阅读说明：本技术 用于监测对象和探测干扰源的便携式设备 (Portable device for monitoring objects and detecting sources of interference ) 是由 H·盖维茨 A·R·金茨科费尔 于 2018-06-21 设计创作，主要内容包括：提供了一种便携式设备(100)，用于监测对象并探测所述便携式设备(100)的干扰源。所述便携式设备(100)包括探测器(102)，所述探测器被配置为探测便携式设备(100)的环境中的干扰的存在。所述便携式设备(100)还包括处理器(104)，所述处理器被配置为确定所述便携式设备(100)的所述环境中的所述干扰的强度并控制用户接口(106)以取决于所确定的干扰强度频率的频率提供输出。(A portable device (100) is provided for monitoring an object and detecting a source of interference of the portable device (100). The portable device (100) comprises a detector (102) configured to detect the presence of a disturbance in the environment of the portable device (100). The portable device (100) further comprises a processor (104) configured to determine a strength of the interference in the environment of the portable device (100) and to control a user interface (106) to provide an output at a frequency dependent on the determined interference strength frequency.)

1. A portable device (100) for monitoring an object and detecting a source of interference of the portable device (100), the portable device (100) comprising:

a detector (102) configured to detect the presence of interference in the environment of the portable device (100); and

a processor (104) configured to:

determining a strength of the interference in the environment of the portable device (100); and is

The user interface (106) is controlled to provide an output at a frequency dependent on the determined interference strength.

2. The portable device (100) of claim 1, wherein the output is indicative of any one or more of: proximity of the portable device (100) to an interference source for the portable device (100) and interference power from the interference source of the portable device (100).

3. The portable device (100) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the portable device (100) is a transducer.

4. The portable device (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the processor (104) is configured to control any one or more of:

a lamp (200) of the user interface (106) for providing a visual output at a frequency dependent on the determined interference strength, wherein the frequency is a rate at which the visual output is provided;

a speaker of the user interface (106) to provide an audio output at a frequency dependent on the determined interference strength, wherein the frequency is any one or more of: providing a rate of audio output and a frequency corresponding to a pitch of the audio output; and

a haptic component of the user interface (106) to provide a haptic output at a frequency dependent on the determined interference strength, wherein the frequency is a rate at which the haptic output is provided.

5. Portable device (100) according to any of the preceding claims,

the frequency is increased when it is determined that the interference strength is increased, and the frequency is decreased when it is determined that the interference strength is decreased; or

The frequency is decreased when it is determined that the interference strength is increased, and the frequency is increased when it is determined that the interference strength is decreased.

6. The portable device (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the portable device (100) is operable to receive a user input to switch the portable device (100) to a disturbance detection mode to trigger the detector (102) to start detecting the presence of disturbance in the environment of the portable device (100).

7. The portable device (100) of claim 6, wherein the processor (102) is configured to prevent the portable device (100) from monitoring the object when the portable device (100) is in the interference detection mode.

8. The portable device (100) of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the portable device (100) is configured to continue to operate regardless of the determined interference strength.

9. The portable device (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the detector (102) is configured to detect the presence of interference on a wireless data link between the portable device (100) and at least one other device.

10. The portable device (100) of any of the preceding claims, wherein the interference comprises electromagnetic interference.

11. The portable device (100) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the portable device (100) is a fetal or maternal monitoring device.

12. A system, comprising:

the portable device (100) of any one of the preceding claims, and

a base station unit operable to communicate with the portable device (100).

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the base unit comprises a portable device (100) and the portable device (100) is removable from the base unit.

14. A method (400) of operating a portable device (100) for monitoring an object to detect a source of interference to the portable device (100), the method (400) comprising:

detecting (402) the presence of interference in the environment of the portable device (100);

determining (404) a strength of the interference in the environment of the portable device (100); and

controlling (406) the user interface (106) to provide an output at a frequency dependent on the determined interference strength.

15. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer readable code embodied therein, the computer readable code being configured such that, on execution by a suitable computer or processor, the computer or processor is caused to perform the method of claim 14.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of devices, and in particular to portable devices for monitoring objects.

Background

Wireless data transmission systems, such as those employing Radio Frequency (RF), are becoming increasingly popular in clinical routines, such as fetal monitoring, because they have the advantage of allowing the user to move freely, as opposed to having limited freedom of movement due to the limitations of the cable when in use.

