Patent Description:
The contents described herein are intended to merely provide background information of embodiments set forth herein and should not be understood as necessarily constituting the related art.

With the spread of smart phones, various types of devices that can be connected to smart phones through wireless communication are being developed and sold. As a representative example, various types of devices equipped with a short range communication module using Bluetooth have been developed.

A similar device is for example disclosed in document <CIT>.

Devices can be simultaneously connected in up to <NUM>:<NUM> or <NUM>:<NUM> correspondence according to a version of a Bluetooth communication module. However, there is a case in which a device should be connected to another device in <NUM>:<NUM> correspondence according to the usage of the device. In this case, when there is an existing wireless connection, a method of managing whether to maintain the existing wireless connection or establish a new connection when a device attempts to connect wirelessly may be needed.

The present disclosure is directed to providing a management method of stably establishing or canceling wireless communication between a plurality of communication terminals and a certain measuring device.

The present disclosure is not limited thereto and aspects thereof that are not described above will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the following description.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a measuring device connection management method includes (a) when a connection permission request signal for connecting to a certain measuring device through wireless communication is received from a first communication terminal, transmitting, by a controller, a connection possible signal to the first communication terminal and updating information about a communication terminal connected to the measuring device through wireless communication (hereinafter referred to as measuring device connection state information) with information about the first communication terminal; (b) when the connection permission request signal for connecting to the measuring device through wireless communication is received from a second communication terminal, transmitting, by the controller, a disconnection request signal to the first communication terminal; and (c) when a disconnection confirmation signal is received from the first communication terminal, transmitting, by the controller, the connection possible signal to the second communication terminal and updating the measuring device connection state information with information about the second communication terminal.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, (a) may include updating, by the controller, the measuring device connection state information with the information about the first communication terminal when a connection completion signal is received from the first communication terminal, and (c) may include updating, by the controller, the measuring device connection state information with the information about the second communication terminal when a connection completion signal is received from the second communication terminal.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, (a) may further include receiving, by the controller, information about a measurement start time or an estimated measurement end time from the first communication terminal and updating the measuring device connection state information with the received information.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, (b) may include transmitting, by the controller, a connection impossible signal to the second communication terminal when the connection permission request signal for connecting to the measuring device through wireless communication is received from the second communication terminal before a preset operation time elapses from a measurement start time of the first communication terminal or before the estimated measurement end time, which is included in the measuring device connection state information.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, (b) may further include transmitting, by the controller, measurement start time information of the first communication terminal or estimated measurement end time information to the second communication terminal.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, (c) may include transmitting, by the controller, the connection possible signal to the second communication terminal and updating the measuring device connection state information with the information about the second communication terminal when the disconnection confirmation signal is not received within a preset response time.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the method may further include, before (a), storing, by the controller, a list of connectable communication terminals, which is information about communication terminals capable of being connected to the specific measuring device. In this case, when the connection permission request signal for connecting to the measuring device through wireless communication is received from the second communication terminal, (b) may include determining, by the controller, whether the second communication terminal is included in the list of connectable communication terminals and transmitting the disconnection request signal to the first communication terminal when the second communication terminal is included in the list of connectable communication terminals.

In an embodiment of the present disclosure, (a) may include transmitting, by the controller, a connection permission confirmation request signal for the first communication terminal to a master communication terminal when the connection permission request signal for connecting to the measuring device through wireless communication is received from the first communication terminal, and transmitting the connection possible signal to the first communication terminal when a connection permission approval signal for the first communication terminal is received from the master communication terminal, and (b) may include transmitting, by the controller, a connection permission confirmation request signal for the second communication terminal to the master communication terminal when the connection permission request signal for connecting to the measuring device through wireless communication is received from the second communication terminal, and transmitting a disconnection request signal to the first communication terminal when a connection permission approval signal for the second communication terminal is received from the master communication terminal.

In this case, (c) may include transmitting, by the controller, a forcible connection termination confirmation request signal for the first communication terminal to the master communication terminal when the disconnection confirmation signal is not received from the first communication terminal within a preset response time, and transmitting the connection possible signal to the second communication terminal and updating the measuring device connection state information with the information about the second communication terminal when a forcible connection termination permission signal is received from the master communication terminal.

The measuring device connection management method according to the present disclosure may be embodied as a computer program created to perform operations of the measuring device connection management method in a computer and recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a measuring device connection management server includes a memory storing information about a communication terminal connected to a certain measuring device through wireless communication (hereinafter referred to as measuring device connection state information), and a controller configured to transmit a connection possible signal to a first communication terminal and update the measuring device connection state information with information about the first communication terminal when a connection permission request signal for connecting to the measuring device through wireless communication is received from the first communication terminal, transmit a disconnection request signal to the first communication terminal when the connection permission request signal is received from a second communication terminal, and transmit the connection possible signal to the second communication terminal and update the measuring device connection state information with information about the second communication terminal when a disconnection confirmation signal is received from the first communication terminal.

