Device for monitoring sleeping individuals

• US 9,277,892 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2013
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sanders, Aaron D.
• Primary Examiner(s): NWUGO, OJIAKO K
• Application Number:
  US13/944,090
• Publication Number:
  US 20150022343A1
• Time in Patent Office: 965 Days
• Field of Search: 340/521
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/04 Babies, e.g. for SIDS detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1116 Determining posture transitions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1128 using image analysis A61B5/1127 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4806 Sleep evaluation A61B5/4821 takes precedence; devices for inducing sleep A61M21/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/746 Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms alarms per se G08B
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/747 in case of emergency, i.e. alerting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses monitor and evaluate the movement and sounds of an individual in a sleeping structure to identify individual movement and sound activities that are outside acceptable movement and sound tolerances. Similarly, the methods and apparatuses monitor and evaluate the gases surrounding the individual and the temperature and humidity to identify environmental conditions that are outside acceptable environmental tolerances. The methods and apparatuses constantly and dynamically change the acceptable movement and sound tolerances and the acceptable environmental tolerances based on the age of the individual and based on historical monitoring of the movement and sounds of the individual, historical monitoring of the gases surrounding the individual, and historical monitoring of the temperature and humidity surrounding the individual. The methods and apparatuses cause the input/output device to provide an audible warning and at least one electronic message warning based on movement, sound, and environmental conditions being outside acceptable tolerances.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a camera operatively connected to said processor;

an input/output device operatively connected to said processor; and

a graphic user interface operatively connected to said processor, an age of an individual within a sleeping structure being input into said graphic user interface,

said camera being positioned to detect movement and sounds of said individual,

said processor keeping track of a monitored age as time progresses based on said age input into said graphic user interface,

said processor evaluating said movement and sounds of said individual to identify individual movement and sound activities that are outside acceptable movement and sound tolerances,

said processor constantly and dynamically changing said acceptable movement and sound tolerances based on said monitored age of said individual and based on historical monitoring of said movement and sounds of said individual,

said processor causing said input/output device to provide an audible warning and at least one electronic message warning based said individual movement and sound activities being outside said acceptable movement and sound tolerances, and

said electronic message warning comprising an electronic message transmitted over a computerized network operatively connected to said input/output device.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, said graphic user interface providing a graphic user interface warning based on said individual movement and sound activities being outside said acceptable movement and sound tolerances.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, said electronic message warning comprising at least one of:

an electronic text message, an electronic social media webpage posting, and a notification to an automated security system.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, said processor constantly and dynamically changing said acceptable movement and sound tolerances based on societal conditions in which said sleeping structure is located.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, said societal conditions comprising family structure, family economic conditions, family health conditions, family dietary conditions, family drug use, family alcohol use, and family tobacco use of a family monitoring said individual within said sleeping structure.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, said movement and sounds of said individual comprising movement and sounds consistent with said individual rolling over from an individual back to an individual front.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a camera operatively connected to said processor;

a gas sensor operatively connected to said processor;

a temperature and humidity sensor operatively connected to said processor; and

an input/output device operatively connected to said processor; and

a graphic user interface operatively connected to said processor, an age of an individual within a sleeping structure being input into said graphic user interface,

said camera being positioned to detect movement and sounds of said individual,

said gas sensor being positioned to detect gases surrounding said individual within said sleeping structure,

said temperature and humidity sensor being positioned to detect a temperature and humidity surrounding said individual within said sleeping structure,

said processor keeping track of a monitored age as time progresses based on said age input into said graphic user interface,

said processor evaluating said movement and sounds of said individual to identify individual movement and sound activities that are outside acceptable movement and sound tolerances,

said processor evaluating said gases surrounding said individual and said temperature and humidity surrounding said individual to identify environmental conditions that are outside acceptable environmental tolerances,

said processor constantly and dynamically changing said acceptable movement and sound tolerances and said acceptable environmental tolerances based on said monitored age of said individual and based on historical monitoring of said movement and sounds of said individual, historical monitoring of said gases surrounding said individual, and historical monitoring of said temperature and humidity surrounding said individual,

said processor causing said input/output device to provide an audible warning and at least one electronic message warning based on at least one of said individual movement and sound activities being outside said acceptable movement and sound tolerances and said environmental conditions being outside said acceptable environmental tolerances, and

said electronic message warning comprising an electronic message transmitted over a computerized network operatively connected to said input/output device.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, said graphic user interface providing a graphic user interface warning based on at least one of said individual movement and sound activities being outside said acceptable movement and sound tolerances and said environmental conditions being outside said acceptable environmental tolerances.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, said electronic message warning comprising at least one of:

an electronic text message, an electronic social media webpage posting, and a notification to an automated security system.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, said processor constantly and dynamically changing said acceptable movement and sound tolerances and said acceptable environmental tolerances based on societal conditions in which said sleeping structure is located.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, said societal conditions comprising family structure, family economic conditions, family health conditions, family dietary conditions, family drug use, family alcohol use, and family tobacco use of a family monitoring said individual within said sleeping structure.

