Remotely monitoring an individual using scripted communications

• US 20050172021A1
• Filed: 03/28/2005
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stephen J Brown
• Original Assignee: Stephen J Brown
• Inventors: Brown, Stephen J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,310,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• 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: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0601 Electronic shopping [e-shopping]
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/24 Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth, upstream requests monitoring of server performance or load G06F11/34; arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/12
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/905 Feedback to patient of biological signal other than brain electric signal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

A system for remotely monitoring an individual. The system includes a server system for generating a script program from a set of queries. The script program is executable by a remote apparatus that displays information and/or a set of queries to the individual through a user interface. Responses to the queries that are entered through the user interface together with individual identification information are sent from the remote apparatus to the server system across a communication network. The server system also includes an automated answering service for providing a series of questions from a stored set of questions for an individual at the remote apparatus to respond to, storing responses to each provided question in the series of questions and providing a service based on the individual'"'"'s response to the questions.

Claims

1. A system for remotely monitoring an individual, comprising:

(a) a server;

(b) a remote apparatus including;

(i) a processor for executing a script to present one or more queries to the individual; and

(ii) a user interface through which the individual can input one or more responses to the one or more queries;

and

(c) a network,

wherein the system is configured to

generate the script based on one or more queries,

transmit the script to the remote apparatus, and

cause one or more responses to be transmitted from the remote apparatus to the server.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the script is further based on one or more response choices to at least one query.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the remote apparatus further includes a display.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface has one or more user input buttons.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the user interface has a touch-sensitive display screen.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the individual is a patient and the script is assigned to the individual.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the script is generated based on information entered by a healthcare provider.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote apparatus further stores the one or more responses prior to transmitting them to the server.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote apparatus further includes an audio transducer.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote apparatus further includes a visual indicator.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising one or more monitoring devices connectable to the remote apparatus.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein execution of the script prompts the individual to connect at least one monitoring device to the remote apparatus.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein execution of the script facilities collection of measurements with at least one monitoring device.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the one or more monitoring devices is selected from the group consisting of:

blood glucose meter;

peak flow meter; and

EKG.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the one or more monitoring devices is selected from the group consisting of:

blood pressure cuff;

electronic weight scales;

pulse rate monitors.

16. A method for remotely monitoring an individual, comprising:

generating a script based on one or more queries;

transmitting the script to a remote apparatus;

executing the script at the remote apparatus so that the one or more queries are presented to the individual;

accepting, from the individual, one or more responses to the one or more queries;

transmitting the one or more responses across the network from the remote apparatus to the server; and

generating a report based on the one or more responses.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the script is additionally based on one or more response choices.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the remote apparatus includes a display.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the individual uses input buttons to input the one or more responses.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the individual uses a touch-sensitive display screen to input the one or more responses has.

21. The method of claim 16 wherein the script is generated by the server.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising:

entering the one or more queries on a workstation attached to the server.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the individual is a patient and the script is assigned to the individual.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein the script is generated based on information entered by a healthcare provider.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the healthcare provider is the patient'"'"'s physician.

26. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

storing the one or more responses on the remote apparatus prior to transmitting them to the server.

27. The method of claim 24 further comprising audibly notifying the individual when unanswered queries are stored at the remote apparatus.

28. The method of claim 24 further comprising visually notifying the individual when unanswered queries are stored at the remote apparatus.

29. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

connecting one or more monitoring devices to the remote apparatus.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising:

collecting device measurements from one or more monitoring devices connected to the remote apparatus; and

transmitting the device measurements to the server.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein execution of the script prompts the individual to connect at least one monitoring device to the remote apparatus.

32. The system of claim 30 wherein execution of the script facilities collection of measurements with at least one monitoring device.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein the one or more monitoring devices is selected from the group consisting of:

blood glucose meter;

peak flow meter; and

EKG.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein the one or more monitoring devices is selected from the group consisting of:

blood pressure cuff;

electronic weight scales;

pulse rate monitors.

35. The method of claim 16 wherein more than one individual is monitored.