# US 12,120,258 B2 · System and apparatus for mitigating of bad posture and property loss through computer-assisted appliance

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- Number: US 12,120,258 B2
- Document ID: US12120258B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/483,967
- Filed: 2023-10-10
- Published: 2024-04-04
- Granted: 2024-10-15
- Earliest claimed: 2011-07-13
- Applicants: Andrew Nichols
- Inventors: Andrew Nichols
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12120258B2

## CPC

- H04M 1/72412: using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
- A61B 5/0024: {for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network}
- A61B 5/1117: {Fall detection}
- A61B 5/486: {Biofeedback (using electroencephalography [EEG] A61B5/375)}
- A61B 5/7405: {using sound}
- A61B 5/7455: {characterised by tactile indication, e.g. vibration or electrical stimulation}
- A61B 5/746: {Alarms related to a physiological condition, e.g. details of setting alarm thresholds or avoiding false alarms}
- G08B 13/1427: {with transmitter-receiver for distance detection}
- G08B 21/0227: {System arrangements with a plurality of child units}
- H04W 4/12: Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
- H04W 4/50: Service provisioning or reconfiguring
- H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
- A61B 2562/0219: Inertial sensors, e.g. accelerometers, gyroscopes, tilt switches
- H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

A wireless, programmable system, including one or more sensors devices, a controller device, and a wireless communication link that operationally connects the sensor device to the controller device(s). The system may alert when a sensor device and controller device exceed a predetermined threshold of distance and/or time. Controller device(s) may also be, or in addition to, a handheld computer device, such as a smartphone. In some other embodiments, the system may be used to detect body positions and/or train a user to achieve desired postures.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system for alerting a user of a deviation from or a return to a targeted posture or position, comprising:
one or more sensors;
a controller device in communication with the one or more sensors;
a display device in communication with the controller device, wherein the display device displays a body avatar;
wherein one or more virtual sensors are positioned on the body avatar at locations corresponding to the targeted posture or position;
wherein the user positions the one or more sensors at locations of the body corresponding to the virtual sensors; and
a memory device storing a degree of deviation relative to coordinates of the virtual sensors and a predetermined time period relative to the degree of deviation;
wherein the controller device or the one or more sensors generates a vibration and/or sound and/or visual alarm/alert whenever the user position, determined by the one or more sensors, exceeds the degree of deviation or returns within the degree of deviation for the predetermined time period.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the memory stores a plurality of different targeted postures or positions, wherein each of the plurality of different targeted postures or positions corresponds to a different activity.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, wherein the avatars for each of the different activities have virtual sensors positioned at different sets of locations.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the degree of deviation is a degree of deviation from a horizontal plane or a vertical plane of the one or more sensors.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are attached to the user or apparel of the user.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the controller device is programmed to distinguish each of the one or more sensors by its unique digital signature.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the display device illustrates the deviation.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the controller device is configured to track progress of the user over time.