Multi-user remote health monitoring system with biometrics support

• US 8,712,790 B1
• Filed: 09/19/2000
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Health Hero Network Incorporated (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Brown, Stephen J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAULS, JOHN A
• Application Number:
  US09/665,442
• Time in Patent Office: 4,970 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2- 4, 600300-301
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 15/00 ICT specially adapted for medical reports, e.g. generation or transmission thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

The invention presents a networked system for identifying an individual, communicating information to the individual, and remotely monitoring the individual. The system includes a remotely programmable apparatus that occasionally connects to a server via a communication network such as the Internet. The remotely programmable apparatus interacts with the individual in accordance with a script program received from the server Among other capabilities, the script program may instruct the remotely programmable apparatus to identify the individual, to communicate information to the individual, to communicate queries to the individual, to receive responses to the queries, and to transmit information identifying the individual and the responses from the remotely programmable apparatus to the server. Information identifying the individual may be obtained via a biometrics sensor, a data card, a remote monitoring device, or the interception of data from a separate information system. The information identifying the individual may be used by either or both the server system and remotely programmable apparatus for security, customization and other purposes. As the present invention has multi-user capabilities, it can be used in a public place, such as a pharmacy or health care clinic. The multi-user capabilities also allow collection and tracking of user data for the healthcare industry.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a physiological condition of an individual using a communication network, comprising:

a central processing unit (A) having access to one or more databases and (B) configured to (i) read a template program from the database, (ii) generate a first program by modifying the template program in response to input data received via the communication network, wherein the first program collects measurement data relating to the physiological condition of the individual, (iii) assign the first program to the individual in response to input information received from the communication network and (iv) transmit the first program via the communication network;

a remote processing apparatus remotely located from and in signal communication with the central processing unit via the communication network, wherein the remote processing apparatus is configured to (i) receive the first program from the communication network, (ii) connect to a measuring device, (iii) execute the first program to collect the measurement data according to a collect command contained in the first program and (iv) transmit the measurement data to the central processing unit via the communication network according to a transmit command contained in the first program; and

a computer remotely located from and in signal communication with the central processing unit via the communication network, wherein the computer is configured to (i) transmit the input data to the central processing unit via the communication network, (ii) transmit the input information to the central processing unit via the communication network, (iii) receive the measurement data from the central processing unit via the communication network and (iv) present a report generated based on the measurement data to a health care provider.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the physiological condition comprises diabetes, the measuring device comprises a blood glucose measurement device and the measurement data comprises blood glucose data.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein (i) the central processing unit is further configured to generate the report based on the blood glucose data and (ii) transmit the report to the computer via the communication network.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the report comprises a graph illustrating several measurements of the blood glucose data.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to (i) receive the input information from the health care provider and (ii) communicate the input information to the central processing unit.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote processing apparatus comprises a processor configured to execute the first program.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the generating and assigning of the first program comprises appending a unique patient identification code associated with the individual to the first program.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein (i) the central processing unit is further configured to store the first program in the database, (ii) the assignment of the first program comprises generating a pointer to the first program related to the individual based on the input information received from the computer and (iii) the pointer is stored in a look-up table associated with the database.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first program comprises one or more queries and one or more response choices for the individual.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the remote processing apparatus comprises a human interface configured to receive one or more responses from the individual to the queries to be communicated to the central processing unit.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote processing apparatus is sufficiently compact to be hand-held and carried by the individual.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the remote processing apparatus is further configured to intermittently establish a communication link with the central processing unit and (ii) disconnect the communication link after a period of time after each establishment.

13. A system for monitoring physiological condition of an individual using a communication network, comprising:

a central processing unit (A) having access to one or more databases and (B) configured to (i) generate a first program that collects blood glucose data relating to the physiological condition of the individual, (ii) add input data received from the communication network to the first program to adapt the first program to the individual, (iii) assign the first program to the individual in response to input information received from the communication network and (iv) transmit the first program via the communication network;

a remote processing apparatus remotely located from and in signal communication with the central processing unit via the communication network, wherein the remote processing apparatus is configured to (i) receive the first program from the communication network, (ii) connect to a measuring device, (iii) execute the first program to collect the blood glucose data according to a collect command in the first program and (iv) transmit the blood glucose data to the central processing unit via the communication network; and

