Powered physical displays on mobile devices

• US 9,639,150 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2008
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Craig L. Linden
• Original Assignee: Craig L. Linden
• Inventors: Linden, Craig L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Brandt, Christopher M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gao, Jing
• Application Number:
  US12/172,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20080274769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,214 Days
• Field of Search: 455344-346, 4555561
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/567 Multimedia conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/142 Constructional details of the terminal equipment, e.g. arrangements of the camera and the display
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/15 Conference systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

In certain embodiments, a mobile electronic apparatus for facilitating live physical communications with a remote person includes a transducer configured to sense a physical gesture performed by a user of the device; a physical display apparatus configured to convert energy into physical movement; a processor operatively connected to the transducer and to the physical display apparatus, the processor configured to generate an output signal corresponding to the physical gesture and to interpret an input signal to determine a physical action associated with an input signal; and a communications interface configured to send output signals to a data network and to receive input signals from said data network. In some embodiments, the physical display system is configured to produce the physical action substantially immediately after the input signal is received.

Claims

1. A method for treating a patient comprising steps of:

providing a first device at a patient location, the first device being an internet and networking capable multi-media mobile electronic device comprising at least one each of a physical output display and an input transducer;

providing a second device at a remote location, wherein the second device is distinct and separate from the first device;

establishing an audio-video and data communication connection between the patient location and the remote location;

conducting an audio-video conference between the patient at the patient location and a treatment provider at the remote location, wherein the audio-video conference comprises the treatment provider eliciting patient information by verbally interacting with the patient;

transmitting the patient information from the first device to the second device by way of the audio-video conference;

using the input transducer to measure a patient parameter at the patient location and produce a first signal indicative of the patient parameter, wherein the patient parameter includes at least one vital sign;

transmitting the first signal to the second device;

forming a diagnosis at least partially based on the patient parameter;

using the first signal at the remote location, the diagnosis and the patient information transmitted before, during or after the audio-video conference to determine a treatment and generating a second signal associated with said treatment;

sending said second signal from said second device to said first device to administer a treatment; and

using said second signal to cause a physical interaction between the physical output display and the patient.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical output display is configured to be controlled by signals from the first device, without a connection to the second device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the signals are transmitted using at least one of an internet connection, a cellular RF connection, a satellite RF connection, a short, medium or long range RF connection, a wired connection and an infrared (IR) connection.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device further comprises a global positioning device (GPS) wherein a location of the first device is displayable at least on the second device.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first device includes at least one of a physical display and transducer, which is operatively connected to the first device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the first device is capable of measuring and monitoring one or more of multiple vital signs, motion, movement and patient'"'"'s reactions to stimuli and measuring size of body parts.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the treatment comprises medicine release.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing a remotely controlled medication release vault at the patient location, wherein the treatment comprises the treatment provider remotely releasing medication stored in the vault.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the treatment further comprises the treatment provider verifying administration of the medication by the patient.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the first device is operable to transceive via wire, via radio signals (RF) or via infrared (IR) signals directly with nearby physical display units, transducers, TVs, interactive TVs, and other devices and connect with distant devices using public or private radio transmission systems or by connecting directly or indirectly to the internet.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first device provides feedback to the patient and to the second device.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the first device monitors patient parameters while not connected to the second device and forms a diagnosis based at least in part on at least one measured patient parameter.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the first device delivers treatments while not connected to the second device.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the first device functions as emergency call and location device with global positioning device (GPS), wherein a location of the first device can be located from at least the remote location.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the physical output display outputs a form of energy that causes a biophysical change to body or a limb of a user of the first device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one vital sign is selected from the group consisting of strength, muscle reaction and nerve reaction.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one input transducer is configured to sense a physical gesture performed by a user of the device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one input transducer is configured to capture at least one physical gesture performed by a user using at least one camera.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one input transducer is configured to sense a physical gesture performed by a user to measure the at least one vital sign selected from the group consisting of strength, muscle reaction and nerve reaction.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device is a wireless mobile electronic device.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein electrical energy is used in the treatment.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein magnetic energy is used in the treatment.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein radio frequency is used in the treatment.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein light energy is used in the treatment.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein vibration is used in the treatment.

26. The method of claim 1 wherein pneumatic energy is used in the treatment.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein hydraulic energy is used in the treatment.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein acoustic energy is used in the treatment.

29. The method of claim 1 wherein thermal energy is used in the treatment.

30. The method of claim 1 wherein infrared energy is used in the treatment.

31. The method of claim 1 wherein electronics are used in the treatment.

32. The method of claim 1 wherein laser energy is used in the treatment.

33. The method of claim 1 wherein two or more forms energy are used in the treatment.

34. The method of claim 1 wherein a nutritional release is used in the treatment.

35. The method of claim 1 wherein a treat or other reward is used in the treatment.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein the first device is a mobile telephone.