Wirelessly loaded speaking consumer product container method and system

• US 7,305,344 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2004
• Issued: 12/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: iVoice, Inc.
• Original Assignee: iVoice, Inc.
• Inventors: Glynn, Kenneth P., Mahoney, Jerome R.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAWAN, VIJAY B
• Application Number:
  US10/893,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20050199526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 704/270, 704/201, 704/260, 379/88.13, 379/88.17, 379/88.01, 206/534, 455/558
• US Class Current: 704/270
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0409 with timers
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0463 for multiple patients
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/12 Audible, olfactory or visual signalling means B65D51/248, B65D55/028, B65D79/02 and B65D81/24 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 20/13 delivered from dispensers

Abstract

A method of communicating product use instructions to patient includes: (a.) providing a group of product container with microprocessors, and, (b.) providing a central processor separate from the product containers. Each product container has the microprocessor attached to the container. The microprocessor includes: (a)(i) a wave file receiving chip; (a)(ii) a wave file storage means; (a)(iii) a wave file audio playback means; (a)(iv) an audio playback start means; and (a)(v) a power supply within the microprocessor. The central processor includes: (b)(i) user input means; (b)(ii) text-to-speech means; (b)(iii) wave file means to create a wave file from the text-to-speech means; and (b)(iv) wireless transmission means to transmit the wave file to the microprocessor wave file receiving chips of a plurality of OTC containers simultaneously. Wireless transmission may be radio frequency (RF) transmission systems, infrared (IR) transmission systems and any other wireless transmission systems that are now available or may become available.

Claims

1. A method of communicating product use instructions to a plurality of consumers of the same products, which comprises:

(a.) providing a plurality of product containers, each of said plurality of product containers including a storage area for a product, and a microprocessor attached to each of said plurality of product containers, said microprocessor including;

(a)(i) a wave file receiving chip;

(a)(ii) a wave file storage means;

(a)(iii) a wave file audio playback means;

(a)(iv) an audio playback start means; and

(a)(v) a power supply within said microprocessor adapted to power components of said microprocessor;

(b.) providing a central processor separate from said plurality of product containers, said central processor including;

(b)(i) user input means;

(b)(ii) text-to-speech means;

(b)(iii) wave file means to create a wave file from said text-to-speech means; and

(b)(iv) wireless transmission means to wirelessly transmit said wave file from said central processor to said microprocessor wave file receiving chip;

(c.) inputting said user input means to create product use instruction text;

(d.) converting said text to electronic speech;

(e.) creating a wave file with said electronic speech;

(f.) transmitting said wave file to said plurality of product container microprocessor wave file receiving chips;

(g.) storing said wave file in said microprocessors for subsequent playback by users by activating said audio playback starting means; and

,

(h.) providing product to said storage area of each of said plurality of product containers, said product being substantially the same product for each of said plurality of product containers.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said central processor is a computer system and said user input means is a conventional computer user input means selected from keyboard, mouse, ball and touch pad.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(i.) creating a unique identifier for product identification, in said central processor;

(j.) wirelessly transmitting said unique identifier to said microprocessor; and

(k.) providing accessing means for accessing said unique identifier from said microprocessor.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein each said microprocessor is attached to at least one of a bottom, a top, a side of each said product container.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said user-input means is a microphone and said central processor includes conversion means for converting speech to electronic input.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said central processor further includes:

(a)(vi) a preset data collection of product use instructions, including for at least two different types of products, and sufficient software to permit a user to select appropriate product use instructions corresponding to a specific product for a specific plurality of identical product containers having substantially the same product to be stored therein.

7. A method of communicating product use instructions to a plurality of consumers, which comprises:

(a.) providing a plurality of product containers, each of said plurality of product containers including a storage area for product, and a microprocessor attached to each product container, said processor including;

(a)(i) a wave file receiving chip;

(a)(ii) a wave file storage means;

(a)(iii) a wave file audio playback means;

(a)(iv) an audio playback start means; and

(a)(v) a power supply within said microprocessor adapted to power components of said microprocessor;

(b.) providing a central processor separate from said plurality of product containers, and said central processor including;

(b)(i) user input means for inputting electronic product use instruction input;

(b)(ii) wave file means to create a wave file from said electronic product use instruction input from said input means; and

(b)(iii) wireless transmission means to wirelessly transmit said wave file from said central processor to said microprocessor wave file receiving chip;

(c.) inputting product use instructions with said user input means to create electronic input;

(d.) creating a wave file with said electronic input;

(e.) transmitting said wave file to said plurality of product container microprocessor wave file receiving chips;

(f.) storing said transmitted wave file wireless transmission for subsequent audio playback by users by activating said audio playback starting means; and

(g.) providing a product to said storage area of each of said plurality of product containers, said product being substantially the same product for each of said plurality of product containers.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein said central processor is a computer system and said user input means is a conventional computer user input means selected from the group consisting of keyboard, mouse, ball and touch pad.

9. The method of claim 7 further compromising:

(h.) creating a unique identifier for product identification, in said central processor;

(i.) wirelessly transmitting said unique identifier to said microprocessor; and

(j.) providing processing means for accessing said unique identifier from said microprocessor.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein each said microprocessor is attached to at least one of a bottom, a top, a side of each said product container.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein said user input means is a microphone and said central processor includes conversion means for converting speech to electronic input.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein said central processor further includes:

(a)(vi) a preset data collection of product use instructions, including for at least two different product types, and sufficient software to permit a user to select appropriate product use instructions corresponding to a specific product for a specific plurality of product containers having the substantially the same product to be stored therein.

13. A system for communicating product use instructions to consumers by wireless communication from a central processor to a plurality of product containers for subsequent audio speech playback from said product containers to consumers, which comprises:

(a.) a plurality of product containers, said product containers including a storage area for product, and a microprocessor attached to each of said plurality of product containers, said microprocessor including;

(a)(i) a wave file receiving chip;

(a)(ii) a wave file storage means;

(a)(iii) a wave file audio playback means;

(a)(iv) an audio playback start means; and

(a)(v) a power supply within said microprocessor, and adapted to power components of said microprocessor;

(b.) a central processor separate from said plurality of product containers, said central processor including;

(b)(i) user input means;

(b)(ii) text-to-speech means;

(b)(iii) wave file means to create a wave file from said text-to-speech means; and

(b)(iv) wireless transmission means to wirelessly transmit said wave file from said central processor to said microprocessor wave file receiving chip;

(c.) a product in each said product storage area of said plurality of product containers.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said central processor is a computer system and said user input means is a conventional computer user input means selected from keyboard, mouse, ball and touch pad.

15. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

(d.) means for creating a unique identifier for product identification, in said central processor, for each of said plurality of product containers;

(e.) means for wirelessly transmitting said unique identifier to each said microprocessor; and

(f.) accessing means for accessing each said unique identifier from each said microprocessor.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein each said microprocessor is attached to at least one of a bottom, a top, a side of each said product container.

17. The system of claim 13 wherein said user input means is a microphone and said central processor included conversion means for converting speech to electronic input.

18. The system of claim 13 wherein each said product container microprocessor includes a first microprocessor capability and a second microprocessor capability, and said first microprocessor capability is adapted to receive product use instructions and said second microprocessor capability is adapted to receive product warning information;

and

further wherein there are two audio playback start means, a first for said first microprocessor capability, and a second for said second microprocessor capability.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein each said product container includes a container cover, and a container cover connection area, and said container cover connection area includes a cover-opening audio playback start means connected to said microprocessor, such that when a cover is opened for a first time, wave file audio playback is initiated.

20. A system for communicating product use instructions to a consumer by wireless communication from a central processor to a plurality of product containers for subsequence audio speech playback from said plurality of product containers to consumers, which comprises:

(a.) a plurality of product containers including a storage area for product, and a microprocessor attached to each said product container, said processor including;

(a)(i) a wave file receiving chip;

(a)(ii) a wave file storage means;

(a)(iii) a wave file audio playback means;

(a)(iv) an audio playback start means; and

(a)(v) a power supply within said microprocessor, and adapted to power components of said microprocessor;

(b.) a central processor separate from said plurality of product containers, and said central processor including;

(b)(i) user input means for inputting electronic product use instruction input;

(b)(ii) wave file means to create a wave file from said electronic product use instruction input from said input means; and

(b)(iii) wireless transmission means to wirelessly transmit said wave file from said central processor to said microprocessor wave file receiving chip;

(c.) a product in each said product storage area of said plurality of product containers.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein said central processor is a computer system and said user input means is a conventional computer user input means selected from keyboard, mouse, ball and touch pad.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein comprising:

(d.) means for creating a unique identifier for product identification, in said central processor for each of aid plurality of product containers;

(e.) means for wirelessly transmitting said unique identifier to each said microprocessor; and

(f.) accessing means for accessing each said unique identifier from each said microprocessor.

23. The system of claim 20 wherein each said microprocessor is attached to at least one of a bottom, a top, a side of each said product container.

24. The system of claim 20 wherein said user input means is a microphone and said central processor includes conversion means for converting speech to electronic input.

25. The system of claim 20 wherein each of said plurality of product container microprocessors include a first microprocessor capability and a second microprocessor capability, and said first microprocessor capability is adapted to receive product use instructions and said second microprocessor capability is adapted to receive product warning information;

and

further wherein there are two audio playback start means, a first for said first microprocessor capability, and a second for said second microprocessor capability.

26. The system of claim 20 wherein each said product container includes a container cover, and a container cover connection area, and said container cover connection area includes a cover-opening audio playback start means connected to said microprocessor, such that when a cover is opened for a first time, wave file audio playback is initiated.