Method, Computer Program, and System for Monitoring a Being

Abstract

A method, computer program, and system for monitoring a person in a structure having a first room and a second room. The system includes motion sensors and accelerometers to determine states and activities within the states, respectively. No visual images of any type are used to monitor the person. The person does not need to wear any type of equipment or component or necklace or bracelet or special clothing with any type of equipment or component in order to be monitored by the system.

1 . An apparatus for monitoring a person accessing a refrigerator in a kitchen of a structure comprising:
 an accelerometer having a transmitter attached to the refrigerator which senses when the refrigerator is opened and transmits a signal wirelessly with the transmitter each time when the refrigerator has been opened indicating the refrigerator has been opened;   a receiver which receives each signal wirelessly from the transmitter, the receiver remote from and in communication with the transmitter; and   a non-transient memory in communication with the receiver in which each signal received by the receiver is stored, each signal stored in the memory having a time associated with when the refrigerator was opened and each signal was transmitted.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  including a computer in communication with the memory which receives each signal stored in the memory and the time associated with when the refrigerator was opened and each signal was transmitted over a predetermined period and determines whether each of the signals stored in the memory during the predetermined period when added together were below an acceptable norm for the person opening the refrigerator during the predetermined period, the computer producing an alert when the computer determines that each of the signals stored in the memory during the predetermined period were below the acceptable norm. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  including a motion detector having a transmitter disposed in the kitchen which detects motion of the person in the kitchen and transmits a motion signal wirelessly to the receiver associated with the motion of the person in the kitchen. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3  wherein the predetermined period is less than or equal to one day and the computer adds each of the signals stored in the memory during the predetermined period for at least three days to create the acceptable norm. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the computer continually updates the acceptable norm over time. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5  wherein the computer receives information there is another person present in the structure and the computer takes into account whether there is the other person present when the computer determines whether the person is acting within the acceptable norm or outside the acceptable norm. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6  including a motion sensor having a transmitter in the structure that produces a motion signal that is received by the receiver and a door contact of a door having a transmitter for egress and ingress to the structure which determines when the door was open and transmits a door open signal that is received by the receiver, wherein the information includes the door open signal and from the motion signal. 
     
     
         8 . A method for monitoring a person accessing a refrigerator in a kitchen comprising the steps of:
 sensing with an accelerometer having a transmitter attached to the refrigerator when the refrigerator is opened;   transmitting a signal wirelessly with the transmitter each time when the refrigerator has been opened indicating the refrigerator has been opened;   receiving with a receiver each signal wirelessly from the transmitter, the receiver remote from and in communication with the transmitter; and   storing in a non-transient memory in communication with the receiver each signal received by the receiver, each signal stored in the memory having a time associated with when the refrigerator was opened and each signal was transmitted.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  including the steps of a computer in communication with the memory which receives each signal stored in the memory and the time associated with when the refrigerator was opened and each signal was transmitted over a predetermined period determining whether each of the signals stored in the memory during the predetermined period when added together were below an acceptable norm for the person opening the refrigerator during the predetermined period, and the computer producing an alert when the computer determines that each of the signals stored in the memory during the predetermined period were below the acceptable norm. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  including a motion detector having a transmitter disposed in the kitchen which detects motion of the person in the kitchen and including the step of the motion detector transmitting a motion signal wirelessly to the receiver associated with the motion of the person in the kitchen. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the predetermined period is less than or equal to one day and including the step of the computer adding each of the signals stored in the memory during the predetermined period for at least three days to create the acceptable norm. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  including the step of the computer continually updating the acceptable norm over time. 
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory readable storage medium includes a computer program stored on the storage medium for monitoring a person accessing a refrigerator in a kitchen having the computer-generated steps of:
 determining whether signals stored in a non-transient memory during a predetermined period when added together are below an acceptable norm for the person opening the refrigerator during the predetermined period, the signals generated from an accelerometer having a transmitter attached to the refrigerator which senses when the refrigerator is opened and transmits a signal wirelessly with the transmitter each time when the refrigerator has been opened indicating the refrigerator has been opened to a receiver which receives each signal wirelessly from the transmitter, the receiver remote from and in communication with the transmitter, each signal stored in the non-transient memory in communication with the receiver in which each signal received by the receiver is stored, each signal stored in the memory having a time associated with when the refrigerator was opened and each signal was transmitted, the computer in communication with the memory which receives each signal stored in the memory and the time associated with when the refrigerator was opened and each signal was transmitted over a predetermined period; and   producing an alert when the computer determines that each of the signals stored in the memory during the predetermined period were below the acceptable norm.