FR3138843A1 - Device for monitoring user activity - Google Patents

Abstract

Device for monitoring the activity of a user, the device comprising: an alert module (1), comprising an actimetry circuit (4); a processing unit (5), connected to the actimetry circuit, and programmed to process the activity signal so as to detect user activity as corresponding to an alert situation, as a function of processing parameters; a support (10), for holding the alert module; the device being characterized in that the device comprises a coding circuit (13, 13'), configured to generate an identification code (Sid) as a function of the medium; the processing unit is configured to: receive the code d 'identification(Sid); select processing parameters based on the identification code; so that the processing parameters depend on the support on which the alert module is maintained. Figure 3A.

Description

Device for monitoring user activity

The technical field of the invention is the monitoring of the activity of a user, with a view to detecting an alert situation.

PRIOR ART

Portable devices allowing the detection of distress situations, such as accidents, attacks or discomfort, are currently marketed in different forms. Their function is to signal, manually or automatically, the occurrence of such a situation. Such devices are configured to emit an alert signal when their user finds themselves in a critical situation. The alert signal is intended to be sent to a telecommunications network in order to notify assistance services.

An alert module is for example described in French patent FR3044455. Such an alert module can be configured to emit an alert signal when an alert button is activated by a user. The alert module may include an actimetry circuit, intended to measure the user's movements. According to one possibility, the alert module is programmed to automatically emit an alert signal based on signals, coming from the actimetry module, and considered to be representative of an alert situation.

Patent application EP17186040 describes an integration of an alert module in a shoe, in particular a safety shoe intended for a user likely to experience a risky situation. The risky situation may be a risk of falling or isolation. When the alert module detects such a situation, an alert is sent by a transmitting antenna to a long-range wireless communication network, GSM type or other.

The same alert module can be intended to be carried by a person, while being held on a support. In patent application EP17186040, the support is a sole of a shoe. In FR3044455, we described holding the alert module at the level of a tab, or a belt, in a safety vest.

The inventors noted that the detection of a user alert situation could depend on the module support. They offer a device for detecting an alert situation with improved performance, limiting the occurrence of false alerts and avoiding the non-detection of a real alert.

A first object of the invention is a device for monitoring the activity of a user, the device comprising:

• an alert module, comprising an actimetry circuit, the actimetry circuit being configured to generate an activity signal depending on a posture and/or a movement of the user;
• a processing unit, connected to the actimetry circuit, and programmed to process the activity signal so as to detect user activity as corresponding to an alert situation, the processing being carried out according to processing parameters ;
• a support, intended to be worn by the user, the support being configured to hold the alert module;

the device being characterized in that

• the device comprises a coding circuit configured to generate an identification code depending on the medium;
• the processing unit is configured to:
  • receive the identification code;
  • select processing parameters based on the identification code;

so that the processing parameters depend on the support on which the alert module is maintained.

The identification code is preferably a numerical code, that is to say a character or a string of characters.

The coding circuit may be disposed on the support, the coding circuit being configured to be connected to the alert module.

According to one possibility:

• the alert module includes a link circuit;
• the coding circuit is configured to be connected to the link circuit, by a wire connection, so that the connection of the link circuit with the coding circuit allows the generation of the identification code.

The link circuit (3) of the alert module is a microcontroller, configured to transmit the coding signal to the processing unit. The alert module link circuit can be integrated into the processing unit.

According to one possibility,

• the support and the alert module are configured to be connected to each other by a short-range wireless link;
• the support comprises a transmitter of an electromagnetic wave (for example RFID – Radio Frequency Identification – Radio Frequency Identification or Bluetooth), comprising an identifier of the support, the transmitter forming the coding circuit;
• the alert module is configured to receive the electromagnetic wave emitted by the transmitter, the received electromagnetic wave comprising the coding signal.

The alert module can be configured to be connected, by wireless connection, to a remote interface of the alert module, and to receive the identification code transmitted by the interface.

According to one possibility:

• the processing unit is connected to a memory, the memory comprising different sets of processing parameters, each set of processing parameters corresponding to a type of media;
• the processing unit is programmed to select, from the identification signal, a set of processing parameters from the sets of stored processing parameters.

The processing unit can be placed in the alert module. The processing unit can be remote from the alert module.

The device may include a transmission circuit, the transmission circuit being configured to emit an alert signal when the processing unit detects an alert situation.

The invention will be better understood on reading the presentation of the exemplary embodiments presented, in the remainder of the description, in connection with the figures listed below.

FIGURES

There schematizes an alert module.

There shows the circuits arranged inside the alert module.

There represents an example of support allowing maintenance of the alert module described in connection with the .

Figures 3A and 3B show insertion of the alert module into the support.

There schematizes a connector of the alert module.

