System for generating periodic reports, generating trend analysis, and intervention in accordance with trend analysis from a detection subsystem for monitoring daily living activity

• US 5,692,215 A
• Filed: 12/23/1994
• Issued: 11/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel-GE Care Innovations, LLC (Intel Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Gerotech, Inc.
• Inventors: Kutzik, David M., Glascock, Anthony P., Hewett, Thomas T., Chute, Douglas L., Hornum, Barbara G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Anderson I.
• Application Number:
  US08/363,495
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 395/200, 395/325, 395/650, 364/413.02, 364/413.03, 364/479, 364/146, 340/618, 340/506, 340/541, 340/551, 340/600
• US Class Current: 710/18
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0423 detecting deviation from an expected pattern of behaviour or schedule
• 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 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

Abstract

A system is provided for monitoring a user in a user living area. The system includes a system controller and an activity detection subsystem. The activity detection subsystem monitors a daily living activity of the user and provides information representative of the daily living activity to the system controller. The system controller includes a control circuit which generates a control signal in response to the daily living activity information obtained by the activity detection subsystem. Control information from the system controller is applied by way of a control information communication channel both to the activity detection subsystem and to a remote monitoring site. The activity detection subsystem may be a system for determining the movement of the user around the home, medication compliance by the user, problems with usage of stoves or other potentially dangerous appliances, and selected auxiliary appliances.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a user in a user living area, said system including a remote monitoring site, comprising:

a system controller;

an activity detection subsystem for monitoring a daily living activity of the user independently of physiological measurements, said activity detection subsystem having at least one detector device capable of being activated in response to said occurrence of said daily living activity and capable of determining at said user living area that said daily living activity has occurred to provide to the system controller information representative or said daily living activity, said system controller having a control circuit for generating a control signal in response to said daily living activity information;

a control information communication channel for applying said control signal to said remote monitoring site;

a report generator for generating a scheduled periodic reports on daily living activities, said reports having collections of said information representative of selected daily living activities;

a generator for generating a trend analysis in accordance with said reports of said information on said daily living activities; and

means for intervening in said user living area in accordance with said trend analysis.

2. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 1, wherein said activity detection subsystem comprises a motion detector subsystem for detecting motion of said user.

3. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 2, further comprising a switch coupled to an object for detecting movement of said object.

4. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 3, wherein said switch comprises a reed switch connected to a door.

5. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 2, wherein said user living area comprises a bed and said motion detector subsystem is disposed within said user living area to determine whether said user is disposed in said bed.

6. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 2, wherein said system controller comprises timing means for acting cooperatively with said motion detector subsystem to determine a period of user inactivity.

7. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 6, further comprising means for determining that said period of user inactivity is longer than a predetermined time period.

8. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 1, wherein said activity detection subsystem comprises a medicine compliance detection subsystem.

9. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 8, wherein said medicine compliance detector subsystem comprises:

a medication container for containing medication; and

,

a medication container holder for holding said medication container, said medication container holder including means for determining whether said medication container is disposed within said medication container holder.

10. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 1, wherein said activity detection subsystem comprises a water use detection subsystem.

11. The system for monitoring a user in a living area claim 10, wherein said water use detection subsystem comprises a water level detector.

12. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 1, wherein said activity detection subsystem comprises an auxiliary appliance detection subsystem.

13. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 1, wherein said activity detection subsystem comprises a stove use subsystem.

14. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 1, wherein said system controller comprises a multi-channel radio frequency receiver.

15. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 1, wherein said user living area is provided with a power supply line and said system controller comprises a power line transmitter for applying said control signal to said activity detection subsystem by way of said power supply line.

16. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 1, wherein said activity detection subsystem comprises a controller receiver for receiving said control signal from said system controller by way of said power supply line.

17. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 1, wherein said system controller comprises voice data storage for storing voice messages and providing said voice messages to said user.

18. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 1, wherein said user living area is provided with a telephone line and said system controller applies said control signal to said remote monitoring site by way of said telephone line.

19. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 1, further comprising means for intervening in said user living area in accordance with said control information and a predetermined intervention protocol.

20. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 1, further comprising means for separating said information into priority information and standard information and immediately transferring said priority information to said remote monitoring site.

21. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 1, including a plurality of said user living areas each user living area of said plurality of user living areas being provided with a system controller and a control information communication channel and each providing information representative of a daily living activity within said user living areas of said plurality of user living areas comprising means for aggregating information supplied by said control information communication channels.

22. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 1, further comprising means for applying said control signal to said activity detection subsystem.

23. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 1, wherein said activity detection subsystem comprises means for providing information representative of said daily living activity independently of any attachments to said user.

