Patent Publication Number: US-9888002-B2

Title: M2M data management

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS 
     The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0020829 (filed on Feb. 27, 2013), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure relates to machine to machine (M2M) communication, and more particularly, to managing and protecting data collected from M2M devices. 
     Machine to machine (M2M) communication technology has been applied in various industrial fields including a healthcare industry. For example, a M2M device has developed for automatically and regularly measuring vital signs from a patient. Such M2M device is attached to a patient&#39;s body. The measured vital signs are collected using a M2M data collecting terminal through M2M communication. Such information collected from the patient is very sensitive personal data that should be protected from being exposed to others. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     Embodiments of the present invention overcome the above disadvantages and other disadvantages not described above. Also, the present invention is not required to overcome the disadvantages described above, and an embodiment of the present invention may not overcome any of the problems described above. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a plurality of machine 2 machine (M2M) devices having a common interest may be grouped into a device group and a group authorization key may be assigned to each device group. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a data collecting terminal having a group authorization key may be allowed to collect data from M2M devices having the same group authorization key. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment, a method may be provided for collecting and managing, by a terminal, data from a plurality of sensing devices each measuring the data from an associated object. The method may include receiving device information from a detected sensing device, obtaining a group authorization key assigned to a device group of the detected sensing device based on the received device information, transmitting the obtained group authorization key to the detected sensing device, receiving, from the detected sensing device, data measured from an object by the detected sensing device when the detected sensing device has a group authorization key identical to the transmitted group authorization key, otherwise, receiving an error message from the detected sensing device. 
     The receiving device information may include detecting a sensing device through near field communication; and obtaining the device information from the detected sensing device. The device information may include a device identification number. 
     The obtaining may include searching the group authorization key stored in a memory of the terminal and mapped with at least one of the device information of the detected sensing device and a device group of the detected sensing device. The obtaining may include transmitting a key request message with the obtained device information of the detected sensing device to a server for requesting a group authorization key assigned to the device group of the detected sensing device and receiving the group authorization key from the server. 
     The detected sensing device may be configured to receive a group authorization key from the terminal, compare the received group authorization key with a group authorization key stored in a memory of the detected sensing device, transmit the data measured from an object to the terminal when the received group authorization key is matched with the stored group authorization key, otherwise, transmit the error message to the terminal. 
     The method may further include transmitting a grouping request message for a first device group to a server, receiving a first group authorization key from the server in response to the group request message, and transmitting the received first group authorization key to sensing devices included in the first device group. 
     The method may further include transmitting a same group authorization key to sensing devices included in a same device group. The method may further include transmitting the received data to a server. 
     The method may further include detecting a sensing device to be removed from a corresponding device group, receiving device information from the detected sensing device, obtaining a group authorization key based on the received device information, transmitting a deletion request message with the obtained group authorization key to the detected sensing device, receiving a deletion completion message from the detected sensing device when the detected sensing device has a group authorization key matched with the transmitted group authorization key, otherwise, receiving an error message from the detected sensing device. 
     The detected sensing device may be configured to receive the deletion request message with the group authorization key from the terminal, to compare the received group authorization key with a group authorization key stored in a memory of the detected sensing device, to delete the stored group authorization key and transmit the deletion completion message when the received group authorization key is matched with the stored group authorization key, otherwise, to transmit the error message to the terminal. 
     The method may further include determining whether the detected sensing device is a registered sensing device, obtaining the group authorization key of the detected sensing device when the detected sensing device is the registered sensing device, otherwise, terminating a deletion procedure. The determining may include transmitting a registration confirmation message with the received device information of the detected sensing device to a server, receiving a confirmation response message from the server in response to the registration confirmation message, and determining whether the detected sensing device is the registered sensing device based on the received confirmation response message. 
     The method may further include detecting a sensing device to be changed from a current device group to a new device group, receiving device information from the detected sensing device, transmitting a key change request message with a first group authorization key associated with the current device group and a second group authorization key associated with the new device group to the detected sensing device, receiving a key change completion message from the detected sensing device when the detected sensing device has a group authorization key matched with the first group authorization key, otherwise, receiving an error message from the detected sensing device. 
     The detected sensing device may be configured to receive the key change message with the first group authorization key associated with the current device group and the second group authorization key associated with the new device group from the terminal, to compare the received first group authorization key with a group authorization key stored in a memory of the detected sensing device, to delete the stored group authorization key, store the second group authorization key, transmit the key change completion message when the received first group authorization key is matched with the stored group authorization key, otherwise, to transmit the error message to the terminal. 
     The method may further include receiving the first group authorization key associated with the current device group and a second group authorization key associated with the new device group from a server. 
     The server may be configured to analyze data collected from a first sensing device to determine whether a current device group of the first sensing device is changed to a new device group and to transmit a second group authorization key associated with the new device group to the terminal. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment, a method may be provided for allowing, by a sensing device, a terminal to access data of the sensing device. The method may include receiving a group authorization key from the terminal, comparing the received group authorization key with a group authorization key stored in a memory of the sensing device, and allowing the terminal to access data stored in the sensing device when the received group authorization key is matched with the stored group authorization key. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and/or other aspects of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a system for managing data collected from sensing devices while preventing the collected data from being exposed to others in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a data collecting terminal in accordance with at least embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates a server in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates registering sensing devices at a server in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  illustrates grouping registered sensing devices in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
         FIG. 6  illustrates collecting and transmitting vital sign data at a data collecting terminal in accordance with at least one embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  illustrates removing a sensing device from a corresponding device group in accordance with at least one embodiment; and 
         FIG. 8  illustrates modifying device group information by a server in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The embodiments are described below, in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment, a plurality of machine 2 machine (M2M) devices having a common interest may be grouped into a device group and a group authorization key may be assigned to each device group. A data collecting terminal having a group authorization key may be allowed to collect data from M2M devices when the M2M devices have the same group authorization key. Hereinafter, overall operation for such M2M data management will be described with reference to  FIG. 1 . For convenience and ease of understanding, a M2M system including at least one sensing device and a data collecting terminal will be described as collecting vital sign data from a patient and managing the collected vital sign data. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. The present invention may be applied to a M2M system collecting and managing any types of data. 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a system for managing data collected from sensing devices while preventing the collected data from being exposed to others in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a system may group sensing devices having common factors (e.g., common interest) into a device group, assign a unique group authorization key to each device group, and control the sensing devices to transmit measured data to a terminal having the same group authorization key in accordance with at least one embodiment. Such a system may include a plurality of sensing devices (e.g., sensing device  100 ), data collecting terminal  200 , and server  300 , but the present invention is not limited thereto. 
     Sensing device  100  may be a M2M device attached at a user and regularly measures desired data of the user based on control information of sensing device  100 . Sensing device  100  may transmit the measured data to data collecting terminal  200  upon the generation of a predetermined event. For example, sensing device  100  may be worn by a user. Sensing device  100  may be made in a form of a flexible band, an adhesive patch, a bracelet, a watch, or a ring, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Such sensing device  100  may measure predetermined vital signs of an associated user. Vital signs may include a body temperature, a blood pressure, a blood sugar level, electrocardiogram (ECG), electroencephalogram (EEG) and oxygen saturation level (SpO2). Sensing device  100  transmits the measured vital signs to data collecting terminal  200  when data collecting terminal  200  is located within a predetermined distance through near field communication. 
     Such sensing device  100  may include sensor  110  and communication circuit  120 . Sensor  110  may measure desired vital sign data of a patient. Sensing device  100  is illustrated as having one sensor, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Sensing device  100  may include more than two sensors each measuring predetermined data from a user. 
     Communication circuit  120  may establish a communication link to data collecting terminal  200 , receive various control signals from data collecting terminal  200 , and transmit measured data to data collecting terminal  200 . In order to communicate, communication circuit  120  may include a near field communication (NFC) circuit for contactless short range communication with other entities (e.g., data collecting terminal  200 ). For example, such a NFC circuit may include a processor and a memory. In accordance with at least one embodiment, the memory may store a group authorization key and information on a sensing device group. 
     Sensor  110  and communication circuit  120  are described as an independent device in  FIG. 1 , but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, sensor  110  and communication circuit  120  may be integrated with other components. Sensor  110  and communication circuit  120  may be integrated in single NFC circuit. 
     Data collecting terminal  200  may collect measurement data (e.g., vital sign data) from a plurality of member sensing devices (e.g., sensing device  100 ) and manage the collected vital sign data of the member sensing devices. The member sensing device denotes a sensing device under the management of data collecting terminal  200 . That is, data collecting terminal  200  has a control right to access and to manage data only in the member sensing devices. Such a control right may be assigned by server  300 . The control right may be a group authorization key. 
     For example, data collecting terminal  200  may register member sensing devices at server  300 . Data collecting terminal  200  may group sensing devices having a common factor into a device group and manage sending devices by a device group. Data collecting terminal  200  collects data from the member sensing devices and transmits the collected data to server  300  with information on the associated member sensing devices (e.g., device ID). That is, data collecting terminal  200  may serve as a gateway relaying the measured vital sign data from the member sensing devices to server  300 . 
     Data collecting terminal  200  may be a portable computing device equipped with an NFC circuit. For example, data collecting terminal  200  may include a personal digital assistant (PDA), a hand-held computing device, a pad-like device, a smartphone, or a dedicated standalone portable terminal. Data collecting terminal  200  will be described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
     Server  300  may perform operations for controlling sending devices to allow data access to a data collecting terminal only when the data collecting terminal has a corresponding group authorization key in accordance with at least one embodiment. Particularly, server  300  may receive a registration request from data collecting terminal  200  and register sensing devices as member sensing devices of data collecting terminal  200 . For example, server  300  may store device information of sensing devices in connection with terminal information of data collecting terminal  200  and manage the stored device information and terminal information. 
     Furthermore, server  300  may receive a group registration request from data collecting terminal  200  and may assign a group authorization key. In addition, server  300  may determine whether it is necessary to change one of sensing devices from one group to the other based on the collected data from sensing devices. Such operation of sever  300  will be described in more detail with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
     Although server  300  is illustrated as a stand-alone computing server in  FIG. 1 , the present invention is not limited thereto. Server  300  may include a plurality of stand-alone computing servers. For example, server  300  may include a personal health record (PHR) server for storing patient&#39;s health records and/or an electronic medical record (EMR) server for storing patient&#39;s medical records. 
     As described, data collecting terminal  200  collects data from sending devices and transmits the collected data to server  300 . Hereinafter, such data collecting terminal  200  will be described with reference to  FIG. 2 . 
       FIG. 2  illustrates a data collecting terminal in accordance with at least embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , data collecting terminal  200  may be a portable device having processing power with a memory and capable of communication to other entities (e.g., sensing device  100  and server  300 ). For example, data collecting terminal  200  may include processor  210 , memory  220 , NFC circuit  230 , communication circuit  240 , and display  250 . Particularly, processor  210  may further include group management processor  212  and data management processor  216 . 
     Processor  210  may control overall operation of the constituent elements of data collecting terminal  200 . In accordance with at least one embodiment, processor  210  may perform operations for collecting vital sign data from sensing device  110  and transmitting the collected vital sign data to server  300 . Processor  210  may perform operation for grouping sensing devices having a common factor into one group and managing sensing devices by the group. Processor  210  may perform operation for requesting a group authorization key for each device group to server  300  and providing the assigned a group authorization key to corresponding sending devices. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment, processor  210  may include group management processor  212  and data management processor  216 . Group management processor  212  may group sensing devices having a common interest into the same group and manage information on each device group. For example, such group information of a respective device group may include device identifications (e.g., device ID) of sensing devices belongs to a respective group, a group identification (e.g., group ID) of a respective device group, and user information (e.g., user ID) of a user associated with each sensing device belongs to a respective group. The group information may also include an access right (e.g., a group authorization key) for each device belongs to a respective group. Data management processor  216  may collect data from sensing device  100  and transmit the collected data to server  300  upon the generation of a predetermined event. 
     For performing such operation, processor  210  may execute a predetermined software program stored in memory  220 . Such a predetermined software program may be installed for collecting data from sensing devices and managing the collected data in association with the sensing devices. The predetermined software program may be activated in response to a user input or upon generation of a predetermined event. 
     Processor  210  may perform operations for producing and displaying a user interface (e.g., graphic user interface) for managing sensing devices by each group. For example, processor  210  may execute a predetermined software program for the group management, produce a graphic user interface for the group management, and display the produced graphic user interface through display  250 . Such a graphic user interface enables a user to organize sensing devices by a group, to select one of sensing devices in a respective group, to remove at least one of sensing devices from a respective group, or to add a new sensing device to an existing group. 
     Memory  220  may be used as a data storage device of data collecting terminal  200 . Memory  220  may store information necessary for driving data collecting terminal  200  and performing certain operation requested by a user or upon generation of a predetermined event. Such information may include any software programs and related data. Memory  220  may be a flash memory, hard disk, multimedia card micro memory, SD or XD memory, Random Access Memory (RAM), Static Random Access Memory (SRAM), Read-Only Memory (ROM), Programmable Read-Only Memory (PROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), magnetic memory, magnetic disk, or optical disk, but is not limited thereto. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment, memory  220  may store data collected from sensing devices. Such data may be vital sign data measured at each sending device. Memory  220  may store registration information of each sensing device. Such registration information may include device information (e.g., device ID) of each member sensing device. Memory  220  may store access right information in connection with device information. Furthermore, memory  220  may store group authorization keys for each device group. That is, memory  220  may store various types of information including device information (e.g., device ID) of member sensing devices, terminal information (e.g., terminal ID), group authorization keys of each device group, and so forth. 
     Display  250  may display information and graphic user interfaces for managing sensing device groups. Display  250  may receive the image data from processor  210  and display the received image data. The image data may be produced as a result of certain operations performed by any software programs installed in data collecting terminal  200 . For example, the image data may be data processed for displaying a graphic user interface produced by an operation system and applications, performed in data collecting terminal  200 . Also, the image data may further include still images and moving images, produced or processed by processor  210 . For example, display  250  may be a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel or an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) panel, but the present invention is not limited thereto. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment, display  250  may display a graphic user interface that enables a user to organize sensing devices by a group, to select one of sensing devices in a respective group, or to delete at least one of sensing devices from a respective group. Furthermore, display  250  may display a graphic user interface that enables a user to register sensing devices, to register a device group, to set user information, and so forth. 
     NFC circuit  230  may establish a communication link with sensing device  100  (e.g., NFC tag in sensing device). NFC circuit  230  may include an NFC chip for performing contactless communication to sensing devices. 
     Communication circuit  240  may establish a communication link to server  300  and receive information from or transmit information to server  300  through the communication link. For example, communication circuit  240  perform communication based on Digital Subscriber Line (xDSL), Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC), Power Line Communication (PLC), satellites, GSM EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN), UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN), evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (eUTRAN), Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), or a mobile communication network based on CDMA/WCDMA or GSM/GPRS. 
     As described, server  300  assigns a group authorization key to each device group and controls sending devices to allow data access to only data collecting terminals having a corresponding group authorization key. Hereinafter, such a server will be described with reference to  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a server in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , server  300  may include key creation processor  310 , group info management processor  320 , and memory  330  (e.g., group info database). Key creation processor  310  may generate a group authorization key for each device group including a plurality of sensing devices associated with a common interest. Server  300  may encrypt the group authorization key, but the present invention is not limited thereto. 
     Group info management processor  320  may perform operations for managing information on each sensing device group. For example, such group information of each device group may include a group authorization key, device IDs of devices belong to a corresponding sensing device group, and user IDs of users wearing one of sensing devices belong to a corresponding sensing device group with associated terminal information (e.g., terminal ID of data collecting terminal  200 ). 
     Group info management processor  320  may perform operations for creating group information of each sensing device group and may manage created group information of each sensing device group. For example, group info management processor  320  may perform operations for changing a group of each sensing device, removing one of sensing devices from a group, or adding a new sensing device to an existing group. Furthermore, group info management processor  320  may perform operations for updating group information and for reconfiguring control information of each sensing device. 
     Memory  330  may store various types of information for managing measurement data from sensing devices, assigning a group authorization key to each device group, and controlling sensing devices to allow data access to only data collecting terminals having a corresponding group authorization key. 
     Hereinafter, operations for controlling sensing devices to allow data access to data collecting terminals by assigning a group authorization key will be described with reference to  FIG. 4  to  FIG. 7 . For convenience and ease of understanding, a sending device will be described as including a NFC tag and a data collecting terminal will be described as detecting the sensing device, transmitting data to, and receiving data from the sending device based on the NFC tag of the sending device. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the detection of the sending device and the communication between the sending device and the data collecting terminal may be performed through other communication circuits in the sending device and the data collecting terminal 
       FIG. 4  illustrates registering sensing devices at a server in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , data collecting terminal  200  may obtain information on sensing devices of target persons to monitor and register the sending devices at server  300  with the obtained information for monitoring the target persons&#39; conditions. Such registration procedure may be performed as follows. 
     At step S 4010 , data collecting terminal  200  may transmit a registration request to sensing device  100 . For example, when an operator of data collecting terminal  200  (e.g., a doctor or a nurse) wants to collect vital sign data from sending device  100 , the user taps data collecting terminal  200  on sending device  100 . Upon such a tapping operation, data collecting terminal  200  detects a NFC chip of sending device  100  and transmit a signal to request information for registration (e.g., registration request). 
     At step S 4020 , in response to the registration request, sensing device  100  may transmit device information to data collecting terminal  200 . For example, sending device  100  may receive a signal (e.g., the registration request) from data collecting terminal  200 . Such a signal may be a control command to read certain information in a memory of the NFC chip (e.g., or a memory of sending device  100 ) and return the read information to data collecting terminal  200 . In response to such a signal, sending device  100  transmits device information to data collecting terminal  200 . The device information may include information on sending device  100  with a device identification number (e.g., device ID). The device ID may be a unique number indicating each sensing device. In addition to the device information, sending device  100  may transmit information on an associated user who wears sending device  100 . Such user information may include information on a user with a user identification number (e.g., user ID). The present invention, however, is not limited thereto. 
     At step S 4030 , upon the receipt of the device information from sensing device  100 , data collecting terminal  200  may perform a user setup operation based on the received device information. For example, data collecting terminal  200  may set information on a user associated with sending device  100 . Such a user may be a patient wears sending device  100 . The user information may include a user identification number (e.g., a user ID), a name, an age, a gender, a name of a disease, a diagnose history, and so forth. The user information may be received from sending device  100 , but the present invention is not limited thereto. Based on the received device information (e.g., device ID), data collecting terminal  200  may obtain associated user information from server  300 . Alternatively, such user information may be received directly from an operator of data collecting terminal  200  (e.g., doctor or nurse). Data collecting terminal  200  may store and manage the received device information in connection with the associated user information 
     At step S 4040 , data collecting terminal  200  may request server  300  to register sending device  100 . For example, data collecting terminal  200  may transmits a registration request message to server  300 . The registration request message may include the device information of sending device  100  and the user information of a user having sending device  100 . Furthermore, the registration request message may include information on data collecting terminal  200 . Such terminal information may include a terminal identification number (e.g., terminal ID). 
     At step S 4050 , in response to the registration request from data collecting terminal  200 , server  300  may perform operations for registering sensing device  100 . For example, server  300  may obtain the device information, the user information, and the terminal information from the registration request message from data collecting terminal  200 . Server  300  may store the obtained information from data collecting terminal  200  in memory  330  to register sending device  100  and manage sending device  100  as a registered sending device in connection with the device information, the user information, and the terminal information. 
     In accordance with at least one embodiment, server  300  may regulate each data collecting terminal (e.g., data collecting terminal  200 ) to access registered sensing devices. For example, server  300  may assign an access right to data collecting terminal  200  in order to allow data collecting terminal  200  to retrieve and to modify information of each sensing device. That is, data collecting terminal  200  is able to retrieve and to update information on sensing device  100  only if data collecting terminal  200  is assigned with an access right of sensing device  100 . 
     At step S 4060 , server  300  may transmit a registration completion message to data collecting terminal  200  for notifying the completion of the registration. For example, server  300  may transmit registration completion information to data collecting terminal  200  with the response message. Such registration completion information may include the associated user information (e.g., a user ID), the associated device information (e.g., device ID), and the assigned access right information. 
     At step S 4070 , data collecting terminal  200  may receive the registration completion information from server  300 . For example, data collecting terminal  200  may store the received registration completion information of sensing device  100 . That is, data collecting terminal  200  may store and manage the device information of sending device  100  with the assigned access right information and the user information. 
     At step S 4080 , data collecting terminal  200  may transmit the registration completion message to registered sensing device  100 . The registration completion message may include the assigned access right information and the user information with the terminal information (e.g., terminal ID) of data collecting terminal. 
     At step S 4090 , sensing device  100  may receive the registration completion message and store the user information, the assigned access right information, and the terminal information. Upon the receipt of the registration completion message, sending device  100  may store the assigned access right information in connection with the terminal information of data collecting terminal  100 . 
     After storing the assigned access right information in connection with the terminal information, sending device  100  may only allow a data collecting terminal having the access right to access data stored in sending device  100  based on the stored access right information. That is, sending device  100  may only allow a data collecting terminal having an access right matched with the stored access right information in connection with an associated terminal ID to write data to or to read data from sending device  100 . 
     As described, a plurality of registered sending devices having a common interest is group to a group and managed by a group in accordance with at least one embodiment. Such operation will be described with reference to  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 5  illustrates grouping registered sensing devices in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , data collecting terminal  200  may initiate a grouping procedure at step S 5010 . For example, such a grouping procedure may be triggered in response to a user input. Such a user input may be received from an operator of data collecting terminal  200  through a user interface of data collecting terminal  200 . When a hospital needs to monitor multiple patients together, such a grouping procedure may be initiated. Sending devices of such target patients may be grouped together. 
     At step S 5020 , data collecting terminal  200  may transmit a grouping request message to server  300 . Such a grouping request message may include terminal information (e.g., terminal ID) of data collecting terminal  200 . 
     At step S 5030 , server  300  may generate a group authorization key in response to the grouping request message. For example, in response to the grouping request message, server  300  may obtain the terminal information of data collecting terminal  200  and generate a group authorization key. The group authorization key may be a unique identification key assigned to each group created by a respective data collecting terminal. 
     At step S 5040 , server  300  may transmit the generated group authorization key to data collecting terminal  200 . For example, server  300  may temporally store the generated group authorization key in connection with the terminal information (e.g., terminal ID) of data collecting terminal  200 . 
     At step S 5050 , data collecting terminal  200  may receive and store the group authorization key. After storing the group authorization key, data collecting terminal  200  may perform a device grouping operation as follows. 
     At step S 5060 , data collecting terminal  200  may detect first sensing device  100 - 1  and obtain device information of first sending device  100 - 1  and associated user information. For example, in order to group sending devices having a common interest, data collecting terminal  200  starts detecting sending devices to be included in a group. That is, an operator of data collecting terminal  200  may tap data collecting terminal  200  on one of the target sending devices. Upon the tapping operation, data collecting terminal  200  detects first sensing device  100 - 1  (e.g., a NFC chip) through near field communication. Upon the detection, data collecting terminal  200  may read device information (e.g., device ID) of first sensing device  100 - 1  from a NFC tag thereof, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Data collecting terminal  200  may request first sending device  100 - 1  to send device information and first sending device  100 - 1  may transmit device information to data collecting terminal  200  in response to the request. 
