Computerized information collection and processing apparatus

• US 8,812,368 B1
• Filed: 01/23/2013
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: West View Research LLC
• Original Assignee: West View Research LLC
• Inventors: Gazdzinski, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Roy, Baisakhi
• Application Number:
  US13/748,468
• Time in Patent Office: 573 Days
• Field of Search: 600/101, 348/231.99, 455/41.3, 709/206, 463/3, 235/379, 235/380, 705/21
• US Class Current: 705/21
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00009 of image signals during a use of endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0002 provided with data storages
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00032 internally powered
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00036 Means for power saving, e.g. sleeping mode
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0004 for electronic operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0005 combining images e.g. side-by-side, superimposed or tiled
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00059 provided with identification means for the endoscope
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00156 using self propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00158 using magnetic field
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/041 Capsule endoscopes for imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/043 for fluorescence imaging
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/0638 providing two or more wavelengths
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/273 for the upper alimentary canal, e.g. oesophagoscopes, gastroscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/31 for the rectum, e.g. proctoscopes, sigmoidoscopes , colonoscopes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 10/02 Instruments for taking cell samples or for biopsy A61B10/0038 and A61B10/0045 take precedence; needle locating or guiding means A61B17/3403; samplers for enzymology or microbiology C12M1/26; sampling or preparing biological specimens G01N33/48
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/20 using laser
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/162 Capsule shaped sensor housings, e.g. for swallowing or implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0071 by measuring fluorescence emission
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0075 by spectroscopy, i.e. measuring spectra, e.g. Raman spectroscopy, infrared absorption spectroscopy A61B5/0071 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0084 : for introduction into the body, e.g. by catheters A61B5/1459 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/073 : Intestinal transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 : Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4255 : Intestines, colon or appendix
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6861 : Capsules, e.g. for swallowing or implanting
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7232 : involving compression of the physiological signal, e.g. to extend the signal recording period
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7282 : Event detection, e.g. detecting unique waveforms indicative of a medical condition A61B5/4094, A61B5/4818, A61B5/349, A61B5/0823 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/12 : in body cavities or body tracts, e.g. by using catheters catheters per se A61M25/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4245 : involving determining the position of the probe, e.g. with respect to an external reference frame or to the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4472 : Wireless probes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/4488 : the transducer being a phased array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 8/56 : Details of data transmission or power supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2/002 : in combination with another treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1005 : with asymmetrical radiation pattern
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1014 : Intracavitary radiation therapy
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 2207/30028 : Colon; Small intestine
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 7/20 : Analysis of motion motion estimation for coding, decoding, compressing or decompressing digital video signals H04N19/43, H04N19/51
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/004 : by using forward error control H04L1/0618 takes precedence; coding, decoding or code conversion, for error detection or correction H03M13/00

Abstract

Computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a video apparatus with image capture and digitization capability, and multiple wireless interfaces for accomplishing various purposes, including e.g., streaming the digitized video data to another device for viewing and/or storage thereon. In one variant, one of the wireless interfaces is a short range passive RFID-based interface which generates replies to interrogation signals, the replies including user-specific information.

Claims

1. Computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus, comprising:

a power source;

at least one camera;

video apparatus in communication with the at least one camera and configured to generate digital image data from signals received from the at least one camera;

processor apparatus in data communication with the video apparatus;

data storage apparatus in data communication with the processor apparatus;

a first wireless interface configured for short range inductive information transfer; and

a second wireless interface having at least one antenna and configured for digital data transfer according to a wireless protocol, the second wireless interface being powered at least in part by the power source.

2. The computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the information acquisition and processing apparatus is configured to transfer the digital image data over the second interface.

3. The computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second interface comprises an interface compliant with an IEEE 802.11 Standard.

4. The computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second interface comprises a Bluetooth-compliant interface.

5. The computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first interface comprises a radio frequency ID (RFID)-based interface, and the second interface comprises a Bluetooth compliant interface.

6. The computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second interface comprises an interface compliant with an IEEE 802.11 Standard.

7. The computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first interface comprises a passive radio frequency interface configured to receive incident electromagnetic energy generated by a reader or interrogator apparatus and utilize at least a portion of the incident energy to generate a reply.

8. The computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus of claim 7, wherein the reply comprises at least a portion of user-specific data encoded into the first interface.

