System and method to monitor a person in a residence

• US 8,516,514 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2009
• Issued: 08/20/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Belz, Steven, Pratt, James, Van Vleck, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Chenea
• Application Number:
  US12/579,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20110093876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 725/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0423 detecting deviation from an expected pattern of behaviour or schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0492 Sensor dual technology, i.e. two or more technologies collaborate to extract unsafe condition, e.g. video tracking and RFID tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 60/33 Arrangements for monitoring the users' behaviour or opinions

Abstract

Systems and methods to monitor a person in a residence are provided. A particular method includes receiving data from a set-top box (STB) device at a monitoring service. The data includes location information from a location system in a residence that monitors a location of a person in the residence. The data includes usage information regarding usage of a plurality of devices in the residence. The data also includes a time stamp associated with the location information and the usage information. The method includes analyzing the data based on a profile of the person to determine whether one or more alert conditions are satisfied. The method also includes sending a notification when the one or more alert conditions are satisfied.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, wherein the memory stores instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations including;

receiving data from a set-top box device, the data relating to usage of each device of a plurality of devices within a residence and a location of a person within the residence;

analyzing the data from the set-top box device to determine if an alert condition is satisfied, wherein the alert condition is satisfied in response to satisfaction of a usage threshold of a particular device of the plurality of devices and satisfaction of a location condition based on the location of the person within the residence; and

in response to the alert condition being satisfied and while a video camera is inactive, sending a notification to the set-top box, wherein the notification indicates that the video camera is to be activated, the notification includes a first option that enables the person within the residence to block activation of the video camera, and the notification directs the set-top box to send the notification to a user device that is associated with the person within the residence and that is distinct from the set-top box and the video camera, and wherein the notification further includes a list of a plurality of third parties that are to receive a video stream upon activation of the video camera and a second option to block sending of the video stream to a subset of the plurality of third parties.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the video camera is configured to be controlled by signals sent to the set-top box device by a third party in response to the alert condition.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the notification is a visual notification, an audio notification, or a combination thereof, and wherein the user device is a display screen that is proximate to the person, a speaker that is proximate to the person, or a combination thereof.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein activation of the video camera is blocked in response to the set-top box device receiving input from the person.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the input is a verbal response from the person.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the input is received via a remote control device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the location of the person is determined by a radio frequency identification emitter attached to the person and a radio frequency identification detector located in the residence, the radio frequency identification detector configured to receive a signal from the radio frequency identification emitter.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the usage threshold specifies that the particular device is being used for a duration of time that is longer than a first threshold duration, and wherein the location condition specifies that the location of the person within the residence is not proximate to the particular device during the duration of time.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the usage threshold specifies that the particular device is being used for a duration of time that is longer than a second threshold duration, and wherein the location condition specifies that the location of the person within the residence is proximate to the particular device during the duration of time.

19. The system of claim 2, wherein servomotors of the video camera are controllable by the signals sent to the set-top box device by the third party to adjust a view of the video camera.

8. A method comprising:

receiving data from a set-top box device at a monitoring service, the data relating to usage of each device of a plurality of devices within a residence and a location of a person within the residence;

analyzing the data to determine whether an alert condition is satisfied, wherein the alert condition is satisfied in response to satisfaction of a usage threshold of a particular device of the plurality of devices and satisfaction of a location condition based on the location of the person within the residence; and

in response to the alert condition being satisfied and while a video camera is inactive, sending a notification to the set-top box, wherein the notification indicates that the video camera is to be activated, the notification includes a first option that enables the person within the residence to block activation of the video camera, and the notification directs the set-top box to send the notification to a user device that is associated with the person within the residence and that is distinct from the set-top box and the video camera, and wherein the notification further includes a list of a plurality of third parties that are to receive a video stream upon activation of the video camera and a second option to block sending of the video stream to a subset of the plurality of third parties.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein satisfaction of the usage threshold specifies that usage information associated with the particular device includes first device state information that indicates usage of the particular device during a first duration of time and wherein the location condition specifies that the location of the person within the residence is proximate to the particular device during the first duration of time.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the particular device is a shower or a bathtub.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

sending a second notification to a third party of the plurality of third parties in response to the alert condition being established; and

determining that the third party requests to view the residence.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the notification is sent to a first device of the plurality of devices via the set-top box, wherein the first device is proximate to the person.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the set-top box device is configured to interrupt a program being sent to the first device prior to sending the notification to the first device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the third party includes a relative of the person, a legal guardian of the person, a health care professional associated with the person, or an emergency services provider.

15. A set-top box device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, wherein the memory stores instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to perform operations including;

receiving location data from a location system within a residence, wherein the location data indicates a location of a person within the residence;

monitoring usage of a plurality of devices within the residence;

sending to a monitoring service the location data and usage data associated with the plurality of devices;

in response to an the alert condition being satisfied and while a video camera is inactive, receiving a notification from the monitoring service, wherein the notification indicates that the video camera will be activated, the notification includes a first option that enables the person within the residence to block activation of the video camera, and is to be sent to a display device distinct from the set-top box and the video camera, and wherein the notification further includes a list of a plurality of third parties that are to receive a video stream upon activation of the video camera and a second option to block sending of the video stream to a subset of the plurality of third parties; and

when no response to the notification is received within a time period, send a signal from the set-top box to initiate activation of the video camera,

wherein the alert condition is satisfied when an analysis of the location data and the usage data indicates satisfaction of a location condition based on the location of the person within the residence.

16. The set-top box device of claim 15, wherein the memory further stores instructions executable by the processor that cause the processor to:

receive biological data from a biosensor coupled to the person; and

send the biological data from the biosensor to the monitoring service.