In-vehicle prescription and medical reminders

• US 9,373,239 B2
• Filed: 07/17/2014
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Incorporated (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Ebe, Kazutoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): HOFSASS, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US14/333,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20160019767A1
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• Field of Search: 340/425.5, 340/309.16, 340/309.7, 340/573.1, 368/10, 221/2, 206/534
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61J 7/0409 with timers
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

A computing device, methods, and systems for providing in-vehicle prescription and medical reminders are disclosed. One example method for providing in-vehicle prescription and medical reminders includes identifying a vehicle occupant; determining, based on medical information associated with the occupant, whether a medical activity is due to be performed; and alerting the occupant if a medical activity is due to be performed. An example medical activity includes administering prescription medication. Example implementations include identifying the occupant based at least in part on biometric data; alerting the occupant by a visual, audible, or haptic alert; prompting the occupant to provide a response acknowledging the alert; and notifying designated third parties. The medical information can be received from an online profile or obtained through vital-sign sensors.

Claims

1. An in-vehicle reminder system, comprising:

a vehicle-installed interface;

a computing device in communication with the interface, the computing device comprising one or more processors for controlling the operations of the computing device and a memory for storing data and program instructions used by the one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors are configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to;

uniquely identify a vehicle occupant;

access, based on the occupant'"'"'s identity, medical information associated with the occupant;

determine, based on the medical information associated with the occupant, whether a medical activity is due to be performed; and

operate the interface to alert the occupant if a medical activity is due to be performed.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more biometric sensors in communication with the computing device, the one or more biometric sensors operable to generate biometric data about people in or approaching a vehicle, wherein the occupant is uniquely identified based at least in part on biometric data received from the one or more biometric sensors.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the occupant is uniquely identified based at least in part on visual recognition of the occupant.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the occupant is uniquely identified based at least in part on a unique signal received from an electronic device associated with the occupant.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the medical information associated with the occupant is accessed from a remote location.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the medical activity involves administering prescription medication, and wherein the medical information includes scheduling and dosage information regarding the prescription medication.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the occupant is alerted by at least one of a visual, audible, or haptic alert.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to operate the interface to prompt the occupant for a response to the alert.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to execute instructions stored in the memory to notify designated third parties if a medical activity is due to be performed.

18. The system of claim 2, wherein at least one of the one or more biometric sensors is installed off-board the vehicle and operable to generate biometric data about people approaching the vehicle, and wherein the occupant is uniquely identified based at least in part on biometric data generated by the at least one biometric sensor as the occupant approaches the vehicle.

19. The system of claim 2, wherein uniquely identifying the vehicle occupant includes identifying one of a plurality of profiles that have identification information and medical information associated with respective persons as the occupant'"'"'s profile by matching the biometric data received from the one or more biometric sensors to the identification information in the occupant'"'"'s profile, with the medical information in the occupant'"'"'s profile being accessed as the medical information associated with the occupant.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein uniquely identifying the vehicle occupant includes identifying one of a plurality of profiles that have medical information associated with respective persons as the occupant'"'"'s profile, with the medical information in the occupant'"'"'s profile being accessed as the medical information associated with the occupant.

10. A computer-implemented method for in-vehicle reminders, comprising:

with a computing device;

uniquely identifying a vehicle occupant,

accessing, based on the occupant'"'"'s identity, medical information associated with the occupant, and

determining, based on the medical information associated with the occupant, whether a medical activity is due to be performed; and

operating a vehicle-installed interface to alert the occupant if a medical activity is due to be performed.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the occupant is uniquely identified based at least in part on biometric data about people in or approaching the vehicle received from one or more biometric sensors.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the occupant is uniquely identified based at least in part on a unique signal received from an electronic device associated with the occupant.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the medical information associated with the occupant is accessed from a remote location.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the medical activity involves administering prescription medication, and wherein the medical information includes scheduling and dosage information regarding the prescription medication.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the occupant is alerted by at least one of a visual, audible, or haptic alert.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

prompting the occupant for a response to the alert, and wherein access to one or more vehicle functions is denied until the occupant provides the response.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more processors are further configured to notify designated third parties if a medical activity is due to be performed.

21. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the one or more biometric sensors is installed off-board the vehicle and operable to generate biometric data about people approaching the vehicle, and wherein the occupant is uniquely identified based at least in part on biometric data generated by the at least one biometric sensor as the occupant approaches the vehicle.

22. The method of claim 11, wherein uniquely identifying the vehicle occupant includes identifying one of a plurality of profiles that have identification information and medical information associated with respective persons as the occupant'"'"'s profile by matching the biometric data received from the one or more biometric sensors to the identification information in the occupant'"'"'s profile, with the medical information in the occupant'"'"'s profile being accessed as the medical information associated with the occupant.

23. The method of claim 10, wherein uniquely identifying the vehicle occupant includes identifying one of a plurality of profiles that have medical information associated with respective persons as the occupant'"'"'s profile, with the medical information in the occupant'"'"'s profile being accessed as the medical information associated with the occupant.