WO2013041735A1

WO2013041735A1 - Individual safety device

Info

Publication number: WO2013041735A1
Application number: PCT/ES2011/070652
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jaime Tómas MORENO MEDINA; Pedro ZUNZUNEGUI GOMEZ-GIL; Javier RODRIGUEZ-CARMONA VELASCO
Original assignee: Mormedi, S. A.
Priority date: 2011-09-19
Filing date: 2011-09-19
Publication date: 2013-03-28

Abstract

The present invention lies in the field of tracking and monitoring persons, more specifically in possible emergency situations with the need to locate said persons in a possible circumstance. The subject matter of the invention consists of an electronic device having different communication, localization and state monitoring means which work together in a coordinated manner such that the device can be configured to detect risk situations and to send an alarm signal to an alarm centre without the need for active intervention by the user carrying the device.

Description

INDIVIDUAL SECURITY DEVICE D E S C R I P C I O N

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is framed in the field of monitoring and monitoring of individuals, more specifically in situations of possible emergency and in need of locating them in an eventual circumstance.

The object of the invention is an electronic device that has different means of communication, location and status monitoring that work together in a coordinated manner so that the device is configurable for the detection of risk situations and the sending of a signal alarm to an alarm center without the need for active intervention of the user carrying the device. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The so-called safety devices are known in the health or control areas of dependent people who need specific care or who, due to various circumstances, are not autonomous and / or independent and require continuous monitoring or attention.

The known means usually have a base station that is located, for example, in the user's home and that has a series of pushbuttons that have to be operated by the user and that allow to establish a communication with an alarm center that initiates a appropriate protocol before the generation of said signal.

However, these types of devices do not have autonomous and coordinated operation, that is, an independent operation of the active action by the user and covering a wide range of foreseeable events without the need for the user to initiate the alarm signal and also allowing a joint monitoring of it even outside the home. Some known devices have user-portable bases and have means that allow, in addition to sending an alarm signal, the sending of the user's location. This type of security device has a base adapted to be carried by a user who in turn comprises positioning means that are arranged in connection with a microprocessor so that an alarm signal is generated that sends wireless communication via wireless communication. alarm signal along with the positioning data. However, also in this case it is the user himself who generates said alarm signal. Another disadvantage of known devices is that they do not allow their configuration to be able to identify and generate alarms against a wide range of events so that it is possible to configure the device for a specific need or user, but they are only suitable for detection of a single type of event and therefore not suitable or suitable to detect different events. Likewise, some of the devices known in the market have as a disadvantage the fact that they can generate numerous false alarms which harms both the user and the work in the alarm center. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is a personal security device, that is to say, monitoring and control of users that allows not only to determine its location or collect various data about the environment, but is also designed to allow establishing wireless communication channels and of events that trigger an alarm for warning to the security company regardless of user action. In this way the device could also be used not only for people but also for example, for the control of animals. Additionally, the device can also have user-generated alarm generating means.

The invention is characterized in that it also comprises a base or main element adapted to be carried by the user:

- a complement also adapted to be carried by the user,

- a first shortwave emitter located in the complement and a receiver located in the main element for the emission of a shortwave signal by the complement that is received by the main element,

- a motion sensor that can be found in the main element or in the complement to detect their movement,

- an accelerometer,

- positioning means for sending the position of the alarm to the central alarm,

- the shortwave receiver, the motion sensor, the accelerometer and the positioning means being connected in connection with the processor and configured so that the combination of a certain range of values obtained by them generates an alarm signal. Therefore, the combination of the motion sensor, which provides information on the change of speed of the subject, and the accelerometer, which provides information on the direction in which said change has occurred, allow the detection of falls of people or of abrupt changes in position, which in combination with the positioning means automatically generate an event that is transmitted as an alarm to the control center. By combining a motion sensor, accelerometer and a calculation algorithm, the device is able to detect, for example, if the person carrying the device has suffered a fall. When the fall is detected, the device itself sends an alarm signal to the control unit via the wireless unit. This advantage is especially useful for the senior public avoiding the consequences of domestic accidents, since in this case the user may not be able to activate the alarm signal.

