Monitoring Patterns of Motion

• US 20100302041A1
• Filed: 05/27/2009
• Published: 12/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Generac Power Systems Incorporated (Generac Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Pearsall, Katherine June, Woodward, Elizabeth Vera, Rutledge, Adrian, Malik, Nadeem
• Granted Patent: US 8,081,082 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/04 responsive to non-activity, e.g. of elderly persons G08B21/06 takes precedence

Abstract

A method, computer program product, and apparatus for monitoring patterns of motion are provided. A signal is received from a sensor on a user, wherein movement of the user causes the sensor to generate power to emit a signal indicative of the movement of the user. The signal is analyzed to form a current pattern of motion. The current pattern of motion is compared to a baseline pattern of motion associated with the user. A difference between the current pattern of motion and the baseline pattern of motion associated with the user is determined to form a difference. The difference is compared to a predetermined threshold. Responsive to the difference exceeding the predetermined threshold, an alert is sent.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for monitoring patterns of motion, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a signal from a sensor on a user, wherein movement of the user causes the sensor to generate power to emit a signal indicative of the movement of the user;

analyzing the signal to form a current pattern of motion;

comparing the current pattern of motion to a baseline pattern of motion associated with the user;

determining a difference between the current pattern of motion and the baseline pattern of motion associated with the user to form a difference;

comparing the difference to a predetermined threshold; and

responsive to the difference exceeding the predetermined threshold, sending an alert.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the alert includes the specific location of the user within a predefined area.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the alert includes a description of the detected problem.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the alert is sent after a predetermined time during which the user can cancel the alert.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

configuring a monitoring unit for a type of activity to be monitored and for the user to be monitored; and

establishing the baseline pattern of motion associated with the user for the activity to be monitored.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the signal is a signal from a radio frequency identity tag.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a baseline amount of strain for a user, comparing a current amount of strain to the baseline amount of strain associated with the user;

determining a difference between the current amount of strain and the baseline amount of strain associated with the user to form a strain difference;

comparing the strain difference to a predetermined threshold; and

responsive to the strain difference exceeding the predetermined threshold, sending the alert.

8. A computer program product comprising:

computer recordable storage medium;

computer useable program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for receiving a signal from a sensor on a user, wherein movement of the user causes the sensor to generate power to emit a signal indicative of the movement of the user;

computer useable program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for analyzing the signal to form a current pattern of motion;

computer useable program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for comparing the current pattern of motion to a baseline pattern of motion associated with the user;

computer useable program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for determining a difference between the current pattern of motion and the baseline pattern of motion associated with the user to form a difference;

computer useable program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for comparing the difference to a predetermined threshold; and

computer useable program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for, responsive to the difference exceeding the predetermined threshold, sending an alert.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the alert includes the specific location of the user within a predefined area.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the alert includes a description of the detected problem.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the alert is sent after a predetermined time during which the user can cancel the alert.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising:

computer useable program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for configuring a monitoring unit for a type of activity to be monitored and for the user to be monitored; and

computer useable program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for establishing the baseline pattern of motion associated with the user for the activity to be monitored.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein the signal is a signal from a radio frequency identity tag.

14. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising:

computer useable program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for establishing a baseline amount of strain for a user,

computer useable program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for comparing a current amount of strain to the baseline amount of strain associated with the user;

computer useable program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for determining a difference between the current amount of strain and the baseline amount of strain associated with the user to form a strain difference;

computer useable program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for comparing the strain difference to a predetermined threshold; and

computer useable program code, stored on the computer recordable storage medium, for, responsive to the strain difference exceeding the predetermined threshold, sending the alert.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a bus;

a storage device connected to the bus, wherein the storage device contains computer usable code;

at least one managed device connected to the bus;

a communications unit connected to the bus; and

a processing unit connected to the bus, wherein the processing unit executes the computer usable code to receive a signal from a sensor on a user, wherein movement of the user causes the sensor to generate power to emit a signal indicative of the movement of the user;

analyze the signal to form a current pattern of motion;

compare the current pattern of motion to a baseline pattern of motion associated with the user;

determine a difference between the current pattern of motion and the baseline pattern of motion associated with the user to form a difference;

compare the difference to a predetermined threshold; and

responsive to the difference exceeding the predetermined threshold, send an alert.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the alert includes the specific location of the user within a predefined area.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the alert includes a description of the detected problem.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the alert is sent after a predetermined time during which the user can cancel the alert.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer usable code to configure a monitoring unit for a type of activity to be monitored and for the user to be monitored;

and establish the baseline pattern of motion associated with the user for the activity to be monitored.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer usable code to establish a baseline amount of strain for a user, compare a current amount of strain to the baseline amount of strain associated with the user;

determine a difference between the current amount of strain and the baseline amount of strain associated with the user to form a strain difference;

compare the strain difference to a predetermined threshold; and

responsive to the strain difference exceeding the predetermined threshold, send the alert.