Adaptive Power Routing for Body-Worn Device Hubs

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Solution Overview

Problem

Law enforcement officers face challenges with multiple self-powered electronic devices that often operate independently, leading to battery depletion and communication disruptions during critical situations, as existing technologies lack a centralized adaptive power and communication solution for body-worn devices.

Innovation Solution

A body-worn hub that integrates a built-in battery, power distribution, short-range and long-range wireless communication, and physical interface components to adaptively power and communicate with various devices, switching between wireless and wired connections as needed, ensuring reliable power and communication redundancy.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple self-powered body-worn devices are carried and operated independently, then device functionality and operational independence are improved, but battery depletion and communication disruptions occur during critical situations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoidbattery depletion and communication disruptions

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple body-worn devices into a unified system where devices communicate and share power through a central hub. The hub aggregates data from multiple devices and manages power distribution, creating a coordinated system that maintains functionality while improving reliability through shared resources and centralized control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The body-worn hub serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a communication relay between devices and external systems, a power distribution center providing adaptive power management, and a data processing node that coordinates device operations. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by enabling devices to maintain independence while gaining access to shared capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If devices operate independently without centralized coordination, then operational independence is maintained, but communication disruptions and battery depletion occur during critical situations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational independenceVSAvoidcommunication disruptions

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The body-worn hub functions as an intermediary between independently operated devices and external communication systems. It receives data from multiple devices, processes and prioritizes communications, and relays critical information to external systems, ensuring continuous communication even when individual devices experience battery depletion or operational limitations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If a centralized power and communication hub is implemented, then battery depletion and communication disruptions are reduced, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower and communication reliabilityVSAvoidsystem integration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is segmented into modular components: individual body-worn devices maintain their own independence, while a separate body-worn hub handles centralized coordination. This segmentation allows the hub to manage complexity centrally without burdening individual devices, reducing overall system complexity while improving reliability through specialized functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Reliability

If wired connections are used for power and communication, then power delivery and data transfer reliability are improved, but connection establishment time and physical interface requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower and data transfer reliabilityVSAvoidconnection establishment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically switches between wired and wireless communication modes based on operational requirements and connection status. When devices are physically connected, wired communication provides high-reliability power and data transfer. When disconnected or during mobility transitions, the system automatically engages wireless communication, maintaining continuous operation without time loss from connection establishment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11606111B2Adaptive power and communication routing for body-worn devices

Publication Date: 2023.03.14 GETAC TECH CORP

AI summary

A body-worn hub may detect that a first battery charge level of a first battery in a body-worn device connected to the body-worn hub via a wired connection is at or below a first battery charge level threshold. Accordingly, the body-worn hub may route power from the body-worn hub to the body-worn device via the wired connection to charge the first battery when a second battery charge level of a second battery in the body-worn hub is above a second battery charge level threshold. However, in response to the first battery of the body-worn device being charged to a third battery charge level that is above the first battery charge level threshold or the second battery charge level dropping to the second battery charge level threshold, the body-worn hub may stop routing power to the body-worn device via the wired connection.