Method for operating a fall detection system, device for operating a fall detection system and fall detection system

Abstract

A method of operating a fall detection system is disclosed, the system including at least one fall detection sensor communicatively connected to an alarm device, the fall detection system configured to have a specific operational mode that does not issue an alarm when a defined activity is detected by the at least one fall detection sensor, the method including activating the specific operational mode of the fall detection system, controlling the fall detection sensor to monitor user activity, and exiting the specific operational mode of the fall detection system if no activity is detected for a defined period of time.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to the field of fall detection, and more particularly to a method of operating a fall detection system, a device for operating a fall detection system, and a fall detection system. [Background technology]

[0002] One of the healthcare challenges facing most states and localities in our modern society is caring for a growing senior population, many of whom live alone. A major health risk for vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, infirm, or disabled, is injury from accidental falls, such as in bathrooms. Falls, which may be defined as a sudden, uncontrolled movement of a person's body to the ground or floor, can cause serious health problems or even death if left undetected.

[0003] Therefore, monitoring fall events occurring among vulnerable populations is of great interest to the healthcare industry.Automatic fall detection currently plays a key function in most elderly care solutions.

[0004] Compared with wearable device-based fall detection methods, non-contact fall detection using remote sensors has unique advantages and is therefore becoming mainstream.

[0005] US2011043630A1 discloses an image processing sensor system that functions as a stand-alone unit, capturing images and processing the resulting signals to detect objects or events of interest. The system automatically disables alarms or notification functions when a caregiver or other visitor arrives at the patient's bedside.

[0006] EP3978949A2 discloses a method, apparatus and system for wireless monitoring, movement tracking, people recognition and acoustic sensing, which includes obtaining time series channel information (TSCI) of a wireless multipath channel based on received wireless signals, calculating spatio-temporal information (STI) based on the TSCI, monitoring object movements based on the TSCI and STI, performing a task based on the monitoring, and generating a response based on the task.

[0007] WO2020207649A2 discloses an elderly care and security system that includes one or more networked lighting fixtures and sensors. If the sensor detects absence for a period longer than a predetermined time interval, the system automatically activates an alarm system.

[0008] Radar sensors, such as Frequency-Modulated Continuous-Wave Radar sensors, have been employed by many elderly care solutions for many years to enable remote fall detection. In recent years, three-dimensional (3D), time-of-flight (ToF), sensor-based fall detection solutions have emerged.

[0009] In a fall detection system using a 3D ToF sensor, the sensor monitors a space, such as a bathroom, to capture the position and posture of a person in the space in real time. When a person falls and lies on the floor, the posture of the person perceived by the sensor is different from when the person is standing or sitting.

[0010] Unlike other sensors such as radar sensors and accelerometers in wearable devices, 3D ToF sensors do not focus on the falling behavior / process itself (i.e., before the person lies down on the floor) to detect and confirm a fall.

[0011] Because 3D ToF sensor-based fall detection does not rely on fall behavior, which may vary greatly from person to person and situation to situation, to detect a fall event, a 3D ToF sensor-based fall detection system can significantly reduce false negatives (missing detection) and false positives / alarms.

[0012] On the other hand, 3D ToF sensors, especially those with low resolution, can barely distinguish between a fallen person lying down and a person lying down repairing a toilet / drain pipe, or bulky objects that resemble a person, such as a pile of clothes dumped on the floor before being put into the washing machine, which will trigger false alarms if not handled properly.

[0013] A known method to prevent false alarms from being triggered is to configure a fall detection system with a special mode, such as a no-fall-detection mode, in which no alarm is issued even if a user's activity resembling a fall is detected.

[0014] One disadvantage of a fall detection system operating in the no fall detection mode is that the user may forget to exit or deactivate the mode, which may cause a serious problem in that a fall event occurring to the user may not be detected in a timely manner, posing a significant risk to the user's safety. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0015] In view of the above, there exists a real need for a fall alarm detection system and method of operating a fall detection system that allows the fall detection system to operate properly to effectively prevent false alarms without compromising the accurate detection of potential fall events. [Means for solving the problem]

[0016] In a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of operating a fall detection system, the system including at least one fall detection sensor communicatively connected to an alarm device, the at least one fall detection sensor arranged to monitor a user's activity and to trigger the alarm device to issue an alarm if a user fall event is detected, the fall detection system configured to have a particular operating mode in which it does not issue an alarm if a specified activity is detected by the at least one fall detection sensor, the method comprising: - activating a particular mode of operation of the fall detection system; - controlling a fall detection sensor to monitor the activity of a user; - exiting a particular operational mode of the fall detection system if no activity is detected for a defined period of time, the length of the defined period being dependent on different conditions monitored by the fall detection sensor; A method is presented, including:

[0017] The present disclosure is based on the insight that a fall detection system configured to have a particular (or special) operating mode that does not emit an alarm can be reliably performed or operated by controlling the fall detection system to exit the particular operating mode when it is determined that there is no longer a need to perform the particular operating mode.

[0018] When a particular operating mode of the fall detection system is activated, the fall detection sensors of the fall detection system operate normally to monitor the user's activity without issuing an alarm, regardless of whether a suspected fall event is detected.

[0019] According to the disclosed method, the fall detection system is operated to exit a particular operating mode if no activity is detected for a defined period of time, which may vary depending on different scenarios, such as no activity being detected at all or an expected activity being detected and ending.

[0020] This method ensures that certain operating modes of the fall detection system in which no alarm is issued are terminated in a timely manner, preventing the risks posed by missed detection of a fall event caused by unnecessary and persistent operation of certain operating modes of the fall detection system.

[0021] Therefore, a fall detection system operating in this manner can effectively prevent false alarms by using a specific mode of operation, while ensuring that necessary alarms in response to regular fall events can be reliably issued.

[0022] In one example of the present disclosure, the actuating step is performed in response to receiving a command from a user.

[0023] Because certain operating modes of the fall detection system are designed to prevent false alarms, such modes are activated in response to user instructions. For example, a user may choose to turn on a certain operating mode if they plan to perform repair work in the bathroom while in a lying position. In this case, the user can perform the necessary activities in a relaxed state without worrying about triggering a fall alarm.

[0024] In one example of the present disclosure, the actuating step is performed by disabling a trigger message from being sent by the fall detection sensor to the alarm device.

[0025] In the specific operating mode of the fall detection system, the fall detection system still functions to monitor the user's activity. The difference between the specific operating mode and the normal operating mode is that no alarm is issued when a suspected fall event is detected.

[0026] It can be envisioned by those skilled in the art that this can be done by disabling the trigger message from being sent from the fall detection sensor to the alarm device to trigger the alarm.

[0027] Such control can be easily achieved without requiring substantial changes to the overall operation of the fall detection system.

[0028] In an alternative example of the present disclosure, the activating step is performed by disabling the alarm device from sounding an alarm upon receiving a trigger message from the fall detection sensor.

[0029] It is also possible that a trigger message is sent normally from the fall detection sensor to the alarm device when a suspected fall event is detected, in which case the alarm device is controlled, for example, by disabling it from emitting an alarm even if it receives a trigger message.

[0030] In one example of the present disclosure, the controlling step is performed for a first period of time that is equal to or greater than a period of time associated with a specified activity, and the terminating step includes terminating the particular operating mode if no activity is detected for a defined period of time following expiration of the first period of time.

[0031] When the specific operation mode is activated, the fall detection sensor operates in the same manner as in the normal operation mode to monitor the user's activity, and when a predetermined (or intended) activity of the user is detected, the fall detection sensor is controlled to continue monitoring the user until the predetermined (or intended) activity is completed.

[0032] The fall detection sensor then continues to monitor the user. If no further activity occurs for a period of time, it can be determined that the specified activity has indeed been completed and that there is no longer any need to continue performing the particular operating mode. In this case, the fall detection system is operated to exit the particular operating mode.

[0033] In this way, the method ensures that a particular mode of operation is performed for the required duration and then terminated, allowing the fall detection system to return to its normal mode of operation once the intended activity has concluded, while not triggering undesired false alarms.

[0034] In one example of the present disclosure, the controlling step is performed for a period of time, and the terminating step includes terminating the particular operating mode if no activity is detected during the period of time.

[0035] If a particular operational mode is accidentally activated by a user or other urgent engagement prevents the user from performing the specified activity that would occur after activating the particular operational mode, the fall detection system will monitor the user for a period of time without detecting the specified activity and then exit the particular operational mode.

[0036] Again, it is important to exit the particular operating mode because the user may be engaged in another task for a long time, during which a fall event may occur to the same or another user, and the fall detection system is thus operated to prevent the risk posed by such a potential fall event.

[0037] In one example of the present disclosure, the step of exiting the particular operating mode includes controlling the fall detection system to exit the particular operating mode.

