Daily task and memory assistance using a mobile device

• US 7,397,346 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2004
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Original Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated (State University System of Florida)
• Inventors: Helal, Abdelsalam A., Giraldo, Carlos M., Mann, William C.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HUNG T
• Application Number:
  US10/889,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20050057357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,457 Days
• Field of Search: 340/691.3, 340/457, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.12, 340/539.13, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/539.14, 340/539.19, 340/309.4, 340/309.15, 340/309.7, 600/300, 600/301, 705/2, 705/3, 303/077, 700/231, 700/233
• US Class Current: 340/309.16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/08 Elderly
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0468 Built-in electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0062 Arrangements for scanning
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/024 Detecting, measuring or recording pulse rate or heart rate A61B5/0205, A61B5/021 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0531 Measuring skin impedance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7475 User input or interface means, e.g. keyboard, pointing device, joystick
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/005 with correlation of navigation data from several sources, e.g. map or contour matching G01C21/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/042 using digital processors G05B19/05 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/00 : Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g. utilities or tourism healthcare informatics G16H
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 90/00 : Systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes, not involving significant data processing
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19658 : Telephone systems used to communicate with a camera, e.g. PSTN, GSM, POTS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 : Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 : Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/025 : System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses absence of reply signal after an elapsed time
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0263 : System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the direction in which child or item is located
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 : Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/028 : Communication between parent and child units via remote transmission means, e.g. satellite network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 : via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/04 : responsive to non-activity, e.g. of elderly persons G08B21/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 : Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 : Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 : Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/006 : with transmission via telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 : Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 : using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/41 : Remote control of gateways
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/42 : Transmitting or receiving remote control signals via a network
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/50 : Receiving or transmitting feedback, e.g. replies, status updates, acknowledgements, from the controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 : Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/61 : Password, biometric
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/93 : Remote control using other portable devices, e.g. mobile phone, PDA, laptop
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 : for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 : for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 : Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/282 : based on user interaction within the home receiver circuitry for displaying additional information being controlled by a remote control apparatus H04N21/42204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2836 : Protocol conversion between an external network and a home network controlling appliance services of a home automation network from a device located outside the home and the home network H04L12/2818; protocol conversion H04L69/08; adaptation of digital video signals for transport over a specific home network H04N7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 : using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 : for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 : according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 : according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 : according to geographic location
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72475 : specially adapted for disabled users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 : including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

A method of task and memory assistance using a mobile communication device can include storing a profile of a user and determining a task to be performed by the user based on the user profile. The method can also include notifying the mobile communication device of the task. The method can further include providing sensory indicators in an increasing order of intervention until an acknowledgement is received from user, or for a predetermined number of notifications.

Claims

1. A method of task and memory assistance using a mobile communication device, the method comprising the steps of:

storing a profile of a user;

determining a task based on the user profile;

notifying the mobile communication device of the task; and

providing sensory indicators for a predetermined number of notifications in an increasing order of intervention until an acknowledgement is received from the user, and if after the predetermined number of notifications acknowledgement has not been received from the user, notifying a designated third party that no acknowledgement is detected from the user, wherein providing sensory indicators in an increasing order of intervention includes at last one of playing a predetermined song or sounds at a volume that iteratively increases with each subsequent providing of the sensory indicator and emitting a vibratory indicator that iteratively increases in intensity with each subsequent providing of the sensory indicator.

2. The method of claim 1, said notifying step comprising notifying the mobile communication device over a short range wireless network.

3. The method of claim 1, said providing step further comprising:

emitting audio indicators from the mobile communication device;

emitting vibratory indicators from the mobile communication device; and

emitting an olfactory indicator from an olfactory system.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a location of the mobile communication device.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

selecting one of a plurality of monitors disposed throughout a defined space according to the location, wherein the selected monitor is most proximate to the mobile communication device; and

presenting on the selected monitor information pertaining to the task.

