Method and apparatus for fall detection and alarm

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and apparatus for indicating a fall of a user by means of an alarm message. According to the invention, the apparatus (20) comprises a unit (21) for receiving a first alarm message (FAM) sent by a fall detector (30) intended to be worn on the user, the first alarm message indicating whether a fall event in association with the user occurs, which first alarm message is determined by air-pressure data and user motion data detected by the fall detector (30); a unit (22) for acquiring weather data reflecting the weather condition of the area where the user is situated; a unit (23) for determining whether or not the first alarm message is reliable, based on said weather data and predetermined criteria; and an output unit (24) for generating and outputting a fall alarm when the first alarm message is determined as being reliable. The apparatus dramatically reduces false alarms by acquiring weather data for determining the reliability of alarm messages generated by the air-pressure sensor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.