effects of the Invention

[0023] As described above, according to the present embodiment, the terminal judges whether the communication module is off while waiting during a certain period in which display of the communication module off is delayed, so that the communication module off can be accurately judged and timely notification can be provided to the user. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 is a diagram for schematically illustrating a blood glucose measurement system according to an embodiment.

[0025] Figure 2FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining a patcher for attaching a sensor transmitter to a human body according to an embodiment.

[0026] Figure 3 FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a process of attaching a sensor transmitter to a human body using a patcher according to an embodiment.

[0027] Figure 4 FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a sensor transmitter according to an embodiment.

[0028] Figure 5 FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a terminal according to an embodiment.

[0029] Figure 6 FIG. 5 is an example diagram in which a sensor transmitter generates bio-information according to an embodiment.

[0030] Figure 7 FIG. 6 is an example diagram in which a sensor transmitter generates a data packet according to an embodiment.

[0031] Figure 8 FIG. 7 is a flowchart for explaining a method of transmitting and receiving bio-information between a sensor transmitter and a terminal according to an embodiment.

[0032] Figure 9 FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining an example in which a terminal displays a communication state according to an embodiment.

[0033] Figure 10 FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining another example in which a terminal displays a communication state according to an embodiment.

[0034] Figure 11 FIG. 10 is an example diagram of a user interface provided by a terminal in order to display a communication state according to an embodiment.

[0035] Figure 12 FIG. 11 is a flowchart for explaining a method of displaying a communication state by a terminal according to an embodiment.

[0036] Figure 13 FIG. 12 is a flowchart for specifically explaining a method of displaying a communication state by a terminal according to an embodiment.

[0037] Figure 14 FIG. 13 is a diagram for explaining a method of displaying a communication state when a terminal according to an embodiment receives an advertisement message from a sensor transmitter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] In explaining the present application, as a matter that will be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present application pertains, when it is judged that the content regarding a well-known function can unnecessarily confuse the gist of the present application, detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0039] The terms used in the present application are used only to describe particular embodiments and are not intended to limit the present application. The expression of singular includes the expression of plural, unless it is explicitly stated otherwise in the context. It should be understood that, in the present application, the terms "include" or "have" etc. are only used to specify the presence of characteristics, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts or combinations thereof described in the specification, and do not preclude the presence or additional possibility of one or more other characteristics, numbers, steps, actions, components, parts or combinations thereof.

[0040] The terms such as first, second, etc. are only used to distinguish identifiers of the same or corresponding components, and the same or corresponding components are not limited by the terms first, second, etc.

[0041] Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present application are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and when the embodiments are described with reference to the accompanying drawings, the same reference numerals are assigned to the same or corresponding components and repeated description thereof is omitted.

[0042] Figure 1 FIG. 1 is a diagram for schematically illustrating a blood glucose measurement system according to an embodiment.

[0043] Referring to Figure 1 A blood glucose measurement system 10 (hereinafter, referred to as "system") according to an embodiment can include a sensor transmitter 100 and a terminal 200.

[0044] The sensor transmitter 100 is attached to a human body B, and when the sensor transmitter 100 is attached to the human body B, one end of a sensor of the sensor transmitter 100 is inserted into the skin, so that the body fluid of the human body can be periodically extracted to measure blood glucose.

[0045] The terminal 200 can receive a biological signal including blood glucose information from the sensor transmitter 100 and generate blood glucose information from the biological signal to output to a user. The terminal 200 can include various devices such as a smart phone, a mobile phone, a tablet, a desktop, a laptop, etc., but is not limited thereto, and has a communication interface capable of communicating with the sensor transmitter 100, and can include a device in which a program or an application can be installed.

[0046] The sensor transmitter 100 can transmit a biological signal periodically measured according to a request of the terminal 200 or each set time point to the terminal 200. In order to perform data communication between the sensor transmitter 100 and the terminal 200, the sensor transmitter 100 and the terminal 200 can be connected to each other in a wired manner through a USB cable or the like, or can be wirelessly connected in a manner such as infrared communication, NFC communication, Bluetooth, etc.

