Wrist Information Device Position Tracking via Smartphone Segmentation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Wrist information devices face challenges in power consumption due to the need for satellite positioning systems, while mobile terminals are unsuitable for operations during activities due to their size and power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a wrist information device and a smartphone that communicate via energy-saving near-field wireless communication, allowing the smartphone to handle position detection and record activities, reducing power consumption by limiting the wrist device's usage to basic operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a wrist information device is equipped with a satellite positioning system for position detection, then position tracking capability is improved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition detection capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the functionality between two devices: the wrist information device handles basic operations (acceleration sensing, step counting, local storage) while the mobile terminal handles position detection via GPS and data management. This segmentation allows the wrist device to avoid the high power consumption of satellite positioning while maintaining comprehensive activity tracking capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile terminal acts as an intermediary that receives data from the wrist device via wireless communication and performs the position detection function. This mediator approach allows position tracking to be achieved without requiring the wrist device to have its own satellite positioning system, thus reducing its power consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If a mobile terminal is used for position detection and activity recording, then battery capacity and position detection capability are improved, but device size and portability during activities deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidportability during activities
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the heavy computational and power-intensive functions (position detection, data management, long-term storage) to the mobile terminal, while the wrist device retains only essential sensing and local buffering functions. This allows the mobile terminal's large battery and processing power to be utilized without requiring the user to wear a bulky device during activities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The wrist device autonomously performs basic measurements (acceleration, steps, local time tracking) and stores data locally, then automatically transfers this data to the mobile terminal when connected. This self-service capability ensures continuous activity tracking without requiring the mobile terminal to be actively processing data at all times, enabling portability during activities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3633464B1Information terminal, wrist information device, and system
Publication Date: 2021.06.02 CASIO COMPUTER CO LTD
  • EP3633464B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3633464B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3633464B1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

An information terminal (200) is used with a wrist information device (100). The information terminal (200) includes a position measurement module (215), communication circuit (217), a memory (214), and a processor (211). The position measurement module obtains position information. The communication circuit communicates with the wrist information device. The processor obtains information about an operation of a clock function input into the wrist information device during establishment of connection of the communication, obtains the position information from the position measurement module, and stores, in the memory, the position information and the information about the operation of the clock function in association with each other.