Self-charging individual life evaluator network

• US 8,693,452 B1
• Filed: 06/29/2011
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Lauff, Sarah M., Ramirez, Ayax D., Clement, Russel E., Baumbaugh, Joel T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Adhami, Mohammad
• Application Number:
  US13/172,497
• Time in Patent Office: 1,014 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]

Abstract

Physiological conditions of a plurality of individuals are monitored by using signals provided by sensors on each individual. Each individual has, positioned in close proximity to the individual, one or more sensors for sensing a physiological condition of the individual. A control module is capable of communicating with an external communication station and with the sensors. A wireless networked communication link is established between the control module and the external communication station. Indications of the physiological conditions for a plurality of individuals or physiological conditions derived from the physiological sensors, are transmitted on the wireless networked communication link to the external communication station.

Claims

1. A method comprising the steps of:

providing one or more first sensors for sensing a physiological condition of a first individual as a biocondition, each of the one or more first sensors positioned in close proximity to the first individual;

providing a first control module positioned in close proximity to the first individual and configured to communicate directly with an external communication station and directly with each of the one or more first sensors;

establishing a communication link directly between the first control module and each of the one or more first sensors;

establishing a wireless networked communication link between the first control module and the external communication station;

linking the first control module with a second control module positioned in close proximity to a second individual, the second control module configured to communicate directly with the external communication station and one or more second sensors positioned in close proximity to the second individual and configured to sense a physiological condition of the second individual, wherein the wireless networked communication link comprises at least one of a direct communication link between the first control module and the external communication station and a communication link between the first control module and the external communication station through the second control module;

determining by at least one of the first control module and the second control module a requirement for monitoring at least one biocondition based on an external signal and/or data from other sensors;

providing a signal to cause at least one of the first sensors and the one or more second sensors to activate and report its respective biocondition information, wherein the first sensor and the one or more second sensors remain quiescent except in response to the signal;

communicating a reading from at least one of the one or more first sensors directly to the second control module and from the second control module directly to the external communication station when the first control module fails, wherein the one or more first sensors are paired with the second control module after the first control module fails.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless networked communication link is a frame slotted wireless communication link, the method further comprising the steps of:

using a control module advertisement technique to broadcast signal transmission intervals.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless networked communication link is a framed slotted wireless communication link, the method further comprising the steps of:

using a control module advertisement technique in accordance with the defined configuration of the IEEE 802.15.4 to broadcast signal transmission intervals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining by at least one of the first control module and the second control module a requirement for monitoring at least one biocondition comprises at least one of:

receiving an indication from at least one of the first sensors and the second sensors of a biocondition and determining, externally of such sensor, whether the biocondition indicates a state requiring further monitoring;

receiving an indication from at least one of the first sensors and the second sensors that a biocondition indicates a state requiring monitoring; and

receiving a signal through the external communication station requesting monitoring of the biocondition.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the wireless networked communication link between the first control module and the external communication station is a framed slotted wireless communication link.

6. The method of claim 5,

wherein the wireless networked communication link between the first control module and the external communication station is established in a communication network utilizing a star communications topology.

7. The method of claim 5,

wherein the wireless networked communication link between the first control module and the external communication station is established in a communication network utilizing a mesh communications topology.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a storage battery and a charging system powered by motion dynamics of the first individual; and

using the storage battery and the charging system to power the first control module.

9. A system comprising:

at least one first sensor, placed in close proximity to a first individual, configured to sense a physiological condition of the first individual;

a first control module configured to establish a communication link directly between the first control module and the at least one first sensor;

a first wireless networked communication circuit providing a first framed slotted wireless communication link directly between the first control module and an external communication station;

wherein the first wireless networked communication circuit is configured to selectively communicate indications of the physiological condition sensed by the at least one first sensor using the first frame slotted wireless communication link, to the external communication station;

a first storage battery and a first battery charging circuit configured to generate a charging current in response to body movement of the first individual, the first storage and charging circuit configured to provide power to operate the first control module;

at least one second sensor, placed in close proximity to a second individual, configured to sense a physiological condition of the second individual;

a second control module configured to establish a communication link directly between the second control module and the at least one second sensor and a communication link between the first control module and the external communication station;

a second wireless networked communication circuit providing a second framed slotted wireless communication link directly between the second control module and the external communication station, wherein the second wireless networked communication circuit is configured to selectively communicate indications of the physiological condition sensed by the at least one second sensor using the second frame slotted wireless communication link, to the external communication station;

a second storage battery and a second battery charging circuit configured to generate a charging current in response to body movement of the second individual, the second storage and charging circuit configured to provide power to operate the second control module;

the first and second control module configured to determine a requirement for monitoring at least one biocondition based on an external signal and/or data from other sensors, and configured to provide a signal to cause at least one of the first sensors and the one or more second sensors to activate and report its respective biocondition information, wherein the first sensor and the one or more second sensors remain quiescent except in response to the signal; and

the at least one first sensor configured to communicate directly to the second control module and from the second control module directly to the external communication station when the first control module fails, wherein the one or more first sensors are paired with the second control module after the first control module fails.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein each of the first wireless networked communication circuit and the second wireless networked communication circuit are configured to implement a control module advertisement technique to broadcast signal transmission intervals.