Method and system for monitoring

• US 10,311,695 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2014
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MariCare Oy
• Original Assignee: MariCare Oy
• Inventors: Sundholm, Goran
• Primary Examiner(s): Lim, Steven
• Assistant Examiner(s): Littlejohn, Jr., Mancil
• Application Number:
  US15/108,962
• Publication Number:
  US 20160328941A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,624 Days
• Field of Search: 340521
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1618 using ultrasonic detection means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2491 Intrusion detection systems, i.e. where the body of an intruder causes the interference with the electromagnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0438 Sensor means for detecting
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0469 Presence detectors to detect unsafe condition, e.g. infrared sensor, microphone G08B21/0476 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range

Abstract

System and method for observing the presence, location, movement and/or attitude of one or more objects to be monitored with a monitoring system, wherein sensors of the system are disposed in a part, such as on a floor, wall or ceiling, of the area to be monitored, and the system measures with sensors the area to be monitored, and determines the presence, location, movement and/or attitude of the object on the basis of the measurement results of the sensors. The system has a first mode and a second mode, and the system checks in the first mode the attitude and/or state of health of the object in the area to be monitored and functions in the second mode as an intruder alarm monitoring the area to be monitored.

Claims

1. A method for observing the presence, location and/or movement of one or more objects to be monitored with a monitoring system, wherein at least one sensor of the system is disposed on at least one of a floor, wall and/or ceiling, of the area to be monitored and the system measures with a sensor or with sensors the area to be monitored, and determines the presence, location and/or movement of the object on the basis of the measurement results of the sensor or sensors comprising the following steps:

operating the system in a first mode and a second mode,

checking in the first mode the state of health of the object in the area to be monitored,

operating the system in the second mode as an intruder alarm monitoring the area to be monitored, and

using the same sensor in both the first mode for checking the state of health of the object in the area to be monitored and also in the second mode as an intruder alarm for monitoring the area to be monitored,

wherein the system changes the mode automatically, including;

changing the mode of the area to be monitored to the first mode if the one or more objects to be monitored are located in the area to be monitored, and

changing the mode of the area to be monitored to the second mode if the one or more objects to be monitored are located outside the area to be monitored, and

wherein the first mode also includes the intruder alarm monitoring the area to be monitored by tracking the location of the object and determining if an unauthorized object enters the area to be monitored.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein when it is operating in the first mode the system performs a health alarm procedure when it detects with sensors the change in the state of health of an object.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the health alarm procedure is an alarm or the sending of a message to a body monitoring the health of the object, a message to a phone, as an alarm and/or to a nurse, to relatives or to an emergency center.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein an alarm is given to the object being monitored by means of speech synthesis or a speech recording.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein when it is operating in the second mode the system performs intruder alarm procedures when it detects with sensors an object in the area to be monitored.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the intruder alarm procedure is an alarm or the sending of a message to a body monitoring the safety of the area to be monitored, a message to a phone, as an alarm and/or to a security company, to a guard, to an emergency center or to the police.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the system comprises a switch, by means of which a user can change the mode of the system.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the switch is a mechanical switch, a lever switch or pushbutton, a numerical pushbutton, a numerical keyboard or a reading device, an MD reader, operating wirelessly.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the system automatically switches from the second mode into the first mode when an object whose state of health is being checked arrives in the area to be monitored.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the system indicates in the second mode that an outsider has come into the space.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the system controls the operation of the water supply, electricity supply and/or heat supply in the area to be monitored when an object whose state of health is being checked leaves the area to be monitored or leaves a part of the area to be monitored.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the measuring ranges of the sensors essentially cover the area to be monitored.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the system sends information derived from the object onwards using a wireline or wireless telecommunications connection.

29. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensors measure two different height ranges, and indicate a falling if:

a. movement is first detected in a top part of the area to be monitored;

then

b. movement is detected only in a bottom part of the area to be monitored; and

c. if after 10 seconds, movement is detected in the top part of the area, return to step a. or

d. if after 10 seconds, movement is not detected in the top part of the area, activate a fall alarm.

14. A system for observing the presence, location and/or movement of one or more objects to be monitored in the area to be monitored, which system comprises at least one sensor, wherein a sensor or sensors are fitted into at least one of a floor, wall and/or ceiling, of the area to be monitored and wherein the sensor or sensors produce measuring information, by means of which measuring information the system is adapted to determine the presence, location and/or movement of an object,

wherein:

the system has a first mode and a second mode,

the system is adapted to check in the first mode the state of health of the object in the area to be monitored,

the system is adapted to function in the second mode as an intruder alarm monitoring the area to be monitored,

wherein the system is adapted to use the same sensor in both the first mode for checking the state of health of the object in the area to be monitored and also in the second mode as an intruder alarm for monitoring the area to be monitored, and

wherein the system is adapted to change the mode automatically, including;

changing the mode of the area to be monitored to the first mode if the one or more objects to be monitored are located in the area to be monitored, and

changing the mode of the area to be monitored to the second mode if the one or more objects to be monitored are located outside the area to be monitored, and

wherein the first mode also includes the intruder alarm monitoring the area to be monitored by tracking the location of the object and determining if an unauthorized object enters the area to be monitored.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein when it is operating in the first mode the system is adapted to perform a health alarm procedure when it detects the changing of the state of health of the object.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the health alarm procedure is an alarm or the sending of a message to a body monitoring the health of the object, a message to a phone, as an alarm and/or to a nurse, to relatives or to an emergency center.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the system is adapted to give an alarm to the object being monitored, by means of speech synthesis or a speech recording.

18. The system according to claim 14, wherein when it is operating in the second mode the system is adapted to perform intruder alarm procedures when it detects with sensors an object in the area to be monitored.

19. The system according to claim 14, wherein the intruder alarm procedure is an alarm or the sending of a message to a body monitoring the safety of the area to be monitored, a message to a phone, as an alarm and/or to a security company, to a guard, to an emergency center or to the police.

20. The system according to claim 14, wherein the system comprises a switch, by means of which a user can change the mode of the system.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein the switch is a mechanical switch, a lever switch or pushbutton, a numerical pushbutton, a numerical keyboard or a reading device, an RFID reader, operating wirelessly.

22. The system according to claim 14, wherein the system is adapted to automatically switch from the second mode into the first mode when an object whose state of health is being checked arrives in the area to be monitored.

23. The system according to claim 14, wherein the system is adapted to indicate in the second mode that an outsider has come into the space.

24. The system according to claim 14, wherein the system is adapted to control the operation of the water supply, electricity supply and/or heat supply in the area to be monitored when an object whose state of health is being checked leaves the area to be monitored or leaves a part of the area to be monitored.

25. The system according to claim 14, wherein the measuring ranges of the sensors essentially cover the area to be monitored.

26. The system according to claim 14, wherein the system is adapted to send information derived from the object onwards using a wireline or wireless telecommunications connection.

27. The system according to claim 14, wherein the sensor is a sensor detecting movement, a capacitive sensor, an ultrasound sensor and/or a temperature sensor.

28. The system according to claim 14, wherein the sensor is a sensor detecting movement and/or presence, which sensor is adapted to measure two measuring ranges that are at a different height.

30. The system according to claim 14, wherein the sensors are configured measure two different height ranges, and indicate a falling if:

a. movement is first detected in a top part of the area to be monitored;

then

b. movement is detected only in a bottom part of the area to be monitored; and

c. if after 10 seconds, movement is detected in the top part of the area, return to step a. or

d. if after 10 seconds, movement is not detected in the top part of the area, activate a fall alarm.