Patent Publication Number: US-11386766-B2

Title: System for detecting falls and discriminating the severity of falls

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/685,732, filed Nov. 15, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/174,105, filed on Oct. 29, 2018, (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,482,744) which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/405,170, filed on Jan. 12, 2017, (now U.S. Pat. No. 10,147,296), which is a non-provisional of and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/277,853 filed Jan. 12, 2016, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The present embodiments relate a system for detecting falls, more particularly, a system for discriminating the severity of falls. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Accidental falls and slips are significant contributors to injuries and, potentially, death, among the elderly and the sick. In many cases, falls can result in broken bones, head injuries or other injuries such as sprains or ligament tears. Annually, 2.5 million Americans are treated in an emergency room for fall-related injuries and up to 700,000 Americans are hospitalized each year for serious injuries stemming from head injuries or hip fractures. Adjusted for inflation, direct medical costs arising from injuries from a fall result in nearly $3.4 billion dollars annually, most of which are hospital costs. While prior art fall detection systems exist, the prior art systems often are subject to several disadvantages. Some prior art systems include a fall detection system on a wearable device or fall monitor device that run continuously in the foreground of wearable device or fall monitor device processor. These prior art systems are capable of continuously detecting fall events in substantially real time. However, in these prior art systems, wearable devices or fall monitoring devices are always “awake” and devote substantial processing resources to the fall detection system. This is a burden on the battery life of wearable devices or fall monitoring devices, and increase downtime due to frequent recharges, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the monitoring system. Other prior art systems rely on accelerometer data from mobile phones or smart phones, typically kept in a pocket or on a belt holster, to detect fall events or fall injuries. However, these solutions are also imperfect. Mobile phones aren&#39;t always kept on the body at all times, thus limiting the time during which fall detection and monitoring can be active. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing aspects and other features of the present disclosed embodiment are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic representation illustrating an overview of the system for detecting falls and discriminating the severity of falls according to one aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2  is an exemplary flowchart illustrating the operation of a system for detecting falls and discriminating the severity of falls according to one aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2A  is an exemplary representation of a user interface according to one aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 2B  is an exemplary representation of a user interface according to one aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 3  is an exemplary flowchart illustrating the selection of a selectable rate of communication according to one aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4A  is an exemplary representation of a user interfaces according to one aspect of the present disclosure. 
         FIG. 4B  is an exemplary representation of a user interfaces according to one aspect of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates an exemplary schematic diagram illustrating the system. Although the present invention will be described with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present exemplary embodiments can be used individually or in any suitable combination thereof. Although the aspects of the disclosed embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings, it should be understood that the aspects of the disclosed embodiment can be embodied in many alternate forms. In addition, any suitable size, shape or type of elements or materials could be used. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an exemplary block diagram illustrating the fall detection and discrimination system  100  is shown. In one aspect, the fall detection and discrimination system  100  includes a server  110 , a wearable device  130  and a mobile device  120 . In one aspect, the mobile device  120  is in communication with the wearable device  130 . In another aspect, the server  110  is also in communication with the wearable device  130 . In one aspect, both the mobile device  120  and the server  110  are further in communication (shown in phantom) with a second party  160 . 
     The server  110  includes a fall discriminator  113 , a network module  111  and a database  112 . The mobile device  120  includes a processor  121 , a network module  122  which is communicable with the network module  111  of the server  110 , a fall discriminator  123  and a database  124 . In one aspect, the mobile device  120  also includes a notification module  125 , the operation of which is described in greater detail below. In one aspect, the mobile device  120  also includes an intervening module  126 . The wearable device  130  includes a processor  134 , a display  135 , a fall monitor  131  configured to record detected movement to an activity log  132  resident on the wearable device, and a network module  133  which is communicable with the mobile device  120 . In one aspect, the wearable device  130  also includes a notification module  135  similar to the notification module  125 . In one aspect, the mobile device  120  initiates a communication with the wearable device  130  and receives the activity log  132 . The mobile device  120  is also configured to discriminate, with the fall discriminator  123 , when the activity log  132  includes a fall event based on a predetermined pattern defining the fall event. The mobile device  120  further discriminates, such as with the fall discriminator  123 , the severity of the detected fall based on data recorded in the activity log  132 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the fall detection and discrimination system  100  is shown along with an exemplary flow chart of the operation of the fall detection and discrimination system  100 . The fall detection and discrimination system  100  includes the wearable device  130 . In one aspect, the wearable device  130  is a smart watch, such as, for example, an Apple Watch®, an Android® Wear watch, a Pebble® Watch or Samsung Gear® watch. However, in other aspects, the wearable device  130  is a wearable belt, a wearable clip-on device, wearable bracelet or other smart wearable device. In one aspect, the wearable device  130  includes the fall monitor  131 . In one aspect, the fall monitor  131  is configured to detect motion, falls, acceleration, G-forces and/or impacts. In one aspect, the fall monitor  131  includes a multi-axis accelerometer, such as, for example, a 3-axis accelerometer capable of measuring the magnitude of acceleration along 3 axes. In other aspects, the fall monitor  131  also includes gyroscopes or inertial measurement units. In yet other aspects, the fall monitor  131  includes integrated barometers for detecting transitions in height or barometric pressure. In one aspect, the fall monitor  131  is configured to wake upon detection of an acceleration, a displacement or a movement by the fall monitor  131 , which initiates recording on the activity log  132 . In another aspect, the fall monitor  131  is substantially continuously recording or operating in the background at all relevant times (e.g., no or limited foreground processing power is used to continuously record or register data from the fall monitor  131 ) as to effect real-time or near real-time detection of activity including activities discernible as fall events. The wearable device  130  further includes the activity log  132  resident on the wearable device  130  which records, in near real-time, the selected activity data (including magnitude, timing, duration of action and inactivity) from the recorded data from the fall monitor  131 . 
     In one aspect, the activity log  132  includes data records or registers data from the fall monitor  131  which includes a record of one or more detected falls and detected lie states. A fall is, in one aspect, a detected movement, acceleration or displacement detected by the fall monitor  131 . In one aspect, the falls recorded by the fall monitor  131  can be categorized as high mechanical motions or low mechanical motions according to, for example, a detected acceleration, deceleration or impact. A detected lie state is, in one aspect, a period of low movement detected by the fall monitor  131 . The detected lie state is, in one aspect, a state of the user following a detected fall event (which can include, e.g. one or more of a fall action, a detected impact and at least some lie state, in a predetermined pattern, magnitude and duration) recorded by the fall monitor  131 , representing the user lying on the ground. In one aspect, the fall monitor  131  further is further configured to provide discrimination of position, particularly as it relates to, for example, the relative height of the wearable device  130 . In one aspect, the fall monitor  131  can discriminate between the activity and/or the body position, pose or orientation of a wearer. For example, the fall monitor  131  can discriminate between standing, sitting or lying positions as well as any changes to these positions such as jumping, falling, running or slipping. In one aspect, the fall monitor  131  is also tuned or configured to filter sensor data to a predetermined level, so that fall monitor  131  data record is definitive of activity indicative and consistent with fall events, as well as indicative of the before and after state of a wearer associated with the fall event (e.g. the state of a wearer before and after the fall event). For example, the fall monitor  131  can, in one aspect, detect and discriminate the state of a wearer prior to the detected impact (e.g. lying down, sitting, walking, or running) and the state of the wearer following the detected impact (e.g. getting up or lying down in a lie state). 
     In one aspect, the activity log  132  also includes one or more lie periods recorded by the fall monitor  131 . Generally, a lie period is a period of time a fallen individual is detected to be in the lie state (e.g. a wearer is lying, or otherwise inactive in a collapsed position, on the ground or other lying surface) following a detected fall event. As noted previously, the fall event may be one or more activity or pattern of activities as registered on the activity log  132 . This can include, for example, a fall activity, an impact and a lie state. After a predetermined lie period following a detected fall event has passed and the wearer is still in a lie state, a fall event may further be discriminated between a non-severe and a severe fall (described in further details below). 
     In one aspect, the wearable device  130  includes the notification module  136  which is configured to effect a selectable setting for controlling a rate of communication by the network module  133  between the wearable device  130 , the mobile device  120  and/or the server  110 . In one aspect, the rate of communication also controls the rate of communication between the notification module  136  and the activity log  132  on the wearable device  130 . The selectable setting further defines a predetermined period between communications between, for example, the wearable device  130 , the mobile device  120  and/or the server  110 . By controlling the rate of communication of the network module  133 , the notification module  136  improves system operation and performance by, for example, by conserving battery life of the mobile device  120  and the wearable device  130  (e.g. by reducing the rate of communication between the wearable device  130  and the mobile device  120 ), reducing data transmission bandwidth and providing better communication links (e.g. for example, by minimizing processor activity on the wearable device  130 , mobile device  120  and server  110 ; minimizing wearable device  130 , mobile device  120  and server  110  processor sizes, reducing system resources and overhead on the wearable device  130 , mobile device  120  and server  110 , or reducing network or connectivity congestion). 
     In one aspect, the selectable setting for controlling the rate of communication is based on one or more predetermined patterns of fall events by a fall discriminator (e.g. the fall discriminator  123  of the mobile device  120 , or fall discriminator  113  of the server  110 ). By receiving a selection of the selectable setting, in one aspect, the period of communication between the wearable device  130 , the mobile device  120  and/or the server  110  is based at least in part on the predetermined pattern of fall or fall events used by a fall discriminator  123 ,  113 . For example, in one aspect, the setting of the rate of communication, the selection of which is effected by the notification module  136 , is based, at least in part, on a predetermined lie period following a impact detected from fall activity as part of the predetermined pattern. However, in other aspects, the rate of communication is based on other parts of the predetermined pattern. By adjusting the rate setting of communication based on at least a part of the predetermined pattern of fall event, the selectable setting of the rate of communication provides a prospective setting for the rate of communication that is tailored to the discrimination of fall events based on the predetermined patterns employed by the fall discriminators  123 ,  131 , rather than merely reacting or responding to periods of inactivity on a wearable device  130  or mobile device  120 . Moreover, such selectable setting leverages the predetermined pattern of the fall discriminator  125 ,  136  to increase efficiency of the system, avoiding communication during times that do not serve towards definition and discrimination of a fall. 
     In one aspect, the period between communications based on the selectable setting is longer than the predetermined lie period of the predetermined pattern. In one aspect, the period between communications is multiples of the predetermined lie period of the predetermined pattern. In other aspects, the period between communications is seconds or minutes longer than the predetermined lie period of the predetermined pattern. In yet other aspects, the period between communications is substantially similar or otherwise related to the predetermined lie period. Relating the period between communications to the predetermined lie period allows the mobile device  120  to further leverage the period between communications to help discriminate whether a fall is severe or not while saving battery use, or otherwise providing improved system operability as previously noted. For example, if the predetermined lie period is the same or shorter than the period between communications, when a fall is detected and a full period between communications passes indicating the user is still in a lie state on the ground, in one aspect, the mobile device  120  can quickly and efficiently discriminate the severity of the detected fall event on this basis. In other aspects, if the period between communications is shorter than the predetermined lie period, the mobile device  120  can more quickly discriminate the severity of any detected falls and respond more quickly to detected falls or injuries and facilitates a simplified discrimination algorithm by the fall discriminators  123 ,  113  by performing comparisons between lie time and period and immediately (within the context of processor performing the simplified comparison) to discriminates the fall event severity. The selectable setting of the rate of communication, in one aspect, further allows for the mobile device  120  and wearable device  130  to be in an inactive or sleep state for most of the time, becoming active only after the period of communication determined by the notification module  136  has passed. 
     In one aspect, the notification module  136  of the wearable device is configured to effect a selectable setting of the rate of communication substantially independently of a communication protocol or communication standard. For example, the Bluetooth® protocol limits the period of time assigned to sleep modes to about 65,440 slots (approximately 40 seconds). The notification module  136  is configured to provide for periods between communication that is greater than what a communication protocol like Bluetooth® provides. In one aspect, the notification module  136  is configured to disable the at least part of the network module  133  of the wearable device to achieve a lower rate of communication between the wearable device  130  and the mobile device  120  and/or the server  110 . In one aspect, the notification module  136  of the wearable device is in communication with an intervening module  137  which is configured to disable at least a part of the network module  133  to accommodate a period between communication that is greater than what is permitted by the communication protocol. In yet other aspects, the notification module  136  is configured to effect a selectable setting of the rate of communication in accordance with a communication protocol or standard where there is no conflict between the communication protocol and the selectable setting of the rate of communication. 
     In one aspect, the wearable device  130  is in communication with the mobile device  120 . Referring still to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the mobile device  120  is, in one aspect, a mobile device or a smart phone such as, for example, an Apple® iPhone®, an Android® phone, a Windows® phone or a Blackberry® phone. In other aspects, the mobile device  120  is a tablet or other mobile computing device. In yet other aspects, the mobile device  120  includes fixed or stationary devices such as, for example, home monitoring stations for monitoring a user&#39;s physical condition. In one aspect, the mobile device  120  includes the notification module  125  which is configured to provide a selectable rate of communication between the mobile device  120  and the wearable device  130  substantially similarly to the notification module  136  described above. In one aspect, based on the selectable setting of the rate of communication set by the notification module  125 , the mobile device  120  initiates a communication with wearable device  130  with the network module  122  and receives the activity log  132  resident on the wearable device  130  (see block  215  of  FIG. 2 ). In one aspect, the mobile device  120  further includes a fall discriminator  123  configured to analyze the received activity log  132  to discriminate when the activity log  132  includes a notable fall event. 
