Internet-based informal care delivery system

• US 7,411,510 B1
• Filed: 10/06/2005
• Issued: 08/12/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kenneth R. Nixon
• Original Assignee: Kenneth R. Nixon
• Inventors: Nixon, Kenneth R.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US11/245,800
• Time in Patent Office: 1,041 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/539.12, 340/531, 340/825.19, 600/300, 600/301, 128/904, 128/920, 348/155
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• 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: A61B 5/7465 Arrangements for interactive communication between patient and care services, e.g. by using a telephone network telemetry of measured physiological signal A61B5/0002
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0423 detecting deviation from an expected pattern of behaviour or schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0476 Cameras to detect unsafe condition, e.g. video cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0492 Sensor dual technology, i.e. two or more technologies collaborate to extract unsafe condition, e.g. video tracking and RFID tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/005 Alarm destination chosen according to a hierarchy of available destinations, e.g. if hospital does not answer send to police station
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 128/92 Computer assisted medical diagnostics

Abstract

The current invention provides a remote caregiver support system which allows caregivers to provide informal care to care receivers. The systems of the current invention comprise a caregiver system and a care receiver system operating on personal computers. Each system is linked by a communications network. Preferably, the communications network is a high speed internet connection. Additionally, the current invention provides methods for delivering informal care to a care receiver remotely located from the caregiver. In the methods of the current invention, the caregiver accesses a remote caregiver support system and interacts with the care receiver providing text reminders and other informal care necessary to ensure the continued health and wellbeing of the care receiver.

Claims

1. A non-medical system comprising:

a caregiver system;

a care receiver system configurable by the caregiver system to facilitate remote informal care for at least one care receiver; and

,

a communication network linking the caregiver system and the care receiver system;

wherein the care receiver system is operable in an unattended mode to enable operation of the care receiver system without any input on the part of the care receiver whereby the care receiver provides no input to and interacts with the care receiver system.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the care receiver system is operable in an attended mode whereby the care receiver provides an input to and interacts with the care receiver system.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the input enables the care receiver to acknowledge a reminder.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the input enables the care receiver to accept, reject and initiate a videoconference.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a care receiver client enabling interaction between the caregiver system and the care receiver system; and

a caregiver client for accessing and configuring the care receiver system.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the caregiver client accesses and configures a graphical user interface of the care receiver system.

7. The system of claim 5 wherein the caregiver client enables a caregiver to establish a videoconference with the care receiver system, the videoconference establishable in an interactive mode or an observational mode.

8. The system of claim 5 wherein the caregiver client enables the creation, editing and display of a slideshow on the care receiver system.

9. The system of claim 5 wherein the caregiver client enables the creation, editing and display of a reminder on the care receiver system.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the display of the reminder is accompanied by an audible tone to draw attention to the reminder.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the reminder is accompanied by a recording of the caregiver'"'"'s voice.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the reminder is accompanied by a visual cue.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the care receiver system further comprises a database maintained by the care receiver client, wherein the database stores the reminder and any acknowledgement to the reminder generated by the care receiver system.

14. The system of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of global settings on the care receiver system adjustable by the caregiver client.

15. The system of claim 5 further comprising a plurality of multimedia settings dynamically adjustable by the caregiver client.

16. The system of claim 5 further comprising a client server monitor for monitoring operation of the care receiver client and automatically restarting the care receiver client if the care receiver client is detected to be unresponsive or operating outside of predetermined parameters.

17. The system of claim 5 further comprising a sensor for initiating a signal to be transmitted to an environment and event monitoring system, the signal analyzed against predetermined criteria to determine whether an alert should be issued.

18. The system of claim 17 further comprising an alert notification system client for transmitting the alert to a communication device designated by the caregiver.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein a graphical user interface of the care receiver system has at least two areas for displaying at least two of the following informational displays:

a calendar, a clock, a reminder and a slideshow.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein the caregiver system can be assigned permissions to establish a plurality of functions the caregiver can perform.

21. A non-medical care system comprising:

a caregiver system comprising a first personal computer system and a caregiver client; and

,

a care receiver system comprising a second personal computer system and a care receiver client, the care receiver client and the caregiver client enable interaction between the caregiver system and the care receiver system via a communication network to facilitate remote informal care for at least one care receiver;

wherein the caregiver client enables a caregiver to remotely establish a videoconference between the care receiver system and the caregiver system and at least one of the following;

a reminder on the care receiver system, a slideshow on the care receiver system, and a journal entry on the care receiver system.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the care receiver system is operable in an unattended mode to enable operation of the care receiver system without any input on the part of the care receiver whereby the care receiver provides no input to and interacts with the care receiver system without the necessity of the care receiver having any computer skills.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the care receiver system is operable in an attended mode whereby the care receiver provides an input to and interacts with the care receiver system.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the input enables the care receiver to acknowledge the reminder.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the input enables the care receiver to accept, reject and initiate the videoconference.

26. The system of claim 21 wherein the caregiver client accesses and configures the graphical user interface of the care receiver system.

27. The system of claim 21 wherein the videoconference is establishable in an interactive mode or an observational mode.

28. The system of claim 21 wherein the caregiver client enables the creation, editing and display of the slideshow on the care receiver system.

29. The system of claim 21 wherein the caregiver client enables the creation, editing and display of the reminder on the care receiver system.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein the display of the reminder is accompanied by an audible tone to draw attention to the reminder.

31. The system of claim 29 wherein the reminder is accompanied by a recording of the caregiver'"'"'s voice.

32. The system of claim 29 wherein the reminder is accompanied by a visual cue.

33. The system of claim 29 wherein the care receiver system further comprises a database maintained by the care receiver client, wherein the database stores the reminder and any acknowledgement to the reminder generated by the care receiver system.

