Patent ID: 12225464

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Below, embodiments of the present disclosure may be described in detail and clearly to such an extent that an ordinary one in the art easily implements the invention.

In the following drawings or in the detailed description, modules may be connected with any other components except for components illustrated in a drawing or described in the detailed description. Modules or components may be connected directly or indirectly. Modules or components may be connected through communication or may be physically connected.

FIG.1is a block diagram illustrating a human body communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG.1, a human body communication system100may include a stationary communication device110and a user communication device120. The stationary communication device110and the user communication device120may communicate over a human body communication channel HBC. The human body communication channel HBC may be provided by the user of the user communication device120.

The stationary communication device110may communicate with the user communication device120over the human body communication channel HBC. The stationary communication device110may be a stationary human body communication device that intends to transmit and receive data with the user communication device120through a contact with the user. For example, the stationary communication device110may be a human body communication device attached to a home appliance such as a refrigerator, an air conditioner, or a washing machine. Also, the stationary communication device110may be used in an opening and closing device of a building or a device requiring personal authentication.

The user communication device120may communicate with the stationary communication device110over the human body communication channel HBC. The user communication device120may be a mobile human body communication device that intends to transmit and receive data with the stationary communication device110through a contact with the user. For example, the user communication device120may be a portable terminal such as a smartphone, a smart watch, a wearable device, a personal digital assistant (PDA), or a radio.

The stationary communication device110may transmit a wakeup signal to the user communication device120in response to that the contact with the user of the user communication device120is made. The wakeup signal may be a signal generated based on the contact with a body of the user. The wakeup signal may be a signal requesting to switch an operating mode of the user communication device120from a standby mode to a wakeup mode.

In an embodiment, the wakeup signal may be a signal having a frequency in a low frequency band. The standby mode may be a mode in which the user communication device120enables only communication for the low frequency band corresponding to the wakeup signal. The wakeup mode may be a mode in which the user communication device120enables communication for the low frequency band and communication for a low frequency band.

In response to the wakeup signal from the stationary communication device110, the user communication device120may switch the operating mode of the user communication device120from the standby mode to the wakeup mode. That is, the user communication device120may execute the standby mode before receiving the wakeup signal; when the wakeup signal is received, the user communication device120may terminate the running standby mode and may execute the wakeup mode.

The stationary communication device110may transmit the wakeup signal to the user communication device120and may then transmit a data signal to the user communication device120. The data signal may be a signal including data that the user intends to receive through the human body communication between the stationary communication device110and the user communication device120. In an embodiment, the data signal may be a signal having a frequency in the high frequency band.

In an embodiment, after switched from the standby mode to the wakeup mode, the user communication device120may transmit a notification signal that notifies the stationary communication device110that the operating mode is switched to the wakeup mode. After receiving the notification signal, the stationary communication device110may transmit the data signal to the user communication device120.

The human body communication channel HBC may be a channel that is utilized for the human body communication between the stationary communication device110and the user communication device120. For example, the human body communication channel HBC may be a channel in which a part of the body of the user of the user communication device120is used as a medium.

FIG.2is a flowchart describing an operating method of a human body communication system ofFIG.1according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. An operating method of the human body communication system100ofFIG.1is illustrated inFIG.2. The stationary communication device110and the user communication device120may correspond to the stationary communication device110and the user communication device120ofFIG.1, respectively.

In operation S110, the user communication device120may execute the standby mode. While the user communication device120executes the standby mode, the user communication device120may receive only a signal having a frequency in the low frequency band.

In operation S120, the stationary communication device110may detect the contact with a body of the user of the user communication device120and may generate the wakeup signal. In operation S121, the stationary communication device110may transmit the wakeup signal to the user communication device120.

In operation S130, the user communication device120may execute the wakeup mode in response to the wakeup signal. While executing the wakeup mode, the user communication device120may receive both a signal having a frequency in the low frequency band and a signal having a frequency in the high frequency band.

In an embodiment, operation S130may include transmitting, at the user communication device120, the notification signal requesting the data signal from the stationary communication device110in response to the wakeup signal. The notification signal may be a signal providing notification that the user communication device120switches to the wakeup mode.

