Smart Garment Sensor Activation via Visual Symbol
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing smart garments with integrated sensors lack an efficient mechanism for user-controlled activation of activity data recording, leading to unnecessary power consumption and potential misuse of sensor functions.
Innovation Solution
A method and system where a visual symbol on the garment encodes a unique code string, allowing a user to activate the sensor using a portable electronic device by imaging the symbol, with optional user credential authentication to control data recording and access permissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the sensor is continuously activated to record activity data, then the availability of activity data is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor activation state is made dynamic rather than static. The system transitions between active recording and inactive states based on user-triggered events. The visual symbol acts as a dynamic trigger that initiates sensor activation only when needed, allowing the system to adapt its operational state from continuous to intermittent based on user interaction requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of continuous operation, the sensor operates in periodic intervals triggered by visual symbol detection. The system alternates between recording periods (when the visual symbol is detected and activated) and idle periods (when no activation occurs), creating a periodic operation pattern that reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining data availability during active periods.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the sensor is continuously activated, then the functionality is always available, but the risk of misuse increases
Solution Approach 1:
The visual symbol serves as an intermediary between the user and the sensor activation. Instead of direct continuous activation, the system requires the visual symbol to be detected first, which acts as a mediating trigger. This intermediary mechanism ensures that sensor activation is intentionally initiated by the user through the visual symbol, preventing unauthorized or accidental activation while maintaining functionality availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The visual symbol detection and code string verification occur as preliminary actions before sensor activation. The system performs these preliminary checks to ensure proper authorization and intent before allowing the sensor to begin recording. This preliminary action layer prevents misuse by verifying that the appropriate visual trigger is presented before enabling the sensor's full functionality.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a complex authentication system is implemented, then the security against misuse is improved, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The visual symbol acts as a simple copy or representation of authentication authority. Instead of requiring complex authentication procedures, the system uses the visual symbol as a simplified copy that carries authentication information. When detected, the visual symbol provides sufficient proof of authorization to activate the sensor, maintaining security while dramatically simplifying the user interaction from complex authentication to simple visual recognition.
Data Source
AI summary
The method comprises receiving a representation of a visual symbol, wherein the visual symbol comprises a code string identifying the garment that is encoded into the visual symbol (101). The method comprises establishing, based on the representation of the visual symbol, the identity of the garment (102). The method comprises transmitting, to the identified garment, an authorisation code to activate a sensor of the garment to record activity data (103).