Resource-saving event-driven monitoring system and method

• US 6,496,695 B1
• Filed: 07/27/1999
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi America Limited (Hitachi, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Susumu, Okamura, Munetoshi, Unuma, Hiroshi, Shoujima, Eiichi, Hara, Masashi, Ando, Kouji, Kurimura
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Congvan
• Application Number:
  US09/361,597
• Time in Patent Office: 1,239 Days
• Field of Search: 455/67.1, 455/67.5, 455/427, 455/428, 455/67.7, 455/68, 455/456, 455/3.01, 455/3.02, 455/3.03, 455/3.04, 455/414, 455/424, 340/853.2, 340/853.8, 340/853.9
• US Class Current: 455/427
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/08 Elderly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

The event-driven subject monitoring system and method generally include a host unit and a mobile communication unit. These two units communicate via a communication network and are designed to conserve resources at least by operating an event-driven monitoring mobile communication unit.

Claims

1. A method of notifying a host unit from a mobile communication unit, the mobile communication unit monitoring a subject with the mobile communication unit, comprising the acts of:

placing the mobile communication unit in a predetermined inactive monitoring state;

detecting at least one of a set of predetermined conditions with respect to the subject and the mobile communication unit and generating a condition detection signal;

placing the mobile communication unit in a predetermined active state in response to the condition detection signal;

initiating a communication line with a predetermined global positioning system (GPS);

requesting the predetermined GPS for a current position of the mobile communication unit in a location signal; and

initiating a first communication line with the host unit for transmitting the condition detection signal and the location signal.

2. The method of notifying a host unit according to claim 1 wherein the set of the predetermined conditions includes that the mobile communication unit is removed from the subject.

3. The method of notifying a host unit according to claim 1 wherein the set of the predetermined conditions includes that the mobile communication unit is not properly functioning.

4. The method of notifying a host unit according to claim 1 wherein the set of the predetermined conditions includes that the subject has a certain vital sign outside a predetermined numerical range.

5. The method of notifying a host unit according to claim 4 wherein the vital sign includes a heart beat, a blood pressure level, and mobility pattern.

6. The method of notifying a host unit according to claim 1 wherein the set of the predetermined conditions includes that the subject is exposed to certain environmental harm.

7. The method of notifying a host unit according to claim 1 wherein the environmental harm includes that excess water and temperature outside a predetermined temperature range.

8. The method of notifying a host unit according to claim 1 wherein the set of the predetermined conditions includes that the subject experiences a sudden impact.

9. The method of notifying a host unit according to claim 1 wherein the set of the predetermined conditions includes that the subject experiences a certain amount of acceleration.

10. The method of notifying a host unit according to claim 1 wherein the host unit initiates the detecting act on demand.

11. The method of notifying a host unit according to claim 1 wherein the detecting act is continuous.

12. The method of notifying a host unit according to claim 1 wherein the host communicates with a plurality of uniquely identified mobile communication units.

13. The method of notifying a host unit according to claim 1 further comprising an additional act of displaying the location signal and the condition detection signal.

14. The method of notifying a host unit according to claim 1 further comprising an additional act of generating a predetermined sound based upon the location signal and the condition detection signal.

15. The method of notifying a host unit according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined inactive monitoring state conserves resources of the mobile communication unit.

16. The method of notifying a host unit according to claim 15 wherein the host sends a series of host commands to the mobile communication unit at a time, each of the commands specifying a corresponding predetermined task to be performed by the mobile communication unit.

17. The method of notifying a host unit according to claim 16 wherein the mobile communication unit stores the host commands.

18. The method of notifying a host unit according to claim 1 wherein the predetermined inactive monitoring state conserves resources of the host unit.

19. The method of notifying a host unit according to claim 18 wherein the mobile communication unit sends a series of terminal commands to the host unit at a time, each of the commands specifying a corresponding predetermined task to be performed by the host unit.

20. The method of notifying a host unit according to claim 19 wherein the host unit stores the terminal commands.

21. A system for notifying certain conditions associated with a subject, comprising:

a mobile communication unit for detecting at least one of a set of predetermined conditions in relation to the subject who wears the mobile communication unit, the mobile communication being initially in a predetermined inactive monitoring state, upon detecting one of the predetermined conditions, the mobile communication unit generating a condition detection signal and changing its mode to a predetermined active state, the mobile communication unit further comprising a control unit for initiating a communication line with a predetermined global positioning system (GPS), upon establishing the communication line, the control unit requesting the predetermined GPS for a current position of the mobile communication unit in a location signal; and

a host unit selectively in communication with the mobile communication unit for transmitting information between the mobile communication unit and the host unit, the control unit initiating a first communication line with the host unit for transmitting the condition detection signal and the location signal.

22. The system for notifying a host unit according to claim 21 wherein the mobile communication unit detects whether or not the mobile communication unit is removed from the subject.

23. The system for notifying a host unit according to claim 21 wherein the mobile communication unit detects whether or not the mobile communication unit is properly functioning.

24. The system for notifying a host unit according to claim 21 wherein the mobile communication unit detects whether or not the subject has a certain vital sign outside a predetermined numerical range.

25. The system for notifying a host unit according to claim 24 wherein the vital sign includes a heart beat, a blood pressure level, and mobility pattern.

26. The system for notifying a host unit according to claim 21 wherein the mobile communication unit detects whether or not the subject is exposed to certain environmental harm.

27. The system for notifying a host unit according to claim 26 wherein the environmental harm includes that excess water and temperature outside a predetermined temperature range.

28. The system for notifying a host unit according to claim 21 wherein the mobile communication unit detects whether or not the subject experiences a sudden impact.

29. The system for notifying a host unit according to claim 21 wherein the mobile communication unit detects whether or not the subject experiences a certain amount of acceleration.

30. The system for notifying a host unit according to claim 21 wherein the host unit initiates the mobile communication unit to detect predetermined conditions on demand.

31. The system for notifying a host unit according to claim 21 wherein the host communicates with a plurality of uniquely identified ones of the mobile communication unit.

32. The system for notifying a host unit according to claim 21 further comprising a display unit connected to the host unit for displaying the location signal and the condition detection signal.

33. The system for notifying a host unit according to claim 21 further comprising an audio unit connected to the host unit for generating a predetermined sound based upon the location signal and the condition detection signal.

34. The system for notifying a host unit according to claim 21 wherein the host sends a series of host commands to the mobile communication unit at a time, each of the commands specifying a corresponding predetermined task to be performed by the mobile communication unit.

35. The system for notifying a host unit according to claim 34 wherein the mobile communication unit stores the host commands.

36. The system for notifying a host unit according to claim 21 wherein the mobile communication unit sends a series of terminal commands to the host unit at a time, each of the commands specifying a corresponding predetermined task to be performed by the host unit.

37. The system for notifying a host unit according to claim 36 wherein the host unit stores the terminal commands.