Abstract:
A voice recognition emergency system and method. The system includes a microphone, a speaker, and a voice recognition emergency device. The device includes a processor and a transmitter. The processor analyzes sound received from the microphone, detects when an emergency phrase has been spoken, and conveys an alert condition to a gateway via the transmitter in response to detecting the emergency phrase has been spoken. The processor recognizes pre-defined, spoken emergency phrases and triggers an alert condition in response to detecting that one of the emergency phrases was spoken. The device continuously listens through the microphone for any one of the pre-defined phrases, in response to which an alert condition is conveyed to the gateway device. The alert condition is conveyed to the gateway device through Power Line Communications (PLC), radio communications, Wi-Fi communications, or Ethernet communications. The processor may recognize an emergency phrase spoken by a particular person.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/884,833 filed on Jan. 12, 2007, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    This invention relates to methods and systems for monitoring the condition and health of a person in a building, normally the person&#39;s residence, and more particularly, to interactive methods of summoning help. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Frail, elderly people and others with chronic diseases or handicaps, especially those with mobility problems, may have difficulty in summoning help if they fall, or need help for any other reason, for example by using the telephone or a conventional emergency panic button. Conventional panic button systems involve the person wearing a device and pushing a button on the device in an emergency situation. The device then sends an alert by radio transmission to a dialler and/or broadband adapter and/or cellular device and/or pager that connects to emergency services or to a remote monitoring center, which can then take appropriate action. In many instances, elderly people in particular are unable to press the button, and may simply fall into an unconscious state or may become severely disoriented. Some devices activate a speakerphone, but again if the device is not activated, the speakerphone will not activate. Additionally the wearable devices can be awkward and so the person may not wear the device while sleeping when a majority of needs for assistance take place. In addition, conventional panic button systems have limited ability to provide detailed information to a responder about the nature of assistance needed. Accordingly, what is needed are system and methods of monitoring the condition and health of a person that are less dependent on actions that may be difficult for the person to perform and that provide some degree of interactivity between the person needing help and the responder. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Various embodiments of a system and methods for monitoring the safety of a person in a building are disclosed. The system includes a microphone, a speaker, and a voice recognition emergency device. The voice recognition emergency device comprises a transmitter for communication with a gateway and a processor. The processor analyzes sound received from the microphone, detects when an emergency phrase has been spoken, and conveys an alert condition to the gateway via the transmitter in response to detecting the emergency phrase has been spoken. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, the processor recognizes any of a plurality of pre-defined, spoken emergency phrases and trigger an alert condition in response to detecting that one of the emergency phrases was spoken. In a further embodiment, the device continuously listens through the microphone for any one of the pre-defined phrases, in response to which an alert condition is conveyed to the gateway device. The alert condition is conveyed to the gateway device through Power Line Communications (PLC), radio communications, Wi-Fi communications, or Ethernet communications. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, the processor recognizes an emergency phrase spoken by a particular person. In another embodiment, the system further comprises a call center coupled to the gateway via a network and a caregiver coupled to the call center. In response to receiving the alert condition, the gateway conveys the alert condition to the call center and the call center responds to the alert condition. In a further embodiment, the call center responds to the alert condition by summoning help from the caregiver upon determining that the alert is not a false alarm. In an alternative embodiment, a caregiver is coupled to the gateway and the gateway responds to the alert condition by summoning help from the caregiver. 
         [0009]    In order that the invention may be better understood, a preferred embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings, in which: 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a system that includes a voice recognition emergency device coupled to a microphone and a speaker. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of a network of voice recognition emergency devices that may be installed in a residence. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of one embodiment of a voice triggered emergency alert system. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of a voice triggered emergency alert process. 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  illustrates one embodiment of a web-based view of part of a database that may be used in a voice triggered emergency alert system. 
