1. A system for infant cry detection and caregiver alerting, comprising: an infant monitoring unit (100) including a microphone (101), a digital signal processing module (303), a pre-trained machine learning model (304), and a control unit (306) configured to detect an infant cry and generate a critical alert packet; a wearable parent alerting unit (200) including a wireless receiver (401), an alert processor (403), a vibration motor (205, 405), and a visual indication module (202) configured to notify a caregiver upon receipt of the critical alert packet; and a wireless communication module (307) enabling transmission of the critical alert packet between the infant monitoring unit (100) and the wearable parent alerting unit (200), wherein the system comprises a mutual health-check mechanism in which the infant monitoring unit (100) and the wearable parent alerting unit (200) periodically exchange health-report packets and acknowledgments to verify operational connectivity.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the infant monitoring unit (100) is configured to transmit the critical alert packet repeatedly via the wireless communication module (307) until an end-to-end confirmation message is received from the wearable parent alerting unit (200), and wherein the infant monitoring unit (100) updates a local LED indicator (102) upon receipt of the end-to-end confirmation.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wearable parent alerting unit (200), upon receiving the critical alert packet, activates the vibration motor (205, 405) and the visual indication module (202), and transmits an end-to-end confirmation message back to the infant monitoring unit (100) via the wireless receiver (401).

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the infant monitoring unit (100), the wearable parent alerting unit (200), and an optional repeater unit are each provided with a multi-LED signalling system (102, 202) configured to indicate distinct operational states including normal operation, alert transmission, alert acknowledgment, connectivity loss, and emergency conditions through predefined illumination patterns.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a repeater unit configured to receive the critical alert packet from the infant monitoring unit (100), transmit a hop-level acknowledgment, and forward the critical alert packet to the wearable parent alerting unit (200) when direct communication between the infant monitoring unit (100) and the wearable parent alerting unit (200) is unavailable.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the repeater unit is further configured to receive an end-to-end confirmation message from the wearable parent alerting unit (200), transmit a hop-level acknowledgment, and forward the end-to-end confirmation message to the infant monitoring unit (100) to terminate alert retransmission.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein failure to receive health-report packets or acknowledgments within predefined time limits causes the wearable parent alerting unit (200) to enter a fail-safe state comprising repeated vibration patterns generated by the vibration motor (205, 405) and visual warning indications generated by the visual indication module (202).

8. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the infant monitoring unit (100) is configured to automatically switch between repeater-assisted communication and direct communication with the wearable parent alerting unit (200) based on availability of the repeater unit, thereby ensuring prioritized delivery of infant cry alerts under varying connectivity conditions.

9. A method for detecting an infant cry and generating a caregiver alert, the method comprising the steps of:capturing ambient and infant-generated acoustic signals using a microphone (101) of an infant monitoring unit (100);normalizing and preprocessing the captured acoustic signals using automatic gain control (301) and a digital signal processing module (303);extracting cry-related acoustic features and classifying the processed signals using a pre-trained machine learning model (304) to identify an infant cry; generating, by a control unit (306), a critical alert packet upon detection of the infant cry; transmitting the critical alert packet through a wireless communication module (307) to a wearable parent alerting unit (200) either directly or via a repeater unit;receiving the critical alert packet at the wearable parent alerting unit (200) using a wireless receiver (401); and activating, by an alert processor (403), a vibration motor (205, 405) and a visual indication module (202) to notify a caregiver of the detected infant cry.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, comprising the steps of: periodically exchanging health-report packets between the infant monitoring unit (100), the wearable parent alerting unit (200), and the repeater unit to verify operational connectivity; transmitting hop-level acknowledgments and end-to-end confirmation messages between the devices to confirm delivery of the critical alert packet; indicating operational status, alert transmission, alert acknowledgment, and connectivity loss through a multi-LED signalling system (102, 202); buffering and retransmitting, by the repeater unit, the critical alert packet when direct communication is unavailable; automatically switching between repeater-assisted communication and direct communication based on link availability; and triggering fail-safe vibration and visual warning patterns at the wearable parent alerting unit (200) upon detection of communication failure, thereby ensuring prioritized and reliable delivery of infant cry alerts. Dated This 24th Feb, 2026 Saurabh Kumar Jain, (IN/PA-3637) Agent for the Applicant