[0038] As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art, exiting a particular operating mode may be performed automatically if no activity is detected for a defined period of time. As described above, depending on the particular operating mode of the fall detection system, for example, by disabling trigger messages from being sent to an alarm device or disabling alarms from being generated, the particular operating mode may be exited by re-enabling the trigger messages or alarms. Such an operation can be easily implemented without requiring hardware modifications to the fall detection system.

[0039] In one example of the present disclosure, the step of exiting the particular operating mode includes prompting a user to exit the particular operating mode.

[0040] Exiting the particular operating mode may be accomplished by prompting (or instructing) the user to manually return the fall detection system to a normal operating mode, which may be more convenient for the user as it gives the user the option to continue operating the fall detection system in the particular operating mode if the time arises at this point for the user to perform a scheduled activity.

[0041] In one example of the present disclosure, the prescribed activities are preconfigured by the fall detection system.

[0042] If the defined activities are known to be common to most users of the fall detection system, they may be advantageously pre-configured into the fall detection system in advance, which may improve the user experience.

[0043] However, in a further example of the present disclosure, the prescribed activity is defined by the user and input into the fall detection system.

[0044] This provides the user with more flexibility, especially if the fall detection system is installed in a different space than it was designed for. For example, if a user practices yoga in a room that is equipped with a fall detection system, the user can define an activity and input it into the fall detection system, allowing the user to enjoy a yoga session without worrying about triggering an alarm in the fall detection system.

[0045] In one example of the present disclosure, the fall detection sensor includes a Time of Flight (ToF) sensor.

[0046] This method is particularly advantageous for fall detection systems that use ToF sensors, since ToF sensors typically rely on discrete positions rather than fall behavior to detect fall events.

[0047] In one example of the present disclosure, the ToF sensor is integrated into a lighting device.

[0048] The working principle of ToF sensors makes integrating such sensors into lighting devices a very convenient solution, helping to make fall detection systems easier to install and configure.

[0049] A second aspect of the present disclosure presents a device for operating a fall detection system according to the method according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, the fall detection system including at least one fall detection sensor communicatively connected to an alarm device, the at least one fall detection sensor being arranged to monitor a user's activity and to trigger the alarm device when a user fall event is detected, and the fall detection system being configured to have a particular operating mode in which the alarm device is not triggered when a specified activity is detected by the at least one fall detection sensor.

[0050] The device may be a control device such as a remote control for the fall detection system, or may be a device for controlling the fall detection system from a remote location such as a server device for the fall detection system.

[0051] A third aspect of the present disclosure provides a fall detection system operated according to the first aspect of the present disclosure, the fall detection system including at least one fall detection sensor communicatively connected to an alarm device, the at least one fall detection sensor arranged to monitor a user's activity and to trigger the alarm device when a user fall event is detected, the fall detection system configured to have a particular mode of operation in which the alarm device is not triggered when a specified activity is detected by the at least one fall detection sensor.

[0052] A fourth aspect of the present disclosure provides a computer program product including a computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, when executed on at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method according to the first aspect of the present disclosure.

[0053] The above and other features and advantages of the present disclosure will be best understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate identical parts or parts that perform the same or equivalent functions or operations. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0054] [Figure 1] 1a and 1b show the targets perceived by the ToF sensor of a fall detection system in a standing position and a lying position, respectively. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of a fall detection system according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 illustrates generally in a flow chart type diagram one embodiment of a method of operating the fall detection system of FIG. 2 according to the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0055] Embodiments contemplated by the present disclosure will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The disclosed subject matter should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, the illustrated embodiments are provided as examples to convey the scope of the subject matter to those skilled in the art.

[0056] Throughout this description, the terms "target," "user," and "subject" are used interchangeably.

[0057] As described in the background section, the 3D ToF sensor used in the fall detection system monitors a space to capture the position and posture of a person in the space in real time. When a person lies on the floor, the posture of the person perceived by the ToF sensor is different from when the person is standing or sitting.

[0058] Referring to Figures 1a and 1b, which show targets perceived by a ToF sensor in a standing and lying position, respectively, the pillar 11 shown in Figure 1a represents a standing person from the field of view of a low resolution, e.g., 8x8, 3D ToF sensor, while the pillar 12 shown in Figure 1b represents how a person is perceived by the 3D ToF sensor when the person has collapsed and is lying on the floor.

[0059] For sensors that rely on the discrete real-time position of a target to perform fall detection, rather than relying on the falling behavior, such as low-resolution 3D ToF sensors, it can be difficult to distinguish between a person lying down who has fallen and a bulky (person-like) object such as a person lying down repairing a toilet / drain pipe, or a pile of clothes thrown on the floor, which can lead to false alarms from the fall detection system.