     In one aspect, the fall discriminator  123  is configured to discriminate the activity log  132  based on the predetermined pattern corresponding to the selectable setting of the rate of communication between the mobile device  120 , wearable device  130  and/or server  110 . In one aspect, the fall discriminator  123  determines if the activity log  132  includes a notable fall event which corresponds to the predetermined pattern (which is selected as part of the selectable setting by the notification modules  125 ,  136 ). In one aspect, the fall discriminator  123  is configured to look at the lie period within the activity log  132  to see if the lie period exceeds a threshold lie period defined by the predetermined pattern. In yet other aspects, the fall discriminator  123  leverages the selectable setting of the rate of communication to quickly determine whether a notable fall event has occurred. For example, when the selectable setting of the rate of communications is set, the communications between the fall discriminator  123  and the activity log will be nearly coincident with the determination of the fall by the fall discriminator  123 . Thus, by leveraging the selectable setting of the rate of communication, unnecessary communications between the fall discriminator  123  and the activity log  132  is minimized. For example, if a fall discriminator  123  discriminates a fall where when a lie state of 5 seconds is registered on the activity log  132 , setting a rate of communication once a second would result in four unnecessary communications between the fall discriminator  123  and the activity log  132 , reducing battery life. However, if the selectable setting of communication is set to, for example, once every 5 seconds, then unnecessary communication is minimized. In some aspects, the fall discriminator  123  further discriminates if the detected impact exceeds a second impact threshold defining a high energy fall event. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 2 and 2A-2B , after the mobile device  120  receives the activity log  132  from the wearable device  130  (block  215  of  FIG. 2 ), the fall discriminator  123  resident on the mobile device is configured to discriminate the severity of a fall based on a fall event (e.g. an acceleration, a displacement or motion) and the detected lie state following the fall event based on the activity log  132  (block  220  of  FIG. 2 ) in accordance with the predetermined pattern. In one aspect, the fall discriminator  123  further analyzes the activity log  132  to determine the before state of the wearer before and following the detected impact. For example, the fall discriminator  123  filters the data recorded in the activity log  132  to determine the pose, orientation or position of the wearer and what activity the wearer was engaged in before a detected impact. In one aspect, the fall discriminator  123  is further connected to a database  124 , which is a database of models, or data patterns which characterize or models one or more aspects of a fall (e.g. the fall event pattern describing or defining the fall). In one aspect, the fall discriminator  123  analyzes the activity log  132  based on the data patterns from the database  124 . In one aspect, the database  124  is substantially similar to the database  112  resident on the server  110 . The database  124 , in one aspect, also includes a library of low impact events and high impact fall event patterns. In one aspect, the database  124  also includes data patterns or models or criteria for discriminating the before and after state of a wearer associated with a fall event. The fall discriminator  123  can, in one aspect, determine whether a wearer is standing, sitting, lying down, running or jumping prior to a detected impact based on the database  124 . In one aspect, the fall discriminator  123  determines the before state of the wearer in response to receiving the periodic signal  140  from server  110 . In one aspect, the fall discriminator  123  can further discriminate between regular fall events (e.g. low energy impacts) and high energy fall events (e.g. high energy impacts) based on determining whether the activity log  132  includes a detected impact that exceeds a first impact threshold or a second impact threshold. In one aspect, the first impact threshold defines a regular fall event (see block  225  of  FIG. 2 ). In one aspect, the second impact threshold defines a high energy fall (see block  231  of  FIG. 2 ) which can be discriminated as a notable fall event. 
     Referring still to  FIGS. 1, 2 and 2A-2B , at block  220 , the fall discriminator  123  determines whether the activity log  132  includes a detected impact that exceeds the first impact threshold or the second impact threshold. In yet other aspects, the fall discriminator  123  can measure more than two impact thresholds. In determining whether the detected impact on the activity log  132  is a low energy impact or a high energy impact, the fall discriminator  123  can, in one aspect, take into consideration the state of the wearer before the fall. For example, in one aspect, a wearer who is lying down prior to the detected impact is more likely to be discriminated based on the first impact threshold (e.g. a low energy impact), whereas, in another aspect, a wearer who is running or jumping up and down prior to the detected impact is more likely to be discriminated based on the second impact threshold (e.g. a high energy impact). 
     If the detected impact exceeds the first impact threshold (block  225  of  FIG. 2 ) indicating a low energy impact, the fall discriminator  123  further determines whether a predetermined lie period has passed (block  226  of  FIG. 2 ). As noted previously, the predetermined lie period is the period of time a fallen wearer is in a lie state (e.g. the wearer is lying on the ground following a fall). In one aspect, when the fall discriminator  123  determines that the detected impact exceeds the first impact threshold and the following lie state exceeds a predetermined lie period, the fall discriminator  123  determines that the detected impact matches a low energy impact (block  227  of  FIG. 2 ). When a low energy impact is determined by the fall discriminator  123  based on the activity log  132 , the mobile device  120  signals to the wearable device  130  to present a status check user interface  250 A on display  135  as shown in  FIG. 2A . In one aspect, this may be effected via the notification module  125 ,  136  that is configured to set the rate of communication with the fall discriminator  113 ,  123  and receive the discrimination of a fall from the fall discriminator  113 ,  123  as low energy. In one aspect, the notification module  125 ,  136  is also configured to initiate a status check interface presented on the user interface  250 A as described below. The status check user interface  250 A is presented by the wearable device  130  in response to, and coincident with, the signal from mobile device  120 . In one aspect, the wearable device  130  presents, on user interface  250 A, a first selectable element  251  (with exemplary indicia “I&#39;m Okay,” but in other aspects, can have any suitable indicia) and a second selectable element  252  (with exemplary indicia “Help!” but in other aspects, can have any suitable indicia). When the wearer selects the first selectable element  251 , the user indicates that the fall was not severe. No additional alerts are generated by the mobile device  120  and the wearable device  130 . When the wearer selects the second selectable element  251 , the wearer indicates that the fall was severe, an alert in the form of an alert user interface  250 B (as shown in  FIG. 2B  and described in greater detail below) is generated and presented on the display  135  of the wearable device  130 . When the wearer fails to select any of the selectable elements presented in user interface  250 A after a predetermined period of time, the alert user interface  250 B is also generated as described below. In one aspect, the predetermined time for responding to selectable elements  251 ,  252  is less than the predetermined lie period. However, in other aspects, the predetermined time for responding to selectable elements  251 ,  252  is more than the predetermined lie period. In yet other aspects, the predetermined time for responding to the selectable elements  251 ,  252  is related to or based on the predetermined lie period. 
     In one aspect, when the fall discriminator  123  determines that the detected impact exceeds the second impact threshold (block  231  of  FIG. 2 ) and the following lie state exceeds a predetermined lie period (block  232  of  FIG. 2 ), the fall discriminator  123  determines that the detected impact matches a high energy impact (block  233  of  FIG. 2 ). When a high energy impact is determined by the fall discriminator  123  based on the activity log  132 , the mobile device  120  signals to the wearable device  130  to present the alert user interface  250 B on display  135  as shown in  FIG. 2B . In one aspect, this may be effected via the notification module  125 ,  136 , which is configured receive the discrimination of a fall from the fall discriminator  113 ,  123  as high energy. In one aspect, the notification module  125 ,  136  is also configured to initiate a status check interface presented on the alert user interface  250 B as described below. In one aspect, the alert user interface  250 B is presented by the wearable device  130  in response to, and coincident with, the signal from mobile device  120 . In one aspect, the alert user interface  250 B and includes audio or vibration feedback, such as, for example, “Taptic” feedback using the “Taptic Engine™” resident on an Apple Watch™. In other aspects, the alert also includes flashing lights or other attention-grabbing notifications. In one aspect, the alert user interface  250 B includes a third selectable element  253  (with exemplary indicia “I&#39;m Okay,” but in other aspects, the third selectable element  253  can have any suitable indicia). If the user selects the third selectable element  253 , the alert is cancelled and the mobile device  120  and wearable device  130  resets to an initial state (e.g. reverts to a state before the fall event is detected). If the wearer does not respond to the alert after a predetermined time, the mobile device  120  and wearable device  130  can, in one aspect, generate one or more message to one or more parties  160 . In one aspect, the message to the one or more second parties include, for example, location data (e.g. GPS data), a date and timestamp, heart rate data or any other suitable message. In one aspect, the one or more second parties  160  include relatives, caretakers, friends or medical professionals. In other aspects, the second party  160  is a central monitoring service which monitors wearers for detected falls. In one aspect, the predetermined time for responding to the selectable element  253  is less than the predetermined lie period. However, in other aspects, the predetermined time for responding to the selectable element is more than, the same as, or substantially related to the predetermined lie period. 
     In one aspect, when the fall discriminator  123  determines that the detected impact does not exceed either the first impact threshold or the second impact threshold, and/or the lie period does not exceed the predetermined lie period, the fall discriminator  123  determines that no impact patterns are matched (block  240  of  FIG. 2 ). When no impact patterns are matched, no further action is taken by the mobile device  120  and the wearable device  130  (block  245  of  FIG. 2 ). 
     The fall detection and discrimination system  100  also includes the server  110 . In one aspect, the server  110  is one or more computers or backend servers. In other aspects, the server  110  is a cloud provider or virtual servers in a cloud. In one aspect, the server  110  includes a database  112 . In one aspect, the database  112  includes a database of models, or data patterns which characterize or models one or more aspects of a fall event. The database  112 , in one aspect, also includes a library of low impact events and high impact fall event patterns. In one aspect, the database  112  also includes data patterns or models or criteria for discriminating the before and after state of a wearer associated with a fall event. In yet other aspects, the database  112  includes other data, including user data such as emergency contact data for each user or wearer. In one aspect, the server  110  also includes the fall discriminator  113 , the operation of which will be described in greater detail below. 
     The server  110  further includes a network module  111 . In one aspect, the network module  111  is communicable with the internet. In other aspects, the network module  111  is a Bluetooth® module, or an RF module, or any module capable of generating a signal. It can be realized, in one aspect, the server  110  can communicate directly with the wearable device  130  (shown in phantom) and according to the selectable setting of the rate of communication between the wearable device  130  and the server  110 . In other aspects, the server  110  communicates with the mobile device  120  instead of the wearable device  130  directly. In one aspect, the server  110  initiates access to the activity logs  132  resident on the wearable device  130  in accordance with the selectable setting of the rate of communication based on the predetermined pattern set and effected by the notification modules  136 ,  125 . In one aspect, the server  110  also includes the fall discriminator  113  which functions substantially similar to fall discriminator  123  resident on the mobile device  120 . The server  110  and the fall discriminator  113 , in one aspect, can detect and discriminate the severity of the fall in substantially similar manner as the mobile device  120  and the fall discriminator  123  as described above, thereby bypassing the mobile device  120 . 