a computer remotely located from and in signal communication with the central processing unit via the communication network, wherein the computer is configured to (i) transmit the input data to the central processing unit via the communication network, (ii) transmit the input information to the central processing unit via the communication network, (iii) receive the blood glucose data from the central processing unit via the communication network and (iv) present a report generated based on the blood glucose data to a health care provider.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the physiological condition comprises diabetes and the measuring device comprises a blood glucose measurement device.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the computer is further configured to (i) enable the health care provider to enter the input information and (ii) communicate the input information to the central processing unit.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein (i) the central processing unit is further configured to generate the report based on the blood glucose data and (ii) transmit the report to the computer via the communication network.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the remote processing apparatus is further configured to intermittently establish a communication link with the central processing unit and (ii) disconnect the communication link after a period of time after each establishment.

18. A method of monitoring a physiological condition of an individual using a communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

(A) transmitting input data from a computer to a central processing unit via the communication network, wherein the computer is remotely located from and in signal communication with the central processing unit via the communication network;

(B) transmitting input information from the computer to the central processing unit via the communication network;

(C) reading a template program from a database into the central processing unit;

(D) generating a first program in the central processing unit by modifying the template program in response to the input data;

(E) assigning the first program to the individual in response to the input information;

(F) transferring the first program from the central processing unit to a remote processing apparatus via the communication network, wherein the remote processing apparatus is remotely located from and in signal communication with the central processing unit via the communication network;

(G) connecting the remote processing apparatus to a measuring device;

(H) executing the first program in the remote processing apparatus to collect measurement data from the measuring device;

(I) transmitting the measurement data from the remote processing apparatus to the central processing unit via the communication network;

(J) transmitting the measurement data from the central processing unit to the computer via the communication network; and

(K) presenting a report generated based on the measurement data from the computer to a health care provider.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the physiological condition comprises diabetes, the measuring device comprises a blood glucose measurement device and the measurement data comprises blood glucose data.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of:

generating the report in the central processing unit based upon the blood glucose data.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of:

transmitting the report to the computer via the communication network.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the report comprises a graph illustrating several measurements of the blood glucose data.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of:

collecting the measurement data at the remote processing apparatus from the measuring device according to a collect command of the first program.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising the step of:

generating a message from the remote processing apparatus prompting the individual to connect the blood glucose measurement device to the remote processing apparatus.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

establishing a communication link between the central processing unit and the remote processing apparatus intermittently; and

disconnecting the communication link after a period of time after each establishment.

26. A method of monitoring a physiological condition of an individual using a communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

(A) transmitting input data from a computer to a central processing unit via the communication network, wherein the computer is remotely located from and in signal communication with the central processing unit via the communication network;

(B) transmitting input information from the computer to the central processing unit via the communication network;

(C) adding the input data received from the computer to a first program in the central processing to adapt the first program to the individual, wherein the first program collects blood glucose data relating to the physiological condition of the individual;

(D) assigning the first program to the individual in response to the input information;

(E) transmitting the first program from the central processing unit to the a remote processing apparatus via the communication network, wherein the remote processing apparatus is remotely located from and in signal communication with the central processing unit via the communication network;

(F) connecting the remote processing apparatus to a measuring device;

(G) executing the first program in the remote processing apparatus to collect the blood glucose data from the measuring device according to a collect command of the first program;

(H) transmitting the blood glucose data from the remote processing apparatus to the central processing unit through the communication network;

(I) transmitting the blood glucose data from the central processing unit to the computer via the communication network; and

(J) presenting a report generated based on the blood glucose data from the computer to a health care provider.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the physiological condition comprises diabetes and the measuring device comprises a blood glucose measurement device.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of:

generating a message from the remote processing apparatus prompting the individual to connect the blood glucose measurement device to the remote processing apparatus.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the transmitting of the blood glucose data from the remote processing apparatus to the central processing unit is according to a transmit command of the first program.

30. The method of claim 26, further comprising the step of:

generating the report in the central processing unit based upon the blood glucose data.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of:

transmitting the report from the central processing unit to the computer via the communication network.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the report comprises a graph illustrating several measurements of the blood glucose data.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein (i) a communication link between the central processing unit and the remote processing apparatus is established intermittently and (ii) disconnected a period of time after each establishment.

34. One or more processor readable non-transitory storage devices having processor readable code embodied thereon, the processor readable code being configured to program one or more processors to perform a method of monitoring a physiological condition of an individual using a communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

(A) transmitting input data from a computer to a central processing unit via the communication network, wherein the computer is remotely located from and in signal communication with the central processing unit via the communication network;

(B) transmitting input information from the computer to the central processing unit via the communication network;

(C) reading a template program from a database into the central processing unit;

(D) generating a first program in the central processing unit by modifying the template program in response to the input data;

(E) assigning the first program to the individual in response to the input information;

(F) transmitting the first program from the central processing unit to a remote processing apparatus via the communication network, wherein the remote processing apparatus is remotely located from and in signal communication with the central processing unit via the communication network;

(G) connecting the remote processing apparatus to measuring device;

(H) executing the first program in the remote processing apparatus to collect measurement data from the measuring device;

(I) transmitting the measurement data from the remote processing apparatus to the central processing unit via the communication network;

(J) transmitting the measurement data from the central processing unit to the computer via the communication network; and

(K) presenting a report generated based on the measurement data from the computer to a health care provider.

35. The processor readable non-transitory storage devices of claim 34, wherein the physiological condition comprises diabetes, the measuring device comprises a blood glucose measurement device and the measurement data comprises blood glucose data.

36. The processor readable non-transitory storage devices of claim 35, the method further comprising the step of:

generating the report in the central processing unit based upon the blood glucose data.

37. The processor readable non-transitory storage devices of claim 36, the method further comprising the step of:

transmitting the report to the computer via the communication network.

38. The processor readable non-transitory storage devices of claim 35, wherein the report comprises a graph illustrating several measurements of the blood glucose data.

39. The processor readable non-transitory storage devices of claim 35, the method further comprising the step of:

collecting the blood glucose data in the remote processing apparatus as received from the measuring device according to a collect command of the first program.

40. The processor readable non-transitory storage devices of claim 35, the method further comprising the step of:

generating a message prompting the individual to connect the blood glucose measurement device to the remote processing apparatus.

41. The processor readable non-transitory storage devices of claim 34, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

establishing a communication link between the central processing unit and the remote processing apparatus intermittently; and

disconnecting the communication link after a period of time after each establishment.

42. One or more processor readable non-transitory storage devices having processor readable code embodied thereon, the processor readable code configured to program one or more processors to perform a method of monitoring a physiological condition of an individual using a communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

(A) transmitting input data from a computer to a central processing unit via the communication network, wherein the computer is remotely located from and in signal communication with the central processing unit via the communication network;

(B) transmitting input information from the computer to the central processing unit via the communication network;

(C) adding the input data received from the computer to a first program in the central processing to adapt the first program to the individual, wherein the first program collects blood glucose data relating to the physiological condition of the individual;

(D) assigning the first program to the individual in response to the input information;

(E) transmitting the first program from the central processing unit to the a remote processing apparatus via the communication network, wherein the remote processing apparatus is remotely located from and in signal communication with the central processing unit via the communication network;

(F) connecting the remote processing apparatus to a measuring device;

(G) executing the first program in the remote processing apparatus to collect the blood glucose data from the measuring device according to a collect command of the first program;

(H) transmitting the blood glucose data from the remote processing apparatus to the central processing unit through the communication network;

(I) transmitting the blood glucose data from the central processing unit to the computer via the communication network; and

(J) presenting a report generated based on the blood glucose data from the computer to a health care provider.

43. The processor readable non-transitory storage devices of claim 42, wherein the physiological condition comprises diabetes and the measuring device comprises a blood glucose measurement device.

44. The processor readable non-transitory storage devices of claim 42, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

generating the report in the central processing unit based upon the blood glucose data.

45. The processor readable non-transitory storage devices of claim 44, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

transmitting the report to the computer via the communication network.

46. The processor readable non-transitory storage devices of claim 42, wherein the report comprises a graph illustrating several measurements of the blood glucose data.

47. The one or more processor readable non-transitory storage devices of claim 42, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

generating a message prompting the individual to connect the measuring device to the remote processing apparatus.

48. The processor readable non-transitory storage devices of claim 42, wherein the transmitting of the measurement data from the remote processing apparatus to the central processing unit is according to a transmit command of the first program.

49. The processor readable non-transitory storage devices of claim 42, wherein (i) a communication link between the central processing unit and the remote processing apparatus is established intermittently and (ii) disconnected a period of time after each establishment.