Description:SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INFANT CRY DETECTION WITH MUTUAL DEVICE HEALTH MONITORING, AND MULTI-MODE ALERT SIGNALLING
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of assistive infant monitoring technologies and caregiver alerting systems. More particularly, the invention pertains to an intelligent infant cry detection and notification system comprising an infant monitoring unit, a wearable parent alerting unit, and an optional repeater unit, wherein the system implements continuous mutual health-check communication, multi-mode LED and vibration-based alert signaling, and adaptive long-range wireless communication using direct and repeater-assisted paths. The invention is especially suited for caregivers who are deaf or hard of hearing, while also being applicable to general infant monitoring scenarios requiring reliable long-distance alert delivery.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Infant crying is the most fundamental communication mechanism through which newborns express physiological discomfort, hunger, pain, or distress. Timely caregiver response to such crying is essential to ensure infant safety, emotional wellbeing, and proper development. Conventional caregiving heavily relies on auditory perception, which poses serious limitations for caregivers with hearing impairments. Even for caregivers without impairments, effective monitoring becomes difficult during sleep, multitasking, or when the caregiver is physically distant from the infant.
Existing baby monitors primarily rely on audio amplification, video streaming, or smartphone-dependent connectivity. These solutions suffer from several drawbacks, including false alarms caused by ambient noise, dependence on Wi-Fi or internet availability, limited operational range, lack of fail-safe feedback regarding device connectivity, and insufficient non-auditory alert mechanisms. Most critically, conventional systems do not provide reliable confirmation that an infant alert has actually reached the caregiver, nor do they indicate when communication between devices has failed.
Furthermore, in larger homes, hospitals, or multi-floor buildings, direct wireless communication between an infant unit and a caregiver unit may become unreliable due to distance or obstructions. In such cases, loss of connectivity can result in missed alerts without the caregiver being aware of the failure. Existing systems also fail to provide clear visual differentiation between normal operation, alert delivery, acknowledgment, and link-loss conditions.
Accordingly, there exists a need for an infant monitoring system that not only detects and classifies infant crying accurately but also ensures guaranteed alert delivery, continuous mutual health-checking between devices, distinct LED-based operational signaling, and range extension through an intelligent repeater device, while remaining independent of internet infrastructure and suitable for hearing-impaired caregivers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention discloses a robust infant cry detection and alerting system comprising an infant monitoring unit, a wearable parent alerting unit, and an optional repeater unit configured to extend communication range and improve reliability. The system continuously monitors infant sounds using a microphone-based sensing module and processes the captured audio using digital signal processing and a trained machine learning model to accurately identify infant cries while suppressing background noise.
Upon detection of a valid infant cry, the infant monitoring unit generates a critical alert packet and transmits it wirelessly to the parent alerting unit either directly or via the repeater unit when extended range is required. The parent alerting unit, upon receiving the alert, immediately generates tactile vibration and visual LED indications to notify the caregiver. The parent alerting unit then transmits an end-to-end confirmation message back to the infant monitoring unit, confirming successful delivery of the alert.
A key feature of the invention is a mutual health-check mechanism, wherein the infant unit, parent unit, and repeater unit periodically exchange health-report packets and acknowledgments. Failure to receive expected packets within defined time intervals triggers automatic link-loss detection. Upon such detection, the respective devices activate predefined LED patterns and vibration alerts to clearly indicate communication failure, device unreachability, or degraded connectivity.
The system further incorporates a multi-LED signaling architecture, wherein different LED colors or blink patterns represent operational states including power status, normal connectivity, alert sent, alert acknowledged, repeater availability, and emergency or link-loss conditions. These visual signals enable immediate situational awareness for caregivers and service personnel.
To overcome range limitations, the invention includes a repeater device that performs packet validation, hop-by-hop acknowledgment, alert forwarding, buffering during temporary outages, and automatic fallback routing. The repeater ensures that critical infant alerts are delivered even when direct communication paths are unavailable.
Through its integrated cry detection intelligence, health-check protocol, visual and haptic alerting, and repeater-assisted communication, the invention provides a highly reliable, fail-safe, and inclusive infant monitoring solution.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates an external system view of an infant monitoring unit (100) in accordance with the present invention, comprising an inbuilt microphone (101) for capturing infant sound, an LED indicator (102) for displaying battery and operational status, a power button (103) for device activation and deactivation, and a USB slot (104) for charging the device.
Figure 2 illustrates an external system view of a parent alerting unit (200) configured to provide real-time alerts to a caregiver, the unit comprising a device control panel with visual output and touch-based input (201), a visual indication module (202) for notifications, a power button (203), a notification acknowledgment button (204), vibration motors (205) for haptic feedback, and a charging port (206).
Figure 3 illustrates an internal system architecture of the infant monitoring unit, showing a microphone input (300), an automatic gain control module (301), a sampler and analog-to-digital conversion module (302), a digital signal processing module (303), a pre-trained machine learning model (304), a machine learning inference output (305), a control unit (306), and a wireless transmission module (307) for alert communication.
Figure 4 illustrates an internal system architecture of the parent alerting unit, comprising a wireless receiver (401), a signal decoder (402), a control unit or alert processor (403), a touch-enabled input/output interface (404), and vibration motors (405) for generating haptic alerts.
Figure 5 illustrates an alert notification transmission workflow at the infant monitoring unit, wherein preprocessing (501), feature extraction (502), and classification (503) are performed using pre-trained machine learning models (504) prior to initiating wireless alert notification (505).
Figure 6 illustrates an alert notification handling workflow at the parent alerting unit, wherein a wireless receiver (601) receives an alert signal, a control unit (602) processes the alert, a touch-enabled interface (603) displays the notification and receives user acknowledgment, and a vibration motor (604) generates haptic feedback.
Figure 7 illustrates a device health-checking workflow, wherein the infant monitoring unit (701) and the parent alerting unit (702) periodically exchange data packets and health status signals of the devices through a wireless communication channel, and wherein failure to receive acknowledgments or data packets, triggers visual and vibration-based alert indications.
Figure 8 illustrates the Repeater Unit workflow (802) as a reliable bridge between the Infant Monitoring Device (801) and the Parent Alerting Unit (803) if they are separated far apart or they are not able to connect due to the physical constrains of the environment like walls between the rooms. It receives wireless data from the Infant Monitoring Device, validates it, sends acknowledgments, and forwards the data to the Parent Alerting Unit. The control unit ensures proper acknowledgment handling so data is confirmed at both ends, maintaining reliable communication.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an intelligent infant monitoring and caregiver alerting system that integrates real-time cry detection, wireless communication, mutual device health monitoring, multi-mode alert signalling, and repeater-assisted long-range communication within a unified embedded architecture. The invention is particularly intended to support caregivers who are deaf or hard of hearing, while also being universally applicable in residential, clinical, or childcare environments where reliable infant monitoring is required beyond audible perception.
The system fundamentally comprises an Infant Monitoring Unit (100), a Wearable Parent Alerting Unit (200), and an optional Repeater Unit configured to extend communication range and enhance reliability. These units operate cooperatively through a defined communication protocol and continuous health-check exchanges to ensure guaranteed alert delivery and immediate awareness of any connectivity degradation.
The Infant Monitoring Unit (100) is physically positioned near the infant, mounted on infant clothing, crib structures, or bedding. The unit incorporates an inbuilt high-sensitivity microphone (101) that continuously captures ambient acoustic signals including infant vocalizations. The captured analog sound signals are forwarded internally to a signal conditioning stage comprising automatic gain control (301), which dynamically normalizes the input amplitude to accommodate variations in cry loudness, infant proximity, and environmental noise levels. This ensures consistent signal representation regardless of whether the cry is soft, intermittent, or intense.
Following gain normalization, the conditioned signal is passed to a sampler and analog-to-digital conversion module (302), which converts the acoustic waveform into digital samples suitable for computational analysis. The digitized signal is then processed by a digital signal processing unit (303) configured to perform noise suppression, band-pass filtering, framing, and segmentation. These operations isolate cry-relevant frequency bands and temporal patterns while suppressing non-infant sounds such as adult speech, appliance noise, or transient disturbances.
The processed signal frames are then forwarded to a pre-trained machine learning model (304) embedded within the system memory. This model has been trained on a diverse dataset of infant cry sounds representing multiple physiological states such as hunger, pain, discomfort, and distress. The inference output (305) generated by the model classifies the incoming signal as either a valid infant cry or a non-cry event, optionally further categorizing the cry type. The classification decision is evaluated by a control unit (306), which applies confidence thresholds and temporal integration logic to prevent false positives arising from brief or ambiguous acoustic events.
Upon confirmation of a valid infant cry, the control unit (306) constructs a structured wireless data packet representing a critical alert condition. This packet includes alert type identifiers, device identification information, and sequence parameters. The alert packet is transmitted via the wireless transmission module (307) using a low-power long-range communication technology such as LoRa, enabling reliable transmission over extended distances with minimal energy consumption.
In direct communication mode, the alert packet is transmitted from the Infant Monitoring Unit (100) directly to the Wearable Parent Alerting Unit (200). In extended-range scenarios, the alert packet is first transmitted to the Repeater Unit, which validates packet integrity and responds with a hop-level acknowledgment before forwarding the alert to the parent unit. This hop-by-hop acknowledgment ensures that packet loss or corruption is detected immediately at each communication stage.
The Wearable Parent Alerting Unit (200) is designed as a compact, wearable device such as a wristband or clip-on module. The unit includes a wireless receiver (401) that continuously listens for incoming alert and health-report packets. Upon receipt of a valid alert packet, the data is decoded by a signal decoder (402) and forwarded to the alert processor and control unit (403). The control unit immediately activates a vibration motor (205, 405) to generate tactile feedback perceivable by the caregiver regardless of auditory ability or environmental conditions. Simultaneously, a visual indication module (202) and/or touch-enabled display interface (201, 404) is activated to provide a visual representation of the alert.
A distinguishing feature of the present invention is its multi-LED signalling system, implemented across the Infant Monitoring Unit (102), the Wearable Parent Alerting Unit (202), and the Repeater Unit. The LED indicators are configured to emit distinct colours, intensities, or blink patterns corresponding to specific operational states. For example, steady illumination may indicate normal operation, periodic blinking may indicate active monitoring, rapid flashing may indicate an active alert, and alternating patterns may indicate connectivity loss or degraded communication. These visual cues allow caregivers to immediately interpret system status without reliance on sound or external interfaces.
Following alert reception, the Wearable Parent Alerting Unit (200) transmits an end-to-end confirmation message back toward the Infant Monitoring Unit (100). This confirmation message is either transmitted directly or relayed via the Repeater Unit, depending on the communication path. Upon receiving the end-to-end confirmation, the Infant Monitoring Unit halts further alert retransmissions and updates its local LED (102) to indicate successful alert delivery. This closed-loop confirmation mechanism ensures that caregivers are not only alerted but that the infant-side device is aware that the alert has reached its final destination.
In addition to alert handling, the invention incorporates a continuous mutual health-check mechanism that operates independently of cry detection events. The Infant Monitoring Unit (100), Wearable Parent Alerting Unit (200), and Repeater Unit periodically exchange health-report packets containing device status information such as operational readiness, battery level, wireless link quality, and internal fault indicators. Each health-report packet expects a corresponding acknowledgment. Failure to receive acknowledgments within predefined time boundaries triggers link-loss detection logic within the respective control units.
When the Infant Monitoring Unit detects failure in receiving acknowledgments from the Repeater Unit if it is configured as part of the communication channel, it declares the repeater path unavailable and activates a specific LED pattern indicating repeater loss. The Infant Monitoring Unit then automatically switches to direct communication mode with the Wearable Parent Alerting Unit. If an infant cry occurs during repeater unavailability, the alert is transmitted directly without delay, ensuring uninterrupted alert delivery.
Similarly, if the Repeater Unit fails to receive acknowledgments from the Wearable Parent Alerting Unit, it determines that the parent device is temporarily unreachable. In such a condition, the Repeater Unit activates its local LED indicator to signal parent unreachability and buffers critical alert packets. The repeater repeatedly attempts retransmission until the parent device becomes reachable again or a newer alert supersedes the buffered alert. This buffering mechanism prevents loss of critical infant alerts during transient connectivity issues. [Here the numbering and reference from the figure can be given if required]
When the Wearable Parent Alerting Unit detects loss of health-report packets from the Infant Monitoring Unit during direct communication mode, it enters a fail-safe alert state. In this state, the parent device generates repeated vibration patterns and LED indications signaling that the infant unit is not reachable. Concurrently, the parent device increases receiver sensitivity, adjusts communication parameters such as spreading factor or transmit power, and listens for repeater-assisted traffic, thereby attempting autonomous recovery of connectivity without user intervention.
The Repeater Unit serves as an intelligent intermediary that extends the effective communication range of the system. It is equipped with its own processing unit, wireless transceiver, and LED indicators. The repeater validates packet structure and integrity before forwarding messages, ensuring that corrupted or incomplete packets do not propagate through the system. By providing hop-level acknowledgments and forwarding end-to-end confirmations, the repeater ensures both reliability and transparency in communication paths.
The system architecture prioritizes infant cry alerts above all other traffic. Health-report packets are transmitted periodically at low priority, whereas critical alert packets are retransmitted aggressively until delivery is confirmed. This prioritization ensures that infant distress signals are never suppressed or delayed by routine status messaging.
Mechanically and ergonomically, the Infant Monitoring Unit (100) is designed to be lightweight, compact, and safe for prolonged proximity to infants. Rounded edges, non-toxic materials, and secure attachment mechanisms ensure infant comfort and safety. The Wearable Parent Alerting Unit (200) is similarly designed for comfort during extended wear, with intuitive controls including a power button (203) and alert acknowledgment button (204) allowing caregivers to silence alerts once addressed.
From an energy perspective, the system employs low-power electronics and optimized communication protocols to maximize battery life. Charging interfaces such as USB ports (104, 206) enable convenient recharging, while LED indicators provide real-time battery status feedback.
Overall, the present invention establishes a resilient, intelligent, and inclusive infant monitoring ecosystem that integrates cry detection, guaranteed alert delivery, mutual device health awareness, multi-state visual signalling, and repeater-assisted communication. By addressing both detection accuracy and communication reliability, the system ensures that caregivers remain continuously informed of infant needs while being immediately alerted to any system failures. The invention thereby significantly enhances infant safety, caregiver confidence, and autonomy, particularly for individuals with hearing impairments, while remaining broadly applicable across diverse caregiving environments.