In operation S131, the stationary communication device110may transmit the data signal to the user communication device120. In an embodiment, operation S131may include transmitting, at the stationary communication device110, the data signal to the user communication device120after receiving the notification signal requesting the data signal from the user communication device120.

In operation S140, the user communication device120may process the received data signal. After processing the data signal, the user communication device120may switch the operating mode of the user communication device120from the wakeup mode to the standby mode.

FIG.3is a block diagram illustrating a user communication device ofFIG.1in detail, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG.3, the user communication device120may include a first electrode121, a second electrode122, a receiver123, a transmitter124, and a processor125. The user communication device120may correspond to the user communication device120ofFIG.1.

The first electrode121may be exposed to the outside of the user communication device120so as to be in contact with the user. The first electrode121may be an electrode that enables the human body communication of the user communication device120. For example, the first electrode121may be an electrode that is used when the user communication device120receives data.

The second electrode122may be exposed to the outside of the user communication device120so as to be in contact with the user. The second electrode122may be an electrode that enables the human body communication of the user communication device120. For example, the second electrode122may be an electrode that is used when the user communication device120transmits data.

Based on that the first electrode121is in contact with the user, the receiver123may receive the wakeup signal and the data signal from a stationary communication device over a human body communication channel. The receiver123may provide the wakeup signal and the data signal.

Based on that the second electrode122is in contact with the user, the transmitter124may transmit the notification signal to the stationary communication device over the human body communication channel. The transmitter124may receive the notification signal from the processor125.

The processor125may control the receiver123and the transmitter124. The processor125may execute the standby mode and the wakeup mode. In detail, the processor125may execute the standby mode before receiving the wakeup signal from the receiver123. When receiving the wakeup signal from the receiver123, the processor125may execute the wakeup mode.

In an embodiment, through frequency switching, the processor125may enable the communication for the low frequency band during the standby mode and may enable the communication for the low frequency band and the high frequency band during the wakeup mode. Because only the communication for the low frequency band is enabled in the standby mode, power consumption of the user communication device120in the standby mode may be smaller than that in the wakeup mode.

FIG.4is a block diagram illustrating a human body communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG.4, a human body communication system200may include a stationary communication device210, a first user communication device220, and a second user communication device230. The stationary communication device210and the first user communication device220may correspond to the stationary communication device110and the user communication device120ofFIG.1, respectively.

The stationary communication device210may communicate with the first user communication device220over a first human body communication channel HBC1. The first user communication device220may communicate with the stationary communication device210over the first human body communication channel HBC1. A user of the first user communication device220may be a mobile human body communication device of a user that intends to communicate with the stationary communication device210.

The second user communication device230may be a human body communication device that transmits and receives data through the human body communication. The second user communication device230may communicate with the first user communication device220over a second human body communication channel HBC2.

A user of the second user communication device230may be different from the user of the first user communication device220. The user of the second user communication device230may be a mobile human body communication device of a user that does not intend to communicate with the stationary communication device210. The second user communication device230may be a mobile human body communication device of a user that is close to the user of the stationary communication device210.

The stationary communication device210may transmit the wakeup signal to the first user communication device220in response to that the contact with the user of the first user communication device220is made. The first user communication device220may execute the wakeup mode in response to the wakeup signal.

In an embodiment, during the wakeup mode, the first user communication device220may transmit the notification signal to the stationary communication device210. In an embodiment, during the wakeup mode, the first user communication device220may transmit a first standby signal to the second user communication device230. The first standby signal may be a signal requesting the second user communication device230to set an operating mode to the standby mode.

In an embodiment, the first user communication device220may generate the first standby signal by inserting information, which indicates that the stationary communication device210and the first user communication device220are under communication, in a header of a signal exchanged over a human body communication network.

In an embodiment, the first user communication device220may transmit the first standby signal to the second user communication device230over a wireless communication channel WLC. In an embodiment, the first user communication device220may transmit the first standby signal to the second user communication device230over the second human body communication channel HBC2. The second human body communication channel HBC2may be a channel that is utilized for the human body communication between the first user communication device220and the second user communication device230. For example, the second human body communication channel HBC2may be a channel in which a part of the body of the user of the second user communication device230is used as a medium.

