A support system for senior citizens
An IoT-based assistance system with integrated sensors and alerts addresses senior safety issues by detecting hazards and emergencies, enhancing prompt response through audio-visual alerts and automated messaging.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- DE202024103756
- Authority / Receiving Office
- DE · DE
- Patent Type
- Utility models
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2024-07-08
- Publication Date
- 2024-12-19
- Estimated Expiration
- 2034-07-31
AI Technical Summary
Existing systems fail to provide adequate assistance to seniors in home environments, particularly in situations involving theft, medical emergencies, and unnoticed hazards such as spilled water, fire, smoke, or gas leaks, without requiring manual intervention.
An IoT-based assistance system with integrated sensors and a microcontroller that detects environmental hazards and emergency keywords, activating audio and visual alerts, and sending emergency messages via a Wi-Fi module.
Enhances senior safety by providing immediate visual and audio warnings and automated emergency communication, ensuring prompt response to potential threats.
Abstract
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention generally relates to the field of embedded systems and signal processing. In particular, it relates to an assistance system for seniors. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Nowadays, many seniors are able to remain independent at home. There are many situations in which they need assistance. Some examples include: a. In case a thief comes in or the maids / servants try to steal something b. Any medical emergency c. Danger from unnoticed spilled water
[0003] This system gives an audio-visual indication by looking for spilled water and in other mentioned situations, when the person calls for help, the system recognizes the words and sends emergency message(s) to doctor / police / family members. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0004] An object of the present invention is to try to overcome the problems of the prior art and to provide an assistance system for elderly people.
[0005] These and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the further disclosure provided in the following detailed description. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] Accordingly, the following invention provides an assistance system for seniors. The system would be a small device that can be mounted on a wall or ceiling. It would have a microphone, a camera, a microcontroller, a speaker, and a Wi-Fi module. The camera continuously captures floor images. If it detects spilled water, it emits an audio alert to the user and flashes an LED to indicate this.
[0007] The microphone captures the sound and recognizes certain keywords. The message is then sent to the appropriate recipient accordingly. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
[0008] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure. The embodiments are detailed enough to clearly convey the disclosure. If the specification states that a component or feature "may," "can," "could," or "might" be included or must have a feature, it is not required that that particular component or feature be included or have that feature.
[0009] As used in the description herein and in the following claims, the meaning of "a," "an," and "the" includes the plural unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. As used in the description herein, the meaning of "in" also includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0010] The present disclosure generally relates to an assistance system for seniors. The system would be an IoT-based system. It would use a water sensor, a fire sensor, a smoke sensor, and a gas sensor to detect water, fire, smoke, gas leaks, etc., and alert the person. This alert is provided via an LED display and a speaker.
[0011] A microcontroller would collect the images captured by the camera and various sensor outputs. It would condition them, compare them to threshold values, and activate the LED display and speaker if there were any deviations.
[0012] A senior living assistance system consists of a comprehensive suite of components designed to improve safety and emergency response. At the heart of this system is a camera and sensor module that captures images and detects environmental hazards such as water spills, fire, smoke, and gas leaks. This includes a microphone that detects speech and recognizes specific emergency keywords. A microcontroller processes data from both the camera and sensor module and the microphone and compares this data against preset thresholds to determine whether an alarm should be activated. Upon detection of hazards or emergency keywords, the system uses an audio output device to issue audible alerts and alarms. Additionally, a Wi-Fi module sends emergency messages to preconfigured contacts when specific emergency keywords are detected.To ensure that users recognize hazards immediately, an LED indicator provides visual warnings when hazards are detected.
[0013] The speech recognition module would recognize the keywords and activate the messaging service accordingly.
Claims
[1] An assistance system for seniors, consisting of: a camera and sensor module configured to capture images and detect environmental hazards such as water spills, fire, smoke, and gas leaks; a microphone configured to detect speech and identify certain emergency keywords; a microcontroller configured to process data from the camera and sensor module and the microphone, compare the data with preset thresholds, and activate warning mechanisms when hazards or emergency keywords are detected; an audio output device configured to provide audible warnings and alarms; a Wi-Fi module configured to send emergency messages to pre-configured contacts when certain emergency keywords are detected; an LED indicator configured to provide visual warnings when hazards are detected.