Systems and methods for providing remote communications and visitations

• US 9,459,772 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2012
• Issued: 10/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Perwaiz Nihal
• Original Assignee: Perwaiz Nihal
• Inventors: Nihal, Perwaiz
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOWDHURY, RAYEEZ R
• Application Number:
  US14/009,564
• Publication Number:
  US 20140033051A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,639 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Processor based systems and methods for providing a communication between a first and a second user are disclosed, one example method comprising receiving a first service request from the second user interface, authorizing a first communication type to the second user interface and the first user interface based on a profiles of a service provider profile, the first user and the second user profile, and providing the first communication type as the communication. In some embodiments, the systems and methods further comprise providing a notification to at least one of the first user interface or the second user interface of a service event based on the service provider profile. In some embodiments, the step of authorizing the communication service based on a service provider profile comprises comparing the service request to at least one service provider profile attribute.

Claims

1. A processor based method of providing a communication between a first user interface and a second user interface, the method comprising:

receiving a first service request from the second user interface;

a first user profile stored in a service database comprising at least one user profile attribute of a first user;

the first user is a patient in a health care facility;

the at least one user profile attribute of the first user comprising an authorization for a second user to have a first communication type with the first user;

a service provider profile stored in a service database comprising a plurality of service provider profile attributes of a service provider;

the plurality of service provider profile attributes comprises a time period for limiting the first communication type between a first user interface and the second user interface;

authorizing the first communication type to the second user interface and the first user interface based on a comparison of the service provider profile, the first user profile and a second user profile;

providing the first communication type as a communication between the first user interface and the second user interface; and

the communication between the first user interface and the second user interface corresponds to the first communication type.

2. The processor based method of claim 1 wherein:

the plurality of service provider profile attributes comprises a plurality of tiers of a service the first user registers for.

3. The processor based method of claim 1 wherein:

at least one of the at least one user profile attribute of the first user defines a communication group comprising a plurality of user profiles;

the second user profile comprises a plurality of second user profile attributes stored in the service database; and

the step of authorizing the first communication type to the second user interface and the first user interface based on a comparison of the service provider profile, the first user profile and the second user profile further comprises confirming that at least one of the plurality of second user profile attributes of the second user profile is in the communication group.

4. The processor based method of claim 3 wherein:

the step of authorizing the first communication type further comprises;

forwarding a notice of the first service request to the first user interface; and

receiving an acceptance of the first service request from the first user interface.

5. The processor based method of claim 3 wherein the communication group identifies a plurality of user profiles including at least the second user profile.

6. The processor based method of claim 3 further comprising:

authorizing the first communication type to a third user interface and the first user interface based on the service provider profile, the communication group and a third user profile;

authorizing a second communication type to the third user interface and the second user interface based on the service provider profile, the communication group and the third user profile; and

providing the second communication type as a communication between the third user interface and the second user interface.

7. The processor based method of claim 6 wherein:

the service provider profile comprises a health care provider profile of the health care facility;

the first user interface is associated with the first user profile and the first user profile is associated with the first user;

the second user interface is associated with the second user profile and the second user profile is associated with of a visitor of the patient of the health care facility;

the third user interface is associated with the third user profile and the third user profile is associated with a second visitor of the patient of the health care facility;

providing the first communication type comprises providing a one-way image communication; and

providing the second communication type comprises providing a two-way text communication between the second user interface and the third user interface whereby the first user interface is not provided the second communication type.

8. The processor based method of claim 1 further comprising providing a notification to at least one of the first user interface or the second user interface of a service event based on one of the service provider profile or the first user profile.

9. The processor based method of claim 1 further comprising:

registering the first user to create the first user profile;

registering a second user to create the second user profile;

associating the first user profile with the first user interface;

associating the second user profile with the second user interface; and

the step of authorizing the first communication type based on a service provider profile comprises comparing the first service request to at least one of the plurality of service provider profile attributes.

10. The processor based method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a second service request from the second user interface for a second communication type between the second user interface and the first user interface;

authorizing the second communication type based on a comparison of the service provider profile, the first user profile and the second user profile; and

providing the second communication type between the first user interface and the second user interface.

11. The processor based method of claim 10 wherein:

the step of authorizing the second communication type is further based on a service event based on the service provider profile;

the service provider profile comprises a health care facility profile of the health care facility;

the first user interface is associated with the first user profile and the first user profile is associated with the patient of the health care facility;

the second user interface is associated with the second user profile and the second user profile is associated with of a visitor of the patient of the health care provider;

the service event is a time period for allowing the visitor to visit the patient;

the first communication type is a one-way communication type from the first user interface to the second user interface; and

the second communication type is a two-way communication type between the second user interface and the first user interface.

12. The processor based method of claim 11 wherein:

the first communication type comprises a one-way image communication from the patient to the visitor;

the second communication type comprises a two-way image communication between the patient and the visitor; and

the one-way image communication further comprises a streaming communication of one or more health measures of the patient.

13. A processor based method for providing a communication between a first user interface and a second user interface, the method comprising:

recognizing a second user input to a second user interface as a first service request for a first communication type with the first user interface for a first user;

the first user is a patient in a health care facility;

communicating the first service request from the second user interface to a service provider;

receiving the first communication type as a communication between the first user interface and the second user interface after the service provider provides a first authorization to receive the first communication type based on a comparison of a service provider profile of the service provider, a first user profile and a second user profile;

the communication between the first user interface and the second user interface corresponds to the first communication type;

the service provider profile and the first user profile stored in a service database;

wherein the service provider profile comprises a plurality of service provider profile attributes of the service provider; and

the plurality of service provider profile attributes comprises;

a time period for limiting the first communication type between the first user interface and the second user interface.

14. The processor based method of claim 13 further comprising:

receiving a notification of a service event based on the service provider profile;

communicating a second service request for a second communication type from the second user interface; and

if the service provider profile provides a second authorization to receive the second communication type based on the service provider profile, the first user profile and the second user profile then providing the second communication type between the first user interface and the second user interface after.

15. The processor based method of claim 14 wherein:

the service event is a defined time period for the second communication type;

the first communication type is a one-way image communication from the first user interface to the second user interface;

the second user interface is a graphic user interface; and

the second communication type is a two-way image communication between the first user interface and the second user interface.

16. The processor based method of claim 13 wherein:

the service provider profile comprises a health care provider profile of the health care facility;

the first user interface is associated with the patient;

the second user interface is associated with a visitor of the patient; and

the plurality of service provider profile attributes further comprise a time period for allowing the first communication type between the first user interface and the second user interface.

17. A processor based method, the method comprising:

receiving a first service request from a second user interface for a first communication type with a first user interface;

receiving an acceptance of the first service request from the first user interface after receiving a first authorization to receive the first communication type based on a comparison of a service provider profile stored in a service database, a first user profile stored in the service database and a second user profile;

the first user interface is associated with a patient in a health care facility;

wherein the service provider profile comprises a plurality of service provider profile attributes of a service provider;

the plurality of service provider profile attributes comprises a time period for allowing the first communication type between the first user interface and the second user interface;

providing the first communication type as a communication from the first user interface to the second user interface; and

the communication from the first user interface and the second user interface corresponds to the first communication type.

18. The processor based method of claim 17 further comprising:

presenting the first service request for the first communication type from the second user interface; and

accepting the first service request from the second user interface through the first user interface authorizing the first communication type.

19. The processor based method of claim 18 further comprising;

receiving a notification of a service event;

the first service request is related to the service event; and

the service event is a time period allowing the first communication type.

20. The processor based method of claim 19 wherein:

the service provider is the health care facility;

the second user interface is associated with a visitor of a first user; and

the service event is the time period for allowing the first communication type between the first user interface and the second user interface at the health care facility.