Command console for home monitoring system

• US 6,816,069 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2002
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark P. Quigley
• Original Assignee: Mark P. Quigley
• Inventors: Quigley, Mark P.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US10/298,233
• Publication Number:
  US 20030128114A1
• Time in Patent Office: 725 Days
• Field of Search: 340/506, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.12, 340/309.16, 340/309.7, 700/244, 211/2, 211/9, 211/15
• US Class Current: 340/521
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/66 Trinkets, e.g. shirt buttons or jewellery items recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/005 combined burglary and fire alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0476 Cameras to detect unsafe condition, e.g. video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0484 Arrangements monitoring consumption of a utility or use of an appliance which consumes a utility to detect unsafe condition, e.g. metering of water, gas or electricity, use of taps, toilet flush, gas stove or electric kettle
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/007 Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a home monitoring system is provided. The home monitoring system may include a command console for monitoring and processing the output of sensors. The processing of the sensors includes (1) providing a history of the sensor as an indicator to the operator of the sensor output over time; (2) analyzing the trends of the sensor to increase the effectiveness of the sensor beyond simply the current sensor output; and (3) analyzing the output of one sensor which may impact interpretation of a second sensor'"'"'s output. The monitoring system may also be a prescription reminder system. The prescription reminder system may be used in homes or institutional medical facilities (assisted living or nursing homes) to provide patients with a manner to remind them to take pharmaceutical drugs at prescribed times.

Claims

1. Patient monitoring system comprising in combination:

service center device including a service center processor and a service center memory device connected to the service center processor, the service center memory device including a patient data look-up table containing patient data regarding types of prescriptions taken by the patient and times for taking the prescriptions by the patient;

prescription data device including a prescription data processor, means for communicating with the service center device and a prescription data memory device, the prescription data memory device electrically connected to the prescriptions data processor and including a prescription data look-up table;

pharmacy branch device including a pharmacy branch processor, means for communicating with the prescription data device, and a pharmacy branch memory device, the pharmacy branch memory device electrically connected to the pharmacy branch processor and including a pharmacy branch look-up table;

wherein the pharmacy branch look-up table contains patient data regarding prescriptions and wherein the prescription data look-up table obtains the patient data regarding prescriptions from the pharmacy branch look-up table; and

at least one patient home device including a patient home processor having a clock, a patient home memory device connected to the patient home processor, means for notifying a patient, and means for communicating with the service center device in order to transfer patient data,

wherein the patient home memory device includes a patient home look-up table containing patient data regarding types of prescriptions taken by the patient and times for taking of the prescriptions, the patient data being obtained from the patient data look-up table via the means for communicating with the service center device and

wherein the processor notifies the patient via the means for notifying a patient based on the patient data in the patient home look-up table and based on the clock.

2. A patient monitoring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the patient home look-up table contains scheduled times in which to take the prescription and wherein the patient home processor reads the scheduled times from the patient home look-up table and activates the means for notifying based on the output of the clock.

3. A patient monitoring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the patient home look-up table further contains directions for taking the prescription and wherein the means for notifying outputs the directions for taking the prescription.

4. A patient monitoring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for communicating with the service center device includes a modem.

5. A patient monitoring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for notifying a patient includes an aural alarm.

6. A patient monitoring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one patient home device further includes a means for identifying a prescription.

7. A patient monitoring system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the means for identifying a prescription includes displaying a picture of medication to be taken.

8. A patient monitoring system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the means for identifying a prescription includes reading a bar code on a drug vial.

9. Patient monitoring system comprising in combination:

service center device including a service center processor and a service center memory device connected to the service center processor, the service center memory device including a patient data look-up table containing patient data regarding types of prescriptions taken by the patient and times for taking the prescriptions by the patient; and

at least one patient home device including a patient home processor having a clock, a patient home memory device connected to the patient home processor, means for notifying a patient, and means for communicating with the service center device in order to transfer patient data,

wherein the patient home memory device includes a patient home look-up table containing patient data regarding types of prescriptions taken by the patient and times for taking of the prescriptions, the patient data being obtained from the patient data look-up table via the means for communicating with the service center device,

wherein the processor notifies the patient via the means for notifying a patient based on the patient data in the patient home look-up table and based on the clock, and

wherein the means for notifying a patient includes a television.

10. A patient monitoring system as claimed in claim 9 Wherein the television is receiving a television signal and wherein the means for notifying a patient further includes a textual message for overlay on the television signal.

11. A patient monitoring system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the means for notifying a patient further includes a picture of a pill in order for the patient to identify the type of prescription to take.

12. In a system having a service center and at least one patient home, a method of monitoring a patients taking of prescriptions comprising the steps of:

compiling a look-up table at the service center that contains prescription data schedules for taking the prescription;

sending the prescription data to the patient home;

compiling a look-up table at the patient home that contains prescription data including schedules for taking the prescription;

determining when to notify the patient to take the prescription based on the schedules in the look-up table at the patient home; and

notifying the patient when the patient is scheduled to take the prescription by producing a textual message and a picture of medication on a screen.

13. A method of monitoring a patient'"'"'s taking of prescriptions as claimed in claim 12 wherein the step of notifying the patient includes activating an aural alarm.

14. A patient monitoring system, comprising in combination:

a pharmacy branch device including a first computing platform, wherein the first computing platform can access a first database containing prescription data regarding types of prescriptions taken by a patient and times for taking prescriptions;

a prescription data device including a second computing platform, wherein the second computing platform can access a second database containing prescription data obtained from the first database;

a service center device including a third computing platform, wherein the third computing platform can access a third database containing prescription data obtained from the second database; and

a patient home device including a fourth computing platform having a clock and a means for notifying a patient, wherein the fourth computing platform can access a fourth database containing prescription data obtained from the third database, wherein the patient home device notifies the patient based on the prescription data in the fourth database and the clock.

15. A patient monitoring system as claimed in claim 14 Wherein the means for notifying a patient includes producing a textual message and a picture of medication on a screen.

16. A patient monitoring system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the means for notifying a patient includes an aural alarm.

17. A patient monitoring system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the patient home device further includes a means for identifying a prescription.

18. A patient monitoring system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the means for identifying a prescription includes displaying a picture of medication to be taken.

19. A patient monitoring system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the means for identifying a prescription includes reading a bar code on drug vial.