ACTIVATION AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR COUPLING TWO MUTUALLY ACTIVATABLE AUTOMATIC INTERVENTION SYSTEMS

• US 20100179451A1
• Filed: 11/28/2006
• Published: 07/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Swiss Reinsurance Company
• Original Assignee: Swiss Reinsurance Company
• Inventors: Johnson, Mark, Brown, Jerry, Hately, Paul Alastair
• Granted Patent: US 8,690,772 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/595
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/08 Elderly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 3/113 for determining or recording eye movement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/163 by tracking eye movement, gaze, or pupil change
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/18 for vehicle drivers or machine operators
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Activation and control apparatus (11) and also appropriate process for coupling two reciprocally activatable automated intervention systems (10/12) for coverage events in medical diagnosis and/or therapy processes, where the activation and control apparatus (11) comprises a proxy trigger (14), which proxy trigger (14) comprises at least first measuring apparatuses (141) which can be used to detect first measurement parameters on the basis of user-specific walking distance and/or a user-specific visual accuracy and/or a user-specific sitting period, and/or second measuring apparatuses which can be used to detect second measurement parameters on the basis of user-specific communication ability. The measurement parameters can be stored in a lookup table (15) in association. The proxy trigger (14) also comprises a filter module (146), where the filter module (146) can be used to generate appropriate activation parameters on the basis of the measurement parameters in the lookup table (15) and associated, synchronized threshold parameters if at least one of the measurement parameters exceeds the associated threshold value. In addition, the activation and control apparatus (11) also comprises means (13) for generating the activation data on the basis of the activation parameters.

Claims

1. Activation and control apparatus (11) for coupling two reciprocally or complementarily activatable automated intervention systems (10/12) for coverage events in medical diagnosis and/or therapy processes, where the automated intervention systems (10/12) comprise a multiplicity of associated users (201, . . . ,203) and where the automated intervention systems (10/12) can be activated by means of activation data from the activation and control apparatus (11), characterized

in that the activation and control apparatus (11) comprises a proxy trigger (14), which proxy trigger (14) comprises first measuring apparatuses and/or registering apparatuses (141), the first measuring apparatuses (141) being able to be used to detect first measurement parameters on the basis of user-specific walking distance and/or a user-specific visual accuracy and/or a user-specific sitting period, and to store them in a lookup table (15) in association with the user (201, . . . ,203), and/or

in that the proxy trigger (14) comprises second measuring apparatuses and/or registering apparatuses (142), the second measuring apparatuses (142) being able to be used to detect second measurement parameters on the basis of user-specific communication ability, and to store them in a lookup table (15) in association with the user (201, . . . ,203), and the user-specific communication ability comprising at least aural and/or visual and/or comprehension measurement parameters for the user (201, . . . ,203), and/or

the proxy trigger (14) comprises third measuring apparatuses and/or registering apparatuses (143), the third measuring apparatuses (143) being able to be used to detect third measurement parameters on the basis of the user-specific ability to drive a motor vehicle, and to store them in a lookup table (15) in association with the user (201, . . . ,203), and/or

in that the proxy trigger (14) comprises fourth measuring apparatuses and/or registering apparatuses (144), the fourth measuring apparatuses (144) being able to be used to detect fourth measurement parameters on the basis of the user-specific ability to lift oneself or stand independently, and to store them in a lookup table (15) in association with the user (201, . . . ,203), and/or

in that the proxy trigger (14) comprises fifth measuring apparatuses and/or registering apparatuses (145), the fifth measuring apparatuses (145) being able to be used to detect fifth measurement parameters on the basis of the user-specific ability to write and/or to use a keypad-based input apparatus, and to store them in a lookup table (15) in association with the user (201, . . . ,203),

in that the proxy trigger (14) comprises a filter module (146), the filter module (146) being able to be used to generate appropriate activation parameters on the basis of the measurement parameters in the lookup table (15) and associated, synchronized threshold parameters, and to transmit them to the activation and control apparatus (11) if at least one of the measurement parameters exceeds an associated threshold value, and

in that the activation and control apparatus (11) comprises means (13) for generating the activation data on the basis of the activation parameters.

