WO1997025697A1

WO1997025697A1 - Method and apparatus for monitoring persons in a dwelling

Info

Publication number: WO1997025697A1
Application number: PCT/IB1997/000006
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jean-Marc Nicolas Vignoli; François Olivier CRESPO
Original assignee: Somfy
Priority date: 1996-01-12
Filing date: 1997-01-06
Publication date: 1997-07-17
Also published as: FR2743651A1; FR2743651B1

Abstract

A method for measuring the movement count of a person being monitored, comparing the measured count with a set value and generating an alarm signal when the measured count is lower than the set value. The monitoring apparatus includes at least one motion sensor (1) and a processing logic unit (2) linked to a telephone module (3) enabling one or more persons to be alerted. Such monitoring meets a number of needs and is particularly useful for extending the independence of elderly persons and minimising their sense of loneliness and isolation.

Description

Method and installation for monitoring people in a home.

The present invention relates to a method and an installation for monitoring people in a dwelling by means of at least one motion detector.

From international patent application WO 94/20 939, there is known a monitoring installation intended for monitoring a person occupying a dwelling alone, this installation consisting of a motion detector associated with a controlled alarm device, on the other hand, by a timing device in such a way that in the absence of motion detection, the alarm device emits, after the timing has elapsed, an alarm signal which can be transmitted remotely . This installation makes it possible to alert the family of an isolated person or a doctor of an abnormal behavior of the person being monitored. The selected delay time corresponds to a normal sleep period. A shorter time delay would cause nuisance alarms.

A passive infrared inactivity detector working on the same principle is described in detail in the review ELECTRONIQUE RADIO PLANS 519, pages 50, 55 and 56.

This installation therefore practically makes it possible to control whether the person being monitored has risen, to go to his or her bathroom, after a period of normal sleep. It therefore has the effect of assuring the person under surveillance that his family or doctor will be alerted in the event of serious health problems, or even of his death. The installation thus removes the anxiety that a single person may feel at the thought of being alone in a serious condition.

The installation according to the prior art does not, however, warn a third of a simple reduction in movement due, for example, to depression or to a difficulty in reintegrating into an independent life after having left hospital. However, the decrease in travel for a single person in their accommodation is recognized by doctors as being a sign of depression, possibly accompanied by suicidal risks. At this stage, the alerted third party could express their presence and solidarity, a manifestation which could be sufficient to combat the depressive trend.

Knowledge of movements after a hospital stay would also make it possible to determine whether a person is sufficiently recovered to assume alone and reintegrate into his independent life and if he can do without home help.

In patent application WO 90/06 650, there is further proposed a monitoring system consisting in automatically calling the telephone, at predefined intervals, the person to be monitored. This method is very restrictive and does not provide a solution to the problem of prevention and activity analysis.

The object of the invention is to propose a monitoring process which meets the above-mentioned needs and which makes it possible to prolong the independence of the elderly and to minimize the perception of loneliness and isolation in their homes. The monitoring method according to the invention is charac¬ terized in that the frequency of movement of the person being monitored is measured by counting.

Counting can be used in two different ways.

According to a first operating mode, the measured frequency is compared to a set value and an alarm signal is issued when the measured frequency is less than the set value.

According to a second operating mode, different messages are sent as a function of the frequency of the displacements. We can distinguish, for example, a normal activity, a very reduced activity and an exceptionally high activity.

The process is of course also applicable to the surveillance of a couple of people.

The invention also relates to a monitoring installation characterized in that it comprises, in addition to at least one movement detector, a logic processing unit comprising a displacement counter counting and measuring the number of movements detected , a memory in which is stored a setpoint expressed in number of movements per unit of time, a comparator comparing the number of displacements counted with the setpoint, means for transmitting an alarm signal when the number of movements counted is less than the setpoint, means for introducing a setpoint and, means for remote interrogation of the logic processing unit. The set value can be entered manually, but the logic processing unit is preferably designed so that it can operate in a learning mode and calculate the set value itself.

Learning can be done by counting a number of trips over a determined period, for example 24 hours, the setpoint then corresponding to a fraction of this number of trips.

Learning can also be done by counting the number of continuous movements, over a limited period of time, the logical processing unit periodically calculating the number of movements per unit of time, for example 24 hours, and calculating the instructions as above.

