Motion or opening detector
First Claim
1. An apparatus for monitoring container activity, the apparatus comprising:
- a housing that can be attached to a container;
a processing unit communicatively coupled to a memory device and embedded in the housing;
an actuator interface on the housing that is communicatively coupled to the processing unit;
an indicator on the housing that is communicatively coupled to the processing unit;
an accelerometer communicatively coupled to the processing unit and operative to provide signals to the processing unit when the container to which the housing is attached is moved;
the processing unit, in response to instructions read from the memory device is operative to;
receive programming data identifying scheduled times at which the container should be accessed;
monitor activity based on signals received from the accelerometer; and
if activity is not detected proximate to a scheduled time, send an alert signal to the indicator, andwherein the processing unit is operative to receive programming data by;
receiving a first actuation of the actuator interface;
in response to the first actuation, entering a learning mode for a given period of time;
monitor signals from the accelerometer to identify container access activity;
for each container access activity, creating a scheduled time that corresponds to the activity time; and
exiting the learning mode after the given period of time expires.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An activity monitor which can be pre-programmed at the factory, the doctors office or the pharmacist, or that can be programmed by the user. The activity monitor is affixed to a medicine bottle or container and activity associated with the bottle or container, such as movement, opening, volume changes, etc. are monitored in view to the schedule. If the schedule indicates that a dose of medicine should be taken at a particular time, but the monitored activity does not determine that the medicine has been taken, an alert signal will be issued to alert the user that it is time to take the medicine. In addition, if the monitored activity indicates that the medicine bottle has been opened prior to a scheduled time, then a tamper alert can be triggered.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. An apparatus for monitoring container activity, the apparatus comprising:
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a housing that can be attached to a container; a processing unit communicatively coupled to a memory device and embedded in the housing; an actuator interface on the housing that is communicatively coupled to the processing unit; an indicator on the housing that is communicatively coupled to the processing unit; an accelerometer communicatively coupled to the processing unit and operative to provide signals to the processing unit when the container to which the housing is attached is moved; the processing unit, in response to instructions read from the memory device is operative to; receive programming data identifying scheduled times at which the container should be accessed; monitor activity based on signals received from the accelerometer; and if activity is not detected proximate to a scheduled time, send an alert signal to the indicator, and wherein the processing unit is operative to receive programming data by; receiving a first actuation of the actuator interface; in response to the first actuation, entering a learning mode for a given period of time; monitor signals from the accelerometer to identify container access activity; for each container access activity, creating a scheduled time that corresponds to the activity time; and exiting the learning mode after the given period of time expires. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. An activity monitor that can be affixed to a medicine bottle, the disposable activity monitor comprising:
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a housing including at least one button accessible on the exterior of the housing and at least one indicator; an activity detector; a processing unit coupled to the at least one button, the at least one indicator, a memory device and the activity detector; and a schedule, stored within the memory device, that includes data which at least defines a time of the day at which medicine is supposed to be dispensed, wherein the processing unit, in response to instructions read from the memory device, is operative to enter a learning mode in which activity associated with the medicine bottle over a certain period of time is used to generate the schedule.
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4. An activity monitor that can be affixed to a medicine bottle, the disposable activity monitor comprising:
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a housing including at least one button accessible on the exterior of the housing and at least one indicator; an activity detector; a processing unit coupled to the at least one button, the at least one indicator, a memory device and the activity detector; and a schedule, stored within the memory device, that includes data which at least defines a time of the day at which medicine is supposed to be dispensed, wherein the processing unit, in response to instructions read from the memory device, is operative to; enter a learning mode in which activity associated with the medicine bottle over a certain period of time is used to generate the schedule; and enter an operational mode in which activity associated with the medicine bottle in view of the schedule, causes the processing unit to; send an alert signal to the indicator if scheduled activity does not occur; and send an alert signal to the indicator if activity outside of the schedule occurs.
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5. An activity monitor that can be affixed to a medicine bottle, the disposable activity monitor comprising:
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a housing including at least one button accessible on the exterior of the housing and at least one indicator; an activity detector; a processing unit coupled to the at least one button, the at least one indicator, a memory device and the activity detector; and a schedule, stored within the memory device, that includes data which at least defines a time of the day at which medicine is supposed to be dispensed, and wherein the memory device includes multiple schedules, and the processing unit, in response to instructions read from the memory device, is operative to; detect a first actuation of the at least one button; identifying the actuation; selecting a schedule from the multiple schedules based at least in part on the identity of the actuation. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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Specification