GB2539883A - Monitoring and communication systems - Google Patents
Monitoring and communication systems Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2539883A GB2539883A GB1511213.9A GB201511213A GB2539883A GB 2539883 A GB2539883 A GB 2539883A GB 201511213 A GB201511213 A GB 201511213A GB 2539883 A GB2539883 A GB 2539883A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- recording
- audio
- person
- location
- transmission unit
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 238000012544 monitoring process Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 15
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 11
- 230000005540 biological transmission Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 20
- 230000003993 interaction Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 5
- 238000004458 analytical method Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000001960 triggered effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 6
- 230000001755 vocal effect Effects 0.000 abstract description 3
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 abstract 1
- 238000005516 engineering process Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000002411 adverse Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000006399 behavior Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000009429 distress Effects 0.000 description 2
- 230000002747 voluntary effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 206010033799 Paralysis Diseases 0.000 description 1
- 238000001514 detection method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000012806 monitoring device Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000474 nursing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000246 remedial effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000035882 stress Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000007 visual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000036642 wellbeing Effects 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B25/00—Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems
- G08B25/01—Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems characterised by the transmission medium
- G08B25/016—Personal emergency signalling and security systems
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B25/00—Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems
- G08B25/01—Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems characterised by the transmission medium
- G08B25/012—Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems characterised by the transmission medium using recorded signals, e.g. speech
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B21/00—Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
- G08B21/02—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G08—SIGNALLING
- G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G08B13/00—Burglar, theft or intruder alarms
- G08B13/18—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength
- G08B13/189—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength using passive radiation detection systems
- G08B13/194—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength using passive radiation detection systems using image scanning and comparing systems
- G08B13/196—Actuation by interference with heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength; Actuation by intruding sources of heat, light, or radiation of shorter wavelength using passive radiation detection systems using image scanning and comparing systems using television cameras
- G08B13/19697—Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G10—MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS; ACOUSTICS
- G10L—SPEECH ANALYSIS OR SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING
- G10L15/00—Speech recognition
- G10L15/26—Speech to text systems
Abstract
A monitoring and communication system for remotely monitoring persons 2 being cared for in a location 1, comprising an actuator 4 for triggering a recording and transmission unit 3 which records interaction between the carer and persons, using a camera or microphone, stores it in memory and transmits an audio or audio-visual to a remote server 5 where it is converted to a text file. The text file is analysed against a predefined criteria of words and frequency of words, to establish if the presence of inappropriate care service has occurred, and if so, then sends a notification to one or more persons 8 remote from the location. Audio or audio-visual recording can also be triggered by a response to a change in the activity of the person or their surroundings. The system is particularly suitable for detecting verbal assault in a care environment.
Description
MONITORING AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
This invention relates to monitoring and communication systems, and in particular to systems designed to provide appropriate automated alerts when things go wrong.
The present invention relates to monitoring the behaviour and activity of individual people. It is particularly directed to monitoring the interaction between two or more individuals and may be applied in a very wide variety of circumstances.
One particular area of application relates to the care and treatment of individuals in the care of others. This may be in a care home, nursing home, hospital or medical centre. While in most cases and most of the time the interaction between individuals who are being cared for or taken care of gives rise to no problems, it is regrettably the case that, sometimes, a carer, or someone else interacting with the person being cared for, engages in behaviour which is at least unacceptable and at worst criminal. There have been numerous documented cases where those in care have been badly treated or abused by their carers, causing them distress and causing distress to their relatives, friends or others with whom they are close.
Monitoring systems in accordance with the present invention are based on the proposition that a lack of due care is often evidenced verbally, in verbal exchanges between individuals or verbal assault by one individual on another. This may or may not be accompanied by physical assault, but, in either case, it is desirable to detect adverse or untoward interaction sooner rather than later, and to alert others to what is going on in order that any adverse interaction is halted and any remedial action which is necessary can be taken in prompt and timely fashion. That action, which may take a variety of forms, will normally be taken by other individuals remote from the location where the difficulties arise or become evident.
According broadly to the present invention, there is provided a monitoring and communication system for interaction between a person at a location and persons remote from that location, the system comprising: a recording and transmission unit at the location, the recording and transmission unit including - a camera - a microphone - means to produce an audio-visual recording and store it in a memory - means to produce an audio recording and store it in a memory - means to transmit the audio-visual recording to a remote server - means to transmit the audio recording to a remote server - means to commence the production of an audio or audio-visual recording on receipt of a signal initiated by the person means at the location enabling the person or a change in the activity of the person or their surroundings to actuate the recording and transmission unit to start an audio or audio-visual recording, a remote server adapted to receive recordings made by the recording and transmission unit, means associated with the remote server adapted to produce a text file corresponding to the audio recording or the audio position of an audiovisual recording, and means associated with the remote server and adapted to analyse the content of the text file relative to the presence and frequency of occurrence of words in it and, if the text file analysis meets certain predefined criteria, to send a notification to one or more persons remote from the location.
