Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Steven Corroy

Karin Klabunde

Heribert Baldus

Francesco Gallo

Thomas Falck

A device for transmitting in multiple coupling modes has a transmission module (), at least one periphery module (), and an antenna () for each of the multiple coupling modes. Further, in a method of switching between multiple coupling modes, switching is conducted between at least polling and listening phases of first and second coupling modes. The device and the method enable a seamless switching between e.g. a near field communication and a body coupled communication. Such a coupling or switching is particularly useful for performing secure transactions whereby through body coupled communication a body-worn tag is interrogated which provides a secure code for a transaction initiated through near field communication with a transaction terminal.

Switching between multiple coupling modes

A secure identification system is proposed in which a user gets access through an identification device or badge or tag () worn on his/her body, which applies the techniques of body coupled communication (BCC) to create a kind of aura around the user. An identification (ID) is communicated to a user interface of the secure identification system through BCC communication, and the user is authenticated by the system through an authentication procedure checking the identity of the user on the basis of an assumed secure BCC communication of the ID.

User identification based on body-coupled communication

In summary, the present invention relates to a device, a method, a system and a computer program enabling to ensure a reliable communication even under difficult radio frequency conditions. In case data cannot be successfully communicated by a radio frequency communication, the data may be transmitted to another device by a body-coupled communication via a human or animal body. The other device can act as a relay and forward the data to an intended destination. Thus, data may be successfully transmitted to the intended destination even under difficult radio frequency conditions due to body shadowing or other effects.

Combining body-coupled communication and radio frequency communication

The present invention relates to a method for data packet transmissions between a source node and a destination node in a network, the method comprising: &#x2014;the nodes being configured with an initial sleeping time period duration SPand an initial wake-up time period duration LP, &#x2014;the source node sending a preamble, segmented in micro-preambles, for indicating the beginning of a transmission, the micro-preambles being separated by listening slots, &#x2014;the destination node sending, upon receipt of at least one of the micro-preamble, a packet indicating its presence, called 'Ready-To-Receive', or RTR, packet, and &#x2014;the source node sending, in response to the RTR packet, a data packet intended for the destination node, wherein the step of sending a preamble comprises: &#x2014;the source node determining, based on SPand on LP, an optimal size of the micro-preambles that minimizes the overall energy consumption in the network for sending and receiving packets related to this preamble transmission.

Energy efficient transmission in a network

The invention relates to a system and method for wirelessly monitoring a patient (), the system comprising a medical sensor () for collecting medical data and a coupling interface () for coupling with a monitor (). The medical sensor () is attached to the patient's () body, and the medical data collected by the medical sensor () is transmitted to the coupling interface () via body-coupled communication (). Preferably, the collected medical data is streamed to the coupling interface () via body-coupled communication (). This way, a secure and reliable system and method for wireless patient monitoring are achieved which only require little power.

Growing community of inventors

Aachen, Germany

Steven Corroy