The second user communication device230may receive the first standby signal from the first user communication device220. The second user communication device230may execute the standby mode in response to the first standby signal. In an embodiment, the second user communication device230may execute the standby mode during a reference time. The reference time may be a time during which the second user communication device230executes the standby mode. In an embodiment, the reference time may be set by the user.

FIG.5is a flowchart describing an operating method of a human body communication system ofFIG.4according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. An operating method of the human body communication system200ofFIG.4is illustrated inFIG.5. The stationary communication device210, the first user communication device220, and the second user communication device230may correspond to the stationary communication device210, the first user communication device220, and the second user communication device230ofFIG.4, respectively. Also, operation S210, operation S220, operation S221, and operation S230may correspond to operation S110, operation S120, operation S121, and operation S130ofFIG.2, respectively. Thus, additional description will be omitted to avoid redundancy.

In operation S210, the first user communication device220may execute the standby mode. In operation S220, the stationary communication device110may detect the contact with a body of the user of the first user communication device220and may generate the wakeup signal. In operation S221, the stationary communication device110may transmit the wakeup signal to the first user communication device220.

In operation S230, the first user communication device220may execute the wakeup mode in response to the wakeup signal. In operation S231, the first user communication device220may transmit the notification signal indicating that the wakeup mode is being executed, to the stationary communication device210.

In operation S232, the first user communication device220may transmit the first standby signal to the second user communication device230. In an embodiment, the first user communication device220may transmit the first standby signal to the second user communication device230over a second human body communication channel. In an embodiment, the first user communication device220may transmit the first standby signal to the second user communication device230over a wireless communication channel.

An example in which operation S231and operation S232are simultaneously performed is illustrated inFIG.5, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The order of performing operation S231and operation S232may be changed depending on embodiments. For example, operation S231may be performed prior to operation S232, or operation S232may be performed prior to operation S231.

In operation S240, the second user communication device230may execute the standby mode in response to receiving the first standby signal. While the second user communication device230executes the standby mode, the second user communication device230may receive only a signal having a frequency in the low frequency band.

After the stationary communication device210receives the notification signal, in operation S250, the stationary communication device210may transmit the data signal to the first user communication device220. In an embodiment, the data signal may be a signal having a frequency in the high frequency band. As such, the second user communication device230that performs the standby mode in which only the communication for the low frequency band is enabled may fail to receive the data signal. That is, only the user of the first user communication device220may receive the data signal from the stationary communication device210.

FIG.6is a block diagram illustrating a human body communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG.6, a human body communication system300may include a stationary communication device310, a first user communication device320, and a second user communication device330. The stationary communication device310, the first user communication device320, and the second user communication device330may correspond to the stationary communication device210, the first user communication device220, and the second user communication device230ofFIG.4, respectively.

The stationary communication device310may communicate with the first user communication device320over a first human body communication channel HBC1. The stationary communication device310may transmit the wakeup signal to the first user communication device320in response to that the contact with the user of the first user communication device320is made.

In response to the wakeup signal from the stationary communication device310, the first user communication device320may execute the wakeup mode and may transmit a second standby signal to the stationary communication device310. The second standby signal may be a signal requesting any other human body communication device, which is capable of communicating with the stationary communication device310, except for the first user communication device320to execute the standby mode.

The stationary communication device310may transmit the second standby signal to the second user communication device330over a second human body communication channel HBC2in response to receiving the second standby signal. The second human body communication channel HBC2may be a channel that is utilized for the human body communication between the stationary communication device310and the second user communication device330. For example, the second human body communication channel HBC2may be a channel in which a part of the body of the user of the second user communication device330is used as a medium.

In an embodiment, the stationary communication device310may radiate the second standby signal to a user of the second user communication device330through an electrode of the stationary communication device310. As such, even in the case where the user of the second user communication device330does not contact the stationary communication device310, the stationary communication device310may transmit the second standby signal to the second user communication device330over the second human body communication channel HBC2.

The second user communication device330may execute the standby mode in response to receiving the second standby signal from the stationary communication device310over the second human body communication channel HBC2.

FIG.7is a block diagram illustrating a human body communication system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring toFIG.7, a human body communication system400may include a stationary communication device410, a first user communication device420, and a second user communication device430. The stationary communication device410, the first user communication device420, and the second user communication device430may correspond to the stationary communication device210, the first user communication device220, and the second user communication device230ofFIG.4, respectively.

