WO2014174477A1 - System for monitoring physical performance of users - Google Patents

System for monitoring physical performance of users Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2014174477A1
WO2014174477A1 PCT/IB2014/060975 IB2014060975W WO2014174477A1 WO 2014174477 A1 WO2014174477 A1 WO 2014174477A1 IB 2014060975 W IB2014060975 W IB 2014060975W WO 2014174477 A1 WO2014174477 A1 WO 2014174477A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
synchronisation
time stamp
peripheral unit
unit
peripheral
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/IB2014/060975
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Olsen OLE JAKOB
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Ergotest Innovation As
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Publication date
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Publication of WO2014174477A1 publication Critical patent/WO2014174477A1/en

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/0002—Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network
    • A61B5/0015—Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network characterised by features of the telemetry system
    • A61B5/0024—Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network characterised by features of the telemetry system for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/103—Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes
    • A61B5/11—Measuring movement of the entire body or parts thereof, e.g. head or hand tremor, mobility of a limb
    • A61B5/1118—Determining activity level
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
    • G06Q10/06—Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
    • G06Q10/063—Operations research, analysis or management
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G16—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS
    • G16H—HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
    • G16H20/00—ICT specially adapted for therapies or health-improving plans, e.g. for handling prescriptions, for steering therapy or for monitoring patient compliance
    • G16H20/30—ICT specially adapted for therapies or health-improving plans, e.g. for handling prescriptions, for steering therapy or for monitoring patient compliance relating to physical therapies or activities, e.g. physiotherapy, acupressure or exercising
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G16—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS
    • G16H—HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
    • G16H40/00—ICT specially adapted for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities; ICT specially adapted for the management or operation of medical equipment or devices
    • G16H40/60—ICT specially adapted for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities; ICT specially adapted for the management or operation of medical equipment or devices for the operation of medical equipment or devices
    • G16H40/67—ICT specially adapted for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities; ICT specially adapted for the management or operation of medical equipment or devices for the operation of medical equipment or devices for remote operation
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04J—MULTIPLEX COMMUNICATION
    • H04J3/00—Time-division multiplex systems
    • H04J3/02—Details
    • H04J3/06—Synchronising arrangements
    • H04J3/0635—Clock or time synchronisation in a network
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/72—Mobile telephones; Cordless telephones, i.e. devices for establishing wireless links to base stations without route selection
    • H04M1/724—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
    • H04M1/72403—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
    • H04M1/72409—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality by interfacing with external accessories
    • H04M1/72412—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality by interfacing with external accessories using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B2562/00—Details of sensors; Constructional details of sensor housings or probes; Accessories for sensors
    • A61B2562/08—Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61B—DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION
    • A61B5/00—Measuring for diagnostic purposes; Identification of persons
    • A61B5/22—Ergometry; Measuring muscular strength or the force of a muscular blow
    • A61B5/221—Ergometry, e.g. by using bicycle type apparatus
    • A61B5/222—Ergometry, e.g. by using bicycle type apparatus combined with detection or measurement of physiological parameters, e.g. heart rate

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a computerised system for acquiring, processing and storing data related to physical and physiological parameters of a user, such as an athlete or a patient, which are acquired during physical exercise, in particular made for sport training or physical rehabilitation, so as to monitor a physical performance of the user both in real time and offline, which system allows in a manner that is reliable, accurate, flexible, inexpensive, comfortable, easy to use, and safe for the user to automatically adapt to different sensors, simultaneously acquiring synchronised data from different sensors.
  • the present invention further relates to the process executed by the system and tools that may be used for performing the processes.
  • the term "sensor” will be used to indicate any kind of physical and/or physiological parameter sensing means, including simple sensors and complex sensing devices for sensing a set of parameters, such as force sensors, force plates, position sensors, speed sensors, accelerometers, photo sensors, joint angle sensors, heart rate monitoring devices, cadence sensors, electromyographic sensors, magnetic sensors, trigger units, synchronisation units for synchronising video cameras or laser/speed cameras.
  • simple sensors and complex sensing devices for sensing a set of parameters, such as force sensors, force plates, position sensors, speed sensors, accelerometers, photo sensors, joint angle sensors, heart rate monitoring devices, cadence sensors, electromyographic sensors, magnetic sensors, trigger units, synchronisation units for synchronising video cameras or laser/speed cameras.
  • prior art systems suffers from a number of drawbacks.
  • prior art systems are often limited to monitor only a few parameters, forcing the users to combine systems from several vendors to get all the required information.
  • prior art systems are rigid in the sense of having predefined number of inputs for each type of sensor signal.
  • many prior art systems are uncomfortable, unsafe and difficult to use, due to wired connections.
  • some prior art systems allow only an offline evaluation of the physical performance, i.e. after the user has completed his/her physical exercise.
  • prior art systems are not accurate, due to the inaccurate synchronisation among several sensors, especially when wireless communications are used.
  • prior art systems are often complex and expensive.
  • each peripheral unit comprises a microprocessor, including a time stamp counter configured to generate time stamps, that is connected to digital data acquisition circuitry configured to be connected to the respective sensor for outputting digital data related to at least one acquisition of the respective sensor, each peripheral unit being configured to send said digital data, along with a time stamp generated by its time stamp counter at the same time as said at least one acquisition by the sensor, to the central unit, the central unit including a synchronisation generator configured to synchronise each peripheral unit by sending to the latter an initial synchronisation signal and one or more subsequent synchronisation signals on a respective synchronisation line, whereby the connection between each peripheral unit and the central unit include a respective synchronisation line, each subsequent synchronisation signal being sent to each peripheral unit when a drifting of its time stamp counter from the
  • the synchronisation generator may be configured to send to each peripheral unit a subsequent synchronisation signal when a drifting of its time stamp counter from the preceding either initial or subsequent synchronisation signal has reached a percentage not larger than 75%, optionally not larger than 50%, of the maximum synchronisation deviation ⁇ .
  • the maximum synchronisation deviation ⁇ may be not larger than 2 milliseconds, optionally not larger than 1 millisecond.
  • the senor may be an external sensor connected to the respective peripheral unit or a built in sensor within the respective peripheral unit.
  • At least one of said peripheral units may be a wired peripheral unit connected to the central unit via a wired connection, whereby said respective synchronisation line may be a wired synchronisation line, the wired connection including one or more, optionally two, wires for a digital data communication line.
  • At least one of said peripheral units may be a wireless peripheral unit wirelessly connected with a radiofrequency host, that is connected to the central unit or that is a built in radiofrequency host within the central unit, the radiofrequency host including a time stamp counter configured to generate time stamps, the synchronisation generator being configured to synchronise the radiofrequency host as a peripheral unit.
  • At least one of said peripheral units may be a wired or wireless routing unit that is wired connected to a set of first additional wired peripheral units or that is or includes a radiofrequency host wireless connected to a set of second additional wireless peripheral units.
  • the central unit may be configured to automatically detects that a peripheral unit is connected and to receive from the detected peripheral unit information on a type of the respective sensor, on an identification address of the detected peripheral unit, and optionally on a range of data values acquired by the respective sensor.
  • the initial synchronisation signal sent to at least one of said peripheral units may be a first pulse control signal, optionally comprising two consecutive pulses, wherein a pulse is optionally an interrupt signal for the microprocessor of said at least one peripheral unit, whereby the time stamp counter of the latter is set to zero.
  • each subsequent synchronisation signal may be a second pulse control signal, optionally comprising a single pulse, whereby the time stamp counter of said at least one peripheral unit is set to a nominal time value depending on a number of time stamps generated up to the second pulse control signal.
  • said at least one wireless peripheral unit may be configured to transmit, after that the initial synchronisation signal has been sent, a time stamp request to the radiofrequency host when a drifting of the time stamp counter of said at least one wireless peripheral unit from the preceding either initial or subsequent synchronisation signal or from the preceding time stamp request has reached said percentage of the maximum synchronisation deviation ⁇ , each time stamp request containing a current time stamp of said at least one wireless peripheral unit, the radiofrequency host being configured to transmit, when it receives a time stamp request, back to said at least one wireless peripheral unit a difference between a current time stamp of the radiofrequency host and the received time stamp of said at least one wireless peripheral unit, said at least one wireless peripheral unit being configured to adjust its time stamp counter on the basis of the time stamp difference received from the radiofrequency host.
  • each peripheral unit may be configured to send said digital data, along with a time stamp generated by its time stamp counter at the same time as said at least one acquisition by the sensor, to the central unit according to a communication protocol, whereby the data are optionally sent as digital data packets including a header, a body and a tail, wherein the header more optionally contains at least one synchronisation byte, an identification address of the peripheral unit and a length of packet, the tail more optionally contains a sequence counter, a check sum and an end of transmission byte, and the body contains one or more data blocks related to at least one physical and/or physiological parameter acquired by the respective sensor of the peripheral unit.
  • a central unit for use in a system for monitoring physical performance of users as described above, the central unit being configured to be connected to a plurality of peripheral units, including a time stamp counter configured to generate time stamps, and to receive from each peripheral unit digital data, along with a time stamp generated by its time stamp counter, the central unit being characterised in that it includes a synchronisation generator configured to send to each peripheral unit an initial synchronisation signal and one or more subsequent synchronisation signals on a respective synchronisation line, the central unit being configured to send each subsequent synchronisation signal when it ascertains that a drifting of the time stamp counter of a connected peripheral unit from the preceding either initial or subsequent synchronisation signal has reached a percentage of a maximum synchronisation deviation ⁇ .
  • a peripheral unit for use in a system for monitoring physical performance of users as described above, the peripheral unit being provided with a sensor configured to acquire at least one physical and/or physiological parameter, the peripheral unit being configured to be connected to a central unit via a connection, the peripheral unit being characterised in that it comprises a microprocessor, including a time stamp counter configured to generate time stamps, that is connected to digital data acquisition circuitry configured to be connected to the sensor for outputting digital data related to at least one acquisition of the respective sensor, the peripheral unit being configured to send said digital data, along with a time stamp generated by its time stamp counter at the same time as said at least one acquisition by the sensor, to a connected central unit and to receive from the latter an initial synchronisation signal and one or more subsequent synchronisation signals on a synchronisation line of said connection.
  • a microprocessor including a time stamp counter configured to generate time stamps, that is connected to digital data acquisition circuitry configured to be connected to the sensor for outputting digital data related to at least one acquisition of the respective sensor, the peripheral unit being configured to
  • each peripheral unit sending from the synchronisation generator to each peripheral unit an initial synchronisation signal and one or more subsequent synchronisation signals, each subsequent synchronisation signal being sent to each peripheral unit when a drifting of its time stamp counter from the preceding either initial or subsequent synchronisation signal has reached a percentage of a maximum synchronisation deviation ⁇ .
  • the system for monitoring physical performance allows to test and evaluate a number of physical and physiological parameters of a user, such as an athlete or a patient, which are acquired during physical exercise, in particular made for sport training or physical rehabilitation, so as to monitor a physical performance of the user both in real time and offline.
  • physical and physiologica l parameters that the system according to the invention allows to monitor include muscular strength, balance, gait analysis, coordination, speed, joint angles, electromyography.
  • the system according to the invention offers many advantages when compared with the prior art ones.
  • the system according to the invention is easy to use.
  • the wired physical connection of the central unit to the peripheral units is always the same: there is no need for different connectors dedicated for different type of sensor signals.
  • the central unit automatically detects that a peripheral unit is connected, takes care of the synchronisation and routes the digital data packets received from the peripheral unit to its destination, that is a computerised device (possibly even a network of computerised devices) such as a personal computer or a cellular telephone or a smartphone or the like.
  • the system according to the invention has dedicated synchronisation lines connecting the central unit and the wired or wireless peripheral units provided with the sensors, so that the synchronisation among data acquired by several sensors is not affected by time delays in digital data packet transfer between the peripheral units and the central unit.
  • the system according to the invention is highly flexible, since the allowed number of sensors and sensor combinations is not limited by available dedicated inputs of the central unit. Also, the system is easily expandable, because the central unit does not contain expensive electronics, like instrumental amplifiers or AD converters, for handling sensors or devices, since signals acquired by each sensor are digitised by the simpler electronics of the respective peripheral unit. This allows users to customise the system expanding the same with new sensors or devices if required. In particular, sensors or devices presently unknown to the system according to the invention can easily be incorporated without having to change or modify the central unit: it is sufficient to adapt and/or dedicate a peripheral unit to match the output of the new sensor or device, so that the new peripheral unit can be reliably used in the system still using the communication protocol of the latter.
  • transfer lines of analogue data can be from 1 millimetre up to practical length optimal for a specific type of signal (optionally not larger than 20 cm, more optionally not larger than 10 cm).
  • This architecture reduces the risk of data contamination caused by electromagnetic disturbances.
  • the peripheral unit transmits real calibrated data, because each wired or wireless peripheral unit is dedicated and adapted to a respective sensor, hence the wired or wireless peripheral unit is already adjusted to the specific sensor.
  • Figure 1 shows a first schematic block diagram of a first embodiment of the system for monitoring physical performance of users according to the invention.
  • Figure 2 shows a second schematic block diagram of the system of Figure 1, wherein specific aspects of the invention are shown in greater details.
  • a preferred embodiment of the system for monitoring physical performance has a distributed data acquisition architecture including a central unit 100 connected to a plurality of (i.e. two or more) wired peripheral units 200.
  • the central unit 100 operates as data synchronisation unit and each wired peripheral unit 200 operates as dedicated data acquisition unit connected to a respective sensor 300.
  • the central unit 100 is connected to the wired peripheral units 200 through a wired connection 400.
  • the central unit 100 may be also connected to only one wired peripheral unit 200, though in this case not all the advantages of the system according to the invention are exploited.
  • each wired peripheral unit 200 comprises a microprocessor 210, including a time stamp counter controlled by a clock signal generator, that is connected to a module 220 for AD conversion of analogue data which is in turn connected to the respective sensor 300.
  • the module 220 carries out the AD conversion of the analogue data sensed by the respective sensor 300.
  • the module 220 also includes other necessary sensor interfaces.
  • all digital data acquisition circuitry is located in the wired peripheral unit 200 and data are sent to the central unit 100 on digital form, along with a time stamp generated at the same time as data acquisition by the sensor, according to a system communication protocol.
  • the sensor 300 is either external to or built in the wired peripheral unit 200; in both cases power for the sensor is supplied by the wired peripheral unit 200 (though this feature is not essential, since power for the sensor could be supplied independently from the wired peripheral unit 200, e.g. by means of batteries or an independent connection to mains).
  • the central unit 100 is connected to at least one computerised device, optionally a personal computer 500, to which it sends digital data received from the wired peripheral units 200; the connection 600 between the PC 500 and central unit can be a wired, optionally USB, and/or a wireless, optionally WiFi, connection.
  • the central unit 100 may have the central unit 100 connectable to another computerised device, e.g. a cellular telephone or a smartphone or the like, or even to a network of computerised devices.
  • the wired connection 400 between the central unit 100 and each wired peripheral unit 200 includes (optionally two) wires for a power supply line 410, one or more (optionally two) wires for a digital data communication line 420 (optionally according to RS485 standard, optionally with frequency of 2 GHz) and one wire for a synchronisation line 430 for synchronisation.
  • the wires of lines 410, 420 and 430 are connected to the central unit 100 by means of a connector 440 that is advantageously of the same type for any wired peripheral unit 200.
  • Other embodiments of the system may have one or more wired peripheral units 200 which are powered independently from the central unit 100, e.g. by means of batteries or an independent connection to mains.
  • the central unit 100 is provided with a built in radiofrequency host 110 through which the central unit 100 is able to wirelessly connect with a plurality of (i.e. two or more) wireless peripheral units 700.
  • a built in radiofrequency host 110 through which the central unit 100 is able to wirelessly connect with a plurality of (i.e. two or more) wireless peripheral units 700.
  • Other embodiments of the system according to the invention may have the central unit 100 that is provided with an external (instead of built in) radiofrequency host, connected to the central unit 100 and operating as the built in radiofrequency host 110 of the preferred embodiment of the system shown in the Figures.
  • a wireless peripheral unit 700 is provided with a built in sensor or is connected to an external sensor; each wireless peripheral unit 700 comprises a microprocessor, including a time stamp counter controlled by a clock signal generator, and a module for AD conversion of analogue data sensed by the respective sensor, possibly also including other necessary sensor interfaces. Obviously, in the case where the sensor already outputs digital data, there is no need for AD conversion. Thus, similarly to the wired peripheral units 700, all digital data acquisition circuitry is located in the wireless peripheral unit 700 and data is sent to the central unit 100, along with a time stamp generated at the same time as data acquisition by the sensor, on digital form on a system communication protocol.
