EP3819885B1 - System and method for managing a fall of a person - Google Patents

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the communication of a signal relating to detection of a fall by a person provided with a communicating shoe.

PRIOR ART

Known from the state of the art are shoes, equipped with a fall detection device and a communication device, which make it possible to detect a fall of a person wearing such a shoe and to emit a drop information signal to a remote processing system, via a land mobile communication network, such as a mobile telephone network.

However, the communication of the fall signal by the communication device of the shoe to the remote processing system may fail when the person is located in an area which is not sufficiently covered by the land mobile telecommunication network.

The document WO2016120707 A1 describes a system for monitoring a person wearing a shoe which is provided with an accelerometer and an electronic processing unit configured so as to detect a fall in order to transmit an alarm signal to a remote unit. The document US2019266873 A1 discloses a user fitness monitoring system. The system includes a sensor worn by the user. The systems described in these documents WO2016120707 A1 and US2019266873 A1 are also subject to a risk of failure of transmission and/or reception of the signal which presents data relating to the user. It is desirable to be able to limit this risk of signal transmission and/or reception failure.

The aim of the present invention is to propose a new system and method for managing falls, making it possible to overcome all or part of the problems set out above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the invention relates to a system according to claim 1.

The fact of providing for a broadcast of the first signal generated by the shoe, which contains the fall information, not directly to a given land mobile telecommunications network, which requires good network coverage to be effective, but to a plurality of communication devices, preferably with each of which the shoe can form a local network, makes it possible to transmit this first fall signal to communication devices located in the environment of the shoe and to benefit from the transmission channels of these communication devices for the retransmission of the fall information through second signals addressed to the data processing and alert transmission device. The second signals which have been generated from the first signal relate to the same fall detected by the fall detection and signaling device.

It may be considered that two cellular communication networks, using the same communication technology, but operated by distinct operators, for example the telecommunications operators Orange and SFR, correspond to two distinct communication channels. Indeed a failure can affect an operator but not affect another operator, so that even if two communication devices use the same communication technology to transmit the second signal, one can be able to communicate this second signal, unlike the other whose operator experiences malfunctions or disturbances.

The fact of filtering the second signals received on the basis of the fall identification information and the identification information of the wearer makes it possible to trigger in a justified manner an alert signal vis-à-vis a second signal received from one of the communication devices and corresponding to a carrier drop for which the data processing and transmission device alert has not yet generated an alert signal, but not to generate an additional alert signal (which would be redundant and therefore disturbing) for another second signal received corresponding to this same fall, this other second signal which may originate from one or more other communication devices which have received the first signal and transmitted the corresponding second signal.

This thus makes it possible not to issue a new alert for another second signal corresponding to a fall, which would be received by the alert processing and transmission device from another of said communication devices while a second signal corresponding to this same fall has already been received from one of said communication devices and has been used to generate an alert signal.

The system may also include one or more of the following features taken in any technically permissible combination.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the fall detection and signaling device is configured to broadcast the first fall detection signal according to a communication protocol making it possible to establish a local wireless network or a personal wireless network with each of said communication devices.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the fall detection and signaling device is configured to broadcast the first fall detection signal according to a Bluetooth type protocol, preferably the Bluetooth Low Energy protocol.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the data processing and alert transmission device is configured to receive the second signals via the Internet.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the fall identifier comprises one or more data corresponding to a fall event detected, at a given time, which is distinct from another fall event detected at another time by the device for detecting and fall signaling, to which another fall identifier corresponds.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the shoe fall detection and signaling device is configured to increment a counter each time a fall is detected, said fall identifier comprising said value of the fall counter which is assigned to a given location of a data frame corresponding to the signal.

According to an advantageous characteristic, each second signal, received by the data processing and alert transmission device from each of said communication devices, comprises said fall and person identifiers of the first signal and location data of the corresponding communication device.

According to an advantageous characteristic, said system comprises at least one of said communication devices. Provision may be made for the system to include said communication devices.

• recevoir le premier signal;
• extraire les identifiants de chute et de personne dudit premier signal ;
• acquérir une donnée de localisation de l'appareil de communication ;
• générer le deuxième signal en reprenant les identifiants de chute et de personne et en ajoutant la donnée de localisation;
• transmettre le deuxième signal à destination du dispositif de traitement et d'émission d'alerte.

