Patent Description:
A user wears shoes in daily life. The shoes are used to protect feet of the user comfortably and safely. Recently, wearable devices provided in a type of shoes including therein sensors and/or actuators have been developed to sense a walking pattern of a user and assist the user in walking more comfortably and stably.

The publication <CIT> discloses an insole type navigation apparatus in which a user's foot pressure data is sensed by using a plurality of pressure sensors mounted in the insole. Then, the user's current condition is detected by using the user's foot pressure data, and it is determined whether or not the user is moving. When the user is moving, a plurality of vibration motors of the insole are controlled to operate. When the user is not moving, it is determined whether or not the user's current condition is standing, sitting, or raising a foot.

The publications <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> present further prior art.

The invention is a method of controlling a smart shoe according to claim <NUM>, as well as a smart shoe according to the independent device claim <NUM>. Preferred embodiments are the subject of dependent claims.

Hereinafter, some example embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Regarding the reference numerals assigned to the elements in the drawings, it should be noted that the same elements will be designated by the same reference numerals, wherever possible, even though they are shown in different drawings. Also, in the description of embodiments, detailed description of well-known related structures or functions will be omitted when it is deemed that such description will cause ambiguous interpretation of the present disclosure.

It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit this disclosure to the particular example embodiments disclosed. On the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the example embodiments. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description of the figures.

In addition, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b), and the like may be used herein to describe components. It should be noted that if it is described in the specification that one component is "connected", "coupled", or "joined" to another component, a third component may be "connected", "coupled", and "joined" between the first and second components, although the first component may be directly connected, coupled or joined to the second component.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms, including technical and scientific terms, used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the disclosure of this application pertains. Terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, are to be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art, and are not to be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

In the drawings, the thicknesses of layers and regions are exaggerated for clarity.

A shoe-type device described herein may be referred to as a smart shoe and may include processing circuitry and an electronic element configured to generate vibration. For example, the shoe-type device may include an actuator configured to induce vibration noise by generating physical vibration based on a control signal generated by the processing circuitry. In this example, the actuator may be, for example, a vibrator such as an eccentric motor. The actuator may be embedded in the shoe-type device, and provide a stimulus value less than or equal to a stimulus threshold to a user wearing the shoe-type device. The stimulus threshold may be a minimum value of stimulation applied to activate cells. The actuator may generate stochastic resonance by generating vibration noise having an intensity less than or equal to a tactile sense threshold of a plantar sole of a foot of the user. The stochastic resonance indicates a phenomenon in which, for example, when a measuring device or a sensory organ having a set threshold value receives white noise with less than or equal to the threshold value, a measurement sensitivity to an observation target signal to be observed is improved. For example, the vibration noise generated by the actuator of the shoe-type device may amplify a tactile signal to be transferred to the plantar sole of the user through the stochastic resonance, and thus the user may more sensitively feel stimulation applied onto the plantar sole of the user. Thus, the shoe-type device may help those who are relatively less sensitive to stimulation to their feet to feel normal levels of sensations.

<FIG> is a perspective view of a shoe-type device according to at least one example embodiment. <FIG> is an exploded perspective view of a shoe-type device in which an insole body is separated according to at least one example embodiment. <FIG> is a cross-sectional view of a shoe-type device according to at least one example embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, a shoe-type device <NUM> includes a sole <NUM>, a control module <NUM>, and an upper <NUM>. The sole <NUM> includes an outsole <NUM>, a midsole <NUM>, and an insole <NUM>.

The outsole <NUM> forms at least a portion of a bottom of the shoe-type device <NUM>. For example, the outsole <NUM> includes a bottom surface that comes into contact with the ground when a user wears the shoe-type device <NUM>. Hereinafter, the shoe-type device <NUM> in which the outsole <NUM> and the midsole <NUM> are separated from each other will be described. However, the outsole <NUM> and the midsole <NUM> may also be provided in an integral form. The midsole <NUM> forms at least a portion of a lower outer shape. The insole <NUM> is provided inside the upper <NUM>, and disposed on the midsole <NUM>. The insole <NUM> includes a surface with which a plantar sole of a foot of the user comes into contact when the user wears the shoe-type device <NUM>, and is detachable from the midsole <NUM>.