       
    
    
       [0015]    While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments are shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that drawings and detailed descriptions thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0016]      FIG. 1  illustrates one embodiment of a system  100  that includes a voice recognition emergency device  110 , coupled to a microphone  120  and a speaker  130 . In the illustrated embodiment, device  110  includes an integrated circuit  112  for performing voice recognition, a ROM  114  for storing rules, a two-way voice communication module  116 , and a transceiver  118 . Device  110  may be powered by either an internal battery (not shown), which is preferably rechargeable, or through a wall power outlet. In the illustrated embodiment, device  110  includes a plug  150  for connection to a conventional wall power outlet. The prongs of plug  150  may be located directly on the device. Device  150  is also shown to include a 3-hole socket  140  through which standard household appliances may be plugged into the device to receive power from the same wall power outlet to which plug  150  is connected. 
         [0017]    In various embodiments, transceiver  118  may provide communication between device  110  and a home gateway using one or more of a variety of protocols such as Z-wave wireless communication, Zigbee, Power Line Communication (PLC), Wi-Fi or Ethernet. In one embodiment, using the PLC protocol, device  110  may communicate directly through plug  150 , when it is connected to a conventional wall power outlet. The home gateway may be connected to a 24/7 call center through which immediate help may be summoned. In brief, a person needing help may speak any number of relevant, pre-defined key phrases or words that are recognizable to device  110  in order to cause an alert to be sent to the home gateway. For example, a trigger phrase may be “help 911”. In one embodiment, device  110  may be configured to recognize one or more key phrases or words that are determined or selected by the person needing help. Further details of the operation of a home gateway and the interactions between responders and a person needing help are presented below. 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of a network  200  of voice recognition emergency devices that may be installed in a residence  240 . Residence  240  includes a bedroom  231 , a bedroom  232 , a kitchen  233 , a living room  234 , and a bathroom  235 . Network  200  includes tags  201 - 205  coupled to a gateway  210  for communication with an external emergency care provider. For example, as shown, gateway  210  may be coupled to a remote platform  230  via an external network  220 . Each of tags  201 - 205  may be a system such as system  100  of  FIG. 1 , including a voice recognition emergency device such as device  110 . Tags  201 - 205  may be installed at fixed locations distributed around the house. In alternative embodiments, the installation locations of tags  201 - 205  may be changed as desired. For example, tags may be plugged into any available wall power outlet and moved from outlet to outlet in a given room when furniture is moved, outlets are used for other devices, etc. In other embodiments, more than five or fewer than five tags may be included in network  200  and the number of tags within network  200  may be changed as needed. 
         [0019]    During operation, each of tags  201 - 205  may continuously listen to the noise throughout its audible range using its included microphone. If a pre-defined keyword or phrase is recognized a tag may send an alert to gateway  210 . Each of tags  201 - 205  may communicate with other tags and gateway  210  through one or more of radio communication, PLC, Wi-Fi, or Ethernet, etc. links such as links  241 - 249  as shown. In the illustrated embodiment, links  242 ,  249 ,  246 ,  248 , and  247  couple tags  201 ,  202 ,  203 ,  204 , and  205 , respectively, directly to gateway  210 . In addition, tag  201  may be coupled to tag  205  via link  241 , tag  202  may be coupled to tag  205  via link  243 , tag  202  may be coupled to tag  204  via link  244 , and tag  203  may be coupled to tag  204  via link  245 . Accordingly, if obstacles for the various types of transmission, such as walls and electromagnetic interference from strong emitters such as refrigerators, are present, communication between a tag and gateway  210  may be relayed through one or more other tags. For example, tag  205  may communicate with gateway  210  via either link  247  or a path including link  241 , tag  201 , and link  242 . Data from the gateway  210  may be returned in a similar manner. Such redundant connections are well known in the art, and will not be described further in this specification. In one embodiment, each tag includes a voice recognition IC that may recognize one or more pre-defined keywords or phrases. In further embodiments, the voice recognition IC may be include hardware, software, or firmware to enable it to be trained to recognize the voice of one or more particular people speaking the pre-defined keywords or phrases. In alternative embodiments, the voice recognition functionality for a set of tags may be centrally located, such as in gateway  210  or some other central location. 
         [0020]    It may be appreciated that in addition to system  100 , a variety of different sensors could be used to help confirm a specific event: for example smoke alarms, home alarms, carbon monoxide or other sensors, in addition to the voice recognition tag device. Such events include fires and dangerous emissions, as well as falls. Data from such sensors may be sent to gateway  210  for inclusion in alert notifications. 
         [0021]    Gateway  210  may include a transceiver for communicating with the tags, which may be via radio, Ethernet, PLC, Wi-Fi, etc. Gateway  210  may also include a data processor for storing and processing data from tags  202 - 205 . In one embodiment, gateway  210  may be powered from a conventional wall power outlet. In order to communicate with the remote platform, the gateway  210  may be coupled via a telephone dialler, wireless modem, cable modem, or satellite modem (not shown) to network  220 . Network  220  may include the Internet, a mobile network, and/or the public switched telephone network (PSTN). 
         [0022]    In alternative embodiments, gateway  210  may be a standalone-unit or a component of a home router, media gateway, computer or other network-connected device. In one embodiment, gateway  210  may include a programmable interface. For example, gateway  210  may provide a web-based, Internet-accessible interface for configuring network  200 . In a further embodiment, a user may configure one or more of tags  201 - 205  to operate on a schedule. For example, a user may configure network  200  to be disabled during a vacation period and to re-start at a selected time when the vacation period is expected to end. In another embodiment, a user may program the operation of tags  201 - 205  either individually or collectively through gateway  210 . In a still further embodiment, a user may program the operation of tags  201 - 205 , either individually or collectively, from a computer, telephone, or other suitable device that is connected to gateway  210  via network  220 . 
         [0023]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of one embodiment of a voice triggered emergency alert system  300  for communicating and handling alerts in response to detecting a person&#39;s need for help. System  300 , as shown, may include a call center  330  and a caregiver  340 . System  300  may also include a network  320  coupled to a remote platform  230  via a network  220 , as previously described. Network  320  may be coupled to call center  330  directly or via network  220 . Call center  330  may be bi-directionally coupled to remote platform  230 . Remote platform  230  may be further coupled to caregiver  340 . 
         [0024]    Network  320 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , is a simplified version of network  200  of  FIG. 2 . In the illustrated embodiment, network  320  includes tags  201 - 203  coupled to gateway  210 . Call center  330  includes a queue  332  communicating with operators  334 ,  336 , and  338 . For simplicity, three operators are shown, although any number of operators may be employed by call center  330 . Call center operators may each communicate with caregiver  340  via a telephone or other means, as desired. Remote platform  230  may include a communication server  352  coupled to a database  254  and to a caregiver alert module  356 . Remote platform  230  may also include a web platform  362 , an email interface  364 , a Short Message Service (SMS) interface  366 , and a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) interface  368  for communicating with caregiver  340 . 
         [0025]    During operation, when an event requiring help occurs within network  320 , an alert may be triggered. For example,  FIG. 3  shows a trigger  310  between tag  202  and gateway  210 . Trigger  310  may cause gateway  210  to communicate the occurrence of the event to call center  330  via alert  312  and to communication server  352  via alert  313 . Within call center  330 , queue  332  may respond to event  312  by opening a direct 2-way voice communication between an operator and gateway  210 . Communication between gateway  210  and a call center operator may include sending the alert condition to the operator. The operator may attempt to communicate with the care recipient and/or determine what steps to take next. In the case of a serious emergency the call center operator may send help to the home of the care recipient, such as by calling emergency services. The operator may alert caregiver  340  via a telephone call or via web platform  362 . In some cases, the operator may determine that the alert is a false alarm. If a false alarm is detected, the operator may log the alarm with a flag indicating that it is false and notify caregiver  340  of the event. In alternative embodiments, gateway  210  may communicate with call center  330  via a variety of protocols such as XML Push voice messaging service, Email, SMS, or X25. 
