Assistance Detection Using Acceleration and Vital Parameter Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions fail to reliably and efficiently provide timely assistance to individuals in distress, especially in situations where they cannot access a mobile phone or are in remote areas, as they lack accurate detection of the need for assistance beyond mere acceleration measurements.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and device that measures acceleration and vital parameters, such as gait frequency, to determine if a user needs assistance, signaling help if the measured parameters deviate significantly from pre-defined thresholds, and optionally receiving data from wearable devices to enhance accuracy and reduce false alarms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If only acceleration measurement is used to detect distress, then the device complexity is low, but the reliability of assistance detection is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing capabilities (acceleration sensor, gait analysis, and vital parameter sensors) into an integrated assistance detection system. By merging these different measurement approaches, the system achieves more reliable detection of distress situations while sharing the device complexity across multiple functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The user device is designed to perform multiple functions: it serves as both a mobile phone for direct communication and as an autonomous assistance detection device when the user is incapacitated. This multi-functionality allows the same hardware to provide reliable assistance detection without requiring a separate dedicated device.
2Reliability
If multiple vital parameter measurements are performed continuously, then the reliability of distress detection is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous monitoring, the system uses periodic measurement triggered by acceleration events. Vital parameters are measured at specific intervals following an acceleration threshold breach, allowing the system to maintain detection reliability while significantly reducing overall energy consumption compared to continuous monitoring.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary acceleration monitoring continuously at low power, and only initiates the more energy-intensive vital parameter measurements when an acceleration event suggests potential distress. This preliminary screening approach maintains accuracy while minimizing energy usage.
3Measurement precision
If acceleration threshold is set low to detect all potential incidents, then the detection sensitivity is high, but the number of false alarms increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from gait analysis to verify whether an acceleration event represents a genuine distress situation. After detecting an acceleration threshold breach, the system analyzes subsequent gait patterns to confirm distress, providing a feedback mechanism that reduces false alarms while maintaining high detection sensitivity.
Solution Approach 2:
Gait analysis serves as an intermediary verification step between the initial acceleration detection and the final assistance alarm. This intermediate check filters out false positives from normal activities while allowing genuine distress events to proceed to alarm generation.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively detects the need for assistance by combining acceleration and vital parameter measurements, reducing false alarms and ensuring timely support for users in distress, even in remote or hazardous situations.
Implementation Method 1
An acceleration measurement of the user is provided by an acceleration sensor of the user device
Implementation Method 2
The vital parameter of the user is a gait of the user, wherein the gait of the user is determined by determining periodical accelerations caused by the gait of the user
Data Source
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Figure 3
AI summary
The present disclosure proposes a method for supporting a user. The method contains providing an acceleration measurement of the user and measuring at least one vital parameter of the user if the acceleration measurement is above a predefined acceleration threshold. A need of assistance for the user is signaled if the measured vital parameter of the user deviates from a standard vital parameter of the user by more than a predefined threshold.