Subscription system for monitoring user well being

• US 6,825,767 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2002
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Resource Consortium Limited, LLC
• Original Assignee: Charles Humbard
• Inventors: Humbard, Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V.
• Application Number:
  US10/140,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20030210147A1
• Time in Patent Office: 937 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/539, 340/540, 340/568, 340/693.1, 340/825.3, 340/825.49, 340/691.6, 342/357
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0202 Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/04 responsive to non-activity, e.g. of elderly persons G08B21/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0453 worn on the body to detect health condition by physiological monitoring, e.g. electrocardiogram, temperature, breathing detecting, measuring or recording for diagnostic purposes A61B5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/088 by monitoring a device worn by the person, e.g. a bracelet attached to the swimmer
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/022 with dynamic range variability

Abstract

A subscription system and corresponding method of operation for monitoring user'"'"'s well being is disclosed. The system comprises a user monitor module adapted to be mounted on a user'"'"'s body, the user monitor module providing a first indication of user well being, the first indication having a threshold value. The system also comprises a receiver module operably coupled to the user monitor module, the receiver module receiving the first indication and generating a secondary indication when the threshold value is reached, and a supervisory module operably coupled to at least the receiver module, wherein the supervisory module receives the secondary indication and informs a supervisor that the threshold value has been reached.

Claims

1. A subscription system for monitoring user well being, comprising:

a user monitor module, the user monitor module providing a first indication of user well being, the first indication having a threshold value;

a receiver module operably coupled to the user monitor module, the receiver module receiving the first indication, determining if the threshold value is reached and generating a secondary indication when the threshold value is reached; and

a supervisory module operably coupled to at least the receiver module, wherein the supervisory module receives the secondary indication and informs a supervisor that the threshold value has been reached.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the user monitor module comprises:

an alert module adapted to generate an alarm upon tampering of the user monitor module; and

a detection module that detects the occurrence of one or more events related to the well being of the user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the supervisory module is operably coupled to a telephone, and wherein the supervisory module sends a call to the telephone to inform the supervisor that the threshold value has been reached.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the supervisory module is operably coupled to a pager, and wherein the supervisory module sends a page to the pager to inform the supervisor that the threshold value has been reached.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the supervisory module is operably coupled to a personal computer, and wherein the supervisory module sends an email to the personal computer to inform the supervisor that the threshold value has been reached.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the supervisory module is operably coupled to a television, and wherein the supervisory module sends a message for display on the television to inform the supervisor that the threshold value has been reached.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the supervisory module comprises a device that generates one or more of an audible alarm, a visual alarm and a sensory alarm to inform the supervisor that the threshold value has been reached.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the supervisory module employs a round-robin alert scheme to send alerts to one or more devices, until an acknowledgement is received from at least one of the devices, to inform the supervisor that the threshold value has been reached.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a subscription module operably coupled to one of the receiver module and the supervisory module, wherein the subscription module comprises:

means for allowing interactions with one or more customers;

means for allowing the one or more customers to select subscription services;

means for creating, storing and updating a profile for one or more of the one or more customers; and

means for protecting privacy of data contained in the profile.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the subscription services are tiered in levels of service, wherein the levels of service relate to geographical coverage, types of monitoring and alert options.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein a subscription fee is calculated based on the level of service selected by the customer and on a flat rate, a pro rata rate or a combination of a flat rate and a pro rata rate, and wherein the subscription fee is charged to the customer.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the user monitor module, the receiver module and the supervisory module are operably coupled by a wireless system, wherein the wireless system comprises one or more of one or more satellite systems, one or more cellular telephone networks, and one or more Blue Tooth compatible systems.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the wireless system tracks a location of the user monitor module and provides a tertiary indication to the receiver module and the supervisory module, the tertiary indication including a geographical location of the user monitor module.

14. The system of claim 2, wherein the detection module comprises:

a location detector;

a user skin temperature detector;

a user pulse detector;

an acceleration detector;

a water detector; and

a glucose detector.

15. The system of claim 2, wherein the receiver module comprises:

a threshold adjustment module that provides for adjustment of the threshold value of the first indication;

a tamper code module adapted to receive a code that arms and disarms the alert module; and

a display module that provides a display related to the received first indication.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein an event related to the well being of the user comprises an increase in distance between the user monitor module and the supervisory module, and wherein the location detector detects when the distance reaches the threshold value.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the location detector detects the distance by a method comprising the steps of:

transmitting a signal by the supervisory module on a periodic basis;

receiving the signal by the location detector;

comparing the strength of the signal received by the location detector at different times; and

correlating a difference in the strength of the signal received by the location detector at different times to a distance between the user monitor module and the supervisory module.

