Wearable device wearing determination method and wearable device

Abstract

[Problem] To improve the accuracy of wearable device wear determination.　[Solution] Provided is a wearable device wear determining method including: (1) an adjacent object determination step; (2) a progress observation step; (3) a user identification step for determining whether an object adjacent to the wearable device is the user, by way of a means other than an infrared sensor; and (4) a final determination step. Also provided is a wearable device which performs said method.　

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for accurately determining whether a wearable device is attached to a user's body, and a wearable device that performs this method. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, various services have been provided to users via wearable devices. These services range widely, including services that provide various information and entertainment such as audio and images regardless of the location or physical condition of the user wearing the wearable device, services that detect various motion statuses of the user wearing the wearable device using sensors in the wearable device and support and manage the user's work based on the detected motion data, services that detect various physical information of the user wearing the wearable device using sensors in the wearable device and provide medical information customized to the user's physical condition based on the detected physical data, and even combinations of these services. In all of these services, measurements and communication are performed while the wearable device is worn by the user.

[0003] However, operating various sensors in a wearable device when the user is not wearing it is undesirable because it wastes power. Small mobile terminals such as wearable devices are required to extend the time between charges as much as possible so that users can carry them around for as long as possible. Therefore, to avoid unnecessary power consumption, such systems typically determine whether the user is wearing the wearable device, and only begin acquiring the user's physical and motion information once it has been determined that the device is being worn. Various methods for determining whether a wearable device is being worn have already been proposed.

[0004] For example, in Patent Document 1, it is determined whether a user is wearing a wireless earphone based on a signal received from the wireless earphone.

[0005] For example, in Patent Document 2, a wearable device is used to detect the user's biometric information to determine whether the device is being worn. Specifically, the user's biometric information used here is the user's pulse rate and blood pressure value acquired by a near-infrared sensor. While it is technically possible for so-called smartwatches to measure pulse values ​​using a reflective LED-type sensor, this method is ineffective because the pulse value is output even when the smartwatch is placed on a desk and not being worn by the user.

[0006] In addition, for example, in Patent Document 3, wearing of a wearable device is determined by comparing vehicle information with user motion information acquired by the wearable device. Specifically, the user motion information used here is the acceleration occurring in the user's arm, which is the sum of three-axis accelerations.

[0007] In such conventional wearability determination, a sensor built into the wearable device detects and measures certain physical conditions of the user only once to determine whether the wearable device is in close proximity to the user.

[0008] For this reason, conventional wearability determination methods may result in erroneous determinations. For example, in situations such as when a user carries a wearable device without wearing it, when the wearable device is placed on a desk but its infrared sensor detects a nearby object, or when the user shakes the wearable device when wearing it, causing the user and the wearable device to be in an incorrect positional relationship when worn, it may not be possible to correctly determine whether the wearer is actually wearing the device, even if a nearby object is detected once.

[0009] As described above, in the conventional technology, data may be acquired and analyzed even when the device is not being worn, which results in high noise in the data and makes it difficult to accurately determine whether the device is being worn. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] Special Publication No. 2018-515045 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2018-200638 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-149273 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] Therefore, the inventors sought to improve the accuracy of determining whether a wearable device is being worn. Specifically, they investigated a more accurate method of determining whether a wearable device is being worn, as an alternative to the conventional method of determining the relationship between the wearable device and the user with a single measurement. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] As a result, the inventor has discovered a method for determining the wearing state of a wearable device in stages through a plurality of detection and measurement steps: a step of determining whether or not an object is in proximity to the wearable device (proximate object determination step), a step of confirming whether or not the presence or absence of the proximate object is accurate (follow-up observation step), and a step of determining whether or not the object in proximity to the wearable device is the user (user identification step).