[0060] Below, a fall detection system and method of operating a fall detection system is described that can be used to prevent false alarms as described above without compromising the accurate detection of potential fall events.

[0061] 2 schematically illustrates a fall detection system 20 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. The fall detection system 20 includes one or more fall detection sensors 21 and an alarm device 22 operatively connected to each other.

[0062] The one or more fall detection sensors 21 may include various sensors that may be used to monitor a user (or target) in terms of activities performed by the user (or target) in daily life on an ongoing basis for possible fall events.

[0063] The one or more fall detection sensors 21 may be visual sensors used to capture images of a target, or ambient sensors used to detect environmental changes due to a fall, or the like.

[0064] The at least one fall detection sensor 21 may include a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor, which may be based on indoor lighting fixtures readily available in every home, such as LED lights fixed to the ceiling.

[0065] At least one fall detection sensor 21 is arranged to trigger an alarm device 22 to emit an alarm if a fall event of the user is detected.

[0066] The alarm device 22 may include one or more alarms arranged to emit an alarm in the form of an audible sound, a visual signal, a telephone call or a message to an associated user.

[0067] The fall detection system 20 is deployed, for example, in a home, with one or more sensors 21 located in different rooms of the house and connected to an alarm device 22 by wire or wirelessly.

[0068] As can be envisioned by a person skilled in the art, the fall detection system may further include a processor 23, which may be, for example, a processor connected to each of the fall detection sensors 21, or a processor that is remotely deployed and configured to communicate with the fall detection sensors 21, for example via a communication network.

[0069] The processor 23 is configured to receive data captured or acquired by the one or more sensors 21 and determine, based on the data obtained from the sensors, whether a fall event is occurring or has occurred to the user.

[0070] The processor 23 is also configured to trigger the alarm device 22, for example by means of a trigger message sent to the alarm device when a fall event is detected.

[0071] As can be envisioned by one skilled in the art, the processor 23 and the sensor 21 may be a single integrated device or may be configured as separate components of the fall detection system 20. By way of example, the sensor 21 may include a sensing portion and further have a built-in processor that may process raw data captured by the sensing portion of the sensor to determine when a possible event has occurred to the user.

[0072] Alternatively, the processor 23 may be a component separate from the sensor 21. In this case, the processor may also be configured for other functions, such as controlling electronic devices in the home, such as lighting devices.

[0073] The fall detection system 20 is configured to have a particular mode of operation in which no alarm is issued when a defined activity is detected by one or more fall detection sensors 21 .

[0074] The prescribed activities involve positions and postures that may be confused by a fall detection sensor as positions and postures associated with a fall event, and such activities may generally be referred to as false positive activities.

[0075] Those skilled in the art will understand that the phrase "a certain activity being detected by a fall detection sensor" as used herein refers to determining that a user is performing a certain activity based on measurement data of the user acquired by the fall detection sensor. Methods for making such a determination are known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail herein.

[0076] A particular mode of operation may be referred to as, for example, a no fall detection mode, under which the fall detection functionality of the fall detection system appears to be deactivated.

[0077] In fact, under the no fall detection mode, the one or more fall detection sensors 21 still operate to monitor the user's activity, i.e., the fall detection sensors 21 still capture the user's position and posture in real time, but no alarm is issued even if a suspected fall event is determined.

[0078] Therefore, the no fall detection mode may be activated by disabling the sending of trigger messages to the alarm device from the fall detection sensor or from the processor processing the measurement data acquired by the fall detection sensor.

[0079] It is also possible that a trigger message to trigger an alarm may still be sent to the alarm device, in which case the no fall detection mode may be activated by disabling the alarm device from sounding an alarm upon receiving a trigger message from the fall detection sensor.

[0080] The operations for implementing the above control are known to those skilled in the art and will not be described in detail here.

[0081] The no fall detection mode may be activated or deactivated via a suitably designed user interface. In this case, a user or operator of the fall detection system changes the system to no fall detection mode before an activity that is known not to pose a risk of falling but that may lead to a false alarm. After completing the activity, the user or operator changes (or switches) the fall detection system to normal operating mode.

[0082] According to the present disclosure, a mechanism is proposed to automatically exit or trigger the exit of the no fall detection mode, which is initiated in case the user or operator forgets to switch to normal operation mode or in case of unintentional activation of the no fall detection mode due to, for example, an incorrect operation.