RF communication systems (e.g., monitoring devices) typically operate in the presence of interference sources, and at times, interference from such sources may reduce or completely prevent the devices from functioning properly. In some cases, sources of significant interference, such as other RF devices in the same room, are readily identified. However, it may also be impossible to directly locate other potential interferences or sources of interferences, such as defective electronics, defective fluorescent lights, motors from blowers or beds with defective air pumps.

As noted above, many monitoring devices used in clinical environments, such as obstetric care radios (OBRs), may be susceptible to interference sources. In contrast to digital data transmission protocols, such as Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and bluetooth, the proprietary protocol of OBR is a real-time protocol, in which case data may be transmitted multiple times in the event of data loss. For real-time protocols, such as the protocol used for OBR, the voice data must be transmitted with zero or minimal time delay. Therefore, it is impossible to repeatedly transmit the data packet. There are RF measurement devices currently on the market for detecting the source(s) of interference, but these measurement devices are expensive and difficult to use for untrained personnel.

Examples of RF measurement devices may include an RF spectrum analyzer and a directional antenna to determine the direction of the transmitted interference. In such a case, an untrained user may not be able to directly understand the spectrum analyzer and/or directional antenna readings, and thus not be able to effectively locate the interference source. Furthermore, sometimes a directional antenna (or equivalent component of other types of measurement devices or the like) needs to be properly set to make the measurement. Setting up a measurement device (e.g., a directional antenna), training a user to operate the measurement device, and/or having the measurement device provide meaningful results indicating the direction and/or strength of the interference source can be very time consuming.

US 8471713 discloses a monitor for determining a physiological parameter, the monitor comprising a processor configured to determine an amount of ambient electronic interference in proximity to a sensor. While in the disturbance detection mode, the processor continuously determines the amount of disturbance to allow the caregiver to change positions and monitor the disturbance as it moves. An audio indication of the interference level is provided by speaking the severity of the interference level and a visual indication of the interference level is provided by displaying a chart of the interference level. However, the way in which the interference level is provided is still too complex and may be confusing for untrained users.

Accordingly, there is a need for an improved method and apparatus for detecting an interference source.

Disclosure of Invention

As described above, the existing methods have limitations in that devices for measuring interference are expensive and it is difficult for untrained users to use them correctly. It would therefore be valuable to have an improved method and apparatus for detecting sources of interference that overcomes the existing problems.

Thus, according to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable device for monitoring an object and detecting a source of interference for the portable device. The portable device includes a detector configured to detect the presence of interference in an environment of the portable device. The portable device further comprises a processor configured to determine an interference strength in the environment of the portable device, and to control the user interface to provide an output at a frequency dependent on the determined interference strength.

In some embodiments, the output may indicate any one or more of a proximity of the portable device to an interference source of the portable device and an interference power from the interference source of the portable device.

In some embodiments, the processor may be configured to control any one or more of the lights of the user interface to provide visual output at a frequency dependent on the determined interference intensity, wherein the frequency is a rate at which visual output is provided, to control the speaker of the user interface to provide audio output at a frequency dependent on the determined interference intensity, wherein the frequency is any one or more of a rate at which audio output is provided and a frequency corresponding to a pitch of the audio output, and to control the haptic component of the user interface to provide haptic output at a frequency dependent on the determined interference intensity, wherein the frequency is a rate at which the haptic output is provided.

In some embodiments, the frequency may increase when the interference strength is determined to increase and the frequency may decrease when the interference strength is determined to decrease. In other embodiments, the frequency may decrease when the interference strength is determined to increase and the frequency may increase when the interference strength is determined to decrease.

In some embodiments, the portable device can be operable to receive a user input to switch the portable device to a disturbance detection mode to trigger the detector to begin detecting the presence of a disturbance in the environment of the portable device. In some embodiments, the processor may be configured to prevent the portable device from monitoring the object when the portable device is in the interference detection mode. In some embodiments, the portable device may be configured to continue operation regardless of the determined interference strength.

In some embodiments, the detector may be configured to detect the presence of interference on a wireless data link between the portable device and at least one other device. In some embodiments, the interference may include electromagnetic interference. In some embodiments, the portable device may be a transducer. In some embodiments, the portable device may be a fetal or maternal monitoring device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a system comprising a portable device as described above and a base unit operable to communicate with the portable device.