According to an advantageous characteristic, each communication device comprises a processor and a memory in which is stored a computer program comprising computer instructions executable by the processor for:

• receiving the first signal;
• extracting the fall and person identifiers from said first signal;
• acquiring location data of the communication device;
• generating the second signal by taking the fall and person identifiers and adding the location data;
• transmitting the second signal to the alert processing and transmission device.

• un téléphone mobile intelligent sur lequel est installée une application informatique correspondant audit programme informatique qui comprend des instructions informatiques permettant d'émettre le deuxième signal à destination du dispositif de traitement et d'émission d'alerte ;
• un dispositif électronique contenu dans la chaussure ;
• un dispositif électronique, tel qu'une balise électronique communicante, situé à une position donnée fixe. Selon un aspect particulier, ladite position est fixe dans le référentiel terrestre.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the communication devices comprise at least one of the following devices:

• an intelligent mobile telephone on which is installed a computer application corresponding to said computer program which comprises computer instructions making it possible to transmit the second signal to the device for processing and transmitting alerts;
• an electronic device contained in the shoe;
• an electronic device, such as a communicating electronic beacon, located at a given fixed position. According to a particular aspect, said position is fixed in the terrestrial reference frame.

Different combinations of communication devices can be considered.

According to an advantageous characteristic, each communication device is configured to send the second signal to the device for processing data and sending alerts, via the Internet.

According to an advantageous characteristic, the data processing and alert transmission device comprises a first communication module configured to receive the second signals, a second communication module configured to transmit an alert signal, a processor and a memory in which is stored a computer program comprising computer instructions executable by the processor to control the emission or the absence of emission of an alert signal.

• déterminer si une alerte a déjà été émise suite à la réception d'un autre deuxième signal comprenant les mêmes identifiants de chute et de personne que ceux contenus dans le deuxième signal reçu ;
• si une telle alerte n'a pas déjà été émise, commander l'émission d'un signal d'alerte.

According to an advantageous characteristic, for the implementation of the step of piloting the transmission or absence of alert transmission, for each second signal received, the device for processing data and transmitting alert is configured to implement the following steps:

• determining whether an alert has already been issued following the reception of another second signal comprising the same fall and person identifiers as those contained in the second signal received;
• if such an alert has not already been transmitted, ordering the transmission of an alert signal.

• si une telle alerte a déjà été émise, comparer avec une valeur de seuil le délai écoulé entre l'instant d'émission de cette alerte et l'instant de réception du deuxième signal ;
• commander l'émission ou l'absence d'émission d'un signal d'alerte en fonction du résultat de cette comparaison.

According to an advantageous characteristic, for the implementation of the step of piloting the transmission or absence of alert transmission, for each second signal received, the device for processing data and transmitting alert is configured to implement the following steps:

• if such an alert has already been transmitted, comparing with a threshold value the time elapsed between the instant of transmission of this alert and the instant of reception of the second signal;
• controlling the emission or the absence of emission of an alert signal according to the result of this comparison.

The invention also relates to a method according to claim 13.

The method can be implemented with all or part of a system as proposed above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• [Fig. 1] la Figure 1 est une vue schématique montrant une chaussure munie d'un dispositif de détection de chute et d'émission de signal pour transmettre un premier signal de chute à des appareils de communication présents dans l'environnement du porteur de la chaussure, qui à leur tour transmettent chacun, en parallèle les uns des autres, un deuxième signal à un dispositif de traitement et d'émission d'alerte ;
• [Fig. 2] la Figure 2 est une vue schématique d'un bloc diagramme illustrant des étapes d'une méthode selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• [Fig. 3] la Figure 3 est une vue schématique d'un système de pilotage d'un dispositif de détection de chute et d'émission de signal pour un système selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the description which follows, which is purely illustrative and not limiting and must be read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which:

• [ Fig. 1 ] the Figure 1 is a schematic view showing a shoe provided with a fall detection and signal transmission device for transmitting a first fall signal to communication devices present in the environment of the wearer of the shoe, which in turn transmit each, in parallel with each other, a second signal to a processing device and alert transmission;
• [ Fig. 2 ] the Figure 2 is a schematic view of a block diagram illustrating the steps of a method according to one embodiment of the invention;
• [ Fig. 3 ] the Figure 3 is a schematic view of a system for controlling a fall detection and signal emission device for a system according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The inventive concept is described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the inventive concept are shown. In the drawings, the size and relative sizes of the elements may be exaggerated for purposes of clarity. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the drawings. However, this The concept of the invention can be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Instead, these embodiments are provided so that this description is complete, and communicates the scope of the inventive concept to those skilled in the art. The following embodiments are discussed, for simplicity, in connection with the terminology and structure of a shoe and a communication system.

