Telemetry system with remote firmware updates

• US 20140250430A1
• Filed: 06/21/2013
• Published: 09/04/2014
• 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 9,425,627 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 717/168
• 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 is provided for that 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 one or more 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 a firmware update. A telemetry system is in communication with the one or more sensors. The telemetry system includes a database of user ID'"'"'s. The telemetry system in operation provides the firmware update to the monitoring device.

Claims

1. A system for sending firmware updates 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 analyzing telemetry data from 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.

2. 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.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more processors at the telemetry system to contact selected monitoring devices prior to sending the firmware update.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more processors at the telemetry system to be contacted by a monitoring device prior to sending the firmware update.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

using a one or more processors at the telemetry system to determine if a monitoring device has contacted the telemetry system for the firmware update.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more processors at the monitoring device that provide an update of the firmware installation being completed.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a control system at the monitoring device to orchestrate communication between different systems.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a noise reduction element at the monitoring device to reduce signal noise.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

logic resources at the monitoring device to determine at least one of use, activity type, behavioral patterns and habits based on data relative to the user.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein switching is performed between incremental and full syncing of data based on available communication routes.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

conditioning electronics that in operation communicate signals from the one or more sensors.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the conditioning electronics include a filter that determine a presence of certain conditions.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the conditioning electronics clean a signal for processing by a central processing unit (CPU) of the telemetry system.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the CPU evaluates historical data.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the telemetry system in operation creates different classifications for data received from the monitoring device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the classifications are selected from at least one of, a user'"'"'s location, where the user spends its time, with whom the user spends its time, a determination of working relationships, a determination of family relationships, a user'"'"'s activities, and a user social relationships.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the telemetry system in operation provides firmware updates to the monitoring device.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein streams of information are sent from at least one sensor at the monitoring device to the telemetry system.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the streams of information can include encrypted and non-encrypted information.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein user information is sent from the monitoring device to a mobile device or computer.

21. A method for using telemetry data to send firmware updates 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 to the monitoring device.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

using one or more processors to detect an available firmware update for one or more of a plurality of monitoring devices.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the monitoring devices are geographically distributed from the telemetry system.

24. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

using a processor at the telemetry system to contact selected monitoring devices prior to sending the firmware update.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

using a processor at the telemetry system to be contacted by a monitoring device prior to sending the firmware update.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

using a processor to determine if a monitoring device has contacted the telemetry system for a firmware update.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

confirming by the monitoring device that update of the firmware has been completed.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein confirmation of the update is sent from the monitoring device to the telemetry system.

29. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

up-dating a database at the telemetry system that an update of the firm has been completed at a monitoring device.

30. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

using a processor at the telemetry system to determine if selected monitoring devices have been updated with the firmware.