[0013] (Invention 1) A method for determining whether a wearable device is being worn by a user, comprising: (1) a nearby object determination step, which determines whether an object is nearby the wearable device by detecting the object nearby the wearable device via an infrared sensor of the wearable device; (2) a follow-up observation step, (3) a user identification step, which determines whether the object nearby the wearable device is a user via means other than an infrared sensor; and (4) a final determination step.

[0014] (Invention 2) A method of determining whether a wearable device is being worn according to Invention 1, in which in the above (2) follow-up observation step, an object in proximity to the wearable device is continuously detected for a certain period of time via an infrared sensor of the wearable device.

[0015] (Invention 3) A method for determining whether a wearable device is being worn according to Invention 1 or 2, wherein the (3) user identification step comprises (3-1) a user identification step based on temperature difference, in which the temperature difference between the wearable device and an object close to the wearable device is calculated via a temperature sensor in the wearable device, and this temperature difference is used to determine whether the object close to the wearable device is in close contact with the wearable device, and / or (3-2) a user identification step based on the amount of movement, in which the amount of movement of the object close to the wearable device is calculated via an acceleration sensor in the wearable device, and this amount of movement is used to determine whether the object close to the wearable device is performing human movement.

[0016] (Invention 4) A method for determining whether a wearable device is being worn according to any one of Inventions 1 to 3, wherein the (1) nearby object determination step is first performed, and if no nearby object is detected in the (1) nearby object determination step and it is determined that there is no nearby object for the wearable device, the method proceeds to the (2) follow-up observation step, and if a nearby object is detected in the (1) nearby object determination step and it is determined that there is an nearby object for the wearable device, the method proceeds to the (3) user identification step, and after the (2) follow-up observation step or the (3) user identification step, the (4) final determination step is performed, and in the (4) final determination step, the wearing status of the wearable device is finally determined depending on the determination result of the (2) follow-up observation step or the (3) user identification step.

[0017] (Invention 5) A method for determining whether a wearable device is being worn, as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein if a nearby object is detected in the (2) follow-up observation step and it is determined that there is an object nearby the wearable device, the method determines that the wearable device is being worn in the (4) final determination step or proceeds to the (3) user identification step; if no nearby object is detected in the (2) follow-up observation step and it is determined that there is no object nearby the wearable device, the method determines that the wearable device is not being worn in the (4) final determination step; if it is determined that the nearby object to the wearable device is the user in the (3) user identification step, the method determines that the wearable device is being worn in the (4) final determination step; and if it is determined that the nearby object to the wearable device is not the user in the (3) user identification step, the method determines that the wearable device is not being worn in the (4) final determination step.

[0018] (Invention 6) A wearable device that can confirm that the wearable device is being worn by a user by performing (1) a nearby object determination step, (2) a follow-up observation step, which determines whether an object is nearby the wearable device by detecting the object nearby the wearable device via an infrared sensor of the wearable device, (3) a user identification step, and (4) a final determination step, which determine whether the object nearby the wearable device is a user via means other than an infrared sensor.

[0019] (Invention 7) A wearable device according to Invention 6, wherein in the above (2) follow-up observation step, an object in proximity to the wearable device is continuously detected for a certain period of time via an infrared sensor of the wearable device.

[0020] (Invention 8) A wearable device according to Invention 6 or 7, wherein the (3) user identification step comprises (3-1) a user identification step based on temperature difference, in which the temperature difference between the wearable device and an object close to the wearable device is calculated via a temperature sensor in the wearable device, and this temperature difference is used to determine whether the object close to the wearable device is in close contact with the wearable device, and / or (3-2) a user identification step based on movement amount, in which the amount of movement of the object close to the wearable device is calculated via an acceleration sensor in the wearable device, and this amount of movement is used to determine whether the object close to the wearable device is performing human movement.

