Immobility Monitoring System

• US 20130214923A1
• Filed: 06/10/2011
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Seniors Wellbeing Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Seniors Wellbeing Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Sheridan, Barry
• Application Number:
  US13/824,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20130214923A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/521
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0415 detecting absence of activity per se
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0423 detecting deviation from an expected pattern of behaviour or schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/043 detecting an emergency event, e.g. a fall
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0469 Presence detectors to detect unsafe condition, e.g. infrared sensor, microphone G08B21/0476 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for monitoring inactivity or immobility of a person. The invention further relates to monitoring other situations where differing periods of time will need to be accurately monitored over days and or weeks.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring immobility of a person or user comprising one or a series of sensors or monitors and one or a series of programmable timers, and compatible software to enable programming of a plurality of timers monitoring from minute to minute, or day to day, or week to week, or month to month, or on an yearly basis wherein one of the said timers is set to be loaded at one hour intervals to correspond to a multiple of unique predetermined hourly settings to detect activity of the person or user.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the timer loads its settings corresponding to a predetermined setting for that hour, and if no activity is detected during the active hour, this setting is not implemented.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the timer defaults its settings corresponding to a predetermined setting to an active hour, and if activity is detected during the active hour, this setting is implemented.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the system functions as an intruder alarm.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the sensors and/or monitors are programmed to record daily activities of a person to produce the data obtained from the record which is used to formulate a behavioral pattern for the individual person.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the system is compatible for use with a Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee or similar

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the system activates an emergency each time a daily recorded inactivity period has been detected.

8. The system according to claim 7 wherein contact personnel is alerted as a result of the depressing of a remote emergency button in the event of an emergency.

10. The system according to claim 1 wherein the system monitors and calls for assistance if the ambient temperature reaches and records below or above the pre set parameters.

11. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a battery standby system installed to provide full operational capabilities for up to 24 hours, independent of any external power source.

14. The system according to claim 1 further comprising a Stage 1 alarm and a Stage 2 alarm, and an emergency alert button.

15. The system according to claim 14 wherein the button is worn by the user or placed near the user.

16. The system according to claim 14 wherein if the user fails to intervene or respond to the Stage 1 alarm, and the Stage 2 alarm is activated, an automatic emergency alert message is sent to an emergency contact or contacts.

17. The system according to claim 1 wherein the sensors or monitors are programmed to record all daily activities of all persons in a home, to produce activity reports.

18. The system according to claim 17 wherein data from the daily activity report is used to formulate a behavioral pattern for the individual person or user.

19. The system according to claim 18 wherein the activity report can be used to generate an actual and/or average week report in the life of the user.

9. (canceled)

12. A method for monitoring the immobility of a person or user comprising the steps of:

(i) providing a system comprising an immobility sensor, an immobility detection device, mobility activity indicators, mobility notifier, a controller unit, a timer or a series of programmable timers and compatible software and hardware, one of the said timers is set to be loaded at one hour intervals to correspond to a multiple of unique predetermined hourly settings;

(ii) loading a timer setting corresponding to a predetermined setting for that hour, and if no activity is detected during the active hour, this setting is not implemented;

or

(iii) loading a default timer setting corresponding to a predetermined setting to an active hour, and if activity is detected during the active hour, this setting is implemented; and

(iv) activating an alarm by two phases, Stage 1 and Stage 2;

(v) detecting a predetermined period of inactivity by an Immobility sensor thereby activating Stage 1 alarm;

(vi) broadcasting a Stage 1 alarm message via an on-board audio recorder/player and internal and external speakers to the user, requesting the user to respond to a recorded message, upon activation of the Stage 1 alarm;

(vii) playing of a recorded message via the speaker/s to the user via an audio player, requesting the user to depress a cancel alarm button;

upon activation of the alarm; and

(viii) activating the Stage 2 alarm if the user fails to intervene or respond to the Stage 1 alarm.

13. The method according to claim 12 wherein if the user fails to intervene or respond to Stage 1 alarm, and the Stage 2 alarm is activated, an automatic emergency alert message is sent to an emergency contact or contacts.

20. (canceled)

21. A method of monitoring immobility of a person or user comprising:

(a) activating a sensor which detects a period of activity;

(b) detecting and recording a period of activity based on a timer or a series of programmable timers and compatible software and hardware, one of the timers is set to be loaded at one hour intervals to correspond to a multiple of unique predetermined hourly settings;

(c) activating an alarm set by two phases, Stage 1 and Stage 2;

(d) loading a timer setting corresponding to a predetermined setting for that hour, and if no activity is detected during the active hour, this setting is not implemented;

or

(e) loading a default timer setting corresponding to a predetermined setting to an active hour, and if activity is detected during the active hour, this setting is implemented; and

(f) detecting a predetermined period of inactivity by an Immobility sensor thereby activating Stage 1 alarm;

(g) broadcasting a Stage 1 alarm message via an on-board audio recorder/player and internal and external speakers to the user, requesting the user to respond to a recorded message, upon activation of the Stage 1 alarm;

(h) playing of a recorded message, upon activation of the alarm, via the speaker/s to the user via the audio player, requesting the user to depress a cancel alarm button; and

(i) activating the Stage 2 alarm if the user fails to intervene or respond to the Stage 1 alarm.

22. The method according to claim 21 wherein if the user fails to intervene or respond to Stage 1 alarm, and the Stage 2 alarm is activated, an automatic emergency alert message is sent to an emergency contact or contacts.

23-34. -34. (canceled)