METHOD OF COLLECTING DATA

• US 20090228448A1
• Filed: 06/12/2007
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Heerink, Alexander Wilhelmus, Ivanov, Eugene
• Granted Patent: US 8,762,400 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

Data storage method for storing a subblock of a block of data. The block of data is distributed, in a number of subblocks of data, over a set of devices. The set of devices comprises at least two devices, and the method comprises the steps of: collecting a subblock of data using the device, storing the subblock of data on the device; and storing metadata identifying the data comprised in the subblock of data.

Claims

1. Data storage method for storing a subblock of a block of data, the block of data being distributed, in a number of subblocks of data, over a set of devices, the set comprising at least two devices, the method comprising:

collecting a subblock of data using the device,

storing the subblock of data on the device; and

storing metadata identifying the data comprised in the subblock of data.

2. Data storage method according to claim 1, wherein the metadata is stored on the device.

3. Data storage method according to claim 1, wherein the metadata is stored on an external device.

4. Data storage method according to claim 1, wherein the metadata comprises one or more identifiers of the group of identifiers including a device identifier, a data collection time period identifier, a user identifier, a start time identifier, a stop time identifier, and the metadata possibly comprises additional information relating to the device, such as a type identification (?), a measurement accuracy, a position, a battery level, and the like, and the metadata possibly comprises additional information relating to a subject and/or the surroundings, such as an atmospheric pressure, an indoor temperature, an outdoor temperature, a current subject activity, a posture, and the like.

8. Telemonitoring method comprising a data storage method according to claim 1 and a data collection for collecting at least a predetermined part of a block of data, the block of data being distributed, in a number of subblocks of data, over a set of devices, the set comprising at least two devices, the method comprising:

retrieving metadata identifying data stored in at least one subblock of data, the subblock of data comprising at least a part of the predetermined part of the block of data;

querying the metadata for determining a subset of devices storing the at least one identified subblock of data; and

collecting the at least one subblock of data from the subset of devices, wherein the devices are telemonitoring devices.

9. Telemonitoring method according to claim 8, wherein the method comprises sending at least one of the telemonitoring devices to a monitoring center for retrieving the predetermined part of the block of data, the at least one telemonitoring device storing subblocks of data comprising at least a part of said predetermined part of the block of data.

5. Data collection method for collecting at least a predetermined part of a block of data, the block of data being distributed, in a number of subblocks of data, over a set of devices, the set comprising at least two devices, the method comprising:

retrieving metadata identifying data stored in at least one subblock of data, the subblock of data comprising at least a part of the predetermined part of the block of data;

querying the metadata for determining a subset of devices storing the at least one identified subblock of data; and

collecting the at least one subblock of data from the subset of devices.

6. Data collection method according to claim 5, wherein the metadata comprises a device identifier, the device identifier corresponding to a device identifier associated with one device of the set of devices.

7. Data collection method according to claim 6, wherein the device identifier is a visual identifier, the method comprising, prior to the step of collecting the at least one subblock of data:

indicating at least one device storing a subblock of data comprising at least a part of the predetermined part of the block of data by providing the device identifier; and

collecting the at least one indicated device.

10. Data collection device comprising:

an input device for collecting a subblock of data; and

a memory for storing the subblock of data;

wherein the data collection device is configured to generate and store metadata, the metadata identifying the data comprised in the subblock of data.

11. Data collection device according to claim 10, wherein the data collection device comprises a communication device for transferring the metadata to an external memory for storing the metadata in the external memory.

12. Telemonitoring system comprising at least two data collection devices according to claim 10 and a monitoring center, the data collection devices and the monitoring center being configured for communicating through a suitable communication connection.

13. Telemonitoring system according to claim 12, wherein the system further comprises a phone device comprising a memory, the data collection devices being configured for communicating with the phone device for storing the metadata in the memory of the phone device, and the monitoring center is configured for communicating with the phone device for sending a request and for receiving metadata and/or patient data.