Monitoring system

• US 20040044493A1
• Filed: 08/27/2003
• Published: 03/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John J. Coulthard
• Original Assignee: John J. Coulthard
• Inventors: Coulthard, John J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,972,677 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/122
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02 using radio waves using satellite radio beacon systems for determining position G01S19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation

Abstract

A system for improved monitoring of changes in the location and conditions surrounding people and property, utilizing fixed and moveable logic processors, which communicate with each other as well as receivers. Non-continuous signaling may be used to provide for reduced power consumption, and network coupling may be used to provided for exporting information to anywhere in the world.

Claims

1. ) A system, co-operable with at least one centrally-readable database, for monitoring items within a local area, comprising, in combination:

a) a plurality of first logic-processor means, for logical transacting with receivable information, respectively associated with a plurality of locations within the local area; and

b) a plurality of second logic-processor means, for logical transacting with receivable information, respectively associated with a plurality of the items;

c) wherein essentially each of said plurality of first logic-processor means comprises first communicator means for communicative coupling with essentially each of said plurality of second logic-processor means; and

d) wherein essentially each of said plurality of second logic-processor means comprises second communicator means for communicative coupling with essentially each of said plurality of first logic-processor means.

2. ) The system according to claim 1 further comprising receiver means for receiving communicated information from at least one of the group consisting essentially of each of said plurality of first logic-processor means and each of said plurality of second logic-processor means.

3. ) The system according to claim 2 further comprising database means for manipulating such receivable information.

4. ) The system according to claim 1 wherein said first communicator means and said second communicator means each comprise wireless system means for wirelessly assisting communicative coupling.

5. ) The system according to claim 2 wherein said receiver means comprises wireless receptor means for receiving communicated information.

6. ) The system according to claim 1 wherein essentially each of said plurality of first logic-processor means and essentially each of said plurality of second logic-processor means comprise identifier means for uniquely identifying essentially each one of said plurality of first logic-processor means and essentially each one of said plurality of second logic-processor means.

7. ) The system according to claim 1 further comprising sensor means, for sensing local information, attachable to at least one subset of at least one of the group consisting essentially of each of said plurality of first logic-processor means and each of said plurality of second logic-processor means.

8. ) The system according to claim 1 wherein essentially each of said plurality of first logic-processor means and essentially each of said plurality of second logic-processor means comprise power source means for providing electrical power.

9. ) The system according to claim 8 wherein essentially each of said plurality of first logic-processor means and essentially each of said plurality of second logic-processor means comprise power-life-extender means for extending at least one life of said power source means by assisting intermittent operation.

10. ) The system according to claim 4 wherein said first communicator means and said second communicator means comprise at least one frequency within the range consisting of:

i) radio frequency;

ii) ultrasonic frequency; and

iii) UV frequency.

11. ) The system according to claim 1 wherein said first communicator means and said second communicator means comprise non-continuous signaler means for providing non-continuous communications.

12. ) The system according to claim 11 wherein said non-continuous signaling means comprises optimized signaler means for providing optimized power consumption when generating non-continuous communications.

13. ) The system according to claim 1 wherein essentially each of said plurality of first logic-processor means and essentially each of said plurality of second logic-processor means comprises electric circuit means for processing data.

14. ) The system according to claim 13 wherein said electric circuit means comprises firmware means for providing modification of said plurality of first logic-processor means and modification of said plurality of second logic processor means.

15. ) The system according to claim 14 wherein said first communicator means from at least one of said plurality of first logic-processor means is communicatively coupleable with at least one of said plurality of second logic-processor means so that said firmware means of said at least one of said plurality of second logic-processor means may be modified by said first communicator means.

16. ) The system according to claim 14 wherein said second communicator means from at least one of said plurality of second logic-processor means is communicatively coupleable with at least one of said plurality of first logic-processor means so that said firmware means of said at least one of said plurality of first logic-processor means may be modified by said second communicator means.