The insole <NUM> includes an insole body <NUM>, a support layer <NUM>, an electronic element <NUM>, a connecting line <NUM>, and a connector <NUM>. The insole body <NUM> is seated on an upper surface of the midsole <NUM>, and may be provided in various shapes. The support layer <NUM> is provided on an inner side of the insole body <NUM> and supports the electronic element <NUM> and the connecting line <NUM>. The connecting line <NUM> electrically connects the electronic element <NUM> and the control module <NUM>, and the connector <NUM> electrically connects the electronic element <NUM> to the control module <NUM>.

The electronic element <NUM> is disposed on an upper surface of the support layer <NUM>, and both the electronic element <NUM> and the support layer <NUM> are disposed inside the insole body <NUM>. The electronic element <NUM> includes an actuator (e.g., an actuator 133a and an actuator 133b as illustrated) and a pressure sensor (e.g., a pressure sensor 133c and a pressure sensor 133d as illustrated). The actuator generates physical vibration having a vibration intensity less than or equal to a set maximum vibration intensity. Herein, the vibration intensity may change irregularly as in a change in noise. The pressure sensor may be a foot pressure sensor, for example, a piezoelectric pressure sensor and a force-sensitive resistor (FSR), which is configured to measure or sense a foot pressure transferred from the plantar sole of the user when the user wears the shoe-type device <NUM>.

According to an example, the electronic element <NUM> may further include a motion sensor or an inertia sensor. The motion sensor refers to a sensor, for example, an acceleration sensor, which is configured to measure or sense a motion or a movement of the shoe-type device <NUM> or the user wearing the shoe-type device <NUM>. The motion sensor is disposed at various positions including, for example, in the support layer <NUM>, in the shoe-type device <NUM>. For example, the motion sensor may also be disposed in the control module <NUM>, the sole <NUM>, or the upper <NUM>.

The control module <NUM> is electrically connected to the electronic element <NUM>, and receives sensor data from the pressure sensor or the motion sensor that is included in the electronic element <NUM>. In addition, the control module <NUM> transmits, to the actuator, a control signal to control the actuator.

The control module <NUM> includes a case <NUM>, a connecting portion <NUM>, a battery <NUM>, and a processor <NUM>.

The case <NUM> is provided in a shape corresponding to a receiving groove <NUM> formed in the midsole <NUM>. The connecting portion <NUM> includes a terminal to be electrically connected to the connecting line <NUM>, and is disposed on an upper side of the case <NUM>. The battery <NUM> supplies power to the electronic element <NUM> and the processor <NUM>.

In addition to the processor <NUM>, the control module <NUM> may also include a memory containing instructions that, when executed by the processor <NUM>, configure the processor <NUM> as a special purpose processor to generate a control signal to control an operation of the electronic element <NUM>. For example, when the electronic element <NUM> includes a vibrator, the processor <NUM> may generate a control signal to amplify a level of a signal associated with a stimulation that is too low for a user to sense by adding white noise, which has a wide frequency range, to the signal to cause a portion of the white noise having the same frequency as the signal to resonate with the signal thus amplifying the signal and allowing the user to sense the stimulation.

For example, the processor <NUM> may generate a control signal to control activation of the actuator and/or adjust a frequency (or the number of vibrations) or the maximum vibration intensity of the actuator, based on the sensor data. More specifically, the processor <NUM> may be configured as a special purpose processor to determine whether a user is sitting, standing or walking, and deactivate the actuator when the user is sitting and/or automatically adjust a maximum vibration intensity of the actuator based on a foot pressure when the user is standing or waking. Therefore, the processor <NUM> may improve the functioning of the smart shoe <NUM> itself by reducing power consumption of the battery <NUM> and/or increasing comfortableness that may be experienced by the user.

<FIG> is a top view illustrating a relative positional relationship between an electronic element and a foot of a user according to at least one example embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the electronic element <NUM> includes a front actuator 133a disposed at a front side of the support layer <NUM>, a rear actuator 133b disposed at a rear side of the support layer <NUM>, a front pressure sensor 133c disposed in an area adjacent to an area in which the front actuator 133a is disposed, and a rear pressure sensor 133d disposed in an area adjacent to an area in which the rear actuator 133b is disposed. The front actuator 133a generates vibration noise in a front portion of a foot of a user wearing the shoe-type device <NUM>, and the rear actuator 133b generates vibration noise in a rear portion of the foot of the user. In an example, the processor <NUM> is configured to determine a maximum vibration intensity of the front actuator 133a based on a foot pressure measured by the front pressure sensor 133c, and determine a maximum vibration intensity of the rear actuator 133b based on a foot pressure measured by the rear pressure sensor 133d.

The shoe-type device <NUM> receives power from the battery <NUM> embedded in the shoe-type device <NUM> for portability as described above, and it may thus be important to reduce (or, alternatively, minimize) a power consumption of the battery <NUM> and increase an available amount of time to use the shoe-type device <NUM>. As such, permanently activating or operating the actuators 133a and 133b included in the shoe-type device <NUM> may consume a great amount of power, and thus result in degradation of usability of the shoe-type device <NUM>. Therefore, in one or more example embodiments, the processor <NUM> may smartly control the activation or operation of the actuators 133a and 133b based on a situation to reduce the power consumption of the battery <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating examples of various postures of a user wearing a shoe-type device according to at least one example embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, a shoe-type device <NUM> determines whether a posture of a user wearing the shoe-type device <NUM> is a standing posture <NUM>, a walking posture <NUM>, or a sitting posture <NUM>.

It may be desirable for the shoe-type device <NUM> to generate vibration noise to induce stochastic resonance when the user is standing or walking, but such vibration may not be needed when the user is sitting. This is because the need to feel a sensation on a plantar sole of a foot of the user when the user is sitting may be less than the need to feel a sensation on the plantar sole when the user is standing or walking. Thus, when the user is sitting, vibration generated by the shoe-type device <NUM> may make the user rather uncomfortable.

According to at least one example embodiment to be described hereinafter, a shoe-type device may determine whether to operate an actuator in a current situation based on sensor data. When the shoe-type device determines that there is no need to operate the actuator, the shoe-type device may stop operating the actuator or deactivate the actuator to reduce a power consumption of a battery thereof, and thus increase an available amount of time to use the shoe-type device. In addition, by stopping operation of the actuator, the shoe-type device may reduce inconvenience or uncomfortableness that may be felt by a user wearing the shoe-type device.

<FIG> and <FIG> are flowcharts illustrating an example of a control method of a shoe-type device according to at least one example embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation <NUM>, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may estimate a posture of a user wearing the shoe-type device. To estimate the posture of the user, the processor <NUM> may use sensor data output from at least one sensor included in the electronic element <NUM>. For example, the processor <NUM> may determine whether the user is currently standing or walking, or sitting based on sensor data obtained from a foot pressure sensor and/or a motion sensor included in the electronic element <NUM>.

In an example, the shoe-type device may estimate a posture of the user based on a foot pressure measured by the foot pressure sensor and a change in foot pressure over time. For example, when the foot pressure is greater than a first threshold value, and there is no or insignificant change in foot pressure over time or the change in foot pressure over time is in a certain range, the posture of the user may be estimated to be a standing posture. When the foot pressure is less than a second threshold value, and there is no or insignificant change in foot pressure over time or the change in foot pressure over time is in the range, the posture of the user may be estimated to be a sitting posture. When the foot pressure changes in a certain pattern with time, the posture of the user may be estimated to be a walking posture. In this example, the first threshold value may be the same as the second threshold value, or greater than the second threshold value.

According to the claimed invention, the shoe-type device includes both the foot pressure sensor and the motion sensor, and the processor <NUM> estimates a posture of the user based on foot pressure information obtained from the foot pressure sensor and motion information obtained from the motion sensor. In this example, a motion of the user may be measured through the motion sensor such as an acceleration sensor. When a spatial size of an acceleration value measured by the acceleration sensor exceeds a certain value, the shoe-type device may estimate that the user is currently moving. When both a foot pressure measured by the foot pressure sensor and a motion size measured by the motion sensor are small, the shoe-type device may estimate that the user is currently sitting. When the measured foot pressure is less than or equal to a first threshold value and the measured motion size is less than or equal to a second threshold value, the shoe-type device determines the posture of the user to be the sitting posture. However, in other situations or cases, the shoe-type device may determine the posture of the user not to be the sitting posture.

In operation <NUM>, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> controls the actuator included in the electronic element <NUM> based on the posture of the user estimated in operation <NUM>. The shoe-type device determines whether to operate the actuator or stop operating the actuator based on the posture of the user. When it is determined to stop operating the actuator, the shoe-type device determines a maximum vibration intensity of the actuator based on a foot pressure measured by the foot pressure sensor. Hereinafter, operation <NUM> will be described in further detail with reference to <FIG>.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation <NUM>, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> determines whether a current posture of the user is a sitting posture or not based on sensor data. In operation <NUM>, when the posture of the user is estimated not to be the sitting posture, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> operates the actuator. Herein, for example, when the actuator continues operating from a previous time, the shoe-type device may continue to operate the actuator.

In addition, when operating the actuator, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may control a vibration output of the actuator. In an example, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may determine a maximum vibration intensity of the actuator based on sensor data of the foot pressure sensor configured to sense a foot pressure of the user. For example, when the foot pressure increases within a certain range, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may set the maximum vibration intensity of the actuator to be greater. For example, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may set a first maximum vibration intensity of the actuator corresponding to a first foot pressure and a second maximum vibration intensity of the actuator corresponding to a second foot pressure to be different from each other. In this example, the first foot pressure and the second foot pressure may be different from each other. An intensity of the vibration output generated by the actuator may change within the set maximum vibration intensity. As described, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may adjust a maximum vibration intensity of the actuator based on a measured foot pressure to reduce a power consumption of the battery <NUM> thereof and reduce inconvenience or uncomfortableness that may be felt by the user.

In operation <NUM>, when the posture of the user is estimated to be the sitting posture, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> deactivates the actuator or stops operating the actuator, or sets the actuator to be in a standby state.

As described above, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may determine whether there is a need to activate or operate the actuator, for example, when the user is standing or walking. When there is no need to activate or operate the actuator, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may deactivate the actuator or stop operating the actuator, or set the actuator to be in a standby state, and may thus reduce a power consumption of the battery <NUM> and increase an available amount of time to use the shoe-type device <NUM>.

<FIG> are diagrams illustrating an example of how a posture of a user is estimated based on a foot pressure according to at least one example embodiment.

<FIG> illustrate changes in foot pressure based on a time at which a foot pressure is measured from each of different postures of a user wearing a shoe-type device. <FIG> illustrates a change <NUM> of a foot pressure measured when the user is walking by a first foot pressure sensor disposed at a front side of a plantar sole of a foot of the user, and a change <NUM> of a foot pressure measured when the user is walking by a second foot pressure sensor disposed at a rear side of the plantar sole of the foot of the user. In such a situation where the user is walking, the foot pressure may relatively drastically change over time, and a certain pattern may be repetitively shown. Thus, when a change in foot pressure over time is relatively large, and the change in foot pressure repeats by a certain pattern, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may estimate a current posture of the user as a walking posture.

<FIG> illustrates a change <NUM> of a foot pressure measured by the first foot pressure sensor and a change <NUM> of a foot pressure measured by the second foot pressure sensor, when the user is sitting. In such a situation where the user is sitting, the foot pressure may be relatively small, and a change in foot pressure over time may also be relatively small. Thus, when a foot pressure is less than a threshold value, for example, A as illustrated in <FIG>, and a change in foot pressure over time is relatively small, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may estimate a current posture of the user as a sitting posture.

<FIG> illustrates a change <NUM> of a foot pressure measured by the first pressure sensor and a change <NUM> of a foot pressure measured by the second foot pressure sensor, when the user is standing. In such a situation where the user is standing, the foot pressure may be relatively large, and a change in foot pressure over time may be relatively small. Thus, when a foot pressure is greater than a threshold value, for example, A as illustrated in <FIG>, and a change in foot pressure over time is relatively small, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may estimate a current posture of the user as a standing posture.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of how a posture of a user is estimated based on a foot pressure and a motion size according to at least one example embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may classify a current posture of a user wearing the shoe-type device into four postures based on a foot pressure and a motion size. The processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may control an actuator based on the current posture of the user.

For example, when both a foot pressure and a motion size are relatively large, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may determine a posture of the user to be a heel-landing posture. When a foot pressure is relatively small although a motion size is relatively large, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may determine a posture of the user to be a toe-off or swing posture. When a foot pressure is relatively large although a motion size is relatively small, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may determine a posture of the user to be a standing posture. When both a foot pressure and a motion size are relatively small, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may determine a posture of the user to be a sitting posture. In this example, the heel-landing posture, and the toe-off or swing posture may be included in a walking posture.

When the posture of the user is determined to be the standing posture or the walking posture, the shoe-type device may determine to activate or operate the actuator. When the posture of the user is determined to be the sitting posture, the shoe-type device may determine to deactivate the actuator or stop operating the actuator.

A range <NUM> indicated by hatched lines in <FIG> may indicate a range needed to distinguish postures of the user based on a boundary value. For example, when a foot pressure and a motion size are in the range <NUM>, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may control the actuator to maintain its previous state. In this example, when the actuator is previously operating, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may continue to operate the actuator. When the actuator is previously deactivated, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may maintain the actuator in a deactivated state.

<FIG> is a flowchart illustrating another example of a control method of a shoe-type device according to at least one example embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, in operation <NUM>, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may measure a foot pressure through a foot pressure sensor. In operation <NUM>, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may determine a maximum vibration intensity of an actuator based on the measured foot pressure. In an example, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device 1may set a first maximum vibration intensity of the actuator corresponding to a first foot pressure and a second maximum vibration intensity of the actuator corresponding to a second foot pressure to be different from each other. In this example, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may set the maximum vibration intensity of the actuator to be small when the foot pressure is small, and set the maximum vibration intensity of the actuator to be great when the foot pressure is great. Thus, a foot pressure and a maximum vibration intensity to be set based on the foot pressure may be in a linear or nonlinear relationship.

In an example, the shoe-type device may include a first actuator disposed in a first area, for example, a front portion, of the shoe-type device, and a second actuator disposed in a second area, for example, a rear portion, of the shoe-type device. In this example, a first foot pressure sensor may be disposed in an area adjacent to the first area, and a second foot pressure sensor may be disposed in an area adjacent to the second area. In this example, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may determine a maximum vibration intensity of the first actuator based on a foot pressure measured by the first foot pressure sensor, and determine a maximum vibration intensity of the second actuator based on a foot pressure measured by the second foot pressure sensor. Thus, in detailed steps of walking including, for example, a toe-off posture and a heel-landing posture, it is possible to individually control the actuators.

A maximum vibration intensity may be set to be less than or equal to a threshold value, although an intensity of vibration generated by the actuator changes frequently. The set maximum vibration intensity may not be suitable for some environments or conditions. Thus, when an intensity of vibration of the actuator to be applied to the user wearing the shoe-type device exceeds the threshold value based on a foot pressure, the user may experience inconvenience or uncomfortableness by such excessive vibration, and noise and unnecessary power consumption of a battery may occur. For example, when the user takes a foot of the user off the ground, a space between a plantar sole of the foot of the user and an insole of the shoe-type device may increase. In this example, when an intensity of vibration of the actuator increases to be greater than need be, the user may feel uncomfortable thereby. Therefore, in one or more example embodiments, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may automatically adjust a maximum vibration intensity of the actuator based on a foot pressure as described herein, to reduce an unnecessary power consumption of the battery <NUM> and the uncomfortableness that may be experienced by the user.

<FIG> are diagrams illustrating an example of how a maximum vibration intensity of an actuator is adjusted based on a foot pressure according to at least one example embodiment.

<FIG> illustrates an example of a linear change of a scaling coefficient to be applied to a maximum vibration intensity of an actuator based on a foot pressure. <FIG> illustrate examples of a nonlinear change of a scaling coefficient to be applied to a maximum vibration intensity of the actuator based on a foot pressure. In these examples, a maximum vibration intensity of the actuator may change based on a scaling coefficient to be applied thereto. The processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may set the maximum vibration intensity to be small when the foot pressure is small, and set the maximum vibration intensity to be great when the foot pressure is great. Thus, by controlling the actuator accordingly as described above, the processor <NUM> of the shoe-type device <NUM> may reduce inconvenience or uncomfortableness that may be experienced by a user wearing the shoe-type device due to an excessive intensity of vibration.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating an example of a control device of a shoe-type device according to at least one example embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, a control device <NUM> of a shoe-type device includes a sensor <NUM>, a processor <NUM>, an actuator <NUM>, and a battery <NUM>. The control device <NUM> may be embedded in the shoe-type device and operate therein.

According to the claimed invention, the sensor <NUM> includes a foot pressure sensor configured to measure a foot pressure of a user wearing the shoe-type device, and motion sensor configured to measure a motion size of the user wearing the shoe-type device. The foot pressure sensor may be disposed in a sole of the shoe-type device, and the motion sensor may be disposed in the sole and/or an upper of the shoe-type device.

The battery <NUM> provides power to each component of the shoe-type device.

The processor <NUM> controls each component of the shoe-type device. The processor <NUM> estimates a posture of the user wearing the shoe-type device based on sensor data obtained from the sensor <NUM>, and determines whether to operate the actuator <NUM> based on the estimated posture of the user. When the posture of the user is estimated to be a sitting posture, the processor <NUM> generates a control signal to stop operating the actuator <NUM> or set the actuator <NUM> to be in a standby state. When the posture of the user is not estimated to be the sitting posture, the processor <NUM> determines to operate the actuator <NUM>.

In this example, when the processor <NUM> determines to operate the actuator <NUM>, the processor <NUM> may determine a maximum vibration intensity of the actuator <NUM> based on a foot pressure of a foot of the user. For example, the processor <NUM> may determine a first maximum vibration intensity of the actuator corresponding to a first foot pressure and a second maximum vibration intensity of the actuator corresponding to a second foot pressure to be different from each other. In this example, the processor <NUM> may set the maximum vibration intensity of the actuator to be greater when the foot pressure increases within a range.

The actuator <NUM> generates vibration to apply nerve stimulation to the foot of the user based on a control signal generated by the processor <NUM>. In an example, the actuator <NUM> may include a first actuator disposed in a first area of the shoe-type device, and a second actuator disposed in a second area of the shoe-type device. In this example, the foot pressure sensor may include a first foot pressure sensor disposed in an area adjacent to the first area, and a second foot pressure sensor disposed in an area adjacent to the second area. In this example, the processor <NUM> may determine a maximum vibration intensity of the first actuator based on a foot pressure measured by the first foot pressure sensor, and a maximum vibration intensity of the second actuator based on a foot pressure measured by the second foot pressure sensor.

The processor <NUM> may also perform at least one of control operations for the shoe-type device described above, and a repeated and detailed description thereof is omitted here for increased clarity and conciseness.

The units and/or modules described herein may be implemented using hardware components and software components. For example, the hardware components may include microphones, amplifiers, band-pass filters, audio to digital convertors, and processing devices. A processing device may be implemented using one or more hardware device configured to carry out and/or execute program code by performing arithmetical, logical, and input/output operations. The processing device(s) may include a processor, a controller and an arithmetic logic unit, a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a field programmable array, a programmable logic unit, a microprocessor or any other device capable of responding to and executing instructions in a defined manner. The processing device may run an operating system (OS) and one or more software applications that run on the OS. The processing device also may access, store, manipulate, process, and create data in response to execution of the software. For purpose of simplicity, the description of a processing device is used as singular; however, one skilled in the art will appreciated that a processing device may include multiple processing elements and multiple types of processing elements. For example, a processing device may include multiple processors or a processor and a controller. In addition, different processing configurations are possible, such a parallel processors.

Claim 1:
A method of controlling a smart shoe (<NUM>, <NUM>), the smart shoe (<NUM>, <NUM>) including an actuator (133a, 133b, <NUM>) and at least one sensor (133c, 133d, <NUM>) comprising a foot pressure sensor (133c, 133d, <NUM>) configured to measure a foot pressure of a user wearing the smart shoe (<NUM>, <NUM>) to generate foot pressure information and a motion sensor configured to measure a motion size to generate motion information, the method comprising:
estimating (<NUM>) a posture (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) of the user based on sensor data output from the sensor (133c, 133d, <NUM>) to generate an estimated posture, wherein the estimating (<NUM>) the posture (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) comprises estimating (<NUM>) the posture (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) of the user based on the foot pressure information and the motion information to generate the estimated posture;
controlling (<NUM>) the actuator (133a, 133b, <NUM>) based on the estimated posture of the user; and
determining (<NUM>) whether the posture (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) of the user is a sitting posture (<NUM>) or not, wherein the posture (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) is determined as the sitting posture (<NUM>) in response to the foot pressure being less than or equal to a first threshold value and the motion size being less than or equal to a second threshold value, and
selectively stopping (<NUM>) an operation of the actuator (133a, 133b, <NUM>) in response to the estimated posture of the user being the sitting posture (<NUM>) or
maintaining (<NUM>) the operation of the actuator (133a, 133b, <NUM>) in response to the estimated posture of the user not being the sitting posture (<NUM>).