[0021] (Invention 9) A wearable device according to any one of Inventions 6 to 8, which first performs the (1) nearby object determination step, and if no nearby object is detected in the (1) nearby object determination step and it is determined that there is no nearby object for the wearable device, proceeds to the (2) follow-up observation step, and if a nearby object is detected in the (1) nearby object determination step and it is determined that there is an nearby object for the wearable device, proceeds to the (3) user identification step, and after the (2) follow-up observation step or the (3) user identification step, performs the (4) final determination step, and in the (4) final determination step, the wearing status of the wearable device is finally determined depending on the determination result of the (2) follow-up observation step or the (3) user identification step.

[0022] (Invention 10) A wearable device according to any of Inventions 6 to 9, wherein if a nearby object is detected in the (2) follow-up observation step and it is determined that there is an object nearby the wearable device, then the wearable device is determined to be in a worn state in the (4) final determination step or proceeds to the (3) user identification step; if no nearby object is detected in the (2) follow-up observation step and it is determined that there is no object nearby the wearable device, then the wearable device is determined to be in an unworn state in the (4) final determination step; if it is determined that the nearby object to the wearable device is the user in the (3) user identification step, then the wearable device is determined to be in a worn state in the (4) final determination step; and if it is determined that the nearby object to the wearable device is not the user in the (3) user identification step, then the wearable device is determined to be in an unworn state in the (4) final determination step.

[0023] (Invention 11) The wearable device according to any one of claims 6 to 10, which is a wristwatch type. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] The present invention solves the problem of the prior art in that the accuracy of wear determination decreases when data is analyzed when the wearer is not wearing the device. That is, the wearable device wear determination method of the present invention does not erroneously determine whether the wearer is wearing the device in situations such as when the user carries the wearable device without wearing it, when the wearable device is placed on a desk but the infrared sensor of the wearable device detects a nearby object, or when the user shakes the wearable device when wearing it, causing the user and the wearable device to be in an incorrect positional relationship when worn. That is, the wearable device wear determination method of the present invention can accurately detect when the user is wearing the wearable device correctly and determine that the device is being worn. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1]1 shows an example of a determination step of the method for determining whether a wearable device is being worn according to the present invention. [Figure 2] 1A and 1B are schematic diagrams showing an example of a wearable device of the present invention, in which (a) is a front view and (b) is a side view. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] The method for determining whether a wearable device is being worn of the present invention comprises (1) a nearby object determination step, which determines whether an object is nearby the wearable device by detecting the object nearby the wearable device via an infrared sensor of the wearable device, (2) a follow-up observation step, (3) a user identification step, which determines whether the object nearby the wearable device is a user via means other than the infrared sensor, and (4) a final determination step.

[0027] [(1) Proximate Object Determination Step] The (1) Proximate Object Determination Step of the present invention is a step in which an infrared sensor of the wearable device detects an object located near the wearable device and determines whether or not there is an object in proximity to the wearable device. Such detection and determination methods can be widely adopted, including general methods and their variations, and are not limited thereto. In the method for determining whether a wearable device is being worn of the present invention, it is preferable to perform the (1) Proximate Object Determination Step as the first step.

[0028] [(2) Follow-up Observation Step] In the (2) follow-up observation step, an object in proximity to the wearable device is continuously detected for a certain period of time via the wearable device's infrared sensor. In the present invention, the (2) follow-up observation step can be used as a step to complement the (1) nearby object determination step. In the wearable device wearing determination method of the present invention, preferably, if it is determined in the (1) nearby object determination step that no object in proximity to the wearable device is present, the method proceeds to the (2) follow-up observation step. In this case, if no object in proximity to the wearable device is detected for a certain period of time in the (2) follow-up observation step, it can be determined that the result of the (1) nearby object determination step is correct and that no object is present in proximity to the wearable device. In addition, in this case, if an object in proximity to the wearable device is detected for a certain period of time in the (2) follow-up observation step, it can be determined that the result of the (1) nearby object determination step is incorrect and that an object is present in proximity to the wearable device.

