Reprogrammable remote sensor monitoring system

Apparatus for remotely monitoring and assessing the status of a human subject, the apparatus comprising:

• at least one automatic sensor associated with and monitoring the condition of the human subject;
• and
• a portable monitoring unit comprising
• a remotely programmable microprocessor in communication with the at least one automatic sensor, the microprocessor being responsive to the occurrence of any of a set of activating parameters for an activation condition selected from the group consisting of a preselected state for the at least one automatic sensor and a request signal from an external source,
• a first transceiver in communication with the microprocessor, and
• a power supply connected to provide power to the microprocessor and to the first transceiver.

A method for remotely monitoring the status of a human subject, comprising the steps of

• providing the human subject with at least one automatic sensor selected from the group consisting of a biological condition sensor, a medical device, and an audio sensor;
• providing the human subject with a portable monitoring unit comprising
• a portable-unit location-determining device,
• a programmable microprocessor having an active state and an inactive state, the microprocessor being operable to change from the inactive state to the active state responsive to the occurrence of any of a set of activating parameters for an activation condition selected from the group consisting of a preselected state of the at least one automatic sensor, a status signal by the subject, and a request signal from an external source, the microprocessor being in communication with the at least one automatic sensor and the location-determining device,
• a first transceiver of a communications device in communication with the microprocessor, and
• a power supply that provides power to the microprocessor and the first transceiver;
• programming the microprocessor with a set of activating parameters for the activation conditions;
• the microprocessor entering the inactive state;
• the microprocessor entering the active state responsive to the occurrence of the activating parameters of one of the activation conditions;
• the microprocessor obtaining a status of the subject from the at least one automatic sensor and the location of the portable unit from the location-determining device;
• and
• the microprocessor sending a status message over the first transceiver of the communications device, the content of the status message including the status of the subject and the location of the portable unit.

A method for remotely monitoring the status of a human subject, comprising the steps of

• providing the human subject with at least one automatic sensor associated with and monitoring the condition of the human subject;
• providing the human subject with a portable monitoring unit comprising
• a programmable microprocessor,
• a first transceiver of a communications device in communication with the programmable microprocessor,
• a communication device interface communicating between the programmable microprocessor and the first transceiver, and
• a power supply that provides power to the microprocessor, the communication device interface, and the first transceiver;
• programming the microprocessor with a first set of operating instructions;
• operating the microprocessor using the first set of operating instructions;
• and thereafter
• reprogramming the microprocessor using information transmitted through the first transceiver with a second set of operating instructions.

A method for remotely monitoring the status of a human subject, comprising the steps of

• providing the human subject with at least one automatic sensor;
• providing the human subject with a portable monitoring unit comprising
• a portable-unit location-determining device,
• a programmable microprocessor in communication with the at least one automatic sensor and the location-determining device,
• a communication device interface communicating with the programmable microprocessor, and
• a first transceiver of a communications device in communication with the communication device interface,
• a power supply that provides power to the microprocessor and the first transceiver;
• the portable monitoring unit monitoring the at least one automatic sensor;
• the portable monitoring unit requiring a report from the human subject responsive to the step of monitoring;
• and
• reporting the status and location of the human subject from the portable monitoring unit to a central monitoring device in the event of an unsatisfactory response from the human subject in the step of requiring.

A method for remotely monitoring and assessing the location and status of a human subject, comprising:

• sensing at least one activating parameter of the human subject, the activating parameter being selected from the group consisting of a biological condition of the subject, an acceleration of the subject, a status signal input from the subject, and an audible communication of the subject, and supplying a corresponding activating parameter signal to a normally inactive microprocessor in a portable monitoring unit;
• shifting the microprocessor from its normally inactive condition to an active condition in response to any of a predetermined set of activating parameters;
• determining the location of the subject and supplying corresponding location signal to the microprocessor;
• when the microprocessor is in its active condition, transmitting to a remote central monitoring device any activating parameters received by the microprocessor;
• and
• receiving audio signals from the remote central monitoring device for voice communication between the central monitoring device and the subject.