Abstract:
A locked medication container can be unlocked opened in response to a person&#39;s matching biometric characteristic and satisfaction of pre-established rules of access relating to day and time. One type of characteristic is a finger or thumb print. A communication can be sent to a remote site indicating that access was attempted by a specific person at a specific date and time and was successful or unsuccessful.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention pertains to containers that are accessible in response to a matching biometric characteristic. More particularly, the invention pertains to medication containers that respond to one or more pre-established thumbprints or fingerprints. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Various biometric characteristics can be used to identify individuals. These include voice prints, thumb or finger prints, retinal scans, facial images and the like. Known products that reply on biometric inputs to open or contain appear merely to respond to a biometric input. 
         [0003]    Medication containers, or caddies have been used to assist individuals in storing medications and in maintaining a medication schedule. 
         [0004]    There is a need to provide security in connection with access to and dispersing of medications or pharmaceutical products. There are also circumstances where it is desirable to know who and when an individual has had access to medication or pharmaceutical products. In addition to securing such products from children in a residence, there are circumstances where adults such as repair people or other service providers come into the residence, perhaps unsupervised, for periods of time. 
         [0005]    There are also instances where a medicine caddy may need to have a schedule and a notification device to notify the user that it is time to take her medicine. These automated reminder systems need to know if the correct person has taken a scheduled medication. Given that a person has taken some medication, the system might prevent him/her from entering the caddy again until it is time for the next dose by keeping the lock secure. Preferably the medicine caddy will be secure, programmable and linked to a communication device that allows someone outside of the home to have access to the information stored in the medication caddy. 
         [0006]    There is thus a continuing need to provide on-going security for medicinal containers as well as to be able to create and maintain a record of when such containers have been accessed. Preferably indicators can be provided not only as to when such containers have been accessed, but also identify the accessor(s). 
         [0007]    It would also be desirable to be able to transmit access information to a remote location. Preferably such transmissions could be effected without having to substantially increase the cost and flexibility of such containers. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is block diagram of a device in accordance with the invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a diagram which illustrates additional details of the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  illustrates details of a fingerprint sensor usable with the device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a diagram which illustrates the device of  FIG. 1  in an opened state; and 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a method in accordance with the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    While embodiments of this invention can take many different forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention, as well as the best mode of practicing same, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated. 
         [0014]    In accordance with the invention, a medication storage box container has a biometric sensor integrated into it, along with a programmed processor and an Internet interface. In one embodiment of the invention, the biometric sensor can correspond to a finger print or thumb print sensor. This results in a very secure yet easy to unlock container. One of the advantages of the embodiments of the present invention is that the users do not have to worry about having a key or remembering a combination. 
         [0015]    The container can be programmed to communicate with one or more displaced locations via a network. Representative networks include without limitation wired or wireless telephone or computer networks such as the Internet. It will be understood that the particular form of network(s) is/are not a limitation of the invention. 
         [0016]    Other types of biometrics can be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. These could include voice prints, retinal scans, facial scans, all without limitation. 
         [0017]    In one aspect of the invention, a lockable container carries a finger print sensor and then an associated controller. The controller can communicate via the Internet to one or more displaced locations to provide indicia as to time of access of person accessing the container. The controller can incorporate a programmable processor and associated software, responsive to the sensor to identify the individual desiring to access the container. The controller can then determine if the identified person is entitled to access to the medications at a particular time, and/or a particular day in accordance with pre-stored rules. The controller can then provide access to the respective individual by deactivating the lock so that the container can be opened. 
         [0018]    A plurality of acceptable, fingerprints can be pre-stored in the system. Additionally, the rules of operation can be pre-stored based on the needs of a respective resident or user. The rules can be programmed locally or can be downloaded to the controller over the Internet using a network communication interface. 
         [0019]    The controller can process the sensed thumbprint or fingerprint in a variety of ways as would be understood by those skilled in the art. In one instance, the controller can compare the sensed fingerprint with a plurality of pre-stored templates which are associated with authorized users of the container. Once a match has occurred, if the rules of operation are satisfied, the controller can send a signal to the locking mechanism to release the container. The rules of operation include whether or not the respective individual seeking access is authorized for access at that particular time and date. 
         [0020]    In one aspect of the invention, a local user interface located on the container can be implemented with a single visual indicator along with an audio output. The indicator can be energized and the audio output can generate a tone once the user has successfully been identified and the requirements of the rule set have been met. 
         [0021]    Another user interface can be provided for the system administrator to enter acceptable fingerprints and to input the rules of operation. Such an interface can be implemented by a program being executed by a computer physically coupled to the container by a universal serial buss, or in communication with the container by a computer network such as the Internet. The second user interface can be used not only to enter fingerprint templates identifying authorized users of the container, but also to enter a modified pre-stored rules of operation. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  illustrates an apparatus  10  which embodies the present invention. The apparatus  10  incorporates a container  12  which carries an electromechanical lock  16 . The container  12  exhibits a normally locked condition unless until the lock  16  is activated. 
