POWER MANAGEMENT IN A DATA-CAPABLE STRAPBAND

• US 20120317430A1
• Filed: 07/11/2011
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JB IP Acquisitions LLC
• Original Assignee: AliphCom, Inc. (AliphCom Corp.)
• Inventors: Rahman, Hosain Sadequr, Drysdale, Richard Lee, Luna, Michael Edward Smith, Fullam, Scott, Bogard, Travis Austin, Robison, Jeremiah, Utter, Max Everett II, Donaldson, Thomas Alan
• Granted Patent: US 8,793,522 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0004 characterised by the type of physiological signal transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/01 Measuring temperature of body parts ; Diagnostic temperature sensing, e.g. for malignant or inflamed tissue clinical contact thermometers G01K13/20
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4806 Sleep evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence; devices for inducing sleep A61M21/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6801 specially adapted to be attached to or worn on the body surface
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6802 Sensor mounted on worn items
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6814 Head
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6822 Neck
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6823 Trunk, e.g., chest, back, abdomen, hip
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6828 : Leg
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7455 : characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/20 : Clinical contact thermometers for use with humans or animals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/08 : Clock generators with changeable or programmable clock frequency
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3296 : by lowering the supply or operating voltage
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relates generally to electrical and electronic hardware, computer software, wired and wireless network communications, and computing devices, and more specifically to structures and techniques for managing power generation, power consumption, and other power-related functions in a data-capable strapband. Embodiments relate to a band including sensors, a controller coupled to the sensors, an energy storage device, a connector configured to receive power and control signals, and a power manager. The power manager includes at least a transitory power manager configured to manage power consumption of the band during a first power mode and a second mode. The band can be configured as a wearable communications device and sensor platform.

Claims

1. A band comprising:

a subset of sensors;

a controller coupled to the subset of sensors;

an energy storage device;

a connector configured to receive power and control signals, the connector coupled to the energy storage device;

a power manager comprising;

a transitory power manager configured to manage power consumption of the band during a first power mode in which no power is applied to the subset of sensors; and

a power clock controller configured to modify a clock rate of a clock signal for application to the controller as a function of a mode of operation of the band.

2. The band of claim 1, wherein the transitory power manager is configured further to manage the power consumption of the band during a second power mode in which power is applied to the subset of sensors, the second power mode being subsequent to the first power mode,

wherein the transitory power manager is configured to detect an application of power to the connector, and, responsive to the application of power, the transitory power manager switches the band from the first power mode to the second power mode.

3. The hand of claim 2, wherein the first power mode and the second power mode coincide with a first interval of time and a second interval of time, respectively.

4. The band of claim 3, wherein the first interval of time comprises an amount of time during which the orientation of the band is shared with other bands in one orientation and the second interval of time comprises another amount of time during which the orientation of the band is independent of the other bands.

5. The band of claim 3, wherein the first interval of time comprises an amount of time during which the band is shipped from a first geographic location to a second geographic location with the subset of sensors in an inoperable state and the second interval of time comprises another amount of time during which the subset of sensors in an operable state.

6. The band of claim 1, further comprising:

a power modification manager configured to modify an application of power to a sensor in the subset of sensors as function of the mode of operation,

wherein the subset of sensors includes an accelerometer.

7. The band of claim 6, wherein the power modification manager is configured to modify the application of power in accordance with a priority scheme.

8. The band of claim 1, further comprising:

a memory storing applications including executable instructions; and

a power modification manager configured to modify power drawn from energy storage device based on the processing of an application.

9. The band of claim 8, wherein the memory further stores data representing a priority scheme that prioritizes execution of the application in relation to other applications of the applications stored in the memory, wherein the power modification manager is configured further to control the processing of the application based on the priority scheme.

10. The band of claim 1, wherein the power clock controller comprising:

a voltage controller oscillator (“

VCO”

) configured to vary the clock signal to generate a variable clock signal during the mode of operation.

11. The band of claim 10, wherein the variable clock signal is configured operate the controller at a rate at which the subset of sensors generate data.

12. The band of claim 10, wherein the voltage controller oscillator is configured to generate the variable clock signal based on execution of an application including executable instructions.

13. The band of claim 1, further comprising:

a buffer predictor configured to predict an amount of memory for an event, and further configured to change the size of a buffer to provide the amount of memory.

14. The band of claim 10, wherein the event is either a change in activity or a change in mode, or both.

15. A method comprising:

receiving a first signal to enter a first power mode for a band including a subset of sensors including one or more accelerometers, the first power mode electrically isolating the subset of sensors from a battery during transit from a first geographic location to a second geographic location;

receiving a second signal into the band to exit the first power mode;

coupling internal to the band the battery to the subset of sensors responsive to receiving the second signal; and

entering a second power mode responsive to coupling the battery to the subset of sensors.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein entering the second power mode comprises:

maintaining electrical isolation between the battery and a sensor not within the subset of sensors; and

detecting whether to enter an operation power mode; and

coupling internal to the band the battery to the sensor upon detecting to enter the operation power mode.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein entering the second power mode comprises:

coupling internal to the band the battery to other sensors.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein receiving the second signal further comprises:

receiving a power signal via a connector; and

detecting the power signal at a power manager.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising:

determining an activity in which a user wearing the band is engaged;

receiving data from the subset of sensors associated with the activity; and

adjusting a frequency of a clock signal to achieve a threshold amount of throughput for the data received from the subset of sensors.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein adjusting the frequency of the clock signal comprises:

modifying operation of a voltage controller oscillator (“

VCO”

) to generate the frequency.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein modifying the operation of the voltage controller oscillator comprises:

determining a priority of one or more of the subset of sensors relative to other priorities of other sensors.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein modifying the operation of the voltage controller oscillator comprises:

determining a priority of an application that is executing relative to other priorities of other applications.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

detecting an event after which a sensor in the subset of sensors produces an amount of sensor data in a unit of time; and

adjusting a size of a buffer to match the amount of the sensor data.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein detecting the event comprises:

monitoring motion associated with an activity in which a user wearing the band is engaged;

comparing the motion associated with the activity to motion pattern data to identify precursor motion associated with a subsequent motion; and

establishing the size of the buffer for the amount of sensor data generated by the subsequent motion.

25. A band including a processor, a subset of sensors including one or more accelerometers, and a computer readable medium comprising executable instructions:

manage power consumption of the band during a first power mode in which no power is applied to the subset of sensors and during a second power mode in which power is applied to the subset of sensors, the second power mode being subsequent to the first power mode;

detect an application of power to a connector, and, responsive to the application of power;

switch the band from the first power mode to the second power mode;

modify a clock rate of a clock signal for application to the controller as a function of a mode of operation of the band; and

modify an amount of power delivered to a sensor in the subset of sensors based on the mode of operation.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 25, further comprising executable instructions to:

dynamically resize a buffer based on an amount of sensor data generated in the mode of operation.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 25, further comprising executable instructions to:

couple the battery to the subset of sensors and the processor to enter the second power mode subsequent the first power mode,

wherein the duration of the first power mode is indicative of an amount of time in transit.

28. The computer readable medium of claim 25, wherein the executable instructions to switch the band from the first power mode to the second power mode comprise executable instructions to:

generate a power hold signal.