[0047] Figure 2is a diagram for explaining a process of attaching a sensor transmitter to a human body using an applicator according to an embodiment. Figure 3 is a diagram for explaining a process of attaching a sensor transmitter to a human body using an applicator according to an embodiment.

[0048] Referring to Figure 2 and Figure 3 , the applicator 300 according to an embodiment has a sensor transmitter 100 inside, and attaches the sensor transmitter 100 to a specific body part of a user by discharging the sensor transmitter 100 to the outside through the user's operation. The applicator 300 is formed in a shape with one side open, and the sensor transmitter 100 is disposed in the applicator 300 through the open side of the applicator 300.

[0049] When the sensor transmitter 100 is attached to a part of the body using the applicator 300, in order to insert one end of a sensor provided in the sensor transmitter 100 into the skin, the applicator 300 can include a needle (not shown) formed in a manner of wrapping the one end of the sensor inside, a first elastic member (not shown) to push the needle and the one end of the sensor together toward the skin, and a second elastic member (not shown) to extract only the needle. Through this structure of the applicator 300, the needle and the one end of the sensor can be simultaneously inserted into the skin by the compression release of the first elastic member (not shown) disposed in a compressed state inside the applicator 300. When the one end of the sensor is inserted into the skin, only the needle is extracted by the compression release of the second elastic member (not shown) which is compressed. The user can safely and easily attach the sensor transmitter 100 to the skin through the applicator 300.

[0050] Looking in detail at the process of attaching the applicator 300 to the human body B, the open side of the applicator 300 is tightly attached to the skin S of a specific part of the human body B in a state of separating a protective cover (not shown). In this way, when the applicator 300 is operated in a state of being tightly attached to the skin S of the human body B, the sensor transmitter 100 can be attached to the skin S while being ejected from the applicator 300. Here, one end of the sensor 101 is exposed from the sensor transmitter 100 and disposed at a lower portion of the sensor transmitter 100, and the one end of the sensor 101 can be partially inserted into the skin S by having the needle in the applicator 300. Therefore, the sensor transmitter 100 can be attached to the skin S in a state in which the one end of the sensor 101 is inserted into the skin S.

[0051] Here, an adhesive tape can be provided on a contact surface of the sensor transmitter 100 with the human body B, so that the sensor transmitter 100 can be fixedly attached to the skin S of the human body B. Therefore, when the applicator 300 is spaced apart from the skin S of the human body B, the sensor transmitter 100 can be in a state of being fixedly attached to the skin S of the human body B by the adhesive tape.

[0052] After that, when the sensor transmitter 100 is powered on, the sensor transmitter 100 communicates with the terminal, and the sensor transmitter 100 can transmit a biosignal including blood glucose information to the terminal. The sensor transmitter 100 can not only generate blood glucose information, but also generate various biosignals. Hereinafter, blood glucose information, which is an example of a biosignal, is described.

[0053] Figure 4 is a configuration diagram of a sensor transmitter according to an embodiment.

[0054] Referring to Figure 4 , the sensor transmitter 100 according to an embodiment can include a sensor module 110, a sensor communication part 120, a sensor control part 130, and a sensor storage part 140.

[0055] The sensor module 110 can include at least one sensor that is inserted into a human body to sense a biological amount. The at least one sensor can measure a biological amount and generate a biosignal. The biosignal, as an analog signal, can include a current value.

[0056] The sensor communication part 120 can exchange data or information with a terminal. For example, the sensor communication part 120 can transmit a biosignal received from the sensor module 110 or data (e.g., biosignals) stored in the sensor storage part 140 to the terminal.

[0057] The sensor control part 130 includes the sensor module 110, the sensor storage part 140, and the sensor communication part 120, and thus can control the overall configuration of the sensor transmitter 100. For example, the sensor control part 130 can receive a control signal from the terminal and thereby control the configuration of the sensor transmitter 100. In addition, the sensor control part 130 can process a biosignal. For example, the sensor control part 130 can convert a biosignal into an analog or digital form or perform a process for removing noise as needed.

[0058] The sensor storage part 140 can store data or information. For example, the sensor storage part 140 can store data (e.g., a current value of a biosignal or data in a digital form thereof) about a biological amount measured by the sensor module 110 or data (e.g., an instruction value of a control signal) received from the terminal.

[0059] Figure 5 is a configuration diagram of a terminal according to an embodiment.

[0060] Referring to Figure 5 , the terminal 200 according to an embodiment can include an output part 210, a communication part 220, a control part 230, and a storage part 240.

[0061] The output unit 210 can output biological information (e.g., blood sugar information) included in the biological signal so that the user can confirm it. For example, the output unit 210 can display the blood sugar information as a numerical value (value) or further as a graph processed from the numerical value. In addition, the output unit 210 can output a communication state between the sensor transmitter 100 and the terminal 200. The communication state can be differently represented in a visual manner according to the type of the state. For example, a state in which communication is smooth (i.e., a case in which a communication connection is established and biological information can be received) can be displayed in blue, a state in which the terminal cannot receive biological information for a certain period (i.e., a case in which a communication connection is established but biological information cannot be received) can be displayed in red, and a state in which a communication module is turned off or cannot be connected with the sensor (i.e., a case in which a communication connection is not established) can be displayed in gray.

[0062] The communication unit 220 can communicate with and exchange data or information with the sensor communication unit of the sensor transmitter. For example, the communication unit 220 can receive a biological signal including information (biological information) about a biological amount measured by the sensor transmitter. Here, the communication unit 220 can receive a biological signal processed once from the sensor transmitter. Preferably, the processed biological signal can include discrete data (non-continuous data) in which a current value as an analog signal is converted into a number. When the current value is sampled every cycle, the digital discrete data can be generated. Alternatively, the communication unit 220 can transmit a control signal for controlling the sensor transmitter to the sensor transmitter.

[0063] In addition, the communication unit 220 can internally include a communication module 221. The communication module 221 can be a component that performs an independent function together with other components of the communication unit 220. The communication module 221 can include a component for performing a specific communication interface. For example, the terminal 200 can communicate with the sensor transmitter 100 through a USB, infrared, NFC, Bluetooth, or the like, and the communication module 221 can be a functional component dedicated to each communication interface. Preferably, the communication module 221 can be a Bluetooth module for supporting Bluetooth communication. The communication unit 220 basically includes an antenna and a DSP (digital signal processor) or the like required for communication, and the communication module 221 can support Bluetooth communication together with these.

[0064] The storage unit 240 can store data or information. For example, the storage unit 240 can store data (e.g., biological information) received from the sensor transmitter. Here, the biological information includes blood sugar information and can include digital data indicating a current value. Alternatively, the storage unit 240 can store data input by the user or environment setting data for setting an operation environment of the terminal.

[0065] The control section 230 can include at least one processor that executes a program for displaying a communication state in the blood glucose measurement system and at least one memory in which the program is stored. The memory and the processor included in the control section 230 can be integrated into one chip or can be physically separated.

[0066] To store various programs, data, and / or information, the memory can be implemented as a nonvolatile storage device such as a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable ROM), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable ROM), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable ROM), and a flash memory or a volatile storage device such as a RAM (Random Access Memory).

[0067] Also, the control section 230 can generate a blood glucose value as numerized blood glucose information from biological information. To this end, the control section 230 can obtain biological information in the form of a current value from the sensor transmitter and pre-process and / or process the current value of the biological information. The control section 230 can first calculate a sensitivity and generate a blood glucose value according to the sensitivity.

[0068] Figure 6 FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a first example in which biological information is generated from a sensor transmitter according to an embodiment.

[0069] Referring to FIG. 1, Figure 6 Biological information can be generated from a sensor transmitter according to an embodiment. Specifically, the sensor transmitter can obtain an analog (continuous) biological signal representing a current value at a predetermined interval and can generate digital (discontinuous) data representing the current value by sampling the biological signal. The generated data is processed in the sensor transmitter and biological information can be generated. Hereinafter, it will be described that the biological information is generated from the sensor transmitter by generating and processing digital data from the biological signal, but is not limited thereto, and according to an embodiment, the processing can be performed in part or all in the sensor transmitter.

