Physiological Sensor Software Update via Intermediary Display

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Solution Overview

Problem

Physiological information detecting sensors without displays, such as medical telemeters, face challenges in visually identifying targets for software updates during sequential upgrades, leading to potential misidentification and unintended upgrades.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an acceleration sensor and memory to store flag information indicating acceleration thresholds, allowing the information processing apparatus to visually differentiate sensors through display aspects based on received flag information, enabling accurate selection and update of sensors for software version updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If display portions such as LEDs are omitted from physiological information detecting sensors to reduce size and power consumption, then device size and power consumption are reduced, but the ability to visually identify sensors for upgrade is lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedevice sizeVSAvoidvisual identification of target sensor

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary display device (smartphone, tablet, or computer) that mediates between the sensor without display and the user. This intermediary receives sensor information wirelessly and presents visual feedback, allowing users to identify target sensors for upgrade without requiring display portions on the sensors themselves.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/optical display system (LEDs on sensors) with a wireless communication system. Instead of using physical display components on the sensor, the system uses wireless transmission of sensor information to an external display device, substituting a mechanical display mechanism with an information transmission and visualization system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Device complexity

If multiple sensors are upgraded sequentially without visual identification capability, then upgrade process can be simplified, but misidentification and unintended upgrades occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveupgrade process complexityVSAvoidaccuracy of sensor identification

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediary display device serves as a mediator that receives sensor information including identification data and version information wirelessly. This intermediary presents the information to the user, enabling accurate visual identification and selection of the target sensor for upgrade, thereby preventing misidentification while maintaining a simplified upgrade process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If display portions are added to sensors to enable visual identification, then sensor identification accuracy is improved, but device size and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual identification of target sensorVSAvoiddevice size

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of adding display portions directly to the sensor, the patent uses an intermediary display device (smartphone, tablet, or computer) that wirelessly receives and displays sensor information. This approach enables visual identification without increasing the size of the sensor itself, as the display function is externalized.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The intermediary display device serves multiple functions: it displays sensor information, receives wireless communication data, and provides user interaction for sensor selection. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for dedicated display components on each sensor while maintaining identification capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 the visual recognition and accurate selection of sensors for upgrades, preventing misidentification and ensuring that only intended sensors are updated, thereby improving the efficiency of software updates in sensor networks.

Implementation Method 1

an acceleration sensor that detects an acceleration of the physiological information detecting sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcceleration detection: Accelerometer

Data Source

PatentUS10678531B2Software updating system of physiological information detecting sensor

Publication Date: 2020.06.09 NIHON KOHDEN CORP

AI summary

A method includes: receiving, from at least one physiological information detecting sensor, flag information indicating whether an acceleration of the physiological information detecting sensor is higher than a threshold or not, and sensor identification information of the physiological information detecting sensor, wherein the flag information and the sensor identification information are associated with each other, and the physiological information detecting sensor stores first software; displaying the sensor identification information on a display; changing a visual aspect of the sensor identification information displayed on the display in accordance with the flag information; transmitting second software for updating a version of the first software to the physiological information detecting sensor indicated by the sensor identification information selected through a user input operation; and updating the version of the first software based on the second software.