There shows a configuration of a coding circuit, forming part of the medium, defining an coding corresponding to a first type of medium.

There shows the coding circuit, described in connection with the , corresponding to a second type of support, different from the first type of support.

There illustrates a second embodiment.

There shows an external interface for selecting a medium in a device according to a third embodiment.

PRESENTATION OF SPECIAL MODES OF REALIZATION

We have shown, in Figures 1A, 1B, 2, 3A and 3B, a first embodiment of an alert device according to the invention.

The alert device comprises an alert module 1, shown in Figures 1A and 1B, as well as a support 10, shown in the . The alert module can for example be as described in FR3044455. It comprises an envelope 9 containing an actimetry circuit 4 as well as a processing unit 5. The actimetry circuit 4 comprises for example one or more movement or orientation sensors, for example an accelerometer and/or a gyrometer and/or a magnetometer. The actimetry circuit may in particular include an inertial unit.

Alert Module 1 is compact and portable. It is configured to be worn by the user while being held on a dedicated support 10. As described in the prior art, the support can be a belt, a pocket of a vest, or a specific location of a shoe, for example the tongue, or a helmet. In the example shown on the , the support 10 is an armband intended to be worn on the arm.

The actimetry circuit 4 is intended to generate an activity signal S _{a ct} , representative of an activity or posture of the user. The activity signal can be formed from measurements resulting from the sensors of the actimetry circuit. It may include a component formed from the accelerometer, and/or a component formed from the gyroscope, and/or a component formed from the magnetometer. The component resulting from the accelerometer can provide information regarding the user's posture, and detect a possible loss of verticality, that is to say a lying posture. It can also enable detection of abnormal acceleration fluctuations in the event of a fall or impact. The component resulting from the gyroscope and/or the magnetometer provides information relating to a movement of the user. It can also enable detection of abnormal activity, for example detection of a fall or shock.

The activity signal S _act is generated, by the actimetry circuit, at different measurement times. The activity signal can be a combination of components resulting from measurements carried out by the different sensors.

The processing unit 5 is programmed to identify an activity carried out by a user, and in particular an activity considered abnormal, from the activity signal S _act . Abnormal activity means a movement representative of a situation of distress for the user, for example a fall, an accident or marked tremors. At the level of the movement sensors, this can result in a sudden acceleration, followed by a period of inactivity, and/or rapid changes of orientation. A distress situation can also result in a period of immobility having a duration greater than a predefined threshold duration. Thus, the processing unit 5 is configured to classify the user's activity among at least one normal activity class and one abnormal activity class. The classification of user activity is carried out based on the activity signal S _act and previously recorded processing parameters. On the , the processing unit is separated from the actimetry circuit. According to a variant, the identification of the abnormal activity can be carried out at the level of the actimetry circuit: part of the processing unit can therefore be integrated into the actimetry circuit. The alert module 1 comprises a transmission circuit 6, connected to the processing unit 5. The transmission circuit is configured to emit an alert signal S, for example an alert signal S _al radio- frequency, when activated by the processing unit 5, after abnormal user activity has been detected.

The alert signal S _al is for example a telephone call to a pre-programmed number, for example an assistance service. The transmission circuit 6 may include a SIM card (acronym for the English term Subscriber Identity Module), in any format, capable of allowing a telephone call by a wireless telecommunications network, for example a GSM network, or a low-speed, long-distance cellular network, this type of network usually being dedicated to connected objects. Such networks are sometimes referred to by the English acronym “LPWAN”, meaning “Low Power Wide Area Network”. According to one possibility, the alert signal is a short-range signal, for example of the Wifi or Bluetooth type, so as to be received by a transmitter carried by the user. The transmitter is for example a mobile phone. The mobile phone is configured to allow the issuance of a telephone call to an assistance service when it receives the alert signal emitted by the alert module 1.

According to a variant, the processing unit 5 is remote from the alert module 1. The processing unit 5 can be a server remote from the alert module, and connected to the latter by a wireless link. In this case, the processing unit receives, via wireless connection, the activity signal S _act . The processing unit can be integrated into a cloud-type architecture. The transmission circuit 6 can also be remote from the alert module and integrated into a server or a cloud type architecture.

The inventors have noted that in order to improve the detection performance of an alert, that is to say reduce the number of false positives (false alerts) while avoiding false negatives (undetected alerts), it is preferable for the processing unit 5 to take into account the orientation of the alert module and/or the body area of the user facing which the alert module is worn. We understand that the parameters for detecting an alert situation may be different when module 1 is worn on the belt, or on the torso, or on the thigh or foot.

During normal user activity, the most mobile limb is the arm. Thus, if an actimetry signal carried at the level of the arm is likely to present greater fluctuations than an actimetry signal carried at the level of a lower limb, or the belt. When the fluctuation of the actimetry signal is used to identify an abnormal situation of the user, it is therefore preferable that the configuration of the processing, aimed at identifying an abnormal activity, is different depending on whether the alert module is brought to the level on the arm or at the waist.