         [0023]    The container  12  can also carry a controller  20  which, in addition to control circuitry, can incorporate a programmable processor  22   a  and software  22   b.  The controller  20  communicates by bi-directionally with a magnetic or optical memory  24 . The memory  24  can incorporate indicia relating to a plurality of acceptable biometric parameters along with a set of operating rules. 
         [0024]    In connection with the apparatus  10 , a biometric sensor such as thumbprint or a fingerprint responsive sensor  28  can provide biometric information as to an individual seeking to access the container  12 . The container  12  can also carry a local user interface indicated generally at  30  which can incorporate a visual indicator  32   a  as well as an audio output indicator  32   b.    
         [0025]    If desired, the device  10  can also incorporate an input/output port  36  which can be used for communications (dial-up on high speed access) via a computer network, such as the Internet to one or more remote locations. A second user interface  40  can be provided for a system administrator. 
         [0026]    The system administrator can enter a plurality of predetermined biometric indicia, such as for example a plurality of fingerprint identifying indicia as well as a plurality of operating rules. The indicia and operating rules can be pre-stored in memory  24 . 
         [0027]    User interface  40  can be directly coupled to the device  10 . Alternately, it can communicate via the input/output port  36  and the Internet with the device  10  from a displaced location. 
         [0028]      FIG. 2  illustrates the device  10  in a closed state with an indicator light  32   a  and fingerprint or thumbprint sensor  28 .  FIG. 2A  illustrates additional details of an exemplary fingerprint sensor  28 . It will be understood that the exact details of a particular fingerprint sensor are not limitations of the present invention. Other types of biometric sensors could be used. 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  illustrates the device  10  in an opened state where a cover  12 A has been released from a base  12 B such that an authorized user can access one or more medication containers M, M 2  . . . Mm. When finished the user can re-close the container  12  at which time the lock  16  remains in a closed state until another acceptable biometric sample, such as a fingerprint, has been sensed and where requirements of the pre-stored operating rules are satisfied. 
         [0030]      FIG. 4  illustrates steps of a method  100  in accordance with the invention. In a step  102  a user engages the sensor  28  with an appropriate finger. Parameters of the sensed finger are transmitted to a controller  20  in a step  104 . 
         [0031]    In a step  106 , the controller  20  logs in the day and time of receipt of the received fingerprint indicia. Controller  20 , in one form of biometric processing, retrieves a plurality of fingerprint template indicia from memory  24  in a step  108 . 
         [0032]    The fingerprint indicia received in step  104  are compared to pre-stored biometric templates in a step  112 . Where a match exists, step  114 , the controller  20  would then retrieve one or more pre-stored rules of operation from storage memory unit  24  in a step  116 . The controller  20  in a step  118  determines if the respective individual, whose fingerprint has been sensed, is authorized under the pre-stored rules to access the container  12  at this time. Where requirements of the rules have been satisfied, step  120 , the lock  16  is activated, step  122  to release or open the box  12 , step  124 . The user can then access the container  12  and retrieve one or more medications therefrom. 
         [0033]    Where there is no match, or the requirements or the rules have not met, in a step  130 , the indicator  32   a  can be energized to emit a red light and the audio output device  32   b  can be energized to emit a nocuous audible beep. Where the requirements of the rules have been complied with, step  120  in addition to releasing the latch, step  122 , the indicator  32   a  can be energized to emit an acceptance color, such as green. Additionally, the audible output device  32   b  can be activated to emit a pleasant audible beep. 
         [0034]    In addition to the above local activities and indicators, in step  128  communications can be forwarded via a wired or wireless network such as the public switched telephone system and/or a computer based network for providing information to a remote location. The remote location, also accessible via the network, receives the information which for example identifies the individual who has successfully obtained access to the container  12 , as well as day and time for profile generation and for follow-up purposes. 
         [0035]    The above-described container can alternately be implemented in the form of a cap or a cover for a pill bottle or container. In this embodiment, processor and software  22   a,b  sensor  28 , latch  16 , which could also function as a child-proof latch, and a battery can be incorporated into the cap. 
         [0036]    During normal operation, the device would recognize a fingerprint of the owner of the bottle, and would then disable the latch, or child-proof mechanism. As a result, minimal effort would be required to open the container. 
         [0037]    The device can be configured with minimal memory and processing capabilities if there is only one fingerprint to recognize. This device can work in isolation, or can be designed to record accesses and transmit that information to another devices or systems. 
         [0038]    In yet another embodiment, additional circuitry can be provided to sense and indicate access to a specific medication. Systems can also be incorporated as in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/741,998, filed Dec. 19, 2003, entitled System and Method for Monitored Delivery of Products, assigned to the assignee hereof and incorporated herein by reference. 
         [0039]    From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.