Biometric Signal Compression via Period Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge lies in efficiently compressing biometric signals like ECG, PPG, and PCG without losing main information, as lossy compression methods can result in data loss during decompression, affecting medical diagnostics.

Innovation Solution

An electronic apparatus that extracts one-period signals from the measured biometric signal, generates characteristic information, and compresses each signal, allowing for efficient compression while preserving key diagnostic information, and includes a decompression process to restore lost data based on this information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If lossy compression method is used to compress biometric signal, then compression efficiency is improved, but main information of the signal is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompression efficiencyVSAvoidmain information loss
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the biometric signal into multiple periods based on periodic characteristics (e.g., heartbeats in ECG). Each period is processed independently through compression, allowing preservation of critical periodic patterns while achieving efficient data reduction. This segmentation enables the system to maintain diagnostically important information while improving compression efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes compression parameters dynamically based on the specific period being processed. Different compression ratios, thresholds, or algorithms are applied to different periods depending on their diagnostic importance, signal characteristics, and required precision. This parameter adaptation allows optimization between compression efficiency and information preservation for each segment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of information

If lossless compression method is used to compress biometric signal, then main information of the signal is preserved, but compression efficiency is lower

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation preservationVSAvoidcompression efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the biometric signal into periodic segments, applying lossless or high-fidelity compression to each period. This segmentation allows the system to preserve critical diagnostic information within each period while achieving better overall compression ratios compared to processing the entire signal as a single block.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies partial compression action by selectively compressing certain periods more aggressively than others based on their diagnostic importance. Less critical periods may undergo more aggressive compression, while critical periods maintain higher fidelity, achieving a balance between information preservation and compression efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3337391B1Electronic apparatus and control method thereof
Publication Date: 2020.10.14 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3337391B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3337391B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3337391B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

Disclosed is an electronic apparatus for measuring a biometric signal, the electronic apparatus including: a measurer comprising measuring circuitry configured to measure a biometric signal of a person to be examined, and to generate a measured signal having a waveform corresponding to a characteristic of the biometric signal; a signal processor configured to process the generated measured signal; and a controller configured to control the signal processor to generate a compressed signal by compressing the measured signal and at least one piece of characteristic information included in a waveform of the measured signal, when the measured signal is compressed. Thus, a measured biometric signal is efficiently compressed while reducing a loss of main characteristic information.