Method of outputting blood glucose data

Abstract

To provide biometric information without loss even after a communication failure.SOLUTION: An embodiment may provide a method of outputting blood glucose data, the method including: receiving biometric information in response to an advertisement transmitted by a sensor transmitter; outputting the biometric information; when a communication failure occurs, indicating a data gap during a period of the communication failure; and, if the communication failure is resolved, filling the data gap at a certain time point during a period from a time point when the communication failure is resolved to a next advertisement which arrives after the communication failure is resolved.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This embodiment relates to a technology for outputting blood glucose data in a blood glucose measurement system, and more specifically, when a communication failure occurs, to receive and output again the biological information stored in the sensor transmitter after the communication failure is resolved. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, advances in medical technology have led to the development and sale of various medical devices that can be attached to the user's body. Medical devices that can be attached to the skin of a patient with a chronic disease can be useful for monitoring biological information and providing treatment.

[0003] For example, chronic diseases such as diabetes require continuous management, and medical devices attached to the skin to measure blood glucose can be used to monitor the blood glucose levels of diabetic patients. Diabetes is characterized by the absence of noticeable symptoms in the early stages, but as the disease progresses, specific symptoms of diabetes appear, such as excessive drinking, excessive eating, excessive urination, weight loss, general fatigue, itchy skin, and slow healing of wounds on the hands and feet. As diabetes progresses, complications such as vision impairment, high blood pressure, kidney disease, stroke, periodontal disease, muscle spasms, neuralgia, and gangrene appear. Diagnosing diabetes and managing it to prevent complications requires systematic blood glucose monitoring and treatment.

[0004] Various medical device manufacturers offer a variety of blood glucose monitors for people with diabetes and those who do not have diabetes but have higher than normal levels of sugar in their blood.

[0005] There are two types of blood glucose monitors: one in which the user draws blood from the tip of a finger and measures blood glucose one time, and one in which the monitor is attached to the user's abdomen or arm and measures blood glucose continuously.

[0006] Diabetic patients generally experience alternating periods of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia, and emergency situations occur during hypoglycemia, which can lead to loss of consciousness or even death if the hypoglycemic state continues for a long period without a sugar supply. Therefore, it is extremely important for diabetics to detect hypoglycemia immediately, but blood glucose meters that measure blood glucose intermittently have limitations in their ability to accurately detect this.

[0007] Recently, to overcome these limitations, a continuous glucose monitoring system (CGMS) has been developed and is being used, which is inserted into the body and measures blood glucose levels every few minutes.To minimize the pain and discomfort felt by users when drawing blood, a continuous glucose monitoring system measures blood glucose continuously by inserting a needle-shaped transcutaneous sensor into areas such as the abdomen or arm where pain is relatively less.

[0008] The continuous blood glucose monitoring system comprises a sensor transmitter that is inserted into the user's skin to measure blood glucose inside the body and transmit the measured blood glucose level, and a terminal that outputs the transmitted blood glucose level.

[0009] Meanwhile, in a continuous blood glucose monitoring system, a sensor transmitter and a communication terminal transmit and receive blood glucose information via a wired or wireless connection, and the terminal must continuously receive data packets containing blood glucose information from the sensor transmitter. However, due to a temporary interruption in communication between the sensor transmitter and the terminal or a user's inexperience with operation, the terminal may not be able to continuously receive blood glucose information from the sensor transmitter. Alternatively, if the sensor transmitter and the terminal are too far apart to communicate with each other for a considerable period of time, the terminal may not be able to receive the user's blood glucose information during that period.

[0010] In this way, when the blood glucose information from the sensor transmitter cannot be received by the terminal, the terminal needs to notify the user that there is blood glucose information that has not been received, and receive the unreceived blood glucose information. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] In this context, one object of the present embodiment is to provide a method for representing a data gap due to a communication failure, and for receiving and outputting biometric information stored in a sensor transmitter again after the communication failure is resolved. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] In order to achieve the above object, one embodiment may provide a blood glucose data output method including the steps of receiving biological information corresponding to an advertisement transmitted by a sensor transmitter, outputting the biological information, displaying a data gap during a period of the communication failure if a communication failure occurs, and filling the data gap during a period from the time the communication failure is resolved to the next advertisement after the communication failure is resolved, when the communication failure is resolved.

[0013] In the method, the step of filling the data gap may include outputting the physiological information stored in the sensor transmitter during the communication failure to fill the data gap after the communication failure is resolved.

[0014] In the method, the step of filling the data gap may include outputting biometric information stored in the sensor transmitter during the communication failure to fill the data gap in the first advertisement after the communication failure is resolved.

[0015] The method may include a step of storing the biometric information stored in the sensor transmitter in a terminal, and the step of filling the data gap may include a step of outputting the biometric information stored in the terminal in order after the last output biometric information.

[0016] In the method, the step of displaying the data gap may include outputting the data gap while the biometric information stored in the terminal exists when the communication failure occurs.

