A hardware encryption-based off-network digital mechanical wristwatch system and a method for operating the same

Abstract

The application provides an off-network digital mechanical wristwatch system based on hardware encryption and a running method thereof, and relates to the technical fields of intelligent wearable devices, digital twins and computer graphics. The system is composed of a wristwatch body and a detachable physical encryption medium; the wristwatch is internally provided with a hardware security module, a local MCU, an independent physical rendering chip, a high-precision RTC clock and a local craft visual database, and can be independently operated completely off the mobile phone, cloud and Bluetooth network. The physical encryption medium stores an AES-256 hardware encryption digital movement data packet, which contains a complete three-dimensional movement geometric model, transmission physical parameters and underlying rendering instructions; after the medium is read by the wristwatch through a hardware interface, the data packet is decrypted by a SE security module locally and loaded to a special physical engine. The application completely gets rid of the dependence on networking, and has zero error time correction when the wristwatch is turned off and turned on; the hardware encryption system protects the IP of the digital movement, the medium can be replaced to realize the switching of multiple movements, and the wristwatch has the advantages of the visual texture of a mechanical watch and the zero error and maintenance-free advantages of a digital watch.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the fields of smart wearable devices, digital twins, and computer graphics, specifically to an offline digital mechanical wristwatch system and its operation method that supports encrypted loading of physical media, rendering based on a local physics engine, and realistic 4D visual presentation. Background Technology

[0002] Both smartwatches and traditional mechanical watches currently on the market have significant limitations:

[0003] In the realm of smartwatches, existing products generally suffer from the following problems:

[0004] First, there is an over-reliance on cloud servers and mobile devices. Currently, most smartwatches require a Bluetooth connection to a mobile phone or direct access to cloud services for watch face rendering, data synchronization, and overall functionality. Once the internet connection is lost or the mobile app's background processes are killed by the system, the watch face rendering fails or degenerates into a static image, preventing users from experiencing the full smartwatch experience. This "off-network paralysis" design severely impacts product reliability and user experience.

[0005] Secondly, the visual presentation of digital watch faces is highly homogenized. Most existing smartwatches use simple 2D animations or 3D models without physical constraints. The gears lack realistic meshing and transmission logic, and the movement of core components such as the escapement, balance wheel, and hairspring does not conform to mechanical principles, failing to provide a pure mechanical aesthetic experience.

[0006] Third, the security protection of digital watch face assets is insufficient. Currently, most smartwatch watch face resources are stored as pure software on the device or in the cloud, making them extremely vulnerable to cracking, copying, and pirated distribution. The intellectual property rights of watch face designers cannot be effectively protected, hindering the healthy development of the digital watch face business ecosystem.

[0007] Traditional mechanical watches, while possessing exquisite craftsmanship and unique mechanical aesthetics, also have inherent defects: limited by factors such as physical friction, gravity, and aging lubricating oil, they have inherent timekeeping errors (usually ±5-15 seconds per day), require regular and costly cleaning and oiling maintenance (usually every 3-5 years, which is quite expensive), and their lifespan is limited by physical wear and tear.

[0008] Currently, there is no product on the market that can simultaneously solve the above problems—maintaining the mechanical aesthetics and independent control of a mechanical watch, achieving zero-error timekeeping and lifetime maintenance-free operation, while also providing security protection for digital assets.

[0009] Therefore, those skilled in the art provide a hardware-encrypted offline digital mechanical wristwatch system and its operation method to solve the problems mentioned in the background art. Summary of the Invention

[0010] To address the shortcomings of existing technologies, this invention provides a hardware-encrypted offline digital mechanical wristwatch system and its operating method, solving the problems of existing smartwatches such as reliance on the cloud, lack of realistic mechanical physical engagement logic, susceptibility to digital asset piracy, and lack of advanced watchmaking standards in visual presentation. Through the combination of a local physics engine, hardware encryption media, and a dedicated 4D rendering algorithm, it achieves zero-error timekeeping offline, realistic gear linkage rendering, and secure loading of the digital movement.

[0011] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:

[0012] A hardware-encrypted offline digital mechanical wristwatch system and its operation method include the following steps:

[0013] Step 1: Hardware Reading and Data Loading

[0014] The watch integrates a local microcontroller (MCU) and a local physics engine rendering chip. The watch also features a hardware read interface for connecting to external physical encryption media.

[0015] The physical encryption medium is a detachable hardware carrier, and the following options are available:

[0016] The card-type medium with a built-in security chip (SE) connects to the watch body via a contact-type physical interface;

[0017] Card-type or jewelry-type media (such as watch strap buckles or pendants) with built-in NFC chips communicate with the watch body through a near-field communication interface.

[0018] Card-type or jewelry-type media with built-in RFID tags communicate with the watch body via a radio frequency identification interface.

[0019] The physical encryption medium stores a hardware-encrypted digital mechanism data packet, which contains:

[0020] 3D mechanical model data: geometric models, assembly relationships, material identification, etc. of each part of the movement;

[0021] Rendering runtime code: Program code used to drive the physics engine rendering chip to perform rendering and related calculations;

[0022] Movement parameters: physical parameters such as gear ratio, escapement frequency, and balance wheel parameters.

[0023] The local microcontroller reads the digital mechanism data packet from the physical encrypted medium through the hardware read interface, performs hardware-level decryption using the decryption key stored in the built-in hardware security module (SecureElement), and loads the decrypted data into the local storage space of the local physics engine rendering chip.

[0024] Step 2: Local Physics Engine Rendering

[0025] After the local physics engine rendering chip loads the rendering code, it renders and displays a digital twin linkage model of the mechanical mechanism based on the 3D mechanical model data. The rendering process includes the following key technologies:

[0026] a) Gear-driven linkage:

[0027] This system utilizes a "mathematical constraint binding" mechanism instead of traditional physical collision detection algorithms. It reads gear ratio parameters (including the number of teeth and meshing relationships of each gear) from the digital movement data packet. Based on the absolute timestamp of the local high-precision system clock, it calculates the absolute spatial coordinates of each pointer and moving component using trigonometric functions and angle conversion formulas. When the main drive wheel receives a time signal and generates angular displacement, the system forcibly calculates and drives the driven wheel to perform absolutely synchronized displacement using the gear ratio formula, ensuring that the gears maintain the correct meshing state at any frame rate, without clipping or delay.

[0028] The specific algorithm is as follows:

[0029] Second hand angle: θ seconds = [T mod 60] × 6° (one revolution every 60 seconds);

[0030] Minute hand angle: θmin = [Tmod3600] × 0.1° (one revolution every 3600 seconds);

[0031] Hour hand angle: θ_hour = [T_mod 43200] × (1 / 120)° (one revolution every 43200 seconds = 12 hours);

[0032] The angular displacement of each gear is automatically derived based on the transmission ratio chain: θ driven = θ driving × (Z driving or Z driven).

[0033] b) Simulation of escapement mechanism linkage:

[0034] Based on the number of teeth on the escape wheel and the oscillation frequency of the balance wheel, calculate the angular increment of the escape wheel release for each cycle. Simulate the three-stage cycle of a Swiss lever escapement:

[0035] Lock-on phase: The escape wheel teeth are locked by the escape fork jewel;

[0036] Release phase: The balance wheel impacts the pallet pin, pushing the escape fork and releasing the escape wheel teeth;

[0037] Transmission phase: The escape wheel teeth slide along the impact surface, transmitting the impulse to the balance wheel.

[0038] c) Material and surface finish rendering:

[0039] The material and surface treatment markings of each component are read from the digital movement data package, and the corresponding optical parameters are retrieved from an industry visual parameter database pre-stored in the watch's local non-volatile memory. This database contains:

[0040] Material visual parameter sub-library: reflectivity, refractive index, transparency, and chromaticity values ​​of materials such as gold, rose gold, blue steel or gunmetal gray, stainless steel, ruby, and ceramics;

[0041] Surface process visual parameter sub-library: texture period parameters and optical scattering parameters for processes such as Geneva stripes, sunburst, mirror polishing, and matte finishing.

