Occupancy-Based Fall Detection for Lower Power Monitoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fall detection systems using reflected-wave technologies consume significant power and are inefficient in environments with multiple occupants, as they continue to operate regardless of the presence of additional individuals who can provide assistance.
Innovation Solution
A method and device that control the operation of a reflected-wave fall detector based on occupancy levels, allowing it to conserve power by detecting falls only when a single person is present and preventing detection processes when multiple people are present, using wave reflection data to determine occupancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reflected-wave based fall detection is continuously performed, then fall detection reliability is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the fall detection process based on occupancy level. When multiple people are detected, the fall detection is aborted or not commenced, reducing power consumption while maintaining reliability when needed (single person occupancy). This conditional operation makes the system adaptive to environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter of fall detection based on occupancy conditions. The fall detection process is enabled when occupancy indicates a single person and disabled/aborted when multiple people are present, effectively using occupancy level as a control parameter to switch between high-reliability mode and power-saving mode.
2Measurement precision
If fall detection process is always active, then detection precision is improved, but energy waste occurs when assistance is readily available
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial action by performing fall detection only when necessary (single person occupancy). When multiple people are present, the fall detection is considered excessive since assistance is readily available, so the system intentionally limits the detection action to avoid unnecessary energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The presence of multiple people, which could be seen as a harmful condition causing energy waste, is converted into a benefit by using occupancy detection to intelligently control fall detection operation. The system uses the occupancy information to decide when to suppress fall detection, turning the potential energy waste scenario into an opportunity for optimized power management.
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
This approach reduces power consumption by avoiding unnecessary fall detection processes in crowded environments, ensuring efficient operation and effective alerting when needed.
Implementation Method 1
controlling an active reflected wave detector to measure wave reflections from an environment
Data Source
AI summary
One embodiment relates to computer implemented method comprising: controlling an active reflected wave detector to measure wave reflections from an environment to receive measured wave reflection data that is obtained by the active reflected wave detector; determining an occupancy level indicative of how many people are present in the environment; and controlling, in dependence on the occupancy level, a fall detector that is operable to detect whether a person in the environment has fallen based on the measured wave reflection data.