Reference throughout the specification to "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or feature described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrase "in one embodiment" at various places throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Further, the particular functionalities, structures, or features may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

The Figure 1 illustrates a shoe 1 which has a heel in which an accelerometer 2 is housed.

Fall detection and signaling

When shoe 1 is laid flat on horizontal ground, the accelerometer has a vertical Z axis, called the axis of gravity, and two horizontal axes X and Y.

The accelerometer 12, which is integral with the shoe 1, makes it possible to provide acceleration data respectively along the three axes X, Y, Z. The measured accelerations can be considered as those of the shoe with which the accelerometer is associated .

According to a particular embodiment, the heel also houses a gyroscope 13 making it possible to provide gyration data, for example angles of rotation or angular velocities, around the axes X and Y, and possibly Z. The measured gyration data can be considered as those of the shoe with which the gyroscope is associated. According to a variant embodiment, provision may be made not to use a gyroscope. The rest of the description can thus also apply to the case where the gyroscope is not present.

Provision can be made for the accelerometer 12 and the gyroscope 13 to be integrated within the same electronic component. This electronic component can itself be housed with other components, such as a battery in a box housed in the shoe, in particular in the heel.

The shoe also includes a control system 14 connected to the accelerometer 12 and to the gyroscope 13 to process their data. The control system is for example in the form of a processor and a data memory in which are stored computer instructions executable by said processor, or even in the form of a microcontroller. The processor may be a microprocessor.

A schematic example of a steering system 14 is shown in Figure 3 . In this example, the control system 14 comprises a data memory 140 making it possible to record the data supplied by the accelerometer 12 and the gyroscope 13. According to a particular aspect, the recording is carried out at a frequency of 50 Hz.

The memory 140 in which the acquired data is recorded may be different or wholly or partly common with the memory in which the computer instructions are stored.

The control system 14 includes a processing unit 141, such as a computer (micro)processor. The processing system or unit can also be implemented in the form of a microcontroller. The processing unit 141 comprises a fall detection module configured to make it possible to execute a fall detection method, such as that described in the international application WO2016120703 . In the event of drop detection, a drop signal S1 is generated, preferably by the processing unit 141.

The control system 14 also includes a radio communication module 142 which makes it possible to transmit the drop signal S1 according to a particular protocol presented below.

Since the invention can be applied to a shoe or to a pair of shoes, it is understood that the components of the control system 14 can be arranged in a single shoe or be distributed in two shoes. It is thus understood that the characteristics described in the case of a shoe are also applicable to the case of a pair of shoes.

The accelerometer 12, the gyroscope 13 when present, and the control system 14 thus form part of a fall detection and signaling device 10 included in the shoe. The device 10 can also comprise a warning system 15, such as a vibrator, making it possible to warn the wearer of the shoe of an event such as the correct consideration by a third party of the fall signal or to warn the wearer that a fall signal is about to be emitted. The components of the device 10 can be housed in a housing included, preferably embedded, in the heel of the shoe.

Fall signal

In the event of drop detection, the processing unit 141 generates a corresponding drop detection signal S1.

The drop signal S1 comprises a drop identifier IdC. The fall identifier IdC is representative of the fact that a fall of the person has been detected and makes it possible to distinguish a fall of a person detected at a given moment from a fall of this same person detected at another moment. According to a particular aspect, a predefined minimum time interval must separate a first and a second drop detection so that the second drop detection is considered as a new drop by the processing unit 141 and generates a new drop signal S1.

The fall identifier can be formed by one or more data. According to a particular embodiment, the drop identifier is a number (preferably a non-zero integer) located at a given location of the frame of the drop signal S1, and the value of this number is incremented (for example by 1) at each new fall detected.

Thus, provision can be made for the device 10 for detecting and signaling the fall of the shoe 1 to be configured to increment a counter each time the wearer is detected to fall and to include the value of this counter in the first signal S1 which is generated. Said fall identifier IdC then comprises said value of the fall counter. The fall identifier IdC can thus be formed by this counter value in connection with the location of this value in the data frame corresponding to the first signal S1 transmitted. The presence of a value at this predefined location of the frame translates the existence of drop detection and the value of this location (or field) makes it possible to distinguish two drops detected by the device 10 at different times.

The frame of the drop signal S1 can also comprise, at another predefined location of the frame, a value Dsco representative of the probability that the detected drop is actually a drop. This value can be a score calculated from the data of the accelerometer and threshold value, for example as proposed in the request WO2016120703 .