12. The apparatus according to claim 7, said gases surrounding said individual comprising a percentage of carbon dioxide surrounding said individual, and

said movement and sounds of said individual comprising movement and sounds consistent with said individual rolling over from an individual back to an individual front.

13. A method comprising:

positioning a monitoring device adjacent a sleeping structure;

positioning a camera of said monitoring device to detect movement and sounds of an individual within said sleeping structure;

receiving an age of said individual into a graphic user interface;

keeping track of a monitored age as time progresses based on said age input into said graphic user interface;

automatically evaluating said movement and sounds of said individual to identify individual movement and sound activities that are outside acceptable movement and sound tolerances using a processor of said monitoring device, said processor being operatively connected to said camera;

automatically constantly and dynamically changing said acceptable movement and sound tolerances based on said monitored age of said individual and based on historical monitoring of said movement and sounds of said individual using said processor of said monitoring device; and

providing an audible warning and at least one electronic message warning based on said individual movement and sound activities being outside said acceptable movement and sound tolerances using an input/output device of said monitoring device,

said processor being operatively connected to said input/output device, and

said electronic message warning comprising an electronic message transmitted over a computerized network operatively connected to said input/output device.

14. The method according to claim 13, said graphic user interface providing a graphic user interface warning based on said individual movement and sound activities being outside said acceptable movement and sound tolerances.

15. The method according to claim 13, said providing said electronic message warning comprising providing at least one of:

an electronic text message, an electronic social media webpage posting, and a notification to an automated security system.

16. The method according to claim 13, said constantly and dynamically changing said acceptable movement and sound tolerances being based on societal conditions in which said sleeping structure is located.

17. The method according to claim 16, said societal conditions comprising family structure, family economic conditions, family health conditions, family dietary conditions, family drug use, family alcohol use, and family tobacco use of a family monitoring said individual within said sleeping structure.

18. The method according to claim 13, said movement and sounds of said individual comprising movement and sounds consistent with said individual rolling over from an individual back to an individual front.

19. A method comprising:

positioning a monitoring device adjacent a sleeping structure;

positioning a camera of said monitoring device to detect movement and sounds of an individual within said sleeping structure;

positioning a gas sensor of said monitoring device to detect gases surrounding said individual within said sleeping structure;

positioning a temperature and humidity sensor of said monitoring device to detect a temperature and humidity surrounding said individual within said sleeping structure;

receiving an age of said individual into a graphic user interface;

keeping track of a monitored age as time progresses based on said age input into said graphic user interface;

automatically evaluating said movement and sounds of said individual to identify individual movement and sound activities that are outside acceptable movement and sound tolerances, using a processor of said monitoring device, said processor being operatively connected to said camera, said gas sensor, and said temperature and humidity sensor;

automatically evaluating said gases surrounding said individual and said temperature and humidity surrounding said individual to identify environmental conditions that are outside acceptable environmental tolerances using said processor;

automatically constantly and dynamically changing said acceptable movement and sound tolerances and said acceptable environmental tolerances based on said monitored age of said individual and based on historical monitoring of said movement and sounds of said individual, historical monitoring of said gases surrounding said individual, and historical monitoring of said temperature and humidity surrounding said individual using said processor of said monitoring device; and

providing an audible warning and at least one electronic message warning based on at least one of said individual movement and sound activities being outside said acceptable movement and sound tolerances and said environmental conditions being outside said acceptable environmental tolerances using an input/output device of said monitoring device,

said electronic message warning comprising an electronic message transmitted over a computerized network operatively connected to said input/output device.

20. The method according to claim 19, said graphic user interface providing a graphic user interface warning based on at least one of said individual movement and sound activities being outside said acceptable movement and sound tolerances and said environmental conditions being outside said acceptable environmental tolerances.

21. The method according to claim 19, said providing said electronic message warning comprising providing at least one of:

an electronic text message, an electronic social media webpage posting, and a notification to an automated security system.

22. The method according to claim 19, said constantly and dynamically changing said acceptable movement and sound tolerances and said acceptable environmental tolerances being based on societal conditions in which said sleeping structure is located.

23. The method according to claim 22, said societal conditions comprising family structure, family economic conditions, family health conditions, family dietary conditions, family drug use, family alcohol use, and family tobacco use of a family monitoring said individual within said sleeping structure.

24. The method according to claim 19, said gases surrounding said individual comprising a percentage of carbon dioxide surrounding said individual, and

said movement and sounds of said individual comprising movement and sounds consistent with said individual rolling over from an individual back to an individual front.