The installation according to the invention therefore makes it possible to detect a drop in activity relative to an activity considered normal and specific to the person supervised. The means of remote interrogation of the logical processing unit or of systematic and regular sending of information make it possible to carry out monitoring having the quality of monitoring without waiting for the triggering of an alarm. This possibility further reassures the lonely person by greatly reducing the feeling of loneliness. The interrogation also allows the doctor or the surveillance society to provide much finer medical follow-up than by the mere use of the alarm.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the logic unit for processing the installation is equipped with a processor and it is arranged to operate in different modes, namely a learning mode, a monitoring mode, a warning mode, an interrogation mode and an information mode.

In learning mode, the installation is capable of determining a set value as a function of the normal mobility of the person being monitored.

The accompanying drawing shows, by way of example, an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a block diagram of the installation.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of operation in learning by counting mode over a 24-hour period.

FIG. 3 represents the operating flow diagram in analysis and monitoring mode.

FIG. 4 represents the flow diagram of operation in alarm mode.

FIG. 5 is the operating flow diagram in learning modes by continuous counting over an unlimited period, of analysis and monitoring.

FIG. 6 is the operating flow diagram in remote interrogation mode.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating other possible functionalities. The installation shown in FIG. 1 comprises a certain number of presence sensors 1, mounted in the most frequent and most representative places of passage of the accommodation occupied by the person A to be monitored. Only two of these sensors have been presented, but their number could of course be greater. These sensors are connected to a ULT 2 logic processing unit through an I / O input / output interface. The ULT 2 includes a processor 21, a clock 22, a random access memory 23, a backup memory 24 of the EEPROM type and a read-only memory 25. By its I / O interface, the ULT 2 is connected, on the one hand, to a telephone transmitter module 3 and, on the other hand, to an audible alarm 4 located at a neighbor of A. The telephone transmitter module 3 comprises a telephone interface 31 and a programming interface 32.

The installation further comprises an electrical supply 5 and a switch 6 making it possible to interrupt the operation of the monitoring installation in the event of the absence of A and, possibly, to switch the installation to an operation in alarm " intrusion. "

The sensors 1 are of the infrared, ultrasonic or other type. The cable link to ULT 2 could be replaced by a radio link.

In the ULT 2, the RAM 23 plays the role of a counter recording the number of displacements detected by the detectors 1 and considered as such by the ULT.

The telephone interface 31 makes it possible to program the ULT 2 remotely and the programming interface 32 to program gramm the ULT 2 locally.

The EEPROM memory 24 makes it possible to save the data in the event of a power supply failure.

The ULT 2 is also provided with a real time clock 22 making it possible to trigger the warning or the informa¬ tion of a certain number of people B selected from several messages previously recorded or synthesized. The telephone interface 31 ensures the triggering of an alarm or the dissemination of information by the ULT 2 and, in the other direction, allows the remote interrogation of the ULT 2 by the one of people B.

Learning mode.

In order to issue a warning or trigger an alarm wisely, it is a question, for ULT 2, of knowing the travel habits of A. To this end, three solutions are possible, all of which may be available on the 'installation.

The first solution consists in manually introducing into the ULT 2 a setpoint corresponding to the assumed average number of passages from A in front of the sensors 1. This value X can be entered locally by the programming interface 32 or remotely from d 'a telephone keypad. We will also enter the current time H, the call times of people Hl, H2, H3 ...., people Bl, B2, B3, ...., the phone numbers of Bl, B2, B3, ...., the recording of a warning message and an acceptable decrease in activity value of A, for example 20%. The second solution consists in counting the number of trips detected over a fixed period, 24 hours or a multiple of 24 hours, in the example considered, this number of trips being representative of the normal daily activity of A. The ULT 2 works first of all in learning mode, the flow diagram of which is shown in FIG. 2.

In these two solutions, the system will be more reactive if the start time of counting of the passages corresponds to the hour Hl of call. Indeed, after a 24-hour count, an alarm may be triggered immediately.

The symbols used in this flowchart have the following meaning:

H: current time

Hl: call time

C: number of trips counted, ie state of the "counter" (RAM 23).

Ch: real time stopwatch (automatic incrementation) clocked by the clock 22.