34. The system of claim 21 further comprising a plurality of global settings on the care receiver system adjustable by the caregiver client.

35. The system of claim 21 further comprising a plurality of multimedia settings dynamically adjustable by the caregiver client.

36. The system of claim 21 further comprising a client server monitor for monitoring operation of the care receiver client and automatically restarting the care receiver client if the care receiver client is detected to be unresponsive or operating outside of predetermined parameters.

37. The system of claim 21 further comprising a sensor for initiating a signal to be transmitted to an environment and event monitoring system, the signal analyzed against predetermined criteria to determine whether an alert should be issued.

38. The system of claim 37 further comprising an alert notification system client for transmitting the alert to a communication device designated by the caregiver.

39. The system of claim 21 wherein the caregiver system can be assigned permissions to establish a plurality of functions the caregiver can perform.

40. A method of providing remote informal care to a care receiver comprising:

establishing communication via a network between;

a caregiver system having a caregiver client; and

a care receiver system having a care receiver client;

configuring the care receiver client with the caregiver client to facilitate remote informal care of the care receiver; and

,

providing at least one of the group of;

establishing a reminder setting on the care receiver system;

establishing a videoconference between the care receiver system and the caregiver system;

displaying a slideshow on the care receiver system; and

establishing a journal entry on the care receiver system.

41. The method of claim 40 further comprising operating the care receiver system in an unattended mode to enable operation of the care receiver system without any input on the part of the care receiver whereby the care receiver provides no input to and interacts with the care receiver system.

42. The method of claim 40 further comprising operating the care receiver system in an attended mode whereby the care receiver.

43. The method of claim 42 further comprising the care receiver acknowledging the reminder by providing the input or initiating the videoconference by the care receiver by providing the input.

44. The method of claim 40 further comprising automatically restarting the care receiver client when the care receiver client is detected to be unresponsive or operating outside of predetermined parameters.

45. The method of claim 40 further comprising accessing and configuring a graphical user interface of the care receiver system with the caregiver client.

46. The method of claim 40 further comprising establishing the videoconference in an interactive mode or an observational mode.

47. The method of claim 46 further comprising switching from the observational mode to the interactive mode.

48. The method of claim 40 further comprising using the caregiver client to create, edit and display the slideshow on the care receiver system.

49. The method of claim 40 further comprising using the caregiver client to create, edit and display the reminder on the care receiver system.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein the display of the reminder is accompanied by an audible tone to draw attention to the reminder.

51. The method of claim 49 wherein the reminder is accompanied by a recording of a caregiver'"'"'s voice.

52. The method of claim 49 wherein the reminder is accompanied by a visual cue.

53. The method of claim 40 further comprising storing in a database maintained by the care receiver client the reminder and any acknowledgement to the reminder generated by the care receiver system.

54. The method of claim 40 further comprising adjusting a plurality of global settings on the care receiver system using the caregiver client.

55. The method of claim 40 further comprising dynamically adjusting a plurality of multimedia settings on the care receiver system using the caregiver client.

56. The method of claim 40 further comprising initiating a signal to be transmitted to an environment and event monitoring system, the signal analyzed against predetermined criteria to determine whether an alert should be issued.

57. The method of claim 56 further comprising an alert notification system client transmitting the alert to a communication device designated by a caregiver.

58. The method of claim 40 further comprising assigning permissions to the caregiver system to establish a plurality of care receiver functions a caregiver can perform.

59. A method of providing informal care to at least one care receiver at a separate location from a caregiver comprising:

communicating via a network between a caregiver system and a care receiver system to provide informal care to the at least one care receiver, the care receiver system comprising a care receiver client;

establishing a videoconference between the caregiver system and the care receiver system in an interactive mode or in an observational mode; and

resetting the videoconference on the care receiver system with a caregiver client associated with the caregiver system.

60. The method of claim 59 further comprising switching from the observational mode to the interactive mode.

61. The method of claim 59 wherein the network is a virtual private network.

62. The method of claim 61 further comprising resetting the virtual private network using the caregiver client.

63. The method of claim 59 further comprising automatically restarting the care receiver client when the care receiver client is detected to be unresponsive or operating outside of predetermined parameters.

64. The method of claim 59 further comprising operating the care receiver system in an unattended mode to enable operation of the care receiver system without any input on the part of the care receiver whereby the care receiver provides no input to and interacts with the care receiver system.

65. The method of claim 59 further comprising operating the care receiver system in an attended mode whereby the care receiver provides an input to and interacts with the care receiver system.

66. The method of claim 59 further comprising:

establishing a reminder on the care receiver system;

displaying a slideshow on the care receiver system; and

establishing a journal entry on the care receiver system.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein the reminder is accompanied by a recording of the caregiver'"'"'s voice.

68. The method of claim 66 wherein the reminder is accompanied by a visual cue.

69. The method of claim 66 further comprising storing in a database maintained by the care receiver client the reminder and any acknowledgement to the reminder generated by the care receiver system.

70. The method of claim 59 further comprising adjusting a plurality of global settings on the care receiver system using the caregiver client.

71. The method of claim 59 further comprising dynamically adjusting a plurality of multimedia settings on the care receiver system using the caregiver client.

72. The method of claim 59 further comprising initiating a signal to be transmitted to an environment and event monitoring system, the signal analyzed against predetermined criteria to determine whether an alert should be issued.

73. The method of claim 72 further comprising an alert notification system client transmitting the alert to a communication device designated by the caregiver.

74. The method of claim 59 further comprising assigning permissions to the caregiver system to establish a plurality of functions the caregiver can perform.