Other details of the present disclosure are provided in the detailed description and drawings.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by describing exemplary embodiments thereof in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

Hereinafter, embodiments set forth herein will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the same or similar components are assigned the same reference numbers even in different drawings and are not redundantly described herein. Terms "unit" and the like used to describe elements of the following description are only intended or interchangeably used to facilitate the making of the specification and should not be understood as having different meanings or functions. The related art is not described in detail when it is determined that the description thereof would obscure the subject matter of the embodiments of the present disclosure set forth herein in describing the embodiments. In addition, the accompanying drawings are only provided to help understand the embodiments, and it should be understood that the technical idea set forth herein is not limited by the accompanying drawings and includes all changes, equivalents, or substitutes included in the scope of the present disclosure.

<FIG> is a reference diagram for helping the understanding of a diagnostic system according to the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a diagnostic system <NUM> according to the present disclosure may include a tester <NUM> and a communication terminal <NUM>.

The tester <NUM> is a device for performing a test on a sample collected from a respiratory organ. The tester <NUM> may be a molecular diagnostic device or an antigen diagnostic device. In the present specification, the measuring device <NUM> for performing a test on a sample by a molecular diagnosis method is provided as an example of the tester <NUM>. The molecular diagnosis method is a method of extracting deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or ribonucleic acid (RNA) from a sample (saliva, blood or the like) of a human infected with a virus or bacteria using gene amplification technology and amplifying the extracted DNA or RNA to check whether he or she is infected with a disease. There are various types of the gene amplification method such as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a reverse transcription (RT)-PCR, and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). In the present specification, a measuring device <NUM> configured to measure whether a patient who is a suspected of being infected with SARS-CoV-<NUM> is infected with SARS-CoV-<NUM> by amplifying the SARS-CoV-<NUM> gene (S gene or N gene) of a sample collected from the patient's nasopharynx or nasal cavity by LAMP will be described as an example. However, the above example is not intended to limit a tester to the molecular diagnosis method or LAMP.

A test kit may be necessary to conduct a test on a sample using the measuring device <NUM> according to the present disclosure. The test kit refers to a tool, a reagent and consumables necessary to conduct a test and may be sealed and provided in a pouch <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, a swab <NUM>, a sample tube <NUM>, a test tube <NUM>, and a control tube <NUM> may be provided. The swab <NUM>, the sample tube <NUM>, the test tube <NUM>, and the control tube <NUM> may be manufactured for one-time use by one person to be tested. Accordingly, the swab <NUM>, the sample tube <NUM>, the test tube <NUM>, and the control tube <NUM> may be replaced with new ones for each test to additionally or repeatedly perform the test. In addition, the swab <NUM>, the sample tube <NUM>, the test tube <NUM>, and the control tube <NUM> may be manufactured in a sterile state, and sealed and distributed in the pouch <NUM>.

The swab <NUM> is a tool (sample collection tool) to be used for a testee to collect a sample. The swab <NUM> may have a length and thickness sufficient to collect a sample.

The sample tube <NUM> may contain a nucleic acid extraction solution. Specifically, the nucleic acid extraction solution may include a buffer solution, a nonionic surfactant, a kosmotropic salt, and an indicator.

In the nucleic acid extraction solution, the buffer solution may be a Tris-buffer solution. Specifically, the buffer solution may be Tris-HCl of pH <NUM> to pH <NUM> or of pH <NUM> to pH <NUM>. The buffer solution may have a concentration of <NUM> to <NUM>.

In the nucleic acid extraction solution, the nonionic surfactant may be a Tween type surfactant. Specifically, the nonionic surfactant may be Tween <NUM>. The nonionic surfactant may have a concentration of <NUM> vol% to <NUM> vol% or <NUM> vol% to <NUM> vol%.

In the nucleic acid extraction solution, the kosmotropic salt may include at least one selected from the group consisting of ammonium sulfate, potassium chloride, and magnesium sulfate. Specifically, the kosmotropic salt may include all of ammonium sulfate, potassium chloride, and magnesium sulfate. In this case, ammonium sulfate may have a concentration of <NUM> to <NUM> or <NUM> to <NUM>. Potassium chloride may have a concentration of <NUM> to <NUM> or <NUM> to <NUM>. Magnesium sulfate may have a concentration of <NUM> to <NUM> or <NUM> to <NUM>.

In the nucleic acid extraction solution, the indicator may include at least one selected from the group consisting of Cresol RED and Phenol RED, but embodiments are not limited thereto and an appropriate indicator may be used according to the purpose.

The nucleic acid extraction solution may further include an additive such as guanidine. When the nucleic acid extraction solution further includes guanidine, guanidine may have a concentration of <NUM> to <NUM>, or <NUM> to <NUM>.

The test tube <NUM> and the control tube <NUM> may each include a primer for LAMP. The primer included in the test tube <NUM> and the primer included in the control tube <NUM> are different from each other. The primer included in the test tube <NUM> is a primer for amplifying the nucleic acid of a virus that is suspected of infecting with a person, and the primer included in the control tube <NUM> is a primer for amplifying nucleic acid that may be collected from ordinary people.