  • the central unit 100 is advantageously provided with a memory for storing digital data received from the wired and wireless peripheral units 200 and 700; hence, the central unit 100 can send digital data received from the wired and wireless peripheral units 200 and 700 both in real time and offline, after that these data have been stored in the memory of the central unit 100.
  • the central unit 100 comprises a synchronisation generator 120 through which the central unit 100 synchronises in time all the wired peripheral units 200 to which it is connected to keep the data acquired from the respective sensors 300 synchronised, with a maximum synchronisation deviation ⁇ that advantageously depends on the maximum sample rate (i.e. the maximum data output rate) of the set of assemblies formed by wired peripheral units 200 and respective sensors 300; optionally, the maximum deviation ⁇ is not larger than 2 milliseconds (ms), more optionally not larger than 1 ms. Namely, the central unit 100 synchronises the time stamp counters of all the wired peripheral units 200 to which it is connected.
  • ms milliseconds
  • the synchronisation is made in two ways, depending on the status of the data acquisition process.
  • the synchronisation generator 120 of the central unit 100 sets all the time stamp counters of the wired peripheral units 200 to zero by sending a first pulse control signal (e.g. two consecutive pulses) to microprocessor 210 via the synchronisation line 430, wherein a pulse is optionally an interrupt signal sent to microprocessor 210.
  • a pulse is optionally an interrupt signal sent to microprocessor 210.
  • the synchronisation generator 120 of the central unit 100 is controlled on command from the PC 500.
  • the synchronisation generator 120 of the central unit 100 maintains the synchronisation of the wired peripheral units 200 to which it is connected by sending a second pulse control signal (e.g. a single pulse) before the drifting of the time stamp counter (i.e. of the clock signal generator) of the wired peripheral units 200 (namely, the worst time stamp counter drifting of all the wired peripheral units 200) from the preceding (either first or second) pulse control signal has reached a percentage of the maximum synchronisation deviation ⁇ not larger than 75%, optionally not larger than 50%.
  • the time stamp counter is set to the nominal time value depending on the number of time stamps generated by the same time stamp counter up to the second pulse control signal.
  • the drifting (of the time stamp counter, i.e.) of the clock signal generator is a parameter (usually measured in part-per-million or PPM) that is known to the central unit 100 and to the PC 500 on the basis of the recognition of the wired peripheral units 200 (optionally automatically made when the central unit 100 ascertains the connection of a wired peripheral unit 200, as stated later), and hence the central unit 100 and/or the PC 500 can easily determine the time lapse from the preceding (either first or second) pulse control signal when the second pulse control signal has to be sent by simply multiplying the time lapse by the (PPM) value of the (worst) drifting parameter.
  • PPM part-per-million
  • inventions can also have the synchronisation generator 120 of the central unit 100 that, instead of synchronising simultaneously all the wired peripheral units 200, specifically synchronises each wired peripheral unit 200 (i.e. independently from the synchronisation of the other wired peripheral units 200) when the drifting of its time stamp counter from the preceding (either first or second) pulse control signal has reached a percentage of the maximum synchronisation deviation ⁇ not larger than 75%, optionally not larger than 50%.
  • inventions may have synchronisation signals different from the aforementioned first and second pulse control signals.
  • the synchronisation generator 120 of the central unit 100 synchronises each and all of the wired peripheral units 200, either simultaneously or independently from one another, by sending to each wired peripheral unit 200 a synchronisation signal, that can be either the first or second pulse control signal, on a respective synchronisation line (namely synchronisation line 430).
  • the synchronisation generator 120 of the central unit 100 also synchronises the wireless peripheral units 700 through the radiofrequency host 110, that includes a time stamp counter controlled by a clock signal generator and that is treated as a peripheral unit 100.
  • the synchronisation generator 120 of the central unit 100 sets all the time stamp counters of the wireless peripheral units 700 to zero by sending the first pulse control signal (or another synchronisation signal) to them through the radiofrequency host 110.
  • a wireless peripheral unit 700 transmits a time stamp request to the radiofrequency host 110 before the drifting of its time stamp counter (i.e. of its clock signal generator) from either the preceding first pulse control signal or the preceding time stamp request has reached a percentage of the maximum synchronisation deviation ⁇ not larger than 75%, optionally not larger than 50%.
  • Each time stamp request contains the current time stamp of the wireless peripheral unit 700.
  • the radiofrequency host 110 sends to the wireless peripheral units 700 an information concerning the drifting of the time stamp counter at which the wireless peripheral units 700 must transmit a time stamp request; such information can comprise a fixed time value or the maximum synchronisation deviation ⁇ .
  • inventions can also have the radiofrequency host 110 that simultaneously synchronises all the wireless peripheral units 700 (instead of specifically synchronising each wireless peripheral unit 700) by sending to all of them the aforementioned time stamp difference upon reception of a time stamp request from any one of the wireless peripheral units 700.
  • the synchronisation generator 120 of the central unit 100 synchronises, through the radiofrequency host 110, each and all of the wireless peripheral units 700, either simultaneously or independently from one another, by sending to each wireless peripheral unit 700 a synchronisation signal, that can be either the first control signal or the aforementioned time stamp difference, on a respective synchronisation line formed by the wired connection between the synchronisation generator 120 and the radiofrequency host 110 and the wireless connection between the radiofrequency host 110 and the wireless peripheral unit 700.
  • inventions may provide that, when the data acquisition process is in progress, the wireless peripheral units 700 do not send any time stamp request to the radiofrequency host 110 and that they are periodically synchronised automatically by the synchronisation generator 120 of the central unit 100 through the radiofrequency host 110, similarly to the wired peripheral units 200.
  • the communication protocol of the preferred embodiment of the system through which the wired and wireless peripheral units 200 and 700 send digital data packets to the central unit 100, is build up with a header, a body and a tail.
  • the header contains at least one synchronisation byte, identification address of the wired or wireless peripheral unit 200 or 700 and length of packet.
  • the tail contains a sequence counter, a check sum and an end of transmission byte.
  • the body contains one or more data blocks related to one or more parameters sensed by the sensor of the wired or wireless peripheral unit 200 or 700.
  • a digital data packet may have the following structure, wherein data in a data block are accompanied by a command, a length and a time stamp:
  • HCRC Checksum of bytes between SOH and HCRC.
  • the time stamp is generated at the same time as data acquisition and stored or buffered together in the wired or wireless peripheral unit 200 or 700. This eliminates all delays of data transmission and storing from the distributed wired and wireless peripheral unit 200 and 700 to the central unit 100 and to the PC 500.
  • the system communication protocol can be used on all data transportation layers, such as RS232, RS485, USB, Ethernet, and wireless transmission.
  • the packets according to the system communication protocol can even be stored on storage media and used whenever needed.
  • the central unit 100 automatically detects that a wired peripheral unit 200 is connected and takes care of its synchronisation and routes the data packets to its destination, normally the PC 500.
  • an automatic detection is optionally carried out by means of a polling interrogation of the interface ports for connectors 440 of the central unit 100; when the central unit 100 ascertains the connection of a new wired peripheral unit 200, it receives from the latter information on the type of the respective sensor (e.g. an accelerator, a speed sensor, a strength sensor, an electromyographic sensor), on the identification address of the new wired peripheral unit 200, on the range of data values (e.g.
  • All the wired peripheral units 200 in the system have boot loader software. This allows the software for each wired peripheral unit 200 to be individually updated and extended with new functionalities; in particular, update of the wired peripheral units 200 is fully automated and controlled by the software of PC 500.
  • the system communication protocol is a part of the system software, even the system communication protocol can be updated and extended with new functionalities.
  • the system takes account of the fact that transferring data wirelessly will always be subject to the risk of data loss.
  • each wireless peripheral unit 700 has optionally a built in non-volatile memory that holds every digital data sample acquired from the sensor during a test.
  • the system addresses the need for the operator to monitor the data acquired from the sensors of wireless peripheral units 700 in real time during a test. This is achieved by having a configurable real time data rate option.
  • the wireless peripheral unit 700 wirelessly transfers data at a lower rate.
  • the full data rate for an electromyographic (EMG) sensor is 1000 samples per second: by only transferring 50 samples per second the required wireless bandwidth is significantly reduced allowing more wireless periphera l units 700 to wirelessly upload real time data to the radiofrequency host 110. Similarly, other wireless peripheral units 700 can transfer in real time at 1/10 of the actual data sampling rate. Such data rates are normally sufficient for the purpose of instant monitoring by a supervising operator.
  • EMG electromyographic
  • each wireless peripheral unit 700 When the test is completed, all the data are automatically transferred from the internal memory of each wireless peripheral unit 700, via the radiofrequency host 110 and the central unit 100 to the PC 500. This is done either wirelessly using a safe, not real time dependent protocol, or via a wired connection, e.g. via a USB connection.
  • Digital data coming from a wired or wireless peripheral unit 200 or 700 have a unique signature that is recognized by the software of the PC 500.
  • Data packets coming from any wired or wireless peripheral unit 200 or 700 and related to acquisitions of a specific sensor are thus routed to dedicated software routine(s) which process(es) the specific data.
  • Digital data from a wired or wireless peripheral unit 200 or 700, or combination of wired and/or wireless peripheral unit 200 and/or 700, are processed by methods in the software in a way that information can be extracted to build a "test element".
  • a test element relates to human motion, human activity or other information.
  • a test element may also be associated with instructions, forms or questionnaires in order to get access to necessary data and information.
  • the users or supervising operators can use these test elements to compose users' own exercise protocols.
  • An exercise protocol consists of a series of test elements. The exercise protocols purpose will be typically to assess a specific condition or property, e.g. knee injury, explosive strength capability, or balance. Exercise protocols may be scientifically validated and references to the research will be a part of the exercise protocol.
  • the system can provide user or supervising operators with a toolbox of test elements that can be assigned to specific exercises, on the basis of which users or supervising operators can then create users' own exercise protocols. The created exercise protocols can then be saved and used over and over again.
  • the exercise protocols can be shared with other users of similar systems according to the invention, for example over the Internet, as shown in Figure 1, where the Internet is indicated by reference numeral 800, another PC connected to a similar system is indicated by reference numeral 500', and reference numeral 900 indicates a central computerised working station, advantageously including a database, where all the shared exercise protocols and digital data can be stored, exchanged and accessed by the PCs 500 and 500'.
  • the central unit 100 is fully digitised and the physical connection for any wired peripheral unit 200 can be the same, based on an unique connector 440, so that there is no need for different connectors dedicated for different type of sensor signals.
  • the central unit automatically detects that a wired or wireless peripheral unit 200 or 700 is connected and takes care of its synchronisation and routes the data packets to its destination, normally the PC 500.
  • the synchronisation process is not affected by time delays in data packet transfer between the central unit 100 and wired and wireless peripheral unit 200 and 700.
  • the allowed number of sensors and sensor combinations is not limited by available dedicated inputs of the central unit 100.
  • a new wired peripheral unit 200 can also be a wired routing unit in turns wired connected to a set of new wired peripheral units 200, or it can be or include a new radiofrequency host in turns wireless connected to a set of new wireless peripheral units 700; similarly, a new wireless peripheral unit 700 can be a wireless routing unit in turns wired connected to a set of new wired peripheral units 200, or it can be or include a new radiofrequency host in turns wireless connected to a set of new wireless peripheral units 700.
  • the system according to the invention can be freely expanded depending on the specific need of the users, even with new sensors or devices presently unknown (in this case, it is not necessary to change or modify the central unit 100, but it would be sufficient to adapt and dedicate a new wired or wireless peripheral unit to match the output of the new sensor or device, with the new wired or wireless peripheral unit still using the system communication protocol).
  • Each wired or wireless peripheral unit transmits real calibrated data, because it is specifically adapted to the respective sensor.
  • the short transfer lines of analogue data before data are converted to digital format reduces the risk of data contamination caused by electromagnetic disturbances.
  • the transfer lines of analogue data can be from about 1 millimetre or even less (when the sensor is built in the wired or wireless peripheral unit) up to practical length optimal for a specific type of signal, optionally not larger than 20 cm, more optionally not larger than 10 cm.

Abstract

A system for monitoring physical performance of users comprising a central unit (100) connected to a plurality of peripheral units (200; 700), each one of which is provided with a respective sensor (300) configured to acquire at least one physical and/or physiological parameter, the system being characterised in that each peripheral unit (200; 700) comprises a microprocessor (210), including a time stamp counter configured to generate time stamps, that is connected to digital data acquisition circuitry configured to be connected to the respective sensor (300) for outputting digital data related to at least one acquisition of the respective sensor (300), each peripheral unit (200; 700) being configured to send said digital data, along with a time stamp generated by its time stamp counter at the same time as said at least one acquisition by the sensor, to the central unit (100), the central unit (100) including a synchronisation generator (120) configured to synchronise each peripheral unit (200; 700) by sending to the latter an initial synchronisation signal and one or more subsequent synchronisation signals on a respective synchronisation line (430), whereby the connection (400) between each peripheral unit (200; 700) and the central unit (100) include a respective synchronisation line (430), each subsequent synchronisation signal being sent to each peripheral unit (200; 700) when a drifting of its time stamp counter from the preceding either initial or subsequent synchronisation signal has reached a percentage of a maximum synchronisation deviation ΔT.

Description

SYSTEM FOR MONITORING PHYSICAL PERFORMANCE OF USERS
* * *
The present invention relates to a computerised system for acquiring, processing and storing data related to physical and physiological parameters of a user, such as an athlete or a patient, which are acquired during physical exercise, in particular made for sport training or physical rehabilitation, so as to monitor a physical performance of the user both in real time and offline, which system allows in a manner that is reliable, accurate, flexible, inexpensive, comfortable, easy to use, and safe for the user to automatically adapt to different sensors, simultaneously acquiring synchronised data from different sensors.
The present invention further relates to the process executed by the system and tools that may be used for performing the processes.
In the following description and in the claims, the term "sensor" will be used to indicate any kind of physical and/or physiological parameter sensing means, including simple sensors and complex sensing devices for sensing a set of parameters, such as force sensors, force plates, position sensors, speed sensors, accelerometers, photo sensors, joint angle sensors, heart rate monitoring devices, cadence sensors, electromyographic sensors, magnetic sensors, trigger units, synchronisation units for synchronising video cameras or laser/speed cameras.
In the last decades, computers and electronic sensors have been used for measuring and evaluating physical performance of athletes, during training, and patients undergoing rehabilitation programs. By way of example, and not by way of limitation, data acquired by sensors which are related to muscular strength, speed, acceleration, and muscle electrical activity have been used for assessing the manner of executing a physical exercise.
In this regard, computerised systems have been developed in the prior art for acquiring data from a plurality of sensors, so as to provide information on a plurality of physical and physiological parameters which can better monitor the physical performance of an athlete or patient. Some of such computerised systems of the prior art are disclosed in documents US 2007/219059 Al, US 2010/036207 Al and US 2010/204615 Al.
However, prior art systems suffers from a number of drawbacks. First of all, prior art systems are often limited to monitor only a few parameters, forcing the users to combine systems from several vendors to get all the required information. Also, prior art systems are rigid in the sense of having predefined number of inputs for each type of sensor signal. Moreover, many prior art systems are uncomfortable, unsafe and difficult to use, due to wired connections. Additionally, some prior art systems allow only an offline evaluation of the physical performance, i.e. after the user has completed his/her physical exercise. Furthermore, prior art systems are not accurate, due to the inaccurate synchronisation among several sensors, especially when wireless communications are used. Finally, prior art systems are often complex and expensive.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to allow, in a manner that is reliable, accurate, flexible, inexpensive, comfortable, easy to use and safe for the user, to monitor a physical performance of a user both in real time and offline.
It is specific subject matter of this invention a system for monitoring physical performance of users comprising a central unit connected to a plurality of peripheral units, each one of which is provided with a respective sensor configured to acquire at least one physical and/or physiological parameter, the system being characterised in that each peripheral unit comprises a microprocessor, including a time stamp counter configured to generate time stamps, that is connected to digital data acquisition circuitry configured to be connected to the respective sensor for outputting digital data related to at least one acquisition of the respective sensor, each peripheral unit being configured to send said digital data, along with a time stamp generated by its time stamp counter at the same time as said at least one acquisition by the sensor, to the central unit, the central unit including a synchronisation generator configured to synchronise each peripheral unit by sending to the latter an initial synchronisation signal and one or more subsequent synchronisation signals on a respective synchronisation line, whereby the connection between each peripheral unit and the central unit include a respective synchronisation line, each subsequent synchronisation signal being sent to each peripheral unit when a drifting of its time stamp counter from the preceding either initial or subsequent synchronisation signal has reached a percentage of a maximum synchronisation deviation ΔΤ.
