US6940403B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Reprogrammable remote sensor monitoring system
Assignee: Braemar Manufacturing LLC
•
Filing: 2002-11-12
•
Granted: 2005-09-06
•
Expires: 2022-11-12
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Karl A. Kail, IV
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:40
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B21/00; G08B21/18; G08B21/24; G08B21/245; G01; G01S; G01S19/00; G01S19/01; G01S19/13; G01S19/14; G01S19/17; G08B13/00; G08B13/18; G08B13/189; G08B13/194; G08B13/196; G08B13/19617; G08B13/1963; G08B13/19632; G08B21/02; G08B21/0202; G08B21/0205; G08B21/0211; G08B21/0216; G08B21/0227; G08B21/023; G08B21/028; G08B21/0283; G08B21/0294; G16; G16H; G16H40/00; G16H40/60; G16H40/63; G16H40/67; G16H50/00; G16H50/20; G01S2205/00; G01S2205/001; G01S2205/002; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S128/00; Y10S128/903; Y10S128/904; Y10S706/00; Y10S706/902; Y10S706/911; Y10S706/924
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
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.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
140 words
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.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one automatic sensor comprises a sensor selected from the group consisting of a biological condition sensor, an accelerometer, and an audio sensor.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the portable monitoring unit further comprises: a portable-unit location-determining device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the programmable microprocessor has 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 the activating parameters.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: at least one monitoring device in communication with the central monitoring device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the portable monitoring unit comprises an audio/visual indicator in communication with the microprocessor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the portable monitoring unit comprises a subject status signal input device activatable by the human subject and in communication with the microprocessor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a portable central monitoring device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising: at least one additional portable monitoring unit having the same structure as the portable monitoring unit.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the request signal from the external source comprises a periodic status query from the central monitoring device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the preselected state of the at least one automatic sensor comprises a preselected sensor reading from a medical device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor is responsive to receive a reprogrammed activating parameter.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor is responsive to transmit all data received once activated.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the microprocessor is responsive to transmit data meeting a certain predefined criteria.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
143 words
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.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
143 words
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.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
116 words
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.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
116 words
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.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
140 words
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.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
140 words
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.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 17 , further comprising: receiving a voice communication from the central monitoring device.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
94 words
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.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
94 words
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.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 19 , further comprising: identifying the biological condition of the human subject using the set of activating parameters.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 19 , further comprising: receiving a second set of activating parameters; and reprogramming the microprocessor using the second set of activating parameters.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the microprocessor is remotely reprogrammed.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 19 , wherein receiving the set of activating parameters comprises: receiving an activating parameter relating to a request signal from an external source.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-09-05 | 2009-03-07 | 2009-09-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-09-05 | 2013-03-07 | 2013-09-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-09-05 | 2017-03-07 | 2017-09-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |