System and method of user mobility monitoring

#This application is the U.S. national stage application of International Application PCT/GB2017/053525, filed Nov. 23, 2017, which international application was published on May 31, 2018, as International Publication WO 2018/096337 in the English language. The International Application claims priority of British Patent Application No. 1619800.4, filed Nov. 23, 2016. The international application and British application are both incorporated herein by reference, in entirety.

#The present invention relates to a user mobility monitoring system, together with a method of monitoring the mobility of a user.

#As standards of living rise across the globe and medical technology improves there are increasing numbers of people who require some degree of care during their daily lives. This is primarily due to an aging population although similar issues apply to younger people with disabilities or medium to long term medical conditions. It is desirable for such people to remain in their homes and communities since this has a positive effect on their well-being. In a hospital environment or a care home, systems and staff exist to regularly check on residents. If people remain in their homes then, particularly in westernised society where fewer family members live in each household, a significant problem exists in ensuring the safety of such vulnerable people. One approach to address this is to arrange carers to contact or visit the vulnerable person a number of times a day (analogous to the hospital or care home approach). In many situations this is impractical and costly. Even with such an approach a vulnerable person who suffers some form of medical emergency or accident could be without help for a number of hours. Often such vulnerable people wish to be independent and do not always welcome regular “checking up” by others. Furthermore, vulnerable people often do not wish to “burden” others with their care and therefore may conceal their need for help.

#Some embodiments of a user mobility monitoring system and method according to the invention are now discussed below with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:

#FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a system according to a first embodiment;

#FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a method according to the first embodiment;

#We now describe an embodiment of the invention. Firstly we discuss suitable apparatus to implement the embodiment in association with FIG. 1. Secondly we then describe how the apparatus may be used to implement a practical user mobility monitoring system. Some specific use case examples are also provided to demonstrate practical applications.

#The system now described is denoted the CuraPal™ system. This has two principal parts as shown in FIG. 1: a user-wearable device 1 (CuraPal™ Device) for obtaining data describing the activity of the user, and a remote analysis system 2 (CuraPal™ Cloud) for analysing the monitored data and detecting a user instability event such as a fall by the user. When operational these two principal parts communicate by an intervening network taking the form of an internet connected wireless LAN which is indicated by a router 3 and arrow 4 (denoting the Internet) in FIG. 1.

#The two principal parts of the system 100 are now discussed in detail.