Cooperative Electronic Devices for Walking Assistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing technologies fail to effectively assist individuals with joint problems in walking with reduced effort, as walking assistance apparatuses often require separate battery management and lack efficient coordination between connected devices.
Innovation Solution
A method and system of controlling electronic devices that detect each other's presence, determine operations based on connection and resource states, and share information to perform cooperative tasks, such as walking assistance, using sensors and communicators to manage connection information and resource allocation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If walking assistance apparatuses are attached to different body parts, then mobility assistance coverage is improved, but device coordination and battery management complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple electronic devices into a unified networked system where devices communicate via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and share battery information. The controller in each device receives battery level information from other devices and provides unified battery management, reducing operational complexity while maintaining multi-device functionality for comprehensive mobility assistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universal battery management functionality across all electronic devices in the walking assistance system. Each device can serve as both a power source and a power consumer, and the system provides centralized battery status monitoring and management that works regardless of which specific devices are attached, making the system adaptable to different configuration scenarios.
2Ease of operation
If separate batteries are used in each electronic device, then device independence is improved, but power management efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements continuous feedback loops where each electronic device monitors its own battery level and transmits this information to other devices in the network. The controller receives real-time battery status updates and uses this feedback to dynamically manage power distribution, determine optimal power sources, and provide alerts when batteries need recharging, thereby improving overall power management efficiency while maintaining device independence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a communication intermediary layer using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology that mediates information exchange between devices with separate batteries. This intermediary enables centralized power management coordination without requiring physical battery sharing, allowing the system to optimize power usage across independent devices through shared information about battery states.
Data Source
AI summary
Electronic devices may determine tasks of interpreting information sensed by sensors, for example, recognition tasks, and operations to be performed by the electronic devices, for example, control tasks, based on types of connected electronic devices. Information sensed by one of the connected electronic devices may be shared with another electronic device, and the other electronic device may perform an operation based on the shared information. A task of interpreting information sensed by a sensor of one of the connected electronic devices may be performed based on a format suitable for being used by another electronic device. Furthermore, the electronic devices may select an electronic device to perform the determined recognition tasks and the determined control tasks based on resource states of the electronic devices.