[0083] The specific design of the user interface or mechanism for entering / exiting the no fall detection mode is not part of this disclosure and will not be discussed in detail here. As an example, in the case of a fall detection system using a ToF sensor integrated into a lighting fixture, the no fall detection mode may be activated by quickly flipping a wall switch several times. In response, the light may dim or brighten to confirm that the no fall detection mode has been successfully activated.

[0084] Another known approach is to use a mobile or web-based application with some access control including, for example, passwords, role-based controls, etc. A user manual for consumers or training for professional operators informs the user or operator of activities that may lead to false alarms and changes the operating mode of the system accordingly before and after these activities.

[0085] When the fall detection system enters the no fall detection mode under user control, the fall detection sensor, such as a ToF sensor, begins monitoring the space for the intended activity.

[0086] If the fall detection system uses an app-based user interface, the user or operator may be asked to specify or select a false positive activity so the fall detection sensor will know exactly what happened, such as fixing the toilet or washing clothes.

[0087] For repair activities, the worker's behavior differs from normal use of the bathroom. Repair workers may be more likely to squat, stoop, lie down, or stand up during repair procedures. Multiple detections of relevant postures within a period of time can be used to confirm that repair activities are likely occurring.

[0088] In the case of a clothes washing activity, the fall detection sensor may increase the sampling rate, for example, from 1 frame per second to 15 frames per second, and process data from only a few zones covering a certain floor area. In this way, the sensor can capture the falling of clothes without significantly increasing the computational load, and thus confirm the occurrence of a clothes washing activity.

[0089] The reason for not attempting to identify these activities in normal operation mode is the confidence level that the low-resolution ToF sensor can achieve. There should be repair activities that resemble normal bathroom use. If normal operation mode is used, such repair activities may be mistaken for normal bathroom use with a fall, likely leading to a false alarm. It is also possible that normal bathroom use with a fall may be mistaken for repair activity, resulting in a missed alarm and more serious consequences.

[0090] Now, if the fall detection system continues to operate in no fall detection mode for a defined period of time, e.g., 5 minutes, after the fall detection sensor confirms that the intended activity has occurred and completed, such as the fall detection sensor seeing that the space is clear, the fall detection system will remind the user / operator, e.g., via a user interface, to switch back to normal mode. The fall detection system may also automatically switch back directly to normal mode in case the user / operator forgets to do so.

[0091] Alternatively, after entering the no fall detection mode, if the fall detection sensor "does not see" the desired activity occur for a defined period of time, the fall detection system will do the same to return to the normal operating mode, as the no fall detection mode may have been activated by mistake or due to a different emergency engagement preventing the user from performing the prescribed activity that was to occur after activating a particular operating mode.

[0092] The above procedure for operating the fall detection system of the present disclosure is summarized below with reference to FIG. 3, which illustrates in a flow chart type diagram one embodiment of a method for operating a fall detection system according to the present disclosure.

[0093] In step 31, a particular operating mode of the fall detection system, or a no fall detection mode, is activated.

[0094] As mentioned above, this may be accomplished by sending instructions from a user or operator to the fall detection system, for example via a user interface or control mechanism such as a switch.

[0095] Under certain operating modes, if a prescribed activity is detected by the fall detection sensor of the fall detection system, no alarm is generated.

[0096] From a control perspective, this may be accomplished by disabling the fall detection sensor from sending a trigger message to the alarm device in response to detecting a defined activity that resembles a fall activity.

[0097] Alternatively, activation of a particular operational mode of the fall detection system is achieved by disabling the alarm device from emitting an alarm.

[0098] In step 32, the fall detection sensor is controlled to monitor the activity of the user.

[0099] In effect, the fall detection sensor does not change its normal operation and continues to capture the position and orientation of objects within its monitoring range.

[0100] In step 33, if no activity is detected for a defined period of time, the particular operating mode of the fall detection system is terminated.

[0101] As discussed above, exiting a particular operational mode of the fall detection system may be performed automatically if data captured by the fall detection sensor indicates that no activity has occurred for a defined period of time. Alternatively, the fall detection system may remind the user or operator to exit the fall detection system from a particular operational mode, for example, via a reminding alert distinct from a fall alarm.

[0102] In practical applications, the length of the defined period is variable depending on different conditions monitored by the fall detection sensor.

[0103] As an example, if a particular operating mode is activated and then an intended or prescribed activity from the user is detected and determined to have ended, and the fall detection system continues in the particular operating mode, the detection system may determine that there is no longer a need to operate in this no-fall-detection mode and therefore it is time to exit the particular operating mode.

