Patent Publication Number: US-10769925-B2

Title: Electronic fall event communication system

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a national stage filing under 35 U.S.C. 371 of PCT/US2016/041830, filed Jul. 12, 2016, which claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 62/273,049, filed Dec. 30, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its/their entirety herein. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Fall protection is critical for occupational health and safety of workers required to work at heights. Unlike other types of hazards a worker is exposed to such as electrical or mechanical hazards, gravitational potential energy is a universal hazard that affects every organization that requires work done at heights. To combat the dangers associated with working at heights, fall protection equipment manufacturers have developed devices to safely arrest a fall of a worker during a fall event. Although these devices generally perform as intended and safely arrest a worker&#39;s fall, there is still potential for harm to come to the worker if the worker is not rescued in a timely manner. This situation is especially relevant when the worker is working alone in a remote location. 
     For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for an effective and efficient way to communicate a fall event to a third party. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     The above-mentioned problems of current systems are addressed by embodiments of the present disclosure and will be understood by reading and studying the following specification. The following summary is made by way of example and not by way of limitation. It is merely provided to aid the reader in understanding some of the aspects of the disclosure. 
     In one embodiment, a fall event detection and communication system is provided. The fall event detection and communication system includes at least one fall detect node and a personal communication application. The at least one fall detect node is to be implemented as part of a fall protection system. The at least one fall detect node includes at least one detection element and a node transmitter. The at least one detection element is to generate an activation signal upon a condition that indicates a fall event has occurred. The node transmitter is to transmit at least one fall detect signal upon receiving the activation signal from the at least one detection element. The personal communication application is stored in a personal communication device. The personal communication application is to cause the personal communication device to monitor for the fall detect signal from the node transmitter of the at least one fall detect node. The personal communication application is further to cause the personal communication device to determine if a fall event has occurred based at least in part on receiving the at least one fall detect signal from the at least one fall detect node. The personal communication application is further yet to cause the personal communication device to communicate with a remote communication device upon determination that a fall event has occurred. 
     In another embodiment, a fall detect node is provided. The fall detect node includes an at least one detection element and a transmitter. The at least one detection element is implemented with a fall protection system. The detection element is to detect a fall event. The transmitter is in communication with the at least one detection element. The transmitter is further to send a fall detect signal to a personal communication device upon the detection of a fall event by the at least one detection element. 
     In yet another embodiment, a method of communicating a fall event to a remote communication device is provided. The method includes generating a fall detect signal with at least one fall detect node that is implemented in a fall protection system when a fall event is detected. The at least one fall detect node is monitored for the fall detect signal with a personal communication device. A fall alarm message is generated with the personal communication device based at least in part on a detected fall detect signal from the at least one fall detect node. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure can be more easily understood and further advantages and uses thereof will be more readily apparent, when considered in view of the detailed description and the following figures in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a fall event detection and communication system; 
         FIG. 2  is an application flow diagram of one embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 3  is an application flow diagram for another embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     In accordance with common practice, the various described features are not drawn to scale but are drawn to emphasize specific features relevant to the present disclosure. Reference characters denote like elements throughout Figures and text. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present disclosure is defined only by the claims and equivalents thereof. 
     Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a fall event detection and communication system. An example of a fall event detection and communication system  100  is illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The fall event detection and communication system  100  in this embodiment includes at least one fall detect node  200   a ,  200   b  or  200   c , a personal communication device  300  and a remote communication device  400 . Each fall detect node  200   a ,  200   b  and  200   c  in this embodiment includes a least one detection element  230   a ,  230   b  or  230   c , a transmitter  220  and a power supply  215 . The fall detect nodes  200   a ,  200   b  and  200   c  are implemented as part of a fall protection system that is used by a user while working at heights. Examples of the implementation of at least one fall detect node  200   a ,  200   b  or  200   c  are described below. 
