Wrist-top computer

• US 7,129,835 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2004
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Suunto Oy (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Suunto Oy (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nikkola, Ari
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US10/867,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20050134451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 3405391-53932, 600/503, 702182-186, 702/160, 702/176, 482 1- 9, 455/575.6, 455/90.1, 455/100
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0209 adapted for power saving
• 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 5/021 Measuring pressure in heart or blood vessels A61B5/0205 takes precedence
• 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 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices

Abstract

A method and apparatus in connection with a wristop computer. According to the method, a desired variable is measured using a measuring unit, the measured variable is equipped with at least one digital codeword and transmitted wirelessly over a transfer channel to a receiver, and at the other end of the transfer channel, the transmitter'"'"'s signal is identified on the basis of at least one codeword. According to the invention, the digital codeword is transmitted to the receiver together with the measured variable depicted as time-period data (t1 or t3).

Claims

1. A method in connection with a wrist-top computer, in which

measuring a desired variable using a measuring unit,

equipping the measured variable with at least one digital code word;

transmitting the measured variable with the at least one digital code word wirelessly over a transfer channel to a receiver, and

at the other end of the transfer channel, identifying the transmitted signal based on a digital code word,

wherein

the digital code word is transmitted to the receiver together with the measured variable depicted as time-period data (t1 or t3)

wherein fewer than 50% of a total number of bits of the code word are permitted as power-containing bits in the digital code word.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein there are as few bits containing power as possible are used in the digital code word.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein a maximum of 37.5% of a total number of bits of the code word are permitted as power-containing bits in the digital code word.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein at most two bits containing power are used in the code word.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the code word has eight bits.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein, after measuring the desired variable, transmitting several consecutive code words to the receiver, the several consecutive code words including two or more of a device ID code, a code identifying a type of measurement, and an error-correction code.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting the code word after a measurement period (t1).

14. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of transmitting the code word from one measurement period concurrently with a next measurement period.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein the desired variable is pressure of an oxygen bottle.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein one of the power-containing bits is a last bit in the code word.

20. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising the step of immediately transmitting additional measured variables the at least one digital code word upon completion of the step of transmitting an initial measured variable with the at least one digital code word.

8. An apparatus in connection with a wrist-top computer, which apparatus includes

a measuring unit for measuring a desired variable,

a transmitter/coder connected to the measuring unit, for equipping the measured variable with a digital code word and transmitting it to a transfer channel,

a receiver for receiving a signal from the transfer channel,

a data-processing unit for processing the received signal,

wherein

the transmitter and receiver apparatuses include means for processing the code word in a digital form and for processing the measurement variable as time-period data (t1 or t3),

wherein fewer than 50% of a total number of bits of the code word are permitted as power-containing bits in the digital code word.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the apparatus includes means for minimizing the bits containing power in the digital code word.

10. An apparatus according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the apparatus includes means for permitting only 37.5% of a total number of code bits are bits containing power in the digital code word.

11. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, at most, two bits containing power in the code word are used in the apparatus.

12. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the code word has eight bits.

13. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein, after the measuring the desired variable, the apparatus is adapted to transmit several consecutive code words to the receiver, the several consecutive code words including two or more of a device ID code, a code identifying a type of measurement, and an error-correction code.

17. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the code word from one measurement period is transmitted concurrently with a next measurement period.

18. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the desired variable is pressure of an oxygen bottle.

19. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein one of the power-containing bits is a last bit in the code word.