Security Enabled Medical Screening Device

• US 20080139889A1
• Filed: 11/15/2006
• Published: 06/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kenneth J. Bagan
• Original Assignee: Kenneth J. Bagan
• Inventors: Bagan, Kenneth J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,988,628 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/300
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6824 Arm or wrist
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/50 having additional measuring devices, e.g. for height
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/10 Human or animal bodies, e.g. vehicle occupants or pedestrians; Body parts, e.g. hands
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/30 for calculating health indices; for individual health risk assessment

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention pertain to networked kiosks capable of providing enhanced health and/or entertainment and/or advertising information. In an embodiment of the invention, biometric measurement devices coupled with a communications infrastructure implement a system of secure information exchange and enhanced user security. In an embodiment of the invention, a user'"'"'s cell phone wirelessly connected via the machine to a call center or other responder to allow for consultation when appropriate. In an embodiment of the invention, a security/verification system is built into the kiosk, so as to be able to verify a user'"'"'s identity. For example, one or more cameras associated with the kiosk provide various types of visual data usable for security purposes e.g., retinal scan data, face recognition parameter data, and so on. In further embodiments of the invention, other security features are provided additionally or alternatively.

Claims

1. An automated health information kiosk for securely providing a measurement and presentation of at least one health-related physical parameter of a user, the kiosk comprising:

a measurement tool for measuring the at least one health-related physical parameter of the user to derive a measured value;

a verifier associated with the kiosk for verifying an identity of the user based on at least one physical trait of the user; and

a display for presenting the measured value to the user.

2. The automated health information kiosk according to claim 1, wherein the health-related physical parameter comprises one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of weight, blood pressure, pulse rate, body fat and blood oxygen.

3. The automated health information kiosk according to claim 1, wherein the at least one physical trait of the user comprises one or more parameters selected from the group consisting of retinal data, face print data, voiceprint data, vein pattern data, and iris pattern data.

4. The automated health information kiosk according to claim 1, wherein the verifier compares the at least one physical trait of the user to stored data reflective of that physical trait, the kiosk further comprising one or more databases for retrievably storing the stored data reflective of the physical trait.

5. The automated health information kiosk according to claim 1, wherein the verifier compares the at least one physical trait of the user to stored data reflective of that physical trait retrieved from a remote database.

6. The automated health information kiosk according to claim 1, further comprising a card-reader for reading data stored on a computer-readable user card associated with the user, and for causing the retrieval of previously obtained user health-related information.

7. The automated health information kiosk according to claim 1 further comprising a short range wireless interface to a portable communication device associated with the user.

8. The automated health information kiosk according to claim 7, wherein the portable communication device associated with the user comprises a device selected from the group consisting of a cell phone and a personal digital assistant.

9. The automated health information kiosk according to claim 1, further comprising a printer linked to the kiosk for providing printed matter to the users the printed matter comprises one or more types of material selected from the group comprising a coupon, an exercise plan, and an eating plan.

10. An automated kiosk for presenting information to a user of the kiosk, the kiosk comprising:

a display associated with the kiosk for displaying selected information to the user;

a card-reader for reading data stored on a computer-readable user card associated with the user; and

a data source accessible by the kiosk to obtain and present, via the display, entertainment material to the user in response to at least reading data stored on the user card.

11. The automated kiosk according to claim 10, wherein the card reader is of a type selected from the group consisting of magnetic and optical.

12. The automated kiosk according to claim 10, wherein the user card is a credit card, and the kiosk is adapted to present advertising to the user at least in part based on purchase data stored on or linked to the credit card.

13. The automated kiosk according to claim 12, further comprising a printer for printing a user coupon based at least in part on purchase data stored on or linked to the credit card.

14. The automated kiosk according to claim 10, further comprising a user interface for receiving user input, and wherein the entertainment material is selected based at least in part on received user input.

15. A method for operating a kiosk to provide information to a user comprising:

displaying a first set of advertising material via a display of the kiosk;

receiving user data identifying a user;

presenting to the user a menu comprising a plurality of selectable options including an option to retrieve a prior health-related measurement and an option to perform a current health-related measurement;

receiving a user selection of one of the selectable options;

retrieve the prior health-related measurement from a database communicably linked to the kiosk via a wide area network if the user selection indicates that the user wishes to retrieve a prior health-related measurement while displaying an advertisement to the user and displaying the prior health-related measurement to the user; and

if the user selection indicates that the user wishes to perform a current health-related measurement, instructing the user to prepare for the measurement, taking the measurement, and, while taking the measurement, presenting an advertisement to the user, and, after the advertisement has been presented, displaying the requested measurement to the user and determining whether the requested measurement indicates a physical condition that requires immediate attention, and if it is determined that the measurement indicates a physical condition that requires immediate attention, automatically creating a link between a call center and the user via a telecommunications link from the kiosk to the call center and a short range wireless link from the kiosk to a portable communication device associated with the user.