24. A system having a power line and a plurality of user living areas for monitoring a user in said user living areas, said system including a remote monitoring site, comprising:

a system controller and a control information communication channel providing information representative of daily living activities within the user living areas of said plurality of user living areas, each system controller including a radio frequency receiver;

an activity detection subsystem for monitoring a daily living activity of said user independently of physiological measurements, said activity detection subsystem having at least one detector device capable of being activated in response to said occurrence of said daily living activity and capable of determining at said user living area that said daily living activity has occurred to provide to the system controller information representative of said daily living activity, said system controller having a control circuit for generating a control signal in response to said daily living activity information;

a power line transmitter for applying said control signal to said subsystem by way of said power line;

a controller receiver for receiving said control signal by way of said power line;

a control information communication channel in each user living area of said plurality of user living areas for applying said control signal to said remote monitoring site;

means fur aggregating information supplied by said control information control channels;

a motion detector disposed within said user living area to detect the motion of said user and determine whether said user is out of a bed; and

a timer cooperating with said motion detector for determining a period of user inactivity.

25. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 24, further comprising means for generating reports of said daily living activities, said reports having collections of said information representative of said daily living activity.

26. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 25, further comprising means for generating scheduled periodic reports.

27. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 26, wherein said periodic reports comprise information on selected daily living activities.

28. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 25, further comprising means for generating a trend analysis in accordance with said reports of said information on said daily living activities.

29. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 28, further comprising means for detecting changes in said trends.

30. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 25, further comprising means for generating summaries of said reports of said information representative of said daily living activity.

31. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 30, further comprising means for distributing said summaries.

32. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 28, further comprising means for intervening in said user living area in accordance with said trend analysis.

33. A system having a power line and a plurality of user living areas for monitoring a user in said user living areas, said system including a remote monitoring site, comprising:

a system controller and a control information communication channel providing information representative of daily living activities within the user living areas of said plurality of user living areas, each system controller including a radio frequency receiver;

an activity detection subsystem for monitoring a daily living activity said user independently of physiological measurements, said activity detection subsystem having at least one detector device capable of being activated in response to said occurrence or said daily living activity and capable of determining at said user living area that said daily living activity has occurred to provide to the system controller information representative of said daily living activity, said system controller having a control circuit for generating a control signal in response to said daily living activity information;

a power line transmitter for applying said control signal to said subsystem by way of said power line;

a controller receiver for receiving said control signal by way of said power line;

a control information communication channel in each user living area of said plurality of user living areas for applying said control signal to said remote monitoring site; and

said activity detection subsystem including a water use detection subsystem.

34. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 33, further comprising a report generator for generating reports of said daily living activities, said reports having collections of said information representative of said daily living activity.

35. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 34, further comprising means for generating scheduled periodic reports.

36. The system for monitoring a user in a user living areas of claim 35, wherein said periodic reports include information on selected daily living activities.

37. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 34, further comprising means for generating a trend analysis in accordance with said reports of said information on said daily living activities.

38. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 37, further comprising means for detecting changes in said trends.

39. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 34, further comprising means for generating summaries of said reports of said information representative of said daily living activity.

40. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 39;

further comprising means for distributing said summaries.

41. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 33, comprising means for intervening in said user living area in accordance with said control information and a predetermined intervention protocol.

42. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 33, further comprising means for separating said information into priority information and standard information and immediately transferring said priority information to said remote monitoring site.

43. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 37, further comprising means for intervening in said user living area in accordance with said trend analysis.

44. A system having a power line and a plurality of user living areas for monitoring a user in said user living areas, said system including a remote monitoring site, comprising:

a system controller and a control information communication channel providing information representative of daily living activities within the user living areas of said plurality of user living areas, each system controller including a radio frequency receiver;

an activity detection subsystem for monitoring a daily living activity of said user independently of physiological measurements, said activity detection subsystem having at least one detector device capable of being activated in response to said occurrence of said daily living activity and capable of determining at said user living area that said daily living activity has occurred to provide to the system controller information representative of said daily living activity, said system controller having a control circuit for generating a control signal in response to said daily living activity information;

a power line transmitter for applying said control signal to said subsystem by way of said power line;

a controller receiver for receiving said control signal by way of said power line;

a control informational communication channel in each user living area of said plurality of user living areas for applying said control signal to said remote monitoring site; and

said activity detection subsystem including a stove use subsystem.

45. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 44, further comprising a report generator for generating reports of said daily living activities, said reports having collections of said information representative of said daily living activity.

46. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 45, further comprising means for generating scheduled periodic reports.

47. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 46, wherein said periodic reports include information of selected daily living activities.

48. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 45, further comprising means for generating a trend analysis in accordance with said reports of said information of said daily living activities.

49. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 48, further comprising means for detecting changes in said trends.

50. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 45, further comprising means for generating summaries of said reports of said information representative of said daily living activity.

51. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 50, further comprising means for distributing said summaries.

52. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 44, comprising means for intervening in said user living area in accordance with said control information and a predetermined intervention protocol.

53. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 44, further comprising means for separating said information into priority information and standard information and immediately transferring said priority information to said remote monitoring site.

54. The system for monitoring a user in a user living area of claim 48, further comprising means for intervening in said user living area in accordance with said trend analysis.