U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 6, 2011
`
`Sheet 2 of 11
`
`US 8,073, 707 B2
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`503 of 821
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 6, 2011
`
`Sheet 5 of 11
`
`US 8,073, 707 B2
`
`j 150
`
`Dl8l
`,,.,
`
`0------ ------
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`Your Health Manager
`f_155
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`Your Health Index
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`157
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`504 of 821
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 6, 2011
`
`Sheet 6 of 11
`
`US 8,073, 707 B2
`
`........_ -- -............,.___ __._
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`29 30
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`s
`7
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`FIG. 6
`
`505 of 821
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 6, 2011
`
`Sheet 7 of 11
`
`US 8,073,707 B2
`
`200
`
`-
`
`Your Health Manager
`
`2700
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`
`506 of 821
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 6, 2011
`
`Sheet 8 of 11
`
`US 8,073, 707 B2
`
`0-----
`
`250
`
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`FIG. 8
`
`507 of 821
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 6, 2011
`
`Sheet 9 of 11
`
`US 8,073, 707 B2
`
`0----- - - -
`
`290
`
`10:45
`
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`FIG. 9
`
`508 of 821
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 6, 2011
`
`Sheet 10 of 11
`
`US 8,073, 707 B2
`
`0----
`...-_..., ...-_ -- ..-.-.~ ........._.,..
`....-..- ...............
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`Time
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`Mind
`Stimulations
`
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`
`345
`
`509 of 821
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Dec. 6, 2011
`
`Sheet 11 of 11
`
`US 8,073, 707 B2
`
`350
`
`0181
`
`210
`
`76%
`
`32%
`
`Mon
`Tues Wed
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`Sat
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`
`510 of 821
`
`

`
`US 8,073,707 B2
`
`1
`SYSTEM FOR DETECTING, MONITORING,
`AND REPORTING AN INDIVIDUAL'S
`PHYSIOLOGICAL OR CONTEXTUAL
`STATUS
`
`RELATED APPLICATION DATA
`
`This patent application is a continuation of U.S. applica(cid:173)
`tion Ser. No. 09/595,660 filed Jun. 16, 2000, now issued as
`U.S. Pat. No. 7,689,437 and owned by the assignee of the
`present application.
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates to a system for monitoring
`health, wellness and fitness, and in particular, to a system for
`collecting and storing at a remote site data relating to an
`individual's physiological state, lifestyle, and various contex(cid:173)
`tual parameters, and making such data and analytical infor(cid:173)
`mation based on such data available to the individual, prefer- 20
`ably over an electronic network.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`2
`tus data from at least one of the data indicative of one or more
`physiological parameters, the derived data, and analytical
`status data that has previously been generated. The central
`monitoring unit also includes a data storage device for retriev(cid:173)
`ably storing the data it receives and generates. The disclosed
`system also includes means for establishing electronic com(cid:173)
`munication between the sensor device and the central moni(cid:173)
`toring unit. Examples may include various known types of
`long range wireless transmission devices, or a physical or a
`10 short range wireless coupling to a computer which in turn
`establishes electronic communication with the central moni(cid:173)
`toring unit over an electronic network such as the Internet.
`Also included in the system is a means for transmitting the
`data indicative of one or more physiological parameters, the
`15 derived data, and/or the analytical status data to a recipient,
`such as the individual or a third party authorized by the
`individual.
`Also disclosed is a method of detecting, monitoring and
`reporting human physiological information. The method
`includes generating at least one of data indicative of one or
`more physiological parameters of an individual and derived
`data from at least a portion of the data indicative of one or
`more physiological parameters using a sensor device adapted
`to be placed in proximity with at least a portion of the human
`25 body. The at least one of the data indicative of one or more
`physiological parameters and the derived data are transmitted
`to a central monitoring unit remote from said sensor device
`and retrievably stored in a storage device. Analytical status
`data is generated from at least a portion of at least one of the
`30 data indicative of one or more physiological parameters, the
`derived data and the analytical status data, and at least one of
`the data indicative of one or more physiological parameters,
`the derived data and the analytical status data is transmitted to
`a recipient.
`The sensor device includes one or more sensors for gener-
`ating signals in response to physiological characteristics of
`the individual. The sensor device may also include a proces(cid:173)
`sor that is adapted to generate the data indicative of one or
`more physiological parameters from the signals generated by
`40 the one or more sensors. The processor may also be adapted to
`generate the derived data. Alternatively, the derived data may
`be generated by the central monitoring unit.
`The central monitoring unit may be adapted to generate
`one or more web pages containing the data indicative of one
`45 or more physiological parameters, the derived data, and/or the
`analytical status data. The web pages generated by the central
`monitoring unit are accessible by the recipient over an elec(cid:173)
`tronic network, such as the Internet. Alternatively, the data
`indicative of one or more physiological parameters, the
`50 derived data, and/or the analytical status data may be trans(cid:173)
`mitted to the recipient in a physical form such as mail or
`facsimile.
`The system and method may also obtain life activities data
`of the individual and may use such life activities data when
`55 generating the analytical status data. Furthermore, the sensor
`device may also be adapted to generate data indicative of one
`or more contextual parameters of the individual. The system
`and method may then use the data indicative of one or more
`contextual parameters when generating the analytical status
`60 data.
`Also disclosed is a system for monitoring the degree to
`which an individual has followed a suggested routine. The
`system includes a sensor device adapted to generate at least
`one of data indicative of one or more physiological param(cid:173)
`eters of the individual and derived data from at least a portion
`of the data indicative of one or more physiological parameters
`when the sensor device is placed in proximity with at least a
`
`Research has shown that a large number of the top health
`problems in society are either caused in whole orin part by an
`unhealthy lifestyle. More and more, our society requires
`people to lead fast-paced, achievement-oriented lifestyles
`that often result in poor eating habits, high stress levels, lack
`of exercise, poor sleep habits and the inability to find the time
`to center the mind and relax. Recognizing this fact, people are
`becoming increasingly interested in establishing a healthier
`lifestyle.
`Traditional medicine, embodied in the form of an HMO or
`similar organizations, does not have the time, the training, or 35
`the reimbursement mechanism to address the needs of those
`individuals interested in a healthier lifestyle. There have been
`several attempts to meet the needs of these individuals,
`including a profusion of fitness programs and exercise equip(cid:173)
`ment, dietary plans, self-help books, alternative therapies,
`and most recently, a plethora of health information web sites
`on the Internet. Each of these attempts is targeted to empower
`the individual to take charge and get healthy. Each of these
`attempts, however, addresses only part of the needs of indi(cid:173)
`viduals seeking a healthier lifestyle and ignores many of the
`real barriers that most individuals face when trying to adopt a
`healthier lifestyle. These barriers include the fact that the
`individual is often left to himself or herself to find motivation,
`to implement a plan for achieving a healthier lifestyle, to
`monitor progress, and to brainstorm solutions when problems
`arise; the fact that existing programs are directed to only
`certain aspects of a healthier lifestyle, and rarely come as a
`complete package; and the fact that recommendations are
`often not targeted to the unique characteristics of the indi(cid:173)
`vidual or his life circumstances.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`A system is disclosed for detecting, monitoring and report(cid:173)
`ing human physiological information. The system includes a
`sensor device which generates at least one of data indicative
`of one or more physiological parameters and derived data
`from at least a portion of the data indicative of one or more
`physiological parameters when placed in proximity with at
`least a portion of the human body. The system also includes a 65
`central monitoring unit located remote from the sensor
`device. The central monitoring unit generates analytical sta-
`
`511 of 821
`
`

`
`US 8,073,707 B2
`
`4
`FIG. 7 is a representation of a preferred embodiment of the
`activity level web page according to an aspect of the present
`invention;
`
`FIG. 8 is a representation of a preferred embodiment of the
`mind centering web page according to an aspect of the present
`invention;
`
`FIG. 9 is a representation of a preferred embodiment of the
`10 sleep web page according to an aspect of the present inven-
`tion;
`FIG. 10 is a representation of a preferred embodiment of
`the daily activities web page according to an aspect of the
`present invention; and
`FIG. 11 is a representation of a preferred embodiment of
`the Health Index web page according to an aspect of the
`present invention.
`
`20
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`3
`portion of the human body. Also included is a means for
`transmitting the data that is generated by the sensor device to
`a central monitoring unit remote from the sensor device and
`means for providing life activities data of the individual to the
`central monitoring unit. The central monitoring unit is
`adapted to generate and provide feedback to a recipient relat(cid:173)
`ing to the degree to which the individual has followed the
`suggested routine. The feedback is generated from at least a
`portion of at least one of the data indicative of one or more
`physiological parameters, the derived data, and the life activi(cid:173)
`ties data.
`Also disclosed is a method of monitoring the degree to
`which an individual has followed a suggested routine. The
`method includes receiving, at a central monitoring unit, at 15
`least one of data indicative of one or more physiological
`parameters of said individual and derived data based on at
`least a portion of the data indicative of one or more physi(cid:173)
`ological parameters, wherein the data indicative of one or
`more physiological parameters and the derived data are gen-
`erated by a sensor device when placed in proximity with at
`least a portion of the human body. Also received at the central
`monitoring unit is life activities data of the individual. The
`method further includes generating at the central monitoring
`unit feedback relating to the degree to which the individual
`has followed the suggested routine, the feedback being gen(cid:173)
`erated from at least a portion of at least one of the data
`indicative of one or more physiological parameters of the 30
`individual, the derived data, and the life activities data, and
`providing the feedback to a recipient.
`The suggested routine may include a plurality of catego(cid:173)
`ries, wherein the feedback is generated and provided with
`respect to each of the categories. Examples of the categories
`include nutrition, activity level, mind centering, sleep, and
`daily activities. The feedback may be provided in graphical
`form and may be contained in one or more web pages gener(cid:173)
`ated by the central monitoring unit. Alternatively, the feed- 40
`back may be transmitted to the recipient in a physical form.
`
`35
`
`In general, according to the present invention, data relating
`25 to the physiological state, the lifestyle and certain contextual
`parameters of an individual is collected and transmitted,
`either subsequently or in real-time, to a site, preferably
`remote from the individual, where it is stored for later
`manipulation and presentation to a recipient, preferably over
`an electronic network such as the Internet. Contextual param(cid:173)
`eters as used herein means parameters relating to the environ-
`ment, surroundings and location of the individual, including,
`but not limited to, air quality, sound quality, ambient tempera(cid:173)
`ture, global positioning and the like. Referring to FIG. 1,
`located at user location 5 is sensor device 10 adapted to be
`placed in proximity with at least a portion of the human body.
`Sensor device 10 is preferably worn by an individual user on
`his or her body, for example as part of a garment such as a
`form fitting shirt, or as part of an arm band or the like. Sensor
`device 10, includes one or more sensors, which are adapted to
`generate signals in response to physiological characteristics
`of an individual, and a microprocessor. Proximity as used
`herein means that the sensors of sensor device 10 are sepa(cid:173)
`rated from the individual's body by a material or the like, or
`a distance such that the capabilities of the sensors are not
`impeded.
`Sensor device 10 generates data indicative of various
`physiological parameters of an individual, such as the indi(cid:173)
`vidual's heart rate, pulse rate, beat-to-beat heart variability,
`50 EKG or ECG, respiration rate, skin temperature, core body
`temperature, heat flow off the body, galvanic skin response or
`GSR, EMG, EEG, EOG, blood pressure, body fat, hydration
`level, activity level, oxygen consumption, glucose or blood
`sugar level, body position, pressure on muscles or bones, and
`UV radiation absorption. In certain cases, the data indicative
`of the various physiological parameters is the signal or signals
`themselves generated by the one or more sensors and in
`certain other cases the data is calculated by the microproces(cid:173)
`sor based on the signal or signals generated by the one or more
`60 sensors. Methods for generating data indicative of various
`physiological parameters and sensors to be used therefor are
`well known. Table 1 provides several examples of such well
`known methods and shows the parameter in question, the
`method used, the sensor device used, and the signal that is
`generated. Table 1 also provides an indication as to whether