The stationary communication device410may communicate with the first user communication device420over a first human body communication channel HBC1. The stationary communication device410may transmit the wakeup signal to the first user communication device420in response to that the contact with the user of the first user communication device420is made.

In response to the wakeup signal from the stationary communication device410, the first user communication device420may execute the wakeup mode and may transmit an identification signal to the stationary communication device410. The identification signal may be a signal corresponding to identification information of the first user communication device420.

In an embodiment, the first user communication device420may transmit the identification signal to the stationary communication device410over the first human body communication channel HBC1. In an embodiment, the first user communication device420may transmit the identification signal to the stationary communication device410over a wireless communication channel.

In response to receiving the identification signal, the stationary communication device410may generate a security signal based on the identification signal and the data signal. The security signal may include data corresponding to the data signal and the identification information of the first user communication device420. The stationary communication device410may transmit the security signal to the first user communication device420over the first human body communication channel HBC1. The stationary communication device410may transmit the security signal to the second user communication device430over a second human body communication channel HBC2.

In response to receiving the security signal, the first user communication device420may determine whether identification information in the received security signal coincides with the identification information of the first user communication device420. The first user communication device420may process data in the security signal, based on the determination that the identification information in the received security signal coincides with the identification information of the first user communication device420.

In response to receiving the security signal, the second user communication device430may determine whether the identification information in the received security signal coincides with identification information of the second user communication device430. The second user communication device430may discard the security signal, based on the determination that the identification information in the received security signal does not coincide with the identification information of the second user communication device430.

As such, as the security signal is discarded based on the determination that the identification information in the received security signal does not coincide with the identification information of the second user communication device430, a communication device that does not intend to communicate may be prevented from processing or storing unnecessary data.

FIG.8is a flowchart describing an operating method of a human body communication system ofFIG.7according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. An operating method of the human body communication system400ofFIG.7is illustrated inFIG.8. The stationary communication device410, the first user communication device420, and the second user communication device430may correspond to the stationary communication device410, the first user communication device420, and the second user communication device430ofFIG.7, respectively. Also, operation S410, operation S420, operation S421, and operation S430may correspond to operation S110, operation S120, operation S121, and operation S130ofFIG.2, respectively. Thus, additional description will be omitted to avoid redundancy.

In operation S410, the first user communication device420may execute the standby mode. In operation S420, the stationary communication device410may detect the contact with a body of the user of the first user communication device420and may generate the wakeup signal. In operation S421, the stationary communication device410may transmit the wakeup signal to the first user communication device420.

In operation S430, the first user communication device420may execute the wakeup mode in response to the wakeup signal. In operation S431, the first user communication device420may transmit the identification signal including identification information of the first user communication device420to the stationary communication device410.

In operation S440, the stationary communication device410may generate the security signal based on the identification signal and the data signal.

In operation S451, the first user communication device420may determine whether identification information in the security signal coincides with the identification information of the first user communication device420.

In operation S452, the first user communication device420may process the received security signal in response to the determination that the identification information in the security signal coincides with the identification information of the first user communication device420. For example, the first user communication device420may recover the data signal in the security signal.

In operation S450, the stationary communication device410may transmit the security signal to the first user communication device420over a first human body communication channel. In operation S460, the stationary communication device410may transmit the security signal to the second user communication device430over a second human body communication channel.

An example in which operation S450and operation S460are simultaneously performed is illustrated inFIG.5, but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. The order of performing operation S450and operation S460may be changed depending on embodiments. For example, operation S450may be performed prior to operation S460, or operation S460may be performed prior to operation S450.

In operation S461, the second user communication device430may determine whether the identification information in the security signal coincides with the identification information of the second user communication device430.

In operation S462, the second user communication device430may discard the received security signal in response to the determination that the identification information in the security signal does not coincide with the identification information of the second user communication device430.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, a user communication device executing a standby mode, an operating method thereof, and a human body communication system including the same are provided.

Also, a user communication device that reduces power consumption and improves security by executing the standby mode, an operating method thereof, and a human body communication system including the same are provided.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference to embodiments thereof, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as set forth in the following claims.