Reprogrammable remote sensor monitoring system
AssigneeCardioNet, Inc.
InventorKarl A. Kail, IV
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An automated, real-time, reprogrammable monitoring and control system for portable, remote sensors and subjects includes one or more portable monitoring units, each of the portable monitoring units having a sensor, a location-determining device, and a sensor interface unit. Each sensor interface unit is separately configured to monitor its sensor and to transmit that sensor's data, via a digital wireless communications network, to a central monitoring device. The portable unit is carried or worn by a person or animal, or affixed to an inanimate subject.
Claims23
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 capable of communicating with a central monitoring device, the portable monitoring unit comprising:
- a 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, the activating parameters selected from the group consisting of a preselected state of the at least one automatic sensor and a request signal from an external source,
- a first transceiver in communication with the microprocessor, for communicating signals between the microprocessor and the central monitoring device, and
- a power supply connected to provide power to at least one of the microprocessor and the first transceiver.
A method for remotely monitoring the status of a human subject, the method comprising:
- 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 programmable microprocessor in communication with at least one automatic sensor,
- a first transceiver in communication with the microprocessor, and
- a power supply to provide power to at least one of the microprocessor and the first transceiver;
- programming the microprocessor with a set of activating parameters for one or more activation conditions;
- the microprocessor obtaining a status of the human subject from the at least one automatic sensor;
- and
- the microprocessor sending a status message over the first transceiver, the status message comprising information relating to the status of the human subject.
A method for remotely monitoring the status of a human subject, the method comprising:
- providing the human subject with a portable monitoring unit comprising:
- a programmable microprocessor,
- a first transceiver in communication with the programmable microprocessor,
- a communications device interface to communicate between the programmable microprocessor and the first transceiver, and
- a power supply to provide power to at least one of the microprocessor, the communication device interface, and the first transceiver;
- programming the microprocessor with a first set of operating instructions;
- receiving information relating to the operation of the microprocessor using the first set of operating instructions;
- and
- 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:
- 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 at least one automatic sensor and the location-determining device,
- a communication device interface in communication with the programmable microprocessor,
- a first transceiver of a communications device in communication with the communication device interface, and
- a power supply to provide power to the microprocessor and the first transceiver;
- and
- monitoring the human subject with the portable monitoring unit and the at least one automatic sensor, wherein monitoring comprises:
- requesting a report from the human subject, and
- reporting the status and location of the human subject in the event of an unsatisfactory response from the human subject to the request.
A method comprising:
- receiving a set of activating parameters, at least one activating parameter relating to sensor readings to be received from a biological condition sensor;
- receiving sensor readings relating to the biological condition of a human subject from the biological condition sensor;
- changing to an active state based on the at least one activating parameter and the biological condition of the human subject;
- and
- sending a message over a transceiver of a communications device to a central monitoring service, the status message including information relating to the biological condition of the human subject.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.