Mobile telephonic device and base station

• US 7,652,569 B2
• Filed: 10/01/2004
• Issued: 01/26/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Kiff, Liana M., Berg, Michael D., Lang, Scott R.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US10/956,681
• Publication Number:
  US 20060071798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,943 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2505/07 Home care
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0431 Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• 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 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1117 Fall detection
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0211 Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature
• 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 21/0453 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 21/0492 Sensor dual technology, i.e. two or more technologies collaborate to extract unsafe condition, e.g. video tracking and RFID tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 80/00 ICT specially adapted for facilitating communication between medical practitioners or patients, e.g. for collaborative diagnosis, therapy or health monitoring

Abstract

A monitoring system for purposes of enhancing independent living incorporates a wearable communication device, such as a cellular telephone, in combination with a recharging base which might be coupled to a wire line telephone system. Either or both of the base station and wearable device can be in communication with sensors scattered through an individual'"'"'s residence for purposes of collecting data pertaining to activities of daily living. Either or both of the wearable unit and base station could incorporate sensors responsive to physiological parameters of the resident. Both units can independently communicate with third party monitors to communicate data about, or direct immediate attention to the state of an individual using the system.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

at least one portable, wireless communications device;

a base station for receiving and recharging the device, the base station is adapted to engage in wired communication with a communications network;

a supervisory algorithm disposed within the base station that prompts a person to wear the portable communication device in the morning and place the portable communication device in the base station at night; and

a plurality of physiologic sensors disposed within a residence of the person and directly responsive to the presence of the person within the residence, the sensors monitor the daily living activities of the person and wherein at least some of the plurality of physiologic sensors are coupled to the device and wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one position indicating sensor coupled at least to the base station, the position indicating sensor is displaced from the base station.

2. A system as in claim 1 where at least some of the sensors report movement of persons in the vicinity of the sensors.

3. A system as in claim 1 where the device comprises at least one of a cellular wireless phone, or, a wireless hand-set of a wire line telephone.

4. A system as in claim 1 where the base station includes at least one port for coupling to at least one of a temperature sensor, a blood pressure sensor, a glucose sensor, or, a scale.

5. A system as in claim 4 where the temperature sensor responds to an environmental temperature.

6. A system as in claim 1 where the portable device includes at least one of circuitry for communicating with a location sensing system, or, fall detection circuitry.

7. A system as in claim 1 where the base station monitors sensor signals indicative of movements of the person in the vicinity thereof.

8. A system as in claim 7 where the base station includes software that analyzes sensor outputs to infer information about the activities of a person.

9. A system as in claim 8 where the base station includes software that communicates analysis results to at least one of another person or system via the communications network.

10. A system as in claim 1 where the communications device comprises at least one of location sensing circuitry, or, activity sensing circuitry.

11. A system as in claim 1 where the base station stores data for upload over a land-line telephone system.

12. A system as in claim 11 where the base station implements protocols indicating the urgency of data to be communicated.

13. A system as in claim 12 where the base station can take control of the land-line communication channel and deliver selected information immediately.

14. A system as in claim 1 where the base station is in substantially constant communication with other systems or persons via a substantially continuously available computer network.

15. A system as in claim 1 where the base station processes and communicates messages relative to at least one of equipment status or a person.

16. A system as in claim 3 that includes circuitry which detects whether the device is in use.

17. A system as in claim 15 which includes circuitry integral to the device that indicates that the device is in a predetermined wearing position.

18. A system as in claim 15 which includes circuitry integral to the device that can infer and report the state of the device as being worn, or not worn, through an analysis of signals from embedded sensors.

19. A system as in claim 1 which includes a portable charging unit for remote charging of the portable device when not co-located with the base station.

30. A system as in anyone of claims 1 and 20, where logic for data analysis and reporting may be located in one or both of the wireless communicating device or the base station.

20. A monitoring system comprising:

first and second units, one unit includes a portable, wireless, voice activated communications device for communicating via a first channel, the other unit includes circuitry for communicating with third parties via a wired network, the two units are in wireless communication with each other via a second channel;

the other unit implementing a supervisory algorithm that prompts a person to wear the portable communication device in the morning and place the portable communication device in a cradle of the other unit for recharging at night; and

a plurality of physiological sensors disposed within a residence of a person and directly responsive to the presence of the person within the residence, the sensors monitor the daily living activities of the person and at least some of which are coupled to each of the first and second units.

21. A system as in claim 20 where data from the sensors is wirelessly communicated to the second unit.

22. A system as in claim 20 where the at least one sensor comprises at least one of a movement indicator, a body temperature sensor, a blood pressure sensor, or a glucose sensor.

23. A system as in claim 22 where information from the at least one sensor is wirelessly communicated via at least one of the first channel, or the second channel.

24. A system as in claim 23 where the communication is indicative of a potential emergency condition and is automatically communicated to a third party.

25. A system as in claim 24 where the first unit includes circuitry for identifying the unit'"'"'s location.

26. A system as in claim 25 where the first unit circuitry communicates wirelessly with elements of a global positioning system.

27. A system as in claim 20 where the communications device of the first unit includes a cellular telephone.

28. A system as in claim 27 where the telephone includes hands-free circuitry.

29. A system as in claim 28 where the telephone includes automatic dialing circuitry.