Reprogrammable remote sensor monitoring system

• US 20020067256A1
• Filed: 04/09/2001
• Published: 06/06/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cardionet LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Cardionet LLC (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Kail,, Karl A. IV
• Application Number:
  US09/829,601
• Publication Number:
  US 20020067256A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/002 for traffic control, mobile tracking, guidance, surveillance or anti-collision
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1963 Arrangements allowing camera rotation to change view, e.g. pivoting camera, pan-tilt and zoom [PTZ]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19632 Camera support structures, e.g. attachment means, poles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0211 Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0216 Alarm cancellation after generation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/028 Communication between parent and child units via remote transmission means, e.g. satellite network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0294 Display details on parent unit
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/903 Radio telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/904 Telephone telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 706/911 Nonmedical diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 706/924 Medical

Abstract

An automated, real-time, reprogrammable monitoring and control system for portable, remote sensors and subjects includes one or more portable monitoring units, each of the portable monitoring units having a sensor, a location-determining device, and a sensor interface unit. Each sensor interface unit is separately configured to monitor its sensor and to transmit that sensor'"'"'s data, via a digital wireless communications network, to a central monitoring device. The portable unit is carried or worn by a person or animal, or affixed to an inanimate subject.

Claims

1. A method for remotely monitoring the status of a subject, comprising the steps of

providing the subject with a portable monitoring unit comprising

at least one automatic sensor of a condition associated with the subject,

a portable-unit location-determining device,

a sensor interface unit including

a programmable microprocessor having an active state and an inactive state, the microprocessor being operable to change from the inactive state to the active state responsive to the occurrence of any of a set of activating parameters for an activation condition selected from the group consisting of a preselected state of the at least one automatic sensor and a request signal from an external source, the microprocessor being in communication with the at least one automatic sensor and the location-determining device,

a communications device interface in communication with the microprocessor,

a first transceiver of a communications device in communication with the communication device interface, and

a power supply that provides power to the microprocessor, the communication device interface, and the first terminal of the communications device;

programming the microprocessor with a set of activating parameters for the activation conditions;

the microprocessor entering the inactive state;

the microprocessor entering the active state responsive to the occurrence of the activating parameters of one of the activation conditions;

the microprocessor obtaining a status of the subject from the sensor interface unit and the location of the portable unit from the location-determining device; and

the microprocessor sending a status message over the first transceiver of the communications device, the content of the status message including the status of the subject and the location of the portable unit.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein the subject is a human being, and

wherein the step of providing the subject with a portable monitoring unit includes the step of

providing the subject with a sensor interface unit including a programmable microprocessor having an active state and an inactive state, the microprocessor being operable to change from the inactive state to the active state responsive to the occurrence of any of a set of activating parameters for an activation condition selected from the group consisting of a preselected state of the at least one automatic sensor, a status signal by the subject, and a request signal from an external source, the microprocessor being in communication with the at least one automatic sensor and the location-determining device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing a central monitoring device includes the step of

providing a portable central monitoring device.

4. The method of claim 1, including the additional steps of

providing a central monitoring device including a second terminal of the communications device, and

receiving the status message at the second terminal of the communications device.

5. The method of claim 1, including the additional steps of

providing a central monitoring device including

a second terminal of the communications device, and

a display in communication with the second terminal of the communications device, and

receiving the status message at the second terminal of the communications device, and

displaying the status message on the display.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the subject with a portable monitoring unit comprising a portable-unit location-determining device includes the step of

providing the subject with a portable monitoring unit comprising a global positioning system receiver.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the subject with a portable monitoring unit comprising at least one automatic sensor includes the step of

providing the subject with a portable monitoring unit comprising a sensor selected from the group consisting of an audio/visual sensor, a biological condition sensor, a chemical sensor, a meteorological sensor, a motion sensor, an electromagnetic sensor, a seismic sensor, and an apparatus sensor.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of providing the subject with a portable monitoring unit comprising a first transceiver of a communications device includes the step of

providing the subject with a communications transceiver selected from the group consisting of a digital cellular telephone, a Personal Communication System, a Global Systems for Mobile Communication device, a wireless local area network device, a citizen'"'"'s band radio, and a satellite transceiver.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the microprocessor sending a message includes the step of

the microprocessor assigning to the status message a unique identifier associated with the portable monitoring unit.

10. The method of claim 1, including an additional step, after the step of the microprocessor sending a status message, of

reprogramming the microprocessor with a second set of activating parameters for the activation conditions.

11. Apparatus for remotely monitoring and assessing the status of a subject, the apparatus comprising:

a portable monitoring unit comprising

at least one automatic sensor associated with the subject;

a portable-unit location-determining device; and

a sensor interface unit including

a programmable microprocessor having an active state and an inactive state, the microprocessor being operable to change from the inactive state to the active state responsive to the occurrence of any of a set of activating parameters for an activation condition selected from the group consisting of a preselected state of the at least one automatic sensor and a request signal from an external source, the microprocessor being in communication with the at least one automatic sensor and the location-determining device,

a communications device interface in communication with the microprocessor,

a first transceiver of a communications device in communication with the communication device interface, and

a power supply that provides power to the microprocessor, the communication device interface, and the first terminal of the communications device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the sensor interface unit further includes

an audio/visual indicator in communication with the microprocessor.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further including

a subject status signal input device activatable by the subject and in communication with the microprocessor.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further including

a central monitoring device including a second terminal of the communications device.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the central monitoring device is portable.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, further including

at least one additional portable monitoring unit having the structure set forth in claim 11.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, further including

at least one additional central monitoring device having the structure set forth in claim 11.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the portable-unit location-determining device is included in at least one of the portable monitoring unit and the central monitoring device.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, further including

at least one additional portable monitoring unit having the same structure as the portable monitoring unit of claim 18.

18. Apparatus for remotely monitoring and assessing the status of a subject, the apparatus comprising:

a portable monitoring unit comprising

at least one automatic sensor associated with the subject;

a sensor interface unit including

a programmable microprocessor having an active state and an inactive state, the microprocessor being operable to change from the inactive state to the active state responsive to the occurrence of any of a set of activating parameters for an activation condition selected from the group consisting of a preselected state of the at least one automatic sensor and a request signal from an external source, the microprocessor being in communication with the at least one automatic sensor and the location-determining device,

a communications device interface in communication with the microprocessor,

a first transceiver of a communications device in communication with the communication device interface, and

a power supply that provides power to the microprocessor, the communication device interface, and the first terminal of the communications device;

a central monitoring device including a second terminal of the communications device; and

a portable-unit location-determining device.