     As discussed above, the fall detect node  200   a ,  200   b  or  200   c , in the embodiment of  FIG. 1  includes at least one detection element  230   a ,  230   b  or  230   c , a transmitter  220  and a power supply  215 . The at least one of the detection elements  230   a ,  230   b  or  230   c  is used to detect a fall event. Each detection element  230   a ,  230   b  and  230   c  is in communication with the transmitter  220 . Examples of detection elements  230   a ,  230   b  and  230   c  include, but are not limited to, switches or sensors that detect conditions that indicate a fall event has occurred. For example, in one embodiment, one of the detection elements  230   a ,  230   b  or  230   c  is a pressure switch such as a spring loaded switch that is activated when a select weight is applied. In another embodiment, one of the detection elements  230   a ,  230   b  or  230   c  is an accelerometer sensor. Once at least one of the detection elements  230   a ,  230   b  or  230   c  detects a fall event, a respective activation signal  231   a ,  231   b  and  231   c  is sent to the transmitter  220 . Upon receiving the activation signal, the transmitter  220  of the respective fall detect node  200   a ,  200   b  or  200   c , powered by the power supply  215 , transmits a fall detect signal  221   a ,  221   b  or  221   c . In one embodiment, the fall detect signal  221   a ,  221   b  and  221   c  is a short range communication signal, such as but not limited to, a Bluetooth signal. A Bluetooth signal is a wireless signal using a Bluetooth wireless technology standard for exchanging data over short distances. The Bluetooth standard uses short-wavelength UHF radio waves. 
     In an alternative embodiment, at least one of the fall detect nodes  200   a ,  200   b  or  200   c  further includes a node memory  218  in which a node application  216  is stored. This embodiment also includes a node controller  210  to implement the node application  216  and a node clock  250 . In an embodiment, the node controller  210  using instructions stored in the application  216  controls the transmitter  220  to transmit the fall detect signal  221   a ,  221   b  or  221   c  only after a select period of time has passed, determined with the use of the clock  250 , in which one of the detection elements  230   a ,  230   b  or  230   c  has continuously detected a fall event. Although only three fall detection nodes  200   a ,  200   b  and  200   c  and three detection elements  230   a ,  230   b  and  230   c  per each fall detection node  200   a ,  200   b  and  200   c  is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , any number of fall detection nodes having at least one detection element could be used and the present disclosure is not limited to only three fall detection nodes  200   a ,  200   b  and  200   c  and three detection elements  230   a ,  230   b  and  230   c  per each fall detection node  200   a ,  200   b  and  200   c.    
     The personal communication device  300  includes a near receiver  330  to receive the fall detect signal from the transmitter  220  of the fall detect node  200   a ,  200   b  and  200   c . In one embodiment, the personal communication device  300  is a cellular phone. However, any type of personal communication device that can receive the fall detect signal can be used. For example, with the Bluetooth standard being used as the near communication standard, a cell phone with a receiver that communicates with the Bluetooth standard can be used. The personal communication device  300  in the embodiment of  FIG. 1  also includes a personal communication controller  310  such as a processor, a personal communication clock  350 , an input/output  315 , a personal communication memory  318  and a transceiver  340 . 
     The personal communication controller  310  controls operation of the personal communication device. Instructions implemented by the personal communication controller  310  to operate the personal communication device  300  are stored in the memory  318 . Also illustrated in  FIG. 1  in the personal communication device  300  is a personal communication application  320  that is also stored in the personal communication memory  318 . The personal communication application  320  is a specific set of instructions implemented by the personal communication controller  310  for a specific purpose as described below. The personal communication controller  310  implements the application instructions when the application is activated by the user through the input/output  315  of the device  300 . The personal communication clock  350  in this embodiment is used, among other reasons, to count the time the personal communication device  300  is receiving a fall detect signal  221   a ,  221   b  or  221   c  from the fall detect node  200   a ,  200   b  or  200   c.    
     The transceiver  340  is used by the personal communication device  300  to send and receive signals over long distances. In the cellular phone example, the transceiver  340  would send and receive signals over a cellular network to a remote communication device  400 . The remote communication device  400  could be another cell phone or land line that is located remote to the personal communication device  300 . Through the personal communication transceiver  340  of the personal communication device  300 , a fall alarm message  341  is sent to a remote transceiver  420  of the remote communication device  400  in embodiments. Moreover, in one embodiment, the personnel communication device  300  includes one or more detection elements  317   a  and  317   b . Similar to the detection elements  230   a ,  230   b  and  230   c  in the fall detection node  200   a ,  200   b  and  200   c , detection elements  317   a  and  317   b  can be used to detect fall events. An example of a detection element  317   a  and  317   b  is an accelerometer. However, other types of detection elements can be used in the personal communication device. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , an application flow diagram  500  of one embodiment is illustrated. The process starts by the user getting prepared for working at a height ( 502 ). In one embodiment, this would include implementing a fall protection system. For example, implementing fall protection system may include donning a safety harness and configuring the application  320  in the personal communication device  300  ( 504 ). The configuration may include providing a communication number to call if a fall event is detected, how long a fall detect signal  221   a ,  221   b  or  221   c  needs to be observed from the fall detect node  200   a ,  200   b  or  200   c  before a fall alarm message  341  is sent to the remote communication device  400 , the type of fall alarm message  341  to send and content of the fall alarm message  341 , etc. Once the application  320  is configured ( 504 ), the application  320  is activated on the personal communication device  300  ( 506 ). The personal communication device is then attached to the user who is going to be working at heights ( 508 ). The user then works at heights ( 510 ). 
     While the user is working at heights, the personal communication device  300  monitors for a fall detect signal  221   a ,  221   b  or  221   c  ( 512 ) pursuant to the directions set out by the application  320 . If no fall detect signal  221   a ,  221   b  or  221   c  is detected ( 514 ), the process continues at ( 512 ). If a fall detect signal  221   a ,  221   b  or  221   c  is detected ( 514 ), in one embedment, the controller  310  of the personal communication device  300  starts a timer ( 516 ) (tracks time using the clock  350 ) pursuant to the instructions of the application  320 . The controller  310  counts the time the near receiver  330  in this embodiment is receiving the fall detect signal  221   a ,  221   b  or  221   c  ( 518 ). If the continuous time receiving a fall detect signal  221   a ,  221   b  and  221   c  is less than the time configured in the application ( 520 ), the process continues back at ( 512 ) monitoring for a fall detect signal  221   a ,  221   b  or  221   c . If the continuous time receiving fall detect signal  221   a ,  221   c  or  221   c  is equal or greater than the time configured in the application ( 520 ), the controller  310  of the personal communication device  300  activates the transceiver  340  to send a fall alarm message  341  to the remote communication device  400  ( 522 ). 
     Based on the received fall alarm message  341 , rescue personal will be sent to rescue the fallen user. An example of a period of time configured in the application is a time that is more than 10 seconds and an example of a weight used by a fall detect node  200   a ,  200   b  or  200   c  to send the fall detect signal  221   a ,  221   b  or  221   c  is 130 lbs or more. In another embodiment, as discussed above, at least one of the fall detect nodes  200   a ,  200   b  or  200   c  is equipped to determine the continuous time its respective detection element  230   a ,  230   b  or  230   c  has detected a fall event. In this embodiment, a respective fall detect signal  221   a ,  221   b  or  221   c  will only be sent after the period of time has been confirmed. Further in this embodiment, the controller  310  of the personal communication device, pursuant to the instructions stored in the application  320 , sends the fall alarm message  341  as soon as the respective fall detect signal  221   a ,  221   b  or  221   c  is detected. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates an application flow diagram  530  of another embodiment. In this embodiment, at least two different detection elements are used when initiating a fall alarm message  341 . For example, the at least two different detection elements may be selected among detection elements  230   a ,  230   b ,  230   c ,  317   a  and  317   b . The process starts by the user getting prepared for working at a height ( 532 ). In one embodiment this would be done by implementing a fall protection system. Implementing the fall protection system may include donning a safety harness and configuring the application  320  in the personal communication device  300  ( 534 ). The configuration may include providing a communication number to call if a fall event is detected, the number of different signals from different detection elements  230   a ,  230   b ,  230   c ,  317   a ,  317   b  that are needed for a determination and verification of a fall event, how long a fall detect signal  221   a ,  221   b  and  221   c  needs to be observed from a detection element  230   a ,  230   b ,  230   c ,  317   a  and  317   b  before a fall alarm message  341  is sent to the remote communication device  400 , type of fall alarm message  341  to send and content of fall alarm message  341 , etc. Once the application  320  is configured ( 534 ), the application  320  is activated on the personal communication device  300  ( 536 ). The personal communication device is then attached to the user who is going to be working at heights ( 538 ). The user then works at heights ( 540 ). 
     While the user is working at heights, the personal communication device  300  monitors for fall detect signals ( 542 ), ( 552 ) and ( 556 ) pursuant to instructions set out by the application  320 . The fall detect signals could be fall detect signals  221   a ,  221   b ,  221   c . Moreover, the fall detect signals may come from detection elements  317   a  and  317   b . Although the application flow diagram  530  indicates three different types of fall detect signals as used in this example, such as fall detect signals  221   a ,  221   b  and  221   c  from three different detection elements  230   a ,  230   b  and  230   c , any number of different types of detection elements can be used. 
     In the application flow diagram  530  of  FIG. 3 , a personal communication device  300  monitors for a first fall detect signal, such as fall detect signal  221   a  from the first detection element  230   a . In this embodiment, when a first fall detect signal  221   a  is detected ( 544 ), a timer is started ( 546 ). The controller  310  counts the time the near receiver  330  in this embodiment is receiving the fall detect signal  221   a  ( 548 ). If the continuous time receiving the fall detect signal  221   a  is less than the time configured in the application ( 550 ), the process continues back at ( 542 ) monitoring for the fall detect signal  221   a . If the continuous time receiving the fall detect signal  221   a  is equal or greater than the time configured in the application ( 550 ), the controller  310  in this embodiment confirms if at least one other fall detect signal has been detected ( 560 ). For example, communication device  300  monitors for a second fall detect signal, such as fall detect signal  231   b  from the second detection element  230   b  at ( 552 ) and a third fall detect signal, such as fall detect signal  231   c  from the third detection element  230   c  at ( 556 ). 
     As stated above, in this embodiment, if two or more fall detect signals  221   a ,  221   b  and  221   c  are detected ( 544 ), ( 554 ) and ( 558 ), the fall alarm message  341  is sent to the remote communication device  400  ( 562 ). Hence, this embodiment allows for the confirmation of a fall event by requiring at least two independent fall detect systems to detect a fall event simultaneously. This cuts down on false fall detection events. For example, one detection element  230   a  may be a sensor that measures a load, while detection element  230   b  is a switch that is activated when a certain amount of force is applied and detection element  230   c  may be an accelerometer. Moreover, as discussed above, the personal communication device may include detection elements  317   a  and  317   b  (such as, but not limited to, accelerometer and/or decelerometer) that can also be used alone or in conjunction with detection elements  230   a ,  230   b  and  230   c  in the fall detect node  200   a ,  200   b  and  200   c  to detect and confirm fall events. Moreover, in another embodiment, at least one fall detect node  200   a ,  200   b  or  200   c  is equipped to count periods of time a fall event is detected by a detection element  230   a ,  230   b , and  230   c . In this embodiment, the personal communication controller  310  is configured to recognize that a fall event has been detected as soon as a fall detect signal  221   a ,  221   b  or  221   c  from the respective at least one node  200   a ,  200   b  and  200   c  is detected. The controller  310  in this embodiment would wait for at least one other fall detect signal for verification until a fall alarm message is sent. 
     Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present disclosure. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this disclosure be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.