     Upon the receipt of the device information (e.g., device ID) from first sensing device  100 - 1 , data collecting terminal  200  may determine whether first b sensing device  100 - 1  is a registered sensing device. If first sensing device  100 - 1  is not registered, data collecting terminal  200  may perform the registration procedure for registering first sensing device  100 - 1  as show in  FIG. 4 . 
     In addition, data collecting terminal  200  may identify a user of first sensing device  100 - 1  at the step S 5060 . In order to identify the user, data collecting terminal  200  may obtain the user information from server  300  based on the device information on first sensing device  100 - 1 . After obtaining the user information, data collecting terminal  200  may encrypt the user information in order to prevent the obtained user information from being exposed to others. For example, data collecting terminal  200  may generate patient identification information (e.g., patient ID) by mapping the user ID in the user information to the device ID of first sensing device  100 - 1  and discard the user information. 
     At step S 5070 , data collecting terminal  200  may transmit the group authorization key with the terminal information to first sensing device  100 - 1 . At step S 5080 , first sensing device  100 - 1  may receive the group authorization key with the terminal information of data collecting terminal  200  and store the group authorization key in connection with the terminal information of data collecting terminal  200 . 
     Such grouping operation (S 5060  to S 5080 ) may be continuously performed for grouping other devices (e.g., second sending device to N th  sensing device  100 -N) as shown in steps S 5090  to S 5110 . Since the grouping operation S 5090  to S 5110  are about identical to the grouping operation S 5060  to S 5080 , the detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted herein. 
     At step S 5120 , data collecting terminal  200  registers the obtained device information with the associated patient information after obtaining device information from all of target sensing devices  100 - 1  to  100 -N. For example, data collecting terminal  200  may store the obtained device information (e.g., device ID) of target sending devices  100 - 1  to  100 -N to server  300  with the terminal information (e.g., terminal ID) of data collecting terminal  200  as device group information. Such group registration operation may be performed after receiving a grouping completion message from all target sensing devices  100 - 1  to  100 -N. The group registration message may include device group information and the terminal information of data collecting terminal  200 . The device group information may include the device identification information (e.g., device ID of each sensing device in a group), the encrypted patient identification information (e.g., generated patient ID of each member sensing device) and/or a group authorization key (e.g., group authorization key of the corresponding device group). 
     At step S 5130 , data collecting terminal  200  may transmit a grouping completion message to server  300 . The grouping completion message may include group information (e.g., a group name, a group ID), the device information and the encrypted patient identification information of all member sensing devices in the sensing device group with the terminal information of data collecting terminal  200 . 
     At step S 5140 , server  300  may register the device group information in connection with the terminal information of data collecting terminal  100 . For example, server  300  may store the device group information in the grouping completion message and manages the device group information in connection with the terminal information and the associated group authorization key. 
     As described, data collecting terminal  200  collects vital sign data from member sensing devices in a group based on an assigned group authorization key and delivers the collected vital sign data to server  300 . Hereinafter, such operation of data collecting terminal will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 6  illustrates collecting and transmitting vital sign data at a data collecting terminal in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , data collecting terminal  200  may detect first sensing device  100 - 1  and obtain device identification information from first sensing device  100 - 1  at step S 6010 . For example, an operator (e.g., a doctor, a nurse) of data collecting terminal  200  may tap data collecting terminal  200  on first sensing device  100 - 1  for collecting vital sign data from first sending device  100 - 1 . Upon Data collecting terminal  200  detects the NFC chip (e.g., NFC tag) of first sensing device  100 - 1  and obtains device identification information (e.g., device ID) from the detected NFC chip of first sensing device  100 - 1 . Particularly, first sensing device  100 - 1  may transmit device identification information (e.g., device ID) to data collecting terminal  200 . The present invention, however, is not limited thereto. Instead of receiving the device identification information from first sensing device  100 - 1 , data collecting terminal  200  may transmit terminal information to first sensing device  100 - 1 . Furthermore, data collecting terminal  200  may transmit terminal information to first sensing device  100 - 1  and receive device identification information from first sensing device  100 - 1 . 
     At step S 6020 , data collecting terminal  200  may obtain a group authorization key based on the obtained device information. For example, data collecting terminal  200  needs to have a group authorization key to obtain data from member sending devices of a corresponding group. Accordingly, data collecting terminal  200  may search for a group authorization key associated with the device information of first sending device  100 - 1  through a memory thereof. Such information may be stored during the group registration procedure shown in  FIG. 5 . Alternatively, data collecting terminal  200  may transmit a key request message with the obtained device information of first sensing device  100 - 1  to server  300  in order to request a group authorization key associated with first sensing device  100 - 1  to server  300 . Server  300  may provide the requested group authorization key to data collecting terminal  200  based on the device group information associated with the terminal information of data collecting terminal  200  and the device information of first sensing device  100 - 1 . 
