Communication system for the disabled

• US 20020067282A1
• Filed: 12/06/2000
• Published: 06/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Boies, Stephen J., Yu, Philip Shin-Lung, Grey, William, Moskowitz, Paul Andrew, Dinkin, Samuel, Greene, David Perry
• Application Number:
  US09/730,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20020067282A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.19
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 4/00 Methods or devices enabling patients or disabled persons to operate an apparatus or a device not forming part of the body operating or control means for prostheses A61F2/48, A61F2/68
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/31 Voice input
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A system and method for bettering the life of disabled persons whose mobility is impaired by using communication technology. Such technology allows the disabled control of his/her surrounding. The system and method comprises a wireless communication device associated with a wheelchair, or bed, and remote devices in the surroundings of the disabled person controlled by the wireless communication device. The present invention further provides for a standard protocol, such as Bluetooth, or IrDA for communication, and a selection policy for selecting a specific piece of device to communicate with.

Claims

1. A system for a person with limited mobility, comprising:

a platform, wherein the person is confined thereto;

a wireless communication device associated with the platform; and

one or more remote pieces of equipment, wherein the one or more remote pieces of equipment are outfitted for communication with the wireless communication device associated with the platform.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the person is a disabled person.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the platform is a wheelchair.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the platform is a bed.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device associated with the platform is permanently built into the platform.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device is based on a mobile telephone.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device is based on a personal digital assistant.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device is a computer.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device is voice controlled.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device is controlled by a joystick.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more remote pieces of equipment comprise a security system.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more remote pieces of equipment comprise one or more entertainment apparatus.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more remote pieces of equipment comprise one or more transportation devices.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more remote pieces of equipment comprise one or more household appliances.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device associated with the platform uses a standard protocol for wireless communication.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the wireless communication device associated with the platform uses radio frequency for communication.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the wireless communication device associated with the platform uses Bluetooth technology.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the wireless communication device associated with the platform uses infrared frequency for communication.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the wireless communication device associated with the platform uses Infrared Data Association technology.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device associated with the platform connects wirelessly to a network.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein a state of the person is monitored using the network.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication device associated with the platform selects a specific piece of equipment for communication from the one or more remote pieces of equipment based on a selection policy.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the policy comprise selecting the specific piece of equipment for communication from the one or more remote pieces of equipment based the proximity of the specific piece of equipment to the platform.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein the policy comprise selecting the specific piece of equipment for communication from the one or more remote pieces of equipment based on a usage history of the one or more remote pieces of equipment.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the policy comprise selecting the specific piece of equipment from the one or more remote pieces of equipment based a condition of the person.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the wireless communication device uses radio frequency for communication.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the wireless communication device associated with the platform uses Bluetooth technology.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the wireless communication device uses infrared frequency for communication.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the wireless communication device associated with the platform uses Infrared Data Association technology.

26. A system for a wheelchair bound person, comprising:

a wireless communication device permanently built into the wheelchair;

one or more remote pieces of equipment, wherein the one or more remote pieces of equipment are outfitted for communication with the wireless communication device;

a standard protocol for communication; and

a selection policy adopted by the wireless communication device for selecting a specific piece of equipment for communication from the one or more remote pieces of equipment.

31. A method for helping wheelchair bound persons to control their surroundings, comprising the steps of:

providing a wireless communication device permanently built into the wheelchair;

supplying one or more remote pieces of equipment, wherein the one or more remote pieces of equipment are outfitted for communication with the wireless communication device;

using a standard protocol for communication; and

providing a selection policy adopted by the wireless communication device for selecting a specific piece of equipment for communication from the one or more remote pieces of equipment.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the wireless communication device uses radio frequency for communication.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the wireless communication device associated with the platform uses Bluetooth technology.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the wireless communication device uses infrared frequency for communication.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the wireless communication device associated with the platform uses Infrared Data Association technology.

36. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave encoding a computer program of instructions for executing a computer process performing the steps for helping a wheelchair bound person as recited in the steps of claim 31.