EpiMonitor disconnection from Bluetooth

A Bluetooth connection is necessary for EmbracePlus to communicate with the EpiMonitor App, on the user’s dedicated smartphone.

If the Bluetooth connection between EmbracePlus and the paired smartphone is not working, the EpiMonitor app will not be able to alert your caregivers in case of a possible seizure.

To ensure that you are aware of any disruptions that might prevent EmbracePlus from alerting your caregivers, the system is designed to notify you through visual notifications on both the EmbracePlus and your smartphone.

How to check if a Bluetooth connection is established

	If the EmbracePlus is correctly connected to the EpiMonitor app on the dedicated smartphone via Bluetooth, you will see the Empatica heart icon on the EmbracePlus display.
	The home screen of the EpiMonitor App is also designed to let you know the status of your device. If everything is working correctly, the background will display a teal color and the status card will indicate that EpiMonitor is working properly.

How to recognize when a Bluetooth connection is not active

	If the EmbracePlus is not correctly connected to the EpiMonitor app on the dedicated smartphone via Bluetooth, the Empatica heart icon will not appear on the EmbracePlus display.
	The EpiMonitor app displays a red background to alert you of Bluetooth disconnections or other issues preventing the alerting system from functioning properly.
	By tapping on the status card, you can view detailed information about each component of the EpiMonitor system and find steps to resolve the issues.

How to identify and resolve common Bluetooth disconnection issues

Here are some possible reasons for disconnections and what you can do to resolve them: 

1. Configure your phone to use EpiMonitor and disable any battery optimization features to allow the EpiMonitor App to run in the background.
   
   
2. Bluetooth is turned OFF.
   => Bluetooth must always be turned ON (Android devices, iOS devices)
3. EmbracePlus is out of Bluetooth range from the paired phone.
   => Make sure EmbracePlus is within Bluetooth range (5 meters/15 feet) of the paired phone.
4. Some interference is obstructing the Bluetooth connection.
   => Ensure there are no obstructions to the Bluetooth connection. Walls, large furniture, thick pillows, and even your own body (e.g., crossing arms) can cause disconnections.
5. EmbracePlus is connected via Bluetooth to more than one phone.
   => EmbracePlus should only be paired and connected to the user’s dedicated phone. Caregivers do not need to connect it to their phones. If EmbracePlus was previously paired with another phone, go to the Bluetooth settings on that device (iOS devices, Android devices) and forget (unpair) EmbracePlus and uninstall the EpiMonitor app from that phone.
6. The EpiMonitor App is closed.
   => Make sure that the EpiMonitor App is open and operating in the background.

If the above reasons have been addressed and the problem persists, try the following steps. Note that you may not need to complete all these steps, as the issue might be resolved at any point:

1. Place EmbracePlus on the charger. You will see the battery percentage and a battery icon appears on the display.
   
2. Open the EpiMonitor App and wait ~1 min to check if the status changes to teal with the message ‘EmbracePlus is charging’.
   

3. Force close the EpiMonitor App and open it again after ~5 seconds. (iOS devices, Android devices)

4. Place EmbracePlus in the charger and reboot it by pressing and holding both side buttons on the device simultaneously for at least 15 seconds. The display will flash, and you should see a 'HI' message, confirming the reboot.

5. Reboot the paired phone and re-open the EpiMonitor App. 

6. Wait ~1 min to check if the status changes to teal with the message ‘EmbracePlus is charging’. If it doesn’t, continue with the next steps.

7. Make sure the paired phone is within Bluetooth range and the Bluetooth is ON.

8. Make sure Location services are ON and allowed for the EpiMonitor App.
   Android Only Phone settings > Location > Tap location > tap “ON” (Please note that the exact steps may vary depending on the version of your Android OS. If you're unsure, please refer to your phone's user manual for specific instructions)
   iOS Phone Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services.

9. Toggle the Bluetooth OFF for a couple of seconds.

10. Toggle the Bluetooth back ON, then go back to the EpiMonitor App and check the status, which should indicate charging. If it doesn’t, continue with the next steps.

11. Tap on the 3 dots in the top-right corner, then tap on ‘Forget’ under the EmbracePlus section.

     

12. Forget (unpair) EmbracePlus from the Bluetooth settings of the phone (iOS devices, Android devices).

13. The EpiMonitor App will go back to the pairing screen. Make sure EmbracePlus is charging and nearby, then perform the pairing again.

14. If the disconnections issue persists:
    => Delete the EpiMonitor App and reinstall it. This will force the process to start from the beginning, so have the login credentials available for logging back into the EpiMonitor App.
    => Reboot the phone and pair EmbracePlus again.