[0042] The rendering uses a multi-light source lighting system: main light source (warm color temperature 2700K-3500K, simulating indoor dark main lighting), auxiliary light source (to supplement shadow details), backlight source (to outline the outline of the parts and highlight the edges), and dark background to highlight the metallic texture.

[0043] Step 3: Offline Time Synchronization

[0044] The system directly reads the absolute timestamp from the local high-precision system clock (RTC, real-time clock chip), instead of using the traditional "accumulation timing" logic (i.e., calculating elapsed time by accumulating time using a timer). The advantages of this approach are:

[0045] During device shutdown, the RTC chip continues to operate using a tiny coin cell battery, so no time is lost.

[0046] Upon re-wake-up, the absolute timestamp is read directly, and the current correct position of each pointer is immediately calculated, achieving zero-error time recovery.

[0047] It requires no internet connection for time synchronization and no Bluetooth connection to a mobile phone; it operates completely independently.

[0048] This invention provides a hardware-encrypted offline digital mechanical wristwatch system and its operation method. It has the following beneficial effects:

[0049] 1. The entire system runs entirely locally, without the need for Bluetooth connection to a mobile phone or access to a cloud server, giving users a sense of independent control and prestige similar to that of a traditional mechanical watch, and is no longer affected by factors such as network environment or mobile phone background policies.

[0050] 2. Employing an "absolute clock mapping" algorithm, it directly reads the absolute timestamp of the system clock for calculation, avoiding the drift accumulation problem of traditional cumulative timing. Upon device shutdown and subsequent wake-up, it instantly synchronizes to the current time without any calibration operation.

[0051] 3. The gear train motion is driven by a "mathematical constraint binding" mechanism, with all gears moving in absolute synchronization based on the transmission ratio parameters, eliminating issues such as clipping, delays, or incoordination. The three-stage cycle of the escapement mechanism and the simple harmonic oscillation of the balance wheel strictly adhere to mechanical principles.

[0052] 4. Through industry visual parameter database and multi-light source lighting rendering, the visual presentation of the digital movement reaches the level of realism recognized by professional watchmaking craftsmanship, far exceeding the visual quality of existing smartwatch dials.

[0053] 5. The digital device's data packets are stored in a physical encrypted medium and decrypted through a hardware-level security module, physically preventing the piracy of digital assets. Users need to possess the physical medium to use the corresponding digital device, forming a closed-loop business model of "hardware and digital content."

[0054] 6. The physical encryption medium is removable and replaceable. Users can collect digital movement cards of different movement models (such as ETA2892, ETA2824, self-developed GR movement, etc.) and switch between different digital twin linkage models on the watch, creating a user experience and commercial value similar to "collecting movements". Attached Figure Description

[0055] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall hardware architecture of the offline digital mechanical wristwatch system based on hardware encryption according to the present invention;

[0056] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram illustrating three hardware connection methods between the physical encryption medium and the wristwatch according to the present invention;

[0057] Figure 3 This is a complete flowchart of the hardware encryption and local decryption of the digital mechanism data packets of the present invention;

[0058] Figure 4 This is a flowchart of the synchronous calculation of the mathematical constraints on the gear transmission ratio of the present invention;

[0059] Figure 5 This is a timing diagram of the three-stage cyclic motion of the escapement mechanism of the present invention;

[0060] Figure 6 This is a schematic diagram of the layout of the multi-source lighting system of the present invention;

[0061] Figure 7 This is a schematic diagram of the hierarchical structure of the industry visual parameter database of the present invention;

[0062] Figure 8 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the complete switching process of the replaceable digital mechanism card of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0063] The present invention will now be described in further detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments. It should be understood that the specific embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the invention and not intended to limit it. Furthermore, it should be noted that, for ease of description, the accompanying drawings show only the parts relevant to the present invention, and not all of the structures.

[0064] The following is in conjunction with the appendix Figures 1-8 The technical solution of the present invention will be further illustrated through specific embodiments.

