WO2005048205A1

WO2005048205A1 - Personal information communicator (pic) for remote monitoring, and system including same

Info

Publication number: WO2005048205A1
Application number: PCT/US2004/037321
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert P. Stewart; Charles D. Griesel
Original assignee: Stewart Robert P; Griesel Charles D
Priority date: 2003-11-10
Filing date: 2004-11-08
Publication date: 2005-05-26

Abstract

A system (10) is has a personal information communicator (PIC) (12), multiple peripheral devices (14) coupled to one or more ports (22 and 24) of the PIC (12), and a central monitoring station (16). The PIC (12) includes a processing logic (20) is coupled to the port(s) (22 and 24) and to a cellular telephone transceiver (30), and is configured to receive data from the peripheral device(s) (14) via the port(s) and to transmit the data via the cellular telephone transceiver (30). Each of the peripheral devices (14) is configured to produce device identification data and sensor data.

Description

TITLE: PERSONAL INFORMATION COMMUNICATOR (PIC) FOR REMOTE MONITORING, AND SYSTEM INCLUDING SAME

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

FIELD OF THE INVENTION:

This invention relates generally to monitoring systems, and more particularly to wireless monitoring systems for remote monitoring.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART:

Radio alarm systems for monitoring locations of, and/or alarm conditions associated with, people and objects are known. Such radio alarm systems are used to monitor, for example, small children, elderly adults, persons performing dangerous work at remote locations, and vehicles. A typical radio alarm system includes a remote unit attached to a person or object being monitored and a base station. The remote unit is in radio communication with the base station. When the remote unit transmits an alarm condition, or the base station otherwise detects an abnormal condition with the remote unit, the base station issues an alarm (e.g., alerts an operator).

A problem arises with radio alarm systems in that a distance between the remote unit and the base station is restricted. For example, in situations where the remote unit transmits an alarm condition to the base station, a person wearing the remote unit and being monitored must remain within an area prescribed by a certain maximum distance from the base station.

Mobile computer systems are well known, and include laptop computers, notebook computers, and handheld computers such as personal digital assistants (PDAs). Many mobile computer systems have capabilities and features similar to desktop personal computers (PCs). The most distinguishing feature of a mobile computer system is a battery power supply that provides electrical power for mobile operation.

A cellular telephone system uses wireless radio transmission to provide mobile telephone service comparable to the public switched telephone network (PSTN). Cellular telephone systems are typically connected to the PSTN so that cellular telephone subscribers can place telephone calls to PSTN subscribers. Cellular telephone subscribers have mobile radio transceivers, and base stations in communication with the mobile radio transceivers provide cellular telephone service within overlapping regions called cells.

It would be beneficial to have a system including a communication device having a mobile computer system for receiving and processing data and a cellular telephone transceiver for transmitting the data to a central station. Such a communication system may be used, for example, to monitor locations of, and/or alarm conditions associated with, people and objects without the drawbacks of the known radio alarm systems described above. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A personal information communicator (PIC) is disclosed including one or more ports for coupling to one or more peripheral devices, a cellular telephone transceiver, and processing logic. The processing logic is coupled to the port(s) and to the cellular telephone transceiver, and is configured to receive data from the peripheral device(s) via the port(s) and to transmit the data via the cellular telephone transceiver.

A system is disclosed including the PIC, multiple peripheral devices coupled to the one or more ports of the PIC, and a central monitoring station. Each of the peripheral devices is configured to produce device identification data and sensor data. The central monitoring station includes multiple display modules. Each display module produces signals for displaying sensor data, and corresponds to a different one of the peripheral devices based on the device identification data.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following more detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying drawings illustrate the present invention. In such drawings:

Fig. 1 is a diagram of one embodiment of a system including a personal information communicator (PIC) coupled to a peripheral device, wherein the PIC includes a memory;