`further processing based on the generated signal is required to
`generate the data.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Further features and advantages of the present invention 45
`will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed
`description of the present invention, taken in conjunction with
`the following drawings, in which like reference characters
`refer to like parts, and in which:
`FIG. 1 is a diagram of an embodiment of a system for
`monitoring physiological data and lifestyle over an electronic
`network according to the present invention;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the sensor 55
`device shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the central
`monitoring unit shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an alternate embodiment of the
`central monitoring unit shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG. 5 is a representation of a preferred embodiment of the
`Health Manager web page according to an aspect of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 6 is a representation of a preferred embodiment of the 65
`nutrition web page according to an aspect of the present
`invention;
`
`512 of 821
`
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`
`US 8,073,707 B2
`
`6
`
`5
`
`TABLE 1
`
`Parameter
`
`Method
`
`Sensor
`
`Signal
`
`Further
`Processing
`
`EKG
`BVP
`
`Heart Rate
`
`2 Electrodes
`LED Emitter and
`Optical Sensor
`2 Electrodes
`
`DC Voltage
`Change in Resistance
`
`DC Voltage
`
`Skin Surface
`Potentials
`Chest Volume
`Change
`Surface
`Temperature
`Probe
`Esophageal or
`Rectal Pro be
`Heat Flux
`Skin Conductance
`
`Skin Surface
`Potentials
`Skin Surface
`Potentials
`Eye Movement
`
`3-10 Electrodes
`
`DC Voltage
`
`Strain Gauge
`
`Change in Resistance
`
`Thermistors
`
`Change in Resistance
`
`Thermistors
`
`Change in Resistance
`
`Thermopile
`2 Electrodes
`
`DC Voltage
`Change in Resistance
`
`3 Electrodes
`
`DC Voltage
`
`Multiple Electrodes
`
`DC Voltage
`
`Thin Film
`Piezoelectric
`Sensors
`Non-Invasive
`Electronic
`Korotkuff Sounds Sphygromarometer
`Body Impedance
`2 Active Electrodes Change in Impedance
`Body Movement
`Accelerometer
`DC Voltage,
`Capacitance Changes
`
`DC Voltage
`
`Change in Resistance
`
`Oxygen Uptake
`
`Electro-chemical
`
`DC Voltage Change
`
`Yes
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`No
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`No
`
`No
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`Yes
`
`Yes
`
`Yes
`Yes
`
`Heart Rate
`Pulse Rate
`
`Beat-to-Beat
`Variability
`EKG
`
`Respiration Rate
`
`Skin Temperature
`
`Core Temperature
`
`Heat Flow
`Galvanic Skin
`Response
`EMG
`
`EEG
`
`EOG
`
`Blood Pressure
`
`Body Fat
`Activity in
`Interpreted G
`Shocks per Minute
`Oxygen
`Consumption
`Glucose Level
`Body Position (e.g.
`supine, erect,
`sitting)
`Muscle Pressure
`
`UV Radiation
`Absorption
`
`Non-Invasive
`N!A
`
`N!A
`
`N!A
`
`Electro-chemical
`Mercury Switch
`Array
`
`Thin Film
`Piezoelectric
`Sensors
`UV Sensitive Photo
`Cells
`
`DC Voltage Change
`DC Voltage Change
`
`DC Voltage Change
`
`Yes
`
`DC Voltage Change
`
`Yes
`
`The types of data listed in Table 1 are intended to be
`examples of the types of data that can be generated by sensor
`device 10. It is to be understood that other types of data
`relating to other parameters can be generated by sensor device
`10 without departing from the scope of the present invention.
`The microprocessor of sensor device 10 may be pro(cid:173)
`grammed to summarize and analyze the data. For example,
`the microprocessor can be programmed to calculate an aver(cid:173)
`age, minimum or maximum heart rate or respiration rate over
`
`40 a defined period of time, such as ten minutes. Sensor device
`10 may be able to derive information relating to an individu(cid:173)
`al's physiological state based on the data indicative of one or
`more physiological parameters. The microprocessor of sen(cid:173)
`sor device 10 is programmed to derive such information using
`45 known methods based on the data indicative of one or more
`physiological parameters. Table 2 provides examples of the
`type of information that can be derived, and indicates some of
`the types of data that can be used therefor.
`
`Derived Information
`
`Data Used
`
`TABLE2
`
`Ovulation
`Sleep onset/wake
`
`Calories burned
`
`Basal metabolic rate
`
`Basal temperature
`Activity level
`
`Stress level
`
`Skin temperature, core temperature, oxygen conswnption
`Beat-to-beat variability, heart rate, pulse rate, respiration
`rate, skin temperature, core temperature, heat flow, galvanic
`skin response, EMG, EEG, EOG, blood pressure, oxygen
`conswnption
`Heart rate, pulse rate, respiration rate, heat flow, activity,
`oxygen conswnption
`Heart rate, pulse rate, respiration rate, heat flow, activity,
`oxygen conswnption
`Skin temperature, core temperature
`Heart rate, pulse rate, respiration rate, heat flow, activity,
`oxygen conswnption
`EKG, beat-to-beat variability, heart rate, pulse rate,
`respiration rate, skin temperature, heat flow, galvanic skin
`response, EMG, EEG, blood pressure, activity, oxygen
`conswnption
`
`513 of 821
`
`

`
`US 8,073,707 B2
`
`7
`TABLE 2-continued
`
`Data Used
`
`8
`
`EKG, beat-to-beat variability, heart rate, pulse rate,
`respiration rate, skin temperature, heat flow, galvanic skin
`response, EMG, EEG, blood pressure, activity, oxygen
`consumption
`EKG, heart rate, pulse rate, respiration rate, heat flow, blood
`pressure, activity, oxygen consumption
`Heart rate, pulse rate, heat flow, oxygen conswnption
`
`Heart rate, pulse rate, heat flow, oxygen conswnption
`
`Heart rate, pulse rate, heat flow, oxygen conswnption
`
`Derived Information
`
`Relaxation level
`
`Maximum oxygen conswnption rate
`
`Rise time or the time it takes to rise from
`a resting rate to 85% of a target maximwn
`Time in zone or the time heart rate was
`above 85% of a target maximum
`Recovery time or the time it takes heart
`rate to return to a resting rate after heart
`rate was above 85% of a target maximum
`
`25
`
`Additionally, sensor device 10 may also generate data
`indicative of various contextual parameters relating to the
`environment surrounding the individual. For example, sensor
`device 10 can generate data indicative of the air quality, sound
`level/quality, light quality or ambient temperature near the
`individual, or even the global positioning of the individual.
`Sensor device 10 may include one or more sensors for gen(cid:173)
`erating signals in response to contextual characteristics relat(cid:173)
`ing to the environment surrounding the individual, the signals
`ultimately being used to generate the type of data described
`above. Such sensors are well known, as are methods for
`generating contextual parametric data such as air quality,
`sound level/quality, ambient temperature and global position(cid:173)
`ing.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an embodiment of sensor
`device 10. Sensor device 10 includes at least one sensor 12
`and microprocessor 20. Depending upon the nature of the
`signal generated by sensor 12, the signal can be sent through
`one or more of amplifier 14, conditioning circuit 16, and
`analog-to-digital converter 18, before being sent to micropro(cid:173)
`cessor 20. For example, where sensor 12 generates an analog
`signal in need of amplification and filtering, that signal can be
`sent to amplifier 14, and then on to conditioning circuit 16,
`which may, for example, be a band pass filter. The amplified
`and conditioned analog signal can then be transferred to ana(cid:173)
`log-to-digital converter 18, where it is converted to a digital
`signal. The digital signal is then sent to microprocessor 20.
`Alternatively, if sensor 12 generates a digital signal, that
`signal can be sent directly to microprocessor 20.
`A digital signal or signals representing certain physiologi(cid:173)
`cal and/or contextual characteristics of the individual user
`may be used by microprocessor 20 to calculate or generate
`data indicative of physiological and/or contextual parameters 50
`of the individual user. Microprocessor 20 is programmed to
`derive information relating to at least one aspect of the indi(cid:173)
`vidual's physiological state. It should be understood that
`microprocessor 20 may also comprise other forms of proces(cid:173)
`sors or processing devices, such as a microcontroller, or any
`other device that can be programmed to perform the function(cid:173)
`ality described herein.
`The data indicative of physiological and/or contextual
`parameters can, according to one embodiment of the present
`invention, be sent to memory 22, such as flash memory, where 60
`it is stored until uploaded in the maunerto be described below.
`Although memory 22 is shown in FIG. 2 as a discrete element,
`it will be appreciated that it may also be part of microproces(cid:173)
`sor 20. Sensor device 10 also includes input/output circuitry
`24, which is adapted to output and receive as input certain
`data signals in the manners to be described herein. Thus,
`memory 22 of the sensor device 10 will build up, overtime, a
`
`store of data relating to the individual user's body and/or
`environment. That data is periodically uploaded from sensor
`device 10 and sent to remote central monitoring unit 30, as
`20 shown in FIG. 1, where it is stored in a database for subse(cid:173)
`quent processing and presentation to the user, preferably
`through a local or global electronic network such as the Inter(cid:173)
`net. This uploading of data can be an automatic process that is
`initiated by sensor device 10 periodically or upon the happen(cid:173)
`ing of an event such as the detection by sensor device 10 of a
`heart rate below a certain level, or can be initiated by the
`individual user or some third party authorized by the user,
`preferably according to some periodic schedule, such as
`30 every day at 10:00 p.m. Alternatively, rather than storing data
`in memory 22, sensor device 10 may continuously upload
`data in real time.