[0065] Example 1: Hardware Architecture of a Wristwatch System

[0066] The watch itself contains the following core hardware components:

[0067] 1) Main Microcontroller (MCU):

[0068] Model reference: STM32L4 series or equivalent low-power ARM Cortex-M4 MCU;

[0069] Clock speed: 80MHz or higher;

[0070] It has a built-in hardware security module (SecureElement) that stores the AES-256 decryption key;

[0071] Responsible for core functions such as system control, data decryption, and time management.

[0072] 2) Local physics engine rendering chip:

[0073] Model reference: Dedicated GPU or SoC with graphics acceleration;

[0074] Supports OpenGLES 3.0 or above;

[0075] Supports hardware acceleration for ray tracing;

[0076] Responsible for real-time rendering and animation driving of 3D models.

[0077] 3) Local display screen:

[0078] Type: AMOLED or Micro-LED;

[0079] Resolution: 400×400 pixels or higher;

[0080] Supports always-on display mode.

[0081] 4) Hardware read interface:

[0082] Option A: Contact interface (spring pin contacts) for connecting card-type physical encryption media;

[0083] Option B: NFC reader / writer, used to read NFC chip media;

[0084] Option C: RFID reader / writer, used to read RFID tag media.

[0085] 5) Real-time clock (RTC) chip:

[0086] Accuracy: ±2ppm (approximately ±1 minute / year);

[0087] Equipped with a miniature button battery (such as ML621), it continues to run even after being turned off.

[0088] 6) Local non-volatile memory:

[0089] Capacity: 32MB or more;

[0090] Visual parameter databases and system firmware for the storage industry.

[0091] Example 2: Digital access card (physical encryption medium)

[0092] The digital access card is the size of a credit card and contains:

[0093] Security chip (SE): Stores encryption keys and digital mechanism data packets.

[0094] Digital movement data package contents:

[0095] Movement model designation (e.g., "GR-G1", "ETA-2892", etc.);

[0096] 3D mechanical model data: geometric models of each part (compressed and stored in OBJ or glTF format);

[0097] Material mapping configuration: Material identifiers and surface treatment identifiers for each part;

[0098] Physical parameters: number of gear teeth, transmission ratio, escapement frequency, balance wheel parameters, etc.;

[0099] Rendering execution code: The compiled rendering engine instruction set.

[0100] Encryption method: The digital movement data packet is encrypted using AES-256. The key is stored separately in the card security chip and the watch body security module. Decryption can only be completed when both are used together.

[0101] Example 3: Specific Implementation of Offline Time Synchronization

[0102] Taking the GR-G1 movement as an example (4Hz frequency, 28800vph):

[0103] When the watch is woken up from the off state:

[0104] 1. The RTC chip reads the current absolute timestamp T (Unix timestamp format).

[0105] 2. Calculate the absolute angles of each pointer:

[0106] Second hand angle = (Tmod60) × 6°;

[0107] Minute hand angle = (Tmod3600) × 0.1°;

[0108] The hour hand angle = (Tmod43200) × (1 / 120)°.

[0109] 3. Jump directly to the calculated pointer position without the need for progressive calibration.

[0110] 4. Start the balance wheel animation: The balance wheel oscillates in a simple harmonic motion at a frequency of 4Hz with an amplitude of 270°.

[0111] 5. Activate the escapement linkage: The escape wheel rotates intermittently at a rhythm of 28800 vph.

[0112] The entire process is completed within one frame, giving the user the feeling of "instant timekeeping accuracy".

[0113] Example 4: Mathematical Constraint Drive of Gear Linkage

[0114] Taking the GR-G1 standard drivetrain as an example:

[0115] Drive chain path: mainspring box → center wheel (80T) → intermediate wheel (80T) → second wheel (48T) → escape wheel (15T).

[0116] Gear ratio calculation:

[0117] From center wheel to second wheel: 80 / 48 = 5:3;

[0118] Seconds to escape wheel: 48 / 15 = 16:5;

[0119] Total transmission ratio (from center wheel to escape wheel): (80×48) / (48×15)=80 / 15≈5.33:1.