Fig. 2 is a diagram of a user wearing one embodiment of the system of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a diagram of one embodiment of the memory of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a flow chart of a method for conveying data from a remote location to a central monitoring station.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 is a diagram of one embodiment of a system 10 including a personal information communicator (PIC) 12 coupled to a peripheral device 14. In general, the PIC 12 is configured to send data from the peripheral device 14 to a central monitoring station 16 via an existing cellular telephone system 18 and the well known public switched telephone network (PSTN) 20, or an equivalent network, such as radio or similar communications network. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the PIC 12 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 20 or other form of processing logic coupled to a first port 22, an optional second port 24, a modem 26, and a memory 28. The PIC 12 also includes a cellular telephone transceiver 30 coupled to the modem 26, a speaker 32, a microphone 34, and a keypad 36. The PIC 12 may also include additional features, such as a pager feature (not shown) that enables a central authority to send mass communications to the PIC 12 of various users.

In general, the CPU 20 fetches instructions of an instruction set from the memory 28, and executes the instructions. The CPU 20 is coupled to the peripheral device 14 via the port 22, and receives data from the peripheral device 14 via the port 22. As described in detail below, the CPU 20 sends the data from the peripheral device 14 to the central monitoring station 16 via the modem 26, the cellular telephone transceiver 30, the cellular telephone system 18, and the public switched telephone network (PSTN) 20.

The port 22 is preferably a non-proprietary standard personal computer (PC) input/output (I/O) port. Such non-proprietary standard PC I/O ports include the well known RS-232 serial port and parallel port, and also include the small computer system interface (SCSI) port, the universal serial bus (USB) port, and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1394 serial bus standard commonly referred to as "Fire Wire®" (Apple Computer, Inc., Cupertino, CA) and "iLink®" (Sony Corporation, Tokyo, Japan). Operating according to a non-proprietary standard, the port 22 allows any number of developers to manufacture the peripheral device 14.

The RS-232 serial port has a standard interface specified by the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) and the Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA). In 1991 the EIA and TIA released a version of the standard called EJA/TIA-232-E. This standard is still commonly referred to as the "RS-232 standard."

The parallel port, often referred to as the "Centronics interface" after the company that designed the original standard, provides for parallel communication with peripheral devices such as printers. In general, the PC parallel port uses a 25-pin type DB-25 connector. Newer types of parallel ports, which use the same connectors, include the enhanced parallel port (EPP) and the extended capabilities port (ECP).

The SCSI port is an American National Standards institute (ANSI) parallel interface standard that provides for faster data transmission rates than the RS-232 serial port and the parallel port described above. The SCSI standard supports several types of connectors.

The USB Implementers Forum Inc. (USB-IF) authors USB standards. The USB 1.1 standard supports 12 megabits (Mbits) per second data transfers, and the USB 2.0 standard supports 480 Mbits per second data transfers.

The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) authored the IEEE 1394 serial bus standard. The IEEE 1394 serial bus standard supports 400 Mbits per second data transfers.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the peripheral device 14 includes a sensor 40 and corresponding device identification data (i.e., a corresponding "device ID") that uniquely identifies the peripheral device 14. The device ID may be, for example, a number or a string of alphanumeric characters. The device ID may be, for example, assigned during manufacture of the peripheral device 14. Alternately, the device ID may be assigned prior to, or during, operation of the system 10. For example, the CPU 20 may assign the device ID at startup, or after startup when the peripheral device 14 is connected to the port 22.

Sensor 40 may be, for example, a temperature sensor, a breathing gas volume sensor, an image sensor, an audio sensor, a geographic location sensor, or a physiologic sensor. A geographic location sensor may include, for example, a global positioning system (GPS) receiver for receiving signals from GPS satellites in orbit above the earth.

A breathing gas volume sensor may sense, for example, a volume of a gas or a mixture of gases remaining in a tank and being breathed by a user. An image sensor may include, for example, an image data gathering device such as a camera. An audio sensor may include, for example a microphone. A physiologic sensor may sense, for example, a heart rate, a respiratory rate, or a blood pressure of a user.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the CPU 20 receives sensor data from the peripheral device 14 via the port 22, and sends the sensor data to the central monitoring station 16 via the modem 26, the cellular telephone transceiver 30, the cellular telephone system 18, and the PSTN 20.

