Communication apparatus and method using human body as medium

• US 7,171,177 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2004
• Issued: 01/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Choi, Chang Auck, Park, Duck Gun, Kang, Sung Weon
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAO, MINH D
• Application Number:
  US11/024,050
• Publication Number:
  US 20060052056A1
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 455/188.1, 455/176.1, 455/168.1, 455/410, 455/15, 455/17, 455/100, 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 455/188.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 13/005 Transmission systems in which the medium consists of the human body

Abstract

Provided is to a communication apparatus and method using a human body as a medium, in which secure/normal data signals are transmitted/received to the inside and outside of a human body respectively, through at least two different frequency channels classified according to a predetermined reference value, to thereby efficiently use a frequency based on a physical characteristic of a channel and increase a data transmission rate while maintaining security.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus using a human body as a medium, comprising:

transmitting means for transmitting secure data signals to the inside of the human body and normal data signals to the outside of the human body through at least two different frequency channels classified according to a predetermined reference value to use a frequency based on a physical characteristic of a channel and increase a data transmission rate while maintaining security; and

receiving means for receiving the secure data signals transmitted through the conductive effect of the human body and the normal data signals transmitted through the radiation effect of the human body.

2. The communication apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the different frequency channels are classified into secure frequency channels and normal frequency channels,

wherein the secure frequency channels are in a range of 1 MHz or less, and

wherein the normal frequency channels are in a range of 10 MHz or more.

3. The communication apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the reference value is a frequency variation value according to a distance from the human body.

4. The communication apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the reference value is a frequency channel in a range of 1 MHz to 10 MHz.

5. The communication apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the transmitting means comprises:

a transmitting unit for outputting predetermined digital signals;

an encoder unit for receiving the output digital signals to classify the signals into the secure data signals and the normal data signals, respectively, through encryption;

a secure frequency modulation unit for receiving the classified secure data signals to modulate through at least one frequency channel;

a normal frequency modulation unit for receiving the classified normal data signals to modulate through at least another frequency channel; and

a signal synthesis unit for synthesizing the modulated secure and normal data signals to output to the inside and outside of the human body through a predetermined electrode.

6. The communication apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the receiving means comprises:

a secure frequency demodulation unit for receiving the transmitted secure data signals through the conductive effect of the human body to demodulate through at least one frequency channel;

a normal frequency demodulation unit for receiving the transmitted normal data signals through the radiation effect of the human body to demodulate through at least another frequency channel;

a decoder unit for converting the demodulated secure and normal data signals into digital signals; and

a receiving unit for receiving the converted digital signals.

7. A communication apparatus using a human body as a medium, comprising

a transmitting unit for outputting predetermined digital signals;

an encoder unit for receiving the output digital signals to classify the signals into secure data signals and normal data signals, respectively, through encryption;

a secure frequency modulation unit for receiving the classified secure data signals to modulate through at least one frequency channel classified according to a predetermined reference value;

a normal frequency modulation unit for receiving the classified normal data signals to modulate through at least another frequency channel classified according to a predetermined reference value; and

a signal synthesis unit for synthesizing the modulated secure and normal data signals to output to the inside and outside of the human body through a predetermined electrode;

wherein the secure data signals are transmitted to the inside of the human body and normal data signals to the outside of the human body through at least two different frequency channels classified according to a predetermined reference value to use a frequency based on a physical characteristic of a channel and increase a data transmission rate while maintaining security.

8. The communication apparatus as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a transmitting amplification unit for amplifying the secure and normal data signals output from the signal synthesis unit in a certain size.

9. The communication apparatus as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a transmission side impedance matching unit for matching the secure and normal data signals output from the signal synthesis unit with an impedance of the human body to facilitate signal transmission.

10. A communication apparatus using a human body as a medium, comprising:

a secure frequency demodulation unit for receiving secure data signals transmitted through the conductive effect of the human body to demodulate through at least one frequency channel classified according to a predetermined reference value;

a normal frequency demodulation unit for receiving normal data signals transmitted through the radiation effect of the human body to demodulate through at least another frequency channel classified according to a predetermined reference value;

a decoder unit for converting the demodulated secure and normal data signals into digital signals; and

a receiving unit for receiving the converted digital signals;

wherein the data signals are transmitted through at least two different frequency channels classified according to a predetermined reference value to use a frequency based on a physical characteristic of a channel and increase a data transmission rate while maintaining security.

11. The communication apparatus as set forth in claim 10, further comprising a receiving amplification unit for amplifying the secure and normal data signals received through the conductive effect and radiation effect of the human body in a certain size.

12. The communication apparatus as set forth in claim 10, further comprising a reception side impedance matching unit for matching the secure and normal data signals received through the conductive effect and radiation effect of the human body with an impedance of the human body to facilitate signal transmission.

13. The communication apparatus as set forth in claim 10, further comprising a switching unit for transferring the secure and normal data signals transmitted and received through the conductive effect and radiation effect of the human body to the transmission and reception sides, respectively.

14. A communication method using a human body as a medium, comprising:

(a) transmitting secure and normal data signals to the inside and outside of the human body, respectively, through at least two frequency channels classified according to a predetermine reference value to use a frequency based on a physical characteristic of a channel and increase a data transmission rate while maintaining security; and

(b) receiving the secure and normal data signals transmitted through the conductive effect and radiation effect of the human body.

15. The communication method as set forth in claim 14, wherein, in the step (a), the secure data signals are transmitted through at least one frequency channel classified less than the predetermined reference value, and the normal data signals are transmitted through at least another frequency channel classified more than or equal to the predetermined reference value.

16. The communication method as set forth in claim 14, wherein the different frequency channels are classified into secure frequency channels and normal frequency channels,

wherein the secure frequency channels are in a range of 1 MHz or less, and

wherein the normal frequency channels are in a range of 10 MHz or more.

17. The communication method as set forth in claim 14, wherein, in the step (a), the reference value is a frequency variation value according to a distance from the human body.

18. The communication method as set forth in claim 17, wherein the reference value is a frequency channel in a range of 1 MHz to 10 MHz.