9. The computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the user-specific data encoded into the first interface comprises data selected from the group consisting of:

(i) a user'"'"'s name, and (ii) a user'"'"'s social security number.

10. The computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the reply further comprises data uniquely identifying the first wireless interface.

11. The computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first interface comprises an active radio frequency interface configured to generate a reply to an interrogation signal using at least power from the power source.

12. The computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus comprises a power-conserving sleep or dormant mode of operation, and is further configured to be awoken from the sleep or dormant state based at least on an interrogation signal received by the first wireless interface.

13. The computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a computer program having a data compression algorithm, the computer program operative to compress at least portions of the digital image data according to the algorithm.

14. The computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the compression of the image data reduces a communications bandwidth necessary to transmit the digital image data over the second wireless interface.

15. The computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a housing that substantially contains at least the at least one camera, storage apparatus, processor apparatus, and first and second wireless interfaces.

16. The computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus of claim 15, wherein the housing further comprises an aperture through which images may reach the at least one camera, and the housing is configured to have a smooth exterior.

17. The computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus of claim 16, wherein the housing is configured to be smaller than 12 mm in one dimension thereof.

18. The computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an accelerometer apparatus configured to detect motion of the computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus during use.

19. The computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus of claim 18, wherein the computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus is configured to use the detection of motion to control at least one aspect of the operation of the computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus.

20. The computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus of claim 19, wherein the at least one aspect of the operation of the computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus comprises inducing the computerized apparatus to emerge from a sleep or dormant state.

21. The computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the first wireless interface is integrated into a single silicon or semiconducting die with the processor apparatus and the storage apparatus;

the power source comprises a battery; and

the storage device comprises a flash memory.

22. The computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first wireless interface is configured to have data written into a storage device thereof through a wireless signal generated by a reader or interrogator apparatus.

23. The computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus is configured to use the second wireless interface to communicate at least a portion of the digital image data with a cellular telephone or other personal portable electronic device of the user.

24. The computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an accelerometer apparatus configured to detect motion of the computerized apparatus during use, the computerized apparatus configured to use the detection of motion to control at least one aspect of the operation of the computerized apparatus.

25. The computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus of claim 24, wherein the computerized apparatus comprises a power-conserving sleep or dormant mode of operation, and is further configured to be awoken from the sleep or dormant state based at least on the detection of motion.

26. The computerized information acquisition and processing apparatus of claim 24, wherein:

the second wireless interface comprises an interface compliant with an IEEE 802.11 Standard; and

the computerized apparatus is configured to use the second wireless interface to communicate at least a portion of the digital image data with a cellular telephone or other personal portable electronic device.

27. The computerized apparatus of claim 26, wherein the first wireless interface is configured to have data written into a storage device thereof through a wireless signal generated by the reader or interrogator apparatus.

28. Computerized apparatus, comprising:

a power source;

video apparatus having a camera and configured to generate digital image data from signals received from the camera;

processor apparatus in data communication with the video apparatus;

video compression software operative to run on the processor apparatus and configured to compress at least a portion of the digital image data;

data storage apparatus in data communication with the processor apparatus;

a first wireless interface configured for short range information transfer, the first wireless interface comprising a passive radio frequency interface configured to receive incident electromagnetic energy generated by a reader or interrogator apparatus and utilize at least a portion of the incident energy to generate a reply, the reply comprising at least a portion of user-specific data encoded into the first wireless interface;

a second wireless interface compliant with an IEEE 802.11 Standard and having at least one antenna and configured for streaming transfer of the digital image data, the second wireless interface being powered at least in part by the power source;

a Bluetooth transceiver configured for wireless communication between the computerized apparatus and another Bluetooth-enabled device, the Bluetooth transceiver powered at least in part by the power supply; and

accelerometer apparatus configured to detect motion of the computerized apparatus during use, the computerized apparatus configured to use the detection of motion to control at least one aspect of the operation of the computerized apparatus;

wherein the computerized apparatus is configured to use the second wireless interface to communicate at least a portion of the digital image data with a cellular telephone or other personal portable electronic device; and

wherein the first wireless interface is configured to have data written into a storage device thereof through a wireless signal generated by the reader or interrogator apparatus.