[0070] For example, the sensor transmitter can obtain a biological signal in an analog form (e.g., a current value), measure the biological signal every 10 seconds, and process the measured biological signal to generate a single first data. Specifically, the sensor transmitter can measure (sample) the biological signal 30 times every 10 seconds, and generate data in a digital form. The sensor transmitter can remove upper and lower data from among the 30 data, calculate an average (A1) of the remaining data, and determine the average (A1) as the single first data. As the first data of the thus calculated average (A1) data, six averages (A1~A6), i.e., 6 first data, can be generated per 1 minute in units of 10 seconds, as illustrated in the drawing.

[0071] Also, the sensor transmitter can process 30 first data every 300 seconds (5 minutes).

[0072] The sensor transmitter can generate an average (B1) again using the 6 first data (averages (A1~A6)). In generating the average (B1), the terminal can also remove upper and lower data from among the six averages (A1~A6), and generate an average (B1) of the remaining data. As the second data of the thus calculated average (B1) data, one average (B1), i.e., 1 second data, can be generated per 1 minute in units of 1 minute, as illustrated in the drawing.

[0073] Figure 7 FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a first example of generating biological information according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0074] Referring to Figure 7 The sensor transmitter according to an embodiment of the present disclosure can generate biological information by processing the second data. In the above example, the sensor transmitter can obtain 5 second data (B1) in units of 1 minute from 6 first data in units of 10 seconds. Also, the sensor transmitter can generate an average (C1) using the 5 second data (averages (B1~B5)). In generating the average (C1), the terminal can also remove upper and lower data from among the 5 averages (B1~B5), and generate an average (C1) of the remaining data. As the third data of the thus calculated average (C1) data, one average (C1), i.e., 1 third data, can be generated per 5 minutes in units of 5 minutes, as illustrated in the drawing.

[0075] Here, the terminal can sequentially generate second data (B1~B5) during a biological information generation period (Tp), and generate one third data (C1) during a blood glucose value biological information generation period (Ts). In the blood glucose value biological information generation period (Ts), the blood glucose value is calculated from the third data (C1) by the sensitivity, and in the biological information generation period (Tp), the second data (B1~B5) which is the basis of the third data (C1) can be generated. In the above example, the biological information generation period (Tp) can correspond to 1 minute, and the blood glucose value biological information generation period (Ts) can correspond to 5 minutes.

[0076] As described above, the third data generated in units of 5 minutes can go through a process of removing noise by a filter. The filtered third data is converted into biological information including a blood glucose value by the sensitivity, and such biological information can be output to the user.

[0077] Figure 8 is a flowchart for explaining a method of transmitting and receiving biological information between a sensor transmitter and a terminal according to an embodiment.

[0078] Referring to Figure 8 , the sensor transmitter 100 and the terminal 200 according to an embodiment can establish a communication connection in order to transmit and receive data including biological information. After establishing the communication connection, data can be transmitted and received. The sensor transmitter 100 and the terminal 200 can be connected to each other through wired or wireless communication, and can establish a communication connection through USB communication, infrared communication, Bluetooth communication, etc.

[0079] In detail, the sensor transmitter 100 and the terminal 200 can differently transmit and receive according to a case when communication is disconnected and a new communication connection is established (a case when an initial communication connection is established) and a case when data is only transmitted and received after the initial communication connection is established. First, when the sensor transmitter 100 and the terminal 200 establish a new communication connection in a state when communication is disconnected, the sensor transmitter 100 can advertise to the terminal (step S801). The sensor transmitter 100 can generate a specific signal for the advertisement and can transmit the advertisement signal to the terminal. Alternatively, the sensor transmitter 100 can advertise by periodically transmitting an advertisement message to the terminal 200. The process of transmitting the advertisement signal or the advertisement message can be referred to as advertisement. The terminal 200 can receive the advertisement signal or the advertisement message and authenticate with the sensor transmitter 100 (step S803). For example, the sensor transmitter 100 and the terminal 200 can verify whether they are valid devices through a hash value. Also, the sensor transmitter 100 and the terminal 200 can establish a communication connection (step S805). The communication connection is a state in which data can be immediately transmitted and received without an additional initial communication process such as authentication, and the sensor transmitter 100 and the terminal 200 can transmit and receive data at any time in response to the advertisement in the process of establishing the communication connection. In order to obtain data including biological information (for example, 30 first data), the terminal 200 can transmit an information request signal or an information request message to the sensor transmitter 100 (step S807). The sensor transmitter 100 that receives the information request signal or the information request message can transmit data including biological information (for example, 30 first data) to the terminal 200 in response thereto (step S809).