In some embodiments, the base unit may include the portable device, and the portable device may be removable from the base unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating a portable device to monitor an object to detect a source of interference for the portable device. The method comprises the following steps: detecting a presence of a disturbance in an environment of the portable device; determining a strength of interference in an environment of the portable device; and controlling the user interface to provide an output at a frequency dependent on the determined interference strength.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer readable code embodied therein, the computer readable code being configured such that, on execution by a suitable computer or processor, the computer or processor is caused to perform a method as described above.

According to the above aspects and embodiments, the limitations of the prior art are addressed. In particular, according to the above described aspects and embodiments, there is provided a portable device for monitoring an object to detect a source of interference of the portable device and also presenting an output by controlling a user interface at a frequency dependent on the intensity of the interference in the environment of the portable device. In this way, the portable device itself can be used to check whether there is interference in the environment of the portable device, thereby eliminating the need for additional measurement equipment in a simple yet effective manner, and information about the strength of the interference can also be provided by using the portable device. Users of the portable devices are provided with information that can allow them to easily and quickly identify the source of the interference in order to take appropriate action to prevent the interference.

Accordingly, an improved method and apparatus for detecting a source of interference is provided that overcomes existing problems.

Drawings

For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example only, to the accompanying drawings, in which,

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a portable device for monitoring an object and detecting a source of interference of the portable device according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 illustrates a portable device for monitoring an object and detecting an interference source of the portable device, according to an example embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a portable device for detecting a source of interference according to one embodiment; and is

Fig. 4 illustrates a method of operating a portable device to monitor an object to detect an interference source of the portable device, according to an embodiment.

Detailed Description

As described above, an improved method and apparatus for detecting an interferer is provided that overcomes the existing problems.

Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of an apparatus 100 according to an embodiment, which may be used to monitor an object and detect an interference source of the apparatus 100. The device 100 for monitoring an object and detecting a source of interference is a portable device, such as a portable electronic device.

For example, in some embodiments, the portable device 100 may be a transducer. The portable device 100 may be, for example, a monitoring device, such as a medical or health monitoring device, or any other type of device. In embodiments where the portable device 100 is a monitoring device, the portable device 100 may for example be a fetal or maternal monitoring device, such as a cordless fetal or maternal monitoring device, an Ultrasound (US) transducer for monitoring the fetal heart rate using ultrasound doppler, a TocoMP transducer for monitoring the uterine contractions and/or the maternal heart rate, or an ECG/IUP transducer for monitoring the fetal and/or maternal Electrocardiogram (ECG) and the intrauterine pressure (IUP). The portable device 100 may be configured for use with a base unit.

The source of interference may be another device in the environment of the portable device 100. For example, the interference source may be a monitoring device, a monitoring instrument, or any other device that may interfere with the portable device 100 in the environment of the portable device 100. Since the portable device 100 is configured to detect the source of interference and is suitable for monitoring the user, the need for additional measurement devices is eliminated.

Referring to fig. 1, a portable device 100 for detecting a source of interference includes a detector 102. The detector 102 is configured to detect the presence of interference in the environment of the portable device 100. The interference may for example comprise electromagnetic interference (e.g. radio frequency interference), or any other type of interference, or any combination of interference types. In some embodiments, the detector 102 of the portable device 100 may be configured to detect the presence of interference by monitoring a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) level. For example, the detector 102 may be a Radio Frequency (RF) chip. In some embodiments, the detector 102 may be configured to detect the presence of interference on a wireless data link (or channel) between the portable device 100 and at least one other device. The wireless data link may be, for example, a wireless communication link (or channel) that allows the portable device 100 and at least one other device to communicate with each other. The at least one other device may be, for example, a base station unit (e.g., a base station), a server, or any other type of device with which the portable device 100 is operable to communicate.

As shown in fig. 1, the portable device 100 also includes a processor 104, which processor 104 controls the operation of the device 100 and may implement the methods described herein. The processor 104 may include one or more processors, processing units, multi-core processors, or modules configured or programmed to control the portable device 100 in the manner described herein. In particular implementations, processor 104 may include a plurality of software and/or hardware modules each configured to perform, or for performing, a single or multiple steps of a method in accordance with embodiments described herein.

