System and Method to Monitor a Person in a Residence

• US 20110093876A1
• Filed: 10/15/2009
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Belz, Steven, Pratt, James, Van Vleck, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,516,514 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0423 detecting deviation from an expected pattern of behaviour or schedule
• 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: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions

Abstract

Systems and methods to monitor a person in a residence are provided. A particular method includes receiving data from a set-top box (STB) device at a monitoring service. The data includes location information from a location system in a residence that monitors a location of a person in the residence. The data includes usage information regarding usage of a plurality of devices in the residence. The data also includes a time stamp associated with the location information and the usage information. The method includes analyzing the data based on a profile of the person to determine whether one or more alert conditions are satisfied. The method also includes sending a notification when the one or more alert conditions are satisfied.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a person in a residence, the system comprising:

a set top box (STB) device in the residence;

a plurality of devices coupled to the STB device, wherein the STB device receives usage information regarding usage of the plurality of devices; and

a location system coupled to the STB device to provide a location of the person in the residence to the STB device;

wherein the STB device sends data to a monitoring service regarding the usage of the plurality of devices and the location of the person, wherein the monitoring service analyzes the data from the STB device and sends a notification when one or more alert conditions based on the usage of one or more of the devices and the location of the person in the residence are satisfied.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more video cameras coupled to the STB device, wherein at least one of the video cameras is controllable by signals sent to the STB device by a third party when the one or more alert conditions are satisfied.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein before the at least one video camera coupled to the STB device is activated a warning is sent to the STB device;

wherein the STB device selects a particular device of the plurality of devices that is near the location of the person and is capable of presenting the warning to the person; and

wherein the STB device sends the warning to the particular device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the warning is a visual warning displayed on a display screen in close proximity to the person.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the warning is an audio warning sent to a speaker in close proximity to the person.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein a satisfactory response to the warning from the person blocks activation of the video camera.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the satisfactory response is a verbal response from the person.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the satisfactory response is entered via a remote control device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of devices includes a shower.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein an alert condition of the one or more alert conditions includes a determination that a first device of the plurality of devices is on when the person is not near the first device for a selected period of time.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the location system comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) emitter attached to the person and at least one RFID detector located in the residence to receive signals from the RFID emitter.

12. A method, comprising:

receiving data from a set-top box (STB) device at a monitoring service, wherein the data includes location information from a location system in a residence that monitors a location of a person in the residence, usage information regarding usage of a plurality of devices in the residence, and a time stamp associated with the location information and usage information;

analyzing the data based on a profile of the person to determine whether one or more alert conditions are satisfied; and

sending a notification when the one or more alert conditions are satisfied.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein at least one alert condition is satisfied when the usage information includes a first device state indicating usage of a first device, the location information indicates that the person is near the first device, and the person has not changed location for a predetermined period of time.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first device is at least one of a shower and a bathtub.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein sending the notification comprises:

sending a first notification to the STB device, wherein the STB device presents the notification at an output device in the residence; and

sending a second notification to a third party when a satisfactory response to the first notification is not received from the person.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first notification is sent from the STB device to a first device of the plurality of devices that is near to the person and that is capable of presenting the notification to the person.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the STB device interrupts a program being sent to the first device prior to sending the first notification to the first device.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the second notification is sent to at least one of a relative of the person, a legal guardian of the person, a health care professional associated with the person, and an emergency services provider.

19. A set-top box device, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory accessible to the at least one processor, the at least one memory comprising;

instructions executable by the at least one processor to receive location data from a location system in a residence, wherein the location data indicates a location of a person to be monitored in the residence;

instructions executable by the at least one processor to monitor usage of one or more devices in the residence; and

instructions executable by the at least one processor to send data regarding the location, the usage of the one or more devices, and a time stamp of the data to a monitoring service.

20. The set-top box device of claim 19, further comprising:

instructions executable by the at least one processor to receive biological data from a biosensor coupled to the person; and

instructions executable by the at least one processor to send the biological data from the biosensor to the monitoring service.