Proximity-Based Wearable Wake-Up for Low-Power Activity Logging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing healthcare systems face challenges in efficiently managing power consumption and accurately identifying user location, especially in indoor settings, due to limitations in low-power microcontroller capabilities and high power consumption during location identification using RF signals, which is inadequate for wearable devices and dementia patients.
Innovation Solution
A healthcare system with proximity-based neighbor device wake-up and automatic user identification, utilizing low-frequency signals for location identification and biological signal transmission, minimizing power consumption and enabling automatic logging and analysis of user activity patterns without user intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If RF signals are used for location identification, then location accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic wake-up signals transmitted at predetermined intervals to activate the portable terminal for location identification and data reception. This periodic activation allows the terminal to remain in low-power sleep mode between transmissions, significantly reducing overall power consumption while maintaining the ability to accurately identify location when activated
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary wake-up signal mechanism that mediates between the fixed device and the portable terminal. The wake-up signal serves as a low-power intermediary that triggers the terminal to activate its higher-power RF communication only when necessary, thus reducing the direct power consumption of continuous RF signal transmission while maintaining location identification capability
2Measurement precision
If continuous monitoring is implemented to track user activity, then measurement accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic monitoring by transmitting wake-up signals at predetermined intervals rather than continuously. The portable terminal activates periodically to receive these signals and transmit activity data, enabling accurate activity pattern tracking over time while consuming significantly less power compared to continuous monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service monitoring where the portable terminal automatically activates and transmits activity data in response to wake-up signals without requiring user intervention. This automated periodic reporting mechanism maintains accurate activity pattern detection while minimizing power consumption through on-demand activation
3Measurement precision
If complex location calculation is performed to achieve accurate indoor positioning, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces complex mechanical calculation-based location identification with signal-based wake-up mechanisms. Instead of performing complex calculations to determine location, the system uses the presence and characteristics of wake-up signal transmission to identify the portable terminal's location, significantly reducing computational complexity while maintaining indoor positioning accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a heath care system having proximity-based neighbor device wake-up and automatic user identification function, a method for automatic logging of user's daily activity history, and a method for managing a user activity pattern, and the system comprises: a health or wellness service unit; and an user terminal. The health or wellness service unit transmits a wake-up signal for changing a state of the user terminal from a sleep state into a wake-up state, a low frequency (LF) signal for identifying a physical distance and direction between the health or wellness service unit and the user terminal, and a measured biological signal of a measuring object. The user terminal receives the biological signal, the wake-up signal, and the LF signal through bidirectional wireless communication with the health or wellness service unit, and transmits a terminal identification (ID) and a received signal strength indication (RSSI) corresponding to the received LF signal.