IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,514,511
Granted Patent B2
US 12,514,511 · App. 17/633,472 · Granted Jan 6, 2026

Wireless connections between devices of motion tracking system and authentication of a user thereof

Inventors: José Carlos Coelho Alves (Oporto, PT); Pedro Filipe Xavier Rodrigues (Oporto, PT); Márcio Filipe Moutinho Colunas (Oporto, PT); Luís António Correia De Oliveira (Oporto, PT); André Moura Rodrigues Nogueira (Oporto, PT); Virgílio António Ferro Bento (Oporto, PT)
Assignee: SWORD HEALTH, S.A.
A61B5/7221A61B5/0024A61B5/6801H04B17/318
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,514,511
App. No.
17/633,472
Granted
Jan 6, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for establishing wireless communications connections between sensors and a computing apparatus of a motion tracking system include the steps: processing radiofrequency signals received by the computing apparatus and transmitted by each sensor, each radiofrequency signal including an advertisement package of the respective sensor; providing a number of RSSI per sensor based on the processed radiofrequency signals; computing and storing mean RSSI values based on the number of RSSI so that a number of RSSImean values is computed per sensor; computing velocities of change of RSSImean, vRSSI, based on the number of RSSImean values so that a number of vRSSI values is computed per sensor; establishing the wireless communications for which at least the following is fulfilled: the computing apparatus determines that at least some vRSSI values within a first period of the number of vRSSI values of each sensor has a modulus greater than a predetermined minimum velocity.

Claims (59)

1 . A method for establishing wireless communications connections between a plurality of sensors of a motion tracking system and a computing apparatus of the motion tracking system, each sensor being adapted for arrangement on a body of a user, the method comprising:

processing, by the computing apparatus, radiofrequency signals received by the computing apparatus and transmitted by each sensor of the plurality of sensors, each radiofrequency signal including an advertisement package of the respective sensor;

providing, by the computing apparatus, a plurality of received signal strength indicators, RSSI, per each sensor of the plurality of sensors based on the processed radiofrequency signals;

computing and storing, by the computing apparatus, mean RSSI values, RSSI mean , based on the pluralities of RSSI so that a plurality of RSSI mean values is computed per sensor;

computing, by the computing apparatus, velocities of change of RSSI mean , V RSSI , based on the pluralities of RSSI mean values so that a plurality of V RSSI values is computed per sensor; and

establishing, by the computing apparatus, the wireless communications connections between the computing apparatus and a set of sensors of the plurality of sensors for which at least the following is fulfilled: the computing apparatus determines that at least some V RSSI values within a first time period of the plurality of V RSSI values of each sensor of the set of sensors has a modulus greater than a predetermined minimum velocity;

wherein the predetermined minimum velocity is equal to or greater than zero.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the connections are established between the computing apparatus and the set of sensors for which the computing apparatus determines that some V RSSI values of each sensor of the set of sensors are greater than the predetermined minimum velocity.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the connections are established between the computing apparatus and the set of sensors whereby:

the computing apparatus determines that one or more V RSSI values within a second time period of the plurality of V RSSI values of each sensor of the set of sensors are within a predetermined velocity range; and

the computing apparatus etermines that the RSSI mean values for computing each V RSSI of said one or more V RSSI values are greater than a predetermined motionless threshold; and

wherein the predetermined velocity range at least comprises a value of zero.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein when the set of sensors comprises a number of sensors greater than a number of wireless communications connections that the computing apparatus established, the computing apparatus establishes connections with the sensors of the set of sensors having the RSSI mean values for computing each V RSSI of said one or more V RSSI values that have a smallest difference with respect to the RSSI mean values for computing each V RSSI of said one or more V RSSI values of other sensors of the set of sensors.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising after establishing the connections, not establishing, by the computing apparatus, any wireless communications connections between the computing apparatus and sensors different from those of the set of sensors until the established connections are first terminated.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising not establishing, by the computing apparatus, wireless communications connections between the computing apparatus and one or more sensors of the plurality of sensors for which at least one of the criteria for establishing the wireless communications connections is not fulfilled.

7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after establishing the connections:

processing, by the computing apparatus, radiofrequency signals received by the computing apparatus and transmitted by each sensor of the set of sensors when the wireless communications connections are established, each radiofrequency signal including first identification data of the respective sensor;

processing, by the computing apparatus, the first identification data of the radiofrequency signals; and

one of:

authenticating the user, by the computing apparatus, when the processed respective first identification data for all sensors of the set of sensors match or cooperate with corresponding second identification data for each respective sensor, the corresponding second identification data being stored in or being digitally accessible by the computing apparatus together with identification data of the user; or

terminating, by the computing apparatus, the wireless communications connections between the computing apparatus and all the sensors of the set of sensors when the processed respective first identification data of at least one sensor of the set of sensors does not match or cooperate with corresponding second identification data for the respective at least one sensor.

8 . The method of claim 7 , further comprising, after authenticating the user, at least one of:

retrieving, by the computing apparatus, a routine of exercises to be performed by the authenticated user; or

processing, by the computing apparatus, radiofrequency signals received by the computing apparatus and transmitted by each sensor of the plurality of sensors when the user is authenticated such that measurements included in the said radiofrequency signals are processed in order to provide a motion sequence of the user.

9 . A data processing apparatus adapted to at least wirelessly receive radiofrequency signals, the data processing apparatus comprising at least one processor adapted to at least perform:

processing radiofrequency signals received by the data processing apparatus and wirelessly transmitted by each sensor of a plurality of sensors, each sensor comprising one or more of: an accelerometer, a gyroscope, or a magnetometer, wherein each radiofrequency signal includes an advertisement package of the respective sensor;

providing a plurality of received signal strength indicators, RSSI, per each sensor of the plurality of sensors based on the processed radiofrequency signals;

computing and storing mean RSSI values, RSSI mean , based on the pluralities of RSSI so that a plurality of RSSI mean values is computed per sensor;

computing velocities of change of RSSI mean , V RSSI , based on the pluralities of RSSI mean values so that a plurality of V RSSI values is computed per sensor; and

establishing wireless communications connections between the data processing apparatus and a set of sensors of the plurality of sensors for which at least the following is fulfilled: the at least one processor determines that at least some V RSSI values within a first time period of the plurality of V RSSI values of each sensor of the set of sensors has a modulus greater than a predetermined minimum velocity, wherein the predetermined minimum velocity is equal to or greater than zero.

10 . The data processing apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the connections are established between the data processing apparatus and the set of sensors for which the following is further fulfilled: the at least one processor determines that the some VRSSI values of each sensor of the set of sensors are greater than the predetermined minimum velocity.

11 . The data processing apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the connections are established between the data processing apparatus and the set of sensors for which the following is further fulfilled:

the at least one processor determines that one or more V RSSI values within a second time period of the plurality of V RSSI values of each sensor of the set of sensors are within a predetermined velocity range; and

the at least one processor determines that the RSSI mean values for computing each V RSSI of said one or more V RSSI values are greater than a predetermined motionless threshold;

wherein the predetermined velocity range at least comprises a value of zero.

12 . The data processing apparatus of claim 11 , wherein when the set of sensors comprises a number of sensors greater than a number of wireless communications connections that the data processing apparatus can have established, the at least one processor establishes connections with the sensors of the set of sensors having the RSSI mean values for computing each V RSSI of said one or more V RSSI values that have a smallest difference with respect to the RSSI mean values for computing each V RSSI of said one or more V RSSI values of other sensors of the set of sensors.

13 . The data processing apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is adapted to at least further perform: after establishing the connections, not establishing any wireless communications connections between the data processing apparatus and sensors different from those of the set of sensors until the established connections are first terminated.

