Systems and Methods for Balance Deviation Detection in a Monitoring System

1 . A system for determining deviation from a balance norm, the system comprising:

a user detached monitor device, wherein the user detached monitor device includes:

a camera;

an accelerometer;

a display;

a processor; and

a computer readable medium including non-transitory instructions executable by the processor to:

capture an image of a monitored individual showing the monitored individual moving in accordance with a movement instruction;

receive movement data from the accelerometer time correlated to the image of the monitored individual;

generate a balance characteristic based at least in part on the movement data; and

compare the balance characteristic with a baseline balance threshold.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the baseline balance threshold is specific to the monitored individual.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the baseline balance threshold is generic to multiple monitored individuals.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the movement instruction is an instruction to walk in a straight line, and wherein the balance characteristic is a lateral acceleration per step.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the movement instruction is an instruction to stand on one foot, and wherein the balance characteristic is a lateral acceleration per time period.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer readable medium further includes instructions executable by the processor to:

based at least in part on the comparison of the balance characteristic with the baseline balance threshold, report that the monitored individual is likely impaired.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the monitored individual is considered likely impaired when the balance characteristic is more than ten percent greater than the baseline balance threshold.

8 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the monitored individual is considered likely impaired when the balance characteristic is more than twenty percent greater than the baseline balance threshold.

9 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the monitored individual is considered likely impaired when the balance characteristic is more than thirty percent greater than the baseline balance threshold.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises:

a user attached monitor device physically attached to the monitored individual; and

wherein the computer readable medium further includes instructions executable by the processor to:

receive a test setup request from the user attached monitor device, wherein the test setup request indicates a balance test; and

start the balance test by: enabling the camera and the accelerometer, and requesting that the monitored individual comply with the movement instruction.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer readable medium further includes instructions executable by the processor to:

receive an image of the face of the monitored individual via the camera; and

determine the identity of the monitored individual based at least in part on the image of the face of the monitored individual.

12 . A method for detecting balance deviation in a monitored individual, the method comprising:

providing a visual instruction to a monitored individual via a display on a user detached monitor device, wherein the visual instruction directs the monitored individual to move in a particular way;

capturing an image of a monitored individual using a camera on the user detached monitor device showing the monitored individual moving in accordance with an movement instruction;

receiving movement data from an accelerometer on the user detached monitor device, wherein the movement data is time correlated to the image of the monitored individual;

generating a balance characteristic based at least in part on the movement data; and

comparing the balance characteristic with a baseline balance threshold.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the movement instruction is an instruction to walk in a straight line, and wherein the balance characteristic is a lateral acceleration per step.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the movement instruction is an instruction to stand on one foot, and wherein the balance characteristic is a lateral acceleration per time period.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the computer readable medium further includes instructions executable by the processor to:

based at least in part on the comparison of the balance characteristic with the baseline balance threshold, report that the monitored individual is likely impaired via a wireless communication network.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the monitored individual is considered likely impaired when the balance characteristic is more than twenty percent greater than the baseline balance threshold.

17 . A system for determining balance deviation for a monitored individual, the system comprising:

a user attached monitor device physically coupled to a monitored individual;

a user detached monitor device communicably coupled to the user attached monitor device, wherein the user detached monitor device includes:

an accelerometer;

a display;

a first processor; and

a first computer readable medium including first instructions executable by the first processor to:

receive movement data from the accelerometer time;

generate a balance characteristic based at least in part on the movement data; and

compare the balance characteristic with a baseline balance threshold; and

wherein the user attached monitor device includes:

a second processor; and

a second computer readable medium including second instructions executable by the second processor to transmit a request to begin balance test to the user detached monitor device via a wireless communication link.

18 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the movement instruction is an instruction to walk in a straight line, and wherein the balance characteristic is a lateral acceleration per step.

19 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the movement instruction is an instruction to stand on one foot, and wherein the balance characteristic is a lateral acceleration per time period.

20 . The system of claim 19 , wherein the user detached monitor device further includes a camera, and wherein the first computer readable medium further includes instructions executable by the first processor to:

receive an image of the face of the monitored individual via the camera; and

determine the identity of the monitored individual based at least in part on the image of the face of the monitored individual.