[0029] Although there are no particular limitations on the detection time for the (2) follow-up observation step, it is usually between 3 and 30 seconds, and preferably between 5 and 15 seconds. Even if the (1) nearby object determination step is performed during a short shaking period when the wearable device is worn and the infrared sensor of the wearable device erroneously detects or does not detect an object nearby, the (2) follow-up observation step continues to detect an object nearby for a certain period of time, leading to a correct determination result.

[0030] If it is determined in the (2) follow-up observation step that there is no object in the vicinity of the wearable device, the process proceeds to the (4) final determination step, where it is finally determined that there is no object in the vicinity of the wearable device, and the method for determining whether or not the wearable device is being worn of the present invention can be terminated.If it is determined in the (2) follow-up observation step that there is an object in the vicinity of the wearable device, contrary to the result of the (1) nearby object determination step, the process similarly proceeds to the (4) final determination step, where it is finally determined that the wearable device is being worn, and the method for determining whether or not the wearable device is being worn of the present invention can be terminated, or the process can proceed to the (3) user identification step to further analyze nearby objects.

[0031] [(3) User Identification Step] In the (3) user identification step, it is determined whether an object in proximity to the wearable device is a user through a means other than an infrared sensor. In the present invention, the (3) user identification step can be used as a step to complement the (1) proximity object determination step and / or the (2) follow-up observation step.

[0032] In the wearable device wearing determination method of the present invention, preferably, if it is determined in the (1) nearby object determination step that an object is present near the wearable device, the method proceeds to the (3) user identification step. Alternatively, in the wearable device wearing determination method of the present invention, preferably, if it is determined in the (2) follow-up observation step that an object is present near the wearable device, the method proceeds to the (3) user identification step. In other words, in the wearable device wearing determination method of the present invention, once it is determined that an object is present near the wearable device, the method analyzes whether the determination is correct in the (3) user identification step without relying on infrared detection, thereby improving the accuracy of the determination.

[0033] (3) The sensors operated in the user identification step are not limited to infrared sensors. For example, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, acceleration sensors, heat sensors, etc. can be used.

[0034] When a temperature sensor is used, the (3) user identification step calculates the temperature difference between the wearable device and an object in close proximity to the wearable device via the wearable device's temperature sensor, and determines whether the object in close proximity to the wearable device is a human body based on this temperature difference. In this invention, this step is referred to as (3-1) temperature difference-based user identification step. Specifically, a significant temperature difference (threshold) equivalent to the temperature difference when the wearable device is separated from the user is set as the temperature difference. If the actual measurement value is outside this threshold, it is determined that the object in close proximity to the wearable device is not in close contact with the wearable device, i.e., the wearable device is not properly worn by the user. If the actual measurement value is within this threshold, it is determined that the object in close contact with the wearable device is in close contact with the wearable device, i.e., the wearable device is properly worn by the user. The threshold is set appropriately depending on the material of the wearable device, but is preferably set to a value between 2.0°C and 5.0°C, more preferably between 1.5°C and 3.5°C.

[0035] When an acceleration sensor is used, the (3) user identification step calculates the amount of movement of an object in proximity to the wearable device via the wearable device's acceleration sensor, and determines whether the object in proximity to the wearable device is a human body based on this amount of movement. In this invention, this step is referred to as (3-2) user identification step based on amount of movement. Specifically, a significant amount of movement (threshold) corresponding to the movement of a human body model is set as the amount of movement. If the actual measurement value is equal to or greater than this threshold, it is determined that the object in proximity to the wearable device is a human body, i.e., the wearable device is correctly worn by the user. If the actual measurement value is less than this threshold, it is determined that the object in proximity to the wearable device is not a human body, i.e., the wearable device is not correctly worn by the user. The threshold is set appropriately according to the amount of movement equivalent to human body movement detected by the three-axis acceleration sensor.

[0036] The (3) user identification step may be composed of multiple determination steps. For example, the (3) user identification step may include both the (3-1) user identification step based on temperature difference and the (3-2) user identification step based on movement amount. In this case, the order in which the (3-1) user identification step based on temperature difference and the (3-2) user identification step based on movement amount are performed is not limited.