[0104] In this case, the fall detection sensor monitors the user's activity for a period at least equal to the duration of the prescribed activity, which typically lasts longer than the duration of the prescribed activity.

[0105] In another example, if the fall detection sensor does not detect any activity after entering the particular operating mode, the fall detection system may be terminated sooner from the particular operating mode, and therefore the monitoring operation of the fall detection sensor in the particular operating mode may be shorter.

[0106] Below, a mechanism is described to allow a user or operator of a fall detection system to add new locally relevant false positive activities to the no fall detection mode.

[0107] In practice, it is difficult for a fall detection system to predict all false positive activities before deployment. If a user or operator encounters a false positive caused by an activity that is actually safe and does not involve a fall risk, the user or operator can choose to add it to the no fall detection mode.

[0108] This can be achieved via an app-based user interface. To do so, the user or operator must first identify the exact activity that led to the false positive and repeat it. The fall detection system then guides the user or operator through the activity via the user interface and collects sensor data for post-processing. The user or operator may repeat the activity several times, and the fall detection sensor may increase its sampling rate over time.

[0109] The fall detection system may also ask the user or operator via a user interface to provide a textual description of the activity, and the system provider may contact the user or operator (e.g., via telephone) to obtain more details.

[0110] The collected sensor data and description of the activity allow a service engineer of the fall detection system to decide whether to add the activity to the no fall detection mode. The service engineer may choose to add the activity only to the exact sensor that reported the false positive, or to all sensors if the activity is common to all users.

[0111] The present disclosure is not limited to the examples disclosed above, but can be modified and extended by those skilled in the art beyond the scope of the present disclosure disclosed in the appended claims without the need to apply inventive skills, for use in any data communication, data exchange and data processing environment, system or network.

Claims

1. 1. A method of operating a fall detection system, the system including at least one fall detection sensor communicatively connected to an alarm device, the at least one fall detection sensor arranged to monitor a user's activity and to trigger the alarm device to issue an alarm if a user fall event is detected, the fall detection system configured to have a particular mode of operation in which no alarm is issued when a defined activity is detected by the at least one fall detection sensor, the method comprising: activating the particular mode of operation of the fall detection system; controlling the fall detection sensor to monitor a user's activity; exiting the particular operational mode of the fall detection system if no activity is detected for a defined period of time, the length of the defined period being dependent on the specified activity monitored by the fall detection sensor; Including, the controlling step is performed for a period of time; The method, wherein the step of terminating includes terminating the particular operating mode if no activity is detected during the period of time.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the actuating step is performed in response to receiving a command from a user.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the actuating step is performed by disabling trigger messages from being sent by the fall detection sensor to the alarm device.

4. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the actuating step is performed by disabling the alarm device from sounding an alarm upon receiving a trigger message from the fall detection sensor.

5. the controlling step is performed for a first time period equal to or greater than a time period associated with the specified activity; 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the terminating step comprises terminating the particular operating mode if no activity is detected for a defined period of time following expiration of the first period of time.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein exiting the particular operating mode comprises controlling the fall detection system to exit the particular operating mode.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein exiting the particular operating mode comprises prompting a user to exit the particular operating mode.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined activity is pre-configured by the fall detection system.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the prescribed activity is defined by a user and input into the fall detection system.

10. 10. A device for operating a fall detection system according to the method of any one of claims 1 to 9, the system comprising at least one fall detection sensor communicatively connected to an alarm device, the at least one fall detection sensor arranged to monitor a user's activity and to trigger the alarm device when a user fall event is detected, the fall detection system configured to have a particular mode of operation in which it does not issue an alarm when defined activities are detected by the at least one fall detection sensor.

11. The device of claim 10 , wherein the fall detection sensor comprises a time-of-flight (ToF) sensor.

12. 12. The device of claim 10 or 11, wherein the ToF sensor is integrated into a lighting device.

13. 13. A fall detection system operated in accordance with the method of any one of claims 1 to 12, the system comprising at least one fall detection sensor communicatively connected to an alarm device, the at least one fall detection sensor arranged to monitor a user's activity and to trigger the alarm device to issue an alarm if a user fall event is detected, the fall detection system being configured to have a particular mode of operation in which no alarm is issued when a defined activity is detected by the at least one fall detection sensor.

14. 10. A computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed on at least one processor, cause said at least one processor to perform the method of any one of claims 1 to 9.

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