Breathing sound monitoring and alarm response method, system and device

• US 20070008154A1
• Filed: 09/18/2006
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: InnovAlarm Corporation
• Original Assignee: InnovAlarm Corporation
• Inventors: Albert, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,477,144 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.100
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0423 detecting deviation from an expected pattern of behaviour or schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0453 worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0461 integrated or attached to an item closely associated with the person but not worn by the person, e.g. chair, walking stick, bed sensor
• 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 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

Home safety and security are provided using a bedside sound monitoring unit including a microphone, microprocessor, memory and a communications port. The unit utilizes a sound monitoring program for determining when sound received through the microphone of the unit represents a signal from a home security device or a breathing pattern representing an alarm condition. The unit communicates responsive signals to an appropriate site when an alarm condition is determined.

Claims

1. An alarm monitor comprising:

a sound monitoring unit including a microphone, microprocessor, memory and a communications port; and

a sound monitoring program stored within the memory, including;

first instructional signals for determining when sound received through the microphone of the unit represents a signal from a home security device or a breathing pattern representing an alarm condition; and

second instructional signals for communicating responsive signals from the unit when an alarm condition is determined.

2. The alarm monitor of claim 1 wherein the communications port is a wireless communications port.

3. The alarm monitor of claim 1 wherein the sound monitoring unit is a bedside unit further including a switch for controlling supply of power to a waking device and the sound monitoring program further includes third instructional signals for determining when sound received through the microphone of the bedside unit represents a smoke detector alarm and fourth instructional signals for engaging the switch to activate the waking device when a smoke detector alarm is determined.

4. The alarm monitor of claim 3 further comprising battery backup power for operation of the monitoring unit including powering the waking device.