Method and apparatus for seamlessly acquiring data from various sensor, monitor, device (SMDs)

• US 7,747,735 B1
• Filed: 02/02/2006
• Issued: 06/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DP Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: DP Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Kinsolving, Arthur, Kahn, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): Nawaz; Asad M
• Application Number:
  US11/346,720
• Time in Patent Office: 1,608 Days
• Field of Search: 709203-207, 709223-226, 709/202, 709/201, 709/200, 715222-226, 600/300, 600/301, 600306-307
• 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: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/20 for computer-aided diagnosis, e.g. based on medical expert systems

Abstract

A method and apparatus to provide user data through a monitor, alert, control, and share (MACS) device comprising a data receiving logic to receive intermittent data from a user about readings from a real sensor, monitor or device (SMD), from a user and a verification engine to verify that the data is accurate prior to adding it to a database. The apparatus further comprising an intelligent notification engine to communicate with the user and a presentation layer to enable a user to interface with the always-on virtual MACS device, the always-on virtual MACS device providing data regardless of a status of the real SMD.

Claims

1. An apparatus to provide user data through an always-on virtual monitor, alert, control, and share (MACS) device on a computer system comprising:

a processor to execute instructions for the always-on virtual MACS device, wherein the instructions cause the processor to include;

a data receiving logic to receive intermittent data from a user about readings from a real sensor, monitor or device (SMD), and to add the data to a database without verifying the data;

a verification engine to perform a two phase verification of the data to verify that the data is accurate, wherein a first phase of the two phase verification includes determining whether the data could be accurate for a human being and a second phase of the two phase verification includes determining whether the data is reasonable for the user, wherein the second phase is not performed if the data could not be accurate for a human being, wherein unverified data expires and is removed from the database if verification of the unverified data is not performed within a specified time period;

an intelligent notification engine to communicate with the user; and

a presentation layer to enable a user to interface with the always-on virtual MACS device, the always-on virtual MACS device representing the real SMD, and providing data regardless of a status of the real SMD.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data receiving logic is designed to receive data entered via e-mail.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the data entered via e-mail is formatted in a subject line of the email.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the instructions to cause the processor to include:

a reminder logic to send a reminder message to the user to enter the data.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the reminder message comprises a template form that is filled in by the user.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising the instructions to cause the processor to include:

an escalation logic to escalate the process if no response is received to the reminder message.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising the instruction to cause the processor to include:

a snooze logic to, upon receiving a snooze signal, prevent the escalation logic from escalating the process for a period of time.

8. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising the instructions to cause the processor to include:

a configuration logic to enable a user to place a temporary hold, the temporarily hold disabling the reminders message.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

the verification logic to determine if the data triggers an alert, based on the user'"'"'s past data.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

the intelligent notification logic to notify a predesignated party if the data triggers the alert.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

the verification logic requesting a verification of the data by the user, and a re-measurement by the user, if the data triggers an alert.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the instructions to cause the processor to include:

a data mining engine to analyze cumulative user data collected from a plurality of sensors and identify data trends.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the data mining engine may trigger an alert, if the data trends are indicating a problem.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the database is a historical database where verified data is already stored.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereon data representing sets of instructions which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to:

receive intermittent data from a user about readings from a real sensor, monitor or device (SMD);

add the data to a database without verifying the data;

perform a two phase verification of the data to verify that the data is accurate, wherein a first phase of the two phase verification includes determining whether the data could be accurate for a human being and a second phase of the two phase verification includes determining whether the data is reasonable for the user, wherein the second phase is not performed if the data could not be accurate for a human being;

remove unverified data from the database if verification of the unverified data is not performed within a specified time period;

communicate with the user; and

provide an interface with an always-on virtual monitor, alert, control, and share (MACS) device, the always-on virtual MACS device representing the real SMD, and providing data regardless of a status of the real SMD.

16. The machine readable medium of claim 15, wherein the instructions further cause the machine to receive data entered via e-mail.

17. The machine readable medium of claim 16, further comprising:

sending a reminder message to the user to enter data, the reminder message comprising a template form that is filled in by the user.

18. The machine readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

determining when the data triggers an alert, based on the user'"'"'s past data.

19. The machine readable medium of claim 18, further comprising:

requesting a verification of the data by the user, and a re-measurement by the user, if the data triggers an alert.

20. The machine readable medium of claim 15, further comprising:

analyzing cumulative user data and identify data trends.