The frame of the drop signal S1 also includes an identifier of the person IdP. This identifier of the person IdP can be a unique number or reference associated with the shoe or more particularly with the device 10 included in the shoe. Personal data (surname, first name, address, and/or telephone number) can be associated in a database, accessible by or contained in the signal processing and transmission device 3, with this unique number or reference for allow the device 3 for processing and emitting the alert signal to identify, when an alert signal is issued, the person to be rescued.

According to a particular aspect, provision can be made for each first signal S1 to be encrypted.

The first signal S1 can be formatted according to the iBeacon standard proposed by the Apple company, or according to another equivalent standard.

The first signal S1 also includes the address of the device 3 for processing data and issuing alerts, called the monitoring center, which is intended to receive at least part of the information from said signal (in particular the identifier of the person and fall identifier). Alternatively or in combination, provision can be made for this address to be defined in the second signals S21, S22, S23 by an application or program installed on the communication devices 21, 22, 23 presented below.

Provision can be made for the signal S1 to include other data, such as for example shoe location data, for example from a geolocation system when the shoe is equipped with it.

Drop signal communication protocol

The radio communication module 142 is configured to broadcast this fall signal S1 by radio waves.

To broadcast the fall signal S1, the communication module 142 radio uses a communication protocol which makes it possible to establish a connection with several communication devices present in the environment of the shoe, for example within a radius of a hundred meters, for example sixty meters, so that each device connected to the communication module 142 of the shoe receives the fall signal S1.

In particular, the protocol is chosen so that the communication module 142 of the shoe and a first communication module 211, 212, 213 of each device 21, 22, 23 automatically connects to each other when they are within range of each other (i.e. without the user of the communication device or the shoe needing to enter a code or manually validate a connection request). According to a particular aspect, the communication devices 21, 22, 23 do not communicate with each other.

The network which includes the terminal formed by the shoe and the terminal formed by a communication device 21, 22, 23 is a network which forms when the terminals are within range of each other and which unravels when they are out of reach of each other.

The terminal formed by the shoe and the terminal formed by each communication device communicate with each other without using internet access.

According to a particular aspect, the communication network formed between the shoe and each communication device is an unoperated network.

Advantageously, the network formed by the radio communication module 142 of the shoe and the radio communication module 211, 221, 231 of a communication device 21, 22, 23 is a local wireless network or WLAN (acronym for Wireless Local Area Network) or a Wireless Personal Area Network or WPAN (acronym for Wireless Personal Area Network).

The terminal formed by the shoe and the terminal formed by each communication device form a network which can be considered to be a short-range network as opposed to a long-range network of cellular technology (using for example a 2G, 3G, 4G protocol or 5G).

According to a preferred embodiment, each radio communication module 142, 211, 221, 231 communicates according to a Bluetooth type protocol, preferably the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol. The Bluetooth Low Energy protocol allows communication over a distance usually less than one hundred meters, with low energy consumption.

The communication devices 21, 22, 23 presented below which are capable of receiving this drop signal S1 each include a processing unit 212, 222, 232 which comprises an application or computer program making it possible to interpret the format in which the first signal S1 is emitted, for example the iBeacon standard from Apple. According to a particular aspect, each communication device 2 comprising a key for decrypting the first signal S1 when the latter is encrypted.

Each communication device 21, 22, 23 also makes it possible, as explained below, to generate a signal S21, S22, S23, possibly according to another standard, which is understandable by a device 3 for processing and issuing an alert intended in receiving and processing this signal S21, S22, S23 in order, when predefined conditions are fulfilled, to emit an alert signal, as explained below.

communication device

In the example shown in Figure 1 , the signal S1 is received by the communication devices 21, 22, 23 which is located within the transmission range of the communication module 142, for example of the order of 60 meters.

In the example shown in Figure 1 , the communication devices 21, 22, 23 include smart phones, also called smartphones.

According to one embodiment, each communication device 21, 22, 23 comprises a processor and a memory in which is stored a computer program comprising computer instructions executable by the processor to implement the functions and steps described below.

At least one of said communication devices 21, 22, 23 can be a beacon, remote from the shoe. The beacon can thus take the form of a box positioned, preferably fixed, at a given location and able to communicate with the shoe when the latter enters its communication field to receive the signal S1 and transmit the signal S21, S22, S23 by another communication network intended for the device 3 for processing and issuing alerts.

