Device, system and method for detection activity of persons

• US 20060089538A1
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Published: 04/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Cuddihy, Paul Edward, Weisenberg, Jenny Marie, Roehm, Steven Phillip, Ludlow, Robert Nelson
• Application Number:
  US10/969,864
• Publication Number:
  US 20060089538A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/103 Detecting, measuring or recording devices for testing the shape, pattern, colour, size or movement of the body or parts thereof, for diagnostic purposes A61B5/08 takes precedence; measuring aids for tailors A41H1/00; measuring instruments specially adapted for dentistry A61C19/04
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1117 Fall detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6889 Rooms

Abstract

A device, system and method for monitoring the activity of one or more residents in a habitable structure so as to ascertain whether the activity, or inactivity, is unusual. A variety of sensors distributed around the home collect data on activity in the home. The monitored person or persons wear an independent activity detector that monitors individual activity of a specific person. The house data is communicated to a remote monitoring center, and the individual data is communicated to an analyzing mechanism, which may be a communication panel or the remote monitoring center. The house data and individual data are analyzed and compared to ascertain whether any specific person within the habitable structure is engaged in unusual activity or inactivity. The independent activity detector may be configured to transmit an authentication signal to authenticate specific detected activity with a specific person.

Claims

1. An independent activity detector configured to be associated with a person, comprising:

an activity detection module configured to collect data on activity of the person;

a storage mechanism configured to store the data collected by the activity detection module; and

a transmitter configured to transmit in at least quasi-real time the data collected by the activity detection module, wherein said storage mechanism is configured to retain a packet of data transmitted by said transmitter for retransmission by said transmitter.

2. The independent activity detector of claim 1, wherein said activity detection module is configured to ascertain whether the person is motionless.

3. The independent activity detector of claim 1, wherein said activity detection module comprises an accelerometer.

4. The independent activity detector of claim 1, wherein said activity detection module comprises a mercury switch.

5. The independent activity detector of claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for associating the independent activity detector with the person.

6. The independent activity detector of claim 1, wherein the independent activity detector is incorporated within a timepiece.

7. An independent activity detector configured to be associated with a person, comprising:

an activity detection module configured to collect data on activity of the person;

a storage mechanism configured to store the data collected by the activity detection module; and

a transmitter configured to transmit unfiltered, unanalyzed and in quasi-real time the data collected by the activity detection module, wherein said storage mechanism is configured to retain a packet of data transmitted by said transmitter for retransmission by said transmitter.

8. The independent activity detector of claim 7, wherein said activity detection module is configured to ascertain whether the person is immobile.

9. The independent activity detector of claim 7, wherein the independent activity detector is incorporated within a timepiece.

10. The independent activity detector of claim 7, wherein said activity detection module comprises at least one from the group consisting of a mercury switch and an accelerometer.

11. The independent activity detector of claim 7, further comprising a mechanism for associating the independent activity detector with the person.

12. The independent activity detector of claim 7, wherein a repeatable time period for the quasi-real time transmission of the data is no greater than every two hours.

13. The independent activity detector of claim 12, wherein a repeatable time period for the quasi-real time transmission of the data is no greater than fifteen minutes.

14. An independent activity detector system for use within a habitable structure, comprising:

an independent activity detector configured to be associated with a person, comprising;

an activity detection module configured to collect data on activity of the person;

a storage mechanism configured to store the data collected by the activity detection module; and

a transmitter configured to transmit in at least quasi-real time the data collected by the activity detection module, wherein said storage mechanism is configured to retain a packet of data transmitted by said transmitter for retransmission by said transmitter; and

a communication relay configured to receive the data transmitted by the transmitter.

15. The independent activity detector system of claim 14, wherein said activity detection module is configured to ascertain whether the person is motionless.

16. The independent activity detector system of claim 15, wherein said activity detection module comprises an accelerometer.

17. The independent activity detector system of claim 15, wherein said activity detection module comprises a mercury switch.

18. The independent activity detector system of claim 14, further comprising a mechanism for associating the independent activity detector with the person.

19. The independent activity detector system of claim 14, wherein the independent activity detector is incorporated within a timepiece.

20. The independent activity detector system of claim 14, wherein said communication relay is configured to analyze the data on activity of the person.

21. The independent activity detector system of claim 14, further comprising a monitoring center at a location separate from the habitable setting.

22. The independent activity detector system of claim 21, wherein said monitoring center is configured to analyze the data on activity of the person.

23. The independent activity detector system of claim 14, wherein said communication relay is configured to enhance efficiency of transmissions from said transmitter.

24. The independent activity detector system of claim 14, further comprising a physiological parameter sensor for sensing a physiological parameter of the person.

25. The independent activity detector system of claim 24, wherein the physiological parameter being sensed is one or more from the group consisting of respiration, weight, temperature, diaphragm motion, blood oxygenation, blood pressure, ECG, and drug dose amount.

26. The independent activity detector system of claim 24, wherein said physiological parameter sensor comprises a respiration sensor.

27. The independent activity detector system of claim 24, wherein said physiological parameter sensor comprises a weight sensor.

28. The independent activity detector system of claim 24, further comprising a pharmacy/medicine knowledge base.

29. An independent activity detector system for use within a habitable structure, comprising:

an independent activity detector configured to be associated with a person, comprising;

an activity detection module configured to collect data on activity of the person and configured to ascertain whether the person is motionless;

a storage mechanism configured to store the data collected by the activity detection module; and

a transmitter configured to transmit unfiltered, unanalyzed and in quasi-real time the data collected by the activity detection module, wherein said storage mechanism is configured to retain a packet of data transmitted by said transmitter for retransmission by said transmitter; and

a communication relay configured to receive the data transmitted by the transmitter.

30. The independent activity detector system of claim 29, wherein the independent activity detector is incorporated within a timepiece.

31. The independent activity detector system of claim 29, wherein said communication relay is configured to analyze the data on activity of the person.

32. The independent activity detector system of claim 29, further comprising a monitoring center at a location separate from the habitable setting.

33. The independent activity detector system of claim 29, wherein said monitoring center is configured to analyze the data on activity of the person.

34. The independent activity detector system of claim 29, wherein said activity detection module comprises at least one from the group consisting of a mercury switch and an accelerometer.

36. The independent activity detector system of claim 34, wherein the physiological parameter being sensed is one or more from the group consisting of respiration, weight, temperature, diaphragm motion, blood oxygenation, blood pressure, ECG, and drug dose amount.

35. An independent activity detector system for monitoring a person'"'"'s health, comprising:

an independent activity detector configured to be associated with a person, comprising;

an activity detection module configured to collect activity data on activity of the person;

a storage mechanism configured to store the activity data collected by the activity detection module; and

a first transmitter configured to transmit unfiltered, unanalyzed and in at least quasi-real time the activity data collected by the activity detection module;

a physiological sensor for obtaining physiological data pertaining to the person;

a second transmitter configured to transmit physiological data collected by the activity detection module; and

a communication relay configured to receive the activity and physiological data transmitted by the first and second transmitters, wherein the physiological data and the activity data are correlated to determine a status of at least one physiological condition of the person.

37. The independent activity detector system of claim 35, wherein the physiological sensor comprises a respiratory sensor.

38. The independent activity detector system of claim 35, wherein the physiological sensor comprises a weight sensor.

39. The independent activity detector system of claim 35, wherein the physiological sensor comprises a heart rate monitor and a diaphragm motion monitor.

40. The independent activity detector system of claim 35, further comprising a pharmacy/medicine knowledge base.

41. A method for detecting unusual activity or inactivity of a person within a habitable structure, comprising:

detecting individual activity data of the person with an independent activity detector;

transmitting the individual activity data in at least quasi-real time to an analyzing mechanism; and

ascertaining whether activity or inactivity of the person detected with the independent activity detector is unusual.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising alerting a caregiver if said ascertaining step leads to a conclusion that the activity or inactivity of the person obtained with the independent activity detector is unusual.

43. The method of claim 41, wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting the individual activity data in quasi-real time to a communication relay.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said communication relay functions as the analyzing mechanism.

45. The method of claim 43, wherein said transmitting further comprises transmitting the individual activity data in quasi-real time from the communication relay to a monitoring center at a separate location from the habitable structure.

46. The method of claim 43, wherein the monitoring center functions as the analyzing mechanism.

47. The method of claim 41, wherein said transmitting comprises transmitting a signal for authenticating the individual activity data to a specific person.

48. A method for detecting unusual activity or inactivity of a person within a habitable structure, comprising:

detecting activity data in the habitable structure;

detecting individual activity data of the person;

transmitting the individual activity data in quasi-real time to an analyzing mechanism;

comparing the activity data of the habitable structure to the individual activity data; and

checking for unusual activity or unusual inactivity of the person.

49. The method of claim 48, further comprising transmitting the activity data of the habitable structure to the analyzing mechanism.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein said transmitting the activity data of the habitable structure is accomplished in quasi-real time.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein said transmitting the individual activity data comprises transmitting a signal for authenticating the individual activity data to a specific person.

52. The method of claim 48, further comprising alerting a caregiver if said checking step leads to a conclusion that the activity or inactivity of the person is unusual.

53. The method of claim 48, wherein said detecting activity data of the habitable structure comprises obtaining the activity data with the use of one or more activity sensors positioned throughout the habitable structure.

54. The method of claim 48, wherein said checking comprises ascertaining whether the person is motionless.