In particular, the processor 104 is configured to determine the strength of the interference in the environment of the portable device 100. More specifically, the processor 104 is configured to determine the strength of the interference detected by the detector 102. As previously described, in some embodiments, the detector 102 of the portable device 100 may be configured to detect the presence of interference by monitoring a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) level. In these embodiments, the RSSI level may be provided from the detector 102 to the processor 102 as digital values, and the processor 102 may be configured to determine the strength of the interference from these digital values.

The processor 104 is further configured to control the user interface 106 to provide (or output or present) an output at a frequency dependent on the determined interference strength. Outputting an output indicating any one or more of a proximity of the portable device 100 to an interference source for the portable device 100 and an interference power from the interference source for the portable device 100. In this way, information about the strength of the disturbance can be provided in a simple and efficient manner by the portable device 100, which portable device 100 is the same device that is suitable for monitoring the object. As shown in fig. 1, in some embodiments, the portable device 100 itself may include at least one user interface 106 configured to provide output. Alternatively, or in addition, the at least one user interface 106 configured to provide the output may be external to the portable device 100 (i.e., separate from the portable device 100 or remote from the portable device 100). For example, the at least one user interface 106 configured to provide the output may be part of another device.

The user interface 106 may be any user interface suitable for providing (or outputting or presenting) an output at a frequency depending on the determined interference strength. For example, the user interface 106 may include one or more lights operable to provide (or output or present) a visual output at a frequency dependent on the determined interference intensity. Examples of lamps include, but are not limited to, Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) or any other light source. The processor 104 may be configured to control one or more lights of the user interface 106 to provide a visual output at a frequency dependent on the determined interference intensity. In these embodiments, the frequency may be a rate at which the visual output is provided.

In some embodiments, one or more lights of the user interface 106 may be a multi-colored light source. In these embodiments, in addition to the one or more lights being operable to provide a visual output at a frequency dependent on the determined disturbance intensity, the one or more lights may also be operable to provide a visual output at a color dependent on the determined disturbance intensity. For example, the processor 104 of the portable device 100 may be configured to: when it is determined by the detector 102 of the portable device 100 that there are no sources of interference in the environment of the portable device 100, one or more lights of the user interface 106 are controlled to emit light of a first predetermined color (e.g., green). In this way, the user of the portable device 100 is provided with an indication that no interference sources are present in the environment. The processor 104 of the portable device 100 may also be configured to control one or more lights of the user interface 106 to emit light of a second predetermined color (e.g., red) different from the first predetermined color when it is determined by the detector 102 of the portable device 100 that at least one interference source is present in the environment of the portable device 100.

Thus, in these embodiments, the color of the one or more lights of the user interface 106 provides an indication of whether a source of interference is present, and the frequency of the visual output from the one or more lights provides an indication of any one or more of: the proximity of the portable device 100 to the interference source of the portable device 100 and the interference power from the interference source of the portable device 100.

Alternatively or in addition to the user interface 106 comprising one or more of the lights, the user interface 106 may comprise: one or more speakers operable to provide (or output or present) audio output at a frequency dependent on the determined interference strength; one or more tactile or haptic components (e.g., a vibration function) operable to provide (or output or present) a tactile or haptic output at a frequency dependent on the determined interference intensity; or any other user interface component, or any combination of user interface components, adapted to provide (or output or present) an output at a frequency dependent on the determined interference strength.

In embodiments where the user interface 106 includes one or more speakers, the processor 104 may be configured to control the one or more speakers of the user interface 106 to provide audio output at a frequency that depends on the determined interference strength. In these embodiments, the frequency may be any one or more of a rate at which the audio output is provided and a frequency corresponding to a pitch of the audio output. In embodiments where the user interface 106 includes one or more haptic (or tactile) members, the processor 104 may be configured to control the one or more haptic (or tactile) members of the user interface 106 to provide a haptic output at a frequency dependent on the determined intensity of the disturbance. In these embodiments, the frequency may be the rate at which the haptic output is provided.

In any of the embodiments described herein, the frequency of the output provided by the user interface 106 may be increased when the interference strength is determined to be increasing, and may be decreased when the interference strength is determined to be decreasing. Alternatively, the frequency of the output may be decreased when the interference strength is determined to increase, and the frequency of the output may be increased when the interference strength is determined to decrease. In some embodiments, the processor 104 of the portable device 100 may be configured to control the user interface 106 to disable the output when any one or more of: the portable device 100 is in proximity to a source of an interface to the portable device 100 or the interference power from an interference source to the portable device 100 is below a predetermined threshold.