According to another aspect of the invention, the synchronisation generator may be configured to send to each peripheral unit a subsequent synchronisation signal when a drifting of its time stamp counter from the preceding either initial or subsequent synchronisation signal has reached a percentage not larger than 75%, optionally not larger than 50%, of the maximum synchronisation deviation ΔΤ.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the maximum synchronisation deviation ΔΤ may be not larger than 2 milliseconds, optionally not larger than 1 millisecond.
According to an additional aspect of the invention, the sensor may be an external sensor connected to the respective peripheral unit or a built in sensor within the respective peripheral unit.
According to another aspect of the invention, at least one of said peripheral units may be a wired peripheral unit connected to the central unit via a wired connection, whereby said respective synchronisation line may be a wired synchronisation line, the wired connection including one or more, optionally two, wires for a digital data communication line.
According to a further aspect of the invention, at least one of said peripheral units may be a wireless peripheral unit wirelessly connected with a radiofrequency host, that is connected to the central unit or that is a built in radiofrequency host within the central unit, the radiofrequency host including a time stamp counter configured to generate time stamps, the synchronisation generator being configured to synchronise the radiofrequency host as a peripheral unit.
According to an additional aspect of the invention, at least one of said peripheral units may be a wired or wireless routing unit that is wired connected to a set of first additional wired peripheral units or that is or includes a radiofrequency host wireless connected to a set of second additional wireless peripheral units.
According to another aspect of the invention, the central unit may be configured to automatically detects that a peripheral unit is connected and to receive from the detected peripheral unit information on a type of the respective sensor, on an identification address of the detected peripheral unit, and optionally on a range of data values acquired by the respective sensor.
According to a further aspect of the invention, the initial synchronisation signal sent to at least one of said peripheral units may be a first pulse control signal, optionally comprising two consecutive pulses, wherein a pulse is optionally an interrupt signal for the microprocessor of said at least one peripheral unit, whereby the time stamp counter of the latter is set to zero.
According to an additional aspect of the invention, each subsequent synchronisation signal may be a second pulse control signal, optionally comprising a single pulse, whereby the time stamp counter of said at least one peripheral unit is set to a nominal time value depending on a number of time stamps generated up to the second pulse control signal.
According to another aspect of the invention, said at least one wireless peripheral unit may be configured to transmit, after that the initial synchronisation signal has been sent, a time stamp request to the radiofrequency host when a drifting of the time stamp counter of said at least one wireless peripheral unit from the preceding either initial or subsequent synchronisation signal or from the preceding time stamp request has reached said percentage of the maximum synchronisation deviation ΔΤ, each time stamp request containing a current time stamp of said at least one wireless peripheral unit, the radiofrequency host being configured to transmit, when it receives a time stamp request, back to said at least one wireless peripheral unit a difference between a current time stamp of the radiofrequency host and the received time stamp of said at least one wireless peripheral unit, said at least one wireless peripheral unit being configured to adjust its time stamp counter on the basis of the time stamp difference received from the radiofrequency host.
According to a further aspect of the invention, each peripheral unit may be configured to send said digital data, along with a time stamp generated by its time stamp counter at the same time as said at least one acquisition by the sensor, to the central unit according to a communication protocol, whereby the data are optionally sent as digital data packets including a header, a body and a tail, wherein the header more optionally contains at least one synchronisation byte, an identification address of the peripheral unit and a length of packet, the tail more optionally contains a sequence counter, a check sum and an end of transmission byte, and the body contains one or more data blocks related to at least one physical and/or physiological parameter acquired by the respective sensor of the peripheral unit.
It is another specific subject matter of this invention a central unit for use in a system for monitoring physical performance of users as described above, the central unit being configured to be connected to a plurality of peripheral units, including a time stamp counter configured to generate time stamps, and to receive from each peripheral unit digital data, along with a time stamp generated by its time stamp counter, the central unit being characterised in that it includes a synchronisation generator configured to send to each peripheral unit an initial synchronisation signal and one or more subsequent synchronisation signals on a respective synchronisation line, the central unit being configured to send each subsequent synchronisation signal when it ascertains that a drifting of the time stamp counter of a connected peripheral unit from the preceding either initial or subsequent synchronisation signal has reached a percentage of a maximum synchronisation deviation ΔΤ. It is a further specific subject matter of this invention a peripheral unit for use in a system for monitoring physical performance of users as described above, the peripheral unit being provided with a sensor configured to acquire at least one physical and/or physiological parameter, the peripheral unit being configured to be connected to a central unit via a connection, the peripheral unit being characterised in that it comprises a microprocessor, including a time stamp counter configured to generate time stamps, that is connected to digital data acquisition circuitry configured to be connected to the sensor for outputting digital data related to at least one acquisition of the respective sensor, the peripheral unit being configured to send said digital data, along with a time stamp generated by its time stamp counter at the same time as said at least one acquisition by the sensor, to a connected central unit and to receive from the latter an initial synchronisation signal and one or more subsequent synchronisation signals on a synchronisation line of said connection.
It is an additional further specific subject matter of this invention a process for synchronising a plurality of peripheral units, each comprising a microprocessor including a time stamp counter configured to generate time stamps, the plurality of peripheral units being connected to a central unit, including a synchronisation generator, in a system for monitoring physical performance of users as described above, the process being characterised in that it comprises:
sending from the synchronisation generator to each peripheral unit an initial synchronisation signal and one or more subsequent synchronisation signals, each subsequent synchronisation signal being sent to each peripheral unit when a drifting of its time stamp counter from the preceding either initial or subsequent synchronisation signal has reached a percentage of a maximum synchronisation deviation ΔΤ.
The system for monitoring physical performance according to the invention allows to test and evaluate a number of physical and physiological parameters of a user, such as an athlete or a patient, which are acquired during physical exercise, in particular made for sport training or physical rehabilitation, so as to monitor a physical performance of the user both in real time and offline. By way of example and not by way of limitation, physical and physiologica l parameters that the system according to the invention allows to monitor include muscular strength, balance, gait analysis, coordination, speed, joint angles, electromyography.
The system according to the invention offers many advantages when compared with the prior art ones.
First of all, it is a complete and versatile system to address the increasing need for objective data in research, rehabilitation and sport.
The system according to the invention is easy to use. The wired physical connection of the central unit to the peripheral units is always the same: there is no need for different connectors dedicated for different type of sensor signals. The central unit automatically detects that a peripheral unit is connected, takes care of the synchronisation and routes the digital data packets received from the peripheral unit to its destination, that is a computerised device (possibly even a network of computerised devices) such as a personal computer or a cellular telephone or a smartphone or the like.
The system according to the invention has dedicated synchronisation lines connecting the central unit and the wired or wireless peripheral units provided with the sensors, so that the synchronisation among data acquired by several sensors is not affected by time delays in digital data packet transfer between the peripheral units and the central unit.
The system according to the invention is highly flexible, since the allowed number of sensors and sensor combinations is not limited by available dedicated inputs of the central unit. Also, the system is easily expandable, because the central unit does not contain expensive electronics, like instrumental amplifiers or AD converters, for handling sensors or devices, since signals acquired by each sensor are digitised by the simpler electronics of the respective peripheral unit. This allows users to customise the system expanding the same with new sensors or devices if required. In particular, sensors or devices presently unknown to the system according to the invention can easily be incorporated without having to change or modify the central unit: it is sufficient to adapt and/or dedicate a peripheral unit to match the output of the new sensor or device, so that the new peripheral unit can be reliably used in the system still using the communication protocol of the latter.
Also, the system according to the invention uses short transfer lines for analogue data before data are converted to digital format; in particular, transfer lines of analogue data can be from 1 millimetre up to practical length optimal for a specific type of signal (optionally not larger than 20 cm, more optionally not larger than 10 cm). This architecture reduces the risk of data contamination caused by electromagnetic disturbances.
The peripheral unit transmits real calibrated data, because each wired or wireless peripheral unit is dedicated and adapted to a respective sensor, hence the wired or wireless peripheral unit is already adjusted to the specific sensor.
The present invention will be now described, by way of illustration and not by way of limitation, according to its preferred embodiments, by particularly referring to the Figures of the enclosed drawings, in which:
Figure 1 shows a first schematic block diagram of a first embodiment of the system for monitoring physical performance of users according to the invention; and
Figure 2 shows a second schematic block diagram of the system of Figure 1, wherein specific aspects of the invention are shown in greater details.
In the Figures, identical reference numbers are used for alike elements.
With reference to Figures 1 and 2, it may be observed that a preferred embodiment of the system for monitoring physical performance according to the invention has a distributed data acquisition architecture including a central unit 100 connected to a plurality of (i.e. two or more) wired peripheral units 200. In particular, the central unit 100 operates as data synchronisation unit and each wired peripheral unit 200 operates as dedicated data acquisition unit connected to a respective sensor 300. The central unit 100 is connected to the wired peripheral units 200 through a wired connection 400. Obviously, the central unit 100 may be also connected to only one wired peripheral unit 200, though in this case not all the advantages of the system according to the invention are exploited.
As shown in greater detail in Figure 2, each wired peripheral unit 200 comprises a microprocessor 210, including a time stamp counter controlled by a clock signal generator, that is connected to a module 220 for AD conversion of analogue data which is in turn connected to the respective sensor 300. In particular, the module 220 carries out the AD conversion of the analogue data sensed by the respective sensor 300. Obviously, in the case where the sensor already outputs digital data, there is no need for AD conversion, as schematically shown in Figure 1 for wired peripheral unit indicated by reference numeral 200' connected to sensor 300'. Possibly, the module 220 also includes other necessary sensor interfaces. I n other words, all digital data acquisition circuitry is located in the wired peripheral unit 200 and data are sent to the central unit 100 on digital form, along with a time stamp generated at the same time as data acquisition by the sensor, according to a system communication protocol. In particular, the sensor 300 is either external to or built in the wired peripheral unit 200; in both cases power for the sensor is supplied by the wired peripheral unit 200 (though this feature is not essential, since power for the sensor could be supplied independently from the wired peripheral unit 200, e.g. by means of batteries or an independent connection to mains). The central unit 100 is connected to at least one computerised device, optionally a personal computer 500, to which it sends digital data received from the wired peripheral units 200; the connection 600 between the PC 500 and central unit can be a wired, optionally USB, and/or a wireless, optionally WiFi, connection. Other embodiment of the system according to the invention may have the central unit 100 connectable to another computerised device, e.g. a cellular telephone or a smartphone or the like, or even to a network of computerised devices. The wired connection 400 between the central unit 100 and each wired peripheral unit 200 includes (optionally two) wires for a power supply line 410, one or more (optionally two) wires for a digital data communication line 420 (optionally according to RS485 standard, optionally with frequency of 2 GHz) and one wire for a synchronisation line 430 for synchronisation. In particular, the wires of lines 410, 420 and 430 are connected to the central unit 100 by means of a connector 440 that is advantageously of the same type for any wired peripheral unit 200. Other embodiments of the system may have one or more wired peripheral units 200 which are powered independently from the central unit 100, e.g. by means of batteries or an independent connection to mains.
The central unit 100 is provided with a built in radiofrequency host 110 through which the central unit 100 is able to wirelessly connect with a plurality of (i.e. two or more) wireless peripheral units 700. Other embodiments of the system according to the invention may have the central unit 100 that is provided with an external (instead of built in) radiofrequency host, connected to the central unit 100 and operating as the built in radiofrequency host 110 of the preferred embodiment of the system shown in the Figures.
A wireless peripheral unit 700 is provided with a built in sensor or is connected to an external sensor; each wireless peripheral unit 700 comprises a microprocessor, including a time stamp counter controlled by a clock signal generator, and a module for AD conversion of analogue data sensed by the respective sensor, possibly also including other necessary sensor interfaces. Obviously, in the case where the sensor already outputs digital data, there is no need for AD conversion. Thus, similarly to the wired peripheral units 700, all digital data acquisition circuitry is located in the wireless peripheral unit 700 and data is sent to the central unit 100, along with a time stamp generated at the same time as data acquisition by the sensor, on digital form on a system communication protocol.
The central unit 100 is advantageously provided with a memory for storing digital data received from the wired and wireless peripheral units 200 and 700; hence, the central unit 100 can send digital data received from the wired and wireless peripheral units 200 and 700 both in real time and offline, after that these data have been stored in the memory of the central unit 100.
Also, the central unit 100 comprises a synchronisation generator 120 through which the central unit 100 synchronises in time all the wired peripheral units 200 to which it is connected to keep the data acquired from the respective sensors 300 synchronised, with a maximum synchronisation deviation ΔΤ that advantageously depends on the maximum sample rate (i.e. the maximum data output rate) of the set of assemblies formed by wired peripheral units 200 and respective sensors 300; optionally, the maximum deviation ΔΤ is not larger than 2 milliseconds (ms), more optionally not larger than 1 ms. Namely, the central unit 100 synchronises the time stamp counters of all the wired peripheral units 200 to which it is connected.
The synchronisation is made in two ways, depending on the status of the data acquisition process.
At the beginning of the data acquisition process, the synchronisation generator 120 of the central unit 100 sets all the time stamp counters of the wired peripheral units 200 to zero by sending a first pulse control signal (e.g. two consecutive pulses) to microprocessor 210 via the synchronisation line 430, wherein a pulse is optionally an interrupt signal sent to microprocessor 210. Optionally, the synchronisation generator 120 of the central unit 100 is controlled on command from the PC 500.
When the data acquisition process is in progress, the synchronisation generator 120 of the central unit 100 maintains the synchronisation of the wired peripheral units 200 to which it is connected by sending a second pulse control signal (e.g. a single pulse) before the drifting of the time stamp counter (i.e. of the clock signal generator) of the wired peripheral units 200 (namely, the worst time stamp counter drifting of all the wired peripheral units 200) from the preceding (either first or second) pulse control signal has reached a percentage of the maximum synchronisation deviation ΔΤ not larger than 75%, optionally not larger than 50%. In this way, the time stamp counter is set to the nominal time value depending on the number of time stamps generated by the same time stamp counter up to the second pulse control signal.
In particular, the drifting (of the time stamp counter, i.e.) of the clock signal generator is a parameter (usually measured in part-per-million or PPM) that is known to the central unit 100 and to the PC 500 on the basis of the recognition of the wired peripheral units 200 (optionally automatically made when the central unit 100 ascertains the connection of a wired peripheral unit 200, as stated later), and hence the central unit 100 and/or the PC 500 can easily determine the time lapse from the preceding (either first or second) pulse control signal when the second pulse control signal has to be sent by simply multiplying the time lapse by the (PPM) value of the (worst) drifting parameter.
Other embodiments of the system according to the invention can also have the synchronisation generator 120 of the central unit 100 that, instead of synchronising simultaneously all the wired peripheral units 200, specifically synchronises each wired peripheral unit 200 (i.e. independently from the synchronisation of the other wired peripheral units 200) when the drifting of its time stamp counter from the preceding (either first or second) pulse control signal has reached a percentage of the maximum synchronisation deviation ΔΤ not larger than 75%, optionally not larger than 50%.
Other embodiments of the system according to the invention may have synchronisation signals different from the aforementioned first and second pulse control signals.
In other words, the synchronisation generator 120 of the central unit 100 synchronises each and all of the wired peripheral units 200, either simultaneously or independently from one another, by sending to each wired peripheral unit 200 a synchronisation signal, that can be either the first or second pulse control signal, on a respective synchronisation line (namely synchronisation line 430).
The synchronisation generator 120 of the central unit 100 also synchronises the wireless peripheral units 700 through the radiofrequency host 110, that includes a time stamp counter controlled by a clock signal generator and that is treated as a peripheral unit 100. In particular, at the beginning of the data acquisition process, the synchronisation generator 120 of the central unit 100 sets all the time stamp counters of the wireless peripheral units 700 to zero by sending the first pulse control signal (or another synchronisation signal) to them through the radiofrequency host 110.
When the data acquisition process is in progress, a wireless peripheral unit 700 transmits a time stamp request to the radiofrequency host 110 before the drifting of its time stamp counter (i.e. of its clock signal generator) from either the preceding first pulse control signal or the preceding time stamp request has reached a percentage of the maximum synchronisation deviation ΔΤ not larger than 75%, optionally not larger than 50%. Each time stamp request contains the current time stamp of the wireless peripheral unit 700. When the radiofrequency host 110 receives a time stamp request, the difference between the current time stamp of the radiofrequency host 110 (which is synchronised by the synchronisation generator 120 as described above for the wired peripheral unit 200) and the received time stamp is transmitted back to the wireless peripheral unit 700. The wireless peripheral unit 700 then uses this difference to adjust its time stamp counter accordingly.
Optionally, at the beginning of the data acquisition process, the radiofrequency host 110 sends to the wireless peripheral units 700 an information concerning the drifting of the time stamp counter at which the wireless peripheral units 700 must transmit a time stamp request; such information can comprise a fixed time value or the maximum synchronisation deviation ΔΤ.