Provision can also be made for at least one of the communication devices 21, 22, 23 to be housed in the shoe itself.

This makes it possible to ensure that there is always a communication device present within the range of the communication module 142 of the shoe which broadcasts the signal S1, while allowing other communication devices, separated from the shoe but possibly present in the environment of the shoe, to relay the signal S1 by the emission of the signal S21, S22, S23.

Furthermore, the fact that the first signal is broadcast according to a protocol making it possible to establish a local or personal network, such as the Bluetooth protocol, allows one or more compatible additional communication device(s), distinct( s) of the one housed in the shoe to pick up the first signal and to convey the fall information via the transmission of the second signal by their own second communication module, thus limiting the risk of faulty transmission of the fall information to the device for processing and issuing alerts due to insufficient network coverage vis-à-vis the communication device integrated into the shoe.

It is understood that the communication devices 21, 22, 23 are distinct from a base station of a terrestrial mobile telecommunications network (terrestrial relay antenna) and from a telecommunications satellite.

As explained above, each communication device 21, 22, 23 comprises a first communication module 211, 221, 231 making it possible to receive the signal S1. The processing unit 212, 222, 232 of the communication device 21, 22, 23 can be configured to decrypt the signal S1 using a corresponding key when the latter is encrypted.

Thus, according to a preferred embodiment, the signal S1 is broadcast according to the Bluetooth Low Energy protocol and for example with an iBeacon-type standard, so as to be able to be received by each communication device, present within the broadcast range, and which comprises the compatible hardware and software system for receiving this signal S1, decrypting the signal S1 when the latter is encrypted, and interpreting the content of the signal S1 to transmit a new signal S21, S22, S23 to the monitoring center 3 formed by the device 3 for processing data and issuing alerts presented below.

Second signals

Advantageously, the processing unit 212, 222, 232 of each communication device 21, 22, 23 is configured to generate from the signal S1, a second signal S21, S22, S23 which comprises at least part of the data of the signal S1, in particular the fall identifiers IdC and person IdP, and, preferably, at least one new piece of data representative of the geographical position (location) Dloc of the communication device.

According to a variant embodiment, provision can be made for the second signal S21, S22, S23 to be the first signal S1 so that each communication device 21, 22, 23 which receives the signal S1 can be considered as a simple relay for the communication of this signal S1 to the device 3 for data processing and alert transmission.

Emission of second signals

To transmit the second signal S21, S22, S23, the communication device 21, 22, 23 comprises a second communication module 213, 223, 233. Preferably, the communication module 213, 223, 233 is configured to transmit the signal S21, S22, S23 to the monitoring center 3 via the Internet. For each communication device, the first communication module and the second communication module can be produced within the same module or with distinct modules.

The second communication module 213, 223, 233 can be configured to communicate by radio via a terrestrial mobile telephone network, for example according to the 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G protocol, and/or a telecommunication of the Internet of Things /or by wire for example according to an xDSL protocol, such as ADSL.

Provision can thus be made for the communication devices 21, 22, 23 to send the second signals S21, S22, S23 to the device 3 for data processing and alert transmission via different communication channels from each other. , depending on the communication technologies with which the communication devices are equipped.

Preferably, each communication network through which each signal S21, S22, S23 is transmitted is an operated network. Preferably, each communication network through which each signal S21, S22, S23 is transmitted uses an internet access.

• une plus faible portée que celui ou ceux utilisés par les appareils de communication 21, 22, 23 pour transmettre les signaux S21, S22, S23, et/ou
• une consommation d'énergie plus faible que celle utilisée par chacun des appareils de communication 21 pour transmettre le signal S21, S22, S23 correspondant.

According to a particular embodiment, the communication protocol used to transmit the signal S1 between the shoe and the communication devices has:

• a lower range than that or those used by the communication devices 21, 22, 23 to transmit the signals S21, S22, S23, and/or
• lower energy consumption than that used by each of the communication devices 21 to transmit the corresponding signal S21, S22, S23.

Data processing and alert transmission device

The signal S21, S22, S23 emitted by each communication device is addressed to a device 3 for data processing and alert transmission. Preferably, this device 3 is an Internet server (or Web server).

The device 3 is configured to receive the signals S21, S22, S23 emitted by said communication devices 21, 22, 23. The signals S21, S22, S23 are emitted by said communication devices 21, 22, 23 in parallel with each other. others. Thus, each of the communication devices sends a second signal independently of a second signal sent by the other communication device(s).

The device 3 comprises a processing unit 31, such as a processor and a memory with computer program instructions executable by the processor, a communication module 32 to receive each signal S21, S22, S23 and a communication module 33, possibly common with the first communication module 32, to emit an alert signal S3 when appropriate. The alert signal S3 can be transmitted using a wired and/or wireless communication network.

The processing unit 31 extracts from a signal received from one of the communication devices 21, 22, 23, for example the signal S21, the identifier IdP and the identifier IdC and determines, using a database storing alert history data, if for this pair of identifiers an alert has already been issued.

It can be provided that if it turns out that an alert has already been sent for this couple of identifiers and, optionally, if the time elapsed between this alert transmission and the reception of the signal S21 is less than a threshold value , the processing unit 31 considers that this signal S21 relates to the same fall as that for which the alert has already been transmitted and does not generate a new alert signal.

Optionally, if the time elapsed between the previous alert transmission corresponding to this pair of identifiers and the reception of the signal S21 is greater than or equal to a threshold value, then provision can be made for the processing unit 31 to consider that this signal S21 corresponds to a new fall and emits a new warning signal S3. In fact, it is possible that the fall detection device 10 has been reset.

Conversely, if no alert has been transmitted for this pair of identifiers, then the processing unit 31 considers that this signal S21 corresponds to a new drop and transmits an alert signal S3.

The alert signal S3 can comprise identification or contact data of the person who has fallen and be addressed to a predefined person, for example in the form of a call or telephone message. It is also possible to provide that the signal S3 is transmitted to the communication devices which have sent the signals S21, S22, S23 to require the intervention of the persons equipped with these devices if necessary or to display one or more contacts to be called by a person equipped of a communication device.

Method

An example of a method is proposed below for managing a fall of a person wearing a shoe 1 as presented above, in connection with communication devices 21, 22, 23 and a device 3 for processing and alert transmission as presented above.

With reference to the figure 2 , the method comprising the following steps. The fall detection and fall signaling device 10 detects in step 201 a fall of the person wearing the shoe. A drop signal S1 is then generated, for example in iBeacon format. The fall signal S1 comprises a fall identifier IdC and a person identifier IdP, and preferably the address of the device 3 for processing and transmitting alerts intended to receive the fall and person identifiers.

The fall signal S1 thus generated is broadcast in step 203 by radio waves, preferably according to the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) protocol, by the communication module 142 of the device 10 of the shoe.

The fall signal S1 is received by communication devices 21, 22, 23, for example smart mobile telephones, which are located in the environment close to the shoe, for example less than a hundred meters away.

Each communication device 21, 22, 23 extracts from the fall signal S1 received the fall identifier IdC, the identifier of the person IdP, and preferably the address of the device 3 for processing and issuing alerts intended to receive fall and person identifiers. It can be provided that, where appropriate, one or more other data are extracted, such as geolocation data.

Each communication device 21, 22, 23 then generates a second signal S21, S22, S23 which takes up said data extracted from the first signal S1. This second signal is then transmitted via the Internet using a communication module 213, 223, 233 adapted, in a wired and/or wireless manner, to the device 3 for processing and transmitting alerts.

At step 207, the processing and transmission device 3 analyzes each second signal S21, S22, S23 received and decides for each second signal S21, S22, S23 whether or not to trigger the transmission of a signal S3 from alert according to whether or not an alert has already been issued with respect to the fall which corresponds to this second signal S21, S22, S23 analyzed.

The analysis may comprise the comparison of the pair of identifiers IdP, IdC contained in the second signal analyzed with those of a database for which an alert has already been issued, and, optionally, the comparison with a threshold value the time between the transmission of this possible alert and the reception of the second signal.

Thus, if an alert has already been issued following the reception of a second signal, containing this same pair of identifiers, less than N minutes ago, N being predefined and for example equal to 30, then it can be considered that the alert has already been given for this fall.

If an alert has already been emitted for this couple of identifiers but more than N minutes ago, then it can be considered that this is a new drop and a new alert signal is emitted. The fact of ending up with the same pair of identifiers can result from a restart or reinitialization, voluntary or not, of the device 10.

Finally, if no alert has been transmitted in association with this pair of identifiers contained in the second signal received, then an alert signal S3 is transmitted.

It is understood that following the reception of the signal S21 transmitted by the communication device 21, assuming that this signal S21 is processed first by the device 3, an alert signal will be emitted, while the other signals S22, S23, transmitted in parallel by the other communication devices 22, 23, and corresponding to the same fall as the signal S21 for which an alert will have already been issued, will be discarded (or filtered) so as not to generate multiple redundant alerts for a same drop event.

In other words, among the second signals S21, S22, S23 emitted by the communication devices at the level of which the fall information corresponding to the first signal S1 is replicated and relayed by these communication devices to the device 3, only one of these second signals S21, S22, S23, representative of the fall event, is taken into account to emit the alert signal, so that a single alert is emitted in response to the second signals received, and not an alert for each of the second signals received.

The plurality of communication devices 2 thus form a plurality of communication gateways between the communication module 142 of the shoe 1 and the alert processing and transmission device 3. The communication devices 2 operate in parallel in such a way to generate from the first signal S1, a plurality of signals S2, taking up information from the signal S1 corresponding to the identifier of the fall and the identifier of the person.

The plurality of communication devices 2 thus makes it possible to multiply (replicate) at least part of the information of the signal S1, in particular the identifier of the fall and the identifier of the person, by generating the corresponding signals S2, which makes it possible to benefit from several parallel communication channels for the information of the signal S1 which is included in each signal S2 since each communication link between one of the communication devices 2 and the alert processing and transmission device 3 forms a communication channel in parallel with each other channel used by each other communication device, which limits the risk of non-receipt of information corresponding to the identifier of the fall and the identifier of the person by the processing device and alert emission 3, according to which the device 3 can decide to trigger an alert. These signals S2 are thus transmitted by the communication devices 2 in parallel to the alert processing and transmission device 3 which thus receives these signals S2 from different communication devices 2, with at least some of the information from the signal S1 ( the identifier of the fall and the identifier of the person) which are the same in the signals S2 received from the various communication devices 2. The filter mechanism described above implemented by the processing and transmission device alert 3 also makes it possible to trigger an appropriate alert following the reception of one of the signals S2 received, while avoiding an inappropriate alert triggering redundancy following the reception of other signals S2.

In the known solutions of the state of the art, there is no provision for using several intermediate devices which receive the same first signal from a shoe and which each retransmit in parallel a second signal with information from the first signal, so that the processing device capable of generating the alert receives the plurality of second signals in parallel, without however emitting redundant alerts. The solutions known from the state of the art do not provide a mechanism for filtering the second signals received to generate an appropriate alert and not to generate a redundant alert.

The described functions and steps can be implemented as a computer program or via hardware components (eg programmable gate arrays). The functions and steps performed by all or part of the alert processing and transmission device 10 (in particular the control system 14), the communication devices 21, 22, 23 and the alert processing and transmission device Alert 3 can be performed by instruction sets or computer modules implemented in a processor or controller or be performed by dedicated electronic components or components of the FPGA or ASIC type. It is also possible to combine computer parts and electronic parts.

When it is indicated that one means among all or part of the alert processing and transmission device 10 (in particular the control system 14), the communication devices 21, 22, 23 and the processing device and alert transmission 3, is configured to carry out a given operation, this means that the corresponding means comprises computer instructions (in memory) and the corresponding execution means which make it possible to carry out said operation and/or that the corresponding means includes corresponding electronic components.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings.

Further, the term "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps. Furthermore, features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the embodiments set forth above may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments set forth above.

Claims (14)

1. A fall alert management system including a shoe (1) equipped with a device (10) for detecting and signaling a fall that is configured to detect a fall of the person wearing the shoe, the fall detection and signaling device (10) being configured to broadcast, by radio waves, a first fall detection signal (S1) that comprises an identifier of the person (IdP) and a fall identifier (IdC);

   characterized in that said first fall detection signal (S1) is able to be received by a plurality of communication apparatuses (21, 22, 23), for example smart mobile telephones, configured each to emit a second signal (S21, S22, S23) that comprises at least one identifier of the person (IdP) and the fall identifier (IdC) contained in the first signal (S1);

   and in that said system includes a data processing and alert emission device (3), such as a Web server, configured to carry out the following steps:

   - receiving the second signals (S21, S22, S23), emitted by said plurality of communication apparatuses (21, 22, 23), which each comprise at least the identifier of the person (IdP) and the fall identifier (IdC) contained in the first signal (S1);

