Monitoring System Using Radio Transmitter Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current monitoring systems for older adults in their homes lack reliable methods to evaluate movement data from motion detectors and cannot clearly distinguish between the monitored person's movements and those of others, leading to difficulties in detecting emergencies and privacy concerns due to the use of cameras.

Innovation Solution

A monitoring system utilizing passive infrared sensors and radio transmitters/receivers, where passive infrared sensors detect movements and transmit data to a monitoring center, and radio transmitters carried by the person emit signals to identify them, allowing for clear identification of the monitored person's movements and reducing privacy concerns by not capturing images.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If cameras are used to monitor the entire apartment, then the ability to detect emergencies and behavior patterns is improved, but privacy is compromised and user acceptance decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemergency detection capabilityVSAvoidprivacy encroachment
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential monitoring function from camera-based visual surveillance and implements it through motion detectors that sense physical movement without capturing images. This removes the privacy-invasive element (visual recording) while preserving the core functionality (detecting movement patterns and emergencies).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the optical/mechanical camera system with an electronic sensing system using motion detectors. Instead of capturing visual information through lenses and sensors, the system uses motion detection technology to sense changes in the environment, substituting a less intrusive technological approach for the same monitoring purpose.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If motion detectors are used instead of cameras, then privacy is preserved, but the ability to reliably evaluate movements and identify the monitored person is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprivacy protectionVSAvoidmovement evaluation reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback mechanisms where motion detector data is continuously collected, analyzed, and used to refine the monitoring system's ability to distinguish between different persons and evaluate movement patterns. The system learns from accumulated data to improve its reliability over time, compensating for the initial limitations of motion detector technology.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent makes the motion detectors multi-functional by enabling them to perform both basic motion detection and person-specific pattern recognition. The same device that detects movement also collects data about movement patterns, duration, and location, which can be analyzed to identify the monitored person and evaluate their behavior, thus serving multiple purposes with a single technology.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If motion detectors are used without person identification, then system complexity is reduced, but the ability to distinguish between the monitored person and others is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidperson identification accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-configuring the monitoring system with the specific movement patterns and characteristics of the person to be monitored before actual monitoring begins. This allows the system to establish a baseline for comparison, enabling it to distinguish the monitored person from others without requiring complex real-time identification technology.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

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 system provides a reliable method for detecting emergencies and accurately attributing movement patterns to the monitored individual, minimizing false alarms and respecting privacy by not recording images, thus enabling effective monitoring without surveillance cameras.

Implementation Method 1

a motion detector provided in the apartment for detecting movement of the person in the apartment

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInfrared radiation detection: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 2

a radio transmitter carried by the person and a monitoring center, the geometric detection area of the motion detector being assigned to a predetermined geometric area of the apartment, the radio transmitter emitting a radio signal for identifying the person

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadio signal transmission: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3065113B1Monitoring system
Publication Date: 2020.06.10 GIGASET COMMUNICATIONS GMBH
  • EP3065113B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3065113B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3065113B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to a monitoring system for monitoring the activities of a person (1) in an apartment (2), comprising a motion detector (8) provided in the apartment (2) for detecting movement of the person (1) in the apartment (2), a radio receiver (9), a radio transmitter (10) worn by the person (1), and a monitoring center (11), wherein the geometric detection range of the motion detector (8) is assigned to a predetermined geometric area of ​​the apartment (2), the radio transmitter (10) emits a radio signal for identifying the person (1) when the person (1) is detected by the motion detector (8), the radio signal is received by the radio receiver (9), and the monitoring center (11) receives data from the radio receiver (9) for identifying the person (1) and data from the motion detector (8) for recording the location of the person (1) in the predetermined geometric area.This refers to such a monitoring system for monitoring the activities of a person (1) in a dwelling (2), which enables a clear assignment of a recorded movement of a person to the person (1) being monitored.