User-wearable devices with power conserving features
First Claim
1. A method for use by a user-wearable device configured to wirelessly communicate with a base station, the method comprising:
- (a) detecting whether or not the user-wearable device is being worn by a user;
(b) when the user-wearable device is detected as being worn by a user, enabling wireless communication between the user-wearable device and a base station; and
(c) when the user-wearable device is detected as not being worn by a user, disabling wireless communication between the user-wearable device and a base station.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A user-wearable devices includes an on-body detector that uses one or more sensors of the device to detect whether or not the user-wearable device is being worn by a user. When the user-wearable device is detected as being worn by a user it is operated in a first mode, and when the user-wearable device is detected as not being worn by a user it is operated in a second mode that consumes less power than the first mode. Operating the user-wearable device in the first mode can include enabling wireless communication between the user-wearable device and a base station. Operating the user-wearable device in the second mode can include disabling wireless communication between the user-wearable device and a base station. Operating the user-wearable device in the second mode can also include disabling sensors of the user-wearable device and/or placing sensors of the user-wearable device in a low power mode.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for use by a user-wearable device configured to wirelessly communicate with a base station, the method comprising:
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(a) detecting whether or not the user-wearable device is being worn by a user; (b) when the user-wearable device is detected as being worn by a user, enabling wireless communication between the user-wearable device and a base station; and (c) when the user-wearable device is detected as not being worn by a user, disabling wireless communication between the user-wearable device and a base station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9)
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8. A user-wearable device, comprising:
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a wireless communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate with a base station; one or more sensors; and an on-body detector configured to use at least one of the one or more sensors to detect whether or not the user-wearable device is being worn by a user; a power manager configured to enable the wireless communication interface when the on-body detector detects that the user-wearable device is being worn by a user, and disable the wireless communication interface when the on-body detector detects that the user-wearable device is not being worn by a user. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for use by a user-wearable device, the method comprising:
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(a) detecting whether or not the user-wearable device is being worn by a user, said detecting being performed using at least one of the following non-motion sensors a capacitive sensor, an optical sensor, or a galvanic skin resistance sensor; (b) when the user-wearable device is detected as being worn by a user, operating the user-wearable device in a first mode; and (c) when the user-wearable device is detected as not being worn by a user, operating the user wearable device in a second mode, wherein the second mode consumes less power than the first mode. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A user-wearable device, comprising:
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one or more non-motion sensors selected from the group consisting of a capacitive sensor, an optical sensor, or a galvanic skin resistance sensor; an on-body detector configured to use at least one of the one or more non-motion sensors to detect whether or not the user-wearable device is being worn by a user; and a power manager configured to cause the user-wearable device to operate in a first mode, when the on-body detector detects that the user-wearable device is being worn by a user, and cause the user-wearable device to operate in a second mode, when on-body detector detects that the user-wearable device is not being worn by a user, wherein the second mode consumes less power than the first mode. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification