Portable Monitor for Elderly/Infirm Individuals

• US 20110291827A1
• Filed: 07/01/2011
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Albert S Baldocchi, David D Minter
• Original Assignee: Albert S Baldocchi, David D Minter
• Inventors: Minter, David D., Baldocchi, Albert S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,884,751 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/043 detecting an emergency event, e.g. a fall
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0476 Cameras to detect unsafe condition, e.g. video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a portable monitor for use by elderly/infirm individuals that desires a significant degree of independence but recognizes that their ability to handle many situations by themselves is or will become substantially attenuated. In one embodiment, the portable monitor includes: (a) a sensor system that receives data reflecting environmental and personal aspects associated with the monitored individual from various sensors, (b) a user interface that allows the monitored individual to interact with the monitor; (c) a communication interface that provides for the ability to communicate with a third party if the monitored individual is or is likely to enter into a situation in which assistance is likely needed; and (d) a processing system for processes data produced by sensor system and data input from the user interface to determine if the monitored individual is in a situation or likely is in a situation in which assistance is likely needed.

Claims

1. A portable monitoring device for use by an elderly/infirm individual that desires a significant degree of independence, the portable device comprising:

a sensor system for receiving sensor data from a wireless sensor and relating to the environment surrounding an elderly/infirm individual;

a user interface for providing an elderly/infirm individual with the ability to interact with the device, the user interface comprising an input peripheral for providing an elderly/infirm individual with the ability to input data/information and a output peripheral for providing an elderly/infirm individual with the ability to sense output data/information;

a processing system for processing sensor data from the sensor system and/or input data/information from the input peripheral; and

a communication interface for sending data/information relating to the elderly/infirm individual to a third party.

2. A portable monitoring device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the processing system for processing sensor data from the sensor system and/or input data/information from the input peripheral to determine if an elderly/infirm individual is in a situation or likely to be in a situation in which the elderly/infirm individual would likely need assistance from another individual.

3. A portable monitoring device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the processing system for processing sensor data from the sensor system and/or input data/information from the input peripheral to assess the likelihood that an elderly/infirm individual is in a particular situation and comparing the assessed likelihood to a threshold value to determine that the individual is in a situation or likely to be in a situation in which the elderly/infirm individual would likely need assistance from another individual.

4. A portable monitoring device, as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

the processing system, after determining an elderly/infirm individual is in a situation or likely to be in a situation in which the elderly/infirm individual would likely need assistance from another individual, for using an output peripheral of the user interface to inform the elderly/infirm individual of the determination relating to the situation and requesting that the elderly/infirm individual indicate;

(a) their awareness of the situation and/or (2) whether assistance from another individual is needed.

5. A portable monitoring device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the user interface for providing an elderly/infirm individual with the ability to deactivate the monitoring device when the elderly/infirm individual desires not to be monitored.

6. A portable monitoring device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the user interface for providing an elderly/infirm individual with the ability to do at least one of the following;

deactivate one or more sensors, prevent the sensor system from receiving sensor data from one or more sensors, prevent the processing system from processing sensor data from one or more sensors, and prevent the communication interface from sending data/information based on data from one or more sensors to a third party.

7. A portable monitoring device, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

the processing system causing the sensor system to acquire data from one or more sensors and process the acquired data, provided the monitoring device has not been deactivated and each of the sensors from which data can be acquired has not been deactivated.

8. A portable monitoring device for use by an elderly/infirm individual that desires a significant degree of independence, the portable device comprising:

a sensor system for receiving sensor data relating to an elderly/infirm individual;

a user interface for providing an elderly/infirm individual with the ability to interact with the device, the user interface comprising an input peripheral for providing an elderly/infirm individual with the ability to input data/information and a output peripheral for providing an elderly/infirm individual with the ability to sense output data/information;

a processing system for processing sensor data from the sensor system and input data/information from the input peripheral to determine if the elderly/infirm individual is in a situation or likely is in a situation in which the elderly/infirm individual would likely need assistance from another individual; and

a communication interface for sending an indication to a third party that an elderly/infirm individual is in a situation or likely is in a situation in which the assistance of another individual is likely to be needed.

9. A portable monitoring device, as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

the sensor system for receiving sensor data from a wireless sensor and relating to the environment surrounding an elderly individual.

10. A portable monitoring device, as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

the sensor system for receiving sensor data from a wireless sensor that is one of;

a smoke detector, thermometer for residential interior, and carbon monoxide detector.

11. A portable monitoring device, as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

the user interface for providing an elderly/infirm individual with the ability to deactivate the monitoring device when the elderly/infirm individual desires not to be monitored.

12. A portable monitoring device, as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

the user interface for providing an elderly/infirm individual with the ability to deactivate the processing of data/information from a sensor when the elderly/infirm individual desires not to be monitored by the sensor.

13. A portable monitoring device, as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

the processing system causing the sensor system to acquire data from one or more sensors and process the acquired data, provided the monitoring device has not been deactivated and each of the sensors from which data can be acquired has not been deactivated.

14. A portable monitoring device for use by an elderly/infirm individual that desires a significant degree of independence, the portable device comprising:

a sensor system for receiving sensor data relating to an elderly/infirm individual;

a user interface for providing an elderly/infirm individual with the ability to interact with the device, the user interface comprising an input peripheral for providing an elderly/infirm individual with the ability to input data/information and a output peripheral for providing an elderly/infirm individual with the ability to sense output data/information;

a processing system for processing sensor data from the sensor system and input data/information from the input interface; and

a communication interface for sending data relating to the elderly/infirm individual to a third party,

wherein the input interface provides the elderly/infirm individual with the ability to initiate at least one of the following;

deactivate one or more sensors, prevent the sensor system from receiving sensor data from one or more sensors, prevent the processing system from processing sensor data from one or more sensors, and prevent the communication interface from sending data/information based on data from one or more sensors to a third party.

15. A portable monitoring device, as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

the sensor system for receiving sensor data from a wireless sensor and relating to the environment surrounding an elderly individual.

16. A portable monitoring device, as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

the processing system for processing sensor data from the sensor system and/or input data/information from the input peripheral to determine if an elderly/infirm individual is in a situation or likely to be in a situation in which the elderly/infirm individual would likely need assistance from another individual.

17. A portable monitoring device, as claimed in claim 14, wherein:

the processing system causing the sensor system to acquire data from one or more sensors and process the acquired data, provided the monitoring device has not been deactivated and each of the sensors from which data can be acquired has not been deactivated.

18. A portable monitoring device for use by an elderly/infirm individual that desires a significant degree of independence, the portable device comprising:

a sensor system for receiving sensor data relating to an elderly/infirm individual;

a user interface for providing an elderly/infirm individual with the ability to interact with the device, the user interface comprising an input interface for providing an elderly/infirm individual with the ability to input data/information and a output interface for providing an elderly/infirm individual with the ability to sense output data/information;

a processing system for processing sensor data from the sensor system and input data/information from the input interface, wherein the processing system causing the sensor system to acquire data from one or more sensors, provided the monitoring device has not been deactivated and each of the sensors from which data can be acquired has not been deactivated, and process the acquired data to determine if the elderly/infirm individual is in a situation or likely to be in a situation in which the elderly/infirm individual would likely need assistance from another individual; and

a communication interface for sending data relating to the elderly/infirm individual to a third party.

19. A portable monitoring device, as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

the sensor system for receiving sensor data from a wireless sensor and relating to the environment surrounding an elderly individual.

20. A portable monitoring device, as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

a communication interface for sending an indication to a third party that an elderly/infirm individual is in a situation or likely is in a situation in which the assistance of another individual is likely to be needed.

21. A portable monitoring device, as claimed in claim 18, wherein:

the processing system causing the sensor system to acquire data from one or more sensors and process the acquired data, provided the monitoring device has not been deactivated and each of the sensors from which data can be acquired has not been deactivated.