Such a system enables monitoring of interaction, on an on-demand rather than continuous basis. This is accordingly efficient in terms of the use of resource compared, for example, with CCTV recording systems which tend to be used for continuous visual monitoring and, as is widely appreciated, most of the time nothing of interest occurs. In the use of the systems according to the present invention, in contrast, monitoring may be triggered by an individual in care. Means may also be provided to enable monitoring to be triggered by a person remote from the location, for example by a concerned relative or a regulatory authority.
The communication between the recording and transmission unit at the location and the remote server is conveniently provided by the use of the internet, and customary internet protocols and security measures can be applied as desired to provide the necessary degree of security. Auditing and recording systems may be associated with the system in order to enable interactions which give rise to concern to be reproduced at a later point in time and, if necessary, used in evidence in investigatory or criminal proceedings.
One specific area of application will now be described in detail in order to illustrate how the invention can be put into practice, but this description should be taken as reflecting one example of the wide variety of possible applications and should not be taken as limitative.
The description which follows makes reference to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic illustration of a system used for monitoring care in a care home and detecting and alerting inappropriate interactions between a carer or someone else in that care home and a person being cared for.
Referring to the drawing, there is shown at the top, diagrammatically, a care home room 1 which is occupied by a person being cared for 2. Located in the room is a recording and transmission unit 3 which includes a camera and a microphone and which is capable of sending a signal to a remote location. The unit may be actuated by the operation of an actuator 4 which may be held by or incorporated in something worn by the person being cared for. For example, that person may wear a bracelet or armband including an actuation button which, when pressed, sends a signal to actuate the recording and transmission unit. A wide variety of technical solutions to communication between the actuator unit and the recording and transmission unit may be employed, for example using a conventional communication system, such as Bluetooth.
The recording and transmission unit 3 is connected either by way of physical wired connection or by way of customary wireless technology to a local area network installed in the building containing the room 1.
If, for example, the person being cared for is threatened or verbally abused by someone else, they can actuate the unit 3 by using actuator 4 and, following that actuation, the unit 3 will act to capture and transmit an audio or audio-visual record to a remote server 5 via the local area network connection and the cloud, denoted 6 in the drawing.
The server 5, on receipt of a signal from the recording and transmission unit 3, can then download the appropriate material and store it in memory. The material may then be subjected to analysis, either on the server 5 itself or by using appropriate computer technology located elsewhere, in order to produce a sound file corresponding to the audio-visual record and to subject that sound file to speech recognition processing in order to produce a text file reflecting the interaction.
This process may be carried out using substantial computer-based analytic technology, and the accuracy of the production of the text file may be promoted by the storage on the server 5 of an appropriate voice/speech profile corresponding to the voice and speech of the person being cared for.
Following the production of a text file, this is subjected to a computer-based analysis to see if the text file appears to meet relevant criteria which might give cause for concern. For example, the text file may be processed to check the occurrence of a list of standard swear words or derogatory terms and, if the occurrence is above a pre-set threshold, then this can trigger an alert.
The server 5 is programmed, in such circumstances, to send a message, conveniently a simple text message, via the cloud 6 to mobile devices and optionally also e-mail addresses associated with remotely situated individuals identified as 8 on the drawing. Each of those individuals would then be alerted to the possibility that there was a problem and they could then take appropriate action. It is highly preferred that the individuals 8 can access the text file which has been produced by server 5, and it is straightforward using modern computer-based communications technology to ensure that that can be done simply and easily. If the server sends out an e-mail to the e-mail address of a registered user of the system, i.e. to one of the individuals 8, then that individual can, as soon as they are conveniently placed to do so, log into the system and e.g. download the text file for display on their screen. If the server sends a text message to a handheld mobile telephone or smartphone, again the individual 8 can be alerted and take suitable action. In the case of smartphone users, they may be provided with an app which, once downloaded, provides the functionality needed to enable the user of the device to view or listen to recorded material or to make contact with carers, the person in care, or others.
If the individual 8 wants more detail, for example to listen to the audio record from which the text file was constructed, that can be straightforwardly programmed into the system, and, indeed, the system may even enable a view of the audio-visual recording to be streamed to the individual 8’s computer, terminal or mobile device. If the individual 8 is logged into their account with the system provider, they may be able simply to click on a link to display the original video record and can then decide, for example, if there is evidence of an abusive situation, and take action accordingly.
If the individual 8, on seeing a text file, or listening to an audio recording or viewing an audio-visual recording, feels that there is indeed cause for concern, then they can rapidly get in touch with the care home management and enquire what is going on.
It will be appreciated that if one of the individuals 8 wished to monitor the well-being of the person being cared for, then the system may provide that those individuals can log on to the server 5 and trigger the actuation of the recording and transmission unit 3.
The physical presentation of the recording and transmission unit 3 may be overt or covert. It is sometimes the case that covert surveillance is needed, in which case the unit may be disguised in some way, for example so that it looks to outward appearances like a radio or television receiver, digital photoframe or the like. Alternatively, and this clearly has a greater deterrent effect, the unit 3 may be in the form of an obvious communications unit, for example as shown in the Figure, as a box on top of a chest of drawers and having a suitable wide-angle surveillance camera system mounted in it. It may also include sensors so that if it is moved, covered or tampered with, it reports that this has occurred to the server 5.
