Remote motion monitoring system

• US 8,344,876 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2008
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Health Hero Network Incorporated (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Health Hero Network Incorporated (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Brown, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, An T
• Application Number:
  US12/047,397
• Publication Number:
  US 20090273444A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,755 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825, 340/10.1, 340/500, 340/531, 340/539.1, 34053911-53913, 340/286.07, 340/572.1, 340/10, 340/539, 600/595
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

A system, apparatus, and method for motion monitoring. In an embodiment, a plurality of self-powered active Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transmitters are each configured to intermittently transmit radio frequency pulse at a rate proportional to motion, containing identification information. The pulse produced by each of the RFID transmitters are received and analyzed at a receiver. The analysis results in the identification of pattern of activity, which is used to produce meaningful data regarding the motion of a user. The RFID transmitters may be provided on a wearable tag.

Claims

1. A motion monitoring system comprising:

a plurality of self-powered active Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transmitters each intermittently transmitting RF pulses at a rate proportional to motion of a user wearing said RFID transmitters, wherein each RFID transmitter transmits an RF pulse upon reaching a predefined threshold, said RF pulse comprises identification information and motion information pertaining to a pattern of activity being performed by said user, said pattern of activity being quantitatively represented in any of a graphical and mathematical manner, said user comprising a human being, and said pattern of activity comprises predefined movements performed by said user, and wherein said each RFID transmitter comprises a triaxial piezoelectric accelerometer that senses said motion of said user; and

a receiver that receives and analyzes said RF pulses produced by each of said RFID transmitters to identify said pattern of activity and produce meaningful data characterizing said pattern of activity, wherein said receiver compares a variance in said pattern of activity with previously saved data of a previous pattern of activity of said user and with data related to a standard, predefined description of said pattern of activity to determine differences over time of the patterns of activity of said user, wherein said receiver calibrates and re-calibrates said RF pulses, wherein said receiver is calibrated and re-calibrated based on said pattern of activity being performed by said user, and wherein the re-calibration of said receiver occurs based on a specific pattern of activity of a particular user compared with said previously saved data and said predefined data.

2. The motion monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of RFID transmitters are positioned on various parts of said user.

3. The motion monitoring system of claim 2, wherein said pattern of activity comprises defined physical movements being performed by various parts of said user.

4. The motion monitoring system of claim 2, wherein said RFID transmitters positioned on a first user comprise unique said RF pulses differentiated over RF pulses transmitted by RFID transmitters positioned on a second user, wherein said first user comprises a first human being and said second user comprises a second human being.

5. The motion monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said RFID transmitters are attached to a wearable tag.

6. The motion monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said receiver records said RF pulses for future analysis.

7. The motion monitoring system of claim 1, wherein said receiver qualitatively differentiates between different patterns of activity.

8. The motion monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising a server that receives said meaningful data from said receiver.

9. The motion monitoring system of claim 8, wherein said server stores and analyzes said meaningful data over a period of time to produce reports.

10. The motion monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising:

a charge storage element storing said electric charge up to a predefined threshold; and

a discharging element discharging the stored electric charge upon reaching said predefined threshold;

wherein said RF pulses comprise wireless RF pulses comprising identification information and motion information and are transmitted by said each RFID transmitter upon receiving said stored electric charge, wherein said motion information pertains to said pattern of activity and said pattern of activity comprises predefined movements performed by said user.

11. The tag motion monitoring system of claim 10, wherein said electric charge produced is proportional to said motion of said user.

12. The tag motion monitoring system of claim 10, wherein said charge storage element comprises a capacitor.

13. The tag motion monitoring system of claim 10, wherein said discharging element comprises any of a switch and a gate.

14. A method for monitoring physical motion of a human user, said method comprising:

attaching at least one Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) transmitter worn on a body part of said human user;

converting physical motion of said human user into electric charge at the RFID transmitter;

charging a charge storage element from said electric charge;

discharging said charge storage element based on a predefined threshold;

activating an RFID device using said electric charge to produce an RF pulse comprising identification information and motion information, wherein transmission of said identification information and motion information is based on said predefined threshold;

transmitting said RF pulse from said RFID transmitter to a receiver to compare and analyze a pattern of said physical motion of said human user to a plurality of predefined patterns of activity; and

comparing a variance in a pattern of activity of said user with previously saved data of a previous pattern of activity of said user and with data related to a standard, predefined description of said pattern of activity to determine differences over time of the patterns of activity of said user,

wherein said receiver calibrates and re-calibrates said RF pulse, wherein said receiver is calibrated and re-calibrated based on said pattern of activity being performed by said user, and wherein the re-calibration of said receiver occurs based on a specific pattern of activity of a particular user compared with said previously saved data and said predefined data.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

producing meaningful data at said receiver, wherein said meaningful data characterizes said pattern of activity;

transmitting said meaningful data to a server; and

storing and analyzing said meaningful data to produce reports.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said RFID transmitter comprises a triaxial piezoelectric accelerometer that senses said physical motion.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the accelerometer charges said charge storage element at a level proportional to said physical motion.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising transmitting said meaningful data for healthcare evaluation.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising making a suggestion to improve performance of a particular pattern of activity being performed by the user based on said meaningful information.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said meaningful data is numerically or logically quantified.