Dynamic Contact Alerting Thresholds for Wearable Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional contact tracing and alerting systems rely on static distance and time thresholds, which are inadequate for varying situations, leading to inappropriate warning and infection risk assessments.
Innovation Solution
The method involves wearable or portable devices broadcasting tag identifiers using a wireless communication interface, allowing for dynamic adjustment of risk and alert thresholds based on group size information and environmental parameters to assess encounters more accurately.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If static distance and time thresholds are used for contact tracing and alerting, then the system is simple to operate and implement, but the warning and infection risk assessments become inappropriate for varying situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by transitioning from static distance and time thresholds to dynamic thresholds that adapt based on environmental conditions, group size, and contact patterns. The system continuously adjusts alerting parameters to match current situational context, making the thresholds flexible rather than fixed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying distance and time thresholds based on varying environmental parameters, group sizes, and contact frequencies. The system adjusts these parameters in real-time to reflect changing risk conditions, thereby improving assessment accuracy without significantly complicating operation.
2Measurement precision
If dynamic adjustment of thresholds based on group size and environmental parameters is implemented, then risk assessment accuracy improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling the wearable device to automatically collect environmental data, determine group sizes, and adjust thresholds without requiring manual configuration or complex user intervention. The system autonomously performs the complex calculations and adaptations, reducing the perceived complexity for users while maintaining high measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universality by designing the wearable device to perform multiple functions: contact detection, environmental sensing, group size analysis, and dynamic threshold adjustment. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional device, the patent reduces overall system complexity while achieving precise risk assessment.
3Ease of manufacture
If static thresholds are used for contact alerting, then the system is cost-effective and simple to implement, but it cannot adapt to different situations where warning and infection risk vary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by implementing thresholds that automatically adapt to different situations through real-time data collection and analysis. The system adjusts alerting behavior based on environmental conditions, group dynamics, and contact patterns, providing versatility without requiring complex manual configuration or multiple device variants.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
The invention relates to a method for enabling contact tracing and contact alerting among a plurality of persons by means of detecting or measuring the distance between two persons, wherein each of the plurality of persons are wearing or carrying a wearable or portable device, the wearable or portable devices having or being associated or assigned to, respectively, a tag identifier, the tag identifiers being repeatedly broadcast by the wearable or portable devices, respectively, using a wireless communication interface of the wearable or portable devices, wherein, in a contact situation of a specific wearable or portable device with a specific further wearable or portable device, the wearable or portable device is able, by means of the wearable or portable device's wireless communication interface and with respect to the further wearable or portable device, to repeatedly determine the distance, at different points in time, towards the further wearable or portable device and to receive the further wearable or portable device's tag identifier, wherein, in order to detect alert situations and/or in order to detect relevant encounters or to assess the relevance of encounters of the wearable or portable device with the further wearable or portable device, the method comprises the following steps: -- in a first step, at least one proximity event involving the further wearable or portable device, and detected by the wearable or portable device, is determined by means of detecting the further wearable or portable device to be positioned at most at, or below, a specific distance, from the wearable or portable device, and this for at least a specific time interval, wherein the proximity event is considered to be an encounter detection event if the specific distance corresponds to a risk distance threshold and the specific time interval corresponds to a risk time interval and/or wherein the proximity event is considered to be an alert event if the specific distance corresponds to an alert distance threshold and the specific time interval corresponds to an alert time interval, -- in a second step, prior to, during or after the first step, the wearable or portable device additionally, detects or receives -- a group size information, the group size information being indicative of the relevant group size and/or of the relevant density of persons, and/or -- an environmental information, the environmental information being indicative of a static and/or dynamic environmental parameter or property, wherein the risk distance threshold and the risk time interval and/or the alert distance threshold and the alert time interval to be applied are dependent on the group size information and/or on the environmental information.