Therefore, thanks to the combination of the complement and the main element together with the motion sensor, the accelerometer and the positioning means it is possible to detect predefined risk situations by a range of values previously marked, for example, that the acceleration exceeds a specific value and that the address thereof is descending, and generate an alarm signal, all without the need for the user to have to activate said alarm control panel. The fact that these elements are related to each other for the generation of an alarm signal, makes the device configurable to generate an alarm according to the desired requirement and the type of user who carries it.

For example, in the case of children or young people who go to school by bicycle the device object of the invention allows to program an alarm generation when detected by the motion sensor that exceeds a certain speed, which could indicate that the child has risen to a motorized vehicle

The communication between the main element and the complement can be, for example, by radio frequency, also allows that if both elements move away from a predetermined threshold, the main element also generates an alarm signal. Since the main element is always listening to the complement signal, at the moment you stop listening to it because the main element moves away from the complement, for example, the main element is in a bag that is stolen, then a signal is emitted alarm

As previously mentioned, the device also allows to avoid false alarms by, for example, the transmitter and the shortwave receiver, since if the complement is separated from the main element that is inserted in a bag, the shortwave signal is lost and it will also be detected that the speed of the main element suddenly increases, that means that the bag carrying said main element has been stolen and an alarm signal is generated. Another advantage of having a main element and a complement is that even in situations where the user has to part with the main element, which is the one that carries the processor, it always maintains the complement. These situations occur, for example, in the event that the user takes a bath or shower, this device having the advantage over other existing ones in the market that in any situation the user carries the complement. For this, the complement will preferably be water resistant.

The complement can be type bracelet, watch, pendant, etc., intended to be attached to the body of the user and, as discussed, includes media with the main element. The complement will preferably also include at least one user-operated button to generate a voluntary alarm signal. The means for connecting to a wireless voice and / or data network, for example GPRS, also allows bidirectional updating of data from the control center. The control center may be a central alarm management of a set of devices according to the object of the invention or, for example, the telephone of an adult responsible for the individual carrying the individual security device.

The aforementioned bidirectionality also allows confirmation by the alarm center with the user himself that an alarm has actually occurred and thus also discard false alarms.

Additionally, the main element can receive a signal from a second transmitter, other than the complement, so that when detecting the separation of the second transmitter an alarm signal is generated, which also allows to perform a zone control when moving away from the emitting center of the signal.

Additionally, the device may also comprise a wireless unit for receiving and transmitting information between the main element and other medical treatment devices, such as voltage meters, pacemakers, etc., so that the transmission of the read data is possible to the control center.

As described, the device manages short and long range networks and also has means that allow its connection with different devices used to know the patient's health status. In this way the The device acts as a communication bridge between the short-range devices, with the control center and even allows alarms to be generated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical implementation thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description. where, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented:

Figure 1.- Shows a view of a perspective scheme of the main element and the complement.

Figure 2.- Shows a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the different elements of the main element.

Figure 3.- Shows a block diagram of an example of embodiment of the different elements of the complement.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the figures, a preferred embodiment of the device object of this invention is described below.

In figure 1 a main element (2) and a complement (1), specifically a bracelet, are schematically represented. As previously mentioned between both elements (1, 2) a shortwave communication is established, which can be for example RF, bluethooth, Zigbee, wifi or any other short-range communications protocol,

radio frequency, RF being preferred, since it implies a lower battery consumption (29). According to figure 3, the complement (1) comprises at least one button (10) operable by the user for the generation of an alarm event. More specifically, it has two buttons (10) located on opposite sides of it (1) so that only by pressing both at the same time an alarm signal is generated thus avoiding accidental actuations. The complement (1) also has an antenna (11) for radio frequency emission, the main element (2) having a receiver (23).

By having the main element (2) a receiver (23) of radiofrequency signals additionally an RF control zone can be delimited, in schools for example, to detect that no child has left a given area. In this case by placing a shortwave source, for example, radio frequency, in the school by having the main element (2) verify from time to time that they are able to hear that signal. The advantage of this control mode is that it allows a very low energy consumption of the battery (29).

The main element (2) also comprises means for connecting to a wireless network, for example long range, comprising a connection unit to a mobile communication network (25), so that it would also be possible to create a zone of control.