[0080] Once the initial communication connection is established, data can be transmitted and received in a state when the communication connection is established without an additional authentication process. The sensor transmitter 100 can repeatedly advertise to the terminal 200 in a subsequent active section (step S811). The repeated advertisement can be performed by periodically or non-periodically transmitting an advertisement signal or an advertisement message to the terminal 200.

[0081] The terminal 200 can transmit an information request message requesting data to the sensor transmitter 100 in response to the advertisement (step S813). The sensor transmitter 100 can transmit data in response to the information request signal or the information request message (step S815).

[0082] Here, the terminal 200 receives data from the sensor transmitter 100 at any time, but only in the case where the sensor transmitter 100 performs advertising, the terminal 200 can receive data in response to the advertising. The sensor transmitter 100 can periodically or aperiodically send the advertising signal or advertising message to the terminal 200, from which the terminal 200 can request and receive data. In addition, the sensor transmitter 100 does not continuously send the advertising signal or advertising message, but only in the active mode, i.e. during the wake-up period. Therefore, the data transmission and reception between the sensor transmitter 100 and the terminal 200 can only be performed during the active mode period (Tact). The sensor transmitter 100 can be in a standby state without sending any data during the inactive mode, i.e. the period other than the active mode.

[0083] Figure 9 is a diagram for explaining an example of a terminal displaying a communication state according to an embodiment.

[0084] Referring to Figure 9 An example of a terminal displaying a communication state according to an embodiment can be shown. In this example, when the communication module is off, the terminal delays displaying that the communication module has been off during a period, and can wait for displaying the off of the communication module.

[0085] Specifically, during the communication between the sensor transmitter and the terminal, the communication module can be off at the point X1. The off indicates a state in which the function of the communication module is suspended, and can be intentionally set by the user or caused by an internal error. The control part of the terminal can detect whether the communication module is off. Also, the terminal can wait for a period (T1) without immediately displaying that the communication module is off. When the period (T1) elapses, the terminal displays that the communication module is off (DISP). However, in order for the terminal to display that the communication module is off, the communication failure can need to continue for the period (T1). When the terminal receives data from the sensor transmitter during the period (T1) in any case, the original communication state (the communication module is on) can be displayed without displaying that the communication module is off.

[0086] Here, the communication failure can refer to a state in which data cannot be received due to some failure even when the communication module (e.g., a Bluetooth communication module) is turned off or turned on (e.g., when the distance between the sensor transmitter and the terminal becomes large). The former example can correspond to a case in which the communication connection between the sensor transmitter and the terminal is disconnected, and the latter example can correspond to a case in which the reception of data from the sensor transmitter to the terminal is suspended in a state in which the communication connection is established. The terminal can determine whether a communication failure occurs through the operation state of the communication module and whether data is received. Accordingly, the terminal can determine whether such a communication failure continues during a period (T1), and when the communication failure continues, the communication module can be displayed as turned off after the period (T1).

[0087] In addition, the terminal can receive biological information from the sensor transmitter in response to the advertisement transmitted by the sensor transmitter. When a communication failure occurs, even though the sensor transmitter transmits a signal or a message to the terminal for advertisement, the terminal can not receive the signal or the message. Or, even though the signal or the message reaches the terminal, the terminal can not transmit an information request message or can not receive data including biological information in correspondence to the information request message. As described above, at the time points at which the sensor transmitter performs advertisement, i.e., at the advertisement time points AD1, AD2, AD3, AD4, each terminal can not receive data from the sensor transmitter.