Since the detailed application of the system may vary widely, the programming of the server and the way in which the information may be gathered, secured, audited and the like can vary widely.
As described above, the actuation of the recording and transmission unit 3 occurs by the person in care 2 operating an actuator 4. It is entirely feasible to equip the system so that the recording and transmission unit 3 is actuated following other stimuli. For example, it may be triggered if the noise level in the room rises above a certain level, or rises suddenly, for example if someone is shouting, or it may be triggered by a monitoring device associated with the person in care. For example, a pulse detection monitor may be incorporated into a bracelet worn by the person in care, and if, for example, the pulse rate goes above a certain level (which can often reflect stress), or suddenly increases due to fright, then the system may be triggered automatically without the person being cared for having to take any voluntary action. This is of particular value when the person in care is incapable of much in the way of voluntary action, for example with major paralysis following a stroke.
Additionally, the system may be programmed to operate the recording and transmission device at preset times, for example the scheduled times at which the person in care is meant to be fed, medicated, or even simply visited. This can be used to check that the person in care is in fact being fed or medicated at the times prescribed, rather than being neglected.
Claims (2)
1. A monitoring and communications system for interaction between a person at a location and persons remote from that location, the system comprising: a recording and transmission unit at the location, the recording and transmission unit including - a camera - a microphone - means to produce an audio-visual recording and store it in a memory - means to produce an audio recording and store it in a memory - means to transmit the audio-visual recording to a remote server - means to transmit the audio recording to a remote server - means to commence the production of an audio or audio-visual recording on receipt of a signal initiated by the person means at the location enabling the person or a change in the activity of the person or their surroundings to actuate the recording and transmission unit to start an audio or audio-visual recording, a remote server adapted to receive recordings made by the recording and transmission unit, means associated with the remote server adapted to produce a text file corresponding to the audio recording or the audio position of an audiovisual recording, and means associated with the remote server and adapted to analyse the content of the text file relative to the presence and frequency of occurrence of words in it and, if the text file analysis meets certain predefined criteria, to send a notification to one or more persons remote from the location.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1511213.9A GB2539883B (en) | 2015-06-25 | 2015-06-25 | Monitoring and communication systems |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1511213.9A GB2539883B (en) | 2015-06-25 | 2015-06-25 | Monitoring and communication systems |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB201511213D0 GB201511213D0 (en) | 2015-08-12 |
| GB2539883A true GB2539883A (en) | 2017-01-04 |
| GB2539883B GB2539883B (en) | 2019-05-08 |
Family
ID=53872233
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1511213.9A Expired - Fee Related GB2539883B (en) | 2015-06-25 | 2015-06-25 | Monitoring and communication systems |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2539883B (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2588695A (en) * | 2019-10-28 | 2021-05-05 | James Rolfe Ashley | Monitoring system for the prevention of mistreatment of a person in care |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3529167A1 (en) * | 1985-08-14 | 1987-02-26 | Siemens Ag | Emergency alarm system to protect an enclosed security zone |
| JP2005032139A (en) * | 2003-07-10 | 2005-02-03 | Advanced Media Inc | Information processing means for care support, information processing means for nursing support, and care or nursing support system |
| JP2008165097A (en) * | 2006-12-29 | 2008-07-17 | Mariko Kawashima | Voice recording device and voice data analyzing device for use targeting prevention against ill-treatment |
| GB2448408A (en) * | 2007-04-10 | 2008-10-15 | Gen Electric | Systems and methods for active listening/observing and event detection |
-
2015
- 2015-06-25 GB GB1511213.9A patent/GB2539883B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE3529167A1 (en) * | 1985-08-14 | 1987-02-26 | Siemens Ag | Emergency alarm system to protect an enclosed security zone |
| JP2005032139A (en) * | 2003-07-10 | 2005-02-03 | Advanced Media Inc | Information processing means for care support, information processing means for nursing support, and care or nursing support system |
| JP2008165097A (en) * | 2006-12-29 | 2008-07-17 | Mariko Kawashima | Voice recording device and voice data analyzing device for use targeting prevention against ill-treatment |
| GB2448408A (en) * | 2007-04-10 | 2008-10-15 | Gen Electric | Systems and methods for active listening/observing and event detection |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2588695A (en) * | 2019-10-28 | 2021-05-05 | James Rolfe Ashley | Monitoring system for the prevention of mistreatment of a person in care |
| US11282366B2 (en) | 2019-10-28 | 2022-03-22 | Ashley Rolfe | Monitoring system for the prevention of mistreatment of a person in care |
| GB2588695B (en) * | 2019-10-28 | 2022-03-30 | James Rolfe Ashley | Monitoring system for the prevention of mistreatment of a person in care |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB201511213D0 (en) | 2015-08-12 |
| GB2539883B (en) | 2019-05-08 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 20230625 |