Gateway device facilitating collection and management of data from a body area network to a study coordinating system
Inventors
Toth, Landy • Schwartz, Robert S. • Hariharan, Dhananjai
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12426783-B2
Publication Date
2025-09-30
Expiration Date
Abstract
A gateway device comprises a processing device, network interface, and sensor device interconnect. The processing device is configured to pair sensor devices associated with a subject with the gateway device utilizing the sensor device interconnect, wherein pairing the sensor devices comprises identifying sensing capabilities of the sensor devices. The processing device is also configured to provide, to a study coordinating system over a first network connection established utilizing the network interface, a gateway identifier and information characterizing the identified sensing capabilities of the sensor devices paired with the gateway device. The processing device is further configured to receive, from the study coordinating system, parameters for a study identifying data to be collected from sensor devices paired with the gateway device, to collect the identified data from the sensor devices over a second network connection established utilizing the network interface, and to provide the collected data to the study coordinating system.
Core Innovation
The patent describes a modular physiologic monitoring architecture in which a gateway device pairs one or more body area network sensor devices associated with a subject by identifying sensing capabilities of the sensor devices. During pairing, the gateway uses signals received from a given sensor device characterizing an electric field generated in a vicinity of a sensor device interconnect. The gateway provides a gateway identifier together with information characterizing the identified sensing capabilities to a study coordinating system over a first network connection established utilizing the gateway’s network interface.
After receiving one or more study parameters from the study coordinating system over the first network connection, the gateway identifies data to be collected from one or more sensor devices paired with the gateway. The gateway collects the identified data from the paired sensor devices over a second network connection established utilizing the network interface. The gateway then provides the collected data to the study coordinating system over the first network connection.
The document further emphasizes rapid onboarding and communication elements that support the pairing and data transfer flows described above, including gateway identifiers and capability information exchange with the study coordinating system. The architecture is described as including a study setup module, user devices, and a study database or cloud computing platform to coordinate study parameters and data exchange. Additional described options include local buffering upon disruption of the first network connection, compression and encryption of collected data, and stimulus initiation commands to stimulating devices.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides three independent claims (clm-00001, clm-00019, clm-00020). Across these claims, the core coverage includes pairing body area network sensor devices by identifying sensing capabilities, communicating a gateway identifier plus sensing-capability information to a study coordinating system, receiving study parameters specifying data to be collected, collecting the specified sensor data over a second connection, and providing the collected data back over the first connection, with pairing based at least in part on electric-field-characterizing signals near a sensor device interconnect.
Gateway device pairing with sensing capabilities and electric-field-based interconnect signals
A gateway device configured to pair one or more body area network sensor devices associated with a subject utilizing at least one sensor device interconnect, where pairing comprises identifying sensing capabilities of the one or more sensor devices, and where pairing a given sensor device is based at least in part on one or more signals received from the given sensor device characterizing an electric field generated in a vicinity of the at least one sensor device interconnect.
Study-coordinated exchange of gateway identifier and sensing-capability information
A gateway device configured to provide, to a study coordinating system over a first network connection established utilizing at least one network interface, a gateway identifier for the gateway device and information characterizing the identified sensing capabilities of the one or more sensor devices paired with the gateway device, and to receive from the study coordinating system over the first network connection one or more study parameters identifying data to be collected from at least one of the one or more sensor devices paired with the gateway device.
Collect specified sensor data over a second connection and provide it over the first connection
A gateway device configured to collect the identified data from the at least one sensor device paired with the gateway device over a second network connection established utilizing at least one network interface, and to provide the collected data to the study coordinating system over the first network connection.
Computer program product implementing the gateway pairing and study-coordinated data exchange
A computer program product comprising a non-transitory processor-readable storage medium having stored executable program code which, when executed, causes at least one processing device of a gateway device to pair one or more body area network sensor devices by identifying sensing capabilities, provide a gateway identifier and information characterizing the identified sensing capabilities to a study coordinating system over a first network connection, receive study parameters identifying data to be collected, collect the identified data from the paired sensor devices over a second network connection, and provide the collected data to the study coordinating system over the first network connection, where pairing of a given sensor device is based at least in part on one or more signals received from the given sensor device characterizing an electric field generated in a vicinity of the at least one sensor device interconnect.
Method performed by processing device with sensing-capability pairing and electric-field-based interconnect signals
A method comprising pairing one or more sensor devices of a body area network associated with a subject with a gateway device utilizing at least one sensor device interconnect, where pairing comprises identifying sensing capabilities, providing to a study coordinating system over a first network connection a gateway identifier and information characterizing the identified sensing capabilities, receiving one or more study parameters identifying data to be collected, collecting the identified data from the paired sensor devices over a second network connection, and providing the collected data to the study coordinating system over the first network connection, where pairing of a given sensor device is based at least in part on one or more signals received from the given sensor device characterizing an electric field generated in a vicinity of the at least one sensor device interconnect, and where the method is performed by at least one processing device comprising a processor coupled to a memory.
Across clm-00001, clm-00019, and clm-00020, the claims consistently require pairing body area network sensor devices by identifying sensing capabilities, exchanging a gateway identifier plus the sensing-capability information with a study coordinating system, receiving study parameters that specify which data to collect, collecting the specified sensor data over a second network connection, and providing the collected data back over the first network connection, with pairing additionally based at least in part on sensor-characterizing signals of an electric field generated near the sensor device interconnect.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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