The test tube <NUM> and the control tube <NUM> may further include <NUM> to <NUM> vM primer mix, 32KU/T Bst polymerase, a <NUM> mU/T RNase inhibitor, <NUM> to <NUM> dNTPs, <NUM> vg/T BSA, <NUM> vg/T trehalose, <NUM> vg sample buffer, etc..

The measuring device <NUM> may conduct a test on a sample while communicating with the communication terminal <NUM>. The measuring device <NUM> may be configured such that a lid therein is opened or closed, and a space for accommodating the test tube <NUM> and the control tube <NUM> therein may be formed in the measuring device <NUM> when the lid is opened. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the test tube <NUM> and the control tube <NUM> may be formed in different shapes (e.g., a cylindrical shape and a quadrangular tube shape) to be easily differentiated from each other, and a space corresponding to the shapes of the test tube <NUM> and the control tube <NUM> may be formed in the measuring device <NUM>.

Meanwhile, the measuring device <NUM> is capable of conducting a test on a sample by LAMP and thus may include components necessary for LAMP.

<FIG> is a schematic block diagram of a configuration of an amplifier according to the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, a measuring device <NUM> according to the present disclosure may include a measuring device controller <NUM>, a measurer <NUM>, a communicator <NUM>, a display <NUM>, a heater <NUM>, and a power supply <NUM>.

The measuring device controller <NUM> may control a process necessary for performing a test on a sample by LAMP. When the measuring device controller <NUM> can output a signal for controlling each component included in the measuring device <NUM>, desired processing such as calculation, storing, handling, etc. is possible by receiving a signal from each component.

The measurer <NUM> may measure the test tube <NUM> and the control tube <NUM> according to a process of conducting a test on a sample. As will be described in more detail below, colors of solutions included in the test tube <NUM> and the control tube <NUM> may change as a nucleic acid is amplified according to the presence/absence of the nucleic acid. The measurer <NUM> may measure the colors of the test tube <NUM> and the control tube <NUM> and output a signal indicating the measured colors to the controller <NUM>. To this end, the measurer <NUM> may include a spectrum sensor <NUM> and/or a light source <NUM>.

The communicator <NUM> may allow data to be transmitted and received between the measuring device <NUM> and the communication terminal <NUM>. The communicator <NUM> may establish wired communication and/or wireless communication, and data may be transmitted and received according to a preset communication protocol. Preferably, the communicator <NUM> may be a short range communication module for short range communication. The short range communication module may support short range communication using at least one of Bluetooth™, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Ultra-Wideband (UWB), ZigBee, Near-Field Communication (NFC), Wireless-Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Wi-Fi Direct, and Wireless Universal Serial Bus (Wireless USB).

The display <NUM> may display status information and operation information of the measuring device <NUM>. The display <NUM> may include two light-emitting diodes (LEDs) installed on a front surface of the measuring device <NUM>. A first LED may display a communication connection state between the measuring device <NUM> and the communication terminal <NUM>, and a second LED may display a charge state and a normal operation state of the measuring device <NUM>.

The heater <NUM> may heat the test tube <NUM> and the control tube <NUM>. The heater <NUM> may be configured as a coil to receive power from the power supply <NUM> and convert the power into heat energy according to a control signal from the measuring device controller <NUM>. The coil may have a length and a resistance sufficient to heat the test tube <NUM> and the control tube <NUM> to a preset temperature. According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, the heater <NUM> may further include a temperature sensor (not shown). The measuring device controller <NUM> may output a signal for controlling the operation of the heater <NUM> according to a temperature signal output from the temperature sensor.

The power supply <NUM> may supply power required to operate the components included in the measuring device <NUM> according to the present disclosure. To this end, the power supply <NUM> may include a power terminal <NUM> and a battery <NUM>. The battery <NUM> may be a primary battery or a secondary battery, and preferably, the secondary battery. The power terminal <NUM> is an interface for connection to an external power supply source (e.g., a commercial electrical grid, a charging battery or the like), and may be configured as, for example, a USB input/output terminal. The power supply <NUM> may charge the battery <NUM> with power supplied through the power terminal <NUM>. Power charged in the battery <NUM> may be used to perform a test on a sample, or power may be directly received from the power terminal <NUM> and used.

The communication terminal <NUM> of the present disclosure may be a communication terminal capable of transmitting and receiving data, e.g., a smart phone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcasting terminal, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a portable multimedia player (PMP), a navigation system, a slate PC, a tablet PC or an Ultrabook, or a wearable device, e.g., a smart watch, smart glasses or a head-mounted display (HMD). An application necessary for performing a test on a sample may be installed in the communication terminal <NUM> according to the present disclosure.