For this, the main element (2) listens to the nearby mobile phone antennas and registers it at the control center. From that moment on the device knows which antennas should listen if it is in a specific geographical area. If at any time the device stops Listening to one of the antennas the main element (2) generates an alarm signal.

In order to increase the security of the device object of the invention, it can communicate with the exchange by means of encrypted messages, preventing, for example, the critical position information even if it is intercepted from being illegible.

The device may comprise as positioning means satellite positioning means (24), GPS type. In that case, the motion sensor (21) is arranged in connection with the satellite location means (24) for the interruption of the operation of the same (24) when no movement is detected, thus achieving a battery saving (29 ).

Additionally, the device may comprise a Wifi antenna (26) that can be used, among other functions, to detect the position of the user within buildings or structures that do not have access to the positioning satellites, in the event that the positioning is performed by GPS type systems, or through mobile phone antennas. The positioning in this case is done using the grids created by the Wi-Fi routers, knowing the position of the routers and working with a Wi-Fi signal calculation algorithm. Using the Wi-Fi location, the location of the individual within buildings, shopping centers and homes can be accurately known. Its activation or deactivation will be optional since its battery consumption (29) is remarkable. In addition, associated with this wifi antenna (26) it is possible to create an alarm signal that indicates, for example, if the preset wifi signal is lost, for example, that the user has left his home. The exchange of information can also be through text messages so that even under poor coverage the device allows the sending of alarm signals by any of the communications it consists of, that is, for example, GPRS, GSM , wifi ... increasing device security.

Both the main element (2) and the complement (1) have buttons (10, 27) that can be pressed by the user to generate an alarm signal. Preferably there will be two different buttons (10, 27) both in the main element (2) and in the complement (1) in order to avoid false alarms generated by the involuntary activation of one of the buttons (10, 27). More specifically, to generate an alarm signal, the user must press both buttons (10, 27) of the main element (2) or the complement (1) to generate the voluntary alarm signal.

The device will preferably have means that allow inductive charging, thus facilitating the charging process.

The main element (2) may comprise a loudspeaker (37) and a microphone (36) for the transmission of voice data between the control panel and the same.

The main element can also comprise one or several light indicators (28) of the device status, which can be LEDs.

Finally, the main element (2) also has an eccentric motor (35) so that it can vibrate as a warning signal, as well as an on / off button (34), a USB port (30), a SIM card (31 ), a memory (32) and a tamper sensor (33). The complement (1) also has a battery (12).

Claims

1.- Individual security device, comprising a main element (2) adapted to be carried by a user, which in turn comprises: 5 - a processor (20), and

- a wireless unit in connection with the processor (20) for the reception and transmission of information with a control center and for sending an alarm signal, or characterized in that it additionally comprises:

- a complement (1) also adapted to be carried by the user,

- a first shortwave emitter (11) located in the complement (1) 5 and a receiver (23) located in the main element (2) for the emission of a shortwave signal by the complement (1) which is received by the main element (2),

- a motion sensor (21) that can be found in the main element (2) or in the complement (1) for the detection of the movement of the same (1,

2),

- an accelerometer (22),

- positioning means for sending the position of the alarm to the central alarm (2),

- the shortwave receiver (23), the motion sensor (21), the accelerometer (22) and the positioning means (24) being connected to the processor (20) and configured so that the combination of a certain range of values obtained by them (23, 21, 22, 24) generates an alarm signal. 0 2.- Individual security device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least one button (10, 27) located in the main element (2) and / or in the complement (1) in connection with the processor (10) for the emission of an alarm signal.

5. Individual security device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the receiver (23) of the main element (2) is adapted for the reception of a signal from a second transmitter and the generation of an alarm signal when away from said second issuer.

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4. Individual security device according to claim 1, characterized in that the wireless unit comprises a connection unit to a mobile communications network (25).

5. Individual security device according to claim 1 or 4, characterized in that the wireless unit comprises a Wifi antenna (26).

6. - Individual security device according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises means for performing or positioning depending on the signal of the Wi-Fi antenna (26).

7. - Individual security device according to claim 1, characterized in that the positioning means comprise satellite positioning means (24).

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