[0017] In the method, the step of filling the data gap may include the step of re-outputting the biometric information stored in the terminal subsequent to the biometric information that was last output when the communication failure is resolved.

[0018] In the method, the step of filling the data gap may include the step of sequentially outputting biometric information stored in the terminal after the last output biometric information, and then waiting for an advertisement. [Effects of the Invention]

[0019] As described above, according to this embodiment, after the communication failure is resolved, the biometric information stored in the sensor transmitter is received and output again at a certain point within a certain period, thereby making it possible to receive the biometric information without loss and provide it to the user.

[0020] Furthermore, according to this embodiment, even if there is stored biometric information, a data gap is output immediately when a communication failure occurs, thereby making it possible to notify the user of the occurrence of the communication failure in a timely manner. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0021] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram for schematically illustrating a blood glucose measurement system according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an applicator for attaching a sensor transmitter to a human body according to an embodiment. [Figure 3] 10A to 10C are diagrams illustrating a process of attaching a sensor transmitter to a human body using an applicator according to an embodiment. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a sensor transmitter according to an embodiment. [Figure 5]FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a terminal according to an embodiment. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a first example of biological information generated by a sensor transmitter according to an embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a second example in which biological information is generated by the sensor transmitter according to an embodiment. [Figure 8] 10 is a flowchart illustrating a method for transmitting and receiving biological information between a sensor transmitter and a terminal according to an embodiment. [Figure 9] 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface provided by a terminal for outputting a data gap according to an embodiment. FIG. [Figure 10] 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating an example in which a terminal according to an embodiment outputs biological information stored in a sensor transmitter after a communication failure is resolved. [Figure 11] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating another example in which a terminal according to an embodiment outputs biological information stored in a sensor transmitter. [Figure 12] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method in which a terminal according to an embodiment receives and outputs biological information stored in a sensor transmitter. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart illustrating another example of a method in which a terminal according to an embodiment outputs biological information stored in a sensor transmitter. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0022] When describing the present invention, detailed descriptions of related publicly known functions will be omitted if it is determined that such descriptions would be obvious to a person skilled in the art and would unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention.

[0023] The terms used in this application are merely used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. The singular expressions include the plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. It should be understood that in this application, terms such as "comprise" or "have" are intended to specify the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof described herein, and do not preclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, parts, or combinations thereof.

[0024] The terms "first," "second," etc. are merely identifiers for distinguishing between identical or corresponding components, and the identical or corresponding components are not limited by the terms "first," "second," etc.

[0025] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. When describing with reference to the accompanying drawings, the same or corresponding components will be given the same drawing numbers, and duplicate descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a diagram for schematically explaining a blood glucose measurement system according to one embodiment.

[0027] Referring to FIG. 1, a blood glucose measuring system (hereinafter referred to as the “system”) 10 according to one embodiment may include a sensor transmitter 100 and a terminal 200.

[0028] The sensor transmitter 100 is attached to the human body B, and when the sensor transmitter 100 is attached to the human body B, one end of the sensor of the sensor transmitter 100 is inserted into the skin and can periodically extract body fluids from the human body to measure blood glucose.

[0029] The terminal 200 can receive a biological signal including blood glucose information from the sensor transmitter 100, generate blood glucose information from the biological signal, and output the information to a user. The terminal 200 may include various devices such as, but is not limited to, a smartphone, a mobile phone, a tablet PC, a desktop, or a laptop, and may include a device that has a communication interface capable of communicating with the sensor transmitter 100 and on which programs and applications can be installed.

[0030] The sensor transmitter 100 can transmit the measured biosignal to the terminal 200 at the request of the terminal 200 or periodically at set time intervals. To perform data communication between the sensor transmitter 100 and the terminal 200, the sensor transmitter 100 and the terminal 200 may be connected to each other by a wired connection such as a USB cable, or may be connected wirelessly by infrared communication, NFC communication, Bluetooth (registered trademark), or the like.

[0031] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an applicator for attaching a sensor transmitter to a human body according to one embodiment, and FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating the process of attaching a sensor transmitter to a human body using an applicator according to one embodiment.

[0032] 2 and 3, an applicator 300 according to one embodiment includes a sensor transmitter 100 therein, and is operated by a user to eject the sensor transmitter 100 to the outside and attach it to a specific part of the user's body. The applicator 300 is formed in a shape with one open side, and the sensor transmitter 100 is attached to the applicator 300 via the open side of the applicator 300.

[0033] When attaching the sensor transmitter 100 to a part of the body using the applicator 300, in order to insert one end of the sensor provided in the sensor transmitter 100 into the skin, the applicator 300 may include a needle (not shown) formed to surround one end of the sensor inside, a first elastic member (not shown) that pushes both the needle and one end of the sensor into the skin, and a second elastic member (not shown) that withdraws only the needle. With this configuration of the applicator 300, the needle and one end of the sensor can be inserted into the skin simultaneously by releasing the compression of the first elastic member (not shown) that is arranged in a compressed state inside the applicator 300. Once the one end of the sensor is inserted into the skin, the compressed second elastic member (not shown) is released, thereby withdrawing only the needle. A user can safely and easily attach the sensor transmitter 100 to the skin using the applicator 300.