The communication terminal <NUM> may also include a communicator to transmit data to and receive data from the communicator <NUM> of the measuring device <NUM>, and in this case, a communication protocol included in the communication terminal <NUM> is the same as a communication protocol of the communicator <NUM> of the measuring device <NUM>. In the present specification, it will be described that, for example, data communication may be established between the measuring device <NUM> and the communication terminal <NUM> using Bluetooth™ used for a short-range communication module. Meanwhile, the communication terminal <NUM> may transmit data to and receive data from a communication terminal other than the measuring device <NUM> and/or a wireless communication system and/or an external server. The communicator of the communication terminal <NUM> may further include a mobile communication module, a wireless Internet module, or a short-range communication module.

A method of diagnosing whether a user is infected with a virus using the measuring device <NUM> according to the present disclosure will be described below. In this case, it is assumed that a battery included in the measuring device <NUM> is in a fully charged state and an application program necessary for performing a test on a sample is installed in the communication terminal <NUM>.

First, the measuring device <NUM> may be turned on by pressing a (power) button on a front side of the measuring device <NUM>. Next, an application installed in the communication terminal <NUM> may be executed to connect the measuring device <NUM> and the communication terminal <NUM>.

Next, a testee may collect a sample by pushing the swab <NUM> into his or her nasopharynx inside the nose. After the sample is collected, the swab <NUM> may be put into the sample tube <NUM>, and the sample tube <NUM> is shaken sufficiently about <NUM> to <NUM> times to mix the sample with a solution in the sample tube <NUM>.

Next, a preset amount (e.g., <NUM>µl) of the sample mixed with the solution in the sample tube <NUM> by sufficiently shaking the sample tube <NUM> may be put into the test tube <NUM> and the control tube <NUM>. The test tube <NUM> and the control tube <NUM> are mounted in their positions in the measuring device <NUM>, and the lid of the measuring device <NUM> is closed. When the lid of the measuring device <NUM> is closed, driving may be started at a preset temperature for a preset time. In this case, the remaining time among the total time may be displayed on a display screen of the communication terminal <NUM>.

When the preset time elapses, the display screen of the communication terminal <NUM> may be switched to a driving completion screen on which a reading result is displayed. In this case, the measurer <NUM> of the measuring device <NUM> may output a signal indicating a change in colors of the test tube <NUM> and the control tube <NUM>. When the signal output from the measurer <NUM> can be stored in a memory <NUM> of the measuring device controller <NUM>, the measuring device controller <NUM> may transmit data on the signal stored in the memory <NUM> to the communication terminal <NUM> through the communicator <NUM>.

The communication terminal <NUM> may determine whether the user is infected with a virus using data on the change in colors of the test tube <NUM> and the control tube <NUM>, and display a result of the determination on the screen.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of a change in color of a tube.

Referring to <FIG>, a color of a solution in a tube is yellow, and referring to <FIG>, a color of the solution in the tube is red. The test tube <NUM> and the control tube <NUM> may contain a reagent, the color of which changes according to pH, and in the examples illustrated in <FIG>, "yellow" may represent "positive" indicating the presence of a nucleic acid to be detected, and "red" may represent "negative" indicating the absence of a nucleic acid to be detected.

<FIG> is a table showing examples of an analysis result according to a color of a tube.

Referring to the table of <FIG>, it may be understood that when a color of a control tube is measured to be yellow, a sample was successfully extracted and a LAMP reaction was also successfully performed, and thus, a measurement result is reliable. On the other hand, it may be understood that when the color of the control tube is measured to be red, the sample was not successfully extracted or the LAMP reaction was not successfully performed, and thus, the measurement result is not reliable. In this case, a test is not valid and thus it may be recommended to conduct the test again.

Meanwhile, it may be understood that when the color of the control tube is yellow and a color of a test tube is yellow, the COVID-<NUM> virus is detected. That is, it may be understood that a testee has been infected with the COVID-<NUM> virus. Meanwhile, it may be understood that when the color of the control tube is yellow and the color of the test tube is red, the COVID-<NUM> virus is not detected. That is, it may be understood that the testee is not infected with the COVID-<NUM> virus. It will be obvious that the colors of the test tube <NUM> and the control tube <NUM> may variously change according to the types of reagents included in the test tube <NUM> and the control tube <NUM>.

