Abstract:
The present invention relates to a system and method of transmitting an emergency condition using a wireless sensor network that transmits a user&#39;s emergency condition using a wireless sensor network. A wireless sensor network communication device integrated with a biological sensor is attached to a user&#39;s body in order to gather user&#39;s biological information, and transmits the user&#39;s biological information through the wireless sensor network. A repeater receives the biological information from the communication device, and sends the received biological information by using a routing protocol of the wireless sensor network. A management server receives the biological information through the repeater, analyzes the biological information, and transmits a warning signal to a user or takes emergency measures. Therefore, it is possible to detect and cope with sudden physical problems, which are generated during user&#39;s exercises and outdoor activities, at an early stage. As a result, it is possible to significantly contribute to the prevention and reduction of danger for the weak and the elderly, and a user who is to be taken care of.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to and the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0106062 filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Oct. 22, 2007, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    (a) Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a system and method of transmitting an emergency condition using a wireless sensor network. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method of transmitting an emergency condition using a wireless sensor network that transmits a user&#39;s emergency condition using a wireless sensor network. 
         [0004]    (b) Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a general ubiquitous sensor network. 
         [0006]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a sensor network  110  is a kind of an ad-hoc network, and includes a plurality of sensor nodes  111  and sink nodes  112  for specific purposes. In order to provide information gathered through the sensor network  110  to a user, the information may be provided through an existing IP (Internet protocol)-based network (BcN)  130 . For this purpose, the information is transmitted through a gateway  120 . 
         [0007]    Further, a server  131  is needed to provide various application services based on a ubiquitous sensor network. The sensor node  111  has a sensing function to sense peripheral information, a transmission function to transmit the peripheral information to another node, and a reception function to receive information transmitted from another sensor node. 
         [0008]    Each of the sensor nodes  111  of the wireless sensor network having the above-mentioned configuration set a channel to a destination in order to send information to a destination by exchanging data, periodically or as necessary, according to a routing protocol between the sensor nodes  111 . Each of the sensor nodes provides a function to detect defects on the channel on the basis of the information sent according to the routing protocol, and to repair defects of the wireless sensor network by changing the channel, if necessary. 
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is a view schematically illustrating an operation for transmitting information, which is gathered by a sensor node, to a server on the general ubiquitous sensor network. 
         [0010]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the sensor node  111  senses information (e.g., ambient temperature, humidity, or the like), which can be gathered by using sensors (e.g., temperature sensor, humidity sensor, or the like) mounted thereon, by using the sensors. 
         [0011]    Then, the gathered sensor information is sent to the sink node  112 . In this case, the sink node  112  transmits the information to the gateway  120 . 
         [0012]    Accordingly, the server  131  can receive related data through the gateway  120 , store the received information, and process the information in order to apply the information to various applications. 
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is a view illustrating a method of transmitting user&#39;s information using an existing mobile communication network. 
         [0014]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , a user can transmit own information (i.e., user information) to a server  330  through a mobile communication base station  320  by using an own mobile communication terminal  310 . 
         [0015]    However, when user&#39;s biological information is transmitted by using the existing mobile communication network as described above, there has been a drawback in that the user should always carry the mobile communication terminal  310  in addition to a device used to gather user&#39;s biological information. Further, since the user&#39;s biological information gathered using the above-mentioned existing mobile communication network is transmitted to the server, there has been a drawback in that additional cost is required for using a mobile communication network. 
         [0016]    The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention and therefore it may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    The present invention has been made in an effort to provide a system and method of transmitting a user&#39;s emergency condition using a wireless sensor network. 
         [0018]    Further, the present invention is to detect and cope with sudden physical problems, which are generated during user&#39;s outdoor activities, at an early stage and to significantly contribute to the safety of the weak and the elderly and a user who is to be taken care of, by gathering user&#39;s biological information and monitoring a user&#39;s state in real time by a management server through a wireless sensor network. 
         [0019]    An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a system and method of transmitting an emergency condition using a wireless sensor network communication technology that automatically gathers users&#39; biological information in a predetermined region by using wireless sensor network communication technology, transmits the gathered biological information to a management server by using the wireless sensor network communication technology, and takes corresponding measures. In this case, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a device integrated with a biological sensor is attached to a user&#39;s body, user&#39;s biological information gathered by the device is transmitted to the management server through a repeater by using the wireless sensor network communication technology, the management server grasps a user&#39;s state so as to detect an emergency condition caused by user&#39;s physical problems, a warning message is transmitted to the user, and an accident is quickly coped with when it occurs. Therefore, it is possible to reduce and prevent the danger of an accident that may occur during exercise and outdoor activities. 
         [0020]    An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a system for transmitting an emergency condition using a wireless sensor network. The system includes a wireless sensor network communication device integrated with a biological sensor, a repeater, and a management server. The wireless sensor network communication device integrated with a biological sensor is attached to a user&#39;s body in order to gather user&#39;s biological information, and transmits the user&#39;s biological information through the wireless sensor network. The repeater receives the biological information from the communication device, and sends the received biological information by using a routing protocol of the wireless sensor network. The management server receives the biological information through the repeater, analyzes the biological information, and transmits a warning signal to a user or takes emergency measures. 
         [0021]    In this case, the communication device may include a biological information sensing unit, a wireless sensor network communication unit, and an output unit. The biological information sensing unit is attached to the user&#39;s body in order to periodically measure user&#39;s biological information. The wireless sensor network communication unit receives the biological information measured by the biological information sensing unit, transmits the biological information to the repeater through the wireless sensor network, and receives a warning signal through the repeater. The output unit sends the warning signal received from the wireless sensor network communication unit to the user. Further, the repeater may form the wireless sensor network together with other peripheral repeaters, may route the biological information received from the communication device to other repeaters or sends the biological information to the management server by using a routing protocol of the wireless sensor network, and may detect and repair defects on the wireless sensor network. Furthermore, the management server may grasp the user&#39;s present state by using the biological information received through the repeater, may send a warning signal to the user if an abnormal indication is generated, and may cause an emergency rescue organization to take emergency measures if an emergency condition occurs. 
         [0022]    Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method of transmitting an emergency condition using a wireless sensor network in a sensor network communication device integrated with a biological sensor, which is attached to a user. The method includes searching peripheral repeaters and determining whether the number of searched repeaters is one or not, setting a communication channel corresponding to the searched repeater if one repeater is searched, gathering user&#39;s biological information by using a biological sensor, and transmitting the gathered biological information to the repeater where the communication channel is set. 
         [0023]    Further, the method of transmitting an emergency condition may further include selecting a repeater having the highest communication sensitivity among the searched repeaters if two or more repeaters are searched, and setting a communication channel corresponding to the selected repeater. 
         [0024]    Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method of transmitting an emergency condition using a wireless sensor network in a repeater. The method includes attempting to form the wireless sensor network together with other peripheral repeaters, periodically checking the state of the formed wireless sensor network after the wireless sensor network is formed, receiving biological information from a sensor network communication device integrated with a biological sensor if troubles do not occur on the formed wireless sensor network, and sending the received biological information to a management server through the formed wireless sensor network. 
         [0025]    Further, the method of transmitting an emergency condition may further include re-searching a channel of the wireless sensor network if troubles occur on the formed wireless sensor network, and resetting a channel of the re-searched wireless sensor network instead of the formed wireless sensor network. 
         [0026]    Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method of transmitting an emergency condition using a wireless sensor network in a management server. The method includes receiving user&#39;s biological information through the wireless sensor network, analyzing the received user&#39;s biological information, determining whether an abnormal indication is detected or not on the basis of the analysis result, determining whether the occurrence of an accident is perceived if the abnormal indication is detected, and taking measures of emergency rescue for the user if the occurrence of the accident is perceived. 
         [0027]    In this case, the taking of the measures of emergency rescue may include informing an emergency rescue organization of an emergency condition, when the emergency condition occurs, so that the emergency rescue organization takes emergency measures for the user. 
         [0028]    Further, the method of transmitting an emergency condition may further include generating a warning signal corresponding to the abnormal indication of the user&#39;s body and transmitting the warning signal to the user if the occurrence of the accident is not perceived. 
         [0029]    As described above, according to the present invention, a wireless sensor network communication device integrated with a biological sensor is attached to a user&#39;s body in order to gather user&#39;s biological information, a user&#39;s state is transmitted to a management server using the wireless sensor network, an emergency condition caused by user&#39;s physical problems is monitored in real time, and a warning message is transmitted to a user so that an accident is quickly coped with during the occurrence of the accident. Therefore, it is possible to detect and cope with sudden physical problems, which are generated during user&#39;s exercise and outdoor activities, at an early stage. As a result, it is possible to significantly contribute to the prevention and reduction of danger for the weak and the elderly, and a user who is to be taken care of. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view of a general wireless sensor network. 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart illustrating a method of transmitting information gathered at a sensor node of the general wireless sensor network. 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  is a view showing the configuration of a user information transmission system in the prior art. 
           [0033]      FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram of a system for transmitting an emergency condition using a wireless sensor network according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 5  is a view showing the configuration of a wireless sensor network communication device integrated with a biological sensor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating a method of transmitting an emergency condition using a wireless sensor network according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating a method of transmitting an emergency condition in the wireless sensor network communication device integrated with a biological sensor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating a method of transmitting an emergency condition in a repeater according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating a method of transmitting an emergency condition in a management server according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0039]    In the following detailed description, only certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, simply by way of illustration. As those skilled in the art would realize, the described embodiments may be modified in various different ways, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not restrictive. Like reference numerals designate like elements throughout the specification. 
         [0040]    It will be further understood that the terms “comprise” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. In addition, the terms “-er”, “-or”, and “module” described in the specification mean units for processing at least one function and operation, and can be implemented by hardware components or software components, and combinations thereof. 
         [0041]    A system and method of transmitting an emergency condition using a wireless sensor network according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to drawings. 
         [0042]      FIG. 4  is a schematic block diagram of a system for transmitting an emergency condition using a wireless sensor network according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0043]    As shown in  FIG. 4 , a system for transmitting an emergency condition using a wireless sensor network according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a management server  410 , a repeater  420 , and a communication device  430 . In this case, the repeater  420  performs communication between the management server  410  and the communication device  430  according to a wireless sensor network method using a routing protocol. 
         [0044]    The management server  410  analyzes a biological signal (i.e., user&#39;s biological information) that is received from the repeater  420 , and performs an operation (i.e., an operation for taking emergency measures or transmitting a warning signal) corresponding to an aware context through the present context-awareness. In this case, the management server  410  receives a user&#39;s biological signal through the repeater  420 . Further, the management server  410  grasps the user&#39;s present state by using user&#39;s biological information received through the repeater  420 . If an abnormal indication is generated (i.e., if the danger is acknowledged), the management server sends a warning signal to a user. If an emergency condition occurs (i.e., if the danger occurs), the management server provides an emergency rescue service (e.g., takes emergency measures through an emergency rescue organization). 
         [0045]    The repeater  420  routes a biological signal, which is received from the communication device  430 , to other peripheral repeaters (not shown in the drawing for convenience of description) by using a routing protocol of the wireless sensor network, or sends received data (biological information) to the management server  410 . In this case, the repeater  420  receives user&#39;s biological information through the wireless communication with the communication device  430 . Further, the repeater  420  forms a wireless sensor network together with other peripheral repeaters, and sends a biological signal, which is transmitted from the user&#39;s communication device  430  through the wireless sensor network formed by the repeaters, to the management server  410 . Furthermore, the repeater  420  automatically detects defects on the wireless sensor network, and repairs the defects. 
         [0046]    The communication device  430  is a wireless sensor network communication device integrated with a biological sensor. The communication device is attached to a user&#39;s body in order to gather biological information such as respiration and pulse of a user by using a wireless sensor network communication technology, and transmits the gathered biological information to the repeater  420  through the wireless sensor network as a biological signal. In this case, the communication device  430  periodically gathers a user&#39;s biological signal, and transmits the gathered biological signal to the management server  410  through the repeater  420  by using the wireless sensor network. 
         [0047]      FIG. 5  is a view showing the configuration of a wireless sensor network communication device integrated with a biological sensor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0048]    As shown in  FIG. 5 , the wireless sensor network communication device integrated with a biological sensor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a biological information sensing unit  501 , a wireless sensor network communication unit  502 , and a speaker  503 . 
         [0049]    The biological information sensing unit  501  is a biological sensor for measuring biological information, such as user&#39;s bloodstream and the number of user&#39;s heartbeats. The biological information sensing unit sends the biological information, which is measured by the biological sensor, to the wireless sensor network communication unit  502 . 
         [0050]    The wireless sensor network communication unit  502  receives biological information measured by the biological information sensing unit  501 , and transmits the biological information to the repeater  420  wirelessly as a biological signal. Further, the wireless sensor network communication unit  502  receives a warning signal, which is transmitted from the management server  410  through the repeater  420 , and sends the warning signal to the speaker  503 . 
         [0051]    The speaker  503  sends the warning signal, which is transmitted through the wireless sensor network communication unit  502 , to a user. In this case, the speaker  503  has been used to send the warning signal to a user in the exemplary embodiment of the present invention. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and it should be understood that all kinds of output units such as a LCD (liquid crystal display) and a vibrator that are capable of sending a warning signal to a user may be used. 
         [0052]    A method of transmitting an emergency condition using a wireless sensor network according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to  FIGS. 6 to 9 . 
         [0053]      FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating a method of transmitting an emergency condition using a wireless sensor network according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0054]    As shown in  FIG. 6 , the wireless sensor network communication device  430  integrated with a biological sensor that is attached to the user&#39;s body gathers user&#39;s biological information (S 601 ), performs wireless communication by using other peripheral repeaters, and transmits the gathered biological information by using a channel of the wireless communication. That is, the wireless sensor network communication device  430  integrated with a biological sensor, which is attached to the user&#39;s body in order to gather biological information, transmits biological information that is gathered by the closest repeater  420 . 
         [0055]    Further, the repeater  420  transmits the biological information, which is gathered by the wireless sensor network communication device  430  integrated with a biological sensor, to the management server  410  through the wireless network that is formed between the other peripheral repeaters and its own (S 602 ). 
         [0056]    In this case, when the wireless sensor network communication device  430  integrated with a biological sensor communicates with the repeater  420  through the wireless sensor network, the wireless sensor network communication device  430  integrated with a biological sensor selects a repeater  420  having the best communication sensitivity among the repeaters that can communicate therewith and generates a communication channel. Further, the repeater  420  is provided at a street lamp and users&#39; surroundings, receives the gathered biological information from the wireless sensor network communication device  430  integrated with a biological sensor that is used by users, forms a wireless network together with other peripheral repeaters in order to transmit the received biological information to the management server  410 , and transmits the transmitted biological information to the management server  410  through the wireless network. Furthermore, the repeaters  420  form a wireless network using a routing protocol. Accordingly, when errors occur on the wireless network due to the error of any repeater, the repeater  420  automatically detects defects on the wireless sensor network and repairs the defects. In addition, when biological information to be transmitted to the management server  410  is generated during the repair, the repeaters except for the repeater having the error reforms a wireless network so that the biological information is transmitted to the management server  410 . Therefore, the emergency condition transmission and an emergency rescue service are not interrupted. 
         [0057]    Further, the management server  410  receives user&#39;s biological information from the repeater  420 , analyzes the received user&#39;s biological information, and transmits a warning signal or performs an operation for coping with the danger on the basis of the analysis result (S 603 ). 
         [0058]      FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating a method of transmitting an emergency condition in the wireless sensor network communication device integrated with a biological sensor according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0059]    When power is turned on and applied to the wireless sensor network communication device  430  integrated with a biological sensor as shown in  FIG. 7 , the wireless sensor network communication unit  502  searches peripheral repeaters  420  to perform wireless communication (S 701 ). In this case, the wireless sensor network communication unit  502  confirms the result searched in step S 701 , and determines whether the number of searched repeaters  420  is one or not (S 702 ). 
         [0060]    If one repeater  420  is searched in step S 702 , the wireless sensor network communication unit  502  sets a communication channel corresponding to the searched repeater  420  (S 703 ). 
