How It Works
Home
Different types of sensors are placed throughout the home. They can let
you know if your mother is up and moving about normally in the morning;
if she is opening the refrigerator to eat or the medicine cabinet to
take medicine; or if the garage door, front door, or back door are
being opened. The system can also alert you of any dangers, such as
stoves being left on, or with the Contact Me Button, even if she has
fallen.
Built on the Control4 home automation platform, CloseBy Network uses a combination of advanced sensors and software, tied to a web application. Families choose what to monitor, how to receive the information, and who should be sent alerts. Depending on sensor location, family members and other authorized care-givers can receive alerts when normal behavior patterns change, if there is no activity within a specified time, or if your loved one pushes the "Contact Me" button for help.
Secure Web
Server
Information gathered by the sensors is then transferred wirelessly to CloseBy Network's Secure Web Server. Here the data is stored and analyzed. Alerts are generated, based on information that has been requested by the Care Network, and sent via e-mail or text message to the designated recipients. A Care Network member can also monitor real-time information via the Internet, view reports online, or have them sent via e-mail.
Information can be sent to members of the Care Network in several ways:
- Alerts, sent via text message or e-mail
- Real-time monitoring via the internet
- Online reports that show daily activity
Only members of your Care Network have access to this information, and you have full control over who sees the information and what they see. You can even choose to make the information unavailable to their dealer and CloseBy Network support personnel. The data is sent from the home to the Secure Web Server via a secure VPN link. When you long onto the system to view reports or real-time monitoring, that connection is through a secure SSL browser connection - the same kind you use for online banking transactions.
Care Network
Through grouping, you control who receives information, what information each one gets, and how they receive it. For example, you can choose to have local family members receive alerts, but not those living out of state. However, all family members could see reports online. You can include neighbors on alerts saying a door has been left open, or a loved one has fallen and needs immediate help. And you can make online reports available to all caregivers or just family members. It is completely up to you. And groupings can be changed at any time.
