Method and process for determining whether an individual suffers a fall requiring assistance
First Claim
1. A method for automatically detecting when a monitored individual within a dwelling has fallen or otherwise indicated that he or she needs medical assistance, said method comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing one or more 3D motion and sound sensors within one or more rooms of a dwelling occupied by an individual who is to be monitored;
(b) configuring the one or more sensors to capture data from the one or more rooms, said data including movement and alignment information for the monitored individual whenever the individual moves within the one or more rooms;
(c) capturing the data by the 3D motion and sound sensors concerning the one or more rooms regardless of whether any movements or sounds have occurred in the one or more rooms;
(d) forwarding the data to the computerized monitoring system by the one or more sensors prior to the individual falling or making a gesture corresponding to a pre-programmed gesture recognizable by the computerized monitoring system to allow the computerized monitoring system to continually monitor the data sent by the 3D motion and sound sensors; and
(e) receiving a message by the individual from a computerized communication system in communication with the computerized monitoring system to determine whether or not the individual needs assistance when the remote computerized monitoring system detects based on the movement and alignment information contained in the data forwarded from the one or more 3D Motion and Sound sensors that the individual has fallen or gestured that he or she needs assistance.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for monitoring an individual in a dwelling so as to know when such individual falls or indicates the need of assistance. A plurality of 3D motion and sound sensors are located in the dwelling and provide data to a computerized monitoring system. The sensors are configured to recognize one or more biometric identifiers of the individual being monitored. When the monitoring system detects that the individual has fallen or gestured, a computerized communication system contacts the individual to determine the need to send assistance to help the individual. Where assistance is required the system automatics contacts the previously designated caregiver for the individual and can also contact emergency personnel.
87 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for automatically detecting when a monitored individual within a dwelling has fallen or otherwise indicated that he or she needs medical assistance, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing one or more 3D motion and sound sensors within one or more rooms of a dwelling occupied by an individual who is to be monitored; (b) configuring the one or more sensors to capture data from the one or more rooms, said data including movement and alignment information for the monitored individual whenever the individual moves within the one or more rooms; (c) capturing the data by the 3D motion and sound sensors concerning the one or more rooms regardless of whether any movements or sounds have occurred in the one or more rooms; (d) forwarding the data to the computerized monitoring system by the one or more sensors prior to the individual falling or making a gesture corresponding to a pre-programmed gesture recognizable by the computerized monitoring system to allow the computerized monitoring system to continually monitor the data sent by the 3D motion and sound sensors; and (e) receiving a message by the individual from a computerized communication system in communication with the computerized monitoring system to determine whether or not the individual needs assistance when the remote computerized monitoring system detects based on the movement and alignment information contained in the data forwarded from the one or more 3D Motion and Sound sensors that the individual has fallen or gestured that he or she needs assistance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for continually monitoring a designated individual in a dwelling in order to automatically detect when such individual falls or otherwise is in need of medical assistance, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving by a computerized monitoring system data from one or more 3D motion and sound sensors located within a remote dwelling independent of and prior to an individual located in the dwelling falling or making a gesture corresponding to a pre-programmed gesture recognizable by the computerized monitoring system, wherein the data including movement and alignment information for an individual being monitored individual whenever the individual moves within the one or more rooms;
wherein the one or more sensors capture and forward data concerning images of the one or more;(b) continually monitoring data being sent by the computerized monitoring system; (c) detecting from the movement and alignment information contained in the data received from the one or more 3D Motion and Sound sensors that the individual has fallen or has made a gesture corresponding to a pre-programmed gesture by the computerized monitoring system; and (d) contacting the individual by a computerized communication system to determine whether the individual needs assistance sent to the dwelling after detecting that the individual has fallen or made the gesture. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for monitoring a designated individual in a dwelling in order to detect when such individual falls or otherwise is in need of medical assistance, said method comprising the steps of:
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(a) receiving by a computerized monitoring system data forwarded from one or more 3D motion and sound sensors located within a remote dwelling independent of and prior to an individual located in the dwelling falling or making a gesture corresponding to a pre-programmed gesture recognizable by the remote computerized monitoring system and regardless of whether there is any movement or sound occurring in the dwelling, wherein the data including movement and alignment information for an individual being monitored individual whenever the individual moves within the one or more rooms; (b) continually monitoring data being sent by the computerized monitoring system; (c) detecting from the movement and alignment information contained in the data received from the one or more 3D motion and sound sensors that the individual has fallen or has made a gesture corresponding to a pre-programmed gesture by the computerized monitoring system; (d) contacting the individual by a computerized communication system to determine whether the individual needs assistance sent to the dwelling after detecting that the individual has fallen or made the gesture; (e) receiving information from the individual as to whether or not to send assistance to the dwelling; and (f) notifying a previously designated caregiver when the individual indicates that he or she needs assistance in step (e). - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification