Method of user monitoring of physiological and non-physiological measurements

• US 6,002,994 A
• Filed: 09/09/1994
• Issued: 12/14/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chadbourne, Christopher, Sarah A. Steiger, Stephen S. Lane, William T. Buller
• Original Assignee: Chadbourne, Christopher, Sarah A. Steiger, Stephen S. Lane, William T. Buller
• Inventors: Chadbourne, Christopher, Lane, Stephen S., Buller, William T., Steiger, Sarah A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Application Number:
  US08/302,434
• Time in Patent Office: 1,922 Days
• Field of Search: 702/1, 702/19, 702/187, 702/188, 702/130, 702/131, 702/138, 702/45, 702/46, 702/47
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/17 Catathermometers for measuring "cooling value" related either to weather conditions or to comfort of other human environment
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0423 detecting deviation from an expected pattern of behaviour or schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0453 worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A method for monitoring the activities of a user within a selected environment, which comprises monitoring and reporting the condition of a user in a selected environment, monitoring the time, frequency and duration of use of each of a plurality of selected elements, selected from a plurality of physiological measurements of the user and a plurality of non-physiological measurements from the selected environment, a repeating hub for receiving data from each of the selected elements, transmitting the data from the repeating hub to a central processing unit, analyzing the data received by the central processing unit to establish a pattern of user behavior and normal-use parameters for each of the plurality of selected elements, and signaling beyond the selected environment when at least one selected element exceeds the normal use parameters being monitored.

Claims

1. A method for user monitoring, for monitoring and reporting the condition of a user in a selected environment, which comprises:

a) a sensing means for monitoring the time and duration of use of each of a plurality of selected elements, selected from at least one of physiological measurements of the user and at least one of non-physiological measurements from the selected environment;

b) a reporting means for transmitting the data from each of the monitoring means to a central processing unit;

c) an analyzing means for analyzing the data received by the central processing unit to establish a pattern of user behavior and normal-use parameters for each of the plurality of selected elements being monitored, and for determining potentially dangerous behavior when the normal-use parameters of at least one selected element deviates from the normal-use parameters previously established for that selected element; and

d) a signaling means selected from at least one of the following;

a printing means, a synthesized voice signaling means, a telephone message signal means and a video monitoring means, a visual warning means and an audible warning means, whereby,

the signaling means is used for signaling beyond the selected environment when at least one selected element deviates from the normal-use parameters being monitored.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the physiological measurements selected from the user'"'"'s environment are selected from sensors monitoring at least one of the following:

the user'"'"'s blood pressure, the user'"'"'s heart rate, the user'"'"'s body temperature, the user'"'"'s body weight, and the user'"'"'s blood glucose level.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-physiological measurements selected from the user'"'"'s environment are selected from sensors monitoring at least one of the following:

room temperature, ammonia from spilled urine, methane from spoiling food, a presence of smoke, frequency and duration of electrical use, frequency and duration of water usage, water temperature flowing from a tap, the user'"'"'s movement, and the use of selected appliances.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the use of selected appliances includes sensors for monitoring at least one of the following:

a toilet, telephone, stove, microwave oven, toaster, oven, refrigerator, freezer, dishwasher, bath, shower, garbage disposal means, clothes washer, clothes drier, mail box, door, and vehicle.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one motion detector is used for monitoring the time and movement of the user within the selected environment, and to detect the absence of movement and excessive movement which deviates from the normal use parameters established by the analyzing means.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the signaling means further comprises dialing one or more pre-selected telephone numbers when at least one selected element deviates from the normal use parameters being monitored, and sending a message via telephone to at least one pre-selected telephone number describing the circumstances relating to the deviation of the normal use parameters.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensing means is selected from at least one of the following:

a reed switch, a plunger switch, a pressure sensitive mat, a thermistor, a photo-resistor, a voltage sensitive relay, a smoke detector, a motion detector, a blood pressure monitor, a heart rate monitor, and a weight measuring means.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the motion detector sensing means is selected from at least one of the following:

an ultrasonic motion detector, a passive infrared motion detector, an active infrared motion detector, and a microwave motion detector.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one motion detector is positioned within the selected environment for monitoring a lower zone extending from the floor to about two feet above the floor;

a middle zone extending from about two feet above the floor to about four feet above the floor; and