It is necessary to wirelessly connect the measuring device <NUM> and the communication terminal <NUM> to measure whether a testee is infected with the virus using a diagnostic system according to the present disclosure. However, the examples described above with reference to <FIG> are based on an assumption that there is <NUM>: <NUM> correspondence between the measuring device <NUM> and the communication terminal <NUM>. One measuring device <NUM> may be shared by a plurality of users according to a usage environment. For example, there are a case in which one measuring device <NUM> is purchased for the use of family members, a case in which one measuring device <NUM> is purchased for the use of company employees, a case in which one measuring device <NUM> is purchased and used in each classroom of a school or kindergarten, etc. In such cases, only one communication terminal should be wirelessly connected to the measuring device <NUM>, and wireless connection of another communication terminal to the measuring device <NUM> is possible after the wireless connection with the communication terminal is canceled. In addition, while whether a user is infected with the COVID-<NUM> virus is measured, the measuring device <NUM> should not be wirelessly connected to another user's communication terminal. As described above, there is a need for a managing method of performing or canceling a wireless communication connection when there is one measuring device and a plurality of communication terminals. A measuring device connection management method according to the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a schematic block diagram of a measuring device connection management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the measuring device connection management system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include a first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>, a second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>, and a measuring device connection management server <NUM>. The first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> and the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> are substantially the same as the communication terminal <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>. However, the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> and the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> are different communication terminals, and for convenience of description, a communication terminal wirelessly connected to the measuring device <NUM> first will be referred to as a "first communication terminal" and a communication terminal wirelessly connected to the measuring device <NUM> afterward will be referred to as a "second communication terminal. " When a communication terminal attempts to wirelessly connect to the measuring device <NUM> while the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> is wirelessly connected to the measuring device <NUM>, the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> may be the "first communication terminal. " That is, the terms "first" and "second" used herein are only intended to distinguish different communication terminals from each other and should not be understood to mean priority or a concept of higher and lower ranks.

The measuring device connection management server <NUM> may include a memory for storing data (or information) and a controller for performing a measuring device connection management method according to the present disclosure. The controller may include a processor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), other chipsets, a logic circuit, a register, a communication modem, a data processing device, etc., which are known in the art to which the present disclosure pertains, to perform calculation and execute various types of control logic. When a control logic as described above is implemented as software, the controller may be implemented as a set of program modules. In this case, the program module may be stored in the memory and executed by a processor.

Meanwhile, the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may include a database storing data for managing all sold measuring devices or measuring devices requiring connection management. In the present specification, measuring device connection management performed by the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> will be described below focusing on a situation in which different communication terminals <NUM>-<NUM> and <NUM>-<NUM> attempt to connect to one measuring device <NUM>. Accordingly, in a measuring device connection management method according to the present disclosure, a method of managing the measuring device <NUM> may equally apply to all measuring devices, the data of which is stored in the database.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating the flow of signals in a measuring device connection management method according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation S <NUM>, the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> may transmit a connection permission request signal to the measuring device connection management server <NUM>. Here, the "connection permission request signal" should be understood to mean a signal transmitted from the communication terminal <NUM> to the measuring device connection management server <NUM> for wireless connection with a measuring device <NUM>. The connection permission request signal may include unique information identifying the measuring device <NUM>.

Next, in operation S110, when the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> receives a connection permission request signal for connecting to a specific measuring device through wireless communication from the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>, the controller may transmit a connection possible signal to the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>. Here, the "connection possible signal" is a signal indicating that the specific measuring device <NUM> corresponding to unique information included in the connection permission request signal is currently connectable through wireless connection in response to the connection permission request signal.

Next, in operation S120, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may update measuring device connection state information with information about the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>. As used herein, the term "measuring device connection state information" refers to information about the communication terminal <NUM> connected to the specific measuring device <NUM> through wireless communication. The measuring device connection state information may include information about whether there is a currently wirelessly connected communication terminal, identification information of the connected communication terminal, a connection time, etc. In this case, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> updates the measuring device connection state information with information about wireless communication between the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> and the specific measuring device <NUM>.

Thereafter, it is assumed that a user of the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> attempts to establish wireless communication between the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> and the specific measuring device <NUM> so as to use the specific measuring device <NUM>. In this case, in operation S130, the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> may transmit a connection permission request signal to the measuring device connection management server <NUM>.

When the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> receives a connection permission request signal for connection to the specific measuring device <NUM> through wireless communication from the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>, it can be seen through the measuring device connection state information that there is a communication terminal connected to the specific measuring device <NUM> and the connected communication terminal is the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>. Accordingly, in operation S140, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may transmit a disconnection request signal to the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>. When a connection permission request signal is received from the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>, it is not possible to determine whether the user of the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> has finished or is still using the specific measuring device <NUM>. Therefore, as used herein, the term "disconnection request signal" is a signal for inquiring whether to cancel the wireless connection of a currently wirelessly connected communication terminal and permit wireless connection of a subsequent communication terminal.

In the present example, it is assumed that the user of the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> has completed the use of the specific measuring device <NUM>. In this case, the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> may cancel the wireless connection with the specific measuring device <NUM> and transmit a disconnection confirmation signal to the measuring device connection management server <NUM> in operation S150. Here, the "disconnection confirmation signal" is a signal indicating cancelation of the wireless connection in response to the disconnection request signal.

In operation S160, when the disconnection confirmation signal is received from the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may transmit a connection possible signal to the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>. Then, in operation S170, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may update the measuring device connection state information with information about the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>. That is, the measuring device connection state information is changed to indicate that wireless communication is established between the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> and the measuring device <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating the flow of signals in a measuring device connection management method according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

The embodiment of <FIG> is substantially the same as the embodiment of <FIG> except that operation S111 is added between operations S <NUM> and S120 and operation S161 is added between operations S160 and S170. Therefore, the same operations will not be redundantly described and only added operations S111 and S161 will be described herein.