[0037] For example, if the (3-1) user identification step based on temperature difference is first performed and it is determined that the object in proximity to the wearable device is not in close contact with the wearable device, then the (3-2) user identification step based on movement distance can be performed to eliminate erroneous determinations, and after the (3-2) user identification step based on movement distance is completed, the (4) final determination step can be performed. If the (3-1) user identification step based on temperature difference determines that the object in proximity to the wearable device is in close contact with the wearable device, then the (4) final determination step can be performed.

[0038] For example, if the (3-2) user identification step based on the amount of movement is first performed and it is determined that the object in proximity to the wearable device is not in close contact with the wearable device, the (3-1) user identification step based on the temperature difference can be performed to eliminate erroneous determinations from this determination, and after the (3-1) user identification step based on the temperature difference is completed, the (4) final determination step can be performed, which will be described later.If the (3-2) user identification step based on the amount of movement determines that the object in proximity to the wearable device is in close contact with the wearable device, the (4) final determination step can be performed.

[0039] Alternatively, the (3-1) temperature difference-based user identification step and the (3-2) movement amount-based user identification step can be alternately performed up to a predetermined number of repetitions. In this case, if it is determined that an object in proximity to the wearable device is in close contact with the wearable device in both steps within the predetermined number of repetitions, the process proceeds to the (4) final determination step described below, where a final determination is made that the wearable device is in the worn state; otherwise, the process proceeds to the (4) final determination step described below, where a final determination is made that the wearable device is not in the worn state.

[0040] In this way, when the user identification step (3) in the wearable device wearing determination method of the present invention is composed of multiple steps (for example, the above-mentioned (3-1) and (3-2)), it is preferable to arrange the multiple steps so that erroneous determinations contained in the determination results of one step are eliminated in the determinations of later steps, thereby improving the accuracy of the determination. Even when detection and determination using sensors other than temperature sensors and acceleration sensors are adopted, the type of sensor and the number of detection and determination steps can be freely set as long as earlier determination results are re-verified in later detection and determination steps, ultimately improving the accuracy of the determination results.

[0041] A typical processing flow of the method for determining whether a wearable device is being worn according to the present invention is as follows. Processing flow example 1: (1) Proximity object determination step → (2) Progress observation step → (4) Final determination step Processing flow example 2: (1) Proximity object determination step → (2) Progress observation step → (3) User identification step → (4) Final determination step Processing flow example 3: (1) Nearby object determination step → (3) User identification step → (4) Final determination step In either type, (2) the follow-up observation step and (3) the user identification step are performed when the previous step determines that the device is worn, and are provided to eliminate any incorrect determinations made in the previous step.

[0042] [(4) Final Determination Step] When the (2) follow-up observation step is completed, or when the (3) user identification step is completed, the (4) final determination step is performed to finally determine the wearing status of the wearable device, thereby completing the wearable device wearing determination method of the present invention.

[0043] For example, in the above processing flow example 1, the result of the (2) follow-up observation step performed following the (1) nearby object determination step is the final determination in the (4) final determination step. Specifically, if it is determined in the (2) follow-up observation step that there is no nearby object of the wearable device, it is finally determined in the (4) final determination step that the wearable device is not being worn by the user, and the wearable device wearing determination method of the present invention is terminated, and if it is determined in the (2) follow-up observation step that there is an nearby object of the wearable device, it is finally determined in the (4) final determination step that the wearable device is being worn by the user, and the wearable device wearing determination method of the present invention is terminated.

[0044] For example, in the above-mentioned processing flow example 2, the result of the (3) user identification step performed after the (1) nearby object determination step and the subsequent (2) follow-up observation step is the final determination of the (4) final determination step. Specifically, if the (3) user identification step determines that the nearby object of the wearable device is not the user in close contact with the wearable device, the (4) final determination step finally determines that the wearable device is not being worn by the user, and the wearable device wearing determination method of the present invention is terminated, and if the (3) user identification step determines that the nearby object of the wearable device is the user in close contact with the wearable device, the (4) final determination step finally determines that the wearable device is being worn by the user, and the wearable device wearing determination method of the present invention is terminated.

[0045] For example, in the above-mentioned processing flow example 3, the result of the (3) user identification step performed following the (1) nearby object determination step is the final determination in the (4) final determination step. Specifically, if it is determined in the (3) user identification step that the nearby object of the wearable device is not the user in close contact with the wearable device, it is finally determined in the (4) final determination step that the wearable device is not being worn by the user, and the wearable device wearing determination method of the present invention is terminated, and if it is determined in the (3) user identification step that the nearby object of the wearable device is the user in close contact with the wearable device, it is finally determined in the (4) final determination step that the wearable device is being worn by the user, and the wearable device wearing determination method of the present invention is terminated.

[0046] In the above processing flow example 2 and processing flow example 3, when the (3) user identification step consists of multiple steps (for example, the above (3-1) and (3-2)), the relationship between each step is as already described in [(3) User Identification Step].

[0047] In order to execute the above-described wearing determination method, the wearable device of the present invention comprises elements such as detection means such as the various sensors described above, as well as a memory for saving and accumulating detected data, a communication unit, a data processing program, a communication program, and a processing unit for executing a control program. These elements may be applications of known detection means such as sensors, as well as a memory for saving and accumulating detected data, a communication unit, a data processing program, a communication program, etc., but the wearable device of the present invention surpasses the prior art by controlling these elements to execute the above-described wearing determination method. In the wearable device of the present invention, the above-described wearing determination method flow proceeds via the above-described control program. [Example]

[0048] An example of the processing flow of the method for determining whether a wearable device is being worn according to the present invention is shown in Figure 1. Reference numeral 1 indicates the nearby object determination step. Reference numeral 2 indicates the follow-up observation step. Reference numeral 31 indicates the user identification step based on temperature difference. Reference numeral 32 indicates the user identification step based on the amount of movement. Reference numeral 4 indicates the final determination step.

[0049] In the proximity object determination step (1), an infrared sensor is used every 10 minutes to detect objects in the wearable device's vicinity. If a proximity object is detected (Y) (11), the process proceeds to the temperature difference user identification step (31). If a proximity object is detected (N) (12), the process proceeds to the follow-up observation step (2).

[0050] In the follow-up observation step (2), after it is detected that there is no nearby object (N) (12), the infrared sensor continues to detect nearby objects on the wearable device for 10 seconds. If it is determined that there is no nearby object (N) in the follow-up observation step (2) (22), just like the determination (12) in the nearby object determination step (1), the process proceeds to the final determination step (4), where the determination (N, 12) in the nearby object determination step (1) is upheld and the final determination is made that the device is "not worn (41)." If it is determined that there is a nearby object (Y) in the follow-up observation step (21), the process proceeds to the final determination step (4), where the determination (N) in the nearby object determination step (1) is corrected and the final determination is made that the device is "worn (42)."

[0051] In the temperature difference user identification step (31), a temperature sensor measures the temperature difference between the wearable and an object nearby, and the measured value is compared with a preset temperature difference threshold of 3°C. If the measured value exceeds the threshold and it is determined that there is a significant temperature difference (Y) (311), the process proceeds to the movement amount user identification step (32) to confirm whether this determination is correct. If the measured value is below the threshold and it is determined that there is no significant temperature difference (N) (312), the process proceeds to the final determination step (4), and the user is finally determined to be "wearing" (42).

[0052] In the step of identifying the user based on the amount of movement (32), a three-axis acceleration sensor detects the difference in the amount of movement between the wearable and a nearby object as the amount of movement, and compares the detected amount with a threshold corresponding to the amount of movement of a pre-set human-worn model. If the detected amount exceeds the threshold and it is determined that the nearby object is moving like a human (Y) (321), the final determination step (4) finally determines that the wearer is wearing the device (42). If the detected amount is below the threshold and it is determined that the nearby object is not moving (N) (322), the final determination step (4) finally determines that the wearer is not wearing the device (41).

