ORIENTATION AID SYSTEM FOR BLIND PEOPLE

Abstract

The present invention is part of the aid devices for blind people and in particular for the dedicated orientation systems. In particular, the present system is suitable both as a domestic aid as well as outdoors, advantageously leaving the user's hands free.

Claims

1. Orientation aid system (1) for blind people comprising at least a first fixed radio device (2) receiver and/or transmitter, positioned in any open or closed space and at least one further mobile radio device (5) receiver and/or transmitter, and at least one remote server (3) connected to at least one fixed radio device (2), said first mobile radio device (5) being supplied to at least one user (U) characterized in that said system comprises at least one further second fixed radio device (4) receiver/transmitter, said first fixed radio device (2) being the master device (2), said remote server (3) being connected to said master device (2), said master device (2) being connected to at least a second fixed slave device (4), said at least one slave device (4) being able to connect with at least said first mobile radio device (5), said first mobile radio device (5) is adapted to be housed in a first wearable accessory (5a), said system comprising at least a second mobile radio device (6) receiver/transmitter, said second mobile radio device (6) being housed in a second wearable accessory (6a), said second device mobile radio (6) being adapted to connect with said first mobile radio device (5), said second mobile device (6) being adapted to communicate at least one audio message to at least said user (U) wearing it to allow the user (U) to orientate oneself in moving in open/closed spaces in safety, said first and said second wearable accessory (5a, 6a) leaving the user's hands always free.

2. Orientation aid system (1) for blind people according to claim 1, wherein said mobile device (5) comprises at least two radio modules, for example Bluetooth.

3. Orientation aid system (1) for blind people according to the preceding claims, wherein said first wearable accessory (5a) being a bracelet, a watch, a necklace, or other means suitable for the purpose being wearable without encumbrance of the hands of the user (U) and said second wearable accessory (6a) being for example an earphone, a necklace or other object suitable for the purpose.

4. Orientation aid system (1) for blind people according to the preceding claims, wherein said first wearable accessory (5a) also comprises a gyroscope.

5. Orientation aid system (1) for blind people according to the preceding claims, wherein said system also comprises at least a further fixed auxiliary device comprising a radio receiver/transmitter device (7) and comprising means suitable for sending audible and luminous warnings.

6. Orientation aid system (1) for blind people according to the preceding claims, wherein said at least one second mobile device (6) comprises at least one loudspeaker and is included in a wearable accessory (6a) such as an earphone or an earring, or it is suitable to be integrated in a hat or in the arm of a pair of glasses, or it can be equipped with pliers or pin to hook it in an area of the user's clothing that is comfortable to be heard.

7. Orientation aid system (1) for blind people according to the preceding claims in which a first master device (2) is positioned in an open or closed space equipped with WI-FI connection to connect to at least one cloud server (3) said server (3) comprising at least information about users (U) owners of the master (2 . . . 2n), slave devices (4 . . . 4n) and mobile (5 . . . 5n, 6 . . . 6n), positioning of masters (5 . . . 5n) and slaves (6 . . . 6n), identification of the respective masters and slaves also in relation to the position as well as of the mobile devices, said master and slave devices being positioned in public and/or private places indoor and outdoor, i.e. homes, pharmacies, shops, parks, public transport, bus stops etc., a master and a certain number of slave devices being positioned up to cover at least one area of interest.

8. Method for implementing the orientation aid system (1) for blind people as described in the preceding claims wherein said method comprises at least the following steps: wear mobile devices (5,6) by a user (U); connection of at least one master device (2) to the remote cloud server (3) via radio; connection of said master device (2) to at least one (or more) further slave device(s) (4 . . . 4n) via radio; connection between a first (5a) and a second (6a) wearable accessory (e.g. connection between bracelet and earphone) via radio; registration on the cloud server (3) of both fixed devices (2,4) and mobile devices (5,6) integrated in wearable accessories (5a, 6a) with the credentials of the owners and their personal data; configuration and personalization of one or more fixed master (2) and/or slave (4) devices as markers, or to signal a place/situation and/or the like, with data to be sent to at least one wearable device (5) once said device will connect to it; recognition of the primary wearable device (5a) by means of the data present in the cloud (3) stored during registration, subsequent connection for example via Bluetooth between the primary wearable accessory (5) and the slave device (4); when a first wearable accessory (5) enters the radio field emitted by a fixed slave device (4), sending data from the cloud (3), to the master fixed device (2), subsequently to the slave fixed device (4) to which the primary wearable accessory (5a) is connected; decoding of the data by the primary wearable device (5a) and sending of said data to the secondary wearable device (6a); representation of the data received on the secondary wearable device (6a) by sound and/or visual means at least; optionally sending said data by the master fixed device (2) to at least one slave device (4) with the possibility of representing said data in an audio and visual form, for example, on said slave device (4); orientation of one or more users (U) in open and/or closed spaces in safety keeping hands free.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0049] These and further advantages obtained thanks to the innovative orientation aid system for blind people described by the present invention will be better clarified and described with reference to the attached figures, which have an explanatory and non-limiting purpose of the contents of the present invention.

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a schematic assembly of the system, in its physical parts and functions;

[0051] FIG. 2 shows an example of application in an open space.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0052] FIG. 1 shows a graphic example of the architecture of a preferred embodiment of the orientation aid system 1 for blind people in which the master marker 2 is connected via Wi-Fi to a cloud/server 3 and two slave markers 4 and 4′, in turn the slave marker 4 is connected for example via Bluetooth to the primary mobile device 5, integrated as already mentioned for example in a bracelet 5a, i.e. wearable accessory, worn on the wrist of a blind user, said bracelet 5a is connected via Bluetooth to a secondary wearable accessory, for example an earphone worn in the ear of a blind user U (not shown here).

[0053] The bracelet 5 (for convenience, the primary mobile device/accessory assembly can be summarized) can be connected via radio to marker 4 when it is at a predetermined distance from it, said distance being settable for each marker, for example by acting on the signal strength radio emitted. When paired, the bracelet 5a is then recognized by the cloud server 3.

[0054] All information relating to markers 2, 4, 4′ and devices/bracelets 5,5a are recorded on the server/cloud 3, in particular the server/cloud 3 which can for example be based on calculation and storage functions, in a first phase of pre-installation of the markers, will be arranged for the registration of the end user by means of a web page, IOS or Android app to give consent to the acquisition of their data in compliance with international directives, insert personal data and further data such as information on the positioning of one or more markers, recording and managing preferably voice messages to be transmitted to the bracelets and anything else that can be programmed or implemented at will. The cloud server will also be able to record information about the owner of one or more bracelets.

[0055] Every single Marker 4, 4′ . . . 4n after setting and association with a user code generated in the pre-installation phase, each time it performs the pairing with a bracelet 5 i.e. when the bracelet is near the marker 4, it transmits data such as bracelet identification, connection date and time, marker identification. Said cloud or server will therefore verify the existence of said identifiers in the database, and with this information alone, there will be multiple actions that can be performed such as, for example, tracing the owner of the device and locating it.

[0056] In addition to this, in a completely innovative and advantageous way, data will be sent from the cloud 3 by means of the master markers 2 . . . 2n and slave 4 . . . 4n to the bracelet 5 . . . 5n which will be converted into audio formats and transmitted to the earphone 6 . . . 6n by bracelet 5 which will inform the blind user by means of an audio message consisting of the information previously entered on the server and relating to that marker 4 to which said bracelet 5 is connected. In particular, still in a completely innovative way, the blind person can for example be informed of being near an obstacle (a step), a danger (a road junction), a commercial activity, tourist information, etc.

[0057] In addition, the bracelet 5a being equipped with gyroscopic devices, will be able to provide data on the subject's movements and in particular it will be possible to monitor any states of potential danger to the person, for example by comparing the gyroscopic data for a period of time more or less long. Since these data must be constant over time and transmitted by the same marker, they could indicate the absence of movement and therefore a possible illness. In this case, the cloud/server identifying the general information and the contacts entered relating to the owner can promptly alert, for example, a family member for investigations.

[0058] Furthermore, the analysis of the data relating to all the blind owners of the bracelet may suggest improvements to the infrastructures and architectural barriers thanks to an assessment of the preferential movements of these people.

[0059] FIG. 2 shows a typical case of use of the innovative orientation aid system for the blind 1 applied in an external environment.

[0060] A user U wearing the bracelet 5a with which the earphone 6a is associated (to be clear: the wearable device 6a is or includes the secondary mobile device 6) approaches the pharmacy where at least one marker (slave) 4 is installed the bracelet enters the range of action of the marker, said bracelet is recognized through a query from the cloud server (through the passage of data between a slave marker, a master marker and the cloud) if the bracelet device is registered on the system, the data is sent from the server characterizing the slave marker with which the connection took place. Said data which will for example be encoded as vocal and which will then pass from the server to the master marker to the slave marker to the bracelet and finally to the earphone, will be audible as an acoustic message to the user; in this case a message could be the simple warning of being in front of a pharmacy, or of paying attention to a step before entering.

[0061] In a variant of the system, there may also be a secondary fixed device 7 which can warn the pharmacy staff that a blind person is approaching, alerting the staff employed with acoustic and luminous means. In the same way, said secondary fixed device, with said acoustic means, can invite the blind customer to wait for the arrival of a person in charge to assist him.

[0062] Continuing the journey, however, the bracelet 5 of the user U will meet a further slave marker 4′ which, as previously described for all data passages, will be able to inform of the presence of an intersection regulated by a traffic light.

[0063] It should be noted that, on said primary wearable device 5 or the bracelet, there may be a button for listening to the message received when it has entered the field of action of the slave marker.

[0064] With the same operating modes, said system 1 can also be installed inside a home by placing at least one master marker and the various slave markers to warn of a staircase, to orient in a corridor (e.g. “you are in front of the kitchen door”) so as to greatly facilitate the orientation of the blind person even in a closed space.

[0065] Note that the extreme innovation and the sure advantage lies in the fact that the blind user can be guided only by listening to a voice, without using his/her hands and without having to own a smartphone, since the bracelet is an accessory of minimal impact, as well as little expensive and accessible to most.

[0066] In an innovative variant, said orientation aid system for the blind can be represented by the use of a primary wearable device (bracelet x) for normally sighted people. This will be equipped with a display, vibrating sensor and a “free/busy” button.

[0067] This X bracelet will be used by normally sighted people, who volunteer themselves to a social service (accompany the blind or follow them during shopping, or other tasks). The task of the bracelet will be, once turned on and placed on the FREE mode, to warn by vibrating when there is a blind person nearby. After vibrating, the display will show the address of the Marker that detected the passage of the person concerned; once the user is reached (equipped with a bracelet), on the bracelet x the “busy” mode can be activated, meaning that from that moment on, the volunteer who wears it is accompanying and offering assistance to the blind person.

[0068] All this information, data exchange etc., will be managed and stored on at least one cloud server by means of radio links as already illustrated above.

[0069] Finally, a further possibility of development may be represented by the introduction of an additional wearable device on the blind person, for example glasses equipped with a camera, which can also independently recognize a possible solid obstacle placed on the path of the blind person, always communicating with the bracelet and then receive an audio message in the earphone. As already mentioned, these glasses can also be equipped with the second wearable device which will be able to transmit voice messages to the user.

[0070] It is evident that the innovative aid system 1 for the visually impaired people is able to solve the aforementioned problems of the known art, therefore it should be noted that variations in materials used for the embodiment of the various devices, their shape, the protocols used for communication between devices, number of various master, slave, primary wearable device, secondary or other wearable devices, codes, data and signal transmission methods, language of messages, etc. they are all variants of the system described and protected by the present invention as better clarified by the appended claims.