After receiving a connection possible signal (operation S1 <NUM>), the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> may establish wireless communication with the specific measuring device <NUM>. After a wireless communication connection with the specific measuring device <NUM> is completed, the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> may transmit a connection completion signal to the measuring device connection management server <NUM>. Here, the "connection completion signal" is a signal indicating the completion of a wireless communication connection with the specific measuring device <NUM>. An actual wireless communication connection may fail due to various technical problems such as a battery discharge, a wireless communication protocol error, etc. when a wireless communication connection is attempted. Accordingly, the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> may transmit a "connection completion signal" to report the stable completion of actual wireless communication between the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> and the specific measuring device <NUM>.

In this case, when the connection completion signal is received from the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may update the measuring device connection state information with information about the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>. In addition, when the connection possible signal is transmitted and the connection completion signal is not received for a preset response time, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may determine that there is no wireless communication connection between the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> and the specific measuring device <NUM> and thus may not update the measuring device connection state information.

Operation S161 is the same as operation S111 except that the connection completion signal is transmitted between the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> and the measuring device connection management server <NUM>.

Meanwhile, it is assumed that the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> attempts to be wirelessly connected while a test related to the user of the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> is being conducted by the specific measuring device <NUM>. As described above, in the embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, when the specific measuring device <NUM> is in use, the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> may reject a disconnection request when the disconnection request signal is received (S140). Alternatively, the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may determine whether the specific measuring device <NUM> is in use and reject a request to connect to the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> without intervention of the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating the flow of signals in a measuring device connection management method according to a third embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, operations <NUM> to <NUM> are the same as those in the embodiment shown in <FIG>. Next, in operation S121, the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> may transmit measurement start time information or estimated measurement end time information to the measuring device connection management server <NUM>. Measurement does not start as soon as wireless communication is established between a communication terminal and a measuring device. An actual user may put an actual test tube into the measuring device <NUM> after a predetermined time for collecting a sample and processing a buffer solution. In this case, the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> may set the time when "start measurement" is input as the "measurement start time information. " Alternatively, the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> may set the estimated measurement end time information as the time after a preset estimated measurement time (e.g., <NUM> minutes) elapses from the time when "start a measurement" is input.

In operation S122, when information about a measurement start time or estimated measurement end time is received, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may update the measuring device connection state information with the received data. When the "measurement start time information" is received, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may calculate an estimated measurement end time after a preset estimated measurement time (e.g., <NUM> minutes) from the measurement start time, and include the estimated measurement end time into the measuring device connection state information.

Thereafter, in operation S130, the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> may transmit a connection permission request signal. In this case, in operation S131, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may determine whether the connection permission request signal is received from the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> before a preset operation time from the measurement start time of the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> or the estimated measurement end time, which is included in the measuring device connection state information. That is, whether the specific measuring device <NUM> is in use or not may be determined.

When the specific measuring device <NUM> is not in use ("NO" in operation S131), a wireless communication connection of the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> may established according to operations S140 to S170 described above with reference to <FIG> ("A" in <FIG>). In operation S132, when the measuring device <NUM> is in use ("YES" in operation S131), the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may transmit a connection impossible signal to the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>. Here, the connection impossible signal is a response signal to the connection permission request signal and indicates that connection to the specific measuring device <NUM> is impossible.

Preferably, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may further transmit the measurement start time or estimated measurement end time information of the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> to the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> (operation S133). Thus, the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> may attempt a wireless communication connection again after the estimated measurement end time.

Meanwhile, in the embodiment of <FIG>, the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> receiving a disconnection request transmits a response signal. However, when the user of the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> fails to check a notification, the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> may not be capable of transmitting the response signal due to various causes, e.g., when the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> is turned off or due to a communication network failure.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating the flow of signals in a measuring device connection management method according to a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, operations <NUM> to <NUM> are the same as those in the embodiment shown in <FIG> and thus are not redundantly described here, and <FIG> will be described starting from operation S141. In operation S141, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may determine whether a disconnection confirmation signal is received from the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>. When the disconnection confirmation signal is received from the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> ("YES" in operation S141), the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may proceed to operation S160. Operations S160 and S170 have been described above with reference to <FIG> and thus are not redundantly described here. On the other hand, when the disconnection confirmation signal is not received from the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> ("NO" in operation S141), the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may proceed to operation S142.

In operation S142, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may determine whether a preset response time has elapsed. When the response time has not elapsed ("NO" in operation S142), the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may proceed to operation S141. Accordingly, operations S141 and S142 may be repeatedly performed before the response time elapses. When the response time has elapsed ("YES" in operation S142), the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may proceed to operation S160. Operations S160 and S170 have been described above with reference to <FIG> and thus are not redundantly described here.

