Abstract:
Wearable electronic communication devices having corresponding methods and computer-readable media comprise: an accelerometer; a don/doff detector; a transmitter; a processor configured to i) determine whether the wearable electronic communication device has experienced a fall based on information produced by the accelerometer, ii) determine whether the wearable electronic communication device was being worn during the fall based on information produced by the don/doff detector, and iii) cause the transmitter to transmit a message from the wearable electronic communication device responsive to the processor determining both i) the wearable electronic communication device has experienced a fall and ii) the wearable electronic communication device was being worn during the fall.

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to the field of electronic communications. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to wearable devices for automatically transmitting a message on detecting the user has fallen. 
     BACKGROUND 
     A person who has fallen may be unable to call for help. For example, the person may be unconscious. Even if conscious, the person may be unable to move, unable to reach a phone, or the like. 
     SUMMARY 
     In general, in one aspect, an embodiment features a wearable electronic communication device comprising: an accelerometer; a don/doff detector; a transmitter; a processor configured to i) determine whether the wearable electronic communication device has experienced a fall based on information produced by the accelerometer, ii) determine whether the wearable electronic communication device was being worn during the fall based on information produced by the don/doff detector, and iii) cause the transmitter to transmit a message from the wearable electronic communication device responsive to the processor determining both i) the wearable electronic communication device has experienced a fall and ii) the wearable electronic communication device was being worn during the fall. 
     Embodiments of the wearable electronic communication device can include one or more of the following features. In some embodiments, the message is a first message; and the first message instructs a connected device to transmit a second message. Some embodiments comprise a memory configured to store a phone number; wherein the message instructs a connected device to call the phone number. In some embodiments, the processor is further configured to determine a severity of the fall based on the information produced by the accelerometer. In some embodiments, the transmitter is further configured to transmit the message only responsive to the determined severity of the fall exceeding a threshold severity. In some embodiments, the message includes information representing the severity of the fall. In some embodiments, the message includes information that represents a location. Some embodiments comprise a biometric sensor; wherein the message includes information collected by the biometric sensor. In some embodiments, the processor is further configured to a) cause the wearable electronic communication device to prompt a user to cancel transmission of the message, and b) cause the transmitter to transmit the message responsive to the user not cancelling transmission of the message. In some embodiments, the wearable electronic communication device is a headset. 
     In general, in one aspect, an embodiment features a computer-readable media embodying instructions executable by a computer in a wearable electronic communication device to perform functions comprising: determining whether the wearable electronic communication device has experienced a fall based on information produced by an accelerometer of the wearable electronic communication device; determining whether the wearable electronic communication device was being worn during the fall based on information produced by a don/doff detector of the wearable electronic communication device; and causing a transmitter of the wearable electronic communication device to transmit a message from the wearable electronic communication device responsive to determining both i) the wearable electronic communication device has experienced a fall and ii) the wearable electronic communication device was being worn during the fall. 
     Embodiments of the computer-readable media can include one or more of the following features. In some embodiments, the message is a first message; and the first message instructs a connected device to transmit a second message. In some embodiments, the functions further comprise: storing a phone number in a memory of the wearable electronic communication device; wherein the message instructs a connected device to call the phone number. In some embodiments, the functions further comprise: determining a severity of the fall based on the information produced by the accelerometer. In some embodiments, the functions further comprise: transmitting the message only responsive to the determined severity of the fall exceeding a threshold severity. In some embodiments, the message includes information representing the severity of the fall. In some embodiments, the message includes information that represents a location. In some embodiments, the message includes information collected by a biometric sensor of the wearable electronic communication device. In some embodiments, the functions further comprise: causing the wearable electronic communication device to prompt a user to cancel transmission of the message, and causing the transmitter to transmit the message only responsive to the user not cancelling transmission of the message. 
     In general, in one aspect, an embodiment features a method for a wearable electronic communication device, the method comprising: determining whether the wearable electronic communication device has experienced a fall based on information produced by an accelerometer of the wearable electronic communication device; determining whether the wearable electronic communication device was being worn during the fall based on information produced by a don/doff detector of the wearable electronic communication device; and transmitting a message from the wearable electronic communication device responsive to determining both i) the wearable electronic communication device has experienced a fall and ii) the wearable electronic communication device was being worn during the fall. 
     The details of one or more implementations are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows elements of a wearable electronic communication device according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  shows elements of a communication system that includes the wearable electronic communication device of  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  shows a process for the wearable electronic communication device of  FIGS. 1 and 2  according to one embodiment. 
     
    
    
     The leading digit(s) of each reference numeral used in this specification indicates the number of the drawing in which the reference numeral first appears. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure include a wearable electronic communication device. The wearable electronic communication device detects whether the wearable electronic communication device is being worn, detects a fall of the user, and transmits a message when the device is worn and a fall is detected. 
     Other features are contemplated as well. 