2. Activation and control apparatus (11) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the measuring apparatuses (141, . . . ,145) comprises a definable time-based threshold value which can be stored in a memory unit (17) in association.

3. Activation and control apparatus (11) according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the first and/or fourth measuring apparatuses (141/144) comprise at least one eyetracking apparatus (1411) and/or one or more pressure sensors (1412).

4. Activation and control apparatus (11) according to one of claims 1 and 3, characterized in that the second measuring apparatuses (142) comprise apparatuses for generating multimedia data (1421) and/or audio output apparatuses (1422) and/or image presentation apparatuses (1423) and touchscreens (1424) and/or appropriate input appliances.

5. Activation and control apparatus (11) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the third measuring apparatuses (143) comprise means (1431) for bidirectionally accessing appropriate databases with data concerning the health-related framework parameters for motor vehicle driver licensing.

6. Activation and control apparatus (11) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the third measuring apparatuses (143) additionally comprise means for access-controlled and/or encrypted access to medical and/or national databases with data concerning the vehicle driver licensing for one or more users (201, . . . ,203).

7. Activation and control apparatus (11) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the fifth measuring apparatuses (145) comprise at least input apparatuses (1451) with keypad-based input elements and/or pressure-sensitive input tablets (1452) and/or touchscreens (1453).

8. Activation and control apparatus (11) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that activation prompts clearing data to be able to be transmitted from the automated intervention systems (10/12) to a clearing module (16), which clearing data comprise charging data for the access to services and also user data, and which user data comprise information about the user-specific access.

9. Activation and control apparatus (11) according to claim 8, characterized in that the clearing module (16) can be used to credit and/or debit the user (201, . . . ,203) with services and/or to provide the provider of said services with information in line with the transmitted clearing data, which information can be generated by the clearing module (16) according to stipulated reuse conditions on the basis of the user data.

10. Activation and control apparatus (11) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the proxy trigger (14) comprises means for dynamic user-specific registering of at least some of the threshold values.

11. Activation and control apparatus (11) according to claim 10, characterized in that for the dynamic registering the proxy trigger (14) comprises means for detecting appropriate user-specific parameters, which user-specific parameters can be taken as a basis for dynamically adapting the threshold values.

12. Activation and control apparatus (11) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the intervention systems (10/12) comprise cash-value-based intervention systems for medical and/or therapeutic processes.

13. Activation and control apparatus (11) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the proxy trigger (14) comprises a network module which can be used by at least one medical or therapeutic service provider to access one or more databases, and in that the proxy trigger (14) comprises a second filter module (147) for aggregating historical user data, at least one of the threshold values being able to be determined by means of the second filter module (147) on the basis of the aggregated historical data.

14. Activation and control apparatus (11) according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that at least one of the threshold values can be determined on the basis of cash-sum values associated with a service.

15. Activation and control apparatus (11) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the proxy trigger (14) comprises means for bidirectional access-controlled access to one or more databases by a medical and/or therapeutic service provider.

16. Activation and control apparatus (11) according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the proxy trigger (14) comprises a supplementary trigger module (148), the supplementary trigger module (148) comprising a memory unit (1481) for storing definable triggerable illness type data and/or illness status data and/or treatment type data, and the supplementary trigger module (148) being able to be used by at least one medical service provider to filter data concerning services provided in diagnosis and therapy processes on the basis of the illness data types and/or illness status data and/or treatment type data, and detection of one of the illness type data and/or illness status data and/or treatment type data prompting the charging data with charging parameters for crediting cash-sum values to the user (201, . . . ,203) and/or medical service provider to be able to be transmitted to a clearing module (16).

