Smart display device for independent living care

• US 8,184,001 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2008
• Issued: 05/22/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Care Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Intel-GE Care Innovations, LLC (Intel Corporation)
• Inventors: Kuris, Benjamin, Ayer, Steven M., Bomba, Frank C., Busch, Doug F.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US12/316,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20090184821A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 340/541, 340/545.1, 340/545.4, 340/546, 340/547, 340/531, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/540, 340/539.26, 340/506, 340/539.23, 340/539.25, 340/539.3, 340/573.1, 348/500, 348/564, 701/32, 701/33, 600/567, 715/863, 482/8
• US Class Current: 340/539.3
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0461 integrated or attached to an item closely associated with the person but not worn by the person, e.g. chair, walking stick, bed sensor

Abstract

A wireless contextual prompting device provides contextual (context-aware) prompting in the home for applications such as Activities of Daily Living (ADL) monitoring, medication adherence, journaling, social messaging and coaching. The device combines the advantages of a small, wireless, battery-operated sensor that may be easily mounted at critical places in a person'"'"'s daily routine with a low-power, high-contrast display panel that may be palm sized. The context may be displayed on the display screen as images, icons and/or text such that it is easy to interpret warnings by the young, elderly, or the language-challenged.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a motion sensor configured to detect motion of an object in a field of view of the apparatus;

a wireless communication network interface configured to receive dynamic context-aware content in response to the detection motion; and

a user interface output device configured to provide a user interpretable output based on the received context-aware content, wherein the user interface output device shifts from a low-power state to an active state only after presence of the object has been detected with the motion sensor being stationary, and wherein upon the shift from the low-power state to the active state, a request is sent to synchronize local data and obtain profile information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an interface to receive sensed data from a sensing device over a personal area network after the motion of the object has been detected.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a tactile input to allow a user to provide user input based on content displayed on the display panel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display panel is an Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED).

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display panel is electronic paper.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user interface output device comprises a screen configured to provide the user-interpretable output as a displayed text, icon, image, or combination thereof.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the user interface output device comprises a speaker configured to provide the user-interpretable output as audio output, and wherein the apparatus is configured to determine whether the user-interpretable output fits the screen and is configured to provide the user-interpretable output as audio output if the context-aware content is determined to not fit the screen.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is a passive infra-red (PIR) spot-type motion sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, a radio frequency proximity sensor, an imaging sensor, or any combination thereof.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a mounting hole is provided on the apparatus, the mounting hole configured to allow the apparatus to be mounted on a wall, a door, a home appliance, or any combination thereof.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an accelerometer, wherein the apparatus is configured to detect an opening of a door based on an indication from the accelerometer, and wherein the user interface output device is configured to present, based on detecting the opening of the door and based on the time of day, an indication to the user that he or she should not leave through the door.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an analog-to-digital converter interface, wherein the apparatus is configured to disable the analog-to-digital converter interface when presence of the user has not been detected.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor, wireless communication network interface, and user interface output device are at least partially housed in a housing of the apparatus.

13. A method comprising:

detecting presence of a user based on detecting motion of an object with a motion sensor;

receiving dynamic context-aware content in response to the detected presence;

activating a user interface output device only after the presence of the user has been detected with the motion sensor being stationary; and

providing a user interpretable output through the user interface output device based on the received context-aware content and based on a location of the user interface output device in a home environment and based on a time of day.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving sensed data from a sensing device over a personal area network after the motion of the object has been detected.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

allowing a user to provide user input based on content displayed on the display panel.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising

determining whether the user-interpretable output fits a screen of the user interface output device;

providing the user-interpretable output as a displayed text, icon, image, or combination thereof if the user-interpretable output is determined to fit the screen; and

providing the user-interpretable output as audio output if the user-interpretable output is determined to not fit the screen.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein power is applied to the user interface output while the user interface output is activated.

18. An apparatus comprising:

a motion sensor configured to detect motion of an object in a field of view of the apparatus;

a wireless communication network interface configured to receive dynamic context-aware content in response to the detection motion; and

a user interface output device configured to provide a user interpretable output based on the received context-aware content, wherein the user interface output device shifts from a low-power state to an active state only after presence of a user has been detected with the motion sensor being stationary.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the user interpretable output includes a reminder of a scheduled activity.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the user interpretable output is based on a time of day and a location of the apparatus within a dwelling.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the apparatus is configured to communicate with a remote caregiver via the wireless communication network interface.

22. A system comprising:

an apparatus having a housing that at least partially houses;

a motion sensor configured to detect motion of an object in a field of view of the apparatus;

a wireless communication network interface configured to communicate dynamic context-aware content to the user interface output device,

a user interface output device configured to provide a user interpretable output based on the dynamic context-aware content,

wherein the user interface output device shifts from a low-power state to an active state only after presence of a user has been detected with the motion sensor being stationary;

the system further comprising a second sensor configured to communicate wirelessly with the apparatus, wherein the context-aware content is based on an output from the second sensor.

23. The system of claim 22,

wherein the second sensor is coupled to an appliance, the second sensor configured to communicate a state of operation of the appliance to the wireless communication network interface of the appliance.