       FIG. 1  shows elements of a wearable electronic communication device  100  according to one embodiment. Although in the described embodiment elements of the wearable electronic communication device  100  are presented in one arrangement, other embodiments may feature other arrangements. For example, elements of the wearable electronic communication device  100  may be implemented in hardware, software, or combinations thereof. As another example, various elements of the wearable electronic communication device  100  may be implemented as one or more digital signal processors. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the wearable electronic communication device  100  may include one or more of an accelerometer  102 , a don/doff detector  104 , a transmitter  106 , and a processor  108 . The wearable electronic communication device  100  may also include one or more of a memory  110 , a receiver  112 , a microphone  114 , a speaker  116 , a display  118 , one or more user-operable controls  120 , a location module  122 , a biometric sensor  124 , and a power supply  126 . The wearable electronic communication device  100  may include other elements as well. The processor may communicate with other elements of the wearable electronic communication device  100  over one or more communication busses  128 . The elements of wearable electronic communication device  100  may receive power from the power supply  126  over one or more power rails  130 . Various elements of the wearable electronic communication device  100  may be implemented as one or more integrated circuits. The wearable electronic communication device  100  may be implemented as any wearable or part thereof. For example, the wearable electronic communication device  100  may be implemented as a headset, a bracelet, an anklet, a necklace, a ring, a wristwatch, a garment, a belt, a shoe, or the like. 
     The accelerometer  102  may be implemented as any sensor capable of measuring acceleration. For example, the accelerometer  102  may be implemented as a three-axis accelerometer or the like. The don/doff detector  104  may be implemented as one or more capacitive sensors or the like. The transmitter  106  and the receiver  112  may employ any communication protocol, including wired and wireless communication protocols. The wireless protocols may include Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT), and the like. The transmitter  106  and the receiver  112  may employ multiple communication protocols. The processor  108  may include digital signal processors, analog-to-digital converters, digital-to-analog converters, and the like. 
     The display  118  may be implemented as a touch screen or the like. The user-operable controls  120  may include buttons, slide switches, capacitive sensors, touch screens, and the like. The biometric sensor  124  may include any biometric sensor. For example, the biometric sensor  124  may include one or more of a heart rate monitor, a blood pressure monitor, a skin temperature monitor, a fingerprint reader, a muscle tension sensor, a skin conductivity sensor, and the like. 
     The location module  122  may include an e-compass, accelerometers, gyroscopes, an altimeter, and the like. The location module  122  may include a dedicated receiver to receive Global Positioning System (GPS) signals or the like, and may include a location processor to process the received signals. The location processor may employ wireless signals received by the receiver  112 . The location module  122  may receive messages that include location information, and may employ those messages in location determination. In some embodiments, the location is determined by a connected device such as a smartphone or the like, or by such a connected device in conjunction with the wearable electronic communication device  100 . 
       FIG. 2  shows elements of a communication system  200  that includes the wearable electronic communication device  100  of  FIG. 1  according to one embodiment. Although in the described embodiment elements of the communication system  200  are presented in one arrangement, other embodiments may feature other arrangements. For example, elements of the communication system  200  may be implemented in hardware, software, or combinations thereof. As another example, various elements of the communication system  200  may be implemented as one or more digital signal processors. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the communication system  200  may include the wearable electronic communication device  100  of  FIG. 1 , a smartphone  204 , and a network  206 . In other embodiments, the smartphone  204  may be replaced by a feature phone, a desk phone, a soft phone, a computer, and the like. The network  206  may be a mobile network, a computer network or the like. The wearable electronic communication device  100  and the smartphone  204  may communicate over a channel  208  such as a wireless link, a wired link, or the like. The wireless link may be a Bluetooth link, a Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT) link, a Wi-Fi link, or the like. The smartphone  204  and the network  206  may communicate over a channel  210 . The wearable electronic communication device  100  may exchange audio, status messages, command messages, and the like with the smartphone  204  over the channel  208 . The smartphone  204  may exchange audio, status messages, and command messages with the network  206  over the channel  210 . 
       FIG. 3  shows a process  300  for the wearable electronic communication device  100  of  FIGS. 1 and 2  according to one embodiment. Although in the described embodiments the elements of process  300  are presented in one arrangement, other embodiments may feature other arrangements. For example, in various embodiments, some or all of the elements of process  300  can be executed in a different order, concurrently, and the like. Also some elements of process  300  may not be performed, and may not be executed immediately after each other. In addition, some or all of the elements of process  300  can be performed automatically, that is, without human intervention. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , at  302 , the processor  108  may determine whether the wearable electronic communication device  100  has fallen based on information produced by the accelerometer  102 . For example, the information produced by the accelerometer  102  may indicate the wearable electronic communication device  100  has experienced free fall, followed by an impact, followed by motionlessness. In various embodiments, the processor  108  may determine that the wearable electronic communication device  100  has fallen based on one or more of these indications, taken in various combinations and various orders of occurrence. The processor  108  may consider the presence or absence of an indication, as well as a degree of the indication. For example, the processor may consider the duration of the free fall, the severity of the impact, the duration of motionlessness, and the like. 
