PHARMACEUTICAL RECOGNITION AND IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF USE

• US 20110206238A1
• Filed: 04/29/2011
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Darin Kinser
• Original Assignee: Darin Kinser
• Inventors: Kinser, Darin
• Application Number:
  US13/097,919
• Publication Number:
  US 20110206238A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/20 in augmented reality scenes
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/66 Trinkets, e.g. shirt buttons or jewellery items recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 30/142 using hand-held instruments; Constructional details of the instruments

Abstract

An electronic pharmaceutical recognition and identification system is provided along with a method of use. In certain example embodiments a user can take a digital picture of a pharmaceutical with a portable appliance comprising a telephone, then text that picture to a predetermined telephone number, wait a short period of time for a pharmaceutical identification server system to electronically recognize and identify the pharmaceutical in question, and then automatically receive a text message back from the server system that includes various predetermined information regarding the pharmaceutical in question, such as its name, pictures of it, warnings, whether or not a prescription is required, as well as usage and interaction information. Fixed appliances are also provided that can passively interface with a pharmaceutical dispensing system to ensure that the prescribed pharmaceutical is being dispensed.

Claims

1. ) An electronic pharmaceutical recognition and identification system for identifying and providing information regarding an unidentified pharmaceutical, comprising:

an electronic appliance comprising a digital camera and a screen and adapted to electronically communicate digital information to and from a pharmaceutical identification server system;

a pharmaceutical identification server system adapted to electronically communicate digital information to and from the electronic appliance, the pharmaceutical identification server system comprising a processor, memory, a program, and one or more identification systems adapted to identify one or more characteristics of a digital image of an unidentified pharmaceutical and further adapted to compare the identified characteristics with one or more databases of corresponding characteristics of known pharmaceuticals and further adapted to identify matches between the identified characteristics of the unidentified pharmaceutical and the corresponding characteristics of the known pharmaceuticals and further adapted to obtain from a database and transmit to the electronic appliance information regarding a known pharmaceutical when a predetermined number of the identification systems indicate that the identified characteristics of the unidentified pharmaceutical sufficiently match the corresponding characteristics of the known pharmaceutical.

2. ) The electronic pharmaceutical recognition and identification system of claim 1, wherein the electronic appliance is adapted to be portable.

3. ) The electronic pharmaceutical recognition and identification system of claim 1, wherein the electronic appliance is adapted to electronically communicate digital information to and from the pharmaceutical identification server system wirelessly.

4. ) The electronic pharmaceutical recognition and identification system of claim 1, wherein the electronic appliance and the pharmaceutical identification server system are adapted to electronically communicate digital information to and from each other through a communications network.

5. ) The electronic pharmaceutical recognition and identification system of claim 1, wherein the electronic appliance is adapted to electronically communicate digital information to and from the pharmaceutical identification server system using text messaging.

6. ) The electronic pharmaceutical recognition and identification system of claim 1, wherein the characteristics comprises one or more imprints.

7. ) The electronic pharmaceutical recognition and identification system of claim 1, wherein the characteristics comprises one or more logos.

8. ) The electronic pharmaceutical recognition and identification system of claim 1, wherein the characteristics comprises one or more shapes.

9. ) The electronic pharmaceutical recognition and identification system of claim 1, wherein the characteristics comprises one or more colors.

10. ) The electronic pharmaceutical recognition and identification system of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the known pharmaceutical comprises the name of the known pharmaceutical.

11. ) The electronic pharmaceutical recognition and identification system of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the known pharmaceutical comprises a digital image of the known pharmaceutical.

12. ) The electronic pharmaceutical recognition and identification system of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the known pharmaceutical comprises medical information regarding the known pharmaceutical.

13. ) The electronic pharmaceutical recognition and identification system of claim 1, wherein the electronic appliance is electrically connected directly to the pharmaceutical identification server system.

14. ) The electronic pharmaceutical recognition and identification system of claim 1, wherein the electronic appliance comprises the pharmaceutical identification server system.

15. ) A method of recognizing and identifying an unidentified pharmaceutical and providing information regarding the unidentified pharmaceutical, comprising:

providing an electronic appliance comprising a digital camera and a screen and adapted to electronically communicate digital information to and from a pharmaceutical identification server system;

providing a pharmaceutical identification server system adapted to electronically communicate digital information to and from the electronic appliance, the pharmaceutical identification server system comprising a processor, memory, a program, and one or more identification systems adapted to identify one or more characteristics of a digital image of an unidentified pharmaceutical and further adapted to compare the identified characteristics with one or more databases of corresponding characteristics of known pharmaceuticals and further adapted to identify matches between the identified characteristics of the unidentified pharmaceutical and the corresponding characteristics of the known pharmaceuticals and further adapted to obtain from a database and transmit to the electronic appliance information regarding a known pharmaceutical when a predetermined number of the identification systems indicate that the identified characteristics of the unidentified pharmaceutical sufficiently match the corresponding characteristics of the known pharmaceutical;

taking at least one digital picture of the unidentified pharmaceutical with the digital camera;

transmitting the at least one digital picture from the electronic appliance to the pharmaceutical identification server system; and

receiving at the electronic appliance information regarding a known pharmaceutical that has a predetermined number of characteristics that sufficiently match the corresponding characteristics of the unidentified pharmaceutical.

16. ) The method of claim 15, wherein either the step of transmitting the at least one digital picture from the electronic appliance to the pharmaceutical identification server system, or the step of receiving at the electronic appliance information regarding a known pharmaceutical, or both, are accomplished by text messaging.

17. ) The method of claim 15, wherein the information regarding the known pharmaceutical that is received at the electronic appliance comprises the name of the known pharmaceutical.

18. ) The method of claim 15, wherein the information regarding the known pharmaceutical that is received at the electronic appliance comprises a digital image of the known pharmaceutical.

19. ) The method of claim 15, wherein the information regarding the known pharmaceutical that is received at the electronic appliance comprises medical information regarding the known pharmaceutical.

20. ) An electronic pharmaceutical recognition and identification system for identifying and providing information regarding a dispensed pharmaceutical, comprising:

an electronic appliance comprising a digital camera, a processor, memory, a program, and adapted to electronically communicate digital information to and from a pharmaceutical identification server system, or to and from a pharmaceutical dispenser system, or both;

a pharmaceutical identification server system adapted to electronically communicate digital information to and from the electronic appliance, or to and from a pharmaceutical dispenser system, or both, the pharmaceutical identification server system comprising a processor, memory, a program, and one or more identification systems adapted to identify one or more characteristics of a digital image of a dispensed pharmaceutical and further adapted to compare the identified characteristics with one or more databases of corresponding characteristics of known pharmaceuticals and further adapted to identify matches between the identified characteristics of the dispensed pharmaceutical and the corresponding characteristics of the known pharmaceuticals and further adapted to obtain from a database and transmit to the electronic appliance or to a pharmaceutical dispenser system, or both, information regarding a known pharmaceutical when a predetermined number of the identification systems indicate that the identified characteristics of the dispensed pharmaceutical sufficiently match the corresponding characteristics of the known pharmaceutical; and

a pharmaceutical dispenser system comprising a pharmaceutical dispensing mechanism, a processor, memory, and a program, the pharmaceutical dispenser system adapted to dispense the dispensed pharmaceutical upon entry of an order for an ordered pharmaceutical, the pharmaceutical dispenser in electronic communication with the electronic appliance or the pharmaceutical identification server system, or both, the pharmaceutical dispenser system further adapted to inhibit the dispensing or sale of the dispensed pharmaceutical when the pharmaceutical dispenser system receives information from the electronic appliance or the pharmaceutical identification server system, or both, indicating that a known pharmaceutical having characteristics that sufficiently match characteristics of the dispensed pharmaceutical is a different pharmaceutical than the ordered pharmaceutical.