Patent Application
20240071203
The present invention relates generally to the field of life-monitoring devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to an automatic unconscious alert device that is preferably a mobile application for a smart device comprised of a motion detection system that sends an alert if a user is detected as motionless for a specific time interval that can be selected by a user. Before the alert is sent to at least one secondary user chosen by the first user, a reset system may be activated which may allow the user to reset the motion detection system and prevent the sending of the alert if it is erroneous. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.
Many elderly individuals and even younger individuals live alone, with a dependent, with a helpless relative, and sometimes in remote areas or farms. Said individuals, or their helpless dependent(s), can fall, pass out unconscious and die if not rescued by others in time. As a result, many senior citizens carry a personal notification device that includes a button that can be pressed to summon help when in distress, or which is activated if they fall. However, a user of such devices cannot push the button of the device if they become unconscious before, during, or after a fall. While some devices are designed to summon assistance in the event a fall is detected, there is currently no device that will summon assistance when a user passes out or becomes unconscious while sitting or lying down motionless for a predetermined period of time.
Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a device that aids an individual in being rescued if they become unconscious. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an automatic unconscious alert device that alerts at least one other individual when a user becomes unconscious. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for an automatic unconscious alert device that does not require that a user manually activate the device to send the unconscious alert.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises an automatic unconscious alert device. The device is preferably a mobile application and/or software for a smart device. The device is comprised of a motion detection system that sends an alert if a user is detected as motionless for a specific time interval that can be selected by a user. Before the alert is sent to at least one secondary user chosen by the first user, a reset system may be activated which may allow the user to reset the motion detection system and prevent the sending of the alert if it is erroneous.
In this manner, the automatic unconscious alert device of the present invention accomplishes all of the foregoing objectives and provides a device that aids an individual in being rescued if they become unconscious. Further, the device alerts at least one other individual when a user becomes unconscious. However, while doing so, the device does not require that a user manually activate the device to send the unconscious alert.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises an automatic unconscious alert device preferably comprised of a mobile application for a smart device and/or software for a smart device. The device is comprised of a motion detection system that sends an alert if a user is detected as motionless for a specific time interval. Before the alert is sent, a reset system may be activated which may allow a user to reset the motion detection system and prevent the sending of the alert if it is erroneous.
The motion detection system allows a user to configure a plurality of features of the device such as setting a time interval. The time interval can range from any length such as, but not limited to, minutes and hours in differing embodiments. The device also detects the motion of the smart device the device is installed on such that if the motion of the smart device is not detected during the time interval, an alert will be sent.
A user can use the configuration setting to choose at least one secondary user that the alert is sent to such as, but not limited to, a family member, a neighbor, a caregiver, emergency services, police, a doctor, etc. In one embodiment, the user can configure the device to send a plurality of alerts simultaneously to a plurality of secondary users such that multiple secondary users can be alerted using one alert. The alert may be in a plurality of forms in differing embodiments such as, but not limited to, a pre-written text message, a phone call with a pre-recorded voice message, a pre-written email, etc., that can be recorded and/or written by the user of the device. The alert is then sent to the smart device of at least one secondary user.
To prevent an erroneous alert, which arises in a situation when the smart device of the user is motionless but the user is not unconscious, the device is comprised of a reset system. The reset system can be configured to have a time interval that begins once motionlessness is first detected or after the first time interval has expired but before the alert is sent. The system sends at least one alert to the user. The alert may be an audible noise, a text message, a phone call, an email, a vibration of the smart device, etc. Once a user to alerted, they can reset the system and prevent the alert from sending by performing a reset by shaking the smart device, pressing a button on the device interface, etc.
Accordingly, the automatic unconscious alert device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as provides a device that aids an individual in being rescued if they become unconscious by alerting at least one other individual when a user becomes unconscious. While doing so, the device does not require that a user manually activate the device to send the unconscious alert. In this manner, the automatic unconscious alert device overcomes the limitations of existing fall alerting devices known in the art.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.
As noted above, there is a long-felt need in the art for a device that enables an individual to be rescued if he or she becomes unconscious. In addition, there exists a long-felt need in the art for an automatic unconscious alert device that alerts at least one other individual when a user becomes unconscious. There also exists a long-felt need in the art for an automatic unconscious alert device that does not require that a user manually activate the device to send the unconscious alert.
The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is comprised of an automatic unconscious alert device preferably comprised of a mobile application for a smart device and/or software for a smart device. The device is comprised of a motion detection system that sends an alert if a user is detected as motionless for a specific time interval. Before the alert is sent, a reset system may be activated which may allow a user to reset the motion detection system and prevent the sending of the alert if it is erroneous.
The motion detection system allows a user to configure a plurality of features of the device. A user can set a time interval that can range from any length such as, but not limited to, minutes and hours in differing embodiments. The device also detects the motion of the smart device the device is installed on, such that if the motion of the smart device is not detected during the time interval, an alert will be sent.
A user can use the configuration setting to choose at least one secondary user that the alert is sent to such as, but not limited to, a family member, a neighbor, a caregiver, emergency services, police, a doctor, etc. In one embodiment, the user can configure the device to send a plurality of alerts simultaneously to a plurality of secondary users, such that multiple secondary users can be alerted using one alert. In differing embodiments, the alert may be in a plurality of forms in differing embodiments such as, but not limited to, a pre-written text message, a phone call with a pre-recorded voice message, a pre-written email, etc., that can be recorded and/or written by the user of the device. The alert is then sent to the smart device of at least one secondary user.
An erroneous alert may arise in a situation when the smart device of the user is motionless, but the user is not unconscious. To prevent this, the device is comprised of a reset system that can be configured to have a time interval that begins once motionlessness is first detected or after the first time interval has expired but before the alert is sent. The system sends at least one alert to the user. The alert may be an audible noise, a text message, a phone call, an email, a vibration of the smart device, etc. Once a user is alerted, they can reset the system and prevent the alert from sending by performing a reset by shaking the smart device, pressing a button on the device interface, etc.
Accordingly, the automatic unconscious alert device of the present invention is particularly advantageous as provides a device that aids an individual in being rescued if they become unconscious by alerting at least one other individual when a user becomes unconscious. While doing so, the device does not require that a user manually activate the device to send the unconscious alert. In this manner, the automatic unconscious alert device overcomes the limitations of existing fall alerting devices known in the art.
Referring initially to the drawings,
A user can use the configuration 300 feature to also choose at least one secondary user 320 that the alert 350 is sent to via text message, email, phone call, mobile app notification, etc. The secondary user 320 may be an individual such as, but not limited to, a family member, a neighbor, a caregiver, emergency services, police, a doctor, etc., or any other person chosen by the user. In one embodiment, the user 320 can configure the device 100 to send at least one alert 350 simultaneously to a plurality of secondary users 320. In this manner, multiple secondary users can be alerted using at least one alert 350.
The configuration 300 setting also allows a user to choose the alert type 330. The alert 350 may be in a plurality of forms in differing embodiments such as, but not limited to, a pre-written text message, a phone call with a pre-recorded voice message, a pre-written email, etc., that can be recorded and/or written by the user of the device 100. The alert 350 is then sent to the smart device of at least one secondary user 320 using Wi-Fi, cellular data, etc. In one embodiment, the alert 350 is also accompanied by an audible noise and/or vibration relayed to the smart device of the second user 320. In this manner, the second user's 320 attention is more easily called to the alert 350.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the mobile application may include a timer that defaults to a nine-hour period but may be adjusted by the user, and the app may be voice activated. The device may charge during the nine-hour sleep period and then resume one hour timer reset periods. Further, the mobile application is not limited to use on a phone and may be used on any other electronic device including, without limitation, a bracelet.
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “automatic unconscious alert device” and “device” are interchangeable and refer to the automatic unconscious alert device 100 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the automatic unconscious alert device 100 of the present invention and its various components can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that they accomplish the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the size, configuration, and material of the automatic unconscious alert device 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the automatic unconscious alert device 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the automatic unconscious alert device 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the automatic unconscious alert device 100 may be of any size, shape and/or configuration that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/400,156, which was filed on Aug. 23, 2022, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63400156 | Aug 2022 | US |