         [0061]    In contrast, if two or more repeaters  420  are searched in step S 702 , the wireless sensor network communication unit  502  selects a repeater  420  having the highest communication sensitivity among the searched repeaters (S 704 ) and then sets a communication channel corresponding to the selected repeater  420  (S 705 ). 
         [0062]    After that, the biological information sensing unit  501  gathers user&#39;s biological information by using the biological sensor (S 706 ), and the wireless sensor network communication device  430  integrated with a biological sensor then sends the gathered biological information to the wireless sensor network communication unit  502 . 
         [0063]    In this case, if user&#39;s biological information is not gathered in step S 706 , the wireless sensor network communication device  430  integrated with a biological sensor periodically performs the operations of steps S 701  to S 705  in order to set a communication channel that is required for an optimum emergency condition transmission service at all times. 
         [0064]    The wireless sensor network communication unit  502  receives biological information gathered by the biological information sensing unit  501 , and transmits the biological information to a repeater  420  where the communication channel is set in step S 705  (S 707 ). 
         [0065]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating a method of transmitting an emergency condition in a repeater according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0066]    When power is turned on and applied to the repeater  420  as shown in  FIG. 8 , the repeater attempts to form a wireless sensor network together with other peripheral repeaters and forms the wireless sensor network (S 801 ). 
         [0067]    Further, the repeater  420  periodically checks the state of the wireless sensor network formed in step S 801  in order to determine whether errors occur on the network (S 802 ). In this case, if errors occur on the network, the repeater  420  searches a new channel to the management server  410  and resets the channel (S 803 ). That is, if errors occur on the network, the repeater  420  re-searches a channel of the wireless sensor network and then resets the re-searched channel of the wireless sensor network. 
         [0068]    After that, the repeater  420  receives the biological information that is transmitted from the wireless sensor network communication device  430  integrated with a biological sensor (S 804 ), and sends the received biological information to the management server  410  through the wireless sensor network that is formed in step S 801  (or S 803 ) (S 805 ). 
         [0069]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating a method of transmitting an emergency condition in a management server according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0070]    When power is turned on and applied to the management server  410  as shown in  FIG. 9 , the management server receives user&#39;s biological information through the wireless sensor network formed as described above (S 901 ) and analyzes the received user&#39;s biological information (S 902 ). In this case, the management server  410  includes a database that stores and manages information about the emergency measures corresponding to the received user&#39;s biological information. Accordingly, the management server reads out the information about the emergency measures corresponding to the received user&#39;s biological information from the database, and analyzes the information. 
         [0071]    Further, the management server  410  determines whether an abnormal indication is detected or not, on the basis of the analysis result of step S 902  (S 903 ). In this case, if it is determined in step S 903  that an abnormal indication is detected on the basis of the analysis result, the management server  410  determines whether a user perceives the occurrence of an accident (S 904 ). 
         [0072]    If the user does not perceive the occurrence of an accident in step S 904 , the management server  410  generates a warning signal corresponding to the abnormal indication of the user&#39;s body, and transmits the warning signal to the sensor network communication device  430  integrated with a biological sensor through the wireless sensor network formed as described above in order to inform the user of the occurrence of an accident (S 905 ). 
         [0073]    In contrast, when the user perceives the occurrence of an accident in step S 904 , the management server  410  takes measures of emergency rescue for the user (S 906 ). 
         [0074]    For example, when an emergency condition occurs, the management server  410  informs an emergency rescue organization of the emergency condition so that the emergency rescue organization takes emergency measures for the user. 
         [0075]    As described above, according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, user&#39;s biological information is gathered and a user&#39;s state is monitored in real time by a management server through a wireless sensor network. Therefore, when an abnormality is detected, a warning message is transmitted to the user so that unexpected incidents caused by sudden physical problems during a user&#39;s outdoor activity are detected at an early stage in order to reduce death and injury. 
         [0076]    The exemplary embodiments of the present invention are not embodied only by the above-mentioned system and/or method. Alternatively, the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments may be embodied by a program performing functions, which correspond to the configuration of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, or a recording medium on which the program is recorded. These embodiments can be easily devised from the description of the above-mentioned exemplary embodiments by those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. 
         [0077]    While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.