Patent Publication Number: US-2009241171-A1

Title: Wearable computer system and method controlling information/service in wearable computer system

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates to a wearable computer system and a method for transferring and controlling information/service in the same and, more particularly, to a wearable system and a method for controlling information/service using biologically generated information while at least one of users transfer the information/service to peripheral devices or other users without having any spatial and circumferential limitations. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     A wearable system is a technology for enabling a user to use a computing system while the user is moving around. A wearable computer is one of representative wearable systems, which is worn on the body. The wearable computer has been advanced from a notebook computer type or a personal digital assistant (PDA) type to a module based wearable computer. The module based wearable computer includes a plurality of light and miniaturized modules disposed at the predetermined inside positions of a cloth. These modules are the next generation computer that maximizes the wearing sensation and the activity of the user in views of ergonomics and weight balancing. At the same time, the wearable computer provides an easy control mechanism to a user to minimize a self learning period in a view of usages convenience. Recently, the interesting of the external shape of the wearable computer has also increased. 
     A conventional wearable system was introduced in Korean Patent No. 1996-7003124 entitled “wearable personal computer system”. The conventional wearable system is a portable computer system constituted of a plurality of micro computing modules and at least one of flexible wearable frames. The conventional wearable system, however, only receives voice commands from a user to control. That is, the conventional wearable system has no other input device to receive different intuitive commands. Furthermore, the conventional wearable system has no function for interactive services among the wearable computers of at least two or more users. 
     Another related technology was disclosed at Korean Patent Application No. 10-2003-0035361 entitled “MULTIMODE DATA INPUT DEVICE AND METHOD THEREOF”. The multimode data input device has a structure to provide the mobility and the usage convenience to a user not limiting a user&#39;s activity. The multimode data input device can be applied to various application-level devices such as a computer, a PDA, a portable telephone, a tablet PC and a wearable computer. The multimode data input device, however, requires a user to hold a terminal with the hands, thereby degrading the mobility and the activity of the user. Also, the multimode data input device has no function for interactive services among the wearable computers of at least two or more users. 
     Recently, technologies for providing an interactive service among the devices of at least two or more users were introduced. For example, a system for direct data communication between wireless telecommunication devices was introduced in Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-0006037. A mobile terminal with resource sharing service function, a resource sharing system thereof, and a method thereof were introduced in Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0072403, and a method for exchanging information and a system thereof were introduced in Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0073524. 
     Such conventional technologies require a user to use a mobile communication terminal. Although the conventional technologies allow users to easily carry and to directly share information with other devices, the conventional technologies fail to reach a function to provide data communication and to share resources based on user&#39;s intuitive motion or voice. 
     Therefore, there is a demand for a technology for transferring information/service to user devices such as a mobile communication terminal or to other users while guaranteeing the mobility and the activity of a user. 
     DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
     An aspect of the present invention is to provide a wearable system controlled based on biologically generated information, such as intuitive motions and voices, and a method for controlling the system/service in the system. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a wearable system and method for transferring and controlling information/service with peripheral devices or other users without having spatial limitation. 
     Technical Solution 
     According to an aspect of the invention, the invention provides a method for transferring information/service in a wearable system including: sensing an intuitive bio signal generated by a user; selecting a device pointed by the sensed bio signal; creating bio signal information using the sensed bio signal; transmitting the generated bio signal information to the selected device; and transferring the information/service to the selected device after confirming that the selected device that receives the bio signal information is activated. 
     The method may further include transferring the information/service according to an authentication result if the selected device is the other user&#39;s a wearable system. 
     According to another aspect of the invention, the invention provides a method for controlling information/service of a wearable system including: transferring information/service to a device selected by an intuitive bio signal generated by a user; controlling the transferred information/service by remotely controlling the selected device based on an instruction given by a user through the bio signal; and storing the controlling result after the control of the selected device ends. 
     The method may further include: sensing an intuitive bio signal of the user; selecting the other device pointed by the bio signal if the intuitive bio signal of the user points the other device; establishing a control channel to the selected device; and controlling the transferred information/service by remotely controlling the selected device based on an instruction given by the user through the bio signal. 
     According to yet another aspect of the invention, the invention provides a wearable system including: a signal sensing unit for sensing an intuitive bio signal of a user; a central processing unit for detecting the bio signal, selecting a device pointed by the detected bio signal, and generating bio signal information to transmit to the selected device; and a transmitting/receiving unit for transmitting the generated bio signal information, receiving related information from the selected device, and transferring information/service to the selected device. 
     The wearable system may further include: an authenticating unit for authenticating a wearable system of the other user when receiving information/service from the wearable system of the other user. 
     ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS 
     A wearable computer system and a method for transferring and controlling information/service in the same according to the certain embodiment of the present invention guarantee a user to use the hands freely and maximize the activity and the convenience of the user. The wearable system can control other peripheral devices by sensing bio signal such as the intuitive motion or voice made by a user, generating the bio signal information based on the sensing result, and performing operations related to an instruction given by the user based on the generated bio signal information. Also, the wearable system can transfer and control information/service to other devices or other users without having temporal and spatial limitation, thereby allowing a plurality of users to use a predetermined service together. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above objects, other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent by describing the preferred embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a wearable system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an environment for transferring and controlling information/services between a wearable computer and a peripheral device in a wearable system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating an environment for transferring and controlling information/services between devices in a wearable system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating an environment for transferring and controlling information/services between wearable computers in a wearable system according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a method for transferring information/service in a wearable system according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling information/service in a wearable system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Like numeral references denote like elements throughout the accompanying drawings. In order to clear describe the present invention, the descriptions of well known functions and elements will be omitted. 
     A wearable system according to an embodiment of the present invention is a computing system having computation power. Since the wearable system according to the present embodiment is formed of a plurality of modules, the wearable system can be assembled and disassembled in various shapes according to a desired function and convenience. The disassembled modules can be communicated with each other through a wired link and/or a wireless link. Hereinafter, the structure of the wearable system according to the present embodiment will be described with reference accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a wearable system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the wearable system  100  according to the present embodiment is a module based computing system that can be worn on the body of a user. The wearable system  100  according to the present embodiment includes a transmitting/receiving unit  110 , a central processing unit  120 , an authentication unit  130 , a storing unit  140 , a display unit  150 , a signal sensing unit  160 , and a hub  170 . 
     The transmitting/receiving unit  110  includes wireless communication module such as a wire/wireless LAN or IrDA. The transmitting/receiving unit  110  transmits and receives information/services to/from other users or other devices/systems. 
     The central processing unit  120  includes a main processor for performing the most of computation. The central processing unit  120  transfers and controls information/services in response to sensed biologically generated information as an instruction to control. Also, the central processing unit  120  controls information/services by remotely controls a peripheral device to control information/services. Accordingly, the user is enabled to perform operations related to information/service transferred to a peripheral device through the screen of the own display unit  150 . 
     The authentication unit  130  performs authentication processes through a personal information management (PIM) or a near-field communication (NFC). 
     The storing unit  140  stores information related to a bio signal sensed by the sensing unit  160 , data and information related to a service such as Internet browsing or multimedia streaming. The bio signal information includes all bio signals generated based on intuitive motion, voice, facial expression, body temperature, eye movement, and lip shape. 
     The display unit  150  provides information to a user, for example, through a predetermined display device such as a head-mounted display (HMD). 
     The signal sensing unit  160  senses the voice of a user through a microphone, or senses hand or arm motions made by a user through an accelerometer. The signal sensing unit  160  generates a bio signal by analyzing the sensing result. 
     Such modules of the wearable system according to the present embodiment are disposed to be worn on the body of a user, and the functions thereof are assembled together in consideration of ergonomic convenience, thereby freeing two hands of the user. For example, the wearable system according to the present embodiment can be embodied as a wrist band type wearable system. That is, a wrist band unit may be embodied to include the central processing unit  120 , a signal transmitting/receiving unit  110 , an authentication unit  130 , and a signal sensing unit  160 . The wrist band unit is worn on the wrist of a user for sensing a hand and arm motion made by the user. Also, the combination of the central processing unit  110 , the storing unit  140 , and the display unit  150  can be embodied as a cloth type wearable system. The cloth type wearable system interacts with the wrist band type wearable system. Therefore, a user can always carry around the wearable system and control the information/services without having spatial and environmental limitations. 
     The user can use various services or information through HMD without having the environmental limitation. Also, the wearable system  100  can be used as an input device when a user uses related services. In order to use such a wearable system as an input device, a user is required to give an instruction by generating a bio signal through making a predetermined motion or voice and control the service based on the generated bio signal. For example, when a user  10  wants to watch a movie through the HMD, a user displays icons on the screen of the HMD, clicks or moves the icons to select a desired movie, and watches the selected movie through making a predetermined hand/arm motion. 
     In such an environment, a user can control devices spatially separated from the user through a wireless link without having a spatial limitation. Herein, the user controls the device based on bio information generated trough making predetermined motions, gestures, or voices. That is, the wearable system senses the bio information made by a user and transfers the information to the desired device. 
     The wearable system according to the present embodiment allows a user to control other peripheral devices through communicating with other devices, systems, and users, remotely.  FIG. 2 ,  FIG. 3 , and  FIG. 4  show environments of a wireless communication between an artificial intelligent device and a wearable system, between the artificial intelligent devices, and between the wearable system and other user&#39;s wearable system. Herein, the peripheral devices and systems are an artificial intelligent device including multimedia functions, a signal receiving unit and a signal processing unit. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , a bio signal is sensed through an intuitive motion or voice made by a user  10 , and bio signal information is generated for the instruction given from the user  10 . The user  10  selects a desired device through the generated bio signal information. In  FIG. 2 , the device selected by the user  10  is the artificial intelligent (AI) device  200 . The AI unit  200  senses the bio signal information received through the signal receiver  210 , and performs operations in response to the instruction given from the user through analyzing the received bio signal information. Then, the wearable system  100  controls the AI unit  200  remotely in order to control the information/service. 
     Meanwhile, the wearable system transfers the information/services providing to a user to other peripheral devices, and enables the peripheral devices to use the transferred information/services. Therefore, a plurality of users can share the related service together. 
     A user can transfer a currently received service to a peripheral device. After the service is transferred to the peripheral AI unit from the wearable system, the wearable system transfers all controls to the selected device until the user withdraws the service from the selected device. For example, a user wants to watch a movie with a friend while the user is watching the movie, the user can transfer the movie to a selected peripheral device by making a predetermined hand/arm motion such as a motion pointing to a predetermined device such as television. Then, the selected television displays the movie transferred from the user&#39;s wearable system.  FIG. 3  shows a system configuration for transferring information/service to other devices. 
     When a user  10  terminates a service being used in one AI unit  200   a , the wearable system  100  enables a user  10  to continuously receive the terminated service by performing a predetermined storing operation or transferring the terminated service to another AI unit  200   b  that does not have any temporal and spatial limitations. 
     For example, when a user wants move to other location while watching the predetermined movie, the user stops the movie, selects a device, and displays the movie by pointing the selected device. Then, the selected device reproduces the movie from a part stopped at the previous device. Herein, the user may be allowed to change volume or screen setting regardless of the types of the devices. 
     Also, the information/services can be transferred between the wearable systems. Such a transferring operation is shown in  FIG. 4 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , when a user  10   a  wants to transfer information/service to other users  10   b , the wearable system  100   a  of the user  10   a  senses the motion or voice made by the user  10 , and generates the sensed bio signal information. The opponent user  10   b  senses the generated bio signal information and receive the information/service transferred from the user  10   a  through the own wearable system  100   b . Also, the wearable system  100   b  may ask the user  10   b  whether to accept the transferred information/service for security reason through a HMD screen or other output device. If the user  10   b  accepts the request, the wearable system  100   b  receives the information/service. 
     Hereinafter, a method for transferring and controlling information/service to peripheral devices/systems in a wearable system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be descried with reference to accompanying drawings. 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a method for transferring information/services in a wearable system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , a user may want to transfer information/services from one device to the other devices, or a wearable system to a peripheral device. Or, a user may receive a request to transfer a predetermined information/service to other device. The peripheral devices may be an artificial intelligent device or a wearable system of other user. 
     At step S 310 , a wearable system determines whether or not a user requests transferring information/service through making a predetermined intuitive motion and voice. Herein, the user may receive the request of transferring information/service from other users. In this case, the wearable system determines whether the request signal is received from the other user or not because the other user transmits the request signal through own wearable system. 
     If the information/service is requested to transfer at step S 320 , the wearable system senses a bio signal such as an intuitive motion of pointing a predetermined device or intuitive voice made by a user and generates bio signal information based on the sensing result. Then, the wearable system transfers the generated bio signal information to a device pointed by the user. That is, the user selects a target device through the bio signal information. 
     At step S 330 , the wearable system activates the selected device or the wearable system of other user, remotely. In order to activate the selected device, at first, a transmitting side wearable system recognizes bio signal information created in response to the intuitive motion of pointing a predetermined device or a predetermined voice, made by a user. Secondly, the signal transmitter of the transmitting side wearable system informs the predetermined device, which is pointed by the user or corresponding to the voice made by the user, of the necessity of the information/service transfer. 
     At step S 340 , the wearable system determines whether the receiving side is an artificial intelligent device or not. If the receiving side is the AI device, a step S 360  is performed without performing an authentication step. 
     If the receiving side is another wearable system of other user, not the AI device, the wearable system waits for another wearable system to perform the authentication process and receives the authentication result at step S 350  because another wearable system of the other user may be set to accept the information/service to be transferred after authenticating. Then, at step S 360 , the wearable system of the user confirms the received authentication result and transfers the information/service to another wearable system of the other user. 
     As described above, the user should easily control the transferred information/service. Hereinafter, a method for controlling information/service transferred in a wearable system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described. 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating a method for controlling information/service transferred to peripheral artificial intelligent devices in a wearable system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , a wearable system determines whether a target object is controllable or not at step S 401 . If the target object is not controllable, the control operation is terminated. 
     At step S 420 , the wearable system senses a bio signal generated by an intuitive pointing motion or a predetermined voice made by the user in order to control the information/service of a target device, and generates the bio signal information based on the sensing result. Then, the wearable system remotely controls the other device by transferring the generated bio signal information to the target device. 
     The communication channel between the user&#39;s wearable system and the peripheral device, which is established when the information/service is initially transferred, is continuously activated until the user points another device or wants to interrupt the current communication channel. 
     Therefore, the wearable system determines whether the control ends or not at step S 430 . If the control does not end, a step S 440  is performed. If the control ends, the step S 470  is performed, the controlling result is stored, and the related operation is terminated. 
     Meanwhile, when the user points the other device through generating the bio signal, the communication channel to the current AU device is interrupted, and the information/service is required to transmit to the newly pointed other device. Therefore, at step S 440 , the wearable system determines whether the user pointed device is the previous device to transfer the information/service or not at step s 440 . If they are identical, the step S 420  is performed. 
     On the contrary, at step S 450 , when they are not identical, the wearable system selects the pointed device, that is, the target device, and generates the bio signal information to the selected device. Then, the selected device receives the generated bio signal information, is activated, and transmits a response signal to the wearable system. 
     At step S 460 , the wearable system establishes a control channel to the newly selected device in order to transmit and receive information for remotely controlling the selected device. Then, the operations after the step S 420  are repeatedly performed. The wearable system remotely controls the other device according to the user&#39;s bio signal through the established control channel. Herein, the wearable system transfers the information/service to the other device, and controls the transferred information/service according to the user&#39;s bio signal based on the method shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     According to needs, the wearable system according to the present embodiment can control the information/service of other wearable system by applying the method shown in  FIG. 6 . 
     Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purpose, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.