[0034] Considering the process of attaching the applicator 300 to the human body B in detail, with the protective cap (not shown) removed, the open side of the applicator 300 is brought into close contact with the skin S of the human body B at a specific location. When the applicator 300 is operated with the applicator 300 in close contact with the skin S of the human body B in this manner, the sensor transmitter 100 is discharged from the applicator 300 and attached to the skin S. Here, one end of the sensor 101 is disposed at the bottom of the sensor transmitter 100 so as to be exposed from the sensor transmitter 100, and a portion of the one end of the sensor 101 is inserted into the skin S via a needle provided on the applicator 300. In this way, the sensor transmitter 100 can be attached to the skin S with one end of the sensor 101 inserted into the skin S.

[0035] Here, the surface of the sensor transmitter 100 that comes into contact with the human body B may be provided with adhesive tape so that the sensor transmitter 100 can be fixedly attached to the skin S of the human body B. In this way, when the applicator 300 is separated from the skin S of the human body B, the sensor transmitter 100 is fixedly attached to the skin S of the human body B by the adhesive tape.

[0036] Thereafter, when power is applied to the sensor transmitter 100, the sensor transmitter 100 communicates with the terminal and can transmit a biological signal including blood glucose information to the terminal. The sensor transmitter 100 can generate various types of biological information in addition to blood glucose information, and the following description will be given assuming that blood glucose information is measured as an example of biological information.

[0037] FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram of a sensor transmitter according to an embodiment.

[0038] Referring to FIG. 4, a sensor transmitter 100 according to an embodiment may include a sensor module 110, a sensor communication unit 120, a sensor control unit 130, and a sensor storage unit 140.

[0039] The sensor module 110 may include at least one sensor that is inserted into the human body to sense a bio-quantity. The at least one sensor can measure the bio-quantity and generate a bio-signal. The bio-signal may include a current value as an analog signal.

[0040] The sensor communication unit 120 can transmit and receive data or information to and from the terminal. For example, the sensor communication unit 120 can transmit a biological signal transmitted from the sensor module 110 or data (e.g., biological information) stored in the sensor storage unit 140 to the terminal.

[0041] The sensor control unit 130 can control the overall configuration of the sensor transmitter 100, including the sensor module 110, the sensor storage unit 140, and the sensor communication unit 120. For example, the sensor control unit 130 can receive a control signal from a terminal and control the configuration of the sensor transmitter 100 in response to the control signal. The sensor control unit 130 can also process the biosignal. For example, the sensor control unit 130 can convert the biosignal into an analog or digital form, or perform processing to remove noise as necessary.

[0042] The sensor storage unit 140 can store data or information. For example, the sensor storage unit 140 can store data on a biological quantity measured by the sensor module 110 (e.g., a current value of a biological signal or its digital data) or data received from a terminal (e.g., a command value of a control signal).

[0043] FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram of a terminal according to an embodiment.

[0044] Referring to FIG. 5, a terminal 200 according to an embodiment may include an output unit 210, a communication unit 220, a control unit 230, and a storage unit 240.

[0045] The output unit 210 can output the biological information (e.g., blood glucose information) included in the biological signal so that the user can check it. For example, the output unit 210 can display the blood glucose information as numerical values ​​(values) or even as a graph processed from the numerical values.

[0046] The communication unit 220 can communicate with the sensor communication unit of the sensor transmitter to transmit and receive data or information. For example, the communication unit 220 can receive a biosignal including information (biometric information) on a biometric quantity measured by the sensor transmitter. Here, the communication unit 220 can receive a biosignal that has been primarily processed from the sensor transmitter. Preferably, the processed biosignal may include discrete data (discontinuous data) in which a current value, which is an analog signal, is digitally converted. When the current value is sampled every cycle, 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.

[0047] The storage unit 240 can store data or information. For example, the storage unit 240 can store data (e.g., biological information) received from a sensor transmitter. Here, the biological information includes blood glucose information and may also include digital data communication indicating a current value. Alternatively, the storage unit 240 can store data input by a user or environment setting data for setting the operating environment of the terminal.

[0048] The control unit 230 may include at least one processor that executes a program for outputting data not yet received in the blood glucose measurement system, and at least one memory in which the program is stored. The memory and processor included in the control unit 230 may be integrated into a single chip or may be physically separated.

[0049] The memory may be implemented as a non-volatile memory device such as a ROM (read only memory), a PROM (programmable ROM), an EPROM (erasable programmable ROM), an EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable ROM) or a flash memory, or a volatile memory device such as a RAM (random access memory) to store various programs, data and / or information.

