Semi-passive method and system for monitoring and determining the status of an unattended person

• US 20080228039A1
• Filed: 03/12/2007
• Published: 09/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Huseth, Steve D., Kiff, Liana M.
• Application Number:
  US11/717,570
• Publication Number:
  US 20080228039A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0423 detecting deviation from an expected pattern of behaviour or schedule
• 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 21/0492 Sensor dual technology, i.e. two or more technologies collaborate to extract unsafe condition, e.g. video tracking and RFID tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/183 Single detectors using dual technologies G08B13/1672, G08B13/2448, G08B13/2494 take precedence

Abstract

A method and system for determining the status and monitoring an unattended individual. A radio beacon device can be associated with one or more individuals (e.g., an unattended person). Behavioral information about the individual(s) can be collected by tracking the location of the individual within a particular area (e.g., home, assisted living facility, etc.) utilizing the radio beacon device. The presence of other persons can then be distinguished from that of the individual within said particular area utilizing said behavioral information collected about said individual, thereby permitting a determination of the status of said individual and distinguishing the presence of other persons within said particular area. The behavioral information can include, for example, one or more activity levels associated with the individual.

Claims

1. A method for determining the status an individual, comprising:

associating a radio beacon device with an individual;

collecting behavioral information about said individual by tracking a location of said individual within a particular area utilizing said radio beacon device; and

distinguishing a presence of other persons from said individual within said particular area utilizing said behavioral information about said individual, thereby determining a status of said individual and distinguishing the presence of other persons within said particular area.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said behavioral information comprises a plurality of activity levels associated with said individual.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising placing an array of motion detection sensors within at least one selected location of said particular area, wherein said array of motion detection sensors generates motion sensor data.

4. The method of claim 3 utilizing said motion sensor data generated by said array of motion detection sensors and said behavioral information associated with said individual to determine if said motion sensor data and said behavioral information agree or differ.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein if said motion sensor data and said behavioral information do agree with each other, an assumption is generated indicating that said individual is alone within said particular area.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein if said motion sensor data and said behavioral information do not agree with each other, an assumption is generated indicating that more than one individual is present within said particular area.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising applying a triangulation algorithm for determining a location of said radio beacon device located with said individual.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein said module and said data-processing apparatus are operable in combination with one another to apply a triangulation algorithm for determining a location of said radio beacon device located with said individual.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising instruction media residing in a computer for applying a triangulation algorithm for determining a location of said radio beacon device located with said individual.

8. A system for determining the status an individual, comprising:

a radio beacon device associated with an individual;

a data-processing apparatus;

a module executed by said data-processing apparatus, said module and said data-processing apparatus being operable in combination with one another to;

collect behavioral information about said individual by tracking a location of said individual within a particular area utilizing said radio beacon device; and

distinguish a presence of other persons from said individual within said particular area utilizing said behavioral information about said individual, thereby determining a status of said individual and distinguishing the presence of other persons within said particular area.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said behavioral information comprises a plurality of activity levels associated with said individual.

10. The system of claim 8 further comprising an array of motion detection sensors located within at least one selected location of said particular area, wherein said array of motion detection sensors generates motion sensor data.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein said module and said data-processing apparatus are operable in combination with one another to utilize said motion sensor data generated by said array of motion detection sensors and said behavioral information associated with said individual to determine if said motion sensor data and said behavioral information agree or differ.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein if said motion sensor data and said behavioral information agree with each other, an assumption is generated by said module and said data-processing apparatus operable in combination with one another indicating that said individual is alone within said particular area.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein if said motion sensor data and said behavioral information do not agree with each other, an assumption is generated by said module and said data-processing apparatus operable in combination with one another indicating that more than one individual is present within said particular area.

15. A program product for determining the status an individual, comprising:

instruction media residing in a computer for associating a radio beacon device with an individual;

instruction media residing in a computer for collecting behavioral information about said individual by tracking a location of said individual within a particular area utilizing said radio beacon device; and

instruction media residing in a computer for distinguishing a presence of other persons from said individual within said particular area utilizing said behavioral information about said individual, thereby determining a status of said individual and distinguishing the presence of other persons within said particular area.

16. The program product of claim 15 wherein said behavioral information comprises a plurality of activity levels associated with said individual.

17. The program product of claim 15 further comprising an array of motion detection sensors located within at least one selected location of said particular area, wherein said array of motion detection sensors generates motion sensor data.

18. The program product of claim 17 further comprising instruction media residing in a computer for utilizing said motion sensor data generated by said array of motion detection sensors and said behavioral information associated with said individual to determine if said motion sensor data and said behavioral information agree or differ.

19. The program product of claim 18 wherein:

if said motion sensor data and said behavioral information agree with each other, an assumption is generated indicating that said individual is alone within said particular area; and

if said motion sensor data and said behavioral information do not agree with each other, an assumption is generated indicating that more than one individual is present within said particular area.