`The uploading of data from sensor device 10 to central
`monitoring unit 30 for storage can be accomplished in various
`35 ways. In one embodiment, the data collected by sensor device
`10 is uploaded by first transferring the data to personal com(cid:173)
`puter 35 shown in FIG. 1 by means of physical connection 40,
`which, for example, may be a serial connection such as an
`RS232 or USB port. This physical connection may also be
`40 accomplished by using a cradle, not shown, that is electroni(cid:173)
`cally coupled to personal computer 35 into which sensor
`device 10 can be inserted, as is common with many commer(cid:173)
`cially available personal digital assistants. The uploading of
`data could be initiated by then pressing a button on the cradle
`45 or could be initiated automatically upon insertion of sensor
`device 10. The data collected by sensor device 10 may be
`uploaded by first transferring the data to personal computer
`35 by means of short-range wireless transmission, such as
`infrared or radio transmission, as indicated at 45.
`Once the data is received by personal computer 35, it is
`optionally compressed and encrypted by any one of a variety
`of well known methods and then sent out over a local or global
`electronic network, preferably the Internet, to central moni(cid:173)
`toring unit 30. It should be noted that personal computer 35
`55 can be replaced by any computing device that has access to
`and that can transmit and receive data through the electronic
`network, such as, for example, a personal digital assistant
`such as the Palm VII sold by Palm, Inc., or the Blackberry
`2-way pager sold by Research in Motion, Inc.
`Alternatively, the data collected by sensor device 10, after
`being encrypted and, optionally, compressed by microproces(cid:173)
`sor 20, may be transferred to wireless device 50, such as a
`2-way pager or cellular phone, for subsequent long distance
`wireless transmission to local telco site 55 using a wireless
`65 protocol such as e-mail or as ASCII or binary data. Local tel co
`site 55 includes tower 60 that receives the wireless transmis-
`sian from wireless device 50 and computer 65 connected to
`
`514 of 821
`
`

`
`US 8,073,707 B2
`
`10
`place a telephone call to an individual user in which certain
`questions would be posed to the individual user. The user
`could respond to the questions by entering information using
`a telephone keypad, or by voice, in which case conventional
`voice recognition technology would be used by central moni(cid:173)
`taring unit 30 to receive and process the response. The tele(cid:173)
`phone call may also be initiated by the user, in which case the
`user could speak to a person directly or enter information
`using the keypad or by voice/voice recognition technology.
`
`1° Central monitoring unit 30 may also be given access to a
`
`9
`tower 60. According to the preferred embodiment, computer
`65 has access to the relevant electronic network, such as the
`Internet, and is used to transmit the data received in the form
`of the wireless transmission to the central monitoring unit 30
`over the Internet. Although wireless device 50 is shown in
`FIG. 1 as a discrete device coupled to sensor device 10, it or
`a device having the same or similar functionality may be
`embedded as part of sensor device 10.
`Sensor device 10 may be provided with a button to be used
`to time stamp events such as time to bed, wake time, and time
`of meals. These time stamps are stored in sensor device 10
`and are uploaded to central monitoring unit 30 with the rest of
`the data as described above. The time stamps may include a
`digitally recorded voice message that, after being uploaded to
`central monitoring unit 30, are translated using voice recog(cid:173)
`nition technology into text or some other information format
`that can be used by central monitoring unit 30.
`In addition to using sensor device 10 to automatically
`collect physiological data relating to an individual user, a
`kiosk could be adapted to collect such data by, for example,
`weighing the individual, providing a sensing device similar to
`sensor device 10 on which an individual places his or her hand
`or another part of his or her body, or by scanning the indi(cid:173)
`vidual's body using, for example, laser technology or an iS tat
`blood analyzer. The kiosk would be provided with processing
`capability as described herein and access to the relevant elec(cid:173)
`tronic network, and would thus be adapted to send the col(cid:173)
`lected data to the central monitoring unit 30 through the
`electronic network. A desktop sensing device, again similar to
`sensor device 10, on which an individual places his or her
`hand or another part of his or her body may also be provided.
`For example, such a desktop sensing device could be a blood
`pressure monitor in which an individual places his or her arm.
`An individual might also wear a ring having a sensor device
`10 incorporated therein. A base, not shown, could then be
`provided which is adapted to be coupled to the ring. The
`desktop sensing device or the base just described may then be
`coupled to a computer such as personal computer 35 b