[0050] The control unit 230 can also generate a blood glucose level, which is blood glucose information digitized from the biological information. To this end, the control unit 230 can acquire biological information in the form of a current value from the sensor transmitter and preprocess and / or process the current value of the biological information. The control unit 230 may first calculate a sensitivity and generate a blood glucose level according to this sensitivity.

[0051] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a first example of biometric information generated by a sensor transmitter according to an embodiment.

[0052] Referring to FIG. 6, a sensor transmitter according to an embodiment can generate biological information. Specifically, the sensor transmitter can acquire an analog (continuous) biological signal indicating a current value at predetermined intervals and generate digital (discontinuous) data indicating the current value by sampling the biological signal. The generated data can be processed by the sensor transmitter to generate biological information. Hereinafter, the description will be given assuming that the sensor transmitter generates and processes digital data from the biological signal to generate biological information, but this is not limited thereto, and the processing may be performed in part or in whole by the sensor transmitter depending on the embodiment.

[0053] For example, the sensor transmitter may acquire an analog biosignal (e.g., a current value), measure the biosignal every 10 seconds, and process the measured biosignal to generate a single piece of first data. Specifically, the sensor transmitter may measure (sample) the biosignal 30 times every 10 seconds to generate digital data. The sensor transmitter may remove the highest and lowest data from the 30 pieces of data, calculate an average value A1 of the remaining data, and determine this average value A1 as the single piece of first data. The first data, which is data of the average value A1 calculated in this way, is generated every 10 seconds, and as shown in the figure, six average values ​​A1 to A6, i.e., six pieces of first data, may be generated per minute.

[0054] The sensor transmitter can also process 30 pieces of first data for 300 seconds (5 minutes). The sensor transmitter can again generate an average value B1 using the six pieces of first data (average values ​​A1 to A6). When generating the average value B1, the terminal can also remove the higher and lower data from the six average values ​​A1 to A6 and generate an average value B1 of the remaining data. The second data, which is data of the average value B1 calculated in this way, is generated in one-minute increments, and as shown in the figure, one average value B1, i.e., one piece of second data, can be generated per minute.

[0055] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a second example in which biological information is generated by a sensor transmitter according to an embodiment.

[0056] Referring to FIG. 7, in a sensor transmitter according to one embodiment, second data can be processed to generate biometric information. In the example described above, the sensor transmitter can obtain five second data B1 in one-minute increments from six first data in ten-second increments. The sensor transmitter can also generate an average value C1 using the five second data (average values ​​B1 to B5). When generating the average value C1, the terminal can also remove the higher and lower data from the five average values ​​B1 to B5 and generate an average value C1 of the remaining data. The third data, which is data of the average value C1 calculated in this way, is generated in five-minute increments, and one average value C1, i.e., one piece of third data, can be generated every five minutes as shown in the figure.

[0057] Here, the terminal generates second data B1 to B5 in order during the blood glucose level biological information generation cycle Tp, and can generate one piece of third data C1 during the blood glucose level biological information generation cycle Ts. During the blood glucose level biological information generation cycle Ts, the blood glucose level is calculated from the third data C1 through sensitivity, and during the biological information generation cycle Tp, the terminal can generate second data B1 to B5 that form the basis of the third data C1. In the above example, the biological information generation cycle Tp corresponds to 1 minute, and the blood glucose level biological information generation cycle Ts corresponds to 5 minutes.

[0058] The third data generated every 5 minutes can be filtered to remove noise, and the filtered third data can be converted into biometric information including blood glucose levels by applying sensitivity, and the biometric information can be output to the user.

[0059] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a method for transmitting and receiving biological information between a sensor transmitter and a terminal according to an embodiment.

[0060] 8, the sensor transmitter 100 and the terminal 200 according to an embodiment may be connected to each other for communication to transmit and receive data including biometric information. After the communication connection is established, data can be transmitted and received. The sensor transmitter 100 and the terminal 200 may be connected to each other via wired or wireless communication, and may be connected to each other via USB communication, infrared communication, Bluetooth communication, or the like.

[0061] Specifically, the sensor transmitter 100 and the terminal 200 may transmit and receive data differently depending on whether a new communication connection is established after communication is interrupted (initial communication connection) or whether only data is transmitted and received after the initial communication connection. First, when the sensor transmitter 100 and the terminal 200 establish a new communication connection in a communication interrupted state, the sensor transmitter 100 may advertise to the terminal (step S801). The sensor transmitter 100 may generate a certain signal for advertising and transmit such advertising signal to the terminal. Alternatively, the sensor transmitter 100 may advertise by periodically transmitting an advertising message to the terminal 200. The process of transmitting such advertising signal or advertising message may be called advertisement. The terminal 200 may receive the advertising signal or advertising message and perform authentication with the sensor transmitter 100 (step S803). For example, the sensor transmitter 100 and the terminal 200 may authenticate that they are valid devices through a hash value. Furthermore, the sensor transmitter 100 and the terminal 200 can establish a communication connection (step S805). A communication connection is a state in which data can be sent and received immediately without going through an initial communication process such as authentication, and the sensor transmitter 100 and the terminal 200 can send and receive data at any time in response to an advertisement while the communication connection is established. The terminal 200 can send an information request signal or an information request message to the sensor transmitter 100 to obtain data including biometric information (e.g., 30 first data items) (step S807). In response to receiving the information request signal or the information request message, the sensor transmitter 100 can send data including biometric information (e.g., 30 first data items) to the terminal 200 (step S809).

