Apparatus and method for activity monitoring

• US 10,038,945 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2015
• Issued: 07/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InterDigital Patent Holdings, Inc. (InterDigital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Gilberton, Philippe, Bichot, Guillaume, Louzir, Ali
• Primary Examiner(s): Yang, James
• Application Number:
  US14/952,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20160150299A1
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0423 detecting deviation from an expected pattern of behaviour or schedule
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4625 Single bridge functionality, e.g. connection of two networks over a single bridge
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

An electronic apparatus includes a communication unit that communicates with a tag located within a target region when the communication unit is active within the target region, and a processor configured to monitor an activity within the target region based on status information from the tag received by the communication unit, wherein the activity comprises at least one of opening and closing of a member arranged within the target region.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus comprising:

a first communication unit configured to communicate with a tag located on a member within a target region when the first communication unit is active within the target region;

a processor configured to monitor a status of the member within the target region based on an intensity of a status signal received by the first communication unit from the tag located on the member, said processor including an internal timer, said timer is initiated to measure a duration time indicating a period upon determining the intensity of the status signal is above a level, wherein the status identifies a first open position of the member during which the status signal is above the level and a second closed position of the member during which the status signal is below the level; and

a memory configured to store the status signal received from the tag with a time stamp and the duration time during which the member is in the first open position, the status signal with the time stamp and duration time forming a log file enabling monitoring of the status for the member and detection of activities, wherein said processor is further configured to detect the status of the member being different from a pattern stored in the log file and, upon detecting the status of the member is different from the stored pattern, provide a notification.

2. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the electronic apparatus is located within the target region, so as to activate the first communication unit when the electronic apparatus is located within the target region.

3. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a second communication unit configured to receive location information so that the processor determines that the electronic apparatus is located within the target region.

4. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first communication unit communicates with the tag by a signal belonging to a group comprising at least:

a Radio Frequency signal, an Ultra-High Frequency signal, an Industry Science Medical signal, a Surface Acoustic Wave signal, a Bluetooth signal, an iBeacon signal, an ultrasonic signal, and an audio signal.

5. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine the duration time, the duration time measuring a period for which the member is open, based on the intensity of the status signal.

6. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to trigger an alarm when the determined duration time exceeds a threshold time.

7. The electronic apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the memory is further configured to store at least the monitored activity.

8. An activity monitoring method to be implemented in an electronic apparatus, comprising:

communicating with a tag located on a member within a target region when a first communication unit of the electronic apparatus is active within the target region;

monitoring, by the first communication unit, a status of the member within the target region based on an intensity of a status signal received from the tag located on the member, the status identifying a first open position of the member during which the status signal is above a level and a second closed position of the member during which the status signal is below the level;

initiating a timer upon determining the intensity of the status signal is above a level;

determining a duration time indicating a period during which the intensity of the status signal is above the level indicating the member is in the first open position;

storing the status signal received from the tag with a time stamp and the duration time during which the member is in the first open position, the status signal with the time stamp and duration time forming a log file enabling monitoring of a status for the member;

detecting the status of the member being different from a pattern stored in the log file; and

upon detecting the status of the member is different from the stored pattern, provide a notification.

9. The activity monitoring method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

determining whether the electronic apparatus is located inside the target region, activating the first communication unit of the electronic apparatus when the electronic apparatus is located within the target region.

10. The activity monitoring method as claimed in claim 9, comprising receiving, by a second communication unit of the electronic apparatus, location information to determine that the electronic apparatus is located within the target region.

11. The activity monitoring method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first communication unit communicates with the tag by a signal belonging to a group comprising at least:

a Radio Frequency signal, an Ultra-High Frequency signal, an Industry Science Medical signal, a Surface Acoustic Wave signal, a Bluetooth signal, an iBeacon signal, an ultrasonic signal, an audio signal.

12. The activity monitoring method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

determining a duration time for which the member is open, based on the intensity of the status signal.

13. The activity monitoring method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

triggering an alarm when the duration time detected by the detecting exceeds a threshold time.

14. The activity monitoring method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising:

storing, in a storage unit of the electronic apparatus, at least the monitored activity and the determined duration time.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a computer program product at least one of downloadable from a communication network and recorded on a medium at least one of readable by a computer and executable by a processor, said computer program product including program code instructions for implementing an activity monitoring method comprising:

communicating with a tag located on a member within a target region when a first communication unit of an electronic apparatus is active within the target region;

monitoring, by the first communication unit, a status of the member within the target region based on an intensity of a status signal received from the tag located on the member, the status identifying a first open position of the member during which the status signal is above a level and a second closed position of the member during which the status signal is below the level;

initiating a timer upon determining the intensity of the status signal is above a level;

determining a duration time indicating a period during which the intensity of the status signal is above the level indicating the member is in the first open position;

storing the status signal received from the tag with a time stamp and the duration time during which the member is in the first open position, the status signal with the time stamp and duration time forming a log file enabling monitoring of a status for the member;

detecting the status of the member being different from a pattern stored in the log file; and

upon detecting the status of the member is different from the stored pattern, provide a notification.