As indicated in Fig. 1, the system 10 may include additional peripheral devices and sensors. For example, the PIC 12 may include the optional second port 24. The port 24 may be the same type of PC I/O port as the port 22, or a different type of PC I/O port. A peripheral device 42 may be coupled to the port 24 as indicted in Fig. 1. In this situation, the CPU 20 is coupled to the peripheral device 42 via the port 24, and receives data from the peripheral device 42 via the port 24. The CPU 20 sends data from the peripheral devices 14 and 42 to the central monitoring station 16 via the modem 26, the cellular telephone transceiver 30, the cellular telephone system 18, and the PSTN 20.

Alternately, or in addition, the peripheral device 14 may include a port 46 as indicated in Fig. 1. The port 46 may be, for example, the same type of PC I/O port as the port 22. A peripheral device 48 may be coupled to the port 46 as indicted in Fig. 1. In this situation, the CPU 20 is coupled to the peripheral device 46 via the port 22, the peripheral device 14, and the port 46. The CPU 20 receives data from the peripheral devices 14 and 48 via the port 22, and sends the data from the peripheral devices 14 and 48 to the central monitoring station 16 via the modem 26, the cellular telephone transceiver 30, the cellular telephone system 18, and the PSTN 20. As indicated in Fig. 1, the peripheral device 42 includes a sensor 44, and the peripheral device 48 includes a sensor 50.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the central monitoring system 16 includes a display module 52 corresponding to the peripheral device 14. In general, the display module 52 includes hardware and/or software for producing signals for displaying the sensor data produced by the peripheral device 14. The central monitoring system 16 includes a number of display modules each corresponding to a different one of the peripheral devices.

In one exemplary embodiment, the system 10 includes a breathing gas volume sensor and a temperature sensor. For example, in addition to the peripheral device 14 coupled to the port 22, the system 10 may include the peripheral device 42 coupled to the port 24. The sensor 40 of the peripheral device 14 may be the breathing gas volume sensor, and the sensor 44 of the peripheral device 42 may be the temperature sensor. In this situation, the peripheral device 14 sends the device ID of the peripheral device 14 and breathing gas volume data to the PIC 12 via the port 22. The peripheral device 42 sends the device ID of the peripheral device 42 and temperature data to the PIC 12 via the port 24. The central monitoring system 16 includes the display module 52 corresponding to the peripheral device 14, and a display module 54 corresponding to the peripheral device 42.

The CPU 20 receives the device ID of the peripheral device 14 and the breathing gas volume data from the peripheral device 14. In response, the CPU 20 sends the device ID of the peripheral device 14 and the breathing gas volume data to the central monitoring station 16 via the modem 26, the cellular telephone transceiver 30, the cellular telephone system 18, and the PSTN 20. The CPU 20 may, for example, encrypt the device ID of the peripheral device 14 and the breathing gas volume data prior to transmission for security purposes.

The central monitoring station 16 receives the device ID of the peripheral device 14 and the breathing gas volume data from the PSTN 20. If the data is encrypted, the central monitoring station 16 decrypts the data and routes the breathing gas volume data to the corresponding display module 52 based on the device ED of the peripheral device 14. As a result, the display module 52 produces signals for displaying the breathing gas volume data. The signals produced by the display module 52 may be used to display the breathing gas volume data on a display device.

The central monitoring station 16 also receives the device ED of the peripheral device 42 and the temperature data from the PSTN 20. If the data is encrypted, the central monitoring station 16 decrypts the data and routes the temperature data to the corresponding display module 54 based on the device ED of the peripheral device 42. As a result, the display module 54 produces signals for displaying the temperature data. The signals produced by the display module 54 may be used to display the temperature data on a display device.

The above embodiment may be used, for example, by a fireman while fighting a fire and breathing a gas or mixture of gases stored in a tank. The breathing gas volume sensor may sense a volume of the gas or mixture of gases remaining in the tank.

