Apparatus for measuring biological information and method for communicating data from apparatus for measuring biological information

• US 9,569,590 B2
• Filed: 05/02/2013
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Osang Healthcare Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: INFOPIA CO., LTD
• Inventors: Bae, Byeong Woo, Lee, Sung Dong, Suk, Hong Seong, Lee, Kyu Won
• Primary Examiner(s): Scheibel, Robert C
• Application Number:
  US14/398,610
• Publication Number:
  US 20150110092A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/10 between terminal device and access point, i.e. wireless air interface

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring biological information supporting multiplex communication. The apparatus for measuring biological information, according to one embodiment of the present invention, comprises: a measuring portion for measuring biological information through a biosensor; a data communication portion for transreceiving the biological information that is measured with an external device through a wireless communication network, which supports a client mode and an AP mode; and a control portion for accessing a communication network by controlling the client mode or the AP mode in a WiFi module. The present invention can transmit data to the external device through a connected AP by operating a wireless communication module in the client mode, or communicate data with the external device through a communication module of terminals, which connect by self-switching to the AP mode when the connected AP does not exist.

Claims

1. An apparatus for measuring biological information, comprising:

a measuring processor configured to measure biological information using a biosensor;

a processor configured to comprise a wireless processor comprising a WiFi processor that supports a client mode and an Access Point (AP) mode, and to transceive the measured biological information with an external device over an accessed communication network; and

the processor configured to control the client mode or the AP mode of the WiFi processor to access a communication network,

wherein when the processor does not find an adjacent accessible AP, the processor controls the WiFi processor to be set in AP mode;

wherein when the WiFi processor is in AP mode, the processor waits to detect a terminal accessing the apparatus based on the AP mode setting;

wherein the processor directly controls a communication device included in the terminal to transmit the measured biological information to the external device through the terminal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to comprise:

the processor configured to search any adjacent accessible AP; and

the processor configured to set the WiFi processor in the client mode in a case where an AP is found by the processor, and set the WiFi processor in the AP mode in a case where no AP is found by the processor.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor transmits data to the external device through the found AP in response to the WiFi processor set in the client mode.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further:

configured to, in response to the WiFi processor set in the AP mode, control the communication device included in the terminal.

5. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the measuring processor is further configured to comprise:

a sensor connector configured to connect a biosensor; and

a signal processor configured to convert biological signal measured by the biosensor into biological information,

wherein the apparatus further comprises;

a storage configured to store the converted biological information; and

a display configured to display the converted biological information.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless processor further comprises one or more of a Bluetooth device, a Zigbee device, and a Near Field Communication (NFC) device.

7. The apparatus of claim 6,

wherein the processor is further configured to receive, from an NFC terminal connected through the NFC device, connection information of the wireless processor equipped in the NFC terminal,

wherein the apparatus further comprises the processor configured to set connection information of a corresponding wireless processor by using the received connection information.

8. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein the processor is further configured to comprise a mobile communication device that comprises a third-generation (3G) or fourth-generation (4G) mobile communication device,

wherein the processor controls any one communication device based on a communication network access status of the wireless processor and a mobile communication device, or based on information on a user preferred network so as to access a communication network.

9. A method for communicating data in an apparatus for measuring biological information, the method comprising:

controlling, by the apparatus, access to a communication network through a client mode and an Access Point (AP) mode of a WiFi device; and

transceiving data including biological information to an external device over the communication network,

wherein the controlling of access to a communication network comprises,

searching for an adjacent accessible AP and when an AP is not found, setting the WiFi device to AP mode;

when the WiFi device is in AP mode, waiting to detect a terminal accessing the apparatus based on the AP mode setting;

directly controlling a communication device included in the terminal to transmit the measured biological information to the external device through the terminal.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the controlling of access to a communication network comprises:

searching for an adjacent accessible AP; and

setting a WiFi device in a client mode when the adjacent accessible AP is found by an AP search device, and setting the WiFi device in an AP mode in a case where the adjacent accessible AP is not found by the AP search device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the transceiving of data comprises, in response to the WiFi device set in the client mode, transmitting the data to an external device through the found AP.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the wireless communication device comprises one or more of a Bluetooth device, a Zigbee device, and a Near Field Communication (NFC) device.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising, prior to the controlling of access to the communication network,

receiving connection information of a wireless communication device equipped in an NFC terminal connected through the NFC device;

and

setting connection information of a corresponding wireless communication device by using the received connection information.