Fatigue Time Determination for an Activity

• US 20130159041A1
• Filed: 12/17/2012
• Published: 06/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TATA Consultancy Services Limited (Tata Sons Pvt Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: TATA Consultancy Services Limited (Tata Sons Pvt Ltd.)
• Inventors: Purushothaman, Balamuralidhar, Jayaraman, Srinivasan
• Granted Patent: US 10,282,959 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.15
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/318 Heart-related electrical modalities, e.g. electrocardiography [ECG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/389 Electromyography [EMG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063114 Status monitoring or status determination for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06314 Calendaring for a resource
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/06 indicating a condition of sleep, e.g. anti-dozing alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications

Abstract

Systems and methods for determining an actual fatigue time (AFT) for an activity are provided. The method comprises receiving a standard fatigue time (SFT) representing a time duration. The SFT is indicative of an onset of fatigue in individuals upon continuously performing the activity. The method further comprises receiving at least one external parameter and a fatigue index corresponding to the at least one external parameter. The at least one external parameter and the fatigue index are associated with the activity. The method further comprises determining the AFT for the activity based upon the SFT and the fatigue index.

Claims

1. A method for generating an alert when a driver of a vehicle experiences an onset of fatigue due to driving, the method comprising:

identifying the driver of the vehicle to determine a continuous driving time associated with the driver;

determining an Actual Fatigue Time (AFT) for the driver based upon at least one external parameter; and

generating an alert at a predetermined time based on the continuous driving time and the AFT.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the driver is identified based upon at least one of a biological signal and biometric data of the driver, wherein the biological signal comprises at least one of an Electrocardiogram (ECG) signal, an Electroencephalogram (EEG) signal, an Electromyography (EMG) signal, and wherein the biometric data comprises at least one of finger prints data, eye retina data, ECG, and face detection data.

3. A method for determining an actual fatigue time (AFT) for an activity, the method comprising:

receiving a standard fatigue time (SFT) representing a time duration, wherein the SFT is indicative of an onset of fatigue in individuals upon continuously performing the activity;

receiving at least one external parameter and a fatigue index corresponding to the at least one external parameter, wherein the at least one external parameter and the fatigue index are associated with the activity; and

determining the AFT for the activity based upon the SFT and the fatigue index.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising ascertaining a plurality of fatigue indexes associated with the activity, wherein the plurality of fatigue indexes is based upon a plurality of external parameters associated with the activity.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising generating a work schedule for the activity based upon the AFT, wherein the work schedule comprises an on-time duration and an off-time duration for a worker engaged in the activity.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

monitoring compliance of the worker with the work schedule; and

generating an alert on non-compliance of the worker with the work schedule.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the activity is driving of a vehicle, and wherein the at least one external parameter comprises at least one of a road type, a road condition, a vehicle type, a vehicle condition, a terrain, a climatic condition, a time of a day, and a traffic condition.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the activity is operating a heavy machine, and wherein the at least one external parameter comprises at least one of a machine condition, a machine type, a climatic condition, and a time of a day.

9. The method of claim 3, further comprising determining a real time fatigue index of a worker based upon the AFT.

10. A system for determining an actual fatigue time (AFT) for an activity, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory comprising

an input receiver configured to receive at least one external parameter associated with the activity; and

a fatigue calculator configured to

determine a fatigue index based on the at least one external parameter; and

determine the AFT based on a standard fatigue time (SFT) and the fatigue index.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the SFT is indicative of an onset of fatigue in individuals upon continuously performing the activity.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the fatigue calculator is further configured to obtain the SFT from a fatigue database.

13. The system of claim 10, further comprising a set of sensors configured to determine the at least one external parameter.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the activity is driving a vehicle and wherein the set of sensors comprises a steering wheel movement sensor and climate sensors, wherein the steering wheel movement sensor is configured to determine an angle of rotation of a steering wheel and a frequency of rotation of the steering wheel of the vehicle, and wherein the climate sensors are configured to determine a climate condition.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the input receiver module is configured to receive the at least one external parameter from at least one of a worker, a sensor, and an external source.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising a work schedule generator configured to generate a work schedule for the activity based upon the AFT, wherein the work schedule is indicative of an on-time duration and an off-time duration for a worker engaged in the activity.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising an alarm unit configured to generate an alert in case of non-compliance with the work schedule, wherein the alert is provided to stakeholders associated with the activity.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the work schedule generator is configured to generate a driving schedule for a driver driving a vehicle and wherein the alarm unit provides an alert to stakeholders associated with the vehicle.

19. The system of claim 10, wherein the fatigue calculator is further configured to determine a real time fatigue index of a worker based upon the AFT.

20. A computer-readable medium having embodied thereon a computer program for executing a method for determining an actual fatigue time (AFT) for an activity, the method comprising:

receiving a standard fatigue time (SFT) representing a time duration, wherein the SFT is indicative of an onset of fatigue in individuals upon continuously performing the activity;

receiving at least one external parameter and a fatigue index corresponding to the at least one external parameter, wherein the at least one external parameter and the fatigue index are associated with the activity; and

determining the AFT for the activity based upon the SFT and the fatigue index.