[0120] Rendering driving logic:

[0121] 1. The second hand advances 6° per second (driven by an absolute timestamp);

[0122] 2. The second wheel and the second hand are coaxial, and the angular velocity is 1 RPM;

[0123] 3. The center wheel is connected to the second wheel via the intermediate wheel, and its angular velocity is 1 / 60 RPM;

[0124] 4. Escape wheel angular velocity = Second wheel angular velocity × (48 / 15) = 3.2 RPM;

[0125] 5. Escape fork frequency = number of escape wheel teeth × escape wheel speed = 15 × 3.2 = 48 times / minute = 4Hz.

[0126] All motion relationships are strictly constrained by mathematical formulas, with no randomness or approximate calculations, ensuring that the meshing state of the gears in the rendered image is accurate at all times.

[0127] Those skilled in the art will understand that the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments:

[0128] The digital movement data package can be expanded to include sound effect data (such as the ticking sound of the balance wheel, the chime sound, etc.).

[0129] The watch can simultaneously store multiple industry visual parameter databases for switching between different visual styles;

[0130] The form of physical encryption media is not limited to cards; it can also be integrated into personal items such as watch strap buckles, pendants, and keychains.

[0131] The rendering method of this system can be extended to digital twins of other timepieces such as pocket watches and grandfather clocks.

[0132] The following points should be noted in this article:

[0133] 1. The accompanying drawings of the embodiments disclosed herein only relate to the structures involved in the embodiments disclosed herein; other structures can be referred to in general design.

[0134] 2. Where there is no conflict, the embodiments of this disclosure and the features in the embodiments can be combined with each other to obtain new embodiments.

[0135] Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, and variations can be made to these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method for operating a hardware encryption-based off-the-grid digital mechanical wristwatch system, characterized in that, include: A local microcontroller and a local physics engine rendering chip are installed inside the watch body, and the watch body is equipped with a hardware reading interface; The hardware reading interface reads the digital mechanism data packet stored in the external physical encryption medium. The digital mechanism data packet contains hardware-encrypted three-dimensional mechanical model data and rendering and running code. With the watch body completely disconnected from external networks and external smart devices, the digital movement data packet is decrypted and loaded via the local microcontroller; The rendering code is executed by the local physics engine rendering chip, and the digital twin linkage model of the mechanical movement is rendered and displayed on the local display screen of the watch at a smooth preset frame rate in real time. During the rendering process, the motion relationship between the various parts of the gear system is synchronously driven based on a preset transmission ratio mathematical constraint to ensure that the gear meshing state maintains correct physical linkage at any frame rate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the hardware encryption-based off-grid digital mechanical wristwatch system is operated by: The process of decrypting and loading digital mechanism data packets via a local microcontroller specifically includes: The local microcontroller has a built-in hardware security module, which stores a decryption key corresponding to the physical encryption medium. The hardware security module performs hardware-level decryption of the digital mechanism data packet to obtain the decrypted three-dimensional mechanical model data and rendering code. The decrypted data is loaded into the local storage space of the local physics engine rendering chip; The motion relationships between the components of the gear system are synchronously driven based on preset transmission ratio mathematical constraints, specifically including: The gear ratio parameters, which include the number of teeth and meshing relationship of each gear, are read from the digital mechanism data package. Based on the absolute timestamp of the local high-precision system clock, the absolute spatial coordinates of each pointer and moving part are calculated using trigonometric functions and angle conversion formulas. Based on the gear ratio parameters, the angular displacement of the main drive wheel is forcibly mapped to the angular displacement of each driven wheel through the transmission ratio relationship, thereby achieving absolute synchronous motion between the gears.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the hardware encryption-based off-grid digital mechanical wristwatch system is operated by: The calculation of the absolute spatial coordinates of each pointer and moving part based on the absolute timestamp of the local high-precision system clock specifically includes: Read the absolute timestamp T of the system clock; Calculate the second hand angle: θ_second = [Tmod60] × 6°; Calculate the minute hand angle: θmin = [Tmod3600] × 0.1°; Calculate the hour hand angle: θ_hour = [T_mod43200] × (1 / 120)°; The rendering posture of the corresponding part is driven by the absolute spatial coordinates.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the hardware encryption-based off-grid digital mechanical wristwatch system is operated by: The rendering process also includes the simulation of the escapement mechanism, specifically including: Calculate the angle increment of the escape wheel each time it is released, based on the number of teeth on the escape wheel and the oscillation frequency of the balance wheel; Simulates the three-stage cyclical motion of the escapement fork between the escape wheel teeth and the balance wheel impact pin; Synchronize the motion state of the escapement mechanism to the rendered image; The rendering process also includes material rendering based on an industry visual parameter database, specifically including: Read the material and surface treatment markings of each component from the digital movement data package; The corresponding material optical parameters and surface process parameters are retrieved from the industry visual parameter database pre-installed in the watch body; Ray tracing rendering is performed on the local physical engine rendering chip based on the material's optical parameters and surface process parameters.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the hardware encryption-based off-grid digital mechanical wristwatch system is operated by: The industry visual parameter database is pre-stored in the local non-volatile memory of the watch body, including: The material visual parameter sub-library contains standardized optical parameters for at least gold, rose gold, blue steel, stainless steel, ruby, and ceramic materials; The surface process visual parameter sub-library contains at least the texture and scattering parameters for Geneva stripes, sunburst patterns, mirror polishing, and matte finishes.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the hardware encryption-based off-grid digital mechanical wristwatch system is operated by: The physical encryption medium is a detachable hardware carrier, selected from one of the following: A card-type medium with a built-in security chip connects to the watch body via a contact interface; A card-type or jewelry-type medium with a built-in NFC chip communicates with the watch body via a near-field communication interface; A card-type or jewelry-type medium with a built-in RFID tag communicates with the watch body via a radio frequency identification interface; When the watch is turned on and then woken up, it immediately synchronizes to the current time by reading the absolute timestamp of the system clock, without the need for accumulating time, thus achieving zero-error time recovery.