[0062] Once the initial communication is established, data can be transmitted and received in the established communication connection state without going through a separate authentication process. The sensor transmitter 100 can repeatedly advertise to the terminal 200 in the next operation period (step S811). The repeated advertisement can be performed by periodically or aperiodically transmitting an advertisement signal or an advertisement message to the terminal 200.

[0063] The terminal 200 may transmit an information request message requesting data transmission in response to the advertisement to the sensor transmitter 100 (step S813). The sensor transmitter 100 may transmit data in response to the information request signal or the information request message (step S815).

[0064] Here, the terminal 200 may receive data from the sensor transmitter 100 at any time, and may receive data in response to the advertisement only if the sensor transmitter 100 advertises. The sensor transmitter 100 may transmit this advertisement signal or advertisement message to the terminal 200 periodically or aperiodically, allowing the terminal 200 to request and receive data accordingly. Furthermore, the sensor transmitter 100 may transmit the advertisement signal or advertisement message only in an active mode, i.e., while awake, rather than continuously. Therefore, data transmission and reception between the sensor transmitter 100 and the terminal 200 may also be performed only during this active mode period Tact. The sensor transmitter 100 may wait without transmitting any data during an inactive mode, i.e., a period when not in an active mode.

[0065] Meanwhile, the terminal 200 can determine whether or not there is unreceived data (unreceived biometric information) based on the identification character assigned to the biometric information. Since an identification character is assigned to data (or a data packet) including biometric information, the terminal 200 can determine whether or not data has been received from the sensor transmitter 100 based on this identification character. For example, the biometric information received from the sensor transmitter 100 may be stored in a storage unit of the terminal 200 and output sequentially. An identification character is assigned to the biometric information by the sensor transmitter 100, and this identification character may be a serial number assigned according to a procedure in which the biometric information is generated by the sensor transmitter 100. The terminal 200 can determine the total number of pieces of biometric information received by the terminal 200 based on the last identification character of the stored biometric information. The sensor transmitter 100 can also calculate the total number of pieces of biometric information to be transmitted to the terminal 200 based on the last identification character of the stored biometric information. The sensor transmitter 100 can continuously generate biometric information and assign identification characters to the biometric information, regardless of the communication connection with the terminal 200. When the sensor transmitter 100 starts communication with the terminal 200, it can sequentially transmit to the terminal 200 the biometric information from the last identification character of the biometric information transmitted to the terminal 200 onwards. The terminal 200 can terminate communication with the sensor transmitter 100 when it receives the entire biometric information from the sensor transmitter or when the active mode period Tact during which communication is possible ends.

[0066] FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a user interface provided by a terminal for outputting a data gap according to an embodiment.

[0067] 9 illustrates an example of a user interface implemented by a terminal for outputting a data gap according to an embodiment. A control unit of the terminal may execute an application, and an output unit may visually display a user interface implemented by the application. The output unit may acquire biometric information from the control unit and display the biometric information on the user interface.

[0068] The user interface may include icons that include biometric information and convenient functions for providing the biometric information. For example, the icons may indicate a communication status (e.g., Bluetooth communication connection). For example, the icon may be blue to indicate a smooth communication status (when a communication connection is established and biometric information is also received), red to indicate a status in which the terminal is unable to receive biometric information for a certain period of time (when a communication connection is established but biometric information is not received), and gray to indicate a status in which the communication module is turned off or is not connected to the sensor (when a communication connection is not established). Thus, when the communication module is turned off, the icon turns gray.

[0069] The user interface may also include a trend 901 to display the biological information. The terminal receives and outputs the biological information from the sensor transmitter at regular intervals, and the biological information is output at each interval to form a kind of trend, i.e., trend 901. The trend may have a shape similar to a graph. The trend 901 may be represented over a range consisting of maximum and minimum blood glucose values. If the terminal does not receive data (biological information) due to a communication failure, the data (biological information) may not be output during that period. A blank area (data gap R) where the data (biological information) that is not output may appear in the trend 901. The data gap R may represent an absence of biological information where the terminal is unable to receive and / or output the biological information. When the communication failure is resolved, the terminal begins receiving data from the sensor transmitter, and the biological information is output again, thereby filling the data gap R. Even if the sensor transmitter is unable to transmit biological information to the terminal, 12 hours' worth of biological information can be stored. Therefore, if a data gap R is formed within 12 hours, the terminal can receive the biometric information that could not be received during the communication failure and fill the data gap R.