Other embodiments of the system according to the invention can also have the radiofrequency host 110 that simultaneously synchronises all the wireless peripheral units 700 (instead of specifically synchronising each wireless peripheral unit 700) by sending to all of them the aforementioned time stamp difference upon reception of a time stamp request from any one of the wireless peripheral units 700.
In other words, the synchronisation generator 120 of the central unit 100 synchronises, through the radiofrequency host 110, each and all of the wireless peripheral units 700, either simultaneously or independently from one another, by sending to each wireless peripheral unit 700 a synchronisation signal, that can be either the first control signal or the aforementioned time stamp difference, on a respective synchronisation line formed by the wired connection between the synchronisation generator 120 and the radiofrequency host 110 and the wireless connection between the radiofrequency host 110 and the wireless peripheral unit 700.
Other embodiments of the system according to the invention may provide that, when the data acquisition process is in progress, the wireless peripheral units 700 do not send any time stamp request to the radiofrequency host 110 and that they are periodically synchronised automatically by the synchronisation generator 120 of the central unit 100 through the radiofrequency host 110, similarly to the wired peripheral units 200.
Further embodiments of the system according to the invention may provide that, when the data acquisition process is in progress, the wired peripheral units 200 are also synchronised after that the same wired periphera l units 200 have sent a time stamp request to the synchronisation generator 120.
The communication protocol of the preferred embodiment of the system, through which the wired and wireless peripheral units 200 and 700 send digital data packets to the central unit 100, is build up with a header, a body and a tail. The header contains at least one synchronisation byte, identification address of the wired or wireless peripheral unit 200 or 700 and length of packet. The tail contains a sequence counter, a check sum and an end of transmission byte. The body contains one or more data blocks related to one or more parameters sensed by the sensor of the wired or wireless peripheral unit 200 or 700.
By way of example, and not by way of limitation, a digital data packet may have the following structure, wherein data in a data block are accompanied by a command, a length and a time stamp:
[SYN][SOH] [JL/CH][addr] [nob(l)][nob(h)] [HCRC][cmdO][ndbO(l)] [ndbO(h)] [data blockO] ... [cmdn][ndbn(l)][ndbn(h)][data blockn][SEQ][PCRC][EOT]
where:
SYN synchronisation Byte, at least one SYN
SOH start of header
JL/CH Jump Level / channel (port) on central unit
addr address to the peripheral unit
nob number of bytes in packet, all bytes after SOH
HCRC Checksum of bytes between SOH and HCRC.
cmd command
ndb number of bytes in data block
data block depending on command
SEQ sequence number.
PCRC Checksum of bytes between SOH and PCRC.
EOT end of transmission
Other embodiments of the system according to the invention may use a communication protocol different from the one depicted above.
The time stamp is generated at the same time as data acquisition and stored or buffered together in the wired or wireless peripheral unit 200 or 700. This eliminates all delays of data transmission and storing from the distributed wired and wireless peripheral unit 200 and 700 to the central unit 100 and to the PC 500.
The system communication protocol can be used on all data transportation layers, such as RS232, RS485, USB, Ethernet, and wireless transmission. The packets according to the system communication protocol can even be stored on storage media and used whenever needed.
The central unit 100 automatically detects that a wired peripheral unit 200 is connected and takes care of its synchronisation and routes the data packets to its destination, normally the PC 500. In particular, such an automatic detection is optionally carried out by means of a polling interrogation of the interface ports for connectors 440 of the central unit 100; when the central unit 100 ascertains the connection of a new wired peripheral unit 200, it receives from the latter information on the type of the respective sensor (e.g. an accelerator, a speed sensor, a strength sensor, an electromyographic sensor), on the identification address of the new wired peripheral unit 200, on the range of data values (e.g. 0 Volt to 10 Volt, 1 mV to 1 Volt, 4 mA to 20 mA) sensed by the respective sensor, and possible other information concerning the new wired peripheral unit 200 and/or the respective sensor. The same occurs when a new wireless peripheral unit 700 is connected to the central unit 100 via the radiofrequency host 110; in this case, the polling interrogation "scans" the radiofrequency host 110 that sends to a microprocessor of the central unit 100 information data received from the new wireless peripheral unit(s) 700 wirelessly connected to the same radiofrequency host 110.
All the wired peripheral units 200 in the system have boot loader software. This allows the software for each wired peripheral unit 200 to be individually updated and extended with new functionalities; in particular, update of the wired peripheral units 200 is fully automated and controlled by the software of PC 500. The same applies to the software of the wireless peripheral units 700, that can be hence updated by PC 500 through USB port or, optionally, through radiofrequency host 110. As the system communication protocol is a part of the system software, even the system communication protocol can be updated and extended with new functionalities.
With regard to data transfer from the wireless peripheral units 700, the system according to the invention takes account of the fact that transferring data wirelessly will always be subject to the risk of data loss. To resolve this problem each wireless peripheral unit 700 has optionally a built in non-volatile memory that holds every digital data sample acquired from the sensor during a test. At the same time, the system addresses the need for the operator to monitor the data acquired from the sensors of wireless peripheral units 700 in real time during a test. This is achieved by having a configurable real time data rate option. Typically, in "noisy" environment where there is a lot of radio activity which increases the risk of data loss, the wireless peripheral unit 700 wirelessly transfers data at a lower rate. By way of example, and not by way of limitation, the full data rate for an electromyographic (EMG) sensor is 1000 samples per second: by only transferring 50 samples per second the required wireless bandwidth is significantly reduced allowing more wireless periphera l units 700 to wirelessly upload real time data to the radiofrequency host 110. Similarly, other wireless peripheral units 700 can transfer in real time at 1/10 of the actual data sampling rate. Such data rates are normally sufficient for the purpose of instant monitoring by a supervising operator.
When the test is completed, all the data are automatically transferred from the internal memory of each wireless peripheral unit 700, via the radiofrequency host 110 and the central unit 100 to the PC 500. This is done either wirelessly using a safe, not real time dependent protocol, or via a wired connection, e.g. via a USB connection.
Digital data coming from a wired or wireless peripheral unit 200 or 700 have a unique signature that is recognized by the software of the PC 500. Data packets coming from any wired or wireless peripheral unit 200 or 700 and related to acquisitions of a specific sensor are thus routed to dedicated software routine(s) which process(es) the specific data.
Digital data from a wired or wireless peripheral unit 200 or 700, or combination of wired and/or wireless peripheral unit 200 and/or 700, are processed by methods in the software in a way that information can be extracted to build a "test element". A test element relates to human motion, human activity or other information.
A test element may also be associated with instructions, forms or questionnaires in order to get access to necessary data and information. The users or supervising operators can use these test elements to compose users' own exercise protocols. An exercise protocol consists of a series of test elements. The exercise protocols purpose will be typically to assess a specific condition or property, e.g. knee injury, explosive strength capability, or balance. Exercise protocols may be scientifically validated and references to the research will be a part of the exercise protocol. To this end, the system can provide user or supervising operators with a toolbox of test elements that can be assigned to specific exercises, on the basis of which users or supervising operators can then create users' own exercise protocols. The created exercise protocols can then be saved and used over and over again.
Also, the exercise protocols can be shared with other users of similar systems according to the invention, for example over the Internet, as shown in Figure 1, where the Internet is indicated by reference numeral 800, another PC connected to a similar system is indicated by reference numeral 500', and reference numeral 900 indicates a central computerised working station, advantageously including a database, where all the shared exercise protocols and digital data can be stored, exchanged and accessed by the PCs 500 and 500'.
As already stated, the advantages offered by the system according to the invention are numerous and significant.
First of all, the central unit 100 is fully digitised and the physical connection for any wired peripheral unit 200 can be the same, based on an unique connector 440, so that there is no need for different connectors dedicated for different type of sensor signals.
Also, the central unit automatically detects that a wired or wireless peripheral unit 200 or 700 is connected and takes care of its synchronisation and routes the data packets to its destination, normally the PC 500.
Since the system has a dedicated, either wired or at least partially wireless, synchronisation line, the synchronisation process is not affected by time delays in data packet transfer between the central unit 100 and wired and wireless peripheral unit 200 and 700. The allowed number of sensors and sensor combinations is not limited by available dedicated inputs of the central unit 100. In this regard, a new wired peripheral unit 200 can also be a wired routing unit in turns wired connected to a set of new wired peripheral units 200, or it can be or include a new radiofrequency host in turns wireless connected to a set of new wireless peripheral units 700; similarly, a new wireless peripheral unit 700 can be a wireless routing unit in turns wired connected to a set of new wired peripheral units 200, or it can be or include a new radiofrequency host in turns wireless connected to a set of new wireless peripheral units 700. In other words, the system according to the invention can be freely expanded depending on the specific need of the users, even with new sensors or devices presently unknown (in this case, it is not necessary to change or modify the central unit 100, but it would be sufficient to adapt and dedicate a new wired or wireless peripheral unit to match the output of the new sensor or device, with the new wired or wireless peripheral unit still using the system communication protocol).