, Claims:WE CLAIM
1. A system for infant cry detection and caregiver alerting, comprising:
an infant monitoring unit (100) including a microphone (101), a digital signal processing module (303), a pre-trained machine learning model (304), and a control unit (306) configured to detect an infant cry and generate a critical alert packet;
a wearable parent alerting unit (200) including a wireless receiver (401), an alert processor (403), a vibration motor (205, 405), and a visual indication module (202) configured to notify a caregiver upon receipt of the critical alert packet; and
a wireless communication module (307) enabling transmission of the critical alert packet between the infant monitoring unit (100) and the wearable parent alerting unit (200),
wherein the system comprises a mutual health-check mechanism in which the infant monitoring unit (100) and the wearable parent alerting unit (200) periodically exchange health-report packets and acknowledgments to verify operational connectivity.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the infant monitoring unit (100) is configured to transmit the critical alert packet repeatedly via the wireless communication module (307) until an end-to-end confirmation message is received from the wearable parent alerting unit (200), and wherein the infant monitoring unit (100) updates a local LED indicator (102) upon receipt of the end-to-end confirmation.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wearable parent alerting unit (200), upon receiving the critical alert packet, activates the vibration motor (205, 405) and the visual indication module (202), and transmits an end-to-end confirmation message back to the infant monitoring unit (100) via the wireless receiver (401).

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the infant monitoring unit (100), the wearable parent alerting unit (200), and an optional repeater unit are each provided with a multi-LED signalling system (102, 202) configured to indicate distinct operational states including normal operation, alert transmission, alert acknowledgment, connectivity loss, and emergency conditions through predefined illumination patterns.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a repeater unit configured to receive the critical alert packet from the infant monitoring unit (100), transmit a hop-level acknowledgment, and forward the critical alert packet to the wearable parent alerting unit (200) when direct communication between the infant monitoring unit (100) and the wearable parent alerting unit (200) is unavailable.

6. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the repeater unit is further configured to receive an end-to-end confirmation message from the wearable parent alerting unit (200), transmit a hop-level acknowledgment, and forward the end-to-end confirmation message to the infant monitoring unit (100) to terminate alert retransmission.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein failure to receive health-report packets or acknowledgments within predefined time limits causes the wearable parent alerting unit (200) to enter a fail-safe state comprising repeated vibration patterns generated by the vibration motor (205, 405) and visual warning indications generated by the visual indication module (202).

8. The system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the infant monitoring unit (100) is configured to automatically switch between repeater-assisted communication and direct communication with the wearable parent alerting unit (200) based on availability of the repeater unit, thereby ensuring prioritized delivery of infant cry alerts under varying connectivity conditions.
9. A method for detecting an infant cry and generating a caregiver alert, the method comprising the steps of:capturing ambient and infant-generated acoustic signals using a microphone (101) of an infant monitoring unit (100);normalizing and preprocessing the captured acoustic signals using automatic gain control (301) and a digital signal processing module (303);extracting cry-related acoustic features and classifying the processed signals using a pre-trained machine learning model (304) to identify an infant cry; generating, by a control unit (306), a critical alert packet upon detection of the infant cry; transmitting the critical alert packet through a wireless communication module (307) to a wearable parent alerting unit (200) either directly or via a repeater unit;receiving the critical alert packet at the wearable parent alerting unit (200) using a wireless receiver (401); and activating, by an alert processor (403), a vibration motor (205, 405) and a visual indication module (202) to notify a caregiver of the detected infant cry.
10. The method as claimed in claim 9, comprising the steps of: periodically exchanging health-report packets between the infant monitoring unit (100), the wearable parent alerting unit (200), and the repeater unit to verify operational connectivity;
transmitting hop-level acknowledgments and end-to-end confirmation messages between the devices to confirm delivery of the critical alert packet;
indicating operational status, alert transmission, alert acknowledgment, and connectivity loss through a multi-LED signalling system (102, 202);
buffering and retransmitting, by the repeater unit, the critical alert packet when direct communication is unavailable; automatically switching between repeater-assisted communication and direct communication based on link availability; and
triggering fail-safe vibration and visual warning patterns at the wearable parent alerting unit (200) upon detection of communication failure, thereby ensuring prioritized and reliable delivery of infant cry alerts.
Dated This 24th Feb, 2026

Saurabh Kumar Jain, (IN/PA-3637)
Agent for the Applicant