Method for detecting falls and a fall detector
First Claim
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1. A method of detecting a fall by a user, the method comprising:
- with a processor or computer, processing measurements obtained from one or more sensors to extract a respective value for a plurality of features associated with a fall, wherein processing the measurements includes processing measurements obtained from an air pressure sensor to extract values indicating changes in altitude;
with a processor or computer, determining a respective log likelihood ratio for each of said extracted values;
with a processor or computer, determining whether the user has fallen based on the determined log likelihood ratios; and
with a transmitter, in response to determining that the user has fallen, transmitting a signal indicating the user has fallen.
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Abstract
A method for detecting a fall by a user includes a method of detecting a fall by a user. The method includes processing measurements obtained from one or more sensors to extract a respective value for a plurality of features associated with a fall. A respective log likelihood ratio for each of the values is determined. Whether the user has fallen is determined based on the determined log likelihood ratios.
32 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of detecting a fall by a user, the method comprising:
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with a processor or computer, processing measurements obtained from one or more sensors to extract a respective value for a plurality of features associated with a fall, wherein processing the measurements includes processing measurements obtained from an air pressure sensor to extract values indicating changes in altitude; with a processor or computer, determining a respective log likelihood ratio for each of said extracted values; with a processor or computer, determining whether the user has fallen based on the determined log likelihood ratios; and with a transmitter, in response to determining that the user has fallen, transmitting a signal indicating the user has fallen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A fall detector, comprising:
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a means for determining altitude changes; an accelerometer configured to determine activity levels; a processor that is configured to; extract altitude change values from the determined altitude changes, determine an altitude change log likelihood ratio for said altitude change values, when the altitude change log ratio exceeds an altitude change threshold, extract activity level values from the determined activity levels, determine an activity level log ratio for the activity level values; and determine whether the user has fallen based on the determined altitude change and activity level log likelihood ratios.
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13. An apparatus for detecting a fall by a user, the apparatus comprising:
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an altitude sensor means for determining a change in altitude and outputting an altitude signal, the altitude sensor means being configured to be attached to the user; a computer or processor programmed to; receive the altitude signal, extract altitude values from the altitude signal, determine log likelihood ratios for the altitude values, analyze the log likelihood ratios to determine whether the user has fallen; and a transmitter configured to transmit a fall signal when the user is determined to have fallen. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification