PATIENT MONITORING SYSTEM

Abstract

A system for monitoring patient movements or other activities. This includes a monitoring device with one or more sensors, such as pressure or motion sensors, that can be placed on or near a patient. The monitoring device can generate alerts if sensor readings fall outside predetermined limits established in a patient profile specific to that particular patient. Sensor readings and / or alerts can be sent by the monitoring device to a central server, which can then notify nearby caregivers that a patient requires assistance. The server can be configured to analyze sensor readings and alert information to refine patient profiles and reduce or eliminate false alarms.

Description

PATIENT MONITORING SYSTEM REFERENCE TO RELATED REQUEST This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 62 / 361,548, filed on July 13, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The risk of a patient falling from a bed, chair, or other support structure is a major concern for those responsible for providing patient care. While patient falls are not always serious, the possibility of further injury to the patient and the potential liabilities for caregivers make preventing patient falls a significant concern. Patients who fall can experience considerable pain and discomfort and may require more time to heal old injuries aggravated by the fall or new injuries caused by the event itself. For healthcare providers, patient falls generally mean additional costs, some or all of which the facility may be required to account for as a loss. For insurance companies, the added risk of injury from patient falls increases costs, making it generally more expensive to provide health coverage for patients and liability insurance for hospitals and caregivers. The need to prevent falls in patients in general also increases as the population ages. Age increases both the overall risk of falling and the likelihood of injury from a fall. Older adults may be especially at risk of repeated falls, which can increase recovery time and result in serious or life-threatening age-related complications. Healthcare regulations can also impact the cost of patient falls. Some government agencies may withhold funding, deny licenses or permits, or otherwise penalize providers with a higher number of patient falls. On the other hand, increased funding may be available to providers who reduce or eliminate fall-related injury incidents. Thus, patients, caregivers, and medical institutions would benefit from predicting when a patient is about to fall and preventing it from happening instead of treating patients for injuries they may suffer as a result. r / zonn / zznz / E / Y BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This disclosure generally relates to systems for monitoring patient activity in a hospital, clinic, nursing home, or other facility where a patient may be receiving care. More specifically, the disclosed system involves detecting patient activity and analyzing this data in real time to predict when a patient is likely to stand, which could lead to a fall, for example, from a bed, chair, or other support structure. When the system determines that a fall is imminent, nearby caregivers can be alerted and can then offer timely assistance, thus increasing the likelihood of preventing a fall before it happens. The patient monitoring system described includes a monitoring device with one or more sensors, such as a pressure sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, temperature sensor, or proximity sensor, that can be placed on or near a patient. The monitoring device can receive updated sensor readings and report this information to a central server. The server can then alert nearby caregivers that the patient's activities indicate an imminent risk of a fall. The system can make this determination by comparing sensor readings to predetermined limits established for each individual patient. For example, a pressure sensor can be incorporated into the patient's socks. The pressure sensor might include conductive threads woven into the sock fabric. When the threads are stretched or compressed, the circuit's resistance changes in response and can be detected by a monitoring device. One example of a pressure sensor is the Smart Sock manufactured by TexiSense of Montceau Les Mines, France. Excessive pressure, rapid changes in pressure, or other sensor readings can indicate potentially dangerous patient movement. The patient monitoring device may include a transmitter configured to send sensor information and / or alarm notifications to the remote server. When an alarm condition is detected by the monitoring device, an alarm message can be sent to the server, which can automatically locate one or more caregivers closest to the patient. The alarm message can be sent to these caregivers indicating that an unexpected and potentially harmful situation has occurred or is about to occur, instructing them to move to the patient to provide assistance. The patient monitoring system can include features to minimize false alarms. For example, the monitoring device can incorporate multiple sensors capable of detecting movement, acceleration, and / or changes in angle or proximity to a target object. Additionally, the monitoring device can store patient profile information that defines alarm conditions based on combinations of data obtained from the multiple sensors over a specific time interval. For instance, the profile can be configured to trigger an alert when a sudden increase in pressure on the patient's foot is accompanied by a sudden change in the angle and / or acceleration of the patient's leg relative to gravity, both occurring within a predetermined time window. In this way, the system can be configured to differentiate between the act of standing up and other leg or foot movements that may not pose a danger to the patient. In another aspect, patient profiles can be generated by the server based on any patient information, such as demographics, physical or mental conditions, treatment history, race, gender, sex, current or past drug therapies, and other factors. These and other aspects can be stored in a centralized patient information knowledge base and can be considered by the server when generating profile parameters for a given patient. Once generated, the server can communicate the profile to the corresponding monitoring device. In another aspect, the server can include a heuristic module to analyze patient profiles and validate the rules associated with generating alerts, thereby increasing accuracy and eliminating false positives. The data considered by the heuristic module can be provided by caregivers who react to generated alarms, allowing them to help improve the system's response to patient behavior. This information can also be used to generate new profiles. The server may also include reporting modules that are configured to generate reports. These reports may include information showing the types and frequency of events, the number of false positives, the number of falls prevented, the response times of medical personnel to each alert, or any other information collected and used by the system. Forms, objects, elements, aspects, benefits, advantages, and additional examples of this disclosure will become evident from the detailed description and drawings provided below. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a component diagram illustrating exemplary components of a patient monitoring system as described herein. Figure 2 is a component diagram that illustrates aspects of a patient monitoring device such as the patient monitoring device in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a component diagram illustrating aspects of a server, such as the server in Figure 1. Figure 4 is a component diagram illustrating aspects of a data store, such as the data store or memory in Figure 1. Figure 5 is a component diagram illustrating aspects of a computer like the computer in Figure 1 Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating actions that can be performed on a patient monitoring system, such as the system in Figure 1. Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating actions that can be performed when alerts are triggered in a patient monitoring system like the system in Figure 1. DETAILED DESCRIPTION Figure 1 illustrates an example of components that may be included in a patient monitoring system 100. The patient monitoring system 100 may include a patient monitoring device 108 to detect movements, combinations of movements, positional changes, and other patient-related activities or events that may indicate a patient is about to fall. The monitoring device 108 may be attached to a patient 120, for example, on a belt, ankle bracelet, wristband, or as part of an article of clothing such as a sock, shirt, gown, and the like. The patient monitoring device 108 may communicate with a server 102, a data store or data memory 104, or a computer. 106 and any other device in the system using a communications link 118 and a network 110. In one example, a computer 106 can be configured to discover which patient monitoring devices 108 are nearby using the network 110 and can be configured to allow a caregiver using the computer 106 to select which patient monitoring devices to monitor and receive alarm information from. Server 102 can communicate with other devices 104, 106, and 108 via network 110 and communication link 112. Server 102 can be configured to perform various tasks, such as coordinating the analysis and storage of alarm-related information and / or storing and analyzing event or sensor data from device 108. Server 102 can also be configured to accept event or alert information from a monitoring device 108 and determine which caregivers should receive alerts for a given patient. Server 102 can make this determination based on criteria such as the caregiver's proximity to the patient, the patient's condition, the caregiver's specialties, and similar factors.In this example, alerts sent from a patient monitoring device are sent to server 102 and distributed to the appropriate caregiver when patient monitoring device 108 indicates patient activity that may be outside of the parameters set for that particular patient. r / zonn / zznz / E / Y Data memory 104 can be configured to store and provide access to information obtained as a result of monitoring patient activity. Data memory 104 can include alarm information, patient activity data captured by various sensors on patient monitoring devices 108, contact information and / or access credentials for caregivers, and / or a database of predefined patient profiles or profile parameter information, to name a few non-limiting examples. As explained in more detail below, the patient monitoring device 108 is configured to detect patient activity using various sensors and to analyze that activity in real time to determine if it indicates a likely patient to stand or fall. If a potential stand or fall event is detected, the monitoring device can send an alert to the server 102. The server can then transmit the alert to all or a subset of nearby caregivers, giving them the opportunity to provide assistance before the patient falls. Responding caregivers can also indicate whether the alert was justified by communicating the patient's current condition to the server using a computer (106), such as a tablet, smartwatch, or smartphone. The server can use data memory (104) to store this caregiver feedback, along with r / zonn / zznz / E / Y data values ​​collected in real time by the monitoring device in the moments leading up to the alert. This data can then be analyzed by the server (102) to determine what adjustments, if any, should be made to the monitoring device's logic or configuration to increase the system's accuracy in predicting patient falls. Thus, the overall accuracy of the system is improved by facilitating feedback from caregivers about whether the predicted fall was actually about to occur, whether it actually happened, or whether a patient fell before an alert was triggered. Further details of the software, hardware, and data aspects of a system such as the one illustrated in Figure 1 are given in greater detail in Figures 2–6. Figure 2 illustrates an example of a component arrangement for a patient monitoring device, such as monitoring device 108. Monitoring device 108 may generally include hardware 202, software 204, and may also include a local data store or memory 206. Any appropriate arrangement of hardware or software modules may be used. Hardware 202 may include a processor 208 that can be programmed to perform various tasks described herein related to monitoring patient activity. The processor 208 can be coupled to other hardware components 202, such as sensors, memory, and the like r / zonn / zznz / E / Y, to perform these tasks. Memory 202 may be included to store operating values ​​or parameters, which may include intermediate or final values ​​of calculations, logical or computational instructions for the processor 208, or hardware control parameters. Memory 202 may also store patient monitoring information, such as patient-related events in an event log 238, sensor data 236 obtained from sensors coupled to the patient monitoring device, and / or patient profiles 244 to control how data about patient activity are collected and analyzed.Memory 202 can be either permanent or static memory, or temporary or dynamic memory, or any combination thereof. An antenna 212 may be included to facilitate wireless communication on a communication link, such as communication link 118. A network interface 216 may be included to process communication with other devices in the system communicating using a network, such as network 110. A wireless transceiver 214 may be included and may use the antenna 212 or other appropriate hardware 202 to transmit and receive information between the patient monitoring device 108 and other devices in the patient monitoring system, such as the server 102, data memory 104, and / or computer 106. The patient monitoring device 108 may include one or more sensors, such as a motion sensor 218 configured to detect a patient's movements. The motion sensor 218 may be any appropriate device or devices that respond to patient movement and may include, for example, one or more accelerometers to detect movement on multiple axes relative to gravity and / or one or more gyroscopic sensors to detect changes in angular momentum and / or elevation angle. The motion sensor 218 can be used to detect when a patient changes position to get out of bed or falls abruptly to the floor from a standing position or from a support structure, such as a bed, chair, wheelchair, and the like. The hardware 202 may also include a proximity sensor 220 configured to generate signals based on the distance to a target object or location. For example, a sensor target, such as a magnet, radio transmitter, or other object, may be placed on or adjacent to a chair, bed, or other reference point. The proximity sensor 220 can determine the distance between the sensor 220 and the sensor target and provide this information as a time-varying signal to other software or hardware components of the patient monitoring device 108. For example, this proximity data may be processed by the processor 208 in accordance with the software 204 and used to determine when a patient has traveled beyond a predetermined threshold distance from the sensor target, as defined in the patient profile. A pressure sensor 224 can also be included and can be useful for detecting changes in pressure distribution within a patient's body. For example, the pressure sensor 224 can detect an increase in pressure in one part of the body and a decrease in pressure in another when the patient moves from a lying to an upright sitting position. The pressure sensor 224 can also detect a rapid drop in pressure in a particular body part when a patient is falling and a subsequent rapid increase in pressure when the patient falls abruptly onto a supporting surface, such as the floor. The 222 temperature sensor can also be included to provide additional information about the patient's location, position, and / or overall health status. For example, the temperature sensor can be useful for determining when a patient removes the sensor from their body, when a patient moves out of a facility, or when they enter an environment that causes a significant change in the patient's temperature or the ambient temperature. Any of the sensors used by the patient monitoring device 108, such as sensors 218, 220, 224, 222, and others, can be mounted inside or outside a housing that contains some or all of the other hardware and software components. For example, the patient monitoring sensors can be mounted outside a container or housing and can communicate with hardware and software inside the housing via any appropriate communication link. For example, the pressure sensor 224 can be woven into the patient's clothing, such as a sock or gown, and can communicate with software components 206 and hardware components 202 mounted inside the housing via a wired or wireless communication link.This communications link can be maintained as electromagnetic signals travel in wire conductors or through the air as radio waves using any appropriate wireless communication technology. These hardware aspects of the patient monitoring device 108 can be configured to operate according to instructions included in the software 204. These instructions can be arranged logically or conceptually as modules to control different functional aspects of the patient monitoring device. Functional aspects generally include obtaining, storing, and processing data from multiple sensors, detecting patient activity, determining when to send alert notifications to other parts of the system, retrieving or updating patient profile information, and / or sending sensor data to a central archive to improve the performance of patient monitoring devices throughout the system. r / zonn / zznz / E / Y Software 204 may include an alarm module 226 configured to send alarm-related messages, events, or data to other parts of the patient monitoring system 100. The alarm module 226 can determine when to send alert information that notifies caregivers when a change in a patient's condition warrants immediate investigation. The alarm module 226 may include rules to determine under what circumstances an alert should be sent. In one example, the alarm module 226 uses a patient profile 244 that has one or more patient-related parameters with corresponding predefined threshold values. These values ​​can be used to determine when patient activity warrants further investigation. Examples of alarm rules include a pressure rule that is triggered when signals are received from alarm module 226 indicating changes in position or other activity that may have caused pressure differentials at the patient's feet or other monitored sites that are outside the predetermined threshold values ​​in a patient profile 244. Such pressure sensor rules, when triggered, configure the patient monitoring device 108 to send an alert indicating that changes in the pressure distribution of the patient's weight relative to a support surface no longer match the predetermined patient profile. In one example, the patient has been prescribed bed rest, which affects the speed, acceleration, or angle of incidence relative to gravity for a particular part of the patient's body.The patient profile 244 can be stored in memory 210 along with other relevant data and can be used to maintain these parameters which may be generic for many patients or specific to the particular patient who wears the monitoring device 108. In another example, alarm module 226 can include proximity rules that are triggered when a patient travels beyond a predetermined distance from a target location, such as a bed, chair, or other support surface. For example, proximity sensor 220 can send signals continuously or at regular intervals to patient monitoring device 108 indicating the distance to the target object. When the patient moves, proximity sensor 220 can send different signals indicating a change in distance to the sensor target. The rule in alarm module 226 can be activated to send information to other parts of the patient monitoring system if proximity sensor 220 indicates a distance from the sensor target that exceeds a predetermined threshold in patient profile 244. In another example, alarm module 226 can include motion sensor rules that, when activated, configure patient monitoring device 108 to send alerts when patient movements do not match the patient profile. Using motion sensor 218, patient movements can be processed periodically or continuously by patient monitoring device 108 as the motion sensor signals change over time. At some point, the patient's movements may change, causing motion sensor 218 to send signals indicating a movement or series of movements that no longer match the patient profile.A motion sensor rule in alarm module 226 can then be activated to send event data to other parts of the patient monitoring system indicating that the patient's movements suggest activity that is outside the patient's predetermined thresholds in the patient profile and thus may be harmful to the patient. The alarm module 226 can be programmed with any appropriate set of rules that compare the current state of the patient monitoring device 108 with one or more predetermined threshold values. For example, the alarm module 226 can include rules that are triggered based on combinations of inputs from multiple sensors received over time. These combinations can be defined in a monitoring rule or in the patient profile 244. In this way, one or more combinations of signals from one or more sensors can be considered at specific time intervals, allowing for more complex analysis of data received from the motion sensor 218, pressure sensor 224, temperature sensor 222, proximity sensor 220, and any other sensors that may be used. In another example, the alarm module 226 can be configured with one or more status-related rules. Such rules might include a wireless network rule configured to activate when the wireless transceiver 214 reports that the signal strength of nearby wireless devices has fallen below a predetermined threshold. Another status rule might include a battery monitoring rule configured to activate when the charge level of a battery 240 falls below a predetermined threshold. Other such status rules might include a fault reporting rule configured to activate when a hardware or software fault occurs, when the available storage capacity in memory 210 falls below a predetermined threshold, and so on. The 226 alarm module can also be programmed to include an alert level, severity level, importance level, or other similar indicator or flag to help the patient monitoring system prioritize, categorize, or manage the response to triggered alarms or alerts. The 226 alarm module can include rules for calculating this priority level. For example, an alarm rule can be configured to set the severity level of an alarm to indicate a high degree of importance when a particular threshold value (e.g., patient movement) exceeds parameters set in the patient profile by more than a predetermined severity level threshold. Priority levels can be indicated in any appropriate manner, such as a numerical range from zero to nine or zero to one hundred, or a high, medium, and low indicator. For example, if patient movements exceed parameters in the patient profile by less than 10%, alarm module 226 can generate an alarm with a lower severity level, such as zero, one, or low. When patient movements exceed the upper range of the patient profile, for example, 10–30%, a higher level, such as three or four, or a medium level can be assigned. For situations where patient movement exceeds the patient profile parameters by more than 30%, a high level or a value such as eight or nine can be assigned to the alert information. This is just one non-limiting example, as any appropriate scheme can be used to prioritize alarm information. The profile module 228 can be configured to accept, modify, or otherwise maintain a patient profile 244. The patient profile 244 can include multiple parameters r / zonn / zznz / E / Y that detail information about the patient, the patient's treatment plan, and other information useful to the patient monitoring device 108 and the rest of the patient monitoring system 100. The patient profile can include any information about the patient that is useful for predicting and preventing patient falls. Such information can include detailed patient measurements, such as medical condition, height, weight, body composition, treatment plans, medication regimens, and the like. It can also include demographic information such as sex, race, and the like. For example, a patient profile may include parameters indicating whether a patient should be allowed to move away from a support surface, such as a bed or chair; whether the patient should be allowed to assume a particular posture or position, such as standing, walking, sitting, lying down (on their left and / or right side), and the like. The patient profile may also indicate under what circumstances a patient can leave the room or how frequently the patient should be repositioned. Parameters or parameter ranges can be specified in any appropriate format, such as numbers, letters, binary data, and the like. For example, parameters can be organized to correspond with input values ​​required by one or more rules in the alarm module 226. In another example, patient parameters can be configured to correspond with output ranges of specific sensors or combinations of sensors used by the patient monitoring device 108. Patient parameters can be considered as predefined threshold values ​​that can be compared with sensor data or other data according to a rule. These predefined threshold values ​​can be specific values ​​or ranges of values, with or without accompanying tolerances. Such values ​​can be numeric, textual, or any combination thereof. An event capture module 230 can be configured to collect available event-related information to send to other parts of the patient monitoring system when an event occurs. This information may include a snapshot of the patient's current condition and status, as determined by the sensors on the patient monitoring device 108. It may also include a current reading from the motion sensor 218, proximity sensor 220, pressure sensor 224, temperature sensor 222, and / or the status of various subsystems on the patient monitoring device 108, such as the battery 240, memory 210, or any combination thereof. Event data may also include the activated rule, date and time stamp, and similar information. The 230 event capture module can collect event information when an alarm is triggered or periodically to provide the patient monitoring system. 100 An ongoing update of the patient's condition, position, activity, and similar status. The event capture module can include specific rules for capturing events in general, regardless of whether an alarm state has occurred. For example, an event capture rule might store event information in event log 238 in memory 210 when patient activity occurs, but is not outside the parameters specified for that activity in the patient's profile 244. This can be advantageous in providing baseline values ​​for a patient's status that leads to an alarm condition when it occurs. Event data can be stored in event log 238 and transferred to data store 104. Other contextual information may also be collected and sent along with an alert or event update. Such contextual information may include signals or other data received from sensors or other parts of the Patient Monitoring Device 108 for a predetermined period of time before the alert is sent. For example, the alarm module may collect all data obtained or received by the Patient Monitoring Device 108 for the last 60 seconds before the alert was sent, for the last five minutes before the alert was sent, for the last half hour, or for some period of time longer than half an hour. r / zonn / zznz / E / Y In another example, data transmission can be based on a number of events rather than a specific time period. This data can include all available monitoring data or a portion of it, as determined by the activated rule or by the alarm module itself. In one example, when a motion sensor rule is triggered, the rule can be configured to collect the preceding two minutes of motion sensor data and / or the preceding five minutes of pressure sensor data to be sent with the alarm message. In another example, the 226 alarm module can be configured to collect the preceding five minutes of data from some sensors (e.g., pressure sensor, proximity sensor, and / or motion sensor) but not from others (e.g., temperature sensor). In yet another example, the stored data from all sensors can be collected by the 226 module after a predetermined number of events have been detected and stored from a number of different sensors.This type of pre-alarm data can be used by other parts of the patient monitoring system to detect sensor data patterns that indicate certain patient activity is imminent or to determine the probabilities of false positives and false negatives. This information can then be used to refine when rules should be triggered. The collected data can be organized into an r / zonn / zznz / E / Y alarm message, which can include a snapshot of the patient's current condition and any other alarm-related information that may be useful to other parts of the patient monitoring system. The message can be transmitted via a communication link using network interface 216 for processing by a server, such as server 102, or viewed by an operator on a computer, such as computer 106. The data can be stored in data memory 104 along with data from the associated sensor. The control module 232 can be included to organize the operations of the software 204 and / or hardware 202. The control module 232 can be configured to initialize the activity of the patient monitoring device 108, such as proceeding through a basic startup and test procedure, executing algorithms or subroutines to locate and communicate with the server 102, data memory 104, computer 106, and other devices in the patient monitoring system. The control module can initiate one or more periodic or continuous control cycles, obtaining sensor data from one or more sensors on the patient monitoring device, such as the pressure sensor 224, motion sensor 218, proximity sensor 220, and / or temperature sensor 222, or others. The control module 232 can be considered a controller that manages the operation of the patient monitoring device. 108. r / zonn / zznz / E / Y A communication module 234 can also be included. This module can be configured to open and maintain communication links to various other parts of the patient monitoring system, such as the server 102, data memory 104, and others. It can be configured to implement any appropriate digital, analog, or other communication scheme using any suitable network or control protocol. The communication module 234 can be coupled with or used by the network module 242 to open, maintain, and manage communication links with other aspects of the patient monitoring system via the network. In one example, the communications module 234 can be configured to automatically establish communications link 118 with network 110. The patient monitoring device 108 can be configured to operate according to the IEEE 802.15 wireless network standard (sometimes referred to as Bluetooth or wireless personal area network, or WPAN). In this example, the communications module 234 can automatically interface with routers, switches, network repeaters, or network endpoints and the like to establish communications links 118 and / or 112, so that event updates can be automatically configured to be passed to server 102 where they can be processed and distributed.The communications module 234 can be implemented to use any combination of Generic Access Profile (GAP), Generic Attribute Profile (GATT) and / or Internet Protocol Support Profile (IPSP) protocols to acquire and maintain communications with server 102, data memory 104 and / or computers 106. The monitoring device 108 can maintain data 206, which may include sensor data 236, event logs 238, and one or more patient profiles 244. Data 206 may include diagnostic information, timestamps, and other contextual information related to actions taken by the patient monitoring device 108, alarm messages sent, raw sensor data, and the like. Data 206 may be accessed by other software or hardware in the patient monitoring system 108. Data 206 may be periodically refreshed or deleted to optimize memory usage 210. The stored patient profiles 244 can include general default parameter values ​​for many patients or parameter values ​​specific to a single patient. These parameter values ​​can be updated periodically, such as by a firmware update, by replacing a memory card, or via the communication link 118. The profile parameters can be analyzed and processed on another computer, such as the server 102, and periodically sent to the patient monitoring device 108. r / zonn / zznz / E / Y r / zonn / zznz / E / Y An example of software and hardware components that can be used to implement a server, such as server 102, is shown in Figure 3. Server 102 can include any appropriate combination or arrangement of hardware and software. For example, server 102 can include a processor 304 that can be configured or programmed to perform calculations related to generating and maintaining patient profiles, maintaining current locations of monitored patients, receiving and propagating event or alarm information, and / or analyzing historical results of previous alarm situations. Other components in the system, such as computers 106, patient monitoring devices 108, and data memory 104, can communicate with server 102 to collect and / or receive this information as events unfold for the monitored patients. Communication between server 102 and other parts of the system that use communication links can be facilitated by transceiver 314. For example, communication links 112, 114, 116, and 118 can be implemented via any appropriate wireless technology, such as WiFi, Bluetooth, and others, using transceiver 314 and antenna 308. Server 102 may include user I / O devices 310, which may include any devices appropriate for accepting user input, such as keyboards, mice, and other I / O devices. For example, devices 310 may include a touchscreen, one or more buttons, or other controls on a control panel attached to or integrated with Server 102. Server 102 may include a network interface 312 for communicating with other parts of the patient monitoring system, such as data memory 104, computers 106, and the like. Interface 312 can interface directly with network 110 via a wired or wireless communication link. For example, communication links such as 112, 114, 116, and 118 can connect server 102 to a computer 106. Memory 306 may also be included for temporarily or permanently storing sensor data, profile data, logical or computational instructions, and the like. A display device can also be included to show a user interface, such as a Graphical User Interface (GUI) generated by server 102. The GUI can include graphical controls to manage or maintain aspects of server 102 and / or other components of the patient monitoring system. For example, the GUI can be configured with controls to calculate or generate new patient profiles, manually override alert messages sent from a patient monitoring device 108 (e.g., marking a result as a false positive or false negative), and update software on server 102, patient monitoring devices 108, and / or computers 106.The 316 display device can be a touch screen programmed to perform these or other tasks using any appropriate configuration of text, graphics and / or GUI controls, such as check boxes, drop-down menu lists, text fields, buttons and the like useful for accepting inputs and displaying outputs. The software components of server 102 may include a patient event module 338, which can configure processor 304 and other server 102 components to process information about activities or events occurring with monitored patients. Patient monitoring device 108 may generate event or alarm messages and may include information about a patient's disposition as detected by a patient monitoring device 108. For example, as explained elsewhere herein, the patient monitoring device may detect that the patient has changed position from lying down to sitting up, rolled from left to right or vice versa, begun walking around a room, or fallen from a supporting surface such as a chair or bed. The event module 338 can be configured to receive these events or alarms and determine how they should be processed and / or stored by server 102. For example, the patient event module can configure server 102 to communicate event data to data store 104 for long-term storage or future processing. The patient event module 338 can also configure server 102 to communicate with other computers, such as the computers 106 operated by caregivers and others. The event capture module 230 on a patient monitoring device 108 can communicate event or alarm messages to the patient event module 338 as they occur. For example, the patient monitoring device 108 might collect information from one or more sensors, such as a motion sensor 218 and the like, and determine, using rules in the alarm module 226, that the event falls within the parameters of the patient profile. Thus, no alarm can be generated. However, the event capture module 230 on the patient monitoring device 108 can feed event information to the server 102, where it can be received and processed by the patient event module 338. The patient event module 338 can also store, process, or perform other logical functions on the event.In this way, the patient monitoring device 108 can maintain periodic or near-constant communication with the server 102, which collects information about patient activities that can be processed in the future to detect false positives, false negatives, or otherwise refine event collection and alarm processing to better ensure patient safety and adherence to treatment plans. When alarm module 226 on the patient monitoring device determines that the patient's activity is outside the predetermined thresholds in the current patient profile 244, the patient monitoring device 108 can generate an alarm or alert that can be communicated to the server 102 and handled by alarm module 326. Alarm module 326 can process the alarm information received from the patient monitoring device 108 according to one or more processing rules to handle the alarm. For example, rules in alarm module 326 can be configured to process and route alarm information through the communications link 116 to one or more computers 106. These rules can use any information in an alarm or event to determine which computers associated with particular caregivers will receive the information. For example, information can be routed based on the severity level included in the alarm, with high-priority alarms sent to multiple individuals so that these individuals can converge on the patient to provide faster assistance. In another example, an alarm can be sent to a single individual regardless of the severity.The information in the r / zonn / zznz / E / Y alarm can be presented to the computer user 106 by any appropriate means, such as a graphical user interface (GUI) on a display device, which may include text, graphics, symbols, or flashing screen regions, etc. Automatically generated sounds, flashing lights, vibration, and automatically generated telephone calls are other notification methods that can be used. Any appropriate notification method may be employed. The 326 alarm module can include one or more notification rules to determine which contacts to notify with specific alarm information and under what circumstances. The 326 alarm module can also access a contact information database in data memory 104 when a rule is activated that indicates a specific contact will receive specific alarm information for a given alert. The 326 alarm module can communicate the information using any appropriate method, such as email, automated phone call, Short Message Service (SMS) text message, or push notification to an application on a personal computing device, such as a cell phone, smartwatch, or tablet. In another aspect, alarm module 326 can be configured to maintain information about the alarm rules used by alarm module 226 on the patient monitoring device 108. Alarm module 326 can be configured to accept input from computer 106 or anywhere else, adjusting how and when the rules trigger alarms based on various parameters in a patient profile 244. These rule updates can then be sent to a specific patient monitoring device 108 or to all patient monitoring devices, thus allowing the behavior of the monitoring devices to be updated and improved. A communication module 322 can be included in server 102. Communication module 322 can operate as communication module 234 in patient monitoring device 108. Module 322 can be configured to open and maintain communication links with various other parts of the patient monitoring system, such as the data memory of server 104, patient monitoring device 108, and others. Communication module 322 can be configured to implement any appropriate digital, analog, or other communication scheme using any appropriate network, control, or communication protocol. Communication module 322 can be coupled with or used by network module 312 to handle communication with other aspects of the patient monitoring system via network 110 and any communication links that may be involved. The location search module 324 can be included in the configuration of server 102 to collect, analyze, process, and / or maintain real-time information indicating the location of patients, caregivers, or other people and objects. This location information can be used by the system to route alert information to the appropriate caregivers. For example, the alarm module 326 can collaborate with the location search module 324 and use patient and caregiver contact information from data memory 104 to determine the nearest caregiver to notify when an alarm is triggered. The location search module can use any appropriate technology, whether internal or external to the patient monitoring system, to track the location of people and objects, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS) and / or the Real-Time Location System (RTLS) and similar technologies. Software 304 can include the heuristic module 318, which can configure server 102 to adjust patient profiles based on caregiver input, past events or alarms, continuous event monitoring as they occur, and similar features. Adjustments to patient profiles can be made based on past information to better anticipate or predict situations where an alarm should be triggered more frequently, less frequently, or not at all. Server 102 can process this information substantially continuously during normal operation as new data is collected from patient monitoring devices and as alerts are generated and feedback is received from caregivers. In one example, the heuristic module 318 can send variable profile updates for one or more patient profiles if multiple false positives or false negatives are encountered during treatment. For instance, the patient monitoring device 108 might detect movement or pressure relative to a support surface that falls outside parameters in the patient's profile, triggering an alarm message. After observing the patient, the caregiver might determine that the alert was a false indication of a potential fall when the probability of a fall was actually very low (i.e., below a predetermined threshold). The heuristic module 318 can receive this information from a computer 106, which may include data collected at the time of the event.The 318 heuristic module can then analyze the data and adjust the parameters in the patient's profile accordingly to reduce or eliminate the number of similar future false alarms for that particular patient and possibly for all other patients in a similar situation. These adjustments to other patient monitoring devices can occur in real time as soon as the data can be analyzed after the alert has been handled by caregivers. r / zonn / zznz / E / Y In another example, heuristic module 318 can be used to calculate thresholds for one or more standard or predefined profiles based on patient and demographic data, as well as pre-alarm or other available information for an alarm event. Over time, the heuristic module can collect a large amount of sensor data, event data, alarm information, demographic information, and the like, which can be used to refine thresholds in patient profiles or predefined profiles. This allows for better alignment of the parameters that can trigger an alert with the patient, their history, and their treatment plan. In another example, the heuristics module can be used to determine that changes to the functional aspects of the alarm rules used by alarm module 226 on patient monitoring device 108 might be beneficial in preventing excessive false alarms. Heuristics module 318 can determine, by analyzing alarm data over time, that certain alarm rules are causing excessive false readings and should be reviewed and / or removed from alarm module 226. A patient profile generator module 320 can be included to create patient profiles that can be used by other devices in the system, such as the patient monitoring device 108. The profile generator module 320 can create the profile and deliver it to a patient monitoring device r / zonn / zznz / E / Y 108 via communication links 112 and 118 and network 110. The Profile Generator 320 can be used when the system begins monitoring a patient or at any other appropriate time, such as when a new profile is needed for any reason. An initial or default profile can be selected to provide a template or reference profile that the Profile Generator 320 module can use to tailor the profile to the patient. The system can include multiple default profiles specific to any number of parameters or aspects. For example, the system can have separate default profiles for men, for women, or multiple profiles for men and women specific to various age ranges, races, medical histories, medication therapies, and the like.Any patient data can be considered when selecting and generating a profile, such as data about any medical condition a patient may have that can be detected by the patient monitoring device. For example, a person with a neuromuscular disorder or another condition that causes regular, periodic movement of an arm, leg, or neck may benefit from an initial profile with parameter threshold values ​​that account for this type of movement. These threshold values ​​can then be configured to configure the 108 patient monitoring device to adjust its threshold values ​​to account for the specific movement related to the patient's particular condition, so that unusual movements common to people with the patient's condition are ignored. The 320 profiling module can also configure server 102 to accept input by selecting an appropriate default profile and additional input from a caregiver using server 102 or another computer, such as computer 106, to tailor the profile to the specific needs of a particular patient. Profile customization can include importing or entering aspects of the patient's treatment plan or entering details specific to the patient's condition that are not provided in the default profile or differ from the threshold settings provided by the default profile. Figure 4 illustrates an example of a data store or knowledge base that may be part of the patient monitoring system for storing information. Although the patient's identity need not be disclosed, the data store may include patient data with detailed information about the patient's medical history, treatment plan, demographics, and the like. Sensor data may be included to store various pressure, motion, proximity, and other data collected or processed by the patient monitoring devices. The data store may also include event data with detailed information captured by the patient monitoring device, server, and computers when an event occurs.Event data may include or refer to other information, such as sensor data (406), patient data (408), and information about the decision-making process that led to the event being created and sent. For example, event data (404) may include the sequence and selection of rules that were triggered, causing the event to be sent. It may also include other data, such as the patient's vital signs before, during, and after the event, which caregivers responded, how long they took to respond, how far they had to travel to provide assistance, and similar information. Data memory 104 may also include contact information that can be used by the patient monitoring system to contact various individuals or other devices / systems that can receive notification information. The contact information in the contact database 354 may include names, addresses, email addresses, telephone numbers, Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, web service URLs, or any other appropriate information useful for contacting an entity interested in receiving event notification information. Server 106 can receive and process events from multiple monitoring devices 108. Once processed, the notification information can be sent to contacts specified in the contact database 410. These contacts can receive the notification information for one or more events using a personal computer or mobile device 106. A computer or other electronic alerting device, such as computer 106, can be used by caregivers to receive alert information from server 102 or personal monitoring devices 108. Such a computer or similar alerting device can also be used in proximity to a patient, such as in the patient's room, or worn as an armband to notify the patient that their movements may lead to a fall. An example of the software and hardware aspects that can be included in computer 106 is illustrated in Figure 5 in 500. The hardware 502 included in computer 106 can be configured according to instructions included in the software 504 that controls the computer to receive alarm information, make the alarm information available to a user, such as a caregiver, and allow the caregiver to respond in a timely manner. The 502 hardware may include a 506 processor that can be programmed to perform various tasks described herein related to monitoring patient activity. The 506 processor can be coupled to any other component of the 502 hardware, such as 508 memory, r / zonn / zznz / E / Y network interface. 514 and others. The functions performed by the processor 506 can be configured according to instructions coded in software 504 or in hardware 502. The computer 106 may include user I / O devices 518, which may include related hardware and / or software for managing input and output with devices 518. These devices may include equipment such as keyboards, mice, touchscreens, intelligent voice recognition, and the like. A network interface 514 may be configured to interface with networks, such as network 110, via communication links, such as links 112, 114, 116, and / or 118. A display device 540 may also be included to display a user interface generated by the computer 106. With many personal computing devices, such as tablets, smartphones, smartwatches, or desktop personal computing devices, the display device 540 may be a touchscreen, which is also part of the user I / O equipment 518. A memory 508 may also be included for temporarily or permanently storing data values, instructions, and the like. The computer 106 may also include a wireless transceiver 512, which may include hardware and / or software implementing a wireless communication interface. The wireless transceiver 512 may be coupled to an antenna 510 and may include a transmitter, receiver, and / or other useful equipment configured to send and receive signals. In this respect, the wireless transceiver 512 may be useful for maintaining a wireless communication link, such as link 116, and may interface with the network interface 514 as necessary for receiving and sending information. The wireless transceiver 514 may also be useful for sending and receiving cellular telephone calls, such as phone calls, text messages, and the like. Hardware 502 may also include a location search system 516 that can use any appropriate technique to obtain the physical location of computer 106. The location search system may use any combination of other hardware and software to accomplish the objective of maintaining accurate and precise positional information. Wireless transceiver 512 and antenna 510 may be used to triangulate the position of computer 106 based on communications with various transmitters and receivers in the area. For example, location search system 516 can determine the location of computer 106 based on communications with beacon transmitters and / or network receivers located in known locations around the environment to be monitored. These transmitters and receivers may be part of network equipment operating as part of a local wireless network that conforms to the 802.11 wireless networking standards of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) (sometimes referred to as Wi-Fi or a wireless local area network, or WLAN). In another example, these transmitters and / or receivers located in the environment may include devices that operate according to the IEEE 802.1b wireless networking standards (sometimes referred to as Bluetooth or a wireless personal area network, or WPAN).Other technologies may also be useful, such as the satellite-based Global Positioning System (GPS) or triangulation based on interactions with cell tower transmitters and receivers that are part of a cellular network. Software 504 may include various modules for configuring functional aspects of computer 106. A user interface module 532 may be provided to generate user interfaces with graphical buttons, windows, text boxes, selection boxes, and other widgets configured to collect data or produce specific user responses, which may be accessible using any appropriate input device, such as a touchscreen, mouse, or keyboard. The user interface module 532 may also display various glyphs, figures, icons, graphs, charts, tabular displays, and the like, which may or may not be modified or interacted with using any appropriate input device.The 532 user interface module can be used in conjunction with other software modules to provide navigation control between various information displays, to accept character input or selection from an input device, and / or to generate graphical displays of relevant data accessed by other software modules. The 532 user interface module can operate in conjunction with an operating system installed on the computer, which may include window widget libraries, basic input / output capabilities, and a basic file system and network interfaces for the 532 user interface module and other software modules. The user interface module 532 can use any appropriate display technology, programming language, toolkit, application programming interface (API), or protocol to create user interfaces for computer 106. Module 532 can, for example, interpret and display a dynamically or statically generated web page sent from server 102 as hypertext markup language (HTML) and can include a web browser for viewing the results. The user interface module 532 can also include an app or application that operates as a client and connects to server 102 over network 110 to retrieve data, which is then displayed using graphical controls such as buttons, selection boxes, text fields, widgets, and the like. In one example, the user interface module 532 may include a graphical user interface that displays alert information. This information may include an indication of the alert severity, the patient's name and / or location, an indication of the alert type (e.g., a fall, change of position, excessive movement, etc.), and / or any other relevant information made available by a patient monitoring device or any other part of the monitoring system. A map of the local area may also be included as an indication showing the patient's location relative to the location of computer 106. In another example, the alert information may be configured to exclude information that identifies the patient. In yet another example, noise may be included in the monitoring device data to further obscure the identity of a specific patient. Multiple response options can be presented by the user interface module 532. The responder can select buttons, checkboxes, enter text, or perform other actions based on the provided options. For example, the computer 106 could be a tablet, smartwatch, or smartphone that a responder can carry to the patient's location. Upon inspecting the patient and the circumstances surrounding the alarm, a responder can use the options presented by the user interface module 532 to notify the patient monitoring system that a visual or other inspection of the patient, equipment, or patient environment was performed. The provided user interface can configure the computer 106 to accept input indicating that the alert was justified and was triggered by patient movement or other potentially harmful activity.The user interface can be configured to accept input indicating that the alarm was not warranted and was due, for example, to an equipment malfunction or as a result of harmless or unintentional patient activity (e.g., accidentally or incidentally hitting the sensor while asleep or otherwise triggering the alarm through harmless action). This information can then be passed to server 102, data store 104, or any other aspect of the patient monitoring system. An access control module 520 can be included to identify the user of computer 106, according to one or more credentials, and to control access to the hardware and software aspects of the system. Such access control can include a user interface generated by the user interface module 532, which can include buttons, text fields, and other controls configured to accept credentials as user input. Such credentials can include username, password, answers to security questions, and the like.Other examples may include credentials stored on a physical object in the user's possession, such as a radio frequency identification (REID) tag, near field communication (NFC) card, magnetic stripe card, barcode, portable memory device (for example, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) memory card or plastic card) containing a secret token or other encoded or encrypted information. In another example, user credentials can include biometric information. The access control module ó20 can control a biometric input device, which can be one of the user's I / O devices 518. This device can be configured to measure, scan, or accept data representing one or more physical characteristics of that user, such as a fingerprint, handprint, iris, facial topography, word, phrase, or other vocalization, and the like. A location search module 534 can be included and can configure computer 106 to process information received by the location search system 516 to determine the location of computer 106. This location information can be used by the system to route alarm information to the appropriate caregivers. The location search module can also send location information to other parts of the system, such as server 102. This information can be distributed continuously and / or at regular intervals and can be used to determine the location of the nearest qualified caregiver when an alarm is generated. An SMS module 526 can be included with software 504 to configure computer 106 to receive r / zonn / zznz / E / Y text messages distributed by server 106 or others. The SMS module 526 can configure computer 106 to interact with other servers, such as SMS service centers or short message gateways, to receive specific SMS messages on a particular personal computing device 302. The SMS module 526 can also interact with other modules, such as the user interface module 532, to display SMS messages according to user preferences. A push notification module 528 can be included with software to configure computer 106 to receive push notification messages distributed by server 102 or others. The push notification module 528 can configure computer 106 to interact with centralized push notification servers using network interface 514, communication link 116, or other appropriate communication links. The push notification module 528 can interact with other modules, such as user interface module 532, to display push notifications according to user preferences. The push notification module 528 can be configured to send and / or receive push notifications according to any appropriate protocol.Examples include, but are not limited to, the Advanced Message Queuing Protocol (AMQP), the Message Queuing Telemetry Transport Protocol (MQTT), and the r / zonn / zznz / E / Y Text-Oriented Messaging Protocol. Simple / Diffusion (STOMP). An email module 542 can be included with software to configure computer 106 to receive email messages distributed by server 106 or other servers. The email module 542 can configure computer 106 to interact with centralized email servers using network interface 514, communication link 116, or other appropriate communication links. The email module 542 can also interact with other modules, such as user interface module 532, to display email messages as specified by the user. Software 504 may include an alarm control module 522 that can be used to configure computer 106 to receive alarm-related messages, events, or data from other devices in the patient monitoring system 100, such as server 102. Alarm control module 522 may use other hardware or software modules to display and otherwise alert the patient or caregiver that an alarm has been triggered. The alarm control module may be configured according to user preferences or a predetermined notification policy to display any combination of visual, audible, tactile, or other alarm notifications.The notification may include a push notification that appears on a display device 540, an email sent to a caregiver's email address, an SMS message displayed using the SMS module 526 or other SMS client software on the computer 106, an automated phone call, an alarm indication that appears on the display device 540 using the user interface module 532, and / or an audible sound or ringtone that is playing, or any appropriate combination thereof. The alarm control module 522 can display details about the patient involved in the alert by accessing patient information using the patient information module 536 and / or by accessing patient data 408 in data memory 104. Information about the patient, the alarm, and other related information can also be included in the alarm message sent from server 102. The alarm control module 522 can work with the user interface module 532 to display this information to the caregiver, allowing them to see details about the event or activities leading up to it.This user interface can be configured to accept input from a user that may include response options, such as confirming that the alarm is valid, declaring that it is invalid, making adjustments to profile thresholds and changing the behavior of the patient monitoring device 108 and / or entering additional observations about the patient, equipment, treatment plan and the like. r / zonn / zznz / E / Y The network module 538 may include software for configuring computer 106 to establish and maintain communication link 364. The network module 538 may therefore configure the processor 506, network interface 514, I / O devices 518, and any other appropriate hardware or software on computer 106. Any appropriate protocol may be supported by the network module 538, such as Transmission Control Protocol / Internet Protocol (TCP / IP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP), Ethernet protocol, or any other appropriate network protocol. Any of these protocols may be used to establish and maintain communication link 116, which may then be used to interact with server 106. In other words, server 106 may use any of these protocols or any other appropriate network protocol to distribute information to computers 106 or other receiving systems. A communication module 530 can be included in computer 106. Communication module 530 can operate as communication modules 234 and 322 in patient monitoring device 108 and server 102, respectively. Module 530 can be configured to open and maintain communication links to various other parts of the patient monitoring system, such as the data memory of server 104, patient monitoring device 108, and others. Communication module 322 can be configured to implement any appropriate digital, analog, or other communication scheme using any suitable network or control protocol. A patient event module 524 can be included in software 504, which can configure computer 106 to process information about activities or events occurring with monitored patients. These events can be sent by server 102 or patient monitoring device 108 and may or may not involve emergency or alarm situations. As discussed above, patient events can be generated by patient monitoring device 108 and distributed by server 102. These can include notifications about patient movements, changes in position, and the like. Event module 524 can be configured to receive these and other events and make them available to a caregiver. A caregiver can view this information when an alarm is triggered or at other times to better ensure patient safety and adherence to prescribed treatment plans. A patient information module 536 can be included with software to configure the computer 106 to retrieve and display patient information. The patient information module 536 can configure the computer 106 to interact with a centralized patient information database, such as data memory 104, to retrieve information for review, edit information in data memory, add new patient information, or delete incorrect or extraneous information. The patient information module can also interact with other modules, such as the user interface module 532, to display patient information messages upon user request, or with the alarm control module 522 to retrieve and display patient information or links that display patient information if selected by the user. An example of the patient monitoring system in operation is illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 in 600 and 700, respectively. In 602, the patient profile is initialized. This can be performed by a caregiver using a computer 106 that interacts with the server 102 and data memory 104. For example, the computer 106 can display an access control interface created by the user interface module 532 and / or the access control module 520. User access control credentials can be provided and authenticated against contact information 410 in data memory 104. An initial portion of patient information can be retrieved using the patient information module 536, and the user interface module 532 can display this information in a profile generation or initialization interface. The profile initialization interface can also be configured to accept user input, allowing the user to select a default profile based on default profile options provided by the patient profile generator module 320 on server 102. A user can provide input selecting a profile and make any adjustments to the default values ​​so that the profile parameters match those specified by the specific patient and the specific patient's treatment plan.When ready, the patient profile can be saved to patient data 408 in data memory 104 and sent to a patient monitoring device 108. In 604, the patient monitoring device with the patient profile may be activated and installed or placed in an appropriate location to monitor the patient's activities. Such appropriate locations include any location suitable for monitoring the patient's activity, such as on or adjacent to the head, neck, torso, foot, arm, leg, or other area of ​​the patient. The monitoring device, or parts thereof, may be installed on a bed, chair, or other support structure instead of or in addition to being mounted on the patient. For example, the patient may wear the monitoring device, and at least one of the sensors may be incorporated into the patient's clothing, such as a sock or gown worn by the patient.It can be advantageous to place the monitoring device, or any of its associated sensors, on a patient's extremity, such as a sock worn on a foot, a wristband, or on the head, knee, or elbow, to name a few other non-limiting examples. Such placement can result in more noticeable changes in position, which can be used to more accurately predict when a patient is making movements that could cause a fall. When activated, the patient monitoring device 108 can begin obtaining the sensor output at 606 and comparing it to the profile parameters at 608. If the output is within the parameter limits at 610, the monitoring device continues to monitor the sensor readings taken at 606. These sensor readings can be sent to the server 102 and stored in data memory 104. The server 102 can transmit the readings to a computer 106 periodically or continuously, or to all computers 106 configured to retrieve them. When a sensor output falls outside the threshold values ​​defined by the parameters in the patient profile, an alert can be triggered at 612. The alert can be sent from alarm module 226 and received by server 102. Server alarm module 326 can process the alert as discussed above, sending it to the corresponding caregiver's computer 106. User interface module 532 can then display details about the alarm to the respective caregivers. If the alarm is confirmed as valid at 614, the caregiver can provide the corresponding input r / zonn / zznz / E / Y using computer 106. If the alarm is confirmed as false at 618, the caregiver can also acknowledge this using computer 106.The system can update historical sensor data and related events in 620, allowing the heuristic module 318 to refine profile parameter settings for future profiles. This improves the system's overall understanding of patient behavior and / or helps prevent false alarms. Whether an alarm is valid or not, the user interface module 532 provides a caregiver with a profile interface to adjust the patient's profile parameters. These adjustments can be made by sending the updated profile to the server 102 and monitoring device 108 in 622, and monitoring activities can then continue in 606. An example of the types of comparisons the system makes between the sensor output and the profile parameters in the patient profile is illustrated in Figure 700. In Figure 702, the motion sensor in the monitoring device includes an accelerometer. The monitoring device operates in a low-power or standby mode, monitoring accelerometer data to detect patient movement that is greater than or equal to a predefined activation threshold. In standby mode, the monitoring device may disable other sensors, such as gyroscope sensors, pressure sensors, proximity sensors, and the like. The monitoring device may also disable wireless transceivers, network interfaces, or other modules that may consume additional power. In this example, as long as the accelerometer activity is less than the activation threshold in Figure 704, the monitoring device remains in standby mode. When the accelerometer indicates that patient movement exceeds the activation threshold, the monitoring device switches from standby mode to full monitoring mode at 706. In this mode, additional modules, subsystems, or other aspects of the monitoring device can be enabled. Examples include a network interface that can be enabled to allow an alert to be transmitted over the 110 network. Other sensors can also be enabled at 708, such as one or more pressure sensors, gyroscope sensors, proximity sensors, and / or temperature sensors. By disabling these sensors in standby mode, the monitoring device can conserve power. If pressure, gyroscope, temperature, or other sensor data exceeds the thresholds in the patient profile at 710, an alert is triggered at 612.Alternatively, the monitoring device can be configured to trigger an alert when the accelerometer data has just exceeded the threshold. The pressure sensor can be placed in a sock worn by the patient, and the pressure sensor can generate a signal that is a voltage that varies over time, corresponding to the level of pressure the patient is exerting on the sensor. For example, when lying in bed, sitting in a chair, or in some other resting position where the pressure is at or near a minimum value, the signal may be less than 800 mV. When the signal is at or near a maximum value for a given patient, such as when the patient is standing, the signal may be more than 1800 mV. These values ​​can be specifically tailored to a particular patient. For example, a lighter patient, such as a child, may not be heavy enough to generate 1800 mV.Therefore, the profile thresholds can be adjusted accordingly by the server when the profile is initially loaded onto the monitoring device or later by the caregiver using a computer 106 to adjust the values ​​as needed. The monitoring device can be programmed to perform more complex analysis of the signal data received from the various sensors. Different constant values ​​can also be applied to the sensor data to effectively weight certain sensor data or combinations of sensor data more heavily than others. In one example, the monitoring device samples signals from motion sensors, such as an accelerometer and a gyroscope, as well as signals from a pressure sensor. The data collected for each sample from each sensor can include a single value or multiple values, such as a value for three separate orthogonal planes (e.g., up / down, left / right, and forward / backward).The values ​​can be combined according to a particular function to calculate a result that can be compared to an alert threshold to determine when the alert threshold has been reached or exceeded and the caregiver should be notified. In one example, the sensors can produce three individual values ​​of global acceleration, pressure, and angular momentum for each of n uniformly spaced samples taken at separate times t. These individual values ​​can be weighted using the constants C1, C2, and C3, as follows: and (t) = Cía + C2g + C3p where: t is the time at which the sample is taken, a is the accelerometer value at time tg is the gyroscope value at time tp is the pressure sensor value at time t In another example, the sensors might produce seven separate values ​​at each time t, six of which represent the acceleration a and angular momentum g measured at time t in each of three corresponding directions that are orthogonal to each other (e.g., up / down, left / right, and forward / backward). The remaining value might be a pressure measurement p that measures the pressure exerted by the foot of the device. The collected data might appear as follows: 3-axis accelerometer data: ax, ay, az; 3-axis gyroscope data: ga, gp, gy; pressure data: p An equation that combines these values ​​could then be: y(t) = Ciax+ C2ay+ Caaz+ C¿g« + Csgp + Cegy + Cyp where: t is the time the sample is taken ax, ay, az, are the accelerometer value in the xyyz plane respectively at time t ga, gp, gy, are the gyroscope value in the α, β and γ plane respectively at time tp is the pressure sensor value at time t In another example, the sensors can produce nine separate values ​​at each time t, representing acceleration a, angular momentum g, and pressure p, taken at time t in each of three corresponding directions that are orthogonal to each other. The collected data might be as follows: 3-axis accelerometer data: ax, ay, az 3-axis gyroscope data: ga, gp, gy 3-axis pressure data: pa, pb, pe From these data values, a more sophisticated function r / zonn / zznz / E / Y can be constructed that employs many constants C which can be used to apply more granular weighting to the sensor data or to any permutation or combination of the data. An example of such a function is: =C]CLX+ C2 <Zy + C8dz+ C^dxdy + C8dxdz+ C(,dydz+ C7dxdydz+ c8ga+ c9gp + c10gY+ c^gagp + c12gagY+ C±3gpgY+ cí4gagpgY+ GsPa + c^Pb + c17pc+ c18papb+ cí9papb+ C20pbpc+ C2rpapbPc The constants Ci to C21 can initially be determined through experimentation and analysis to produce a single appropriate value y(t) for any given sampling to predict or report when patient movement exceeds predetermined thresholds. These constants can be adjusted over time, either automatically by the system or by a caregiver, to refine them when the system reports a stand or fall event, thus avoiding false readings. Glossary of Definitions and Alternatives Although the invention is illustrated in the drawings and described herein, this disclosure is to be regarded as illustrative and not restrictive in nature. This disclosure is exemplary in nature and includes all changes, equivalents, and modifications within the spirit of the invention. The detailed description is included herein (r / zonn / zznz / E / Y) to discuss aspects of the examples illustrated in the drawings for the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention. No limitation of the scope of the invention is intended herein. Any further alterations and modifications to the examples described and any further applications of the principles described herein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.Some examples are given in detail; however, some aspects that may not be relevant may have been omitted for the purpose of clarity. Where references are made to publications, patents, and patent applications cited herein, they are understood to be incorporated by reference, as if each individual publication, patent, or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference and set forth in its entirety herein. The singular forms *un*, *una*, *el*, and similar forms include plural referents unless expressly stated otherwise. For example, references to *un Dispositivo* or *el Dispositivo* include one or more such devices and their equivalents. Directional terms, such as upward, downward, up, down, forward, aft, sideways, longitudinal, radial, circumferential, etc., are used herein solely for the reader's convenience, to aid in the reader's understanding of the illustrated examples. The use of these directional terms does not in any way limit the aspects described, illustrated, and / or claimed to a specific direction or orientation. Multiple related items illustrated in the drawings with the same part number, differentiated by a letter for separate individual instances, may be referred to generally by a distinguishable portion of the full name and / or by the number only. For example, if multiple laterally extending elements 90A, 90B, 90C, and 90D are illustrated in the drawings, the disclosure may refer to these as laterally extending elements 90A-90D, or as laterally extending elements 90, or by a distinguishable portion of the full name, such as 90 elements. The language used in the revelation is supposed to have only its plain and ordinary meaning, except as explicitly defined below. The words used in the definitions included herein are to have only their plain and ordinary meaning. Such plain and ordinary meaning is inclusive of all consistent dictionary definitions in the most recently published Webster's and Random House dictionaries. As used herein, the following definitions apply to the following terms or common variations thereof (e.g., singular / plural forms r / zonn / zznz / E / Y, past / present tenses, etc.): An antenna or antenna system generally refers to an electrical device or series of devices, in any appropriate configuration, that converts electrical energy into electromagnetic radiation. Such radiation can be either vertically, horizontally, or circularly polarized at any frequency along the electromagnetic spectrum. Antennas that transmit with circular polarization can have either right-hand polarization or left-hand polarization. In the case of radio waves, an antenna can transmit at frequencies that vary across the electromagnetic spectrum, from extremely low frequency (ELE) to extremely high frequency (EHF). An antenna or antenna system designed to transmit radio waves may comprise an arrangement of metallic conductors (elements), electrically connected (often via a transmission line) to a receiver or transmitter. An oscillating current of electrons forced through the antenna by a transmitter can create an oscillating magnetic field around the antenna elements, while the charge of the electrons also creates an oscillating electric field along the elements. These time-varying fields radiate away from the antenna into space as a moving transverse electromagnetic field wave.Conversely, during reception, the oscillating electric and magnetic fields of an incoming electromagnetic wave exert force on the electrons in the antenna elements, causing them to move back and forth, creating oscillating currents in the antenna. These currents can then be detected by receivers and processed to recover digital or analog signals or data. Antennas can be designed to transmit and receive radio waves substantially equally in all horizontal directions (omnidirectional antennas) or preferentially in a particular direction (directional or high-gain antennas). In the latter case, an antenna may also include additional elements or surfaces that may or may not have a physical electrical connection to the transmitter or receiver. For example, parasitic elements, reflectors, parabolic horns, and other such non-energized elements serve to direct radio waves into a desired beam or other radiation pattern. Thus, antennas can be configured to exhibit increased or decreased directionality or gain by the addition of these various surfaces or elements.High-gain antennas can be configured to direct a substantially large portion of the radiated electromagnetic energy in a given direction, which can be vertical, horizontal, or any combination thereof. Antennas can also be configured to radiate electromagnetic energy within a specific range of vertical angles (i.e., takeoff angles) relative to the Earth in order to focus the electromagnetic energy toward an upper layer of the atmosphere, such as the ionosphere. By directing the electromagnetic energy into the upper atmosphere at a specific angle, specific hop distances can be achieved at specific times of day by transmitting electromagnetic energy at particular frequencies. Other examples of antennas include emitters and sensors that convert electrical energy into pulses of electromagnetic energy in the visible or invisible portion of the electromagnetic spectrum. Examples include light-emitting diodes, lasers, and similar devices configured to generate electromagnetic energy at frequencies ranging across the electromagnetic spectrum from far-infrared to extreme ultraviolet. Battery generally refers to an electrical energy storage device or storage system that includes multiple energy storage devices. A battery may include one or more separate electrochemical cells, each of which converts stored chemical energy into electrical energy through a chemical reaction to generate an electromotive force (or EMF, measured in volts). An individual battery cell may have a positive terminal (cathode) at a higher electrical potential and a negative terminal (anode) at a lower electrical potential than the cathode. Any suitable electrochemical cell employing any appropriate chemical process may be used, including galvanic cells, electrolytic cells, fuel cells, flow cells, and voltaic cells.When a battery is connected to an external circuit, the electrolytes are able to move as ions within the battery, allowing chemical reactions to be completed at the separate terminals, thus delivering energy to the external circuit. A battery can be a primary battery that can produce current immediately after assembly. Examples of this type include alkaline, nickel oxyhydroxide, lithium-copper, lithium-manganese, lithium-iron, lithium-carbon, lithium-thionyl chloride, mercury oxide, magnesium, zinc-air, zinc-chloride, and zinc-carbon batteries. Such batteries are often called disposable because they are generally not rechargeable and are discarded or recycled after discharge. A battery can also be a secondary or rechargeable battery that produces little or no current until it is charged. Examples of this type include lead-acid batteries, valve-regulated lead-acid batteries, sealed gel cell batteries, and various dry-cell batteries such as nickel-cadmium (NiCd), nickel-zinc (NiZn), nickel-metal hydride (NiMH), and lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. A beacon or beacon transmitter generally refers to a system or device configured to transmit data using electromagnetic energy. The broadcast data may include r / zonn / zznz / E / Y or any other appropriate data, such as an alphanumeric string that uniquely identifies a beacon from others in the environment. The data may appear in a single field in a datagram or in multiple separate fields. Any appropriate protocol may be used to create and transmit the datagrams using any suitable field arrangement. The fields may include predetermined numbers of bits according to proprietary or commercially available protocols. An example of a commercially available protocol is the Bluetooth® LE (Low Energy) protocol, also known as the Bluetooth® Smart protocol. Datagrams may include one or more fields, which may include a preamble, one or more header fields, an access address field, a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) field, a protocol data unit (PDU) field, a media access control (MAC) address field, and a data field. The data field may include a prefix and a universally unique proximity identifier (UUID), both of which can be configured to distinguish beacons used by one organization from those of another. Other data fields may include a major field that can be used to identify multiple beacons as a group, a minor field that can uniquely identify a specific beacon within a group, and a transmit power field that can indicate how far a beacon is from a receiver.The transmitter power field may include one of a set of data values ​​representing distance intervals, such as immediate, far, or out of range. A transmit power field may also include more detailed interval data, such as the Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) from the beacon at a predetermined interval, such as 1 meter away. This value can be compared to an actual RSSI measured by a receiver and used to calculate an approximate interval. A beacon may include a receiver that allows it to begin transmitting after receiving a signal from another transmitter. In one example, a beacon might harvest energy from electromagnetic energy directed at it and use this energy to transmit its data in response. This type of passive beacon can only transmit when powered by another transmitter. In another example, beacons may have a local power source, such as a battery, and can transmit continuously and / or at predetermined intervals. In either case, the data sent by the beacon can pass through walls or other objects between the beacon and a receiver, making it unnecessary to maintain an unobstructed line of sight between the two. A beacon can transmit on any appropriate frequency or group of frequencies in the electromagnetic spectrum. For example, a beacon can transmit in the very high frequency (VHF) band, the ultra high frequency (UHF) band, or the super high frequency (SHF) band. A beacon's transmissions can be directed along a narrow beam by a directional antenna system, or the beacon can use an omnidirectional antenna system configured to broadcast data in all directions at approximately the same time. Data can be programmed into memory, such as non-volatile memory in the beacon, for repeated transmission at predetermined intervals. For example, transmissions can be repeated up to approximately every 500 ms, up to approximately every 2 seconds, up to approximately every 30 seconds, or at intervals longer than 30 seconds. Beacons can transmit at a very low transmitter power output (TPO) and / or effective radiated power (ERP). The TPO or ERP can be less than approximately 100 milliwatts, less than approximately 10 milliwatts, or less than approximately 1 milliwatt. A communication link generally refers to a connection between two or more communicating entities and may or may not include a communication channel between them. Communication between these entities can occur through any appropriate means. For example, the connection can be implemented as an actual physical link, an electrical link, an electromagnetic link, a logical link (e.g., OR / Zon / Zon / Zon / E / Y), or any other appropriate link that facilitates communication. In the case of a physical link, communication can occur through multiple components configured to respond to each other by the physical movement of one element relative to another. In the case of an electrical link, the communication link may consist of multiple electrically connected conductors. In the case of an electromagnetic link, the connection can be implemented by sending or receiving electromagnetic energy at any appropriate frequency, thus allowing communications to pass as electromagnetic waves. These electromagnetic waves may or may not pass through a physical medium, such as an optical fiber, or through free space, or any combination thereof. Electromagnetic waves can be transmitted at any appropriate frequency, including any frequency within the electromagnetic spectrum. A communication link can include any appropriate combination of hardware, which may also include software components. Such hardware may include routers, switches, network endpoints, repeaters, signal strength meters, hubs, and the like. In the case of a logical link, the communication link can be a conceptual link between the sender and receiver, such as a transmitting station to a receiving station. The logical link can include any combination of physical, electrical, electromagnetic, or other communication links. A communication node generally refers to a physical or logical connection point, redistribution point, or endpoint along a communication link. A physical network node is generally described as an active electronic device connected or coupled to a communication link, whether physically, logically, or electromagnetically. A physical node is capable of sending, receiving, or forwarding information over a communication link. A communication node may or may not include a computer, processor, transmitter, receiver, repeater, and / or transmission lines, or any combination thereof. A computer generally refers to any computing device configured to calculate a result from any number of input values ​​or variables. A computer may include a processor to perform calculations to process input or output. A computer may also include memory to store values ​​to be processed by the processor or to store the results of previous processing. A computer can also be configured to accept input and output from a wide range of input / output devices to receive or send values. Such devices include other computers, keyboards, mice, visual displays, printers, industrial equipment and systems, or machinery of all types and sizes. For example, a computer can control a network or network interface to perform various on-demand network