Each wired or wireless peripheral unit transmits real calibrated data, because it is specifically adapted to the respective sensor.
The short transfer lines of analogue data before data are converted to digital format reduces the risk of data contamination caused by electromagnetic disturbances. The transfer lines of analogue data can be from about 1 millimetre or even less (when the sensor is built in the wired or wireless peripheral unit) up to practical length optimal for a specific type of signal, optionally not larger than 20 cm, more optionally not larger than 10 cm.
The preferred embodiments have been above described and some modifications of this invention have been suggested, but it should be understood that those skilled in the art can make variations and changes, without so departing from the related scope of protection, as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. System for monitoring physical performance of users comprising a central unit (100) connected to a plurality of peripheral units (200; 700), each one of which is provided with a respective sensor (300) configured to acquire at least one physical and/or physiological parameter, the system being characterised in that each peripheral unit (200; 700) comprises a microprocessor (210), including a time stamp counter configured to generate time stamps, that is connected to digital data acquisition circuitry configured to be connected to the respective sensor (300) for outputting digital data related to at least one acquisition of the respective sensor (300), each peripheral unit (200; 700) being configured to send said digital data, along with a time stamp generated by its time stamp counter at the same time as said at least one acquisition by the sensor, to the central unit (100), the central unit (100) including a synchronisation generator (120) configured to synchronise each peripheral unit (200; 700) by sending to the latter an initial synchronisation signal and one or more subsequent synchronisation signals on a respective synchronisation line (430), whereby the connection (400) between each peripheral unit (200; 700) and the central unit (100) include a respective synchronisation line (430), each subsequent synchronisation signal being sent to each peripheral unit (200; 700) when a drifting of its time stamp counter from the preceding either initial or subsequent synchronisation signal has reached a percentage of a maximum synchronisation deviation ΔΤ.
2. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the synchronisation generator (120) is configured to send to each peripheral unit (200; 700) a subsequent synchronisation signal when a drifting of its time stamp counter from the preceding either initial or subsequent synchronisation signal has reached a percentage not larger than 75%, optionally not larger than 50%, of the maximum synchronisation deviation ΔΤ.
3. System according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the maximum synchronisation deviation ΔΤ is not larger than 2 milliseconds, optionally not larger than 1 millisecond.
4. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the sensor (300) is an external sensor connected to the respective peripheral unit (200; 700) or a built in sensor within the respective peripheral unit (200; 700).
5. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one of said peripheral units is a wired peripheral unit (200) connected to the central unit (100) via a wired connection (400), whereby said respective synchronisation line is a wired synchronisation line (430), the wired connection including one or more, optionally two, wires for a digital data communication line (420).
6. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one of said peripheral units is a wireless peripheral unit (700) wirelessly connected with a radiofrequency host (110), that is connected to the central unit (100) or that is a built in radiofrequency host (110) within the central unit (100), the radiofrequency host (110) including a time stamp counter configured to generate time stamps, the synchronisation generator (120) being configured to synchronise the radiofrequency host (110) as a peripheral unit (200; 700).
7. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least one of said peripheral units (200; 700) is a wired or wireless routing unit that is wired connected to a set of first additional wired peripheral units (200) or that is or includes a radiofrequency host (110) wireless connected to a set of second additional wireless peripheral units (700).
8. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the central unit (100) is configured to automatically detects that a peripheral unit (200; 700) is connected and to receive from the detected peripheral unit (200; 700) information on a type of the respective sensor (300), on an identification address of the detected peripheral unit (200; 700), and optionally on a range of data values acquired by the respective sensor (300).
9. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the initial synchronisation signal sent to at least one of said peripheral units (200; 700) is a first pulse control signal, optionally comprising two consecutive pulses, wherein a pulse is optionally an interrupt signal for the microprocessor (210) of said at least one peripheral unit (200; 700), whereby the time stamp counter of the latter is set to zero.
10. System according to claim 9, characterised in that each subsequent synchronisation signal is a second pulse control signal, optionally comprising a single pulse, whereby the time stamp counter of said at least one peripheral unit (200; 700) is set to a nominal time value depending on a number of time stamps generated up to the second pulse control signal.
11. System according to claim 9, when depending on claim 6, characterised in that said at least one wireless peripheral unit (700) is configured to transmit, after that the initial synchronisation signal has been sent, a time stamp request to the radiofrequency host (110) when a drifting of the time stamp counter of said at least one wireless peripheral unit (700) from the preceding either initial or subsequent synchronisation signal or from the preceding time stamp request has reached said percentage of the maximum synchronisation deviation ΔΤ, each time stamp request containing a current time stamp of said at least one wireless peripheral unit (700), the radiofrequency host (110) being configured to transmit, when it receives a time stamp request, back to said at least one wireless peripheral unit (700) a difference between a current time stamp of the radiofrequency host (110) and the received time stamp of said at least one wireless peripheral unit (700), said at least one wireless peripheral unit (700) being configured to adjust its time stamp counter on the basis of the time stamp difference received from the radiofrequency host (110).
12. System according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each peripheral unit (200; 700) is configured to send said digital data, along with a time stamp generated by its time stamp counter at the same time as said at least one acquisition by the sensor, to the central unit (100) according to a communication protocol, whereby the data are optionally sent as digital data packets including a header, a body and a tail, wherein the header more optionally contains at least one synchronisation byte, an identification address of the peripheral unit (200; 700) and a length of packet, the tail more optionally contains a sequence counter, a check sum and an end of transmission byte, and the body contains one or more data blocks related to at least one physical and/or physiological parameter acquired by the respective sensor (300) of the peripheral unit (200; 700).
13. Central unit (100) for use in a system for monitoring physical performance of users according to any one of claims 1 to 12, the central unit (100) being configured to be connected to a plurality of peripheral units (200; 700), including a time stamp counter configured to generate time stamps, and to receive from each peripheral unit (200; 700) digital data, along with a time stamp generated by its time stamp counter, the central unit (100) being characterised in that it includes a synchronisation generator (120) configured to send to each peripheral unit (200; 700) an initial synchronisation signal and one or more subsequent synchronisation signals on a respective synchronisation line (430), the central unit (100) being configured to send each subsequent synchronisation signal when it ascertains that a drifting of the time stamp counter of a connected peripheral unit (200; 700) from the preceding either initial or subsequent synchronisation signal has reached a percentage of a maximum synchronisation deviation ΔΤ.
14. Peripheral unit (200; 700) for use in a system for monitoring physical performance of users according to any one of claims 1 to 12, the peripheral unit (200; 700) being provided with a sensor (300) configured to acquire at least one physical and/or physiological parameter, the peripheral unit (200; 700) being configured to be connected to a central unit (100) via a connection (400), the peripheral unit (200; 700) being characterised in that it comprises a microprocessor (210), including a time stamp counter configured to generate time stamps, that is connected to digital data acquisition circuitry configured to be connected to the sensor (300) for outputting digital data related to at least one acquisition of the respective sensor (300), the peripheral unit (200; 700) being configured to send said digital data, along with a time stamp generated by its time stamp counter at the same time as said at least one acquisition by the sensor, to a connected central unit (100) and to receive from the latter an initial synchronisation signal and one or more subsequent synchronisation signals on a synchronisation line (430) of said connection (400).
15. Process for synchronising a plurality of peripheral units (200; 700), each comprising a microprocessor (210) including a time stamp counter configured to generate time stamps, the plurality of peripheral units (200; 700) being connected to a central unit (100), including a synchronisation generator (120), in a system for monitoring physical performance of users according to any one of claims 1 to 12, the process being characterised in that it comprises:
sending from the synchronisation generator (120) to each peripheral unit (200; 700) an initial synchronisation signal and one or more subsequent synchronisation signals, each subsequent synchronisation signal being sent to each peripheral unit (200; 700) when a drifting of its time stamp counter from the preceding either initial or subsequent synchronisation signal has reached a percentage of a maximum synchronisation deviation ΔΤ.
PCT/IB2014/060975 2013-04-26 2014-04-24 System for monitoring physical performance of users WO2014174477A1 (en)

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