   - for each of these received second signals (S21, S22, S23), controlling the emission or the absence of emission of an alert signal (S3) based on at least the identifier of the person (IdP) and the fall identifier (IdC) contained in the received second signal (S21, S22, S23),
   such that when an alert signal has been emitted by the data processing and alert emission device (3) for one (S21) of these received second signals, the data processing and alert emission device (3) does not emit an alert signal (S3) for another (S22, S23) of these received second signals (S21, S22, S23).
2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the fall detection and signaling device (10) is configured to broadcast the first fall detection signal (S1) allowing the establishment of a local wireless network or of a personal wireless network with each of said communication apparatuses (21, 22, 23).
3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the fall detection or signaling device (10) is configured to broadcast the first fall detection signal (S1) according to a protocol of the Bluetooth type, preferably the Bluetooth Low Energy protocol.
4. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the data processing and alert emission device (3) is configured to receive the second signals (S21, S22, S23) by Internet.
5. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fall identifier (IdC) comprises one or several data corresponding to a detected fall event, at a given time, which is separate from another fall event detected at another time by the fall detection and signaling device (10), to which another fall identifier corresponds.
6. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the fall detection and signaling device (10) of the shoe (1) is configured to increment a counter upon each fall detection, said fall identifier (IdC) comprising said value of the fall counter that is assigned to a given location of a data frame corresponding to the signal (S1).
7. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein each second signal (S21, S22, S23), received by the data processing and alert emission device (3) from each of said communication apparatuses (21, 22, 23), comprises said fall and person identifiers (IdC, IdP) of the first signal (S1) and a location datum (Dloc) of the corresponding communication apparatus (21, 22, 23).
8. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said system comprises at least one of said communication apparatuses (21, 22, 23).
9. The system according to claim 8, wherein each communication apparatus (21, 22, 23) comprises a processor and a memory in which a computer program is stored comprising computer instructions executable by the processor in order to:

   - receive the first signal (S1);

   - extract the fall and person identifiers (IdC, IdP) from said first signal (S1);

   - acquire a location datum (Dloc) of the communication apparatus (21, 22, 23);

   - generate the second signal (S21, S22, S23) by taking up the fall and person identifiers (IdC, IdP) and adding the location datum (Dloc) thereto;

   - transmit the second signal (S21, S22, S23) to the alert processing and emission device (3).
10. The system according to any one of claims 8 to 9, wherein the communication apparatuses (21, 22, 23) comprise at least one of the following apparatuses:

    - a smart mobile telephone on which a computer application is installed corresponding to said computer program which comprises computer instructions allowing emission of the second signal (S21, S22, S23) to the alert processing and emission device (3);

    - an electronic device contained in the shoe;

    - an electronic device, such as a communicating electronic tag, located in a given fixed position.
11. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein each communication apparatus (21, 22, 23) is configured to emit the second signal (S21, S22, S23) to the data processing and alert emission device (3), by Internet.
12. The system according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the data processing and alert emission device (3) comprises a first communication module configured to receive the second signals (S21, S22, S23), a second communication module configured to emit an alert signal, a processor and a memory in which a computer program is stored comprising computer instructions executable by the processor to control the emission or the absence of emission of an alert signal (S3).
13. A method for managing a fall of a person fitted with a shoe (1) equipped with a fall detection and signaling device (10), the method comprising the detection (201) of a fall of the person wearing the shoe,
    characterized in that the method comprises the following steps:

    - broadcasting (203) by radio waves, preferably according to a protocol of the Bluetooth type, a first fall detection signal (S1);

    the first signal (S1) comprising a fall identifier (IdC) and an identifier of the person (IdP);

    the first signal (S1) being intended to be received by communication apparatuses (21, 22, 23), for example smart mobile telephones,

    which are configured each to emit a second signal (S21, S22, S23) that comprises at least the fall identifier (IdC) and the identifier of the person (IdP) that are contained in the first signal (S1);

    - receiving (205), by a data processing and alert emission device (3), such as a Web server, the second signals (S21, S22, S23), emitted by the communication apparatuses (21, 22, 23), which each comprise at least the identifier of the person (IdP) and the fall identifier (IdC) contained in the first signal (S1); and

    - for each received second signal (S21, S22, S23), controlling (207) the emission or the absence of emission of an alert signal (S3) based on at least the identifier of the person (IdP) and the fall identifier (IdC) contained in said received second signal, such that when an alert signal has been emitted by the data processing and alert emission device (3) for one (S21) of these received second signals, the data processing and alert emission device (3) does not emit an alert signal (S3) for another (S22, S23) of these received second signals (S21, S22, S23).
14. The method according to claim 13, characterized in that said second signals (S21, S22, S23) are signals emitted in parallel by the communication apparatuses (21, 22, 23).

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