7. A hardware encryption based off-grid digital mechanical wristwatch system, characterized in that, include: The watch body, which integrates the following: The local microcontroller has a built-in hardware security module, which stores a decryption key. A local physics engine rendering chip is connected to the local microcontroller; A local display screen is connected to the local physics engine rendering chip; A hardware reading interface is provided on the watch body for reading external physical encryption media; The physical encryption medium internally stores a digital mechanism data packet that has been hardware-encrypted. The digital mechanism data packet contains three-dimensional mechanical model data and rendering and running code. The local microcontroller is configured to: read the digital mechanism data packet in the physical encryption medium through the hardware reading interface, decrypt it using the decryption key in the hardware security module, and load the decrypted data into the local physics engine rendering chip; The local physics engine rendering chip is configured to execute the rendering code and render and display a digital twin linkage model of the mechanical mechanism based on the three-dimensional mechanical model data, wherein the motion relationship between the parts of the gear system is synchronously driven based on a preset transmission ratio mathematical constraint.

8. The hardware encryption-based off-the-grid digital mechanical wristwatch system of claim 7, wherein, Also includes: Local non-volatile memory stores an industry visual parameter database, which includes material optical parameters and surface process parameters calibrated based on real tabulation processes; The local physics engine rendering chip is also configured to: during the rendering process, query the material and surface process parameters corresponding to each part from the industry visual parameter database and perform ray tracing rendering.

9. The hardware encryption-based off-the-grid digital mechanical wristwatch system of claim 7, wherein, The local microcontroller is also configured to: The rendering engine is also equipped with a dynamic lighting system, which can adjust the ambient light angle and highlight position in real time based on the device's attitude sensor data. When the device is powered off and then woken up, the absolute timestamp of the system clock is read directly, and the absolute spatial coordinates of each pointer and moving part are calculated by using trigonometric functions and angle conversion formulas to achieve zero-error time recovery. The physical encryption medium is a replaceable digital mechanism card, and different digital mechanism cards store digital mechanism data packets of different mechanism models. Users can switch between displaying different digital twin models of different movement types on the watch by changing different digital movement cards.

10. A computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored thereon, characterized in that, When the computer program is executed by a processor, it implements the method as described in any one of claims 1 to 6.

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