[0070] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example in which a terminal according to an embodiment outputs biological information stored in a sensor transmitter after a communication failure is resolved.

[0071] 10 illustrates an example in which a terminal according to an embodiment outputs biometric information stored in a sensor transmitter after a communication failure is resolved. In this example, when a communication failure occurs, the terminal outputs a data gap representing a space where no biometric information is output. When the communication failure is resolved, the terminal can receive and output the biometric information stored in the sensor transmitter again.

[0072] Specifically, a communication failure may occur at point X1 during communication between the sensor transmitter and the terminal. Here, the communication failure may refer to a state in which data cannot be received due to some kind of failure (e.g., when the distance between the sensor transmitter and the terminal increases) even if the communication module (e.g., a Bluetooth communication module) is turned off or on. The former example corresponds to a case in which the communication connection between the sensor transmitter and the terminal is disconnected, and the latter example corresponds to a case in which data reception by the terminal from the sensor transmitter is interrupted even when the communication connection is established. The terminal can determine whether or not there is a communication failure based on the operating state of the communication module and whether or not there is data reception. If the terminal does not receive data for a certain period of time, the terminal can output a data gap.

[0073] In addition, the terminal can receive biometric information from the sensor transmitter in response to an advertisement transmitted by the sensor transmitter. If a communication failure occurs, even if the sensor transmitter transmits a signal or message for advertisement to the terminal, the terminal may not receive the signal or message. Alternatively, even if the signal or message reaches the terminal, the terminal may not be able to transmit an information request message or may not be able to receive data including biometric information in response to the information request message. As described above, at the time when the sensor transmitter performs advertisement, i.e., at advertisement timings AD1, AD2, and AD3, each terminal may not be able to receive data from the sensor transmitter.

[0074] In principle, if no communication failure occurs, the advertisement timings AD1, AD2, and AD3 may have the following characteristics. The advertisement timings AD1, AD2, and AD3 may be periodic or aperiodic. If the advertisement timings AD1, AD2, and AD3 are periodic, they may be formed at one-minute intervals. At the advertisement timings AD1, AD2, and AD3, i.e., at one-minute intervals, the sensor transmitter may advertise to the terminal and transmit a signal or message for this advertisement to the terminal. In addition to the advertisement, the sensor transmitter may transmit data containing biometric information to the terminal at the advertisement timings AD1, AD2, and AD3. Strictly speaking, if the sensor transmitter collects data from the sensor for a certain period of time, it may transmit the collected data to the terminal at any of the advertisement timings AD1, AD2, and AD3. As in the above example, the sensor transmitter may collect and process data for 300 seconds (5 minutes) and transmit it to the terminal. The sensor transmitter continuously collects first data in 10-second intervals, generates second data in 60-second (1-minute) intervals from the first data, and generates third data in 300-second (5-minute) intervals from the second data. When 300 seconds (5 minutes) of data (third data) is completed at any one of advertisement timings AD1, AD2, and AD3, the sensor transmitter can transmit the 300 seconds (5 minutes) of data to the terminal all at once. For example, if the sensor transmitter has already completed 300 seconds (5 minutes) of data at advertisement timing AD1, it can perform advertising only without transmitting data at advertisement timings AD2 and AD3. If the sensor transmitter was required to complete 300 seconds (5 minutes) of data at advertisement timing AD1 but was unable to do so, it can complete and transmit the 300 seconds (5 minutes) of data by the next advertisement timing AD2 or AD3. Advertisement timings AD1, AD2, and AD3 may be repeated, and other advertisement timings may be formed at 1-minute intervals thereafter. Here, the advertisement timings AD1, AD2, and AD3 may be referred to as the first to third advertisement timings, respectively.

[0075] After that, when the communication failure is resolved, the terminal can receive and output the biometric information stored in the sensor transmitter to fill the data gap at some point during the period (shaded area) from the time the communication failure is resolved to the next advertisement timing after the communication failure is resolved. During the first period T1, the terminal can receive and output the biometric information stored in the sensor transmitter at any time. Preferably, in this example, the terminal can receive and output the biometric information stored in the sensor transmitter immediately after the communication failure is resolved (at time X2).

[0076] Here, when 300 seconds (5 minutes) of data is prepared in the sensor transmitter, the terminal can receive data (biometric information) at advertisement timings AD1, AD2, and AD3. Therefore, the terminal can wait to receive the biometric information stored in the sensor transmitter until the first advertisement timing (second advertisement timing AD2) after the communication failure is resolved. If there is stored biometric information that has not yet been output to the terminal, it may output this information first and then wait. In this example, the terminal has been described as receiving and outputting the biometric information stored in the sensor transmitter at time X2, when the communication failure is resolved. However, even if the biometric information stored in the sensor transmitter is output at a time other than the second advertisement timing AD2 during the first period T1, the terminal can similarly wait to receive the biometric information stored in the sensor transmitter until the second advertisement timing AD2.

[0077] FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating another example in which a terminal according to an embodiment outputs biological information stored in a sensor transmitter.

[0078] 11 shows another example in which a terminal according to an embodiment outputs biometric information stored in a sensor transmitter. Unlike the embodiment, in this example, when a communication failure is resolved, the terminal does not immediately output the biometric information stored in the sensor transmitter (from time X2), but can receive and output the biometric information stored in the sensor transmitter at the first advertisement timing thereafter (from time X3 or the second advertisement timing AD2).

[0079] Specifically, a communication failure may occur at time X1 during communication between the sensor transmitter and the terminal. If the terminal does not receive data for a certain period of time, the terminal may output a data gap indicating the presence of biometric information stored in the sensor transmitter. After the communication failure is resolved, the terminal may output the biometric information stored in the sensor transmitter to fill the data gap at some point during the period from the time the communication failure is resolved to the next advertisement timing after the communication failure is resolved (shaded area). During the first period T1, the terminal may receive and output the biometric information stored in the sensor transmitter at any time. Preferably, in this example, the terminal may again receive and output the biometric information stored in the sensor transmitter at the next advertisement timing (second advertisement timing AD2) after the communication failure is resolved.

[0080] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a method in which a terminal according to an embodiment receives and outputs biological information stored in a sensor transmitter.

[0081] Referring to FIG. 12, an example of a method for a terminal to receive and output biometric information stored in a sensor transmitter according to an embodiment is shown.

[0082] The control unit of the terminal can receive biometric information from the sensor transmitter via the communication unit in response to the advertisement (step S1201). The output unit of the terminal can visually output this biometric information to the user via the user interface (step S1203).

[0083] If a communication failure occurs, the control unit of the terminal can detect and determine the communication failure via the communication unit (step S1205). If it is determined that a communication failure does not occur, the control unit of the terminal can control the communication unit and the output unit to continuously receive and output the biological information (NO in step S1205 and step S1203).

[0084] If it is determined that a communication failure has occurred, the control unit of the terminal can control the output unit to output a data gap representing a blank space in the biometric information during the period when the biometric information cannot be received (YES in step S1205 and step S1207).

[0085] If the communication failure is resolved during the transmission, the control unit of the terminal can detect and determine whether the communication failure has been resolved via the communication unit (step S1209). If it is determined that the communication failure has not been resolved, the control unit of the terminal can control the output unit to continuously output data gaps (NO in step S1209 and step S1207).

[0086] When it is determined that the communication failure has been resolved, the terminal can receive and output, via the output unit, the biometric information stored in the sensor transmitter to fill the data gap at some point during the period from the time the communication failure is resolved to the next advertising timing after the communication failure is resolved (YES in step S1209 and step S1211).

[0087] Specifically, the terminal can go through the following process to receive biometric information stored in the sensor transmitter from the sensor transmitter. The sensor transmitter can basically generate and internally store 12 hours' worth of biometric information. During a communication failure, the sensor transmitter can store the biometric information without being able to transmit it to the terminal. Thus, unreceived biometric information (unreceived data) can refer to biometric information that the terminal was unable to transmit during the communication failure.

[0088] When the communication failure is resolved, the sensor transmitter can transmit the biometric information that could not be transmitted during the communication failure to the terminal. The terminal can resume data transmission and reception with the sensor transmitter and request the sensor transmitter to transmit the biometric information following the biometric information last received before the communication failure. The terminal can transmit to the sensor transmitter an identification number (e.g., a serial number or sequence number assigned according to a generated procedure) of the biometric information last received before the communication failure. The sensor transmitter can transmit the biometric information assigned the next serial number or sequence number to the terminal. The terminal can receive the biometric information assigned the next serial number or sequence number. Here, even if the sensor transmitter cannot transmit biometric information to the terminal due to a communication failure, it can generate and store 12 hours' worth of biometric information and transmit this stored biometric information to the terminal as unreceived data. If the communication failure exceeds 12 hours, the terminal can transmit the latest biometric information, excluding the oldest biometric information. Therefore, the terminal cannot receive the excluded biometric information, which can be displayed as a data gap.

[0089] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating another example of a method in which a terminal according to an embodiment outputs biological information stored in a sensor transmitter.

[0090] 13 shows another example of a method in which a terminal according to an embodiment outputs biometric information stored in a sensor transmitter. Unlike the example described above, the terminal in this example does not immediately output the biometric information stored in the sensor transmitter upon receiving it from the sensor transmitter, but rather first stores the biometric information and then sequentially outputs the stored biometric information. In this case, if a communication failure occurs and is resolved, the terminal may output a data gap and then receive and output the biometric information stored in the sensor transmitter again.

