IP Library Granted Patent US 11,043,100
Granted Patent B2
US 11,043,100 · App. 16/808,531 · Granted Jun 22, 2021

Method for detecting fall of a user

Inventor: Jorn Op Den Buijs (Eindhoven, NL)
Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
G08B21/0446A61B5/1117G01P15/18G08B21/043G08B29/26G08B31/00A61B2560/0257
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,043,100
App. No.
16/808,531
Granted
Jun 22, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

A computer implemented method for detecting a fall of a user within an internal space of a building, the method comprising receiving a first air-pressure sensor signal indicative of change in air-pressure measured at a device worn by the user; receiving a measurement indicative of change in air-pressure within the internal space of the building; and determining the fall of the user based on the change in air-pressure measured at the device and the measurement indicative of change in air-pressure within the internal space of the building.

Claims (37)

1. A computer implemented method for detecting a fall of a user within an internal space of a building, the method comprising:

receiving a first air-pressure sensor signal indicative of change in air-pressure measured at a device worn by the user;

receiving a measurement indicative of change in air-pressure within the internal space of the building, wherein the measurement is derived by synchronizing and averaging multiple measurements of change in pressure of devices worn by a plurality of users in a plurality of buildings in a neighborhood of the building; and

determining the fall of the user based on the change in air-pressure measured at the device and the measurement indicative of change in the air-pressure within the internal space of the building.

2. The computer implemented method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

receiving the measurement indicative of change in the air-pressure within the internal space of the building from an air-pressure sensor placed at a fixed height within the internal space of the building.

3. The computer implemented method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

calculating the measurement indicative of change in the air-pressure within the internal space of the building based on a wind speed outside the building.

4. The computer implemented method according to claim 1 , further comprising:

deriving the measurement indicative of change in the air-pressure within the internal space of the building based on a statistical measure of the air-pressure measured in a plurality of buildings in a neighborhood of the building.

5. The computer implemented method according to claim 1 , wherein the determining the fall of the user further comprises:

determining an air-pressure value based on the change in air-pressure measured at the device and the measurement indicative of change in the air-pressure within the internal space of the building;

comparing the air-pressure value with a pre-determined air-pressure threshold; and

determining the fall based on the comparison.

6. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that are configured, when run on a computer, to receive signals from an air pressure sensor integrated in a device worn by a user and to detect a fall of a user within an internal space of a building, the non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising:

instructions for receiving a first air-pressure sensor signal indicative of change in air-pressure measured at a device worn by the user;

instructions for receiving a measurement indicative of change in air-pressure within the internal space of the building, wherein the measurement is derived by synchronizing and averaging multiple measurements of change in pressure of devices worn by a plurality of users in a plurality of buildings in a neighborhood of the building; and

instructions for determining the fall of the user based on the change in air-pressure measured at the device and the measurement indicative of change in the air-pressure within the internal space of the building.

7. An apparatus configured for detecting a fall of a user within an internal space of a building, the apparatus comprising:

an air-pressure interface configured to receive a first air-pressure signal indicative of change in air-pressure measured at a device worn by the user;

a building air pressure interface to receive a measurement indicative of change in air-pressure within the internal space of the building, wherein the measurement is derived by synchronizing and averaging multiple measurements of change in pressure of devices worn by a plurality of users in a plurality of buildings in a neighborhood of the building; and

a processing unit configured to determine the fall of the user based on the change in air-pressure measured at the device and the measurement indicative of change in the air-pressure within the internal space of the building.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the building air pressure interface is configured to receive the measurement indicative of change in the air-pressure within the internal space of the building from an air-pressure sensor placed at a fixed height within the internal space of the building.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the building air pressure interface is configured to receive the measurement indicative of change in the air-pressure within the internal space of the building from the processing unit, and the processing unit is configured to calculate the measurement indicative of the change in air-pressure within the internal space of the building based on a wind speed outside of the building.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9 , wherein the wind speed is received from at least one of a wind sensor module placed outside of the building and a weather station.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the wind speed is a real-time wind speed.

12. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the building air pressure interface is configured to receive the measurement indicative of change in the air-pressure within the internal space of the building from the processing unit, and the processing unit is configured to calculate the measurement of the air-pressure within the internal space of the building based on a statistical measure of the air-pressure measured in the plurality of buildings in the neighborhood of the building.

13. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the processing unit is configured to determine the fall by:

determining an air-pressure value based on the change in air-pressure measured at the device and the measurement indicative of change in the air-pressure within the internal space of the building;

comparing the air-pressure value with a pre-determined air-pressure threshold; and

determining the fall based on the comparison.

14. A device configured to be worn by the user comprising:

an air pressure sensor configured to measure the air-pressure at the device worn by the user; and

the apparatus according to claim 7 .

15. A system configured for detecting the fall of the user, the system comprising:

the device according to claim 14 ; and

at least one of a wind sensor module and a weather station configured to provide a wind speed outside of the building of the user.

Assignments (5)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2024
From: CRESTLINE DIRECT FINANCE, L.P.
To: LIFELINE SYSTEMS COMPANY
Reel/Frame 069272/0593 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 11, 2024
From: LIFELINE SYSTEMS COMPANY; ANELTO, INC.; 100PLUS, INC.; INSTANT CARE, INC.
To: TCW ASSET MANAGEMENT COMPANY LLC, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 069164/0414 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 20, 2021
From: AMERICAN MEDICAL ALERT CORP.; LIFELINE SYSTEMS COMPANY
To: CRESTLINE DIRECT FINANCE, L.P.
Reel/Frame 056923/0131 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 16, 2021
From: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
To: LIFELINE SYSTEMS COMPANY
Reel/Frame 056894/0075 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2020
From: OP DEN BUIJS, JORN
To: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
Reel/Frame 052015/0498 →