Meanwhile, in the embodiments described above with reference to <FIG>, access authority of the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> has not been described. When use of the specific measuring device <NUM> is limited to only users belonging to a specific group, it is necessary to limit a wireless connection of users who do not belong to the group.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating the flow of signals in a measuring device connection management method according to a fifth embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation S90, a controller of a measuring device connection management server <NUM> may store a list of connectable communication terminals, which is information about communication terminals capable of being connected to the specific measuring device <NUM>. Operations S100 to S120 are as described above with reference to <FIG> and thus are not redundantly described here. It is assumed that the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> is included in the list of connectable communication terminals.

Thereafter, in operation S130, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may receive a connection permission request signal from the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>. Next, in operation S134, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may determine whether the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> is included in the list of connectable communication terminals. When the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> is not included in the list of connectable communication terminals ("NO" in operation S134), the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may transmit a "connection impossible signal to the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> (operation S135). In contrast, when the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> is included in the list of connectable communication terminals ("YES" in operation S134), the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may proceed to operation S140. Operations S140 to S170 are as described above with reference to <FIG> and thus are not redundantly described here.

<FIG> is a schematic block diagram of a measuring device connection management system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, the measuring device connection management system according to another embodiment of the present disclosure may include a first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>, a second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>, a measuring device connection management server <NUM>, and a master communication terminal <NUM>-M. The first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>, the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>, and the measuring device connection management server <NUM> shown in <FIG> are the same as those shown in <FIG> and thus are not redundantly described here. The master communication terminal <NUM>-M is the same as the communication terminal <NUM> described above with reference to <FIG>. However, the master communication terminal <NUM>-M is a communication terminal that is different from the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> and the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> described above and that has administrative authority for the specific measuring device <NUM>. Accordingly, when a communication terminal attempts to connect to the specific measuring device <NUM>, the master communication terminal <NUM>-M may determine whether to permit the connection of the communication terminal.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating the flow of signals in a measuring device connection management method according to a sixth embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation S100, the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> may transmit a connection permission request signal to the measuring device connection management server <NUM>. Next, in operation S101, when a connection permission request signal is received from the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may transmit a connection permission confirmation request signal for the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> to the master communication terminal <NUM>-M. Here, the connection permission confirmation request signal is a signal transmitted to the master communication terminal <NUM>-M to inquire whether to permit a wireless connection between a communication terminal and the specific measuring device <NUM>. The connection permission confirmation request signal may include unique information for identifying the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>. Meanwhile, as shown in the example of <FIG>, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may proceed to operation S101 when the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> is included in the list of connectable controller terminals.

In this case, the master communication terminal <NUM>-M may determine whether to permit a wireless connection between the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> and the specific measuring device <NUM>. For example, the determination as to whether to permit the wireless connection may be input directly by a user of the master communication terminal <NUM>-M. As another example, a memory of the master communication terminal <NUM>-M may store information about a list of communication terminals capable of being connected to the measuring device <NUM> in advance. In this case, the master communication terminal <NUM>-M may determine whether the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> is a terminal included in the list. In operation S102, when the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> is included in the list, the master communication terminal <NUM>-M may transmit a connection permission approval signal for the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> to the measuring device connection management server <NUM>.

When the connection permission approval signal for the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> is received from the master communication terminal <NUM>-M, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may transmit the connection possible signal to the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> (operation S110).

Next, in operation S120, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may update measuring device connection state information with information about the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>. Next, in operation S130, the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> may transmit the connection permission request signal to the measuring device connection management server <NUM>.

In operation S136, when the connection permission request signal is received from the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may transmit a connection permission confirmation request signal for the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> to the master communication terminal <NUM>-M. Next, in operation S137, the master communication terminal <NUM>-M may transmit a connection permission approval signal for the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> to the measuring device connection management server <NUM>. Meanwhile, as shown in the example of <FIG>, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may proceed to operation S136 when the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> is included in the list of connectable controller terminals.

In operation S140, when the connection permission approval signal for the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> is received from the master communication terminal <NUM>-M, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may transmit the disconnection request signal to the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>. In this case, the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> may cancel the wireless connection with the measuring device <NUM>, and transmit the disconnection confirmation signal to the measuring device connection management server <NUM> in operation S150. In operation S160, when the disconnection confirmation signal is received from the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may transmit the connection possible signal to the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>. Then, in operation S170, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may update the measuring device connection state information with information about the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating the flow of signals in a measuring device connection management method according to a seventh embodiment of the present disclosure.

Referring to <FIG>, operations S100 to S140 are as described above with reference to <FIG>. However, in the embodiment shown in <FIG>, a response signal is not transmitted from the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> receiving a disconnection request signal as in the embodiment of <FIG> described above.

In operation S141, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may determine whether a disconnection confirmation signal is received from the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>. When the disconnection confirmation signal is received from the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> ("YES" in operation S141), the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may proceed to operation S160. Operations S160 and S170 have been described above with reference to <FIG> and thus are not redundantly described here. On the other hand, when the disconnection confirmation signal is not received from the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> ("NO" in operation S141), the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may proceed to operation S142.

In operation S142, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may determine whether a preset response time has elapsed. When the response time has not elapsed ("NO" in operation S142), the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may proceed to operation S141. Accordingly, operations S141 and S142 may be repeatedly performed before the response time elapses. On the other hand, when the response time has elapsed ("YES" in operation S142), the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may perform operation S143.

In operation S143, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may transmit a forcible connection termination confirmation request signal for the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> to the master communication terminal <NUM>-M. Here, the forcible connection termination confirmation request signal is an information signal informing the master communication terminal <NUM>-M that the disconnection confirmation signal is not received from the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>. In this case, the master communication terminal <NUM>-M may determine whether to forcibly cancel the connection of the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM>. For example, the determination as to whether to forcibly disconnect the connection of the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> may be input directly by the user of the master communication terminal <NUM>-M. As another example, whether to forcibly disconnect the connection of the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> may be determined in consideration of information (e.g., estimated measurement end time) that is related to whether the specific measuring device <NUM> is in use and that is stored in the memory of the master communication terminal <NUM>-M. In this case, the master communication terminal <NUM>-M may not allow the connection of the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> to be forcibly disconnected when the time point of receiving the forcible connection termination confirmation request signal is earlier than the estimated measurement end time. On the other hand, when there is no condition that prevents the connection of the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> from being forcibly disconnected, the master communication terminal <NUM>-M may transmit a forcible connection termination permission signal for the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> to the measuring device connection management server <NUM> (operation S144). Operations S160 and S170 are as described above with reference to <FIG> and thus are not redundantly described here.

Meanwhile, the embodiments of <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG> have been described separately from each other to help the understanding of the embodiments and thus a measuring device connection management method according to the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Each of the embodiments may be implemented independently, and two or more of the embodiments may be combined to form another embodiment when needed. In particular, the embodiments of <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> may be combined with the embodiments of <FIG> and <FIG> including the master communication terminal <NUM>-M. In the embodiments described above with reference to <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, a case in which the connection permission request signal is received from the second communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> is not taken into account until measuring device connection state information is updated (S200) starting from the receipt of the connection permission request signal from the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> (S100). In this case, the controller of the measuring device connection management server <NUM> may maintain the processing of the connection permission request signal received from the second communication terminal (S130) in a queue until the processing of the connection permission request signal received earlier from the first communication terminal <NUM>-<NUM> (S100) is completed.

A measuring device connection management method according to the present disclosure may be implemented in the form of a computer program written to perform operations included in the method and recorded on a computer-readable recording medium.

In this case, the computer program may include code written in a computer language, such as C/C++, C#, JAVA, Python, or machine language, which is readable by a processor (CPU) of the computer through a device interface of the computer, to allow the computer to read the computer program and perform the methods implemented as the computer program. The code may include functional code related to functions that define functions necessary for performing the methods, and control code related to an execution procedure necessary for the processor of the computer to perform the functions according to the execution procedure. The code may further include additional information necessary for the processor of the computer to perform the functions or memory-reference-related code indicating a location (address) in the computer or on an external memory to be referenced by media. When there is a need for the processor of the computer to communicate with another computer or a server at a remote place so as to perform the functions, the code may further include communication-related code indicating how to communicate with another computer or a server at a remote place using a communication module of the computer, information or media to be transmitted or received during communication, and the like.

The medium in which the program is stored should be understood to mean a medium, e.g., a register, a cache, or a memory, that does not store data for a short time but stores data semi-permanently and that is readable by devices. Specifically, examples of the medium include a read-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory (RAM), a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, an optical data storage device, etc. but are not limited thereto. That is, the program may be stored in various types of recording media in various types of servers accessible by the computer or various types of recording media in the computer of a user. In addition, the medium may be distributed to computer systems connected via a network and store code readable by computers in a distributed method.

According to the present disclosure, management may be performed to safely cancel a wireless connection of a communication terminal connected earlier and thereafter allow a wireless connection of a subsequent communication terminal.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, when a measuring device is being used through a communication terminal connected earlier, other communication terminals can be managed so as not to be connected to the measuring device, thereby ensuring stable use of the measuring device.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to manage only communication terminals registered in advance in a list so as to be connected to the measuring device.

According to another aspect of the present disclosure, it is possible to manage whether to allow the connection of a communication terminal, which attempts to connect wirelessly to a measuring device, through a master communication terminal with administrative authority.

Effects of the present disclosure are not limited thereto and other effects that are not described herein will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the following description.

Claim 1:
A measuring device connection management method comprising:
(a) when a connection permission request signal for connecting to a measuring device through wireless communication is received from a first communication terminal, transmitting, by a controller, a connection possible signal to the first communication terminal and updating measuring device connection state information with information about the first communication terminal, the measuring device connection state information being information about a communication terminal connected to the measuring device through wireless communication;
(b) when the connection permission request signal for connecting to the measuring device through wireless communication is received from a second communication terminal, transmitting, by the controller, a disconnection request signal to the first communication terminal; and
(c) when a disconnection confirmation signal is received from the first communication terminal, transmitting, by the controller, the connection possible signal to the second communication terminal and updating the measuring device connection state information with information about the second communication terminal.