an upper zone extending from about four feet above the floor to the ceiling.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the transmitting signal from the sensing means is transmitted via a transmitter powered by electricity over power distribution lines.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the transmitter is powered by electricity from a battery source located in proximity to the sensing means.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected environment for monitoring is selected from one of the following:

a room, a home, an apartment, an apartment complex, an office, a nursing home and a hospital.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the repeating hub transmits data in serial fashion in a prearranged sequence to the central processing unit.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the repeating hub transmits data in parallel fashion on separate data links to the central processing unit.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the signaling means transmits selected data from the central processing unit to a remote location via at least one data link selected from the following:

radio signals, ultrasonic signals, infrared signals, and a hard wired link.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the hard wired link for transmitting comprises at least one of the following:

a fiber optic transmission line, a telephone line, a coaxial cable line, a cable television line, and dedicated electric transmission lines.

17. A method for detecting the position and movement of a user within a selected environment, which comprises:

a) a first motion detector for detecting at least a portion of a user along a horizontal plane forming a lower zone extending between the floor and a first middle position selected from eighteen inches to twenty-four inches above the floor;

b) a second motion detector for detecting at least a portion of a user along an upper zone extending in a horizontal plane from a second middle position selected from thirty inches to forty-eight inches above the floor, and extending to an upper position selected from 70 inches to the ceiling of the selected environment; and

c) a middle zone extending between the first middle position of the lower zone, and the second middle position of the upper zone; and

d) at least one transmitting means for transmitting the data from a selected motion detector to central processing unit.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the user monitoring by motion detector is selected from at least one of the following:

a passive ultrasonic motion detector, an active ultrasonic motion detector, a passive infrared motion detector, an active infrared motion detector, and an active microwave motion detector.

19. A method of user monitoring, for monitoring and reporting the condition of a user in a selected environment, which comprises:

a) a monitoring means for monitoring the time, frequency and duration of use of each of a plurality of selected elements, selected from sensors monitoring at least one physiological measurement of the user, comprising the User'"'"'s blood pressure, the user'"'"'s heart rate, the user'"'"'s body temperature, the user'"'"'s body weight, and the user'"'"'s blood glucose level; and

from sensor'"'"'s monitoring at least one non-physiological measurement from the selected environment further comprising the room temperature, ammonia from spilled urine, methane from spoiling food, the presence of smoke, water usage, the user'"'"'s movement, and the use of selected appliances;

b) a reporting means for transmitting the data from each of the monitoring means to a repeating hub;

c) a transmitting means for transmitting the data from the repeating hub to a central processing unit;

d) an analyzing means for analyzing the data received by the central processing unit to establish a pattern of user behavior and normal-use parameters for each of the plurality of selected element; and

e) a signaling means selected from at least one of the following;

a printing means, a synthesized voice signaling means;

a telephone message signaling means, and a video monitoring means, whereby

the signaling means is used for signaling beyond the selected environment when at least one selected element exceeds the normal-use parameters being monitored.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein at least one motion detecting means is used to monitor the time and movement of the user within the selected environment, and to detect the absence of movement and the excessive movement which deviates from the normal use parameters established by the analyzing means.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the sensing means comprises a pressure sensitive mat positioned at the top and bottom of a plurality of stairs to monitor user falls on stairs.

22. A method of user monitoring, for monitoring and reporting the condition of a user in a selected environment, which comprises:

a) a monitoring means for monitoring the time, frequency and duration of use of each of a plurality of selected elements, selected from sensors monitoring at least one physiological measurement of the user, comprising the user'"'"'s blood pressure, the user'"'"'s heart rate, the user'"'"'s body temperature, the user'"'"'s body weight, and the user'"'"'s blood glucose level; and

from sensor'"'"'s monitoring at least one non-physiological measurement from the selected environment further comprising the room temperature, ammonia from spilled urine, methane from spoiling food, the presence of smoke, water usage, the user'"'"'s movement, and the use of selected appliances;

b) a transmitting means for transmitting the data directly from each of the monitoring means to a central processing unit;

c) an analyzing means for analyzing the data received by the central processing unit to establish a pattern of user behavior and normal-use parameters for each of the plurality of selected element; and

e) a signaling means selected from at least one of the following;

a printing means, a synthesized voice signaling means;

a telephone message signaling means, and a video monitoring means, whereby

the signaling means is used for signaling beyond the selected environment when at least one selected element deviates from the normal-use parameters being monitored.