[0091] Specifically, the control unit of the terminal can receive biometric information from the sensor transmitter via the communication unit in response to the advertisement (step S1301). The control unit of the terminal can store this biometric information in an internal storage unit (step S1303). The control unit of the terminal can sequentially read out the stored biometric information and cause the output unit to visually output the stored biometric information to the user via a user interface (step S1305). Here, the stored biometric information can be output sequentially using assigned identification characters. The identification characters can indicate a time sequence, including a serial number or sequence number assigned according to a generation procedure in the sensor transmitter.

[0092] If a communication failure occurs, the control unit of the terminal can detect and determine the communication failure via the communication unit (step S1307). If it is determined that a communication failure does not occur, the control unit of the terminal can control the storage unit to continuously receive and store the biometric information (NO in step S1307 and step S1305).

[0093] If it is determined that a communication failure has occurred, the terminal cannot receive data, and the control unit of the terminal can suspend output of the biometric information stored in the terminal during the period when the biometric information cannot be received (YES in step S1307 and step S1309). Also, the control unit of the terminal can control the output unit to output a data gap during the period of the communication failure (step S1311).

[0094] If the communication failure is resolved during the transmission, the control unit of the terminal can detect and determine whether the communication failure has been resolved via the communication unit (step S1313). If it is determined that the communication failure has not been resolved, the control unit of the terminal can control the output unit to continuously output data gaps (NO in step S1313 and step S1311).

[0095] When it is determined that the communication failure has been resolved, the terminal starts receiving data again, and the control unit of the terminal sequentially reads out the stored biometric information after the last output stored biometric information and outputs it via the output unit (YES in step S1313 and step S1315). If output is immediately interrupted when a communication failure occurs, there may be stored biometric information that has not been output. When the communication failure is resolved, the biometric information next to the last output stored biometric information can be output in succession. This output order can be determined by the identification character.

[0096] Also, when all stored biometric information is output at a certain point in the first period (T1 in FIG. 10), the terminal can wait to receive the next biometric information from the sensor transmitter (step S1317). Because the terminal transmits and receives data at each advertisement timing, it can wait until this point to receive the data again.

[0097] The communication unit of the terminal can receive the biometric information again at each advertisement timing including the first advertisement timing after the communication failure is resolved (step S1319). The terminal can receive the biometric information stored in the sensor transmitter again and output the received biometric information (biometric information stored in the sensor transmitter) again to fill the data gap via the output unit (step S1321).

[0098] Aspects of the subject matter described herein may be described in the context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by a computer. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks or perform particular abstract data types.

[0099] Alternatively or additionally, the functionality described herein may be performed, at least in part, by one or more hardware logic components. By way of example and not limitation, exemplary types of hardware logic components that may be used include field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), program-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), application-specific standard products (ASSPs), system-on-a-chip systems (SOCs), complex programmable logic devices (CPLDs), etc.

[0100] Meanwhile, the disclosed embodiments may be embodied in the form of a recording medium storing a program and / or instructions executable by a computer. The instructions are stored in the form of program code, and when executed by a processor, they may generate program modules to perform the operations of the disclosed embodiments. The recording medium may be embodied as a computer-readable recording medium.

[0101] The computer-readable recording medium includes any type of recording medium that stores computer-readable instructions, such as a read only memory (ROM), a random access memory (RAM), a magnetic tape, a magnetic disk, a flash memory, an optical data storage device, etc.

[0102] Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, a person having ordinary skill in the art may modify and change the present invention in various ways by adding, changing, or deleting components within the scope of the concept of the present invention as set forth in the claims, and this also falls within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. receiving biometric information in response to an advertisement transmitted by a sensor transmitter; outputting the biometric information; If a communication failure occurs, displaying a data gap for the duration of the communication failure; When the communication failure is resolved, filling the data gap during a period from the time when the communication failure is resolved to the next advertisement after the communication failure is resolved; A method for outputting blood glucose data, including:

2. The step of filling data gaps comprises: outputting the biometric information stored in the sensor transmitter during the communication failure to fill the data gap after the communication failure is resolved; The blood glucose data output method according to claim 1 .

3. The step of filling data gaps comprises: outputting the biometric information stored in the sensor transmitter during the communication failure to fill the data gap in the first advertisement after the communication failure is resolved; The blood glucose data output method according to claim 1 .

4. a step of storing the biological information stored in the sensor transmitter in a terminal; The step of filling data gaps comprises: a step of sequentially outputting the biometric information stored in the terminal after the last output biometric information; The blood glucose data output method according to claim 1 .

5. The step of displaying the data gaps includes: When the communication failure occurs, the data gap is output while the biometric information stored in the terminal exists. The blood glucose data output method according to claim 4.

6. The step of filling data gaps comprises: and when the communication failure is resolved, outputting again the biometric information stored in the terminal subsequent to the biometric information that was last output. The blood glucose data output method according to claim 4.

7. The step of filling data gaps comprises: a step of outputting the biometric information stored in the terminal in order after the last output biometric information, and then waiting for an advertisement; The blood glucose data output method according to claim 5.

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