Scale-based time synchrony

• US 10,215,619 B1
• Filed: 09/06/2016
• Issued: 02/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Physiowave, Inc. (Omron Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Physiowave, Inc. (Omron Corporation)
• Inventors: Kovacs, Gregory T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huls, Natalie
• Application Number:
  US15/257,569
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/50 having additional measuring devices, e.g. for height
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/005 compensating for timing error by adjustment in the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup

Abstract

Certain aspects of the disclosure are directed to an apparatus including a weighing-scale platform, housing, and a plurality of sensors and sensor-data processing to collect a first set of physiological data while the user is standing on the platform. The first set of has an accuracy component that is dependent on or defined using a time-based interval or time-based metric. The apparatus further includes data-assimilation circuitry to provide synchronization by accessing a profile having information for identifying the user, accessing an indication of the time interval or metric derived from the first set of physiological data specific to the user, identifying a peripheral device including physiological-measuring circuitry with a second set of physiological data, the second set of physiological data being from and specific to the user, and while accounting for the time-based inaccuracies, comparing aspects of the first and second sets of physiological data.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a weighing-scale platform and weighing-scale housing configured and arranged for a user to stand on the platform;

in the housing, a plurality of sensors and sensor-data processing circuitry configured and arranged to collect a first set of physiological data from the plurality of sensors and specific to the user while the user is standing on the platform, the first set of physiological data from the user having a time-based interval or time-based metric; and

data-assimilation circuitry being configured and arranged to provide synchronization by;

identifying and connecting to a peripheral device including physiological-measuring circuitry with a second set of physiological data, the second set of physiological data being from and specific to the user and being subject to time-based inaccuracies relative to the time-based interval or time-based metric, and

while accounting for the time-based inaccuracies, comparing aspects of the first and second sets of physiological data and therein correcting for the time-based inaccuracies between the first and second sets of physiological data using a time reference message shared between the platform and the peripheral device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further including communication circuitry configured and arranged to output the time reference message to the peripheral device requesting a time stamp and to receive a return message from the peripheral device with the time stamp, the data-assimilation circuitry configured and arranged to determine a time adjustment for the second set of physiological data based on the time stamp in the return message and a time-latency associated with the peripheral device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data-assimilation circuitry is configured and arranged to provide the synchronization responsive to verification of identification of the user by the peripheral device within a threshold period of time.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further including the peripheral device having at least one accelerometer, and configured and arranged to output a signal indicative of impact of the peripheral device in response to a mechanical input caused by interaction between the peripheral device and the weighing-scale platform, which wherein the data-assimilation circuitry is configured and arranged to provide synchronization in response to receiving the output signal.

5. An apparatus comprising:

a weighing-scale platform and weighing-scale housing configured and arranged for a user to stand on the platform;

in the housing, a plurality of sensors and sensor-data processing circuitry configured and arranged to collect a first set of physiological data from the plurality of sensors and specific to the user while the user is standing on the platform, the first set of physiological data from the user having an accuracy component that is dependent on or defined using a time-based interval or time-based metric; and

data-assimilation circuitry being configured and arranged to provide synchronization by;

accessing a profile having information for identifying the user in response to the user standing on the platform,

accessing an indication of the time-based interval or metric derived from the first set of physiological data specific to the user,

identifying a peripheral device including physiological-measuring circuitry with a second set of physiological data, the second set of physiological data being from and specific to the user and being subject to time-based inaccuracies, and

while accounting for the time-based inaccuracies, comparing aspects of the first and second sets of physiological data.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the data-assimilation circuitry is further configured and arranged to synchronize the second set of physiological data with the first set of physiological data based on the time-based interval or time-based metric.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, further including communication circuitry configured and arranged to output a message to the peripheral device requesting a time stamp and receive a return message from the peripheral device with the time stamp, the data-assimilation circuitry configured and arranged to determine a time adjustment for the second set of physiological data based on the time stamp in the return message and a time-latency associated with the peripheral device receiving the message.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the data-assimilation circuitry is configured and arranged to suggest the time adjustment to the peripheral device to time-synchronize with the peripheral device.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the data-assimilation circuitry is further configured and arranged to determine the time-latency associated with the peripheral device, the time-latency including an amount of time that has passed from when the communication circuitry outputs the message and when the peripheral device receives the message.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein data-assimilation circuitry is configured and arranged to determine the time-latency based on a time according to the communication circuitry that the message was output, a time according to the communication circuitry that the return message is received, a time according to the peripheral device that the message is received, and a time according to the peripheral device that the return message is output.

11. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the data-assimilation circuitry is located in the housing and integrated with the sensor-data processing circuitry.

12. The apparatus of claim 5, further including communication circuitry and wherein the data-assimilation circuitry is remote from the weighing-scale platform and housing and communicatively coupled thereto via a communication channel defined by the communication circuitry.

13. The apparatus of claim 5, further including the peripheral device having at least one accelerometer, and configured and arranged to output a signal indicative of movement of the peripheral device in response to a user dropping the peripheral device on the weighing-scale platform, wherein the data-assimilation circuitry is configured and arranged to provide synchronization in response to receiving the output signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the data-assimilation circuitry is configured and arranged to provide the synchronization responsive to verification of identification of the user by the data-assimilation circuitry and the peripheral device within a threshold period of time.

15. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the data-assimilation circuitry is configured and arranged to communicate with the peripheral device via a direct communication include a communication selected from the group consisting of:

Near Field Communication (NFC), Bluetooth, and wireless.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a weighing-scale platform and weighing-scale housing configured and arranged for a user to stand on the platform;

in the housing, a plurality of sensors and sensor-data processing circuitry configured and arranged to collect a first set of physiological data from the plurality of sensors and specific to the user while the user is standing on the platform, the first set of physiological data from the user being combinable with a second set of physiological data from a peripheral device to derive additional physiological data that is defined using a time-based interval or time-based metric; and

data-assimilation circuitry being configured and arranged to provide synchronization between the first set of physiological data and the second set of physiological data by;

identifying and connecting to a peripheral device including physiological-measuring circuitry configured and arranged to collect the second set of physiological data, the second set of physiological data being from and specific to the user and being subject to time-based inaccuracies relative to the time-based interval or time-based metric;

providing a time reference message shared between the weighing-scale platform and the peripheral device to assess the time-based interval or time-based metric; and

using the shared time reference message, comparing aspects of the first and second sets of physiological data and therein correcting for time-based inaccuracies between the first and second sets of physiological data.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further including communication circuitry configured and arranged to output the time reference message to the peripheral device requesting a time stamp and receive a return message from the peripheral device with the time stamp, the data-assimilation circuitry configured and arranged to determine a time adjustment for the second set of physiological data based on the time stamp in the return message and a time-latency associated with the peripheral device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the data-assimilation circuitry is further configured and arranged to determine the time-latency associated with the peripheral device, the time-latency including an amount of time that has passed from when the scale outputs the message and when the peripheral device receives the time-reference message.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein data-assimilation circuitry is configured and arranged to determine the time-latency based on a time according to the scale that the message was output, a time according to the scale that the return message is received, a time according to the peripheral device that the time-reference message is received, and a time according to the peripheral device that the return message is output.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the time reference message is a radio frequency signal transmitted between the weighing-scale platform and the peripheral device.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the time reference message is an acoustic signal transmitted between the weighing-scale platform and the peripheral device.

22. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the time reference message is an optical signal transmitted between the weighing-scale platform and the peripheral device.

23. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the time reference message is a mechanical input signal transmitted between the weighing-scale platform and the peripheral device, the mechanical input signal being caused by mechanically contacting together the weighing-scale platform and peripheral device.

24. A method for use with a weighing-scale platform and weighing-scale housing having a plurality of sensors and sensor-data processing circuitry configured to interact with a user while the user stands on the platform, the method comprising:

collecting a first set of physiological data from the plurality of sensors and specific to the user, the first set of physiological data obtained while the user is standing on the platform;

combining the first set of physiological data from the user with a second set of physiological data from a peripheral device to derive additional physiological data that is defined using a time-based interval or time-based metric; and

via data-assimilation circuitry, providing synchronization between the first set of physiological data and the second set of physiological data by;

identifying and connecting to a peripheral device including physiological-measuring circuitry configured and arranged to collect the second set of physiological data, the second set of physiological data being from and specific to the user and being subject to time-based inaccuracies relative to the time-based interval or time-based metric;

providing a time reference message shared between the weighing-scale platform and the peripheral device to assess the time-based interval or time-based metric; and

using the shared time reference message, comparing aspects of the first and second sets of physiological data and therein correcting for time-based inaccuracies between the first and second sets of physiological data.