Monitoring remote patients

• US 7,830,962 B1
• Filed: 03/31/2006
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NorthStar Systems LLC (Alpha Alpha Intellectual Partners LLC)
• Original Assignee: Lot 3 Acquisition Foundation LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Hu, Irene Y., Fernandez, Dennis S.
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, TUNG T
• Application Number:
  US11/394,554
• Time in Patent Office: 1,684 Days
• Field of Search: 348148-169, 348/170, 340/905, 600/301, 600/508, 702/188, 375/240.16
• US Class Current: 375/240.16
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19608 Tracking movement of a target, e.g. by detecting an object predefined as a target, using target direction and or velocity to predict its new position
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19691 Signalling events for better perception by user, e.g. indicating alarms by making display brighter, adding text, creating a sound
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/812 involving advertisement data advertising per se G06Q30/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

Integrated imaging and GPS network monitors remote object movement. Browser interface displays objects and detectors. Database stores object position movement. Cameras detect objects and generate image signal. Internet provides selectable connection between system controller and various cameras according to object positions.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first fixed video detector and a second fixed video detector; and

a controller configured to receive patient data from a mobile biomedical sensor associated with a patient, the controller is further configured to receive visual data from the first fixed video detector and the second fixed video detector, the controller is further configured to perform surveillance of the patient based on a combination of the visual data and the patient data;

wherein the controller comprises a movement module configured to conduct real-time analysis of the patient in a first observation range of the first fixed video detector and configured to extrapolate a predicted future location of the patient in order to determine a second observation range into which the patient is likely to roam in the future, wherein the second fixed video detector is activated in response to the extrapolation of the predicted future location of the patient in the second observation range.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to:

receive location data from a mobile locator associated with the patient; and

switch visual surveillance of the patient from the first fixed video detector to the second fixed video detector in response to the location data indicating the patient is expected to move from the first observation range to the second observation range.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a third fixed video detector, and wherein the movement module is further configured to:

receive location data from a mobile locator associated with the patient;

use the location data to predict patient movement; and

switch visual surveillance of the patient to the third fixed video detector in response to the prediction of patient movement.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the movement module is further configured to:

access a database comprising a scheduled patient location; and

compare the scheduled patient location to an actual patient location determined using at least one of the first fixed video detector or the second fixed video detector.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to electronically deliver to the patient at least one of an audio stream or a video stream, as part of a commercial transaction, in response to a combination of the visual data and the patient data.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the surveillance of the patient comprises monitoring patient movement.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the monitoring of patient movement comprises selecting, in response to the predicted future location into which the patient is imminently expected to move, the first fixed video detector or the second fixed video detector to monitor the patient.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the surveillance of the patient comprises controlling the first fixed video detector or the second fixed video detector in response to a medical state of the patient exceeding a predetermined allowable range.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to collect additional patient data from the mobile biomedical sensor in response to an analysis of the visual data.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein a movement module is configured to determine the second observation range into which the patient is likely to roam based on at least one of an historical value of patient movement, a patient movement pattern, a predicted patient position, or a possible patient path.

10. A digital storage device having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, if executed by an object monitoring system, cause the object monitoring system to perform operations comprising:

receiving patient data from a mobile biomedical sensor associated with a patient;

receiving visual data from a fixed video detector;

performing corroborative surveillance of the patient by real-time analysis of the visual data and the patient;

extrapolating a predicted future location of the patient in order to obtain a second observation range into which the patient is likely to roam in the future; and

activating, in real time, a second fixed video detector in response to the extrapolating the predicted future location of the patient in the second observation range.

11. The digital storage device of claim 10, the operations further comprising collecting additional patient data from the mobile biomedical sensor in response to an analysis of the visual data.

19. The digital storage device of claim 10, wherein the object monitoring system comprises at least one of a controller or a target unit.

12. A method comprising:

conducting real-time analysis of a patient located in a first observation range covered by a first fixed video detector;

receiving patient data from a biomedical sensor;

receiving positional data from a locator;

extrapolating a predicted future location of the patient in order to obtain a second observation range into which the patient is likely to roam in the future;

activating, in real time, a second fixed video detector in response to the extrapolating the predicted future location of the patient in the second observation range; and

performing corroborative surveillance of the patient by combined real-time analysis of visual data, the positional data, and the patient data.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising tracking the patient from the first observation range to the second observation range covered by the second fixed video detector as the patient moves from the first observation range to the second observation range, wherein the tracking is performed in response to sensing a first GPS signal indicating the patient'"'"'s location in the first observation range and a second GPS signal indicating the patient'"'"'s subsequent location in the second observation range.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising conducting real-time tracking of the patient in the second observation range of the second fixed video detector in response to the extrapolating the predicted future location of the patient into the second observation range.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising comparing a stored patient location obtained from a database to a location in which the patient is observed by at least one of the first fixed video detector or the second fixed video detector.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein the biomedical sensor is coupled to a wireless device configured to transmit the patient data to a controller.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising electronically delivering to the patient at least one of an audio stream or a video stream, as part of a commercial transaction with the patient, in response to at least one of a push software agent or a pull software agent using the visual data and at least one of the positional data or the patient data.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the activating the second fixed video detector comprises handing off to the second fixed video detector roaming patient data.

21. The method of claim 12, further comprising simulating expected patient behavior in response to the extrapolating the predicted future location of the patient, and activating the second fixed video detector in response to the simulating the expected patient behavior, wherein the activating the second fixed video detector occurs in response to the patient being imminently expected to move into the second observation range.