COMMUNICATING VIA A BODY-AREA NETWORK
In a first example of “Body-Area Networking” (“BAN”), a user wishing to access his electronic device ingests a small pill carrying a transmitter. The transmitter's signal carries an identification code that traverses the user's BAN and is read by the device. If the device recognizes that identification code as authenticate, then the device grants the user the desired access. In another example, the user again swallows a transmitter. When the user shakes hands with another person, the signal originating at the ingested transmitter is carried across the BAN of the first user, travels across the handshake to the BAN of the second user, then traverses the second user's BAN to her device. In a third example, a media player transmits audio information across the BAN to a headset worn by the user. The headset receives the signal, demodulates it, and renders the audio to the user.
1 . A method of allowing a user to access an electronic device, the method comprising:
establishing a first physical contact between the electronic device and the user;
receiving, by the electronic device via the first physical contact, a first varying electrical signal generated by a first transmitter ingested by the user;
demodulating, by the electronic device, the first received varying electrical signal to a first identification code; and
based, at least in part, on the first identification code, allowing further access to the electronic device.
2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the first physical contact comprises a finger of one of the user's hands and a finger of another of the user's hands concurrently touching the electronic device.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the first physical contact comprises one finger in contact with a capacitive touch-screen of the electronic device and another finger in contact with a frame of the electronic device.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the first physical contact comprises a finger of one of the user's hands touching the electronic device.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the first varying electrical signal comprises an element selected from the group consisting of: a direct electrical current, an alternating electrical current, and a varying capacitive field.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein allowing further access comprises allowing the setting of a parameter of the electronic device.
7 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
reviewing, by the electronic device, calendar information associated with the user;
based, at least in part, on the reviewed calendar information, calculating, by the electronic device, a number of transmitters needed; and
notifying, by the electronic device, the user of a number of transmitters to pack, the number based, at least in part, on the calculated number of transmitters needed.
8 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
noting, by the electronic device, a time associated with the receiving of the first varying electrical signal; and
based, at least in part, on the noted time, reminding the user to take medicine.
9 . The method of claim 1 :
wherein the first received varying electrical signal is further demodulated to a sensor code;
the method further comprising responding to the sensor code.
10 . The method of claim 9 wherein the sensor code is associated with an element selected from the group consisting of: a temperature and an acidity.
11 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
establishing a second physical contact between the user and another device; and
communicating by the electronic device via the first and second physical contacts to the other device.
12 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving, by the electronic device from the user, authentication information, wherein the authentication information is not based on the first ingested transmitter; and
disabling access based on the first ingested transmitter.
13 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
before the first transmitter is ingested, associating the first identification code with the user; and
before the first transmitter is ingested, associating the user with the electronic device.
14 . The method of claim 13 wherein associating the first identification code with the user comprises receiving information by the electronic device from an element selected from the group consisting of: packaging associated with the first transmitter and a computing device associated with a provider of the first transmitter.
15 . The method of claim 13 further comprising:
before the first transmitter is ingested, associating the first identification code with a plurality of users; and
before the first transmitter is ingested, associating the plurality of users with the electronic device.
16 . The method of claim 13 further comprising:
associating a plurality of identification codes with the user, each identification code associated with exactly one transmitter; and
associating a sequence of the plurality of the identification codes with the user.
17 . The method of claim 16 wherein allowing further access is further based on a position of the first received identification code in the sequence of codes associated with the user.
18 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
again receiving, by the electronic device via the first physical contact, the first varying electrical signal generated by a first transmitter ingested by the user;
again demodulating, by the electronic device, the first received varying electrical signal to the first identification code; and
if a threshold amount of time has passed between the receiving and the again receiving, then disabling further access to the electronic device based on the first identification code.
19 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:
receiving, by the electronic device via the physical contact, a second varying electrical signal generated by a second transmitter ingested by the user;
demodulating, by the electronic device, the second received varying electrical signal to a second identification code, the second identification code distinct from the first identification code;
disabling further access to the electronic device based on the first identification code; and
allowing further access to the electronic device based on the second identification code.
20 . The method of claim 19 wherein the first and second transmitters are the same.
21 . An electronic device configured for allowing a user access, the electronic device comprising:
a communications interface comprising two electrodes and configured for establishing a first physical contact with a user; and
a processor operatively connected to the communications interface and configured for:
receiving, via the first physical contact, a first varying electrical signal generated by a first transmitter ingested by the user;
demodulating the first received varying electrical signal to a first identification code; and
based, at least in part, on the first identification code, allowing further access to the electronic device.
22 . The electronic device of claim 21 wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of: a personal electronics device, a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant, a watch, eyeglasses, a computer, a tablet computer, a set-top box, a gaming console, an automated teller machine, a cash register, an order-entry device, a lock, a handle, and a media player.
23 . The electronic device of claim 21 wherein the two electrodes comprise a capacitive touch-screen of the electronic device and a frame of the electronic device.