Floor Vibration Sensor Array for Privacy-Safe Indoor Activity Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for monitoring indoor activities, such as using sensing devices on the human body or video monitoring, are cumbersome, invasive, and unsuitable for commercial applications, raising concerns about privacy leakage.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus utilizing multiple vibration sensors placed at fixed distances on the floor to receive and analyze vibration signals, determining the location of a vibration source through phase difference analysis, allowing for precise monitoring of indoor activities without disturbing the monitored person, including analysis of pace signals, living habits, and building changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If video monitoring devices are used to monitor indoor activities, then activity information can be obtained, but personal privacy leakage occurs and the system becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces video monitoring (optical system) with vibration sensing (mechanical system). Vibration sensors detect physical vibrations caused by human activities through floor contact, capturing activity information without visual recording, thus eliminating privacy leakage while maintaining monitoring capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the floor as an intermediary medium between the monitored person and the sensing system. The floor transmits vibration signals from human activities to sensors embedded within it, enabling indirect detection of activities without direct observation or contact with the person, thereby preserving privacy
2Loss of information
If sensing devices are worn on the human body to monitor activities, then activity information can be obtained, but the system becomes troublesome to use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the floor itself serve as the sensing platform by embedding vibration sensors within it. The floor automatically detects and transmits vibration signals from any activity occurring upon it, eliminating the need for persons to wear or carry sensing devices, thus greatly improving convenience
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of placing sensors on the moving target (human body), the patent inverts the approach by placing sensors on the stationary medium (floor) that the target interacts with. This reversal allows passive detection of activities without requiring the monitored person to wear any equipment
3Measurement precision
If multiple vibration sensors are disposed according to a preset rule to determine location, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the vibration sensor system to simultaneously perform multiple functions: detecting vibration signals, determining source location through phase difference, and characterizing activity types. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized devices, offsetting the complexity of having multiple sensors with a single integrated system
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
Enables effective and non-invasive monitoring of indoor activities, providing detailed records of daily habits and health conditions of individuals while avoiding privacy issues, and detecting long-term changes in building structures without disturbing the monitored person.
Implementation Method 1
receiving a vibration signal on a floor by using multiple vibration sensors disposed according to a preset rule
Implementation Method 2
determining a location of a vibration source according to a phase difference of a vibration signal of the same vibration source in different vibration sensors
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for precisely perceiving an indoor activity. The method may include: receiving a vibration signal on a floor by using multiple vibration sensors disposed according to a preset rule; and determining a location of a vibration source according to a phase difference of a vibration signal of the same vibration source in different vibration sensors. The monitoring performed on the indoor activity in the present invention can be performed without disturbing the monitored person, and can resolve the concern about leakage of privacy of the monitored person.