In another specific embodiment, the system 10 includes a video sensor and an audio sensor. For example, the peripheral device 14 may include a video sensor and an audio sensor. The CPU 20 receives the device ED of the peripheral device 14 and video and audio data from the peripheral device 14, and sends the device ED of the peripheral device 14 and the video and audio data to the central monitoring station 16 via the modem 26, the cellular telephone transceiver 30, the cellular telephone system 18, and the PSTN 20. The central monitoring station 16 routes the video and audio data to the corresponding display module 52 based on the device ED of the peripheral device 14. As a result, the display module 52 produces signals for displaying the video and audio data. This embodiment may be, for example, used by a policeman while on patrol.

In the embodiment of Fig. 1, the speaker 32, the microphone 34, and the keypad 36 provide the PIC 12 with typical cellular telephone capability, and the user may use the PIC 12 to make cellular telephone calls. Fig. 2 is a diagram of a user 60 wearing one embodiment of the system 10 of Fig. 1. In the embodiment of Fig. 2, the system 10 functions as an electrocardiogram (EKG) monitor, and the peripheral device 14 includes 5 sensors 62A-62E. The sensors 62A-62E are electrode pads attached to the skin of the chest of the user 60. The sensors 62A-62E detect electrical impulses generated by the heart of the user 60 each time the heart beats, and produce electrical signals indicative of the electrical impulses. Each of the sensors 62A-62E is connected to the peripheral device 14 via a separate conductive lead. n Fig. 2, the leads are bundled at one end to form a cable 64. A coiled cable 66 connects the peripheral device 14 to the PIC 12.

In general, the electrical signals produced by the sensors 62A-62E are indicative of: (i) a heart rate of the user 60, and (ii) a heart rhythm of the user 60, and (iii) any abnormalities in how the electrical impulse spreads across the heart when the heart beats (i.e., any conduction abnormalities of the heart).

In the embodiment of Fig. 2, the peripheral device 14 digitizes the electrical signals from the sensors 62A-62E, thereby producing digital EKG data, and provides the EKG data to the PIC 12. The PIC 12 may, for example, store the EKG data, and periodically transmit the EKG data to the central monitoring station 16 of Fig. 1 via the modem 26, the cellular telephone transceiver 30, the cellular telephone system 18, and the PSTN 20. Alternately, or in addition, the PIC 12 may analyze the EKG data, and transmit the EKG data to the central monitoring station 16 of Fig. 1 when the heart rate of the user 60 or the heart rhythm of the user 60 falls outside of a normal range, or when a conduction abnormality is detected. Fig. 3 is a diagram of one embodiment of the memory 28 of Fig. 1. In the embodiment of Fig. 3, the memory 70 stores several software components, including an operating system 70, a port driver 72, a device driver 74, and monitoring software 76. En general, the operating system 70 includes instructions that allow the CPU 20 to communicate and cooperate with the other devices of the PEC 12, and with peripheral devices connected to the PIC 12 (e.g., the peripheral device 14). The port driver 72 includes a basic set of instructions that allow the CPU 20 to communicate and cooperate with the port 22. The device driver 74 includes a basic set of instructions that allow the CPU 20 to communicate and cooperate with the peripheral device 14 coupled to the CPU 20 via the port 22. As indicated in Fig. 3, the port driver 72 and the device driver 74 may be part of the operating system 70.

In general, the monitoring software 76 includes additional instructions that allow the CPU 20 to communicate and cooperate with the peripheral device 14. More specifically, the monitoring software 76 embodies a method for obtaining data from the peripheral device 14, and transmitting the data to the central monitoring station 16 of Fig. 1 via the modem 26, the cellular telephone transceiver 30, the cellular telephone system 18, and the PSTN 20.

It is noted that when the PIC 12 of Fig. 1 includes other ports in addition to the port 22, the memory 28 expectedly includes corresponding port driver software. Similarly, when the system 10 of Fig. 1 includes other peripheral devices in addition to the peripheral device 14, the memory 28 expectedly includes corresponding device driver software and monitoring software. Fig. 4 is a flow chart of a method 80 for conveying data from a remote location to a central monitoring station (e.g., the central monitoring station 16 of Fig. 1). The method 80 may be embodied within the monitoring software 76 of Fig. 3. For example, in executing the instructions of the monitoring software 76, the CPU 20 of Fig. 1 may receive the device ED and sensor data from the peripheral device 14 of Fig. 1, and transmit the device ED and the sensor data to the central monitoring station 16.