         [0026]    Communication server  352  may respond to alert  313  by logging the event in database  354  and sending an alert to caregiver  340  via caregiver alert module  356 . Module  356  may use one or more of a variety of interfaces to alert a caregiver. For example, module  356  may contact a caregiver via email through email interface  364 , send a text message via SMS interface  366 , or a voice-over-IP call via SIP interface  368 , etc. Caregiver  340  may configure a monitoring account via web platform  362 . For example, notification preferences may be selected and stored in database  354 . Caregiver  340  may also monitor alert activity and receive reports via web platform  362 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 4  illustrates one embodiment of a voice triggered emergency alert process  400 . Process  400  begins when one or more sensors are activated (block  410 ). Upon activation, each sensor may register its status with a gateway (block  420 ) and begin listening for keywords or phrases via a microphone (block  430 ). If a keyword or phrase is not recognized (decision block  440 ), listening continues. If a keyword or phrase is recognized (decision block  440 ), the gateway may send the alert to a server (block  445 ). In one embodiment, in order to communicate with the server, the gateway may first establish a connection to the server via the Internet or the PSTN. In a further embodiment, the gateway may include the conditions of the alert as data sent to the server. In response to receiving an alert, the server may flag a user account (block  450 ), send the alert to a caregiver (block  452 ), and/or send the alert to a call center (block  460 ). The server may also log the alert&#39;s occurrence (block  454 ). In response to receiving the alert, a call center operator may initiate a 2-way voice call to the alerting sensor (block  470 ). If it can be determined that the alert is a false alarm (decision block  480 ), the event may be logged and flagged as false (block  482 ) and a caregiver notified (block  484 ). If the event is not a false alarm, or it can&#39;t be determined that the alert is a false alarm (decision block  480 ), then a call center operator may take emergency action (block  486 ) and log the alert (block  488 ). Emergency actions may include one or more of calling emergency service (911), contacting a caregiver, etc. 
         [0028]      FIG. 5  illustrates one embodiment of a web-based view  500  of part of a database that may be used in a voice triggered emergency alert system. View  500  may include the standard features of a web browser window such as drop-down menus, a navigation bar, and an address field. As shown, view  500  displays data from a database under five main headings: Care Recipient Details, Status Today, Notification Preferences, Activity Log, and Accountholder Details. Care Recipient Details and Accountholder Details include biographical information and contact information for the care recipient and accountholder, respectively. Status Today and Activity Log include information describing the alert type, time of the alert and action taken in response to the alert for the current day and for a selected past time period, respectively. Notification Preferences includes an ordered list of the preferred methods of communication with caregivers to be used in case of an alert. Additional views through which details and preferences may be changed will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art and will not be described further herein. 
         [0029]    It is noted that the above-described embodiments may comprise software. In such an embodiment, the program instructions that implement the methods and/or mechanisms may be conveyed or stored on a computer accessible medium. Numerous types of media which are configured to store program instructions are available and include hard disks, floppy disks, CD-ROM, DVD, flash memory, Programmable ROMs (PROM), random access memory (RAM), and various other forms of volatile or non-volatile storage. Still other forms of media configured to convey program instructions for access by a computing device include terrestrial and non-terrestrial communication links such as network, wireless, and satellite links on which electrical, electromagnetic, optical, or digital signals may be conveyed. Thus, various embodiments may further include receiving, sending or storing instructions and/or data implemented in accordance with the foregoing description upon a computer accessible medium. 
         [0030]    Although the embodiments above have been described in considerable detail, numerous variations and modifications will become apparent to those skilled in the art once the above disclosure is fully appreciated. It is intended that the following claims be interpreted to embrace all such variations and modifications.