14 . The data processing apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is adapted to at least further perform: not establishing wireless communications connections between the data processing apparatus and one or more sensors of the plurality of sensors for which at least one of the criteria for establishing the wireless communications connections is not fulfilled.

15 . The data processing apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the at least one processor is adapted to at least further perform, after establishing the connections:

processing radiofrequency signals received by the data processing apparatus and transmitted by each sensor of the set of sensors when the wireless communications connections are established, each radiofrequency signal including first identification data of the respective sensor;

processing the first identification data of the radiofrequency signals; and

one of:

authenticating a user when the processed respective first identification data for all sensors of the set of sensors match or cooperate with corresponding second identification data for each respective sensor, the corresponding second identification data being stored in or being digitally accessible by the at least one processor together with identification data of the user; or

terminating the wireless communications connections between the data processing apparatus and all the sensors of the set of sensors when the processed respective first identification data of at least one sensor of the set of sensors does not match or cooperate with corresponding second identification data for the respective at least one sensor.

16 . The data processing apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the at least one processor is adapted to at least further perform, after authenticating the user, at least one of:

retrieving a routine of exercises to be performed by the authenticated user; or

processing radiofrequency signals received by the data processing apparatus and transmitted by each sensor of the plurality of sensors when the user is authenticated such that measurements included in the said radiofrequency signals are processed in order to provide a motion sequence of the user.

17 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions which, when executed by a device, cause the device to at least carry out the following:

processing radiofrequency signals received by the device and wirelessly transmitted by each sensor of a plurality of sensors, each sensor comprising one or more of: an accelerometer, a gyroscope and a magnetometer, wherein each radiofrequency signal includes an advertisement package of the respective sensor;

providing a plurality of received signal strength indicators, RSSI, per each sensor of the plurality of sensors based on the processed radiofrequency signals;

computing and storing mean RSSI values, RSSI mean , based on the pluralities of RSSI so that a plurality of RSSI mean values is computed per sensor;

computing velocities of change of RSSI mean , V RSSI , based on the pluralities of RSSI mean values so that a plurality of V RSSI values is computed per sensor; and

establishing wireless communications connections between the device and a set of sensors of the plurality of sensors for which at least the following is fulfilled: the device determines that at least some V RSSI values within a first time period of the plurality of V RSSI values of each sensor of the set of sensors has a modulus greater than a predetermined minimum velocity, wherein the predetermined minimum velocity is equal to or greater than zero.

18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions cause the device to establish the connections between the device and the set of sensors for which the following is further fulfilled: the device determines that the some V RSSI values of each sensor of the set of sensors are greater than the predetermined minimum velocity.

19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions cause the device to establish the connections between the device and the set of sensors for which the following is further fulfilled:

the device determines that one or more V RSSI values within a second time period of the plurality of V RSSI values of each sensor of the set of sensors are within a predetermined velocity range; and

the device determines that the RSSI mean values for computing each V RSSI of said one or more V RSSI values are greater than a predetermined motionless threshold;

wherein the predetermined velocity range at least comprises a value of zero.

20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein when the set of sensors comprises a number of sensors greater than a number of wireless communications connections that the device can have established, the device establishes connections with the sensors of the set of sensors having the RSSI mean values for computing each V RSSI of said one or more V RSSI values that have a smallest difference with respect to the RSSI mean values for computing each V RSSI of said one or more V RSSI values of other sensors of the set of sensors.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 11, 2022
From: COELHO ALVES, JOSÉ CARLOS; RODRIGUES, PEDRO FILIPE XAVIER; MOUTINHO COLUNAS, MÁRCIO FILIPE; CORREIA DE OLIVEIRA, LUÍS ANTÓNIO; RODRIGUES NOGUEIRA, ANDRÉ MOURA; FERRO BENTO, VIRGÍLIO ANTÓNIO
To: SWORD HEALTH S.A.
Reel/Frame 059561/0164 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 20398006 · Jun 24, 2020 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230108601A1 · Apr 6, 2023
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