[0088] When no communication failure occurs, in principle, the advertisement time AD1, AD2, AD3, AD4 can include the following features. The advertisement time AD1, AD2, AD3, AD4 can have periodicity or non-periodicity. When the advertisement time AD1, AD2, AD3, AD4 has periodicity, the advertisement time AD1, AD2, AD3, AD4 can be formed at intervals of one minute. At the advertisement time AD1, AD2, AD3, AD4, the sensor transmitter can advertise to the terminal at intervals of one minute and transmit a signal or information for the advertisement to the terminal. In addition, the sensor transmitter can transmit data including biological information to the terminal at the advertisement time AD1, AD2, AD3, AD4 in addition to the advertisement. Strictly speaking, when the sensor transmitter collects data from the sensor for a certain period, the collected data can be transmitted to the terminal at any one of the advertisement time AD1, AD2, AD3, AD4. As shown in the above example, the sensor transmitter can collect and process data of 300 seconds (5 minutes) components and transmit to the terminal. The sensor transmitter can continuously collect first data in units of 10 seconds, and generate second data in units of 60 seconds (1 minute) from the first data, and generate third data in units of 300 seconds (5 minutes) from the second data. When data of 300 seconds (5 minutes) components (third data) is completed at any one of the advertisement time AD1, AD2, AD3, AD4, the sensor transmitter can transmit the data of 300 seconds (5 minutes) components to the terminal at once. For example, when the sensor transmitter has completed data of 300 seconds (5 minutes) components at the advertisement time AD1, no data can be transmitted and only the advertisement can be performed at the advertisement time AD2, AD3, AD4. If the sensor transmitter needs to complete data of 300 seconds (5 minutes) components at the advertisement time AD1, but does not complete it, it can complete data of 300 seconds (5 minutes) components at the next advertisement time AD2, AD3, or AD4 and transmit to the terminal. The advertisement time AD1, AD2, AD3, AD4 can form other advertisement times at intervals of 1 minute by repeating thereafter.

[0089] Here, the advertisement time AD1, AD2, AD3, AD4 can be named as a first advertisement time to a fourth advertisement time, respectively. Here, regardless of the advertisement time AD1, AD2, AD3, AD4, a period (T1) can be performed immediately from a point in time when the communication module is closed, and when the communication failure continues during the period (T1), the communication module can be displayed to be closed after the period (T1) elapses.

[0090] Figure 10 FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining another example in which a terminal displays a communication state according to an embodiment.

[0091] Referring to Figure 10This can be illustrated as another example of a terminal displaying communication status according to one embodiment. In the example described above, a time period (T1) can begin from time point X1 when the communication module is turned off. On the other hand, in another example, a time period (T1) begins from the first advertising time after time point X1, and the terminal only displays that the communication module is turned off after a time period (T1) has elapsed since the start of that advertising time. Therefore, the time period during which the terminal delays displaying the communication module being turned off can be longer than a time period (T1).

[0092] For example, when the communication module is turned off at time point X1, the terminal can delay the display of the communication module's shutdown until the second advertising time AD2, i.e., time period a(Ta), which is the first time point after X1, and wait in order to display it. Furthermore, the terminal can delay the display of the communication module's shutdown until a time period (T1) starting from the second advertising time AD2, and wait in order to display it. Therefore, if the communication failure persists during time period a(Ta) and time period (T1), the terminal can only display that the communication module is turned off after time period a(Ta) and time period (T1).

[0093] As described above, a time period (T1) that serves as the time interval for terminal delay display can be preset at the factory or set by the user. The user can set the start time, end time, start and end conditions, etc., of a time period (T1).

[0094] Figure 11 This is an example diagram illustrating the user interface provided by the terminal to show the communication status according to one embodiment.

[0095] Reference Figure 11 An example of a user interface implemented to display communication status in an application according to one embodiment can be shown. The control unit of the terminal executes the application, and the output unit can display the user interface implemented by the application in a visual manner. The output unit can obtain biometric information from the control unit and display it on the user interface.