17. ) The system according to claim 2 wherein said receiver means comprises network coupler means for communicative coupling with at least one of the group consisting of:

a) Internet;

b) personal computers;

c) personal digital assistants;

d) local area networks;

e) radios;

f) cellular phones;

g) wireless networks; and

h) personal computer memory card international associations (PCMCIA'"'"'s) for wireless applications.

30. ) The system according to claim 1 wherein essentially each of said plurality of first logic-processors and essentially each of said plurality of second logic-processors comprise at least one electric circuit structured and arranged to process data.

31. ) The system according to claim 30 wherein said at least one electric circuit comprises at least one firmware structured and arranged to provide modification of said plurality of first logic-processors and modification of said plurality of second logic-processors.

32. ) The system according to claim 31 wherein said at least one first communicator from at least one of said plurality of first logic-processors is communicatively coupleable with at least one of said plurality of second logic-processors so that said at least one firmware of said at least one of said plurality of second logic-processors may be modified by said at least one first communicator.

33. ) The system according to claim 31 wherein said at least one second communicator from at least one of said plurality of second logic-processors is communicatively coupleable with at least one of said plurality of first logic-processors so that said at least one firmware of said at least one of said plurality of first logic-processors may be modified by said at least one second communicator.

18. ) A system, co-operable with at least one centrally-readable database, for monitoring items within a local area, comprising, in combination:

a) a plurality of first logic-processors structured and arranged to provide logical transaction with receivable information, respectively associated with a plurality of locations within the local area; and

b) a plurality of second logic-processors structured and arranged to provide logical transaction with receivable information, respectively associated with a plurality of the items;

c) wherein essentially each of said plurality of first logic-processors comprises at least one first communicator structured and arranged to communicatively couple with essentially each of said plurality of second logic-processors; and

d) wherein essentially each of said plurality of second logic-processors comprises at least one second communicator structured and arranged to communicatively couple with essentially each of said plurality of first logic-processors.

19. ) The system according to claim 18 further comprising at least one receiver structured and arranged to receive communicated information from at least one of the group consisting essentially of each of said plurality of first logic-processors and each of said plurality of second logic-processors.

20. ) The system according to claim 19 further comprising at least one database structured and arranged to manipulate such receivable information.

21. ) The system according to claim 18 wherein said at least one first communicator and said at least one second communicator each comprise at least one wireless system structured and arranged to wirelessly assist communicative coupling.

22. ) The system according to claim 19 wherein said at least one receiver comprises at least one wireless receptor structured and arranged to receive such receivable information.

23. ) The system according to claim 18 wherein essentially each of said plurality of first logic-processors and essentially each of said plurality of second logic-processors comprise at least one identifier structured and arranged to uniquely identify essentially each one of said plurality of first logic-processors and essentially each one of said plurality of second logic-processors.

24. ) The system according to claim 18 further comprising at least one sensor structured and arranged to sense local information, attachable to at least one subset of at least one of the group consisting essentially of each of said plurality of first logic-processors and each of said plurality of second logic-processors.

25. ) The system according to claim 18 wherein essentially each of said plurality of first logic-processors and essentially each of said plurality of second logic-processors comprise at least one power source structured and arranged to provide electrical power.

26. ) The system according to claim 25 wherein essentially each of said plurality of first logic-processors and essentially each of said plurality of second logic-processors comprise at least one power-life-extender structured and arranged to extend at least one life of said at least one power source by assisting intermittent operation.

27. ) The system according to claim 21 wherein said at least one first communicator and said at least one second communicator comprise at least one frequency within the range consisting of:

i) radio frequency;

ii) ultrasonic frequency; and

iii) UV frequency.

28. ) The system according to claim 18 wherein said at least one first communicator and said at least one second communicator comprise at least one non-continuous signaler structured and arranged to provide non-continuous communications.

29. ) The system according to claim 28 wherein said at least one non-continuous signaler comprises at least one optimized signaler structured and arranged to provide optimized power consumption when generating non-continuous communications.

