Personal Assistance Monitoring System

Abstract

A personal assistance monitor for estimating whether a person needs assistance or not, and for requesting assistance, when appropriate. Some embodiments of the present invention can request help for a person even if the person is unconscious or paralyzed. The illustrative embodiment comprises two bracelets—one is worn on a person's right wrist and the other is worn on the left wrist. Each bracelet comprises an acceleration sensor that detects the acceleration of the wrist to which it is affixed. The measures of motion detected by both bracelets are analyzed for insight into the person's well-being. When the illustrative embodiment estimates that the person needs assistance, the illustrative embodiment prompts the person to decline assistance. When the person declines assistance, the illustrative embodiment continues monitoring the person. In contrast, when the person fails to decline the offer of assistance, the illustrative embodiment requests help.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method comprising:
 receiving, from a motion sensor, a first measure of motion of a location on a person's body;   generating, by a processor, an estimate of well-being of the person based on the first measure of motion;   when the estimate of well-being fails to reach a threshold of well-being, generating, with a first output device, a prompt to decline assistance;   receiving, from the motion sensor, a second measure of motion;   generating, based on the second measure of motion, an estimate of whether the person has declined assistance in response to the prompt to decline assistance; and   when the estimate of whether the person has declined assistance indicates that the person has failed to decline assistance, transmitting, with a second output device, a request for assistance for the person.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the first output device is a tactile vibrator. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 receiving an estimate of the location of the person; and 
 wherein the estimate of well-being is also based on the estimate of the location of the person. 
 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 receiving a measure of ambient light level in the vicinity of the person; and 
 wherein the estimate of well-being is also based on the measure of ambient light level. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising:
 receiving a measure of ambient sound level in the vicinity of the person; and 
 wherein the estimate of well-being is also based on the measure of ambient sound level. 
 
     
     
         18 . A method comprising:
 receiving, from a motion sensor, a first measure of motion of a location on a person's body;   generating, by a processor, a first estimate of well-being based on the first measure of motion;   when the first estimate of well-being fails to reach a threshold of well-being as characterized by a first parameter, generating, with a first output device, a first prompt for the person to decline assistance;   when the person declines assistance in response to the first prompt, modifying the first parameter to generate a second parameter;   receiving, from the motion sensor, a second measure of motion of the location on the person's body;   generating a second estimate of well-being based on the second measure of motion;   when the second estimate of well-being fails to reach a threshold of well-being as characterized by the second parameter, generating, with the first output device, a second prompt for the person to decline assistance; and   when the person fails to decline assistance in response to the second prompt, transmitting, with a second output device, a request for assistance for the person.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  wherein the first output device is a tactile vibrator. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 receiving an estimate of the location of the person; and 
 wherein the first estimate of well-being is also based on the estimate of the location of the person. 
 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 receiving a measure of ambient light level in the vicinity of the person; and 
 wherein the first estimate of well-being is also based on the measure of ambient light level. 
 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising:
 receiving a measure of ambient sound level in the vicinity of the person; and 
 wherein the first estimate of well-being is also based on the measure of ambient sound level. 
 
     
     
         23 . A method comprising:
 receiving, from a motion sensor, a first measure of motion of a location on a person's body;   generating, by a processor, a first motion profile based on the first measure of motion;   when the first motion profile exhibits a first sign of distress as characterized by a first parameter, generating, with a first output device, a first prompt for the person to decline assistance, wherein the first sign of distress suggests distress that is independent of a fall;   when the person declines assistance in response to the first prompt, modifying the first parameter to generate a second parameter;   receiving, from the motion sensor, a second measure of motion of the location on the person's body;   generating a second motion profile based on the second measure of motion;   when the second motion profile exhibits a second sign of distress as characterized by the second parameter, generating, with the first output device, a second prompt for the person to decline assistance; and   when the person fails to decline assistance in response to the second prompt, transmitting, with a second output device, a request for assistance for the person.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein the first output device is a tactile vibrator. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising:
 receiving an estimate of the location of the person; and 
 wherein the estimate of well-being is also based on the estimate of the location of the person. 
 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising:
 receiving a measure of ambient light level in the vicinity of the person; and 
 wherein the estimate of well-being is also based on the measure of ambient light level. 
 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23  further comprising:
 receiving a measure of ambient sound level in the vicinity of the person; and 
 wherein the estimate of well-being is also based on the measure of ambient sound level. 
 
     
     
         28 . A method comprising:
 receiving, from a motion sensor, a first measure of motion of a location on a person's body;   generating, by a processor, a first estimate of well-being based on the first measure of motion;   when the first estimate of well-being fails to reach a threshold of well-being as characterized by a first parameter, generating, with a first output device, a first prompt for the person to decline assistance;   when the person declines assistance in response to the first prompt, modifying the first parameter to generate a second parameter;   receiving, from the motion sensor, a second measure of motion of the location on the person's body;   generating a second estimate of well-being based on the second measure of motion; and   when the second estimate of well-being fails to reach a threshold of well-being as characterized by the second parameter, transmitting, with a second output device, a request for assistance for the person.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28  wherein the first output device is a tactile vibrator. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising:
 receiving an estimate of the location of the person; and 
 wherein the estimate of well-being is also based on the estimate of the location of the person. 
 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising:
 receiving a measure of ambient light level in the vicinity of the person; and 
 wherein the estimate of well-being is also based on the measure of ambient light level. 
 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising:
 receiving a measure of ambient sound level in the vicinity of the person; and 
 wherein the estimate of well-being is also based on the measure of ambient sound level. 
 
     
     
         33 . A method comprising:
 receiving, from a motion sensor, a first measure of motion of a location on a person's body;   generating, by a processor, a first estimate of well-being based on the first measure of motion;   when the first estimate of well-being fails to reach a first threshold of well-being, generating, with a first output device, a first prompt for the person to decline assistance;   when the person declines assistance in response to the first prompt, modifying the first threshold of well-being to generate a second threshold of well-being;   receiving, from the motion sensor, a second measure of motion of the location on the person's body;   generating a second estimate of well-being based on the second measure of motion;   when the second estimate of well-being fails to reach the second threshold of well-being, generating, with the first output device, a second prompt for the person to decline assistance; and   when the person fails to decline assistance in response to the second prompt, transmitting, with a second output device, a request for assistance for the person.   
     
     
         34 . A method comprising:
 receiving, from a motion sensor, a first measure of motion of a location on a person's body;   generating, by a processor, a first estimate of well-being based on the first measure of motion;   when the first estimate of well-being fails to reach a first threshold of well-being, generating, with a first output device, a first prompt for the person to decline assistance;   when the person declines assistance in response to the first prompt, modifying the first threshold of well-being to generate a second threshold of well-being;   receiving, from the motion sensor, a second measure of motion of the location on the person's body;   generating, by the processor, a second estimate of well-being based on the second measure of motion; and   when the second estimate of well-being fails to reach the second threshold of well-being, transmitting, with a second output device, a request for assistance for the person.