Integrated Sensor Network Methods and Systems

Abstract

Methods and systems for an integrated sensor network are described. In one embodiment, sensor data may be accessed from a plurality of motion sensors and a bed sensor deployed in a living unit for a first time period. An activity pattern for the first time period may be identified based on at least a portion of sensor data associated with the first time period. The activity pattern may represent a physical and cognitive health condition of a person residing in the living unit. Additional sensor data may be accessed from the motion sensors and the bed sensor deployed for a second time period. A determination of whether a deviation of the activity pattern of the first time period has occurred for the second time period may be performed. An alert may be generated based on a determination that the derivation has occurred. In some embodiments, user feedback is captured on the significance of the alerts, and the alert method is customized based on this feedback. Additional methods and systems are disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a sensor network, the sensor network comprising a plurality of motion sensors and a bed sensor for deployment in a living unit; and   a processor for cooperation with the sensor network, the processor configured to:
 access sensor data from a plurality of the motion sensors and the bed sensor for a first time period; 
 identify an activity pattern for the first time period based on at least a portion of sensor data associated with the first time period; 
 access additional sensor data from the plurality of motion sensors and the bed sensor for a second time period, the second time period occurring after the first time period; 
 determine whether a deviation of the activity pattern of the first time period has occurred for the second time period; and 
 generate an alert based on a determination that the deviation has occurred. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the activity pattern includes a plurality of features and the deviation is associated with a particular feature of the plurality of features. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 identify the activity pattern for the second time period based on access of the additional sensor data associated with the second time period; and   wherein the determination of whether the deviation has occurred includes a determination of whether the deviation of the activity pattern of the second time period from the activity pattern of the first time period exceeds a threshold.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of motion sensors and the bed sensor are passive, non-wearable sensors. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first period of time has a same time duration as the second period of time. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 calculate statistical parameters of at least a portion of the sensor data for the first time period; and   wherein the determination of whether the deviation has occurred includes a determination of whether at least a portion of the additional sensor data for the second time period is outside of a threshold, wherein the threshold is based on the statistical parameters.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 transmit the alert including a link to a web interface, the web interface including the sensor data of the second time period in the context of the sensor data of the first time period.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 receive a feedback response to the alert, feedback response including feedback regarding clinical relevance of the alert; and   take action based on receipt of the feedback response.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein taking the action comprises:
 adjusting the threshold, the sensor parameter used for the alert, or both based on the receipt of the feedback response.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the activity pattern includes a plurality of features. 
     
     
         11 . A method comprising:
 accessing sensor data from a plurality of motion sensors and a bed sensor deployed in a living unit for a first time period;   identifying an activity pattern for the first time period based on at least a portion of sensor data associated with the first time period;   accessing additional sensor data from the plurality of motion sensors and the bed sensor deployed in the living unit for a second time period, the second time period occurring after the first time period;   determining whether a deviation of the activity pattern of the first time period has occurred for the second time period; and   generating an alert based on a determination that the deviation has occurred.   
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 accessing sensor data from a plurality of motion sensors and a bed sensor deployed in a living unit for a time period; and   generating a display based on access of the sensor data associated with the time period.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the sensor data is grouped on the display based on a plurality of categories, the plurality of categories include motion, pulse, breathing, and restlessness. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving a selection of a person and a date range; and   wherein accessing sensor data from the plurality of motion sensors and the bed sensor for the time period is based on receipt of the selection.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving a time interval modification request; and   wherein generation of the display is based on access of the sensor data associated with the time period and receipt of the time interval modification request.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 receiving a time increment modification request; and   wherein generation of the display is based on access of the sensor data associated with the time period and receipt of the time increment modification request.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 determining an away-from-home time period for a person associated with the living unit during the time period; and   wherein generation of the display is based on access of the sensor data and a determination of the away-from-home time period.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein determining the away-from home time period comprises:
 analyzing the sensor data to determine whether a living unit departure sensor sequence and a living unit return sensor sequence has occurred; and   calculating a time difference between occurrence of the living unit departure sensor sequence and occurrence of the living unit return sensor sequence, wherein the away-from home time period is based on the time difference.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 computing a number of motion sensor hits for a plurality of hours, a single motion sensor hit being associated with a particular motion sensor of the plurality of motion sensors, the time period including the plurality of hours; and   calculating density for the plurality of hours, the density for a particular hour of the plurality of hours being based on the number of motion sensor hits during the particular hour and the determination of the away-from-home time period; and   wherein generation of the display is based on calculation of the density.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein generation of the display comprises:
 selecting a plurality of color mappings, a particular color mapping having a color based on the density and being associated with a position based on the particular hour and a particular day, the time period including a plurality of days; and   wherein generation of the display is based on selection of the plurality of color mappings.