D: time of the last movement detected

X: average number of trips counted over a determined period, that is to say per unit of time, in learning mode.

Y = X - N%: set value, i.e. number of trips counted below which an alarm and / or a warning must be issued.

The third solution consists in continuously counting, over an unlimited period, the number of passages by person A in front of the sensors. In this case, the ULT 2 must be able to work simultaneously in analysis and monitoring mode. This solution will therefore be described later in relation to the flow diagram of FIG. 5.

In the learning mode according to the flow diagram of FIG. 2, the ULT begins to count when H = Hl. X, Y, C and Ch are set to zero. Then begins the counting of the displacements. The counting start can be given either locally by pressing a key, or remotely by pressing a telephone key, or better still, it can be programmed.

In order not to take into account two displacements if A remains motionless for a few moments in front of a sensor, a wait of 30 seconds is introduced after each incrementation of the counter.

When the chronometer Ch has reached 24 hours or a multiple of 24 hours, the ULT records the value X = C. From X, the processor calculates Y, for example Y = X - 20%, and records this set value in the memory 23.

Method of analysis and monitoring or information

Once learning is complete, the ULT enters analysis and monitoring mode. The flow diagram for this mode is shown in Figure 3. The program shown is linked with the program shown in Figure 2. The movement counts are carried out as in the learning mode: If C is greater than or equal to Y at the end of each 24-hour period, the program loops back with Ch = H - Hl for recalibrating the counter. If C is less than Y, a warning or alarm program is initialized by means of the "warning" flag.

In information mode, regular and systematic information is sent to B, as indicated by the broken line change. There are, for example, three levels of activity, namely:

- normal activity if 0.8 X <C <1.2X

- very reduced activity if C <0.5X

- exceptionally high activity if C> 2X.

Warning mode

The flow diagram for this program is shown in Figure 4. This program runs in parallel with the analysis and monitoring program.

It is recalled that Bl, B2 ... Bn denote persons to whom a warning is sent by telephone and that Hl, H2, ... Hn denote the respective calling hours of these persons.

Bl is first called. If Bl does not respond, B2 is called to H2 and so on. If Bn does not respond, the installation waits again Hl to call Bl.

Mode of learning, analysis and monitoring.

As indicated above, learning can be done by continuous counting over a period of time. unlimited. This continuous learning has the advantage of taking into account the slow changes in the behavior of A, which are not necessarily a warning signal, and thus periodically correcting the setpoint value.

The flow diagram of the operation of the ULT according to this learning mode is shown in Figure 5. As learning is continuous, the ULT must be able to operate simultaneously in analysis and monitoring mode.

There are new parameters in this flowchart, namely:

D: number of days since the start of learning.

C (J): final value of the counter for days J.

The program begins with the zeroing of X, Y, C, Ch and J. The "warning" instruction (figure 4) is set to "false". The ULT starts counting from Hl. The counting is done as in the flowchart in Figure 2.

At the end of a 24-hour period, if C is greater than or equal to Y, the ULT stores the final value of the counter on day D and calculates the value X = (X. D + C) / (D +) each day 1) which represents the new number of normal trips, taking into account the last 24 hours of person A. A day counter is incremented. The value Y equals X - N% is calculated and stored.

The counter is set to zero, the stopwatch is re-calibrated (Ch = H-Hl) and the learning program, loopback analysis and monitoring.

In the case of regular information B is informed, as indicated in broken lines.

At the same time, if C is less than Y at the end of the 24 hours, the warning program (figure 4) is initialized.

In order to follow the slow evolution of A's behavior, the ULT can memorize only X months (by default, six months).

If we consider A's absences and visits to A to be unrepresentative, the ULT may voluntarily and for a given period of time (typically one month) not take into account the three days when there were the most trips and the three days where there were the least trips, so as to be freed from cases of visits or absences. The flow diagram in FIG. 5 could easily be supplemented by these additional functions.

Remote interrogation mode

The values X (possibly also X - 1, X - 2, X - 3), N, Y, H, Hl, H2, H3 ..., C, the telephone numbers of persons B and the time of last movement of A in front of its sensor are memorized by the ULT in the backup memory 24 in the event of a power cut and can be known to any person B by remote interrogation, according to a conventional and known procedure. The interrogation of the ULT remotely is of course done without A knowing it, that is to say without ringing the telephone. If a person B calls, module 3, working as an answering machine, will broadcast all first a message like "if you want to know the system parameters, press the * key".

The flow diagram of the operation in remote interrogation mode is shown in FIG. 6. This program runs in parallel with the analysis and monitoring program.

θ represents the state of a stopwatch in real time.

If B calls A, 0 is set to zero. If the * key at B is pressed before θ equals 2 seconds, B is connected to ULT 2. If B does not press the * key, the bell is triggered at A for normal conversation.

By pressing the keys on his telephone keypad and, if necessary with the help of voice synthesis, by known methods, B can know and modify the values X, N, Y, H, Hl, ..., Bl ..., C, D, J.

With adequate programming, the ULT can provide additional functions.

The ULT can thus warn person B without waiting for the time Hl, in order to provide better system responsiveness. The ULT can thus be programmed remotely by B, so that it is immediately pre¬ come if no movement of A is detected in a certain time slot, for example between 6h and 9h.

In addition, to be sure not to disturb B for nothing, the ULT could be programmed so that the ringing of A's telephone is triggered before calling B. Thus, A is prompted to pass in front of a sensor, which has the effect of stopping the ringing at A and avoiding disturbing B if there is no emergency.

FIG. 7 represents the flow diagram for the programming of the ULT intended to inform B if no movement of A is detected between El (for example 6h) and E2 (for example 9h).

0 'indicates the state of a second real-time stopwatch. "Alert" here means an alert flag. The program first tests the state of the stopwatch.

If the value of the chronometer Ch is equal to El - Hl, it is El and the "Alert" flag is set to 1. The program scans the sensors. If there is motion detection, the alert flag "Alert" is reset and there will be no warning. If no movement was detected at time E2 (Ch = E2 - Hl), the bell at A is triggered and the timer chron 'is set to zero. As long as θ 'is less than or equal to 30 seconds, the sensors are scanned. If a movement is detected, the ringing of A is stopped and the program ends. If no movement is detected, the program loops until the end of period θ '. When 0 'exceeds 30 seconds, the bell at A is stopped and person B is alerted.

The installation having all the material elements necessary for a conventional alarm system, that is to say an alarm in the event of an intrusion in the absence of A, operation in “intrusion” alarm can be easy. planned. To this end, it suffices to introduce a "absence / presence" criterion making it possible to select either the use in displacement analysis, or the use in intrusion alarm. The sensors used its in intrusion alarm mode can be the same as those used in displacement analysis mode, but it is also possible to provide a specific sensor for the "intrusion" alarm mode.

In "intrusion" alarm mode, the programs previously described can continue to run, the "intrusion" alarm function being managed by other programs.

Claims

CLAIMS.

1. A method of monitoring a person in a home by means of at least one movement detector, characterized in that the frequency of their movements is measured by counting.

2. Monitoring method according to claim 1, characterized in that the measured frequency is compared with a set value and that an alarm signal is emitted when the measured frequency is lower than the set value.

3. Monitoring method according to claim 1, characterized in that sending, regularly and systematically, information representative of the measured frequency.

4. Installation for monitoring a person in a dwelling by means of at least one movement detector (1), characterized in that it further comprises a logic processing unit (2) comprising:

- a movement counter (23) counting and measuring the number of movements detected,

a memory (24) in which is stored a setpoint expressed in number of movements per unit of time,

a comparator (21) comparing the number of displacements counted with the set value,

means for transmitting (3) an alarm signal when the number of trips counted is less than setpoint,

means for introducing (32) an instruction and,

- interrogation means (31) remote from the logic processing unit.

5. Installation according to claim 4, characterized in that the logical processing unit comprises a processor programmed to operate according to the following modes:

- a learning mode,

- a monitoring and analysis mode,

- a warning mode and

- an interrogation mode.

6. Installation according to claim 5, characterized in that in learning mode, the logic processing unit counts the number of trips over a determined period and calculates the setpoint from this number of trips.

7. Installation according to claim 5, characterized in that in learning mode, the logical processing unit counts the number of continuous movements over an unlimited period, calculates the number of displacements per unit of time, by example 24 hours, and calculates and sets it from this average number, the logical processing unit being able to work simultaneously in learning mode and in surveillance and analysis mode.