Network media access control system for encouraging patient compliance with a treatment plan

• US 7,752,056 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2006
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Health Hero Network Incorporated (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Health Hero Network Incorporated (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Brown, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Connor; Gerald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RANGREJ, SHEETAL
• Application Number:
  US11/645,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20070124179A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0871 Peak expiratory flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4833 Assessment of subject's compliance to treatment
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A system and method for controlling patient access to an entertainment program to encourage a patient to comply with a treatment plan. The method includes the step of collecting compliance data from the patient. In one embodiment, the compliance data includes measurements of a physiological condition of the patient as well as patient answers to compliance questions. The method further includes the step of comparing the compliance data to evaluation criteria selected by a healthcare provider to determine if the patient is in compliance with the treatment plan. If the patient is in compliance, access is granted to the entertainment program. If the patient is not in compliance, access to the entertainment program is restricted. In the preferred embodiment, the method includes the additional steps of transmitting and displaying the patient'"'"'s compliance data and compliance status to the healthcare provider.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring an individual, comprising:

a server;

a monitoring device in communication with said server, said monitoring device measures a health condition and vital signs of a user and transmits health condition information to said server, said monitoring device communicates with said server through a radio frequency link;

a microprocessor based unit remotely located from said server and in communication with said server, said microprocessor based unit configured for receiving an entertainment program signal from a communicatively coupled entertainment program source;

a display unit coupled to said microprocessor based unit; and

a telephone in communication with said server, wherein said server communicates a first information to said user via said telephone, said first information includes a set of questions, said telephone receiving a second information from said user in response to said first information, said second information is feedback to said first information wherein said server receives said health condition information from said monitoring device and said second information within a single database, said server providing a grant access control signal to the microprocessor based unit when said second information is determined by said server as being in compliance with a pre-established compliance criteria for a prescribed medical treatment plan, said grant access control signal configured for causing the microprocessor based unit to allow user access to the entertainment program signal via the display unit, said server providing a restrict access control signal to the microprocessor based unit when said second information is determined by said server as not being in compliance with the pre-established compliance criteria for the prescribed medical treatment plan, said restrict access control signal configured for causing the microprocessor based unit to deny user access to the entertainment program signal via the display unit.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a computer remotely located from said server in communication with said server.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said computer communicates said first information to said server.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first information includes a set of instructions.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said server is a web server.

6. A method, executable by a microprocessor based unit, for acquiring health related information, said method comprising:

presenting a web-based survey, said web-based survey including a graphical user interface that has at least one question related to a health condition provided in a textual format;

receiving at least one response from a user to said web-based survey, said response being visible on said graphical user interface;

providing health-related information based upon said at least one response;

receiving an entertainment program signal from a communicatively coupled entertainment program source;

determining compliance of said user with a pre-established compliance criteria for a prescribed medical treatment plan based upon said at least one response;

when said at least one response is determined as being in compliance with the pre-established compliance criteria for the prescribed medical treatment plan, providing a grant access control signal, said grant access control signal configured for causing the microprocessor based unit to allow user access to the entertainment program signal via a display unit coupled to said microprocessor based unit; and

when said at least one response is determined as not being in compliance with the pre-established compliance criteria for the prescribed medical treatment plan, providing a restrict access control signal, said restrict access control signal configured for causing the microprocessor based unit to deny user access to the entertainment program signal via the display unit.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising retrieving the pre-established compliance criteria for the prescribed medical treatment plan for said user.

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said health-related information includes at least one of an instruction or an additional question for said user.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein said health-related information includes an educational program.