Sleep State Monitoring via Integrated Sensor Fusion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current monitoring systems for individuals, such as children and elderly persons, are standalone and lack a holistic approach, failing to provide comprehensive monitoring and integration with automation systems to ensure safety and health.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize sensors to monitor a person's sleep state, detect disturbances, and alert caregivers through a linked automation system, incorporating audio, video, and vital sign analysis, with the ability to activate soothing mechanisms and alert emergency services if necessary.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple sensors and monitoring functions are integrated into a holistic monitoring system, then the comprehensiveness and reliability of monitoring is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple monitoring functions (audio detection, video recording, motion sensing, vital sign monitoring) and multiple sensor types into a single integrated monitoring system. This merging approach allows the system to provide comprehensive monitoring through one unified device rather than requiring separate standalone systems for each function, thereby improving reliability while managing complexity through integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: detecting sleep states, identifying disturbances, recording audio and video, tracking vital signs, and providing alerts. This multi-functionality allows a single system to address various monitoring needs comprehensively, improving reliability by covering multiple aspects of safety and health monitoring within one integrated platform.
2Reliability
If continuous monitoring and alerting functions are implemented, then the safety and responsiveness to emergencies is improved, but the loss of time for false alarms and unnecessary interventions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system establishes predetermined disturbance parameters and thresholds before monitoring begins. These pre-set criteria define what constitutes a significant disturbance versus normal variations. By having these criteria established in advance, the system can quickly compare real-time data against known thresholds without requiring complex real-time analysis, reducing false alarms while maintaining safety responsiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors disturbances and compares them against predetermined parameters, providing feedback loops that adjust alerting behavior. When disturbances are detected, the system analyzes them against established criteria before triggering alerts, and can learn from patterns to reduce false positives over time. This feedback mechanism ensures safety monitoring remains reliable while minimizing unnecessary interventions and time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for operating a security and/or automation system is described. A sensor may identify when a first person is in a sleep state. The sensor may detect a disturbance in the sleep state, and alert a second person when the detected disturbance satisfies one or more disturbance parameters.