     At  304 , if the processor  108  determines that the wearable electronic communication device  100  has fallen, then at  306  the processor  108  may determine whether the wearable electronic communication device  100  was being worn during the fall based on information produced by the don/doff detector  104 . This determination may distinguish a fall of the user from a fall of the wearable electronic communication device  100  alone, for example to identify cases where the wearable electronic communication device  100  has been dropped, thrown, or the like. 
     In some falls, the wearable electronic communication device  100  may separate from the user during the fall, on impact, or the like. For example, a cyclist wearing a headset may hit a bump in a trail that causes the headset to separate from the cyclist during a resulting fall. Thus determining that the wearable electronic communication device  100  was being worn during the fall includes the case where the wearable electronic communication device  100  was worn only during a portion of the fall. 
     At  308 , if the processor  108  determines that the wearable electronic communication device  100  was being worn during the fall, then at  310  the processor  108  causes the transmitter  106  to transmit a message from the wearable electronic communication device  100 . Any message may be used. For example, the message may instruct the smartphone  204  or other connected devices to transmit a message, make a phone call, display specified information, announce the information over a speaker, or the like. The message transmitted by the smartphone  204  may be an email, text message or the like. The message transmitted by the wearable electronic communication device  100  may include one or more phone numbers to be called. Multiple phone numbers may be called in round-robin fashion. The one or more phone numbers may be stored in the memory  110  of the wearable electronic communication device  100 , in a memory of the smartphone  204 , or the like. The message transmitted by the wearable electronic communication device  100 , and the message transmitted by the smartphone  204 , may include information such as the duration of the free fall, the severity of the impact, the duration of motionlessness, and the like. These messages may also include information that represents the location of the wearable electronic communication device  100  and/or the smartphone  204 . These messages may also include biometric information collected by the biometric sensor  124  of the wearable electronic communication device  100 . In embodiments making phone calls, any of the above information may be played as speech during the phone call. In embodiments displaying information, any of the above information may be displayed by a display of the smartphone  204 , or the like. In embodiments announcing information, any of the above information may be played as speech over a speaker of the smartphone  204 , or the like. Any of the speech may be generated by a speech synthesizer executed by the processor  108  of the wearable electronic communication device  100 , by a processor of the smartphone  204 , or the like. For example, the smartphone  204  may display and/or announce emergency information such as the name of the user, emergency contact information, a doctor&#39;s contact information, drug allergies of the user, medical conditions of the user, and the like, thereby making this information immediately available to a first responder. 
     In some embodiments, the wearable electronic communication device  100  allows the user to cancel transmission of the message or phone call. If the user is unwilling or unable to cancel transmission of the message or the phone call, the message or phone call is transmitted. In such embodiments, at  312 , the processor  108  causes the wearable electronic communication device  100  to prompt the user to cancel transmission of the message or the phone call. For example, the processor  108  may cause the speaker  116  in the wearable electronic communication device  100  to generate an audible message such as “calling 911 in 60 seconds unless the call button is pressed.” This prompt may take any form. For example, the prompt may be an audible message, a visual message generated on a display  118  of the wearable electronic communication device  100  or on a display of the smartphone  204 , or the like. At  314 , if the user does not cancel transmission of the message, then at  310  the processor  108  causes the transmitter  106  to transmit the message from the wearable electronic communication device  100 . 
     In some embodiments, at  308 , if the processor  108  determines that the wearable electronic communication device  100  was not being worn during the fall, then the processor  108  may conduct a self-test of the wearable electronic communication device  100 . When the wearable electronic communication device  100  is subsequently donned, the processor  108  may cause the wearable electronic communication device  100  to play a message for the user. For example, the message may state “your device experienced a fall and the self-test confirms it is in complete working condition.” 
     Various embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer hardware, firmware, software, or in combinations thereof. Embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented in a computer program product tangibly embodied in a computer-readable storage device for execution by a programmable processor. The described processes can be performed by a programmable processor executing a program of instructions to perform functions by operating on input data and generating output. Embodiments of the present disclosure can be implemented in one or more computer programs that are executable on a programmable system including at least one programmable processor coupled to receive data and instructions from, and to transmit data and instructions to, a data storage system, at least one input device, and at least one output device. Each computer program can be implemented in a high-level procedural or object-oriented programming language, or in assembly or machine language if desired; and in any case, the language can be a compiled or interpreted language. Suitable processors include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors. Generally, processors receive instructions and data from a read-only memory and/or a random access memory. Generally, a computer includes one or more mass storage devices for storing data files. Such devices include magnetic disks, such as internal hard disks and removable disks, magneto-optical disks; optical disks, and solid-state disks. Storage devices suitable for tangibly embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks such as internal hard disks and removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM disks. Any of the foregoing can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, ASICs (application-specific integrated circuits). As used herein, the term “module” may refer to any of the above implementations. 
     A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.