PORTABLE ALARM TRANSMITTER FOR COMPLIANCE MONITORING

• US 20090002152A1
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Standard Telecommunictions Limited
• Original Assignee: Standard Telecommunications Limited
• Inventors: Chung, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 7,701,354 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.110
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/04 responsive to non-activity, e.g. of elderly persons G08B21/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A portable alarm transmitter for compliance monitoring detects whether a user is wearing the device. If not, a special alarm signal is sent to the monitoring service provider so that remedial actions can be taken. The alarm transmitter comprises a motion sensor, and an algorithm thereby for detecting whether the alarm device is being worn by the user. The alarm transmitter distinguish between non-compliance (e.g. user has taken off the alarm device) versus other “activities of daily living (ADL) that may appear to be non-compliance events (e.g. sleeping) by incorporating user stimulus and user response.

Claims

1. A portable alarm triggering device comprising:

a) a sensor configured to sense any abnormal status of a user;

b) a stimuli generating means capable of transmitting a stimuli to said user;

c) a user input means configured to receive an explicit input from said user;

d) a transmitter configured to transmit an alarm signal to a third party;

e) a control unit coupled to said sensor, said stimuli generating means and said user input means;

when said sensor detects said abnormal status of said user, said control unit causes;

i) said stimuli generating means to stimulate said user; and

ii) subsequently generates said alarm signal to said third party through said transmitter unless said control unit receives said explicit input as a cut-off signal from said user within a predefined period.

whereby said portable alarm triggering device monitors said user and can automatically call for assistance when said abnormal status of said user is detected.

2. The portable alarm triggering device of claim 1, wherein said control unit being capable of generating said alarm upon solely receiving said explicit input at said user input means from said user in the absence of said stimuli.

3. The portable alarm triggering device of claim 2, wherein said third party comprising a receiving station, a service center and a communication network therebetween;

said receiving station being able to forward said alarm signal from said transmitter of said portable alarm triggering device to said service center via said communication network.

4. The portable alarm triggering device of claim 3, wherein said communication network is a telephone network.

5. The portable alarm triggering device of claim 3, wherein said communication network is a wireless communication network.

6. The portable alarm triggering device of claim 2, wherein said user input means in a button that can be pressed by said user.

7. The portable alarm triggering device of claim 2, wherein said user input means is the act of changing position of said portable alarm triggering device by said user.

8. The portable alarm triggering device of claim 2, wherein said stimuli generating means can be selected from an audio stimulus, visual stimulus, vibrating device, or any combination thereof.

9. The portable alarm triggering device of claim 2, wherein said sensor is a movement detector.

10. The portable alarm triggering device of claim 9, wherein said movement detector is an accelerometer.

11. The portable alarm triggering device of claim 9, wherein said abnormal status arises when said movement detector does not detect any movement from said user within a predetermined period of time.

12. The portable alarm triggering device of claim 1, wherein said control unit recording the proportion of time when said user is wearing said portable alarm triggering device versus the time leading up to said portable alarm triggering device triggering said stimulus;

said record being transmitted to said third party thereafter.

13. The portable alarm triggering device of claim 1, wherein said control unit automatically switch off said portable alarm triggering device during a pre-determined period of the date to avoid generating unnecessary alarms to said third party.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said third party is a service centre and said generating step further comprises the step of transmitting said alarm signal to said service centre.

14. A method for automatically calling for assistance by a portable alarm triggering device, comprising the steps of:

a) sensing the abnormal status of said user by a sensor;

b) stimulating said user by a stimuli generating means when said abnormal status of said user is detected;

c) listening for a response from said user in a predefined period after stimulating said user; and

d) generating an alarm signal to a third party if said response is not received within said predefined period.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprises the step of contacting said user through a second communication channel by an operator from said service center to determine said user'"'"'s abnormal status after receiving said alarm signal from said transmitting step.

17. In a portable alarm triggering device having a sensor configured to sense any abnormal status of a user, a stimuli generating means capable of transmitting a stimuli to said user, a user input means configured to receive an explicit user input from said user, a transmitter configured to transmit and alarm signal to a third party, and a control unit coupled to said sensor, said stimuli generating means and said user input means, the improvement comprising:

a) means for causing said stimuli generating means to stimulate said user when said sensor detects said abnormal status of said user; and

b) means for subsequently generating said alarm signal to said third party through said transmitter unless said control unit receives said explicit input as a cut-off signal from said user within a predefined period.