Telemetry system with remote firmware updates or repair for remote monitoring devices when the monitoring device is not in use by the user

• US 20130283256A1
• Filed: 06/21/2013
• Published: 10/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fitbit, Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hello, Inc.
• Inventors: Proud, James
• Granted Patent: US 8,850,421 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/172
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/08 Sensors provided with means for identification, e.g. barcodes or memory chips
• 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 5/0015 characterised by features of the telemetry system
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0024 for multiple sensor units attached to the patient, e.g. using a body or personal area network
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/321 using wearable devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/384 using social networks
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/23 The load being a medical device, a medical implant, or a life supporting device
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/005 Mechanical details of housing or structure aiming to accommodate the power transfer means, e.g. mechanical integration of coils, antennas or transducers into emitting or receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/12 of the resonant type
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/20 using microwaves or radio frequency waves
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/40 using two or more transmitting or receiving devices H02J50/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/70 involving the reduction of electric, magnetic or electromagnetic leakage fields
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/80 involving the exchange of data, concerning supply or distribution of electric power, between transmitting devices and receiving devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/90 involving detection or optimisation of position, e.g. alignment
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00034 : Charger exchanging data with an electronic device, i.e. telephone, whose internal battery is under charge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 : Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 : Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

A system sends firmware updates from a telemetry system to a monitoring device. One or more sensors are coupled to a monitoring device that has a unique user ID. The sensors acquire user information selected from of at least one of, a user'"'"'s activities, behaviors and habit information. ID circuitry at the monitoring device includes ID storage, a communication system that reads and transmits the unique ID from an ID storage, a power source and a pathway system to route signals through the circuitry and elements to enable installation of firmware updates. A telemetry system is in communication with the one or more sensors and includes a database of user ID'"'"'s. The telemetry system analyzes telemetry data from the monitoring device based on at least one of, user'"'"'s activities, behaviors and habit information and creating personalized information about the user.

Claims

1. A system for sending firmware to a monitoring device, comprising:

one or more sensors coupled to the monitoring device that has a unique user ID, the one or more sensors acquiring user information selected from of at least one of, a user'"'"'s activities, behaviors and habit information;

ID circuitry at the monitoring device, the ID circuitry including ID storage, a communication system that reads and transmits the unique ID from an ID storage, a power source and a pathway system to route signals through the circuitry and elements to enable installation of a firmware update; and

a telemetry system in communication with the one or more sensors, the telemetry system including a database of user ID'"'"'s, the telemetry system analyzing telemetry data from the monitoring device based on at least one of, user'"'"'s activities, behaviors and habit information and creating personalized information about the user, the telemetry system in operation providing the firmware update to the monitoring device during an update mode of the monitoring system when the monitoring device is not in use by the user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the update mode is when the user does not know that the monitoring device is being up-dated.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the update mode is occurs without disrupting service to the user.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the firmware update is sent by the telemetry system directly or indirectly to the monitoring device, with the firmware update or a copy of the firmware update residing on the monitoring device.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more processors at the telemetry system to detect an available firmware update for one or more of a plurality of the monitoring devices.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the firmware repair is performed when the user does not know that the monitoring device is being repaired.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the firmware repair is performed without disrupting service to the user.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the firmware repair is sent by the telemetry system directly or indirectly to the monitoring device, with the firmware repair then being resident on the monitoring device.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more processors at the telemetry system to detect an available firmware repair for one or more of a plurality of the monitoring devices.

6. A system for sending firmware to a monitoring device, comprising:

one or more sensors coupled to the monitoring device that has a unique user ID, the one or more sensors acquiring user information selected from of at least one of, a user'"'"'s activities, behaviors and habit information;

ID circuitry at the monitoring device, the ID circuitry including ID storage, a communication system that reads and transmits the unique ID from an ID storage, a power source and a pathway system to route signals through the circuitry and elements to enable installation of a firmware repair; and

a telemetry system in communication with the one or more sensors, the telemetry system including a database of user ID'"'"'s, the telemetry system analyzing telemetry data from the monitoring device based on at least one of, user'"'"'s activities, behaviors and habit information and creating personalized information about the user, the telemetry system in operation providing a firmware repair or a firmware repair to the monitoring device during a repair mode of the monitoring system when the monitoring device is not in use by the user.

11. A method for using a telemetry system to send firmware to a monitoring device, comprising:

using one or more sensors, coupled to a monitoring device that has a unique user ID, to acquire user information selected from of at least one of, a user'"'"'s activities, behaviors and habit information, the monitoring device including ID circuitry with an ID storage, a communication system that reads and transmits the unique ID from an ID storage, a power source and a pathway system to route signals through the circuitry;

communicating between a telemetry system and the one or more sensors, the telemetry system including a database of user ID'"'"'s; and

using a processor at the telemetry system to send firmware updates or repairs to the monitoring device during an update or repair mode of the monitoring system when the monitoring device is not in use by the user.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

performing the firmware repair when the user does not know that the monitoring device is being repaired.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

performing the firmware update or repair without disrupting service to the user.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

sending the firmware update or repair by the telemetry system directly or indirectly to the monitoring device, with the firmware repair then being resident on the monitoring device.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

using one or more processors at the telemetry system to detect available firmware updates or repairs for one or more of a plurality of monitoring devices.