In addition to the user interface 106 being configured to provide the above-described output, in some embodiments, the user interface 106 may also be configured to receive user input. For example, in some embodiments, the user interface 106 may allow a user of the portable device 100 to manually enter instructions, data, or information. More specifically, the user interface 106 may allow a user of the portable device 100 to interact with the portable device 100 and/or control the portable device 100. The processor 104 may be configured to collect user input from the user interface 106 to control the portable device 100 accordingly. Thus, the user interface 106 may include one or more switches, one or more buttons, a keypad, a keyboard, a touch screen or application (e.g., a tablet or smartphone), a display screen, a Graphical User Interface (GUI) or other visual component, one or more speakers, one or more microphones or any other audio component, one or more lights, a component for providing haptic feedback (e.g., a vibration function), or any other user interface, or a combination of user interfaces.

Although not shown in fig. 1, in some embodiments, the portable device 100 may also include a communication interface (or circuitry) for enabling the portable device 100 to communicate with any interface and device internal or external to the portable device 100. The communication interface may communicate with any interface and device wirelessly or via a wired connection. For example, in embodiments where one or more user interfaces 106 are external to the portable device 100, the communication interface may communicate with the one or more external user interfaces 106 wirelessly or via a wired connection.

It should be understood that fig. 1 shows only the components necessary to illustrate this aspect of the invention, and in a practical implementation, the portable device 100 may include additional components to those shown. For example, the portable device 100 may include a battery or other power source for powering the portable device 100 or means for connecting the portable device 100 to mains power.

Fig. 2 illustrates an example of a portable device 100 for detecting an interference source of the portable device 100 according to an example embodiment. As shown in the example of fig. 2, in some embodiments, the user interface 106 of the portable device 100 includes one or more lights 200. In these embodiments, one or more lamps 200 may be configured to provide (or output or present) a visual output at a frequency that depends on the determined interference intensity.

Although not shown in fig. 2, alternatively or in addition to one or more lights, the user interface 106 may include: one or more speakers configured to provide (or output or present) audio output at a frequency dependent on the determined interference strength; a haptic or tactile member (e.g., a vibration function) configured to provide (or output or present) a haptic or tactile output at a frequency dependent on the determined intensity of the disturbance; and/or any other user interface component or any combination of user interface components adapted to provide (or output or present) an output at a frequency dependent on the determined interference strength.

Although also not shown in fig. 2, in some embodiments, the user interface 106 of the portable device 100 may also include user interface components (e.g., buttons) for receiving user inputs for turning the power of the portable device 100 on or off, for switching the portable device 100 to a jamming detection mode (or service mode), or for triggering other types of operations.

The portable device 100 includes a detector 102 and a processor 104 (not shown in fig. 2), as previously described with reference to fig. 1. In some embodiments, when a user interface component (e.g., a button) operable by a user to receive user input is activated, the detector 102 of the portable device 100 may be configured to trigger the detector 102 to detect the presence or absence of interference in the environment of the portable device 100. Thus, according to some embodiments, the portable device 100 may switch to an interference detection mode (or service mode). In some embodiments, the interference detection mode of the portable device 100 may be a dedicated interference detection mode. For example, in some embodiments, the portable device 100 may be prevented from monitoring an object when the portable device 100 is in the interference detection mode. However, in other embodiments, the portable device 100 may be configured to continue monitoring the object while the portable device 100 is in the interference detection mode.

In some embodiments in which the portable device 100 includes a communication interface (or circuitry) for enabling the portable device 100 to communicate with any interface or device external or internal to the portable device 100, when the user interface component (e.g., button) is user-operable to receive user input caused by a user, the processor 104 of the portable device 100 may be configured to control the communication interface (or circuitry) to establish communication with the interface(s) or device(s) as described above.