communications. The network interface can be part of the computer or be separate and remote from it. A computer can be a single physical computing device, such as a desktop or laptop computer, or it can be composed of multiple devices of the same type, such as a group of servers operating as a single device within a network, or a heterogeneous combination of different computing devices operating as a single computer and linked together by a communication network. The communication network connected to the computer may also be connected to a larger network, such as the internet. Thus, a computer may include one or more physical processors or other computing devices or circuits, and may also include any type of appropriate memory. A computer can also be a virtual computing platform with an unknown or fluctuating number of physical processors and memory or memory devices. A computer can thus be physically located in one geographical location or physically spread across several widely dispersed locations, with multiple processors linked together by a communication network to operate as a single computer. r / zonn / zznz / E / Y The concept of a computer and processor in a computer or computing device also encompasses any processor or computing device used to perform calculations or comparisons as part of the underlying system. Processing operations related to threshold comparisons, rule comparisons, calculations, and the like that occur on a computer can also occur, for example, on separate servers, the same server with separate processors, or in a virtual computing environment with an unknown number of physical processors, as described above. A computer may optionally be connected to one or more visual displays and / or may include an integrated visual display. Furthermore, the displays may be of the same type or a heterogeneous combination of different visual devices. A computer may also include one or more operator input devices, such as a keyboard, mouse, touchscreen, laser or infrared pointing device, or gyroscopic pointing device, to name just a few representative examples. In addition to a display, one or more output devices may be included, such as a printer, plotter, industrial manufacturing machine, 3D printer, and the like. Therefore, various configurations of input and output display devices are possible. Multiple computers or computing devices can be configured to communicate with each other or with other devices via wired or wireless communication links to form a network. Network communications can pass through various computers operating as network devices, such as switches, routers, firewalls, or other network devices or interfaces, before passing through larger computer networks, such as the Internet. Communications can also be transmitted across the network as wireless data transmissions on electromagnetic waves via transmission lines or free space. Such communications include the use of Wi-Fi or other wireless local area networks (WLANs) or a cellular transceiver to transfer data. Data generally refers to one or more values ​​of qualitative or quantitative variables, typically the result of measurements. Data can be considered atomic, being finite individual units of specific information. Data can also be considered a value or set of values ​​that includes a frame of reference indicating some meaning associated with the values. For example, the number 2 is merely a symbol that, in the absence of context, has no meaning. The number 2 can be considered data when it is understood to indicate, for example, the number of items produced in one hour. Data can be organized and represented in a structured format. Examples include a tabular representation using rows and columns, a tree representation with a set of nodes considered to have a parent-child relationship, or a graphical representation as a set of connected nodes, to name a few. The term "data" can refer to raw or unprocessed data, such as a collection of numbers, characters, or other symbols representing facts or individual opinions. Data can be collected by sensors in controlled or uncontrolled environments or generated by observing, recording, or processing other data. The word "data" can be used in the singular or plural. The older plural form "datum" may also be used. A database, also known as a data warehouse, data repository, or knowledge base, generally refers to an organized collection of data. Typically, the data is organized to model aspects of the real world in a way that supports processes that extract information about the world from the data. Access to the data is generally provided by a Database Management System (DBMS), which consists of a single computer software program or an organized set of software programs that allow the user to interact with one or more databases that provide access to data stored within the database (although user access restrictions can be set to limit access to certain portions of the data). The DBMS provides various functions that allow for the input, storage, and retrieval of large amounts of information, as well as ways to manage how that information is organized.In general, a database is not portable across different DBMSs, but different DBMSs can operate interactively by using standardized protocols and languages, such as Structured Query Language (SQL), Open Database Connectivity (ODBC), Java Database Connectivity (JDBC), or Extensible Markup Language (XML), to allow a single application to work with more than one DBMS. Databases and their corresponding database management systems are often classified according to the particular database model they support. Examples include a DBMS that relies on the relational model to store data, usually referred to as a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS). Such systems commonly use some variation of SQL to perform functions including querying, formatting, administration, and updating an RDBMS. Other examples of database models include the object model, the object-relational model, file models (indexed or flat file), the hierarchical model, the network model, the document model, the XML model (which uses some variation of XML), the entity-attribute-value model, and others. Examples of commercially available database management systems include PostgreSQL, provided by the PostgreSQL Global Development Group; Microsoft SQL Server, provided by Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Washington, USA; MySQL and various versions of Oracle DBMS, often referred to simply as Oracle, both offered separately by Oracle Corporation of Redwood City, California, USA; the DBMS generally referred to as SAP, provided by SAP SE of Walldorf, Germany; and the DB2 DBMS, provided by International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) of Armonk, New York, USA. The database and the DBMS software can also be collectively referred to as a database. Similarly, the term database can also collectively refer to the database, the corresponding DBMS software, and a physical computer or collection of computers. Thus, the term database can refer to the data, software for managing the data, and / or a physical computer that includes some or all of the data and / or the software for managing the data. A display device generally refers to any device that can be controlled by an electronic circuit or processor to display information visually or tactilely. A display device can be configured as an input device that receives input from a user or another system (e.g., a touch-sensitive computer screen) or as an output device that generates visual or tactile information. The display device can also be configured to operate as an input or output device simultaneously or at different times. The output can be two-dimensional, three-dimensional, and / or mechanical displays and includes, but is not limited to, the following display or screen technologies: cathode ray tube (CRT) display, light-emitting diode (LED) display, electroluminescent display (ELD), electronic paper, electrophoretic ink (electronic ink), plasma display panel (PDF), liquid crystal display (LCD), high-performance addressable display (HPA), thin-film transistor (TFT) display, organic light-emitting diode (OLED) display, surface conduction electron emission (SED) display, laser TV, carbon nanotubes, quantum dot display, interferometric modulator display (IMOD), scanned volume display, varifocal mirror display, emissive volume display, laser display, holographic display, light field displays, volumetric display, ticker tape, split flap display,rotating disc display (or flipchart display), Rollsign, mechanical gauges with moving needles and corresponding indications, electronic touchscreens (also known as refreshable Braille displays), Optacon displays, or any devices that, either alone or in combination, are configured to provide visual feedback as to the status of a system, such as a check engine light, a low altitude warning light, or an arrangement of red, yellow, and green indicators configured to indicate a temperature range. Electromagnetic radiation generally refers to energy radiated by electromagnetic waves. Electromagnetic radiation is produced from other forms of energy and is converted into other forms when it is destroyed. Electromagnetic radiation carries this energy as it travels away from its source at the speed of light (in a vacuum). Electromagnetic radiation also carries both momentum and angular momentum. All of these properties can be imparted to matter with which the electromagnetic radiation interacts as it moves away from its source. Electromagnetic radiation changes speed as it passes from one medium to another. Upon entering a new medium, the physical properties of the new medium can cause some or all of the radiated energy to be reflected, while the remaining energy passes into the new medium. This occurs at every junction between media that electromagnetic radiation encounters as it travels. r / zonn / zznz / E / Y r / zonn / zznz / E / Y The photon is the quantum of the electromagnetic interaction and is the basic constituent of all forms of electromagnetic radiation. The quantum nature of light becomes more evident at high frequencies, as electromagnetic radiation behaves more like particles and less like waves as its frequency increases. Electromagnetic waves generally refer to waves that have separate electric and magnetic components. The electric and magnetic components of an electromagnetic wave oscillate in phase and are always separated by a 90-degree angle. Electromagnetic waves can be radiated from a source to create electromagnetic radiation capable of passing through a medium or through a vacuum. Electromagnetic waves include waves that oscillate at any frequency in the electromagnetic spectrum, including, but not limited to, radio waves, visible and invisible light, X-rays, and gamma rays. An input device generally refers to any device connected to a computer that is configured to receive input and deliver that input to a processor, memory, or another part of the computer. Such input devices can include keyboards, mice, trackballs, and touch-sensitive pointing devices such as touchpads or touchscreens. Input devices also include any sensor or set of sensors for detecting environmental conditions such as temperature, light, noise, vibration, humidity, and the like. A location tracking system generally refers to a system that tracks the location of objects or people in real time. Such systems include space-based systems like the Global Positioning System (GPS), which uses a receiver on Earth to communicate with multiple satellite transmitters in space. These systems can use the time and known position of the satellites to triangulate a position on Earth. The satellites may include accurate clocks that are synchronized with each other and with clocks on Earth. The satellites can be configured to continuously transmit their current time and position. The ground receiver can monitor multiple satellites, which solve equations in real time to determine the receiver's precise position. Signals from four satellites may be required for a receiver to perform the necessary calculations. In another example, sometimes referred to as Real-Time Location Systems (RTLS), wireless tags are attached to objects or worn by people. Receivers held at known fixed landmarks can receive wireless signals from the tags and use signal strength information to determine their location. Tags can communicate using electromagnetic energy, which may include radio frequency (RF) communication, optical and / or acoustic technology instead of or in addition to RF communication. Tags and fixed reference points can be transmitters, receivers, or both. Location information may or may not include speed, direction, or spatial orientation and, in some cases, may be limited to tracking object locations within a building or contained area. Wireless networking equipment can also be connected. For example, known signal strength readings can be taken at different locations served by a wireless network, such as an 802.11 Wi-Fi network. These known signal strength readings can be used to calculate or triangulate approximate locations by comparing the measured received signal strength from a tag against a stored database of Wi-Fi readings or Received Signal Strength Indicators (RSSI). In this way, one or more likely locations can be indicated on a virtual map. In another example, a wireless network transmitter can be configured to send reference signal strength information in packets or datagrams received by tags. The tags can be configured to measure and / or calculate the actual signal strength of the signal received from the sending transmitter and compare this actual signal strength with the reference signal strength information to determine an approximate distance from the transmitter. This distance information can then be sent to other servers or components in the location search system and used to triangulate a more precise location for a given tag. Memory generally refers to any storage system or device configured to retain data or information. Each memory can include one or more types of electronic solid-state memory, magnetic memory, or optical memory, to name just a few. Memory can use any appropriate storage technology or combination of storage technologies and can be volatile, non-volatile, or a hybrid of volatile and non-volatile varieties. By way of non-limiting example, each memory can include electronic solid-state random-access memory (RAM), sequential access memory (SAM) (such as First-In, First-Out (FIFO) or Last-In, First-Out (LIFO) varieties), programmable read-only memory (PROM), electronically programmable read-only memory (EPROM), or electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM). Memory may refer to dynamic random access memory (DRAM) or any variant, including static random access memory (SRAM), burst SRAM or sync burst SRAM (BSRAM), fast page mode DRAM (FPM DRAM), enhanced DRAM (EDRAM), extended data out RAM (EDO RAM), extended data out DRAM (EDO DRAM), burst extended data out DRAM (REDO DRAM), single data rate synchronous DRAM (SDR SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), Rambus direct DRAM (DRDRAM), or extreme data rate DRAM (XDR DRAM). Memory can also refer to non-volatile storage technologies, such as non-volatile random-access memory (NVRAM), instant memory, non-volatile static RAM (nvSRAM), ferroelectric RAM (FeRAM), magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM), phase-change memory (PRAM), conductive bridge RAM (CBRAM), silicon-oxide-nitride-silicon-oxide (SONOS), resistive RAM (RRAM), domain wall memory (DWM) or racetrack memory, nano-RAM (NRAM), or millipede memory. Other types of non-volatile memory include optical disc memory (such as a DVD or CD-ROM), magnetically encoded hard disk or hard disk tray, floppy disk, tape, or cartridge media. The concept of memory encompasses the use of any appropriate storage technology or any combination of storage technologies. A module or engine generally refers to a collection of computational or logic circuits implemented in hardware, or to a series of logical or computational instructions expressed in executables, objects, or source code, or any combination thereof, configured to perform tasks or implement processes. A module can be implemented as software stored in volatile memory in a computer and executed by a processor or other circuit. It can also be implemented as software stored in erasable / programmable non-volatile memory and executed by one or more processors. A module can be implemented as software coded in an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC). Finally, a module can be a collection of digital or analog circuits configured to control a machine to generate a desired result. Modules can run on a single computer with one or more processors, or on multiple computers with multiple processors connected via a network. Separate aspects, calculations, or functionality performed by a module can be executed by separate processors on separate computers, by the same processor on the same computer, or by different computers at different times. A motion sensor generally refers to a device designed to convert the physical movement of an object into an electrical signal. A motion sensor can be considered a transducer that detects physical movement and produces a signal (for example, a time-varying signal) based on that movement. A motion sensor can operate by detecting changes in its position relative to other objects by emitting and / or detecting electromagnetic waves. Examples include ultrasonic, infrared, video, microwave, and other motion detectors. In another example, a motion sensor can operate by detecting changes in the magnitude and direction of the appropriate acceleration caused by gravity (g-force). Sometimes called accelerometers, these motion sensors can detect changes in g-forces on an object as a vector quantity and can be used to detect changes in orientation (e.g., when the direction of weight changes), coordinate acceleration (e.g., when a change in g-force produces a g-force), vibration, shock, and / or falling in a resistive medium. Thus, an accelerometer can be used to detect changes in the position, orientation, and motion of a device. Commercially available accelerometers include piezoelectric, piezoresistive, and capacitive components. Piezoelectric accelerometers