     In one aspect, the server  110  and mobile device  120  can communicate with the second party  160  when an alert is generated. In one aspect, the second party  160  can include, for example, a monitoring service or emergency services. In other aspects, the second party  160  can also include emergency contacts, such as family members, family doctors or caretakers defined by the family. In other aspects, the second party  160  includes any third party which may receive alerts generated by the fall detection and discrimination system  100 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4A-4B , an exemplary flowchart illustrating the selection of a selectable rate setting of communication according to one aspect of the present disclosure as well as exemplary user interfaces of the wearable device  130  and the mobile device  120  are shown. At block  301 , the notification module  136 ,  125  receives a selectable setting of a rate of communication based on at least part of a predetermined pattern of a fall discriminator. In one aspect, this selectable setting of the rate of communication is selected by an administrator or a doctor and may be preselected. In other aspects, the selectable setting may be changed and adjusted over the network. In one aspect, the selectable setting is selected based on a predetermined pattern tailored to a specific patient or user. For example, a user who is chair-bound may have be associated with a different predetermined pattern than a user who suffers from seizures. The selectable setting may be set for a particular user or patient in a manner that is completely transparent to the user or patient. In other aspects, the selectable setting may be set by the user or patient directly. As can be seen in  FIG. 4A , an exemplary user interface  400 A on the wearable device  130  is shown. The user interface  400 A includes, for example, one or more selectable elements  401 ,  402  which corresponds to one or more predetermined patterns of the fall discriminator  131 ,  123 . Similarly, in  FIG. 4B , an exemplary user interface  400 B of the mobile device  120  is shown. The user interface  400 B presents one or more selectable elements  403 ,  404 ,  405  which correspond to one or more predetermined patterns of the fall discriminator  131 ,  123 . In one aspect, the fall patterns presented to the user corresponds to different predetermined patterns used by the fall discriminators  131 ,  123 . For example, one of the selectable elements  401 - 405  may correspond to a predetermined pattern of falling from a seated position. This predetermined pattern correspond to falls by chairbound patients. Another one of the selectable elements  401 - 405  may correspond to a predetermined pattern for a high energy fall. This predetermined pattern corresponds to athletes or drivers who may experience highly energetic falls. 
     In one aspect, each of the predetermined patterns of falls presented in the selectable elements  401 - 405  corresponds to a rate of communication between the wearable device  130  and the mobile device  120  and/or the server  110 . For example, a predetermined pattern for a high energy fall experienced by athletes may have a shorter lie duration as part of the predetermined pattern. The shorter lie duration is associated with a faster rate of communication between the wearable device  130  and the mobile device  120  and/or the server  110 . In contrast, a predetermined pattern corresponding to a low energy fall, such as from a chair or seated position, may have a longer lie duration as part of the predetermined pattern. The longer lie duration is associated with a slow rate of communication between the wearable device  130  and the mobile device  120  and/or the server  110 . At block  302 , the notification modules  136 ,  125  effects the selectable setting of the rate of communication based on at least part of the predetermined pattern. For example, the notification module  136 ,  125  can set a slower rate of communication corresponding to a predetermined pattern for a low energy fall, or a faster rate of communication corresponding to a predetermined pattern for a high energy fall. At block  303 , the notification module  136 ,  125  determines whether the period of communication based on at least part of the predetermined pattern has elapsed. If the period of communication has not elapsed, then the notification module  136  disables the network module  133 ,  122  of the wearable device  130  or the mobile device  120  and waits (block  305 ). If, at block  303 , the period of communication has elapsed, then the notification module  136 ,  125  enables the network module  122 ,  133  and initiates access to the activity log  132  by either the mobile device  120  or the server  110 . 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, a system for detecting and discriminating the severity of a fall is disclosed, the system including a server, a mobile device communicable with the server, a wearable device communicable with the mobile device, the wearable device including a fall monitor and an activity log resident on the wearable device, where the fall monitor is configured to continuously record detected movement on the activity log, wherein, the server is configured to periodically communicate a signal to the mobile device to initiate access to the activity log on the wearable device, where there is a predetermined period between signals, wherein, the mobile device is configured to determine when the activity log includes a detected impact exceeding a predetermined impact threshold defining a fall event and a lie state following the detected impact, wherein the mobile device further is configured to discriminate the severity of the fall based on the detected impact and the detected lie state and is further configured to generate an alert based on the severity of the fall. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, where the mobile device initiates access to the activity log on the wearable device in response to the signal from the server.A1) The system of claim A, where the wearable device includes a display displaying an user interface. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, where the wearable device is configured to present a first selectable indicia indicating no assistance needed and a second selectable indicia indicating assistance needed to a wearer through the user interface following the detected impact exceeding the predetermined impact threshold. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the mobile device is configured to reset to an initial state when the wearer indicates no assistance needed by selecting the first selectable indicia. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the mobile device is configured to generate the alert when the wearer indicates that assistance need by selecting the second selectable indicia. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, mobile device is configured to generate the alert when the wearer fails to respond within a predetermined lie period. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the predetermined period between signals is related to the predetermined lie period. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the wearable device is further configured to present a third selectable indicia with the display indicating no assistance needed following the detected impact exceeding a second predetermined impact threshold defining a high energy fall event. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the mobile device is configured to reset to an initial state when the wearer indicates no assistance needed by selecting the third selectable indicia. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the mobile device is configured to generate the alert when the wearer fails to respond within a predetermined lie period. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the alert includes at least one of a message to a second party through a second wearable device worn by the second party, a second mobile device owned by the second party or a message to a central monitoring agency. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, system for detecting and discriminating the severity of a fall, the system including a server, a wearable device communicable with the server, the wearable device including a fall monitor and an activity log resident on the wearable device, where the fall monitor is configured to continuously record detected movement on the activity log, wherein, the server is configured to periodically communicate a signal to the wearable device to initiate access to the activity log on the wearable device, where there is a predetermined period between signals, the server further is configured to determine when the activity log includes a detected impact exceeding a predetermined threshold defining a fall event and a lie state following the detected impact, wherein the server is further configured to discriminate the severity of the fall based on the detected impact and the detected lie state and generates an alert based on the severity of the fall. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, where the wearable device initiates access to the activity log on the wearable device in response to the signal from the server. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, where the wearable device includes a display displaying a user interface. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, where the wearable device is configured to present a first selectable indicia indicating no assistance needed and a second selectable indicia indicating assistance needed to a wearer through the user interface following the detected impact exceeding the predetermined impact threshold. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the server is configured to reset to an initial state when the wearer indicates no assistance needed by selecting the first selectable indicia. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the server is configured to generate the alert when the wearer indicates that assistance need by selecting the second selectable indicia. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the server is configured to generate the alert when the wearer fails to respond within a predetermined lie period. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the predetermined period between signals is related to the predetermined lie period. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the wearable device is further configured to present a third selectable indicia with the display indicating no assistance needed following the detected impact exceeding a second predetermined impact threshold defining a high energy fall event. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the server is configured to reset to an initial state when the wearer indicates no assistance needed by selecting the third selectable indicia. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, where the server is configured to generate the alert when the wearer fails to respond within a predetermined lie period. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the alert includes at least one of a message to a second party through a second wearable device worn by the second party, a mobile device owned by the second party or a message to a central monitoring agency. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, a method for detecting and discriminating the severity of a fall, the method including providing a wearable device including a fall monitor and an activity log resident on the wearable device and continuously recording detected movement on the activity log with the fall monitor, with a server, periodically communicating a signal to a mobile device to initiate access to the activity log on the wearable device, where there is a predetermined period between signals, determining, with the mobile device, when the activity log of the wearable device includes a detected impact exceeding a predetermined impact threshold defining a fall event, determining, with the mobile device, when the activity log includes a lie state following the detected impact, generating an alert, with the mobile device, when the mobile device discriminating the severity of the fall based on the detected impact and the detected lie state. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the method further includes initiating, with the mobile device, access to the activity log on the wearable device in response to the signal from the server. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the method further includes presenting a first selectable indicia indicating no assistance needed and a second selectable indicia indicating assistance needed to a wearer on a display on the wearable device following the detected fall event. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the method further includes resetting the mobile device to an initial state when the wearer indicates no assistance needed by selecting the first selectable indicia. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the method further includes generating the alert when the wearer indicates that assistance is need by selecting the second selectable indicia. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the method further includes generating the alert when the wearer fails to respond within a predetermined lie period. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the predetermined period between signals is related to the predetermined lie period. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the method further includes presenting a third selectable indicia with the display indicating no assistance needed following the detected impact exceeding a second predetermined impact threshold defining a high energy fall event. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the method further includes resetting the mobile device to an initial state when the wearer indicates no assistance needed by selecting the third selectable indicia. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the method further includes generating the alert when the wearer fails to respond within a predetermined lie period 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the alert includes at least one of a message to second party through a second wearable device worn by the second party, a second mobile device owned by the second party or a message to a central monitoring agency. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, a system for detecting and discriminating the severity of a fall includes a mobile device communicable a network, a notification module, and a wearable device communicable with the mobile device, the wearable device including a fall monitor and an activity log resident on the wearable device, where the fall monitor is configured to record detected movement on the activity log, wherein, the notification module is configured to effect a selectable setting of a rate of communication between the mobile device and the wearable device based on at least part of a predetermined pattern of a fall discriminator within the activity log, where the selectable setting defines a predetermined period of communication between the mobile device and the wearable device, wherein, the fall discriminator is configured to determine when the activity log includes a notable fall event based on the predetermined pattern. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the fall discriminator is configured to determine when activity log includes a lie period following the notable fall event. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the fall discriminator is configured to discriminate the severity of the notable fall event based on the predetermined pattern and is further configured to generate an alert based on the severity of the fall. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the fall discriminator is configured to discriminate a notable fall event based on a detected impact exceeding an impact threshold defined by the predetermined pattern and a lie state following the detected impact. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the predetermined period of communication is based on a lie state period of the predetermined pattern. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the notification module is part of the mobile device. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the notification module is part of the wearable device. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the rate of communication is independent of a communication rate of a predetermined communication protocol. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, where the wearable device includes a display displaying an user interface. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, where the wearable device is configured to present a first selectable indicia indicating no assistance needed and a second selectable indicia indicating assistance needed to a wearer through the user interface following a notable fall event. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the mobile device is configured to reset to an initial state when the wearer indicates no assistance needed by selecting the first selectable indicia. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the mobile device is configured to generate the alert when the wearer indicates that assistance need by selecting the second selectable indicia. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the mobile device is configured to generate the alert when the wearer fails to respond within a predetermined lie period. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, a system for detecting and discriminating the severity of a fall, the system includes a server, a notification module, a wearable device communicable with the server, the wearable device including a fall monitor and an activity log resident on the wearable device, where the fall monitor is configured to record detected movement on the activity log, wherein, the notification module is configured to effect a selectable setting of a rate of communications between the server and the wearable device based on at least part of a predetermined pattern of a fall discriminator within the activity log, where the selectable setting defines a predetermined period of communication between the wearable device and the server, wherein, the fall discriminator further is configured to determine when the activity log includes a notable fall event based on the predetermined pattern. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the fall discriminator is configured to determine when the activity log includes a lie state following the notable fall event. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the fall discriminator is configured to discriminate the severity of the notable fall event based on the predetermined pattern and is further configured to generate an alert based on the severity of the notable fall event. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the fall discriminator is configured to discriminate a notable fall event based on a detected impact exceeding an impact threshold defined by the predetermined pattern and a lie state following the detected impact. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the predetermined period of communication is based on a lie state period of the predetermined pattern. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the notification module is part of the mobile device. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the notification module is part of the wearable device. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the rate of communication is independent of a communication rate of a predetermined communication protocol. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, where the wearable device initiates access to the activity log on the wearable device in response to the signal from the server. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, where the wearable device includes a display displaying an user interface. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, where the wearable device is configured to present a first selectable indicia indicating no assistance needed and a second selectable indicia indicating assistance needed to a wearer through the user interface following the detected impact exceeding the predetermined impact threshold. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the server is configured to reset to an initial state when the wearer indicates no assistance needed by selecting the first selectable indicia. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the server is configured to generate the alert when the wearer indicates that assistance need by selecting the second selectable indicia. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the server is configured to generate the alert when the wearer fails to respond within a predetermined lie period. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, a method for detecting and discriminating the severity of a fall includes providing a wearable device including a fall monitor and an activity log resident on the wearable device and recording detected movement on the activity log with the fall monitor, effecting a selectable setting of a rate of communication between the wearable device and a mobile device with a notification module based on at least part of a predetermined pattern of a fall discriminator within the activity log, the selectable setting defining a predetermined period of communication between the mobile device and wearable device, determining, with the fall discriminator, when the activity log of the wearable device includes a notable fall event based on the predetermined pattern.  29 . The method of claim  28 , further comprising discriminating the severity of the notable fall event, with the fall discriminator, based on the predetermined pattern and is further configured to generate an alert based on the severity of the notable fall event. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the method further comprising discriminating a notable fall event, with the fall discriminator, based on a detected impact exceeding an impact threshold defined by the predetermined pattern and a lie state following the detected impact. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the rate of communication is based on a lie state period of the predetermined pattern. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, wherein the rate of communication is independent of a communication rate of a predetermined communication protocol. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the method further comprising presenting a first selectable indicia indicating no assistance needed and a second selectable indicia indicating assistance needed to a wearer on a display on the wearable device following the detected fall event. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the method further comprising resetting the mobile device to an initial state when the wearer indicates no assistance needed by selecting the first selectable indicia. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the method further comprising generating the alert when the wearer indicates that assistance is need by selecting the second selectable indicia. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, further comprising presenting a third selectable indicia with the display indicating no assistance needed following the detected impact exceeding a second predetermined impact threshold defining a high energy fall event. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the method further comprising resetting the mobile device to an initial state when the wearer indicates no assistance needed by selecting the third selectable indicia. 
     In accordance with one or more aspects of the present disclosure, the method further comprising generating the alert when the wearer fails to respond within a predetermined lie period 
     It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the aspects of the disclosed embodiment. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the aspects of the disclosed embodiment. Accordingly, the aspects of the disclosed embodiment are intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances that fall within the scope of the appended claims. Further, the mere fact that different features are recited in mutually different dependent or independent claims does not indicate that a combination of these features cannot be advantageously used, such a combination remaining within the scope of the aspects of the invention.