[0096] The user interface may include an icon 1101 representing the communication status (e.g., Bluetooth communication connection). Icon 1101 can display the communication status differently depending on the type. For example, icon 1101 can display a blue state where communication is successful (a communication connection is established and bio-information can be received), a red state where the terminal cannot receive bio-information for a certain period (a communication connection is established but bio-information cannot be received), and a gray state where the communication module is turned off or not communicating with the sensor (no communication connection established). Therefore, when the communication module is off, icon 1101 can turn gray.

[0097] Figure 12 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for displaying communication status on a terminal according to an embodiment.

[0098] Reference Figure 12 A method for displaying the communication status of a terminal according to one embodiment can be shown. When the communication module is off, the status of the communication module is detected, a delay period is allowed for displaying that the communication module is off, and the communication module can be displayed as off after determining whether the communication failure continues.

[0099] Specifically, the terminal's control unit can execute an application program, and the output unit can display the communication status through a user interface (step S1201). As the communication status, the output unit can visualize the communication module's on / off state, the situation where no data is received when the communication module is on, and the situation where the communication module is on but not connected to the sensor transmitter, etc., in various ways.

[0100] When the communication module is turned off, the terminal's control unit can detect that the communication module is turned off (step S1203).

[0101] Furthermore, during a certain period, the terminal's control unit can delay the display indicating that the communication module is off (step S1205). The terminal's control unit can make the terminal wait during the delayed display period. Furthermore, the terminal's control unit can determine whether the communication failure continues. When the communication failure continues during a certain period, the terminal's control unit can delay the display indicating that the communication module is off during the duration of the communication failure and make the terminal wait.

[0102] When a period of time has elapsed during the communication failure, the terminal's control unit can control the output unit to modify the communication status display (step S1207). For example, the terminal's control unit can modify the icon so that the icon on the user interface displaying the communication status indicates that the communication module is off. Furthermore, the terminal's output unit can display the modified icon (step S1209).

[0103] Figure 13 This is a flowchart illustrating a method for displaying communication status on a terminal according to an embodiment.

[0104] Reference Figure 13 The following diagram illustrates in detail a method for a terminal to display a communication status according to one embodiment. To display that the communication module is off, the terminal can delay its display and wait during a delay period. During the delay period, the terminal can determine whether the communication module should be displayed as off, and can perform these determinations during the delay period. In this diagram, the determinations performed by the terminal within a time period will be emphasized.

[0105] The terminal's control unit can determine whether the communication module is off (step S1301). When it is determined that the communication module is not off, the current communication status can be displayed ("No" in step S1301 and step S1313).

[0106] When it is determined that the communication module is off, the terminal can perform a determination on whether to display the communication module being off for a certain period of time. To do this, firstly, the terminal's control unit can delay displaying the communication module being off (step S1303). The terminal's control unit can also make the terminal wait for the display of the communication module being off (step S1305). Furthermore, the terminal's control unit can perform a determination on whether to display the communication module being off (step S1307). When it is determined that the communication failure is not ongoing, the terminal can display the currently maintained communication status ("No" in step S1307 and step S1313).

[0107] When a communication failure is determined to be persistent, the terminal's control unit can control the output unit to modify the communication status display ("Yes" in step S1307 and step S1309). At this time, the communication status indicates that the communication module is off, and the terminal's output unit can output a display indicating that the communication module is off (step S1311).

[0108] Figure 14 This is a diagram illustrating a method for displaying communication status when a terminal receives an advertising message from a sensor transmitter according to an embodiment.

[0109] Reference Figure 14 This can be illustrated as a method for displaying communication status when a terminal receives biometric information from a sensor transmitter in response to an advertisement, according to one embodiment.

[0110] The terminal can periodically receive advertisements from the sensor transmitter (step S1401). The terminal requests and establishes a communication connection with the sensor transmitter via a signal or message for the advertisement, and can request biological information based on this connection (steps S1403 and S1405). The terminal can receive biological information from the sensor transmitter in response to the request (step S1407). The terminal can display a communication status indicating that data transmission is proceeding smoothly (step S1409).

