Data transfer between user-worn devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023367394-A1
Application number	US-202318313102-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 5, 2023
Priority date	May 12, 2022
Publication date	Nov 16, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

Wearable devices, systems of wearable devices, and methods of operating the same are disclosed. A first wearable device worn in contact with the user’s skin monitors the user and comprises a transmission electrode in contact with the user’s skin. A second wearable device comprises a reception electrode worn in contact with the user’s skin. The first wearable device can apply an alert signal to the transmission electrode and measures a transmission current at the transmission electrode. The second wearable device monitors an electrical status of the reception electrode and when the alert signal is detected applies an alert response signal to the receiver electrode. The first wearable device identifies application of the alert response signal to the receiver electrode by measurement of a variation of the transmission current at the transmission electrode whilst the alert signal is applied to the transmission electrode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system of wearable devices to be worn by a user comprising:
a first wearable device configured to be worn in contact with the user’s skin and to measure at least one physiological quantity with respect to the user, wherein the first wearable device comprises a transmission electrode configured to be worn in contact with the user’s skin; and a second wearable device configured to be worn by the user, wherein the second wearable device comprises a reception electrode configured to be worn in contact with the user’s skin, wherein the first wearable device is configured to respond to a trigger event determined by the first wearable device with reference to the at least one physiological quantity by: applying an alert signal to the transmission electrode; and measuring a transmission current at the transmission electrode, wherein the second wearable device is configured to monitor an electrical status of the reception electrode and in response to a determination that the electrical status is indicative of the alert signal being transmitted by the first wearable device to: apply an alert response signal to the receiver electrode, wherein the alert response signal is derived from the alert signal received at the reception electrode, and wherein the first wearable device is configured to determine whether the alert response signal has been applied to the receiver electrode by the second wearable device in dependence on a measurement of a variation of the transmission current at the transmission electrode whilst the alert signal is applied to the transmission electrode.

2 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first wearable device is responsive to the determination that the alert response signal has been applied to the receiver electrode by the second wearable device to:
cease applying the alert signal to the transmission electrode; and initiate transmission of user data derived from measurement of the at least one physiological quantity, wherein the transmission of the user data is encoded in a user data transmission signal applied to the transmission electrode, wherein the user data transmission signal further encodes checksum data for the user data.

3 . The system as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the second wearable device is configured to further monitor the electrical status of the reception electrode and to receive the user data transmission signal,
wherein the second wearable device is configured to data process the user data and the checksum data derived from the user data transmission signal and thereby to generate a determination of whether the user data transmission signal has been received correctly.

4 . The system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the second wearable device is responsive to the determination indicating that the user data transmission signal has been received correctly to:
apply a user data response signal to the receiver electrode, wherein the user data response is derived from the user data transmission signal received at the reception electrode, and wherein the first wearable device is configured to determine whether the user data response signal has been applied to the receiver electrode by the second wearable device in dependence on a measurement of a variation of the transmission current at the transmission electrode whilst the user data transmission signal is applied to the transmission electrode.

5 . The system as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the first wearable device is responsive to the determination that the user data response signal has been applied to the receiver electrode by the second wearable device to:
cease applying the user data response signal to the transmission electrode.

6 . The system as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the second wearable device is responsive to the determination indicating that the user data transmission signal has not been received correctly to:
generate a user advisory signal to indicate that the user should bring the second wearable device and the first wearable device into closer proximity.

7 . The system as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the second wearable device is responsive to a subsequent determination indicating that the user data transmission signal has been received correctly after having generated the user advisory signal to:
cease generation of the user advisory signal; and/or generate a user confirmation signal to indicate that the user data transmission signal has been correctly received so that the user needs no longer hold the second wearable device and the first wearable device in close proximity.

8 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second wearable device is configured to generate the alert response signal to phase match and amplitude match the alert signal received at the reception electrode.

9 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the second wearable device is configured to generate the alert response signal to amplitude match and phase shift the alert signal received at the reception electrode.

10 . The system as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the second wearable device is configured to generate the alert response signal with an opposite phase to the alert signal received at the reception electrode.

11 . The system as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first wearable device comprises at least one of:
electronic components arranged on a flexible substrate; printed electronic components; and an energy harvesting component to provide a source of electrical power to the first wearable device.

12 . A wearable device configured to be worn in contact with a user’s skin comprising:
measurement circuitry configured to measure at least one physiological quantity with respect to the user;
processing circuitry configured to perform data processing on physiological signals received from the measurement circuitry; and
a transmission electrode configured to be worn in contact with the user’s skin,
wherein the processing circuitry is configured to detect to a trigger event in dependence on the physiological signals received from the measurement circuitry and in response to cause:
an alert signal to be applied to the transmission electrode; and
measurement of a transmission current at the transmission electrode,
and wherein the wearable device is configured to determine whether the alert signal has been received by a further wearable device worn by the user in dependence on a measurement of a variation of the transmission current at the transmission electrode whilst the alert signal is applied to the transmission electrode.

13 . A wearable device configured to be worn by a user comprising:
a reception electrode configured to be worn in contact with the user’s skin; voltage monitoring circuitry to monitor an electrical status of the reception electrode; and voltage application circuitry to apply a response voltage to the reception electrode, wherein in response to a determination that the electrical status is indicative of an alert signal being transmitted by a further wearable device worn by the user to: apply an alert response signal to the receiver electrode, wherein the alert response signal is derived from the alert signal received at the reception electrode and is generated to cause a variation in a transmission current for application of the alert signal at a transmission electrode of the further wearable device.

14 . A method of operating a system of wearable devices worn by a user comprising:
wearing a first wearable device in contact with the user’s skin, wherein the first wearable device comprises a transmission electrode configured to be wor

Assignees

• Advanced Risc Mach Ltd

Inventors

• Ozer Emre
• Savanth Parameshwarappa Anand Kumar
• Kufel Jedrzej
• Gamage Sahan Sajeewa Hiniduma Udugama
• Biggs John Philip

Classifications

• G06F3/015 Primary

  Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection · CPC title

• A61B5/256 Primary

  Wearable electrodes, e.g. having straps or bands · CPC title

• A61B5/7285

  for synchronizing or triggering a physiological measurement or image acquisition with a physiological event or waveform, e.g. an ECG signal · CPC title

• A61B5/6801

  specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface · CPC title

• H04B13/005

  Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the human body · CPC title