In some embodiments, the portable device 100 may be part of a system. The system may include a base unit (e.g., a base station) operable to communicate with the portable device 100. In some embodiments, the system may further include an apparatus, which may be a medical or health monitoring device (e.g., a fetal or maternal monitoring apparatus). Thus, according to some embodiments, the system may be a monitoring system, such as a medical or health monitoring system (e.g. a fetal or maternal monitoring system). In embodiments where the portable device 100 is part of a system that includes a base unit, the portable device 100 may be removable from the base unit. For example, the portable device 100 may have a shape complementary to the base unit, such that it may be placed in or on the base unit when the portable device 100 is not in use, and removed from the base unit when the portable device 100 is to be used.

When the portable device 100 is used to detect a source of interference, the user of the portable device 100 may move the portable device 100 to a different area to detect the source of interference in the environment of the portable device 100. For example, a user may hold the portable device 100 while walking around a room in which at least one interfering device is located. In any of the embodiments described herein, the user of the portable device 100 may be, for example, a medical professional (e.g., a clinical care provider or any other medical professional), an engineer (e.g., a biomedical engineer, a field service engineer or any other engineer) or any other user of the portable device 100.

Since the user interface 106 of the portable device 100 (which, in the example embodiment of fig. 2, includes at least one or more lights 200) is configured to provide an output under the control of the processor 104 of the portable device 100. At frequencies that depend on the determined interference strength, the user can determine any one or more of the following by observing the frequency of the output of the portable device 100: the proximity of the portable device 100 to an interference source for the portable device 100, and the interference power from the interference source for the portable device 100 at different areas of the environment of the portable device 100.

In the example embodiment of fig. 2, where the user interface 106 includes one or more lights 200 configured to provide (or output or present) a visual output at a frequency that depends on the determined interference intensity, the user may observe (for e.g., continuous observation) whether the frequency of the visual output increases or decreases as they move the portable device 100 to different areas of the environment of the portable device 100. In some embodiments, where the frequency of the output increases when it is determined that the interference strength increases, then the user may be able to determine from the increase in the frequency of the visual output that the portable device 100 is closer to the source of the interference or that the power of the interference from the source has increased. On the other hand, in the case where the frequency of the output is decreased when it is determined that the intensity of interference is decreased, the user can determine that the portable device 100 is farther from the interference source or that the power of the interference from the source has decreased according to the decrease in the frequency of the visual output. In this way, the user of the portable device 100 may be able to identify the interference source to take action to prevent interference (such as by turning off or moving the interference source).

As previously described, although not shown in fig. 2, it will be understood that the user interface 106 may alternatively or additionally include any one or more of a speaker and a haptic (or tactile) component, according to some embodiments. In these embodiments, the processor 104 of the portable device 100 may be configured to control one or more speakers to provide audio output and one or more haptic (or tactile) components to provide tactile (or tactile) output, for example, in the same manner as described above for the one or more lights.

It will be appreciated that fig. 2 only shows visible external components of an example embodiment of the portable device 100 from a perspective view, and that in other practical implementations, the portable device 100 may have different sizes, shapes, and/or other components. For example, the portable device 100 may include a mechanism for securing or connecting the portable device 100 to a base unit.

Fig. 3 shows a portable device 100 for detecting an interference source 302 according to an embodiment.

As shown in fig. 3, in this example embodiment of the portable device 100 for detecting an interference source, the interference source is another device (i.e., an interfering device) 302. As shown in fig. 3, interfering device 302 may be removed from base unit 300. In some embodiments, the jamming device 302 may be a monitoring device (e.g., a transducer), such as a fetal or maternal monitoring device, or any other device. The jamming device 302 may be the same type of device as the portable device 100 or may be a different type of device than the portable device 100.

In some example embodiments, base unit 300 may include a recess for receiving interfering device 302. The recess may have a size and/or shape that is complementary to the size and/or shape of the jamming device 302. According to some embodiments, a mechanism may be provided at the recess for securing the interference 302 to the base unit 300 when the interference 302 is not used. In other embodiments, base unit 300 may include more than one device that is the same as or similar to interfering device 302 and may also interfere with portable device 100. In these embodiments, the base station unit 300 may include a plurality of recesses, each recess being of a suitable size and/or shape to accommodate the more than one device. Although a configuration example of the interfering device 302 has been provided, it should be understood that the interfering device 302 may have any other configuration and may be any device and any form of device that may interfere with the portable device 100.

In embodiments where the portable device 100 is removable from the base unit, the portable device 100 and the base unit may be provided in the form described herein with reference to the interfering device 302 and the base unit 300, respectively.

Although not shown in fig. 3, the jamming device 302 may further include a user interface for receiving user input. For example, in some embodiments, a user interface of the jamming device 302 may allow a user to manually instruct, data or information. More specifically, a user interface of the interfering device 302 may allow a user to interact with the interfering device 302 and/or control the interfering device 302. The user interface of the jamming device 302 may include one or more switches, one or more buttons, a keypad, a keyboard, a touch screen or application (e.g., on a tablet or smartphone), a display screen, a Graphical User Interface (GUI) or other visual component, or any other user interface component, or any combination of user interface components.

Although also not shown in fig. 3, interfering device 302 may include a communication interface (or circuitry) for allowing interfering device 302 to communicate with any interface and device internal or external to interfering device 302. The communication interface of the jamming device 302 may communicate with any interface and device wirelessly or via a wired connection.

Although examples of the type and form of interference sources have been provided for the purpose of illustrating the portable device 100 in use with reference to fig. 3, it should be understood that the portable device 100 may detect interference from any other interference source, or any combination of interference sources.

In some embodiments, the portable device 100 may be configured to transmit data in real-time (e.g., to one or more other devices). In some embodiments, the portable device 100 may continue (normal) operation regardless of the determined interference strength. In some embodiments, the portable device 100 may be operated simultaneously by a user to monitor objects and identify sources of interference. As previously described, in any of the embodiments described herein, the user of the portable device 100 may be, for example, a medical professional (e.g., a clinical care provider or any other medical professional), an engineer (e.g., a biomedical engineer, a field service engineer or any other engineer), or any other user of the portable device 100.

It will be appreciated that fig. 3 illustrates only an example embodiment of the portable device 100 in use, and that in other practical implementations, the illustrated system may include additional components and/or devices (e.g., one or more additional portable devices 100).

Fig. 4 illustrates a method 400 of operating the portable device 100 described herein to detect a source of interference of the portable device 100, according to one embodiment. The illustrated method 400 may generally be performed by or under the control of the processor 104 of the portable device 100.

Referring to fig. 4, at block 402, the presence of interference is detected in the environment of the portable device 100. More specifically, the detector 102 detects the presence of the disturbance. For example, the processor 104 may control the detector 102 to detect the presence of the disturbance. In some embodiments, the portable device 100 may be used to receive a user input to switch the portable device 100 to a disturbance detection mode (or service mode) to trigger the detector 102 to begin detecting the presence of a disturbance in the environment of the portable device 100. The processor 104 may receive user input and then control the detector 102 to detect the presence of a disturbance in the environment of the portable device 100.

In some embodiments, the portable device 100 may be configured to switch to an interference detection mode when the portable device 100 is located in or on a base station unit of the system. In these embodiments, the processor 104 of the portable device 100 may receive a user input from a user interface (e.g., a touch screen) of a base unit used by the portable device with which the portable device 100 is operable to communicate with or from a user interface (e.g., a touch screen) of an associated device to switch the portable device 100 to the interference detection mode. As mentioned before, the associated device may for example be a monitoring device, such as a medical or health monitoring device (e.g. a fetal or maternal monitoring device).

Returning to FIG. 4, at block 404, the strength of the interference is determined in the environment of the portable device 100. More specifically, the processor 104 determines the interference strength in the environment of the portable device 100. At block 406 of fig. 4, the user interface 106 is controlled to provide an output (e.g., a visual output, an audio output, and/or a tactile output) at a frequency that depends on the determined interference intensity in a manner described herein. More specifically, the processor 104 controls the user interface 106 to provide an output. As previously described, the output indicates any one or more of a proximity of the portable device to an interference source for the portable device 100 and an interference power of the interference source from the portable device 100.

Accordingly, an improved method and apparatus for detecting a source of interference is provided.

There is also provided a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer readable code embodied therein, the computer readable code being configured such that, on execution by a suitable computer or processor, the computer or processor is caused to perform one or more of the methods described herein.

Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps, and the word "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single processor or other unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims. Although specific measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims, this does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. A computer program may be stored/distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid-state medium supplied together with or as part of other hardware, but may also be distributed in other forms, such as via the internet or other wired or wireless telecommunication systems. Any reference signs in the claims shall not be construed as limiting the scope.