“Information Management System, And Method For Device Registration Of Measuring Device And Information Terminal” in Patent Application Approval Process (USPTO 20220007091): Patent Application

2022 JAN 25 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- A patent application by the inventor KITAMURA, Takashi (Kyoto, JP), filed on September 20, 2021, was made available online on January 6, 2022, according to news reporting originating from Washington, D.C., by NewsRx correspondents.

This patent application has not been assigned to a company or institution.

The following quote was obtained by the news editors from the background information supplied by the inventors: “In recent years, it has become widespread to perform health management by: measuring personal health-related information (also referred to as “health information” hereinafter), such as weight, blood pressure value, and activity level, by a measuring device; and recording and analyzing the measurement results by an information terminal, such as a smartphone.

“When such health management is performed, preferably the measuring device and the information terminal are connected to each other and the result of measurement by the measuring device can be automatically acquired by the information terminal without a user having to input the result to the information terminal each time. Specifically, for example, a method can be considered in which an information terminal receives measurement information from a measuring device by near-field wireless communication, but under circumstances in which a plurality of measuring devices of the same type are used, it is necessary to prevent erroneous reception of information from measuring devices other than the device that has actually performed the measurement.

“In order to solve such problems, a predetermined measuring device may be device-registered in a predetermined information terminal, and information may be exclusively acquired from the device-registered measuring device. The device registration is performed by, for example, registering, in an information terminal, identification symbols identifying individual measuring devices, and conventionally a method has been adopted in which identification information printed on a housing of a device or on a seal attached to the housing is manually input to the information terminal.

“With such a method, the task is complex for the user and may result in erroneous input. In contrast, Patent Document 1 proposes that serial information provided on a measuring device be acquired by a receiving device by taking a picture or scanning a code and that the serial information acquired be used for device registration.

“Additionally, pairing (mutual authentication of devices) has spread that uses wireless communication based on Bluetooth (trade name) (for example, Patent Document 2). In a specific authentication method, pairing is performed such that one of the devices transmits, by advertisement, information indicating that the device is ready for pairing and such that the other device receives the information and designates the first device.”

In addition to the background information obtained for this patent application, NewsRx journalists also obtained the inventor’s summary information for this patent application: “SUMMARY:

“Technical Problem

“Nevertheless, even in the technology set forth in Patent Document 1 described above, the user must capture an image (or scan) the identification information and thus, in this regard, a complex task arises similarly to the related art. Furthermore, in the technology described in Patent Document 2, in a situation in which a plurality of devices of the same type transmit advertisement information indicating that the devices are ready for pairing, a user fails to determine which of candidates displayed on an information terminal is to be paired and fails to achieve proper pairing.

“In light of the related art such as described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a technology that reduces a burden on a user when the user device-registers a measuring device in an information terminal.

“Solution to Problem

“In order to accomplish the object described above, the present invention provides an information management system including one or more measuring devices and one or more information terminals, wherein the measuring device includes: an output means including an oscillation device capable of generating at least ultrasonic waves; and a control means for using the ultrasonic waves generated by the oscillation device to transmit measuring device information including identification information identifying the measuring device, the information terminal includes: an input means including a microphone capable of detecting the ultrasonic waves, output means including at least a display means, a storage means, and a control means, the control means of the information terminal: acquires, via the microphone, the identification information from the ultrasonic waves output from the measuring device, causes the display means of the information terminal to display the measuring device having transmitted the identification information acquired, receives, via the input means, an input indicating that the measuring device displayed on the display means of the information terminal is to be registered on the information terminal, and causes the storage means to store the identification information regarding the measuring device for which the input indicating registration of the measuring device on the information terminal has been provided.

“The measuring device described above includes various measuring devices such as: body information measuring devices such as a scale, a body composition meter, a blood pressure monitor, a heart rate monitor, and a thermometer; activity measuring devices such as a pedometer and an activity meter provided in various fitness devices; and environmental information measuring devices such as a temperature and humidity meter, a noise meter, and an illuminometer. Further, the information terminal described above includes mobile information terminals such as a smartphone, a tablet terminal, and a laptop computer as well as a stationary information terminals.

“Note that for the identification information described above, a signal including the identification information may be superimposed on the ultrasonic waves for transmission, or the identification information may be represented by an output pattern of the ultrasonic waves.

“According to such a configuration, an operation performed by the user to device-register the measuring device on the information terminal is only to bring the measuring device and the information terminal into a device registration state and to confirm the measuring device displayed on the information terminal, thus enabling a reduction in burden on the user. Additionally, even with a plurality of measuring devices of the same type, the intensity of sound pressure detected by the microphone correlates with a distance from an ultrasonic wave source, and thus based on an accurate estimation that a device outputting the ultrasonic wave in the most intense sound pressure is the closest device, a desired measuring device can be selected from a positional relationship between the information terminal and the plurality of measuring devices.

“In addition, the measuring device information may include a measurement value obtained by the measuring device. With such a configuration, the data of the measurement value can also be transmitted using ultrasonic waves, and other communication means for data transmission can be omitted, thus enabling a reduction in the cost of the measuring device.

“Additionally, in a case of acquiring the identification information regarding a plurality of the measuring devices, the control means of the information terminal may cause, in response to acquisition of the identification information, the display means to preferentially display the measuring device for which ultrasonic waves with a more intense sound pressure have been detected by the microphone.

“In a case that the measuring device is registered on the information terminal, the operation is typically performed near the device to be registered. Thus, the configuration as described above allows the desired measuring device to be efficiently device-registered on the information terminal.

“Additionally, the control means of the measuring device may generate the ultrasonic waves in a unique pattern and cause the output means of the measuring device to generate a human-perceivable output in a pattern identical to the unique pattern, the control means of the information terminal may: cause the output means of the information terminal to generate a human-perceivable output in a pattern identical to the pattern of the output from the measuring device displayed on the display means of the information terminal, and use, as the input indicating the registration of the measuring device on the information terminal, reception, via the input means, of an input indicating that an occurrence pattern of the output from the measuring device displayed on the display means of the information terminal is identical to an occurrence pattern of the output from the information terminal.

“Note that “pattern” as used herein refers to the timing of the output, and does not mean the frequency of the ultrasonic waves. However, in a case where a plurality of measuring devices are present in the system, the ultrasonic waves emitted by the individual measuring devices may have different frequencies. FIG. 12 illustrates an image diagram of a “pattern” of the present specification. The horizontal axis of FIG. 12 represents the time axis. Black squares each indicate the presence of output.

“Note that “unique” described above does not only indicates that a pattern specific to each device is defined in advance but means that at the time of pattern output, the device can be distinguished from the other devices. Thus, the pattern may be a random pattern created each time from an individual seed, an individual random number table, and the like for each device.

“According to the configuration of the system as described above, the human-perceivable, predetermined pattern is simultaneously output by both the measuring device and the information terminal, and thus device registration can be achieved with easy determination of whether the device to be device-registered matches the device recognized by the information terminal.

“Additionally, the output means of the measuring device may include a sound wave generating means capable of outputting sound waves in an audible range, and the control means of the measuring device may cause the sound wave generating means to output ultrasonic waves in the unique pattern and to generate the sound waves in the audible range in an identical pattern.

“Such a configuration enables the user to auditorially check the pattern output by the measuring device even without viewing the measuring device, allowing the user to perform a device registration operation with focus placed only on the information terminal. This enables a reduction in complicatedness to the user.

“Additionally, the measuring device may further include a display means, and the control means of the measuring device may cause the sound wave generating means to generate the ultrasonic waves in the unique pattern, and may vary display of the display means in a pattern identical to the unique pattern. Note that the display means as used herein also includes a light emitting means such as a flashlight, and the pattern may be generated by blinking of the light emitting means.

“Such a configuration enables the user to perform the device registration operation by viewing both the measuring device and the information terminal, thus allowing the user to perform device registration even in a situation where generating sound is not appropriate.

“Additionally, the control means of the information terminal may vary display of the display means of the information terminal in a pattern identical to the unique pattern. In addition, the display means herein may also include light emitting means such as a flashlight, and the pattern may be generated by blinking of the light emitting means.

“Such a configuration allows the user to check the display means of the information terminal for device registration, while simultaneously checking the output pattern from the information terminal. Additionally, even in a situation where generating sound is not appropriate, device registration can be performed.

“In addition, the output means of the information terminal may include sound wave generating means capable of generating sound waves in the audible range, and the control means of the information terminal may cause the sound wave generating means of the information terminal to generate the sound waves in the audible range in a pattern identical to the unique pattern. Such a configuration allows the user to check the pattern without viewing the information terminal.”

There is additional summary information. Please visit full patent to read further.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“1. An information management system comprising one or more measuring devices and one or more information terminals, wherein the measuring device includes: a measuring device output device including an oscillation device capable of generating at least ultrasonic waves; and a measuring device processor configured to use the ultrasonic waves generated by the oscillation device to transmit measuring device information including identification information identifying the measuring device, the information terminal comprises: an input device including a microphone capable of detecting the ultrasonic waves, an information terminal output device including at least a display, a storage, and an information terminal processor, the information terminal processor configured to: acquire, via the microphone, the identification information from the ultrasonic waves output from the measuring device, cause the display of the information terminal to display the measuring device having transmitted the identification information acquired, receive, via the input device, an input indicating that the measuring device displayed on the display of the information terminal is to be registered on the information terminal, and cause the storage to store the identification information regarding the measuring device for which the input indicating registration of the measuring device on the information terminal has been provided.

“2. The information management system according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device information includes a measurement value obtained by the measuring device.

“3. The information management system according to claim 1, wherein in a case of acquiring the identification information regarding a plurality of the measuring devices, the information terminal processor is further configured to cause, in response to acquisition of the identification information, the display to preferentially display the measuring device for which ultrasonic waves with a more intense sound pressure have been detected by the microphone.

“4. The information management system according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device processor is further configured to generate the ultrasonic waves in a unique pattern and cause the measuring device output device to generate a human-perceivable output in a pattern identical to the unique pattern, and the information terminal processor is further configured to: cause the information terminal output device to generate a human-perceivable output in a pattern identical to the pattern of the output from the measuring device displayed on the display of the information terminal, and use, as the input indicating the registration of the measuring device on the information terminal, reception, via the input device, of an input indicating that an occurrence pattern of the output from the measuring device displayed on the display of the information terminal is identical to an occurrence pattern of the output from the information terminal.

“5. The information management system according to claim 4, wherein the measuring device output device includes a sound wave generator capable of outputting sound waves in an audible range, and the measuring device processor is further configured to cause the sound wave generator to output ultrasonic waves in the unique pattern and to generate the sound waves in the audible range in an identical pattern.

“6. The information management system according to claim 4, wherein the measuring device further includes a display, and the measuring device processor is further configured to cause the sound wave generator to generate the ultrasonic waves in the unique pattern, and vary display of the display in a pattern identical to the unique pattern.

“7. The information management system according to claim 4, wherein the information terminal processor is further configured to vary display of the display of the information terminal in a pattern identical to the unique pattern.

“8. The information management system according to claim 4, wherein the information terminal output device includes sound wave generator capable of generating sound waves in the audible range, and the information terminal processor is further configured to cause the sound wave generator of the information terminal to generate the sound waves in the audible range in a pattern identical to the unique pattern.

“9. The information management system according to claim 4, wherein the information terminal output device includes a vibration device vibrating the information terminal, and the information terminal processor is further configured to cause the information terminal to vibrate in a pattern identical to the unique pattern.

“10. The information management system according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device and the information terminal each include a wireless communication unit, including an antenna, capable of transmitting and receiving information from each other and device-register each other via the wireless communication unit.

“11. The information management system according to claim 1, wherein the measuring device is one of a scale, a body composition meter, a blood pressure monitor, a pulse meter, a thermometer, and an activity meter.

“12. The information management system according to claim 1, wherein the information terminal is a smartphone.

“13. A method for device registration of a measuring device on an information terminal, the method comprising the steps of: the measuring device generating ultrasonic waves to transmit measuring device information including identification information identifying the measuring device; the information terminal detecting the ultrasonic waves; the information terminal acquiring the identification information from the ultrasonic waves; the information terminal displaying the measuring device having transmitted the identification information acquired; the information terminal receiving an input indicating that the measuring device displayed is to be registered on the information terminal; and the information terminal storing the identification information regarding the measuring device for which the input indicating registration of the measuring device on the information terminal has been provided.”

URL and more information on this patent application, see: KITAMURA, Takashi. Information Management System, And Method For Device Registration Of Measuring Device And Information Terminal. Filed September 20, 2021 and posted January 6, 2022. Patent URL: https://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO1&Sect2=HITOFF&d=PG01&p=1&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsrchnum.html&r=1&f=G&l=50&s1=%2220220007091%22.PGNR.&OS=DN/20220007091&RS=DN/20220007091

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