Analyte Sensor Star Network Topology for Multi-Device Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) systems face complexity issues, leading to increased cognitive burden on users and risks of unintended operations due to the expansion of use cases and ecosystems, necessitating a solution that simplifies data transmission between analyte sensors and multiple receiving devices.
Innovation Solution
An analyte monitoring system with a star network topology, where an analyte sensor acts as the central hub, wirelessly coupling with multiple receiver devices, including fitness monitors, smartphones, and servers, to transmit analyte data and facilitate alarm notifications, using protocols like NFC and Bluetooth, and employing Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman Key Agreement and Symmetric Mutual Authentication for secure pairing and authentication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If CGM systems support multiple devices and ecosystems to expand use cases, then adaptability and versatility improve, but device complexity and cognitive burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a bridge device that acts as an intermediary between the analyte sensor and multiple receiver devices. This bridge device manages wireless connections, authentication, and data routing, allowing the sensor to communicate with multiple devices (smartphones, tablets, computers, fitness trackers) without requiring the sensor itself to be complex. The bridge device handles the complexity of supporting multiple ecosystems while maintaining simple sensor design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple receiver devices are connected to the analyte sensor, then adaptability improves, but ease of operation deteriorates due to pairing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service mechanisms where the bridge device automatically discovers available receiver devices, initiates pairing processes, and manages authentication without requiring manual user configuration. The system automatically adds devices to the network, manages connection states, and handles reconnections, eliminating the need for users to manually pair each device with the sensor.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides visual feedback through the bridge device's display and user interface to show connection status, authentication progress, and device pairing states. This feedback mechanism guides users through the process and confirms successful connections, making the multi-device operation transparent and easy to understand.
3Reliability
If secure authentication protocols are implemented for multiple devices, then reliability improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bridge device serves as a security intermediary that implements Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman key agreement and symmetric mutual authentication protocols. Instead of requiring the analyte sensor to handle complex cryptographic operations, the bridge device manages all security functions including key generation, exchange, and verification. This allows strong security while keeping the sensor simple.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods, devices, and systems includes an analyte sensor configured to monitor an analyte level, where at least a portion of the analyte sensor is configured to be positioned in contact with a bodily fluid of a subject. The analyte sensor may also include a communication module. A first receiver device may be wirelessly coupled to the communication module of the analyte sensor and configured to receive analyte data from the analyte sensor. One or more second receiver devices may be wirelessly coupled to the communication module of the analyte sensor. The analyte sensor, the first receiver device, and the one or more second receiver devices may be arranged in a star network topology with the analyte sensor being at a center of the star network topology.