Communication Between Portable Apparatus and Counterpart Apparatus

• US 20090280745A1
• Filed: 03/10/2009
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Original Assignee: Polar Electro Oy
• Inventors: Granqvist, Niclas, Kemppainen, Juhani
• Granted Patent: US 8,437,694 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.300
• 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 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/222 combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/50 Secure pairing of devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A portable apparatus, a counterpart apparatus and communication method are disclosed. The communication method comprises: communicating wirelessly an identifier from a portable apparatus to a counterpart apparatus by an induction-based magnetic field; executing a pairing protocol utilizing the identifier between the radio transceiver of the portable apparatus and a radio transceiver of the counterpart apparatus by electric radiation; and communicating information between the radio transceiver of the portable apparatus and the radio transceiver of the counterpart apparatus by electric radiation.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus comprising:

an induction-based transmitter configured to wirelessly provide an identifier to a counterpart apparatus by a magnetic field; and

a radio transceiver configured to execute a pairing protocol utilizing the identifier with the counterpart apparatus by electric radiation, and to communicate information with the counterpart apparatus by electric radiation.

2. The portable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the induction-based transmitter comprises a kilohertz-range transmitter, a passive radio-frequency identification tag, or a near field communication transmitter.

3. The portable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the radio transceiver comprises a proprietary transceiver, or a Bluetooth transceiver.

4. The portable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the identifier comprises an identifier associated with the radio transceiver, an identifier associated with the portable apparatus, an identifier of the induction-based transmitter, an identifier defining a transmission channel of the induction-based transmitter, a medium access control address of the radio transceiver, or a part of a medium access control address of the radio transceiver.

5. The portable apparatus of claim 4, wherein the induction-based transmitter is configured to wirelessly provide a predetermined number of the least significant bits of the medium access control address of the radio transceiver.

6. The portable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information comprises information specific to a user of the portable apparatus, information specific to the portable apparatus, or information specific to the counterpart apparatus.

7. The portable apparatus of claim 1, wherein the portable apparatus comprises an electronic circuit, a heart rate monitor, a heart rate transmitter wearable on the chest of a user, a personal measurement device, a wrist-worn measurement device, or a subscriber terminal of a radio system.

8. A counterpart apparatus comprising:

an induction-based receiver configured to wirelessly obtain an identifier from a portable apparatus by a magnetic field; and

a radio transceiver configured to execute a pairing protocol utilizing the identifier with the portable apparatus by electric radiation, and to communicate information with the portable apparatus by electric radiation.

9. The counterpart apparatus of claim 8, wherein the induction-based receiver comprises a kilohertz-range receiver, a radio-frequency identification tag reader, or a near field communication receiver.

10. The counterpart apparatus of claim 8, wherein the radio transceiver comprises a proprietary transceiver, or a Bluetooth transceiver.

11. The counterpart apparatus of claim 8, wherein the identifier comprises an identifier associated with the radio transceiver of the portable apparatus, an identifier associated with the portable apparatus, an identifier of the induction-based transmitter, an identifier defining a transmission channel of the induction-based transmitter, a medium access control address of the radio transceiver, or a part of a medium access control address of the radio transceiver.

12. The counterpart apparatus of claim 11, wherein the induction-based receiver is configured to wirelessly receive a predetermined number of the least significant bits of the medium access control address of the radio transceiver.

13. The counterpart apparatus of claim 8, wherein the information comprises information specific to a user of the portable apparatus, information specific to the portable apparatus, or information specific to the counterpart apparatus.

14. The counterpart apparatus of claim 8, wherein the counterpart apparatus comprises an electronic circuit, a computer, an exercise apparatus, or a health club apparatus.

15. A communication method comprising:

communicating wirelessly an identifier from a portable apparatus to a counterpart apparatus by an induction-based magnetic field;

executing a pairing protocol utilizing the identifier between the radio transceiver of the portable apparatus and a radio transceiver of the counterpart apparatus by electric radiation; and

communicating information between the radio transceiver of the portable apparatus and the radio transceiver of the counterpart apparatus by electric radiation.

16. A portable apparatus comprising:

means for wirelessly providing an identifier to a counterpart apparatus by an induction-based magnetic field; and

means for executing a pairing protocol utilizing the identifier with the counterpart apparatus by electric radiation, and for communicating information with the counterpart apparatus by electric radiation.

17. A counterpart apparatus comprising:

means for wirelessly obtaining an identifier from a portable apparatus by an induction-based magnetic field; and

means for executing a pairing protocol utilizing the identifier with the portable apparatus by electric radiation, and for communicating information with the portable apparatus by electric radiation.