Step Count Discrepancy Correction via Dual Device Sync
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional activity monitors may fail to count steps if forgotten or with low battery, and existing solutions that combine with remote devices do not adequately compensate for the lack of counting.
Innovation Solution
A method where a personal activity monitor and a smartphone exchange data via a wireless connection, detecting and correcting discrepancies in step counting by identifying periods of inconsistent data and supplementing missing counts, ensuring reliable tracking regardless of device availability or battery status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a personal activity monitor is used to count steps, then step counting function is provided, but the device may be forgotten or fail causing loss of tracking
Solution Approach 1:
The smartphone acts as an intermediary device that receives step data from the personal activity monitor via wireless connection. The smartphone's step counting application serves as a backup counter that can compensate when the personal activity monitor fails or is forgotten, thereby improving reliability without requiring the user to manually intervene.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary synchronization of step counts between the personal activity monitor and smartphone at regular intervals. This preliminary action ensures that if the personal activity monitor fails, the smartphone already has synchronized data to compensate for the loss, improving reliability before failure occurs.
2Loss of information
If step data is continuously synchronized between devices, then data consistency is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous synchronization, the system performs step data synchronization periodically at predetermined intervals. The smartphone compares step counts with the personal activity monitor at these periodic intervals, maintaining data consistency while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The smartphone's step counting application autonomously compares its step count with the personal activity monitor's data during synchronization intervals. The system automatically detects discrepancies and supplements missing data without requiring user intervention, reducing the energy burden on the personal activity monitor while maintaining data consistency.
3Measurement precision
If the smartphone continuously monitors step data, then accurate tracking is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The smartphone performs step counting and comparison operations periodically at predetermined intervals rather than continuously. During synchronization intervals, the smartphone compares its step count with the personal activity monitor's data. This periodic operation maintains measurement precision while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the smartphone's existing step counting capability as a temporary backup solution rather than requiring the personal activity monitor to continuously verify data. The smartphone's processor and sensors are used intermittently to supplement missing data, leveraging available resources efficiently without requiring continuous high-energy operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Method for counting steps taken by a user, by a first device (personal activity monitor 1) and by a second device (smartphone 2) which communicate with each other, the method comprising the steps of: /a1/ detecting and counting the steps of the user, by the first device (1), /a2/ detecting and counting the steps of the user, by the second device (2), /b/ transferring step data from one of the two devices to the other of the two devices, /c/ identifying at least a first time period (Tw) for which a difference in the number of steps counted by the first device (1) and by the second device (2) is greater than a predetermined threshold (S), /d/ supplementing the step data recorded for said first time period in one of the two devices with the step data from the other of the two devices.