Patent ID: 7507203

Claim:
A system for remotely monitoring an individual, the system comprising: a laser radar system adapted to direct radiation directly on one or more points on a skin or clothing of the individual, adapted to receive radiation reflected back to the laser radar system directly from the one or more points on the skin or clothing of the individual, and adapted to determine ranges and/or range rates of the one or more points on the skin or clothing of the individual from the received radiation; and a monitor module (i) adapted to estimate, based on the ranges and/or range rates determined by the laser radar system, gross body motion of the individual, (ii) adapted to estimate, based on the ranges and/or range rates determined by the laser radar system, oscillation of one or more surfaces on the individual that is distinct from the estimated gross body motion of the individual, and (iii) adapted to monitor one or more physiological functions and/or physical activities based on the estimated gross body motion and/or the estimated oscillation of the one or more surfaces, wherein the estimate of the gross body motion is an estimate of body member motion and/or locomotion of the individual, and wherein the estimate of the oscillation of the one or more surfaces on the individual is an estimate of relatively fine surface oscillations.