     At step S 6030 , data collecting terminal  200  may transmit the obtained group authorization key to first sensing device  100 - 1 . At step S 6040 , first sensing device  100 - 1  may determine whether data collecting terminal  200  has a control right to access data therein based on the received group authorization key. For example, first sensing device  100 - 1  compares the received group authorization key with a stored group authorization key in connection with the terminal information (e.g., terminal ID) of data collecting terminal  200  in a memory of first sensing device  100 - 1 . 
     When the received group authorization key is not matched with the stored group authorization key (No—S 6040 ), first sending device  100 - 1  may transmit an error message to data collecting terminal  200  at step S 6050 . 
     When the received group authorization key is matched with the stored group authorization key (Yes—S 6040 ), first sending device  100 - 1  may transmit measured data to data collecting terminal  200  at step S 6060 . 
     At step S 6070 , data collecting terminal  200  may receive the vital sign data from first sensing device  100 - 1  and transmit the received vital sign data to server  300 . 
     Data collecting terminal  200  may continuously perform such data collection operation S 6010  to S 6070  for other member sensing devices (e.g., second sending device  100 - 2  to Nth sending device  100 -N) to collect measured vital sign data from other member sensing devices in the same group as shown in steps S 6080  to S 6140 . 
     As described, data collecting terminal  200  may collect personal data from a plurality of sending devices while protecting the personal data from being exposed to others by perform the authentication procedure based on the group authorization key. Since such authentication procedure is very simple and easy, a number of patients may be monitored quickly when there are many patients in preschools or schools. 
     When an operator wants to add a new sensing device in an existing group, the new sensing device may be added to the group through operations similar to the device registration procedures described in  FIG. 4  and the grouping procedures described in  FIG. 5 . However, when an operator wants to remove one of member sensing devices from a group, an authorization key stored in the sending device must be deleted in order to prevent a third part from accessing the sensing device. Such operation will be described with reference to  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 7  illustrates removing a sensing device from a corresponding device group in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , data collecting terminal  200  may detect a target sensing device (e.g., sensing device  100 ) to be removed from a corresponding device group and obtain device identification information from the detected sensing device at step S 7010 . 
     At step S 7020 , data collecting terminal  200  may transmit a registration confirmation message to server  300  and receive a confirmation response message from server  300 . For example, data collecting terminal  200  may request server  300  to determine whether the detected sensing device  100  is a registered device based on the obtained device identification information by transmitting the registration confirmation message with the obtained device information of sensing device  100 . In response to the request, data collecting terminal  200  receives a confirmation response message from server  300 . 
     At step S 7030 , data collecting terminal  200  may determine whether the detected sensing device is registered device or non-registered device based on the confirmation response message. When sensing device  100  is not a registered device (No—S 7030 ), data collecting terminal  200  terminates the deletion procedure at step S 7040 . For example, data collecting terminal  200  may display an error message or a message of “non-registered device”. When sensing device  100  is a registered device (Yes—S 7030 ), data collecting terminal  200  may obtain a group authorization key of detected sensing device  100  at step S 7050 . 
     At step S 7060 , data collecting terminal  200  may transmit a deletion request message to sensing device  100  with the terminal information (e.g., terminal ID) of data collecting terminal  200 . At step S 7070 , data collecting terminal may transmit the obtained group authorization key to sensing device  100 . 
     At step S 7080 , sensing device  100  determines whether data collecting terminal  200  has a deletion right based on the received group authorization key. That is, sensing device  100  compares the received group authorization key with a group authorization key stored in connection with the terminal ID of data collecting terminal  200 . 
     When the received group authorization key is not matched (No—S 7080 ), sensing device  100  may transmit an error message to data collecting terminal  200  at step S 7090 . When the received group authorization key is matched (Yes—S 7080 ), sensing device  100  may delete the requested group authorization key stored in the memory at step S 7100 . 
     At step S 7110 , sensing device  100  transmits a deletion completion message to terminal  200 . At step S 7120 , data collecting terminal  200  receives the deletion completion message from sensing device  100 , updates the associated group information and the associated device information, and transmits a deletion completion message to server  300  with the device information (e.g., device ID) of sensing device  200  and the device group information (e.g., group ID). At step S 7130 , server  300  receives the deletion completion message and updates corresponding device group information. 
     When a patient&#39;s condition becomes better or changed, a sensing device of the patient may be controlled to measure a predetermined vital sign less frequently. In this case, such sensing device  100  may be moved from one group to the other. Such operation will be described with reference to  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 8  illustrates modifying device group information by a server in accordance with at least one embodiment. 
     Referring to  FIG. 8 , at step S 8010 , server  300  may determine whether it is necessary to move sensing device  100  to a different group. Such determination operation may be automatically initiated based on vital sign data collected from sensing device  100  or at a regular interval. Furthermore, the determination operation may be initiated by a user input. When it is necessary to move sensing device  100  to a different group (Yes—S 8010 ), server  300  may determine a target group to move sensing device  100  at step S 8020 . The present invention, however, is not limited thereto. Such determination may be made in terminal  200 . 
