Event-driven transitions in absorbent article management

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016170776-A1
Application number	US-201314787583-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 30, 2013
Priority date	Apr 30, 2013
Publication date	Jun 16, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of operating a datalogger adapted for logging sensor data from an absorbent article having at least one sensor element and the datalogger are described. The method includes: determining an external event; and on determination of the external event, transitioning from a first operating condition to a second operating condition. The external event can be an event selected from: a disconnection event in which the datalogger is disconnected from the absorbent article; a connection event in which the datalogger is connected to an absorbent article; a charge event in which the datalogger is connected to a charging station; and a user interaction event in which the user interacts with a user interface element of the datalogger. The first and second operation conditions can be selected from: a datalogging condition; a standby condition; a status notification condition; and a data transmission condition.

First claim

1 . A method of operating a datalogger adapted for logging sensor data from an absorbent article having at least one sensor element, the method comprising:
determining an external event; and on determination of the external event, transitioning from a first operating condition to a second operating condition.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the external event is an event selected from: a disconnection event in which the datalogger is disconnected from the absorbent article; a connection event in which the datalogger is connected to an absorbent article; a charge event in which the datalogger is connected to a charging station; and a user interaction event in which the user interacts with a user interface element of the datalogger.

3 . The method of claim 1 or 2 , wherein the first and second operation conditions are selected from: a datalogging condition; a standby condition; a status notification condition; and a data transmission condition.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the datalogger is battery powered and the status notification condition is a low battery notification condition.

5 . The method of claim 3 or 4 , wherein the datalogging condition comprises the transmission of sensor data over a data link, and wherein the status notification condition is a data link failure condition.

6 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the datalogging condition comprises the storage of sensor data in a memory internal to the datalogger and the transmission of stored sensor data at predetermined intervals over a data link, and
wherein the data transmission condition is a flush condition in which sensor data stored in the memory is transmitted over the data link at other than a predetermined interval of the datalogging condition.

7 . The method of any one of claims 1 to 6 further comprising transitioning from the second operating condition to a third operating condition on determination of a further event.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the further event is an internal event selected from the expiry of a timer associated with the second operating condition; the completion of a process associated with the second operating condition; and a change in status of an internal device.

9 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the further event is an external event selected from: a disconnection event in which the datalogger is disconnected from the absorbent article; a connection event in which the datalogger is connected to an absorbent article; a charge event in which the datalogger is connected to a charging station; and a user interaction event in which the user interacts with a user interface element of the datalogger.

10 . The method of any one of claims 1 to 9 , wherein the determination of the external event comprises detection of a change in state of an electrical circuit of the datalogger that is responsive to an external event.

11 . The method of any one of claims 1 to 10 , wherein the determination of the external event comprises detection of at least one of: a change in state of at least one electrical contact on the exterior of the datalogger; a change in state of at least one sensor on the exterior of the datalogger; a change in state of at least one switch on the exterior of the datalogger.

12 . A datalogger adapted for logging sensor data from an absorbent article having at least one sensor element, the datalogger comprising:
a processor configured to determine an external event and, on determination of the external event, to transition from a first operating condition to a second operating condition.

13 . The datalogger of claim 12 , wherein the external event is an event selected from: a disconnection event in which the datalogger is disconnected from the absorbent article; a connection event in which the datalogger is connected to an absorbent article; a charge event in which the datalogger is connected to a charging station; and a user interaction event in which the user interacts with a user interface element of the datalogger.

14 . The datalogger of claim 12 or 13 , wherein the first and second operation conditions are selected from: a datalogging condition; a standby condition; a status notification condition; and a data transmission condition.

15 . The datalogger of claim 14 , further comprising a battery and wherein the status notification condition is a low battery notification condition.

16 . The datalogger of claim 14 or 15 , further comprising a transmitter and wherein the datalogging condition comprises the transmission of sensor data over a data link, and wherein the status notification condition is a data link failure condition.

17 . The datalogger of claim 14 or 15 , further comprising: a memory adapted to store sensor data; and a transmitter,
wherein the datalogging condition comprises the storage of sensor data in the memory and the transmission of stored sensor data at predetermined intervals with the transmitter, and
wherein the data transmission condition is a flush condition in which sensor data stored in the memory is transmitted with the transmitter at other than a predetermined interval of the datalogging condition.

18 . The datalogger of any one of claims 12 to 17 wherein the processor is configured to transition from the second operating condition to a third operating condition on determination of a further event.

19 . The datalogger of claim 18 , wherein the further event is an internal event selected from the expiry of a timer associated with the second operating condition; the completion of a process associated with the second operating condition; and a change in status of an internal device.

20 . The datalogger of claim 18 , wherein the further event is an external event selected from: a disconnection event in which the datalogger is disconnected from the absorbent article; a connection event in which the datalogger is connected to an absorbent article; a charge event in which the datalogger is connected to a charging station; and a user interaction event in which the user interacts with a user interface element of the datalogger.

21 . The datalogger of any one of claims 12 to 20 , wherein the determination of the external event comprises detection of a change in state of an electrical circuit of the datalogger that is responsive to an external event.

22 . The datalogger of any one of claims 12 to 21 , wherein the determination of the external event comprises detection of at least one of: a change in state of at least one electrical contact on the exterior of the datalogger; a change in state of at least one sensor on the exterior of the datalogger; and a change in state of at least one switch on the exterior of the datalogger.

Assignees

• Sca Hygiene Prod Ab

Inventors

• Bergström Per
• Olofsson Ranta Christer
• Ålsnäs Björn
• Bosaeus Mattias

Classifications

• A61F2013/424

  having an electronic device · CPC title

• G06F9/44505 Primary

  Configuring for program initiating, e.g. using registry, configuration files · CPC title

• A61F13/42 Primary

  with wetness indicator or alarm · CPC title

• G06F1/3212

  Monitoring battery levels, e.g. power saving mode being initiated when battery voltage goes below a certain level · CPC title

• H04L67/12

  specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks · CPC title