18. The system of claim 2, wherein the alert module may be activated by the user to generate the alarm.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein an event related to the well being of the user comprises a change in skin temperature of the user:

and wherein the skin temperature detector detects when the change in skin temperature reaches the threshold value.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein an event related to the well being of the user comprises a change in pulse of the user, and wherein the pulse detector detects when the change in pulse reaches the threshold value.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein an event related to the well being of the user comprises a change in acceleration of the user'"'"'s body, and wherein the acceleration detector detects when the change in acceleration reaches the threshold value.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein an event related to the well being of the user comprises an acceleration of the user'"'"'s body, and wherein the acceleration detector detects when the acceleration reaches the threshold value.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein an event related to the well being of the user comprises a change in blood glucose level of the user, and wherein the glucose detector detects when the change in blood glucose level reaches the threshold value.

24. The system of claim 14, further comprising means for determining whether to issue an alert when a plurality of events related to the well being of the user are detected.

25. The system of claim 14, wherein the system is adapted for use in a locale having a large, transitory population, the locale including one of a theme park, a shopping mall, a stadium and a mass transit station, wherein an event related to the well being of the user comprises passing a boundary of the locale, and wherein the location detector detects when the user monitor module is at or beyond the boundary.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the boundary is dynamically configurable.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the boundary is configured using a satellite system.

28. The system of claim 14, wherein an event related to the well being of the user comprises water immersion of the user, and wherein the water detector detects when the immersion in water by the user reaches the threshold value.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the water detector comprises a pressure gage, wherein the pressure gage measures an ambient pressure immediately surrounding the user monitor module.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the water detector comprises a moisture gage, wherein the moisture gage measures a moisture level immediately surround the user monitor module.

33. The system of claim 1, wherein one of the receiver module and the supervisory module is capable of emitting radio frequency waves.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the user monitor module comprises a radio frequency identification device, wherein the radio frequency identification device is capable of drawing power from the radio frequency waves to transmit a signal carrying an identification of the radio frequency identification device.

31. The system of 15, wherein the alert module is armed by inputting a code into the tamper code module.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the alert module transmits the alarm to the supervisory module upon tampering of the user monitor module.

35. A subscription system for monitoring user well being, comprising:

a user monitor module adapted to be mounted on a user'"'"'s body, the user monitor module providing a first indication of user well being, the first indication having a threshold value, the user monitor module comprising;

an alert module adapted to generate an alarm upon tampering of the user monitor,

a detection module that detects the occurrence of one or more events related to the well being of the user;

a receiver module operably coupled to the user monitor module, the receiver module receiving the first indication and generating a secondary indication when the threshold value is reached, the receiver module comprising;

a threshold adjustment module that provides for adjustment of the threshold value of the first indication,

a tamper code module adapted to receive a code that arms and disarms the alert module, and

a display module that provides a display related to the received first indication; and

a supervisory module operably coupled to at least the receiver module, wherein the supervisory module receives the secondary indication and informs a supervisor that the threshold value has been reached.

36. A subscription system for monitoring user well being, comprising:

a user monitor module adapted to be mounted on a user'"'"'s body, the user monitor module providing a first indication of user well being, the first indication having a threshold value, the user monitor module comprising;

an alert module adapted to generate an alarm upon tampering of the user monitor module,

a detection module that detects the occurrence of one or more events related to the well being of the user, the detection module, comprising;

a location detector,

a user skin temperature detector,

a user pulse detector,

an acceleration detector,

a water detector, and

a glucose detector;

a receiver module operably coupled to the user monitor module, the receiver module receiving the first indication, determining if the threshold value is reached and generating a secondary indication when the threshold value is reached, the receiver module comprising;

a threshold adjustment module that provides for adjustment of the threshold value of the first indication,

a tamper code module adapted to receive a code that arms and disarms the alert module,

a display module that provides a display related to the received first indication; and

a supervisory module operably coupled to at least the receiver module, wherein the supervisory module receives the secondary indication and informs a supervisor that the threshold value has been reached.