Wirelessly loaded speaking medicine container

• US 20080136629A1
• Filed: 02/12/2008
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: iVoice, Inc.
• Original Assignee: iVoice, Inc.
• Inventors: Mahoney, Jerome R.
• Application Number:
  US12/069,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20080136629A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/30 Printed labels
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/60 using magnetic or electronic identifications, e.g. chips, RFID, electronic tags
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 2205/70 Audible labels, e.g. for pre-recorded info or messages
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold

Abstract

The present method of communicating prescription medicine instructions or over-the-counter medicine instructions to patient, includes: (a.) providing at least one medicine container with a microprocessor, and, (b.) providing a central processor separate from the at least one medicine container. Each medicine container has the microprocessor attached to the medicine container. Each microprocessor includes: (a)(i) a wave file receiving chip; (a)(ii) a wave file storage means; (a)(iii) a wave file audio playback means; (a)(iv) an audio playback start means; and (a)(v) a power supply within the microprocessor. The central processor includes: (b)(i) user input means; (b)(ii) text-to-speech means; (b)(iii) wave file means to create a wave file from the text-to-speech means; and (b)(iv) wireless transmission means to transmit the wave file to the microprocessor wave file receiving chips of at least one container simultaneously. Wireless transmission may be radio frequency (RF) transmission systems, infrared (IR) transmission systems and any other wireless transmission systems that are now available or may become available. There is compliant warning feature when the tablets remaining does not match a number over a calculated tablets that should remain.

Claims

1. A method of communicating medicine instructions to a patient, which comprises:

(a.) providing at least one medicine container, each of said at least one medicine container including a storage area for medicine, and a microprocessor attached to each of said at least one medicine container, said microprocessor including;

(a)(i) a wave file receiving chip;

(a)(ii) a wave file storage means;

(a)(iii) a wave file audio playback means;

(a)(iv) an audio playback start means; and

(a)(v) a power supply within said microprocessor adapted to power components of said microprocessor;

(b.) providing a central processor separate from said at least one medicine container, said central processor including;

(b)(i) user input means;

(b)(ii) text-to-speech means;

(b)(iii) wave file means to create a wave file from said text-to-speech means; and

(b)(iv) wireless transmission means to wirelessly transmit said wave file from said central processor to said microprocessor wave file receiving chip;

(c.) inputting said user input means to create medicine instruction text;

(d.) converting said text to electronic speech;

(e.) creating a wave file with said electronic speech;

(f.) transmitting said wave file to said microprocessor wave file receiving chip; and

(g.) storing said wave file in said microprocessor for subsequent playback by a user by activating said audio playback starting means.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said central processor is a computer system and said user input means is a conventional computer user input means selected from keyboard, mouse, ball and touch pad.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(h.) creating a unique identifier in said central processor;

(i.) wirelessly transmitting said unique identifier to said microprocessor; and

j.) providing accessing means for accessing said unique identifier from said microprocessor.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said user-input means is a microphone and said central processor includes conversion means for converting speech to electronic input.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein there is one medicine container for prescription medicine and said medicine instructions are for prescription medicine.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said microprocessor further includes a compliant warning feature which includes an internal clock, total medicine container starting tablet count, required tablet consumption rate data, and programming, wherein said internal clock is started when a patient activates said audio playback start means for a first time, and, wherein, when a user subsequently activates said audio playback start means at a later time, said microprocessor plays back a regimen message advising the user that a predetermined number of tablets should be remaining in the medicine container at this time, and if that said predetermined number of tablets remaining is in excess by a predetermined amount, that patient is advised to contact a professional, and wherein, said microprocessor calculates current tablet count based upon said first activation, said total starting tablet count, and said tablet consumption rate data.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said central processor further includes:

(a)(vi) a preset data collection of prescription medicine instructions, including for different medications and different dosages, and sufficient software to permit a user to select appropriate prescription medicine instructions corresponding to a specific medication and dosage combination.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein there is a plurality of medicine containers for over-the-counter medicine, said medicine instructions are for over-the-counter medicine and are communicated to a plurality of patients utilizing same medicine and dosage, and further comprising:

(h.) providing a plurality of medicine units to said storage area of each of said plurality of medicine containers, said plurality of medicine units being the same medicine and having the same dosage for each of said plurality of medicine containers.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said central processor further includes:

(a)(vi) a preset data collection of over-the-counter medicine instructions, including for different medications and different dosages, and sufficient software to permit a user to select appropriate over-the-counter medicine instructions corresponding to a specific medication and dosage combination for a specific plurality of over-the-counter medicine containers having the same medicine units and the same dosage.