[0111] The communication module is turned off, and the terminal can detect that the communication module is turned off (step S1411). The terminal can delay the display of the communication module being turned off for a period of time, starting from the time the communication module is turned off or from the advertising time after that time (step S1413). The terminal can wait for a period of time and determine whether the communication failure continues.

[0112] When a communication failure (i.e., the communication module is off or cannot receive data even if it is on) persists for a period of time, the terminal can modify the communication status display to indicate that the communication module is off (step S1415). Furthermore, the terminal can output the modified communication status display (display indicating that the communication module is off) (step S1417).

[0113] The aspects of the objects described in this specification can be described within the context of computer-executable instructions such as program modules that execute on a computer. Typically, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., which perform specific tasks or represent specific abstract data types.

[0114] Alternatively or additionally, at least some of the functions described in this specification may be performed by more than one hardware logic component. By way of example and not limitation, exemplary types of hardware logic components that may be used include field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), application-specific standard products (ASSPs), system-on-a-chip systems (SoCs), complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), etc.

[0115] On one hand, the disclosed embodiments can be implemented in the form of a recording medium storing computer-executable programs and / or instructions. The instructions can be stored in the form of program code, which, when executed by a processor, can generate program modules to perform the operations of the disclosed embodiments. The recording medium can be implemented as a computer-readable recording medium.

[0116] Computer-readable recording media include all types of recording media that store instructions that can be interpreted by a computer. Examples include ROM (read-only memory), RAM (random access memory), magnetic tape, magnetic disk, flash memory, optical data storage, etc.

[0117] The above describes one embodiment of the present invention. However, those skilled in the art can modify and alter the present invention in various ways by adding, changing, or deleting constituent elements without departing from the spirit of the present invention as described in the claims. This can also be said to be included within the scope of the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for displaying communication status in a blood glucose measurement system, wherein, include: The steps for displaying the communication status of the communication module on the terminal that sends and receives data from the sensor transmitter; When the communication module is turned off, the terminal delays the step of displaying the message that the communication module is turned off for a period of time. and When the communication module remains off during the specified time period, the steps for shutting down the communication module are displayed.

2. The method for displaying communication status in a blood glucose measurement system according to claim 1, wherein, The communication status indicates the Bluetooth communication connection between the terminal and the sensor transmitter.

3. The method for displaying communication status in a blood glucose measurement system according to claim 1, wherein, The time period is either preset or entered by the user.

4. The method for displaying communication status in a blood glucose measurement system according to claim 1, wherein, Also includes: Perform the step of determining whether to display that the communication module is turned off. The steps to disable the communication module are as follows: Based on the result of the judgment, the communication module is turned off.

5. The method for displaying communication status in a blood glucose measurement system according to claim 4, wherein, The steps for determining whether to display that the communication module is off are as follows: Based on whether the communication failure persists on the terminal during the specified time period, it is determined whether to display that the communication module is off. The steps to disable the communication module are as follows: When the communication failure persists during the specified time period, the communication module is displayed as shut down.

6. The method for displaying communication status in a blood glucose measurement system according to claim 1, wherein, The communication failures include: The communication connection between the terminal and the sensor transmitter is disconnected, or data reception from the sensor transmitter to the terminal is suspended when the communication connection is established.

7. The method for displaying communication status in a blood glucose measurement system according to claim 1, wherein, include: The terminal receives biometric information in response to an advertisement sent by the sensor transmitter. The step of delaying the display of the communication module being turned off during the aforementioned time period is as follows: Starting from an advertising moment following the time when the communication module is turned off, the display of the communication module being turned off is delayed during the time period.

8. The method for displaying communication status in a blood glucose measurement system according to claim 1, wherein, include: The terminal receives biometric information in response to an advertisement sent by the sensor transmitter. The step of delaying the display of the communication module being turned off during the aforementioned time period is as follows: Starting from the time the communication module is turned off, the display of the communication module being turned off is delayed during the time period.

Images