During a first step 82 of the method 80, the device ED of a peripheral device and corresponding sensor data is received (e.g., from the peripheral device 14 of Fig. 1). During an optional step 84, the sensor data is compared to a threshold value. During an optional decision step 86, if the sensor data exceeds the threshold value, a step 88 is performed, otherwise the step 82 is repeated. During a step 88, the device ED of the peripheral device and the sensor data is transmitted to the central monitoring station 16. As described above, the device ED and the sensor data may be encrypted prior to transmission for security purposes.

While Fig. 4 illustrates one embodiment of the method 80, those skilled in the art will recognize that this method may also be practiced using equivalent techniques that should be considered within the scope of the invention as claimed. For example, the method 80 could include a constant stream of data from the personal information communicator 12 to the central monitoring station 16 (as shown in Fig. 1), and the monitoring software 76 could be installed on the central monitoring station 16, so that the steps shown in Fig. 4 would be performed on the central monitoring station 16. While the invention has been described with reference to at least one preferred embodiment, it is to be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited thereto. Rather, the scope of the invention is to be interpreted only in conjunction with the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A system comprising: a plurality of peripheral devices; a personal information communicator having: a plurality of ports that are adapted to be coupled to the peripheral device; a cellular telephone transceiver; and processing logic coupled to the plurality of ports and to the cellular telephone transceiver, and configured to receive data from each of the plurality of peripheral devices via the plurality of ports and to transmit the data via the cellular telephone transceiver.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of ports is an RS-232 serial

port, a parallel port, a small computer system interface (SCSI) port, a universal serial bus

(USB) port, or an IEEE 1394 serial bus port.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of peripheral devices comprises at least one sensor and is configured to produce sensor data, and wherein

the processing logic is configured to receive the sensor data from the peripheral device via

one of the plurality of ports and to transmit the sensor data via the cellular telephone

transceiver.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a temperature

sensor, a breathing gas volume sensor, an image sensor, an audio sensor, a geographic

location sensor, or a physiologic sensor.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the personal information communicator further comprises: a speaker coupled to the cellular telephone transceiver; a microphone coupled to the cellular telephone transceiver; a keypad coupled to the cellular telephone transceiver; and

wherein a user of the system may use the speaker, the microphone, and the keypad to make

cellular telephone calls. stem, comprising:

a plurality of peripheral devices each configured to produce device identification data and sensor data;

a central monitoring station comprising a plurality of display modules, wherein each of the display modules is configured to produce signals for displaying sensor data and corresponds to a different one of the peripheral devices based on the device identification data; a personal information communicator, comprising: at least one port coupled to the peripheral devices; a cellular telephone transceiver; and processing logic coupled to the port and to the cellular telephone transceiver, and configured to receive the device identification data and the sensor data from the peripheral devices via the at least one port and to transmit the device identification data and the sensor data to the central monitoring station via the cellular telephone transceiver, for display via one of the plurality of display modules.

7. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein each of the at least one port is configured according to a non-proprietary standard.

8. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein each of the at least one port is an RS-232 serial

(USB) port, or an IEEE 1394 serial bus port.

9. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein each of the peripheral devices comprises at least one sensor and uses the at least one sensor to produce the sensor data.

10. The system as recited in claim 9, wherein the at least one sensor comprises a temperature

sensor, a breathing gas volume sensor, an image sensor, an audio sensor, a geographic location sensor, or a physiologic sensor.

11. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the central monitoring station is configured to receive the device identification data and the sensor data, and to route the sensor data to the

corresponding display module dependent upon the device identification information.

12. The system as recited in claim 6, wherein the personal information communicator further

comprises: a speaker coupled to the cellular telephone transceiver; a microphone coupled to the cellular telephone transceiver; a keypad coupled to the cellular telephone transceiver; and

wherein a user of the system may use the speaker, the microphone, and the keypad to make cellular telephone calls.