Apparatus, method, and system for remote monitoring of need for assistance based on change in velocity
First Claim
1. An apparatus for monitoring movement of a human body as a unit of mass for possible need of assistance comprising:
- a portable sized housing adapted to be hand carried, held in pocket, or removably attached to a user or user'"'"'s clothing;
in the housing, a processor, a wireless transmitter operatively connected to the processor, and a detector operatively connected to the processor, the detector detecting one or more of the group comprising motion, velocity, acceleration, orientation;
the processor programmed to instruct the transmitter to send a signal upon detection of a certain type or types of movement of a user detected by the detector.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is an apparatus, method, and system for remote monitoring of need for assistance based on change in velocity. One aspect of the invention includes a portable unit that may be comfortably wearable, having an intelligent control, and a detector capable of detecting a physical parameter related to acceleration, and a transmitter. When an acceleration is determined to exceed a particular threshold, the intelligent control device instructs a transmitter to send an alert signal. Another aspect of the invention includes a method of monitoring for need of assistance by monitoring a physical parameter of the person related to acceleration and transmitting a need of assistance alert. Another aspect of the invention involves a system including one or more monitor units for determining the need for assistance based on physical parameter related to acceleration, a communications network for receiving information from the monitored unit and notifying a third party.
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Citations
109 Claims
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1. An apparatus for monitoring movement of a human body as a unit of mass for possible need of assistance comprising:
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a portable sized housing adapted to be hand carried, held in pocket, or removably attached to a user or user'"'"'s clothing;
in the housing, a processor, a wireless transmitter operatively connected to the processor, and a detector operatively connected to the processor, the detector detecting one or more of the group comprising motion, velocity, acceleration, orientation;
the processor programmed to instruct the transmitter to send a signal upon detection of a certain type or types of movement of a user detected by the detector. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of monitoring movement of a human body as a unit of mass for possible need of assistance comprising:
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monitoring a physical parameter of a person comprising one or more of velocity, change in velocity, acceleration, change in position;
transmitting a signal of the physical parameter is indicative of need of assistance. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A system for monitoring a human body as a unit of mass in order to detect possible need for assistance comprising:
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one or more portable user devices each adapted to be worn or carried by a user, each device including a wireless transmitter and a monitor of position and change in position of a device;
a wireless wide area communication network;
each device programmed to generate a submission from the device transmitter into the communication network upon detection of the condition of indicative of a need for assistance by the monitor of the device. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. An apparatus for monitoring the human body as a unit of mass comprising:
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a means for monitoring changes in velocity;
a means to transmit a signal if a change in velocity indicative of potential need for assistance is sensed.
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40. An apparatus for monitoring a human body as a unit of mass in order to determine need of assistance, the apparatus comprising:
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an accelerometer for measuring changes in velocity associated with a human body, the accelerometer capable of outputting a signal representing measured changes in velocity;
an intelligent control for receiving the signal from the accelerometer and determining if the measured change is indicative of a need for assistance;
a transmitter electrically connected to the intelligent control, the transmitter capable of sending a message to a remote location indicative of a need for assistance. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43)
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44. A system for monitoring a human body as a unit of mass in order to determine need of assistance, the system comprising:
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a monitor unit to be worn close to the human body, the monitor unit capable of measuring velocity changes, comparing the velocity changes to a threshold, and transmitting the measured velocity changes, the monitor unit further capable of determining a geographic location and transmitting the geographic location;
a communications network for receiving measured velocity changes and geographic location from at least one monitor unit;
a central control capable of receiving messages from the communications network, the communications network capable of forwarding measured velocity changes and geographic location from a monitor unit, the central control capable of forwarding to third parties. - View Dependent Claims (46, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72)
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45. An apparatus for monitoring a human body as a unit of mass in order to determine need of assistance, the apparatus comprising:
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a means for detecting changes in velocity;
a means for determining a need for assistance based on the detected changes in velocity;
a means for transmitting a signal indicative of a need of assistance.
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47. A system for notifying third parties of a need for assistance of a human body based on changes of velocity of the human body comprising:
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a monitor unit having a means for detecting changes in velocity;
a means for detecting changes in position;
a means for determining if changes in velocity indicate a need for assistance; and
a means of transmitting information indicative of a need for assistance;
a communications network having a means for receiving transmitted information indicative of a need for assistance; and
a means for forwarding transmitted information indicative of a need for assistance;
a central control having a means of receiving transmitted information indicative of a need for assistance from the communications network; and
a means of alerting a third party by telephone, pager, or electronic message of the need for assistance.
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48. An apparatus adapted for monitoring acceleration and deceleration of the user comprising:
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a sensor adapted to transduce the average acceleration of a user when operatively mounted on the user;
a programmable processor operatively connected to the sensor;
a transceiver operatively connected to the processor and/or sensor;
a location sensing receiver operatively connected to the processor to provide location data;
software operatively loaded on the memory of the processor and adapted to receive transduced information from the sensor, compare the transduced information to pre-defined parameters, and decide if any message should be transmitted through the transceiver based on that comparison.
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73. A method for remote monitoring of an accelerated state of a user comprising the steps of:
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transducing information related to this state at or near the location of the state;
comparing the transduced information to pre-determined criteria at or near the location of the state;
monitoring further motion or states of the user and comparing this to expected values;
transmitting code if indicated by the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99)
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100. A system for remote monitoring of the accelerated state for a plurality of users comprising:
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a wearable remote unit including an accelerometer, and wireless transceiver all operatively in communication with a processor;
a processing center including a wireless transceiver adapted for communication with the transceiver on the remote units;
pre-programmable parameters stored in the processor of each remote unit customized for the user of each remote unit;
software programmed in the processor of each remote unit adapted to compare a sensed acceleration with said customized parameters and causing transmission of a code to the processing center if indicated by the comparison. - View Dependent Claims (101, 102, 103, 104, 106, 107, 108, 109)
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105. The system of claim 105 further comprising software at the processor of a remote unit adapted to periodically provide status and/or location reports to the processing center.
Specification