17. Activation and control apparatus (11) according to claim 16, characterized in that the illness type data and/or illness status data comprise at least data concerning specific types of cancer and/or data concerning the cancer stage of a specific type of cancer.

18. Activation and control apparatus (11) according to one of claims 16 and 17, characterized in that the treatment type data comprise at least data concerning specific organ transplants.

19. Activation and control apparatus (11) according to one of claims 16 to 18, characterized in that the treatment type data comprise at least data concerning specific cardiac surgical intervention.

20. Activation and control apparatus (11) according to one of claims 16 to 19, characterized in that the illness type data comprise at least data concerning illnesses with expected long-term dependency of the relevant user (201, . . . ,203).

21. Activation and control apparatus (11) according to claim 20, characterized in that the supplementary trigger module (148) comprises means for dynamically registering the long-term dependency of different illness types on the basis of locally stored data from medical service providers based on services provided in diagnosis and therapy processes.

22. Activation and control process for coupling two reciprocally or complementarily activatable automated intervention systems (10/12) for coverage events in medical diagnosis and/or therapy processes, where the automated intervention systems (10/12) comprise a multiplicity of associated users (201, . . . ,203) and where the automated intervention systems (10/12) are activated using activation data from the activation and control apparatus (11), characterized

in that first measuring apparatuses and/or registering apparatuses (141) of a proxy trigger (14) are used to detect first measurement parameters on the basis of user-specific walking distance and/or a user-specific visual accuracy and/or a user-specific sitting period, and to store them in a lookup table (15) in association with the user (201, . . . ,203), and/or

in that second measuring apparatuses and/or registering apparatuses (142) of the proxy trigger (14) are used to detect second measurement parameters on the basis of user-specific communication ability, and to store them in a lookup table (15) in association with the user (201, . . . ,203), and where the user-specific communication ability comprises at least aural and/or visual and/or comprehension measurement parameters for the user, and/or

in that third measuring apparatuses and/or registering apparatuses (143) of the proxy trigger (14) are used to detect third measurement parameters on the basis of the user-specific ability to drive a motor vehicle, and to store them in a lookup table (15) in association with the user (201, . . . ,203), and/or

in that fourth measuring apparatuses and/or registering apparatuses (144) of the proxy trigger (11) are used to detect fourth measurement parameters on the basis of the user-specific ability to lift oneself or stand independently, and to store them in a lookup table (15) in association with the user (201, . . . ,203), and/or

in that fifth measuring apparatuses and/or registering apparatuses (145) of the proxy trigger (11) are used to detect fifth measurement parameters on the basis of the user-specific ability to write and/or to use a keypad-based input apparatus, and to store them in a lookup table (15) in association with the user (201, . . . ,203),

in that a filter module (146) of the proxy trigger (11) is used to generate appropriate activation parameters on the basis of the measurement parameters in the lookup table (15) and associated, synchronized threshold parameters, and to transmit them to the activation and control apparatus (11) if at least one of the measurement parameters exceeds the associated threshold value, and

in that the activation and control apparatus (11) is used to generate the activation data on the basis of the activation parameters.

23. Activation and control process according to claim 22, characterized in that at least one of the measuring apparatuses (141, . . . ,145) is used to detect a definable time-based threshold value in association with a measurement parameter.

24. Activation and control process according to one of claims 22 and 23, characterized in that the first and/or fourth measuring apparatuses (141/144) comprise at least one eyetracking apparatus (1411) and/or one or more pressure sensors (1412).

25. Activation and control process according to one of claims 22 and 24, characterized in that the second measuring apparatuses (142) comprise means (1421) for generating multimedia data and/or audio output apparatuses (1422) and/or image presentation apparatuses (1423) and/or touchscreens (1424) and/or appropriate input appliances.

26. Activation and control process according to one of claims 22 to 25, characterized in that the third measuring apparatuses (143) are used for bidirectionally accessing databases with data concerning the health-related framework parameters for motor vehicle driver licensing, and appropriate user data are transmitted to the third measuring apparatus.

27. Activation and control process according to one of claims 22 to 26, characterized in that the third measuring apparatuses (143) are additionally used to access medical and/or national databases with data concerning the vehicle driver licensing for one or more users (201, . . . ,203) under access control and/or encryption.

28. Activation and control process according to one of claims 22 to 27, characterized in that the fifth measuring apparatuses (145) comprise at least input apparatuses (1451) with keypad-based input elements and/or pressure-sensitive input tablets (1452) and/or touchscreens (1453).

29. Activation and control process according to one of claims 22 to 28, characterized in that activation prompts clearing data to be transmitted from the automated intervention systems (10/12) to a clearing module (16), which clearing data comprise charging data for the access to services and also user data and which user data comprise information about the user-specific access.

30. Activation and control process according to claim 29, characterized in that the clearing module (16) is used to credit and/or debit the user with services and/or to provide the provider of said services with information in line with the transmitted clearing data, which information is generated by the clearing module (16) according to stipulated reuse conditions on the basis of the user data.

31. Activation and control process according to one of claims 22 to 30, characterized in that the proxy trigger (14) is used to dynamically register the threshold values at least to some extent on a user-specific basis.

32. Activation and control process according to claim 31, characterized in that the proxy trigger (14) is used to detect appropriate user-specific parameters for dynamic registering, on the basis of which user-specific parameters the threshold values are dynamically adapted.

33. Activation and control process according to one of claims 22 to 32, characterized in that the intervention systems (10/12) comprise cash-value-based intervention systems for medical and/or therapeutic processes.

34. Activation and control process according to one of claims 22 to 33, characterized in that the proxy trigger (14) comprises a network module which is used by at least one medical or therapeutic service provider to access one or more databases, and in that the proxy trigger (14) uses a second filter module (147) to aggregate historical user data, at least one of the threshold values being determined by means of the second filter module (147) on the basis of the aggregated historical data.

35. Activation and control process according to one of claims 22 to 34, characterized in that at least one of the threshold values is determined on the basis of cash-sum values associated with a service.

36. Activation and control process according to one of claims 22 to 35, characterized in that the proxy trigger is used by a medical and/or therapeutic service provider to access one or more databases bi-directionally and/or under access control.

37. Activation and control process according to one of claims 22 to 36, characterized in that a supplementary trigger module (148) of the proxy trigger (14) comprises a memory unit (1481) for storing definable triggerable illness type data and/or illness status data and/or treatment type data, and where the supplementary trigger module (148) is used by at least one medical service provider to filter data concerning services provided in diagnosis and therapy processes on the basis of the illness data types and/or illness status data and/or treatment type data, and where detection of one of the illness type data and/or illness status data and/or treatment type data prompts the charging data with charging parameters for crediting cash-sum values to the patient and/or medical service provider to be transmitted to a clearing module (16).

38. Activation and control process according to claim 37, characterized in that the illness type data and/or illness status data comprise at least data concerning specific types of cancer and/or data concerning the cancer stage of a specific type of cancer.

39. Activation and control process according to one of claims 37 and 38, characterized in that the treatment type data comprise at least data concerning specific organ transplants.

40. Activation and control process according to one of claims 37 to 39, characterized in that the treatment type data comprise at least data concerning specific cardiac surgical intervention.

41. Activation and control process according to one of claims 37 to 40, characterized in that the illness type data comprise at least data concerning illness with an expected long-term dependency of the relevant user (201, . . . ,203).

42. Activation and control process according to claim 41, characterized in that the supplementary trigger module (148) is used to dynamically register the long-term dependency of different illness types on the basis of locally stored data from medical service providers based on services provided in diagnosis and therapy processes.

43. Computer program product which can be loaded directly into the internal memory of a digital computer and comprises software code sections which are used to execute the steps according to one of claims 22 to 42 when the product is running on a computer.