[0053] In this example of the method for determining whether a wearable device is being worn according to the present invention, two or more steps selected from step 1, step 2, step 31, and step 32 are passed before the final determination step (4) determines whether the device is being worn (42) or not (41). Here, a later step can re-determine the determination made in an earlier step. This re-determination mechanism allows for a highly accurate final determination to be made in the final determination step (4).

[0054] The wearable device (5) of the present invention shown in Figure 2 is wristwatch-type and includes a main body (51), a belt (52), and a fastener (53). The main body (51) contains sensors, a memory unit, and various programs that execute the wearability determination method of the present invention. The belt (52) and fastener (53) may be made of any material or have any shape, provided that the main body (51) can be worn on or near the user's wrist, like a wristwatch. The main body (51), belt (52), and fastener (53) can be designed in various sizes, shapes, and positions depending on the various uses of the wristwatch-type wearable device (5), such as office work, sports, entertainment, and rest. [Industrial Applicability]

[0055] The method for determining whether a wearable device is being worn and the wearable device that performs this method of the present invention perform highly accurate wearable device wearing determination by repeatedly determining the user's state of wearing the wearable device using multiple methods. The present invention can reduce the false determination of wearable device wearing that occurred in the past and improve the performance of wearable devices. [Explanation of symbols]

[0056] 1. Nearby object detection step 11 Judgment that there is a nearby object (Y) 12 No nearby object (N) 2. Follow-up steps 21 Judgment that there is a nearby object (Y) 22 No nearby object (N) 31 User identification step by temperature difference 311 Judgment that there is a significant temperature difference (Y) 312 No significant temperature difference (N) 32 User identification steps based on movement amount 321 Judgment that there is significant movement (Y) 322 No significant movement (N) 5. Wristwatch-type wearable devices 51 Main Unit 52 Belt 53 Fasteners

Claims

1. (1) a proximity object determination step of determining whether or not an object is in proximity to the wearable device by detecting the object in proximity to the wearable device via an infrared sensor of the wearable device; (2) a follow-up observation step, which is a step for complementing the (1) proximity object determination step, in which an object in proximity to the wearable device is continuously detected via the infrared sensor of the wearable device for a detection time in the range of 3 seconds to 30 seconds; (3) a user identification step of determining whether an object in proximity to the wearable device is a user via means other than an infrared sensor; (4) a final determination step. A method for determining whether a wearable device is being worn by a user, the method comprising: First, the above-mentioned (1) proximity object determination step is performed, If no nearby object is detected in the (1) nearby object determination step and it is determined that there is no nearby object for the wearable device, the process proceeds to the (2) follow-up observation step, If a nearby object is detected in the (1) nearby object determination step and it is determined that a nearby object is present in the wearable device, the process proceeds to the (3) user identification step, After the (2) follow-up observation step or the (3) user identification step, the (4) final judgment step is performed; In the (4) final determination step, the wearing state of the wearable device is finally determined based on the determination result of the (2) follow-up observation step or the (3) user identification step, the result, The system can accurately detect when the user is wearing the wearable device correctly and determine that the device is being worn, without making erroneous judgments in situations such as when the user is carrying the wearable device without wearing it, when the wearable device is placed on a desk but the infrared sensor of the wearable device detects a nearby object, or when the user shakes the wearable device when wearing it and the user and the wearable device are not in the correct positional relationship when worn. A method for determining whether a wearable device is being worn.

2. The above (3) user identification step is (3-1) a step of identifying a user based on a temperature difference, in which a temperature difference between the wearable device and an object in proximity to the wearable device is calculated via a temperature sensor of the wearable device, and whether the object in proximity to the wearable device is in close contact with the wearable device is determined based on the temperature difference; and / or (3-2) a step of identifying a user based on the amount of movement, in which the amount of movement of an object in proximity to the wearable device is calculated via an acceleration sensor of the wearable device, and whether the object in proximity to the wearable device is performing human-like movement is determined based on the amount of movement; having The method for determining whether a wearable device is being worn according to claim 1 .

3. If a nearby object is detected in the (2) follow-up observation step and it is determined that the wearable device has a nearby object, the wearable device is determined to be in a worn state in the (4) final determination step, or the process proceeds to the (3) user identification step, If no nearby object is detected in the (2) follow-up observation step and it is determined that there is no nearby object for the wearable device, it is determined in the (4) final determination step that the wearable device is not being worn, If it is determined in the above (3) user identification step that the object in proximity to the wearable device is the user, it is determined in the above (4) final determination step that the wearable device is in a worn state; If it is determined in the above (3) user identification step that the object in proximity to the wearable device is not the user, it is determined in the above (4) final determination step that the wearable device is not being worn. The method for determining whether a wearable device is being worn according to claim 1 .

4. (1) a proximity object determination step of determining whether or not an object is in proximity to the wearable device by detecting the object in proximity to the wearable device via an infrared sensor of the wearable device; (2) a follow-up observation step, which is a step for complementing the (1) proximity object determination step, in which an object in proximity to the wearable device is continuously detected via the infrared sensor of the wearable device for a detection time in the range of 3 seconds to 30 seconds; (3) a user identification step of determining whether an object in proximity to the wearable device is a user via means other than an infrared sensor; (4) a final decision step; and First, the above-mentioned (1) proximity object determination step is performed, If no nearby object is detected in the (1) nearby object determination step and it is determined that there is no nearby object for the wearable device, the process proceeds to the (2) follow-up observation step, If a nearby object is detected in the (1) nearby object determination step and it is determined that a nearby object is present in the wearable device, the process proceeds to the (3) user identification step, After the (2) follow-up observation step or the (3) user identification step, the (4) final judgment step is performed; In the (4) final determination step, the wearing state of the wearable device is finally determined based on the determination result of the (2) follow-up observation step or the (3) user identification step, the result, The system does not make erroneous judgments in situations such as when the user is carrying the wearable device without wearing it, when the wearable device is placed on a desk but the infrared sensor of the wearable device detects a nearby object, or when the user shakes the wearable device when wearing it, causing the user and the wearable device to be in an incorrect positional relationship when worn, A wearable device capable of confirming that the wearable device is being worn by a user.

5. The above (3) user identification step is (3-1) a step of identifying a user based on a temperature difference, in which a temperature difference between the wearable device and an object in proximity to the wearable device is calculated via a temperature sensor of the wearable device, and whether or not the object in proximity to the wearable device is in close contact with the wearable device is determined based on the temperature difference; and / or (3-2) a step of identifying a user based on the amount of movement; calculating the amount of movement of an object in proximity to the wearable device via an acceleration sensor of the wearable device, and determining whether the object in proximity to the wearable device is performing human-like movement based on the amount of movement; having The wearable device of claim 4 .

6. If a nearby object is detected in the (2) follow-up observation step and it is determined that the wearable device has a nearby object, the wearable device is determined to be in a worn state in the (4) final determination step, or the process proceeds to the (3) user identification step, If no nearby object is detected in the (2) follow-up observation step and it is determined that there is no nearby object for the wearable device, it is determined in the (4) final determination step that the wearable device is not being worn, If it is determined in the above (3) user identification step that the object in proximity to the wearable device is the user, it is determined in the above (4) final determination step that the wearable device is in a worn state; If it is determined in the above (3) user identification step that the object in proximity to the wearable device is not the user, it is determined in the above (4) final determination step that the wearable device is not being worn. The wearable device of claim 4 .

7. The wearable device according to claim 4 , which is a wristwatch type.

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