ELECTRICAL PLUG DEVICE FOR MONITORING PERSONAL ACTIVITY

• US 20170140628A1
• Filed: 07/07/2015
• Published: 05/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Westfield Contributory Health Scheme Ltd.
• Original Assignee: 3rings Care Ltd.
• Inventors: PURDHAM, Stephen, REAKES, Gareth
• Granted Patent: US 9,799,191 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0407 based on behaviour analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0423 detecting deviation from an expected pattern of behaviour or schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0484 Arrangements monitoring consumption of a utility or use of an appliance which consumes a utility to detect unsafe condition, e.g. metering of water, gas or electricity, use of taps, toilet flush, gas stove or electric kettle
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A method of operating a server for remotely monitoring personal activity, the method comprising: generating and sending a message to at least one user equipment, UE, if one of the following conditions is met: the server receives a signal from an electrical plug device and the received signal is in accordance with an expected pattern of signals; or the server receives a signal from an electrical plug device and the received signal is not in accordance with an expected pattern of signals; or the server does not receive a signal from an electrical plug device when a signal is expected in accordance with an expected pattern of signals.

Claims

1. A method of operating a server for remotely monitoring personal activity, the method comprising:

generating and sending a message to at least one user equipment, UE, if one of the following conditions is met;

the server receives a signal from an electrical plug device and the received signal is in accordance with an expected pattern of signals;

or

the server receives a signal from an electrical plug device and the received signal is not in accordance with an expected pattern of signals;

or

the server does not receive a signal from an electrical plug device when a signal is expected in accordance with an expected pattern of signals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein

the signal is stored in a memory;

and

the expected pattern of signals is estimated by a computer algorithm and is based on a plurality of stored signals.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein

the expected pattern of signals is based on prior knowledge of personal activity and is registered at the server by a user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the generated message is sent to a plurality of UEs.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the UE is a mobile phone or a PC or a tablet computer.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the expected pattern of signals is considered in a pre-set number of discrete time windows.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the likelihood of receiving a signal in a time window depends on behavior in previous time windows and is calculated with a Markov model.

5. A method for remotely monitoring personal activity, the method comprising:

at an electrical plug device, sending a signal to a server each time an apparatus connected to the electrical plug device is switched on or switched off;

at the server, receiving the signal;

establishing whether the signal is in accordance with an expected pattern of signals;

generating a message if the signal is in accordance with the expected pattern of signals or if the signal is not in accordance with the expected pattern of signals,

sending a message the a user equipment, UE; and

at the UE, receiving the message.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein

at the server, the signal is stored in a memory;

and

the expected pattern of signals is estimated based on a plurality of stored signals.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein

the expected pattern of signals is based on prior knowledge of the personal activity.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the generated message is sent to a plurality of UEs.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising

sending a second message from one of the plurality of UEs to the server if the first message indicates that the signal is not in accordance with the expected pattern of signals, the second message indicating that the user of the UE will take an action;

sending a third message from the server to the other UEs to inform the users of the other UEs that the user will take an action.

13. A plug device comprising:

means for plugging the plug device into a mains electrical socket;

means for receiving a plug from an electrical apparatus; and

means for communicating with a server;

the device being arranged to send a signal to the server if the state of the electrical apparatus changes.

14. The plug device of claim 13, wherein the server is a mobile network server.

15. The plug device of claim 13, wherein the server is an internet server and the plug device further comprises wireless communication means.

16. The plug device of claim 14, further comprising a subscriber identification module, SIM, card.

17. The plug device of claim 13, further comprising an electric current analyzer arranged to detect whether the electrical apparatus is switched on, switched off or on standby.