Mobile Sensor Fusion for Continuous User Activity Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for monitoring user activity in preventive healthcare are expensive and inconvenient to wear continuously, limiting their effectiveness in long-term observation and analysis.
Innovation Solution
A mobile terminal apparatus with a sensing data collection unit, a location determination unit, and an action determination unit that uses data from triaxial acceleration, proximity, orientation, terrestrial magnetism, and sound detection sensors to infer user activity without the need for additional dedicated devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If dedicated monitoring devices are used for continuous user activity observation, then measurement precision and reliability are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile terminal is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both a communication device and a health monitoring device. The same mobile terminal that users already carry is used to detect user activities through integrated sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, proximity sensor, light sensor, microphone), eliminating the need for separate dedicated monitoring devices while maintaining measurement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple sensing functions into a single mobile terminal device. The activity detection system merges location determination, posture analysis, and activity recognition functions within the existing mobile terminal infrastructure, reducing overall system complexity while improving continuous monitoring capability
2Measurement precision
If dedicated monitoring devices are worn continuously, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mobile terminal automatically performs activity detection without requiring user intervention. The system self-activates sensors, automatically determines user location and posture, recognizes activities, and provides feedback without needing user setup or continuous interaction, making it as convenient as using the mobile terminal itself
3Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are integrated in mobile terminal, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The activity detection system is segmented into distinct functional modules: sensing data collection unit, location determination unit, and action determination unit. Each module processes specific sensor data independently (acceleration, orientation, proximity, light, sound), then integrates results to achieve high measurement precision while managing complexity through modular architecture
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables continuous, cost-effective monitoring of user activity by determining location and action based on sensing data, reducing noise and improving accuracy in inferring user actions without additional hardware.
Implementation Method 1
acquire posture data of the mobile terminal based on the collected sensing data... acquiring the posture data using sensing data of a triaxial acceleration sensor
Implementation Method 2
select the final location from the location candidates based on at least one of sensing data from the triaxial acceleration sensor, a proximity sensor, an orientation sensor, a terrestrial magnetism sensor, a display ON/OFF monitoring sensor, and a sound detection sensor
Implementation Method 3
an orientation sensor, a terrestrial magnetism sensor
Implementation Method 4
a sound detection sensor
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is an apparatus and method for detecting a user activity using a mobile terminal. The apparatus includes a sensing data collection unit to collect sensing data, a location determination unit to determine a location of the mobile terminal using the sensed data, and an action determination unit to determine an activity of a user that is using the mobile terminal based on the collected sensing data and the determined location of the mobile terminal.