Using audio signals in personal emergency response systems

摘要

A personal emergency response (PER) device may include an audio sensor that is used to enhance the operation of the PER device. The audio sensor may obtain audio data that can be used to verify whether a fall event that is detected by the PER device is a false positive signal and/or enhance the reliability of a detected fall event. In some implementations, the audio data may be used in the detection of vehicle crashes in which a user of the PER device is involved.

主权项

1. A personal emergency response (PER) device comprising:
an accelerometer to sense acceleration of the PER device; at least one processor; and a memory including instructions, that when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
detect a fall event based on acceleration data sensed by the accelerometer;record, based on the detection of the fall event, audio data;determine, based on the recorded audio data, whether the detection of the fall event is a false positive signal, the determination including:
classifying the audio data into one of two classes including:
a first class that is assigned for sounds associated with any one of user distress, explicit calls for help by the user, and silence, anda second class that includes sounds associated with the user not being in distress;determining that the detection of the fall event is not a false positive signal when the audio data is classified in the first class;determining that the detection of the fall event is a false positive signal when the audio data is classified in the second class; andcontact an emergency response center when the fall event is determined to not be a false positive signal.