6. A method for providing task instruction using a mobile communication device comprising the steps of:

storing a profile of user tasks, wherein each task is associated with a location within a defined space;

determining a location of the mobile communication device within the defined space;

identifying one or more tasks associated with the location;

providing a listing of one or more of the tasks associated with the location to the user via the mobile communication device ; and

notifying the user that the one or more tasks are to be performed, the notifying including providing sensory indicators in an increasing order of intervention until an acknowledgement is received from the user, wherein providing sensory indicators in an increasing order of intervention includes at least one of playing a predetermined song or sounds familiar to the user at a volume that iteratively increases with each subsequent providing of the sensory indicator and emitting a vibratory indicator that iteratively increases in intensity with each subsequent providing of the sensory indicator.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

selecting one of a plurality of video monitors disposed throughout the defined space according to the location, wherein the selected monitor is most proximate to the mobile communication device; and

presenting on the selected monitor information pertaining to a task selected by the user.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of determining a location comprises detecting with a plurality of ultrasonic receivers an ultrasonic signal emitted by an ultrasonic transponder connected to the mobile communication device.

9. A system for providing memory assistance, comprising:

a location determining mechanism;

a mobile communication device configured to interact with the location tracking mechanism;

a server in communication with the location tracking mechanism and the mobile communication device, wherein the server is local to the mobile communication device, said server having a listing of tasks;

a plurality of monitors, wherein said server selects one of the plurality of monitors most proximate to the user based upon information from the location tracking mechanism and causes information corresponding to one of the tasks to be presented upon the selected monitor; and

notifying the user that the one or more tasks are to be performed, the notifying including providing sensory indicators in an increasing order of intervention until an acknowledgement is received from the user, wherein providing sensory indicators in an increasing order of intervention includes at last one of playing a predetermined song or sounds at a volume that iteratively increases with each subsequent providing of the sensory indicator and emitting a vibratory indicator that iteratively increases in intensity with each subsequent providing of the sensory indicator.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the server delivers video pertaining one of the tasks to the selected monitor.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the location determining mechanism comprises a plurality of ultrasonic receivers for detecting an ultrasonic signal emitted by an ultrasonic transponder connected to the mobile communication device.

12. A machine readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

storing a profile of a user;

determining a task based on the user profile;

notifying the mobile communication device of the task; and

providing sensory indicators for a predetermined number of notifications in an increasing order of intervention until an acknowledgement is received from the user, and if after the predetermined number of notifications acknowledgement has not been received from the user, notifying a designated third party that no acknowledgement is detected from the user, wherein providing sensory indicators in an increasing order of intervention includes at least one of playing a predetermined song or sounds familiar to the user at a volume that iteratively increases with each subsequent providing of the sensory indicator and emitting a vibratory indicator that iteratively increases in intensity with each subsequent providing of the sensory indicator.

13. The machine readable storage of claim 12, said notifying step comprising notifying the mobile communication device over a short range wireless network.

14. The machine readable storage of claim 12, said providing step further comprising:

emitting audio indicators from a mobile communication device;

emitting vibratory indicators from a mobile communication device; and

emitting an olfactory indicator from an olfactory system.

15. The machine readable storage of claim 12, further comprising determining a location of the mobile communication device.

16. The machine readable storage of claim 15, further comprising:

selecting one of a plurality of monitors disposed throughout a defined space according to the location, wherein the selected monitor is most proximate to the mobile communication device; and

presenting on the selected monitor information pertaining to the task.

17. A machine readable storage, having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a machine for causing the machine to perform the steps of:

storing a profile of user tasks, wherein each task is associated with a location within a defined space;

determining the location of the mobile communication device within the defined space;

identifying one or more tasks associated with the location;

providing a listing of the one or more tasks associated with the location to the user via the mobile communication device;

notifying the user that the one or more tasks are to be performed, the notifying including providing sensory indicators in an increasing order of intervention until an acknowledgement is received from the user, wherein providing sensory indicators in an increasing order of intervention includes at least one of playing a predetermined song or sounds familiar to the user at a volume that iteratively increases with each subsequent providing of the sensory indicator and emitting a vibratory indicator that iteratively increases in intensity with each subsequent providing of the sensory indicator.

18. The machine readable storage of claim 17, further comprising:

selecting one of a plurality of video monitors disposed throughout the defined space according to the location, wherein the selected monitor is most proximate to the mobile communication device; and

presenting on the selected monitor information pertaining to a task selected by the user.