34. ) The system according to claim 19 wherein said at least one receiver comprises at least one network coupler structured and arranged to communicatively couple said at least one receiver with at least one of the group consisting of:

a) Internet;

b) personal computers;

c) personal digital assistants;

d) local area networks;

e) radios;

f) cellular phones;

g) wireless networks; and

h) personal computer memory card international associations (PCMCIA'"'"'s) for wireless applications.

35. ) A method and system for monitoring at least one state of at least one item associated with at least one healthcare facility by storing in at least one database such at least one state of such at least one item, received from a plurality of fixed status broadcasters and a plurality of mobile status broadcasters comprising the steps of:

a) receiving at least one state change of such at least one item from at least one state sensor by at least one of such plurality of fixed status broadcasters;

b) receiving at least one state change of such at least one item from at least one state sensor by at least one of such plurality of mobile status broadcasters;

c) determining requirement to broadcast such at least one state change by such at least one such plurality of fixed status broadcasters;

d) determining requirement to broadcast such at least one state change by such at least one of such plurality of mobile status broadcasters;

e) broadcasting required such at least one state change by such at least one of such plurality of fixed status broadcasters;

f) broadcasting required such at least one state change by such at least one of such plurality of mobile status broadcasters;

g) receiving such required such at least one state change from such at least one of such plurality of fixed status broadcasters;

h) receiving such required such at least one state change from such at least one of such plurality of mobile status broadcasters;

i) storing such required such at least one state change in such at least one database; and

j) reporting such required such at least one state change.

36. ) The method and system according to claim 35 wherein such at least one state change comprises:

a) occurrence of at least one event affecting such at least one item;

b) change of location change of such at least one item; and

c) change of at least one monitored value affecting such at least one item.

37. ) The method and system according to claim 35 wherein the step of determining requirement to broadcast such at least one state change by such at least one of such plurality of fixed status broadcasters comprises:

a) receiving at least one broadcast requirement rule; and

b) comparing such at least one state change to such at least one broadcast requirement rule.

38. ) The method and system according to claim 35 wherein the step of determining requirement to broadcast such at least one state change by such at least one of such plurality of mobile status broadcasters comprises:

a) receiving at least one broadcast requirement rule; and

b) comparing such at least one state change to such at least one broadcast requirement rule.

39. ) The method and system according to claim 35 wherein the step of reporting such required such at least one state change comprises:

a) transmission of such required such at least one state change to at least one local area network;

b) transmission of such required such at least one state change to at least one personal computer;

c) transmission of such required such at least one state change to at least one cellular telephone;

d) transmission of such required such at least one state change to at least one personal digital assistant; and

e) transmission of such required such at least one state change to at least one radio frequency receiver.

40. ) The method and system according to claim 35 wherein such at least one item comprises:

a) infant patients;

b) adult patients;

c) fixed equipment; and

d) mobile equipment.

41. ) The method and system according to claim 35 wherein such step of broadcasting required such at least one state change by such at least one of such plurality of fixed status broadcasters comprises:

a) activating at least one broadcasting transmitter;

b) broadcasting such required such at least one state change using such at least one broadcasting transmitter; and

c) de-activating such at least one broadcasting transmitter.

42. ) The method and system according to claim 35 wherein such step of broadcasting required such at least one state change by such at least one of such plurality of mobile status broadcasters comprises:

a) activating at least one broadcasting transmitter;

b) broadcasting such required such at least one state change using such at least one broadcasting transmitter; and

c) de-activating such at least one broadcasting transmitter.

43. ) The method and system according to claim 35 wherein such at least one healthcare facility comprises:

a) hospitals;

b) nursing homes;

c) assisted living facilities;

d) offices of medical practitioners; and

e) personal residences.

44. ) The method and system according to claim 35 further comprising the step of determining a plurality of steady-state values for the conditions surrounding such at least one state sensor and using such plurality of steady-state values as a reference for determining, in the future, when a state change has occurred.