When one of the treatment parameters is a loss of verticality, we understand that this parameter is relevant when the user wears the module at the level of an upper limb, such as the torso or the arm, because a loss of verticality corresponds to a lying posture of the user. A prolonged lying posture is representative of an alert situation. Conversely, when the module is worn at the level of the thigh or forearm, a loss of verticality may correspond to a seated posture of the user. However, a prolonged sitting posture is not likely to be representative of an alert situation.

The support holding the alert module is considered to define an orientation of the module, and, preferably, a body area facing which the alert module is worn.

A key element of the invention is the fact that the device comprises a coding circuit 13, intended to generate an identification code S _id , the latter being a code, preferably digital, depending on the support 10 holding the module. alert. The identification code S _id varies depending on the type of support 10 used. The processing unit 5 takes into account the identification code S _id depending on the support 10 maintaining the alert module. Depending on the identification code S _id , the processing unit 5 selects processing parameters which correspond to the type of support used.

A first set of processing parameters θ ₁ corresponds to a first type of support, for example a support worn on the belt. A second set of processing parameters θ ₂ corresponds to a second type of support, for example an cuff worn on the arm. A third set of processing parameters θ ₃ corresponds to a third type of support, for example a pocket in a safety vest… Generally speaking, the memory comprises N sets of processing parameters, each set of processing parameters θ _n of rank n being associated with a support of type n, n being an integer between 1 and N.

The memory 5' can be on-board memory or remote from the processing unit 5, for example in a remote, cloud-type server.

In the example shown on the , the alert module includes a connector 2, configured to be connected to a complementary connector 12, forming part of the support 10. In this example, connector 2 is a base.

There schematizes a support 10, of the armband type, configured to be worn on the arm of a user. By arm we mean the body area located between the elbow and the shoulder. The support 10 is configured to hold the alert module 1 vertically when the user's arm is vertical. A 10' strap, shown on the , allows the cuff 10 to be held on the user's arm. The support 10 comprises a coding circuit 13, connected to a complementary connector 12 by an electrical cable 11. The complementary connector 12 is intended to be connected to the connector 2 of the alert module 1. The cable 11 comprises different insulated electrical wires from each other. The coding circuit 13 is configured to interconnect the wires between them. The interconnection made by the coding circuit 13 is specific to the type of support 10 used.

There illustrates a wired connection of the alert module 1 on the support 10, which corresponds to a connection of the connector 2 on the complementary connector 12. The illustrates storage of the alert module 1, connected to the support 10, in the support allowing the alert module to be maintained. The support 10 can then be attached to the user's arm.

There illustrates connector 2. In this example, connector 2 is connected to ten GPIO (General Purpose Input Output) input ports of a microcontroller 3. Microcontroller 3 acts as a connection circuit, intended to be connected to the coding circuit 13 so as to generate the identification code Sid. Two (GPIO ports 8 and 9) are not used for identification purposes of the medium 10. The coding circuit 13 realizes an interconnection of at least one wire resulting from an input port with another wire resulting from another port of entry. In this example, the GPIO10 port corresponds to a wire connected to a ground potential. The coding circuit carries out:

• either a connection of the wires resulting from ports 1 to 7 to the ground potential (GPIO 10);
• or no connection of the wires, each unconnected wire thus being left at a floating potential.

On the , we have shown an example of interconnection specific to an armband type support. Only GPIO port 1 is connected with GPIO port 10. Other GPIO ports 2 to 7 are left floating.

On the , we have shown another example of interconnection, specific to another type of support, for example a belt. Only GPIO port 2 is connected with GPIO port 10. The other GPIO ports 1 and 3 to 7 are left floating.

It is understood that the coding circuit 13, dependent on the support 10, is designed to generate a code specific to the support used. In the example shown, it is a digital code, because it is defined according to the electrical interconnection made by the coding circuit. The microcontroller 12 is programmed to identify the GPIO ports connected, by the coding circuit 13, to the ground potential (GPIO 10) and the GPIO ports not interconnected by the coding circuit 13. The latter, left at a floating potential, are processed by the microcontroller so as to be “pulled upwards” using the pull-up technique. The potential of the floating wires corresponds to the supply voltage of the microcontroller. They are thus considered, by the microcontroller, as being 1 in binary value. The connected wires will be at 0V therefore analyzed as 0 in binary.

The coding circuit 13, when connected to the alert module, is thus configured to generate the identification code, the latter being a digital code. In the case of the examples shown in Figures 4B and 4C, the codes generated are 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 and 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 respectively. Using seven different GPIO ports, the number of different codes is equal to 127. This leaves the possibility of using 127 different media types.

The identification code S _id is transmitted to the processing unit 5. Depending on the identification code S _id , the processing unit 5 selects a set of processing parameters corresponding to the code, therefore to the type of media used . Thus, the processing of the actimetry signal S _act delivered by the actimetry circuit 4 is adapted to the type of support maintaining the alert module. This makes it possible to refine the classification of the actimetry signal, taking into account an orientation and a position of the alert module relative to the human body. This improves the specificity of detection (low rate of false positives) while improving the sensitivity of detection (low rate of false negatives).

For example, if the support is not taken into account, an alert is usually triggered when the activity signal indicates immobility for more than six minutes. The duration of six minutes was determined to limit the number of false alarms (false positives). By placing an alert module on an armband-type support, as previously described, experience shows that the duration of immobility can be reduced to 2.5 minutes. Taking the support into account makes it possible to reduce the duration of immobility leading to the issuance of an alert. The sensitivity of detecting an abnormal situation is thus improved.

There schematizes another embodiment, in which the connection between the support 10 and the alert module 1 is made by a wireless link. The alert module includes an NFC (Near Field communication) reader, intended to emit a short-range electromagnetic wave, typically a few centimeters to a few tens of centimeters. The NFC reader includes an antenna, configured to emit an electromagnetic wave, to perform RFID (Radiofrequency Identification) type identification. The electromagnetic wave emitted by the NFC chip can be at the frequency of 13.56 MHz. This frequency band allows good signal transmission through obstacles such as thin plastic or fabric.

According to this embodiment, the support 10 comprises a coding circuit 13 intended to be in wireless communication with the alert module 1. The coding circuit 13 comprises an RFID tag (or beacon), comprising an identifier, or code , representative of the type of support used. Under the effect of activation by the electromagnetic wave emitted by the alert module 10, the coding circuit 13 returns an electromagnetic wave including the identification of the support.

According to one possibility, described in connection with the , the alert module 1 is connected, by a wireless connection, for example wifi or bluetooth, to an external interface 13'. In the example shown, the external interface 13' is a smartphone (ordiphone), comprising an application allowing selection of the type of support in which the alert module will be used. The external interface 13' acts as a coding circuit. The external interface is operable by the user.

On the , four tactile icons are represented, corresponding respectively to four different types of support. The user can select a media type by activating one of the icons. The external interface 13' transmits the identification code S _id to the processing unit 5.

The invention could be implemented for the surveillance of people, for example vulnerable people or isolated people.

Claims (10)

Device for monitoring the activity of a user, the device comprising:

• an alert module (1), comprising an actimetry circuit (4), the actimetry circuit being configured to generate an activity signal (S _act ) depending on a posture and/or a movement of the user ;
• a processing unit (5), connected to the actimetry circuit, and programmed to process the activity signal so as to detect user activity as corresponding to an alert situation, the processing being carried out according to processing parameters;
• a support (10), intended to be worn by the user, the support being configured to hold the alert module;

the device being characterized in that

• the device comprises a coding circuit (13, 13'), configured to generate an identification code (S _id ) depending on the support;
• the processing unit is configured to:
  • receive the identification code (S _id );
  • select processing parameters based on the identification code;

so that the processing parameters depend on the support on which the alert module is maintained. Device according to claim 1, in which the coding circuit (13) is arranged on the support (10), the coding circuit being configured to be connected to the alert module. Device according to claim 2, in which

• the alert module comprises a connection circuit (3);
• the coding circuit (13) is configured to be connected to the link circuit, by a wire connection, so that the connection of the link circuit with the coding circuit allows the generation of the identification code.

Device according to claim 3 in which

• the link circuit (3) of the alert module is a microcontroller, configured to transmit the coding signal to the processing unit;
• or the link circuit of the alert module is integrated into the processing unit.

Device according to claim 2, in which:

• the support and the alert module are configured to be connected to each other by a short-range wireless link;
• the support comprises a transmitter of an electromagnetic wave, comprising an identifier of the support, the transmitter forming the coding circuit;
• the alert module is configured to receive the electromagnetic wave emitted by the transmitter, the received electromagnetic wave comprising the coding signal.

Device according to claim 1, in which the alert module is configured to be connected, by wireless link, to an interface (13') remote from the alert module, and to receive the identification code transmitted by the interface. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which:

• the processing unit is connected to a memory (5'), the memory comprising different sets of processing parameters (θ _1, θ _2, θ _3, θ _n ), each set of processing parameters corresponding to a type of medium ;
• the processing unit is programmed to select, from the identification signal, a set of processing parameters from the sets of stored processing parameters.

Device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the processing unit is arranged in the alert module. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, in which the processing unit is remote from the alert module. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a transmission circuit, the transmission circuit being configured to emit an alert signal when the processing unit detects an alert situation.