IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,464,066
Granted Patent B1
US 12,464,066 · App. 18/669,246 · Granted Nov 4, 2025

Monitoring systems and methods for personal safety

Inventors: Florian Braun (San Antonio, TX); Andre Rene Buentello (San Antonio, TX); Jess W. Gingrich (San Antonio, TX); Timothy Altman (Bulverde, TX); Terry Benton (Celina, TX)
Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
H04M1/72421G01S15/523G01V8/12G08B25/10H04W4/023H04W4/90G08B3/10G08B6/00H04M2250/12H04M2250/52H04N7/188
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,464,066
App. No.
18/669,246
Granted
Nov 4, 2025
Kind
B1
Abstract

A computer-implemented method for monitoring a condition of a person includes receiving, at a computerized device, at least one signal from a condition sensor and determining if a condition is an emergency condition of a user based on the at least one signal.

Claims (33)

1 . A computer-implemented method for monitoring a condition of a user by a smart phone device associated with the user, the method comprising:

receiving, at the smart phone device, at least one electronic signal from a sensor associated with the smart phone device, wherein the received electronic signal is indicative of user movement;

analyzing, in the smart phone device, the received electronic signal to determine if the user has fallen; and

sending, from the smart phone device, responsive to determining the user has fallen, an alert signal to a predetermined third-party indicative the user has fallen;

wherein the received electronic signal is a return signal from a sonic signal transmitted from a condition sensor associated with the smart phone device; and

wherein the condition sensor is configured to ping surroundings of the user to indicate movement of at least one object relative to the user;

the method further including the step of determining an emergency condition relative to the user responsive to determining the received signal deviates from a threshold value.

2 . The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , further including the step: sending, from the smart phone device, responsive to determining the user has fallen, a signal to the predetermined third-party indicative of a condition of the user.

3 . The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , further including the step: sending, from the smart phone device, responsive to determining the user has fallen, a signal to the predetermined third-party indicative of a location of the user.

4 . The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the location of the user is determined by a GPS device associated with the smart phone device.

5 . The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 3 , wherein the location of the user is determined by a wifi signal in proximity to the smart phone device.

6 . The computer-implemented method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the predetermined third party is a known contact to the user.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , further including the steps of:

determining, by the smart phone device, if the user deviates more than a threshold distance from a predetermined travel route; and

sending, from the smart phone device, responsive to determining the user has deviated more than the threshold distance from the predetermined travel route, a signal to the predetermined third-party indicative the user has deviated from the predetermined travel route.

8 . A smart phone device for monitoring a condition of a user associated with the smart phone device, comprising:

a memory;

a sensor device;

a processor disposed in communication with the memory and sensor device, and configured to issue a plurality of instructions stored in the memory, wherein the instructions cause the processor to:

receive at least one electronic signal transmitted from sensor device, wherein the received electronic signal is indicative of movement of the user;

analyze the received electronic signal to determine if the user has fallen; and

send, responsive to determining the user has fallen, an alert signal to a predetermined third-party indicative the user has fallen;

wherein the sensor device is a condition sensor configured to transmit a sonic signal;

wherein the condition sensor is configured to ping surroundings of the user to indicate movement of at least one object relative to the user; and

wherein the processor is further configured to determine an emergency condition relative to the user responsive to determining the received signal deviates from a threshold value.

9 . The smart phone device as recited in claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to, responsive to determining the user has fallen, transmit a signal to the predetermined third-party indicative of a condition of the user.

10 . The smart phone device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to, responsive to determining the user has fallen, a signal to the predetermined third-party indicative of a location of the user.

11 . The smart phone device as recited in claim 10 , wherein the location of the user is determined by a GPS device associated with the smart phone device.

12 . The smart phone device as recited in claim 10 , wherein the location of the user is determined by a wifi signal in proximity to the smart phone device.

13 . The smart phone device as recited in claim 10 , wherein the predetermined third party is a known contact to the user.

14 . The smart phone device as recited in claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine if the user deviates more than a threshold distance from a predetermined travel route; and

send, responsive to determining the user has deviated more than the threshold distance from the predetermined travel route, a signal to the predetermined third-party indicative the user has deviated from the predetermined travel route.

Continuity (6)
Continuation 18221258 · Jul 12, 2023
Continuation 17094376 · Nov 10, 2020
Continuation 16268238 · Feb 5, 2019
Continuation 16000314 · Jun 5, 2018
Continuation 15253242 · Aug 31, 2016
Provisional Application 62214022 · Sep 3, 2015
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