     At step S 8030 , server  300  may obtain a corresponding group authorization key of the determined group from a corresponding database or generates a new group authorization key. At step S 8040 , server  300  may transmit the obtained group authorization key to data collecting terminal  200 . At step S 8050 , data collecting terminal  200  may store the received group authorization key in connection with device information of sensing device  100 . 
     At step S 8060 , data collecting terminal  200  may detect sensing device  100  and obtain device information of sensing device  100 . During the detection, data collecting terminal  200  may obtain device information from sensing device  100  and determine whether sensing device  100  is a registered device in connection with server  300 , but the present invention is not limited thereto. 
     At step S 8070 , data collecting terminal  200  may transmit a key change request message to sensing device  100  with the new group authorization key and the old group authorization key. At step S 8080 , sensing device  100  determines whether data collecting terminal  200  has a valid control right by comparing the received old group authorization key with a group authorization key stored in connection with the terminal information of data collecting terminal  200 . 
     When the received old group authorization key is not matched with the stored group authorization key (No—S 8080 ), sensing device  100  may transmit an error message to data collecting terminal  200  at step S 8090 . When the received old group authorization key is matched with the stored group authorization key (Yes—S 8080 ), sensing device  100  may replace the new group authorization key with the stored group authorization key at step S 8100 . 
     At step S 8110 , server  300  may update the device group information associated with sensing device  100  and reconfigure control information of sensing device  100 . At step S 8120 , server  300  may transmit a reconfigure request message to sensing device  100 . For example, server  300  may transmit the reconfigured control information with the reconfigure request message. The reconfigured control information may include information on how to control sensing device  100  according to properties of a new group. Such control information may include a measuring data type, a measuring interval, a measuring target part, and so forth. 
     Although at least one device belonging to one group is described, one device may be configured to belong to at least two other groups. In this case, the device stores at least two group authorization keys and each of the data collecting terminal  200  and the server  300  manages at least two group authorization keys with respect to one device. For this, proper group identification information for distinguishing each group authorization key may need to be added and group identification information may be added to information exchanged between a device and a data collecting terminal or between a data collecting terminal and a server. 
     Reference herein to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments necessarily mutually exclusive of other embodiments. The same applies to the term “implementation.” 
     As used in this application, the word “exemplary” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects or designs. Rather, use of the word exemplary is intended to present concepts in a concrete fashion. 
     Additionally, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or”. That is, unless specified otherwise, or clear from context, “X employs A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive permutations. That is, if X employs A; X employs B; or X employs both A and B, then “X employs A or B” is satisfied under any of the foregoing instances. In addition, the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims should generally be construed to mean “one or more” unless specified otherwise or clear from context to be directed to a singular form. 
     Moreover, the terms “system,” “component,” “module,” “interface,”, “model” or the like are generally intended to refer to a computer-related entity, either hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a controller and the controller can be a component. One or more components may reside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component may be localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers. 
     The present invention can be embodied in the form of methods and apparatuses for practicing those methods. The present invention can also be embodied in the form of program code embodied in tangible media, non-transitory media, such as magnetic recording media, optical recording media, solid state memory, floppy diskettes, CD-ROMs, hard drives, or any other machine-readable storage medium, wherein, when the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. The present invention can also be embodied in the form of program code, for example, whether stored in a storage medium, loaded into and/or executed by a machine, or transmitted over some transmission medium or carrier, such as over electrical wiring or cabling, through fiber optics, or via electromagnetic radiation, wherein, when the program code is loaded into and executed by a machine, such as a computer, the machine becomes an apparatus for practicing the invention. When implemented on a general-purpose processor, the program code segments combine with the processor to provide a unique device that operates analogously to specific logic circuits. The present invention can also be embodied in the form of a bitstream or other sequence of signal values electrically or optically transmitted through a medium, stored magnetic-field variations in a magnetic recording medium, etc., generated using a method and/or an apparatus of the present invention. 
     It should be understood that the steps of the exemplary methods set forth herein are not necessarily required to be performed in the order described, and the order of the steps of such methods should be understood to be merely exemplary. Likewise, additional steps may be included in such methods, and certain steps may be omitted or combined, in methods consistent with various embodiments of the present invention. 
     As used herein in reference to an element and a standard, the term “compatible” means that the element communicates with other elements in a manner wholly or partially specified by the standard, and would be recognized by other elements as sufficiently capable of communicating with the other elements in the manner specified by the standard. The compatible element does not need to operate internally in a manner specified by the standard. 
     No claim element herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or “step for.” 
     Although embodiments of the present invention have been described herein, it should be understood that the foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely examples and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention or the scope of the claims. Numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure, and the present teaching can also be readily applied to other types of apparatuses. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.