10. A method of communicating medicine instructions to a patient, which comprises:

(a.) providing at least one medicine container, said at least one medicine container including a storage area for medicine, and a microprocessor attached to each of said at least one medicine container, said processor including;

(a)(i) a wave file receiving chip;

(a)(ii) a wave file storage means;

(a)(iii) a wave file audio playback means;

(a)(iv) an audio playback start means; and

(a)(v) a power supply within said microprocessor adapted to power components of said microprocessor

(b.) providing a central processor separate from said at least one medicine container, and said central processor including;

(b)(i) user input means for inputting electronic medicine instruction input;

(b)(ii) wave file means to create a wave file from said electronic medicine input from said input means; and

(b)(iii) wireless transmission means to wirelessly transmit said wave file from said central processor to said microprocessor wave file receiving chip;

(c.) inputting medicine instructions with said user input means to create electronic input;

(d.) creating a wave file with said electronic input;

(e.) transmitting said wave file to said microprocessor wave file receiving chip;

(f.) storing said transmitted wave file wireless transmission for subsequent audio playback by a user by activating said audio playback starting means.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said central processor is a computer system and said user input means is a conventional computer user input means selected from the group consisting of keyboard, mouse, ball and touch pad.

12. The method of claim 10 further compromising:

(g.) creating a unique identifier in said central processor;

(h.) wirelessly transmitting said unique identifier to said microprocessor; and

(i.) providing processing means for accessing said unique identifier from said microprocessor.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein there is one medicine container for prescription medicine and said medicine instructions are for prescription medicine.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said microprocessor further includes a compliant warning feature which includes an internal clock, total medicine container starting tablet count, required tablet consumption rate data, and programming, wherein said internal clock is started when a patient activates said audio playback start means for a first time, and, wherein, when a user subsequently activates said audio playback start means at a later time, said microprocessor plays back a regimen message advising the user that a predetermined number of tablets should be remaining in the medicine container at this time, and if that said predetermined number of tablets remaining is in excess by a predetermined amount, that patient is advised to contact a professional, and wherein, said microprocessor calculates current tablet count based upon said first activation, said total starting tablet count, and said tablet consumption rate data.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein said central processor further includes:

(a)(vi) a preset data collection of prescription medicine instructions, including for different medications and different dosages, and sufficient software to permit a user to select appropriate prescription medicine instructions corresponding to a specific medication and dosage combination.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein there is a plurality of medicine containers for over-the-counter medicine, said medicine instructions are for over-the-counter medicine and are communicated to a plurality of patients utilizing same medicine and dosage, and further comprising:

(g.) providing a plurality of medicine units to said storage area of each of said plurality of medicine containers, said plurality of medicine units being the same medicine and having the same dosage for each of said plurality of medicine containers.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said central processor further includes:

(a)(vi) a preset data collection of over-the-counter medicine instructions, including for different medications and different dosages, and sufficient software to permit a user to select appropriate over-the-counter medicine instructions corresponding to a specific medication and dosage combination for a specific plurality of over-the-counter medicine containers having the same medicine units and the same dosage.

18. A system for communicating medicine instructions to a patient by wireless communication from a central processor to a medicine container for subsequent audio speech playback from said medicine container to a user, which comprises:

(a.) at least one medicine container, said at least one medicine container including a storage area for medicine, and a microprocessor attached to said at least one medicine container, said microprocessor including;

(a)(i) a wave file receiving chip;

(a)(ii) a wave file storage means;

(a)(iii) a wave file audio playback means;

(a)(iv) an audio playback start means; and

(a)(v) a power supply within said microprocessor, and adapted to power components of said microprocessor;

(b.) a central processor separate from said at least one medicine container, said central processor including;

(b)(i) user input means;

(b)(ii) text-to-speech means;

(b)(iii) wave file means to create a wave file from said text-to-speech means; and

(b)(iv) wireless transmission means to wirelessly transmit said wave file from said central processor to said microprocessor wave file receiving chip.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said central processor is a computer system and said user input means is a conventional computer user input means selected from keyboard, mouse, ball and touch pad.

20. The system of claim 18 further comprising:

(c.) means for creating a unique identifier in said central processor;

(d.) means for wirelessly transmitting said unique identifier to said microprocessor; and

(e.) accessing means for accessing said unique identifier from said microprocessor.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein there is one medicine container for prescription medicine and said medicine instructions are for prescription medicine.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said microprocessor further includes a compliant warning feature which includes an internal clock, total medicine container starting tablet count, required tablet consumption rate data, and programming, wherein said internal clock is started when a patient activates said audio playback start means for a first time, and, wherein, when a user subsequently activates said audio playback start means at a later time, said microprocessor plays back a regimen message advising the user that a predetermined number of tablets should be remaining in the medicine container at this time, and if that said predetermined number of tablets remaining is in excess by a predetermined amount, that patient is advised to contact a professional, and wherein, said microprocessor calculates current tablet count based upon said first activation, said total starting tablet count, and said tablet consumption rate data.

23. The method of claim 18 wherein there is a plurality of medicine containers for over-the-counter medicine, said medicine instructions are for over-the-counter medicine and are communicated to a plurality of patients utilizing same medicine and dosage, and further comprising (c.) providing a plurality of medicine units to said storage area of each of said plurality of medicine containers, said plurality of medicine units being the same medicine and having the same dosage for each of said plurality of medicine containers.