may rely on piezoceramics (e.g., lead zirconate titanate) or individual crystals (e.g., quartz, tourmaline). Piezoresistive accelerometers may be preferred in high-impact applications. Capacitive accelerometers may use a micromachined silicon sensing element. A motion sensor can include multiple accelerometers. Some accelerometers are designed to be sensitive in only one direction. A motion sensor sensitive to movement in more than one direction can be constructed by integrating two perpendicular accelerometers into a single package. By adding a third device oriented in a plane orthogonal to two other axes, three axes can be measured. Multiple as used herein is synonymous with the term plurality and refers to more than one or by extension, two or more. A network, or computer network, generally refers to a telecommunications network that allows computers to exchange data. Computers can pass data to each other along data connections by transforming the data into a collection of datagrams, or packets. Connections between computers and the network can be established using cables, fiber optics, or electromagnetic transmissions, such as for wireless networking devices. Computers connected to a network can be referred to as nodes or hosts and can originate, distribute, route, or accept data from the network. Nodes can include any computing device, such as personal computers, phones, and servers, as well as specialized computers that operate to maintain the flow of data across the network, referred to as network devices. Two nodes can be considered networked when one device is capable of exchanging information with another, whether or not they have a direct connection to each other. Examples of wired network connections may include digital subscriber lines (DSL), coaxial cable lines, or fiber optic lines. Wireless connections may include Bluetooth, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), infrared channel or satellite band, or any wireless local area network (Wi-Fi) such as those implemented using the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards (e.g., 802.11(a), 802.11(b), 802.11(g), or 802.11(n), to name a few). Wireless links may also include or use any cellular network standard used to communicate between mobile devices, including 1G, 2G, 3G, or 4G. Network standards may be categorized as 1G, 2G, etc. by complying with a specification or standards such as the specifications maintained by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).For example, a network can be referred to as a 3G network if it meets the criteria of the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) specification, regardless of what it might be referred to as. A network can be referred to as a 4G network if it meets the requirements of the International Mobile Telecommunications Advanced (IMT Advanced) specification. Examples of cellular networks or other wireless standards include AMPS, GSM, GPRS, UMTS, LTE, LTE Advanced, Mobile WiMAX, and WiMAX-Advanced. Cellular network standards can use various channel access methods, such as FDMA, TDMA, CDMA, or SDMA. r / zonn / zznz / E / Y Different types of data can be transmitted via different links and standards, or the same types of data can be transmitted via different links and standards. The geographic scope of the network can vary widely. Examples include an organization area network (BAN), a personal area network (PAN), a low-power wireless personal area network using IPv6 (6L0WPAN), a local area network (LAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), a wide area network (WAN), or the Internet. A network can have any appropriate network topology that defines the number and use of network connections. The network topology can be any suitable shape and may include point-to-point, bus, star, ring, mesh, or tree. A network can also be an overlay network, which is virtual and configured as one or more layers that use or run on top of other networks. A network can use different communication protocols or messaging techniques, which include protocol layers or stacks. Examples include the Ethernet protocol, the Internet protocol suite (TCP / IP), ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode), SONET (Synchronous Optical Networks), and SDE1 (Synchronous Digital Elynarchy). The TCP / IP Internet protocol suite can include the application layer, the transport layer, the internet layer (including, for example, IPv6), and the data link layer. An output device generally refers to any device or set of devices that is computer-controlled to produce output. This includes any system, apparatus, or equipment that receives signals from a computer to control the device to generate or create some type of output. Examples of output devices include, but are not limited to, screens or monitors that display graphic output, any projector or projection device that projects a two-dimensional or three-dimensional image, any type of printer, plotter, or similar device that produces either two-dimensional or three-dimensional representations of the output on any tangible medium (e.g., a laser printer that prints on paper, a computer-controlled lathe for machining a piece of metal, or a three-dimensional printer that produces an object).An output device can also produce an intangible output, such as, for example, data stored in a database or electromagnetic energy transmitted through a medium or free space, such as audio produced by a computer-controlled speaker, radio signals transmitted through free space, or pulses of light passing through a fiber optic cable. Personal computing device generally refers to a computing device configured for use by individuals. Examples include mobile devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), tablet computers, laptops installed in wearable items such as eyeglasses, watches, portable music / video players, in-car computers, or cell phones such as smartphones. Personal computing devices can also be devices that are not typically mobile, such as desktop computers, game consoles, or server computers. Personal computing devices can include any appropriate input / output device and can be configured to access a network, such as through a wireless or wired connection and / or via other network hardware. A processor generally refers to one or more electronic components configured to operate as a single unit, programmed to process input and generate output. Alternatively, when referring to a multi-component system, a processor may have one or more components located remotely from each other. One or more components of each processor may be of the electronic variety that defines digital circuits, analog circuits, or both. For example, each processor is a conventional integrated circuit microprocessor arrangement, such as one or more Pentium i3, i5, or i7 processors supplied by Intel Corporation of Santa Clara, California, USA.Other examples of commercially available processors include, but are not limited to, X8 and Freescale Coldfire processors manufactured by Motorola Corporation of Schaumburg, Illinois, USA; the ARM processor and TEGRA system-on-chip (SoC) manufactured by Nvidia of Santa Clara, California, USA; the POWER processor manufactured by International Business Machines of White Plains, New York, USA; any of the FX, Phenom, Athlon, Sempron, or Opteron processors manufactured by Advanced Micro Devices of Sunnyvale, California, USA; or the Snapdragon SoC processors manufactured by Qualcomm of San Diego, California, USA. A processor also includes an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). An ASIC is an integrated circuit (IC) customized to perform a specific set of logic operations that control a computer to carry out specific tasks or functions. An ASIC is an example of a processor for a special-purpose computer, as opposed to a processor configured for general use. An application-specific integrated circuit is generally not reprogrammable to perform other functions and can be programmed only once, during manufacturing. In another example, a processor can be field-programmable. Such processors can be programmed multiple times in the field to perform various specialized or general functions after they are manufactured. A field-programmable processor may include a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) integrated into the processor. The FPGA can be programmed to execute a specific set of instructions that can be stored in non-volatile memory cells within the FPGA. The FPGA can be configured by a customer or designer using a hardware description language (HDL). An FPGA can be reprogrammed using another computer to reconfigure it to implement a new set of commands or operating instructions. This operation can be performed using any appropriate means, such as by updating the processor's firmware. Just as the concept of a computer is not limited to a single physical device in a single location, so too the concept of a processor is not limited to a single physical logic circuit or circuit package, but includes one or more such circuits or circuit packages, possibly contained within or across multiple computers in numerous physical locations. In a virtual computing environment, an unknown number of physical processors may be actively processing data; this unknown number may also change automatically over time. The concept of a processor includes a device configured or programmed to perform threshold comparisons, rule comparisons, calculations, or logical operations by applying a rule to data that produces a logical result (e.g., true or false). Processing activities can occur on multiple individual processors on separate servers, on multiple processors on a single server with separate processors, or on multiple processors physically separated from each other on separate computing devices. A proximity sensor generally refers to a sensor configured to generate a signal based on its distance from a nearby object or target, typically without requiring physical contact. The lack of physical mechanical contact between the sensor and the detected object provides added reliability and a longer lifespan. A proximity sensor can emit an electromagnetic field or a beam of electromagnetic radiation (e.g., infrared light), and the sensor can determine proximity based on changes in the field or return signal. The object being detected is often referred to as the sensor's target. Different proximity targets require different sensors. For example, a capacitive or photoelectric sensor might be appropriate for a plastic target; an inductive proximity sensor might require a metallic target. The maximum distance a proximity sensor can detect from a target is defined as the sensor's nominal range. A sensor can begin emitting a signal or change an existing signal when the distance from the target to the sensor exceeds the nominal range. Some sensors allow adjustments to the nominal range or can be configured to return a time-varying analog or digital signal based on changes in the distance to the target over time. Receiving generally refers to the system that sends information to monitoring systems to accept something transferred, communicated, transmitted, relayed, dispatched, or sent. The concept may or may not include the act of listening or waiting for something to arrive from a transmitting entity. For example, a transmission may be received without knowledge as to who or what transmitted it. Likewise, a transmission may be sent with or without knowledge of who or what is receiving it. Receiving may include, but is not limited to, the act of capturing or obtaining electromagnetic energy at any appropriate frequency in the electromagnetic spectrum. Reception can occur by detecting electromagnetic radiation. The detection of electromagnetic radiation may involve the detection of energy waves moving through or from a medium such as a wire or optical fiber.Reception includes receiving digital signals that can define various types of analog or binary data, such as signals, datagrams, packets, and the like. Receiver generally refers to a device configured to receive, for example, digital or analog signals that carry information via electromagnetic energy. r / zonn / zznz / E / Y r / zonn / zznz / E / Y A receiver that uses electromagnetic energy can operate with an antenna or antenna system to intercept electromagnetic waves passing through a medium such as air, a conductor such as a metal wire, or through fiber optic cable. A receiver can be a separate piece of electronic equipment or an electrical circuit within another electronic device. A receiver and transmitter combined in one unit is called a transceiver. A receiver may use electronic circuits configured to filter or separate one or more desired radio frequency signals from all other signals received by the antenna, an electronic amplifier to increase the signal power for further processing, and circuits configured to demodulate the received information. Examples of received information include sound (an audio signal), images (a video signal), or data (a digital signal). Devices containing radio receivers include televisions, radar equipment, two-way radios, cell phones and other cellular devices, wireless computer networks, GPS navigation devices, radio telescopes, Bluetooth devices, garage door openers, and / or baby monitors. A rule generally refers to a conditional statement with at least two outcomes. A rule can be compared to available data, which can produce a positive result (r / zonn / zznz / E / Y) (all aspects of the rule's conditional statement are satisfied by the data) or a negative result (at least one aspect of the rule's conditional statement is not satisfied by the data). An example of a rule is shown below as pseudocode for an if / then / otherwise statement that can be coded in a programming language and executed by a processor in a computer: If (clouds are gray() and (clouds.number of clouds > 100)) then {prepare for rain} otherwise {prepare for sun;} A sensor generally refers to a transducer configured to detect a feature of the environment local to the sensor. For example, sensors can be built to detect events or changes in quantities or parameters that provide a corresponding output, generally as an electrical or electromagnetic signal. The sensitivity of a sensor indicates how much the sensor's output changes when the measured input quantity changes. A detection parameter generally refers to a property of the environment that can be detected by a sensor. As used in r / zonn / zznz / E / Y 100. In this document, the detection parameter may be synonymous with an operating condition, environmental factor, sensor parameter, or environmental condition. Detection parameters may include temperature, air pressure, speed, acceleration, the presence or intensity of sound or light or other electromagnetic phenomena, the intensity and / or orientation of a magnetic or electric field, and the like. Short Message Service (SMS) generally refers to a text messaging service component of telephone, web, or mobile communication systems. It uses standardized communication protocols to allow landline or mobile phone devices to exchange short text messages. Short message transmission between a Short Message Service Center (SMSC) and a personal computing device is always done using the Mobile Application Part (MAP) of the SS7 protocol. The message payload may be limited by signaling protocol restrictions to precisely 140 octets (140 octets * 8 bits / octet = 1120 bits). Short messages can be encoded using a variety of alphabets: the default 7-bit GSM alphabet, the 8-bit data alphabet, and the 16-bit UCS-2 alphabet.Depending on the alphabet the subscriber has set up on the phone, this leads to maximum sizes of individual short messages of 160 7-bit characters, 140 8-bit characters, or 70 16-bit characters. 101 r / zonn / zznz / E / Y Transmission generally refers to causing something to be transferred, communicated, transported, relayed, dispatched, or sent. The concept may or may not include the act of transmitting something from a transmitting entity to a receiving entity. For example, a transmission can be received without knowledge of who or what transmitted it. Likewise, a transmission can be sent with or without knowledge of who or what is receiving it. Transmission can include, but is not limited to, the act of sending or transmitting electromagnetic energy at any appropriate frequency in the electromagnetic spectrum. Transmissions can include digital signals that can define various types of binary data, such as datagrams, packets, and the like. A transmission can also include analog signals. Information, such as a signal provided to the transmitter, can be encoded or modulated by the transmitter using various digital or analog circuits. The information can then be transmitted. Examples of such information include sound (an audio signal), images (a video signal), or data (a digital signal). Devices containing radio transmitters include radar equipment, two-way radios, cell phones and other cellular devices, wireless computer networks and networking devices, GPS navigation devices, radio telescopes, radio-frequency identification (REID) chips, and Bluetooth devices. 102 r / zonn / zznz / E / Y devices for opening garage doors. A transmitter generally refers to a device configured to transmit, for example, digital or analog signals that carry information via electromagnetic energy. A transmitter that uses electromagnetic energy can operate with an antenna or antenna system to produce electromagnetic waves that pass through a medium such as air, a conductor such as a metal wire, or through fiber optic cable. A transmitter can be a separate piece of electronic equipment or an electrical circuit within another electronic device. A transmitter and receiver combined in one unit is called a transceiver. Activating a rule generally refers to the result that follows when all the elements of a conditional statement expressed in a rule are satisfied. In this context, a conditional statement can result in either a positive outcome (all the rule's conditions are met by the data) or a negative outcome (at least one of the rule's conditions is not met by the data) when compared to available data. The conditions expressed in the rule are activated if all the conditions are met, causing the program's execution to proceed along a different path than if the rule were not activated.

Claims

1. A system for predicting or reporting the movement of a patient, characterized in that it comprises: a sock for a patient's foot, the sock having one or more pressure sensors adapted and arranged to detect the pressure applied by the patient's foot; a monitoring device coupled to the sock, the monitoring device having: one or more motion sensors configured to detect the movement of the patient; wherein the monitoring device is configured to calculate a trigger value based on the input signal from the pressure sensors and the one or more motion sensors; and wherein the monitoring device transmits an alert message when the trigger value exceeds a predetermined alert threshold.

2. The system of claim 1, characterized in that the sock pressure sensors include conductive threads woven into the sock that change resistance according to the pressure applied by the patient's foot.

3. The system of claim 1, characterized in that the monitoring device begins processing the input signal from the pressure sensors and / or the motion sensors when the motion measured by at least one of the motion sensors exceeds a predetermined activation threshold. 104 4. The system of claim 1, characterized in that the monitoring device is configured to calculate the activation value by combining the patient's movement with changes in pressure detected by the pressure sensors.

5. The system of claim 4, characterized in that the monitoring device calculates a partial result by multiplying the motion data from a first sensor caused by the movement of the monitoring device in a first plane of motion together with separate motion data from the first sensor that is caused by movement of the monitoring device in a second plane of motion orthogonal to the first plane of motion, and wherein the monitoring device further multiplies the partial result by a weighting factor stored in a patient-specific profile.

6. The system of claim 5, characterized in that the weighting factor is stored in a patient-specific patient profile in a memory of the monitoring device.

7. The system of claim 5, characterized in that the weighting factor is automatically calculated by the monitoring device.

8. The system of claim 1, characterized in that the alert message is transmitted to a caregiver by means of an alert computer connected to a computer network.

9. The system of claim 1, characterized in that r / zonn / zznz / E / Y 105 the one or more motion sensors include a gyroscope sensor that detects changes in the angular velocity of the sock, and an accelerometer that detects changes in the acceleration of the sock.

10. The system of claim 8, characterized in that the alert computer is configured to accept the input signal from a caregiver confirming that the alert was valid.

11. The system of claim 10, characterized in that the caregiver input signal indicates that the patient attempted to move to an upright standing position.

12. The system of claim 1, characterized in that the monitoring device stops processing the data received from one or more motion sensors when the input signal from the motion sensors remains at or below a predetermined activation threshold for a predetermined period of time.

13. A method for detecting and reporting patient movement, characterized in that it comprises: detecting the pressure applied by a patient's foot using a sock placed on the foot, the sock having one or more pressure sensors adapted and arranged to detect the pressure applied by the foot; detecting movement using one or more motion sensors in a control device mounted on the sock; processing data from the motion and pressure sensors to calculate an activation value using the monitoring device; comparing the activation value with one or more alert threshold values ​​using the monitoring device; and transmitting an alert message when the activation value exceeds certain predetermined alert thresholds.

14. The method of claim 13, characterized in that the pressure sensors include conductive threads woven into the sock that change resistance according to the pressure applied by the patient's foot.

15. The method of claim 13, characterized in that it comprises: activating the monitoring device to process data from the motion and pressure sensors when the motion detected by the monitoring device exceeds a predetermined activation threshold; 16. The method of claim 13, characterized in that calculating the activation value includes combining motion sensor data with pressure sensor data.

17. The method of claim 16, characterized in that the combination of motion and pressure sensor data comprises: calculating a partial result by multiplying the motion data from a first sensor caused by the movement of the monitoring device in a first plane of motion with separate motion data from the first sensor that are caused by the movement of the monitoring device in a second plane of motion orthogonal to the first plane of motion; and multiplying the partial result by a weighting factor stored in a patient-specific profile.

18. The method of claim 13, characterized in that the motion sensors include at least one of a gyroscope sensor and an accelerometer, the motion sensors detect changes along three separate axes, and wherein the changes are represented as data values ​​corresponding to the motion along each of the three separate, mutually orthogonal planes.

19. The method of claim 17, characterized in that it comprises: automatically calculating the weighting factor and saving it in the patient's profile.

20. The method of claim 17, characterized in that it comprises: accepting the input signal from a caregiver using a computer device to change the weighting factor stored in the patient's profile.

21. The method of claim 13, characterized in that the monitoring device calculates the activation value according to the formula: 108 r / zonn / zznz / E / Y y(t) = + C2ay + C3az + C4ga + C5gp + C6gy + C7p where ax, ay y, az are accelerometer data values ​​for three mutually orthogonal separate planes x, yyz, the accelerometer data values ​​generated by an accelerometer of the monitoring device; where ga, gp and gY are gyroscope data values ​​for the three mutually orthogonal separate planes α, β yy, the accelerometer data values ​​generated by an accelerometer of the monitoring device; where p is at least one pressure data value generated by at least one of the pressure sensors; and where Q through C7 are weighting factors.

22. The method of claim 13, characterized in that it comprises: displaying the alert threshold, the activation threshold, and / or the activation timeout on a display device of an alert computer configured to receive the alert message; adjusting any of the alert threshold, the activation threshold, and / or the activation timeout based on the input signal captured by the alert computer; and updating the alert threshold, the activation threshold, and / or the activation timeout in a patient profile 109 stored in a memory of the monitoring device using the alert computer.

23. The method of claim 13, characterized in that: the monitoring device sends the alert message to an alert computer, which then sends the alert message to a server connected to a computer network; the server receives, stores, and processes the alert message and distributes the alert message to the alert computer.

24. The method of claim 13, characterized in that it comprises: applying the sock to the patient's foot; attaching the monitoring device to the sock; and using an alerting computer to accept input signals by selecting the monitoring device from one or more monitoring devices attached to one or more patients.

25. The method of claim 13, characterized in that the monitoring device is deactivated to stop the processing of the input signal from the motion sensors and the pressure sensor when the data from the motion sensors have remained less than or equal to an activation threshold for more than a predetermined activation waiting time.

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