Reprogrammable remote sensor monitoring system
First Claim
Patent Images
1. Apparatus for remotely monitoring and assessing the status of a human subject, the apparatus comprising:
- a central monitoring device;
at lease one automatic sensor associated with and monitoring the condition of the human subject; and
a portable monitoring unit capable of communicating with the central monitoring device, the portable monitoring unit comprising a programmable microprocessor in communication with at lease one automatic sensor, the microprocessor being 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 for at least one automatic sensor and a request signal from an external source, a first transceiver in communication with the microprocessor, for communicating signals between the microprocessor and the central monitoring device, and a power supply connected to provide power to the microprocessor and to the first transceiver.
9 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
276 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. Apparatus for remotely monitoring and assessing the status of a human subject, the apparatus comprising:
-
a central monitoring device;
at lease one automatic sensor associated with and monitoring the condition of the human subject; and
a portable monitoring unit capable of communicating with the central monitoring device, the portable monitoring unit comprising a programmable microprocessor in communication with at lease one automatic sensor, the microprocessor being 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 for at least one automatic sensor and a request signal from an external source, a first transceiver in communication with the microprocessor, for communicating signals between the microprocessor and the central monitoring device, and a power supply connected to provide power to the microprocessor and to the first transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
-
-
10. Apparatus for remotely monitoring and assessing the status of a human subject, the apparatus comprising:
-
at lease one automatic sensor associated with and monitoring the condition of the human subject; and
a portable monitoring unit comprising a programmable microprocessor in communication with at least one automatic sensor, the microprocessor being 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 for at least one automatic sensor and a request signal from an external source, a first transceiver in communication with the microprocessor, and a power supply connected to provide power to the microprocessor and to the first transceiver. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
-
-
16. A method for remotely monitoring the status of a human subject, comprising the steps of
providing the human subject with at least one automatic sensor selected from the group consisting of a biological condition sensor, a medical device, and an audio sensor; -
providing the human subject with a portable monitoring unit comprising a programmable microprocessor in communication with at least one automatic sensor, a first transceiver of a communications device in communication with the microprocessor, and a power supply that provides power to the microprocessor and the first transceiver;
programming the microprocessor with a set of activating parameters for the activation conditions;
the microprocessor obtaining a status of the subject from at least one automatic sensor; 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.
-
-
17. A method for remotely monitoring the status of a human subject, comprising the steps of
providing the human subject with a portable monitoring unit comprising a programmable microprocessor, a first transceiver of a communications device in communication with the programmable microprocessor, a communication device interface communicating between the programmable microprocessor and the first transceiver, and a power supply that provides power to the microprocessor, the communication device interface, and the first transceiver; -
programming the microprocessor with a first set of operating instructions;
operating the microprocessor using the first set of operating instructions; and
thereafterreprogramming the microprocessor using information transmitted through the first transceiver with a second set of operating instructions.
-
-
18. A method for remotely monitoring the status of a human subject, comprising the steps of
providing the human subject with at least one automatic sensor; -
providing the human subject with a portable monitoring unit comprising a portable-unit location-determining device, a programmable microprocessor in communication with at least one automatic sensor and the location-determining device, a communication device interface communicating with the programmable microprocessor, and a first transceiver of a communications device in communication with the communication device interface, a power supply that provides power to the microprocessor and the first transceiver;
the portable monitoring unit monitoring at least one automatic sensor;
the portable monitoring unit requesting a report from the human subject responsive to the step of monitoring; and
reporting the status and location of the human subject from the portable monitoring unit to a central monitoring device in the event of an unsatisfactory response from the human subject in the step of requiring. - View Dependent Claims (19)
-
Specification