Abstract:
Systems, methods, and computer program products for facilitating the reading, transmission and presentation of physiological data within a wireless body area network are disclosed. The remote collection and monitoring of a person&#39;s (e.g., patient&#39;s) physiological data and activity levels for the purposes of determining the well-being of the person, as well as making additional health status determinations based on the historical information and trends of the collected data are provided. The systems, methods, and computer program products disclosed herein, in varying embodiments, readily lend themselves to incremental component and functionality modifications, which allow for increased sensor data sources, accuracy, reliability and utility of the collected information, further solidifying the uniqueness and desirability of the systems methods and computer program products.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This Application is claims the benefit of, and is related to, the following of Applicants&#39; co-pending applications: 
         [0002]    U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/897,243 titled “Method and System for Physiological Data Readings, Transmission, and Presentation,” filed on Jan. 25, 2007; 
         [0003]    U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/899,410 titled “Communications and Biosensor Device,” filed on Feb. 5, 2007; 
         [0004]    U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/900,118 titled “Body Patch for Non-Invasive Physiological Data Readings,” filed on Feb. 8, 2007; 
         [0005]    U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/900,987 titled “Physiological Data Processing Architecture for Situation Awareness,” filed on Feb. 13, 2007; 
         [0006]    U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/924,083, titled “Heterogeneous Data Collection and Data Mining Platform,” filed on Apr. 30, 2007; 
         [0007]    U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/924,125 titled “Heterogeneous Data Collection and Data Mining Platform” filed on May 1, 2007; 
         [0008]    U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/006,094, titled “Improved Communications and Biosensor Device,” filed on Dec. 19, 2007; 
         [0009]    U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/006,095, titled “Gateway for Discrete and Continuous Monitoring of Ambient Data with Emergency Functions,” filed on Dec. 19, 2007; 
         [0010]    U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/006,097, titled “Gateway for Discrete and Continuous Monitoring of Physiological Data,” filed on Dec. 19, 2007; 
         [0011]    U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/006,099, titled “Method and System for Discrete and Continuous Monitoring or Physiological and Ambient Data,” filed on Dec. 19, 2007; 
         [0012]    U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/006,100, titled “User Interface for System for Discrete and Continuous Monitoring of Physiological and Ambient Data,” filed on Dec. 19, 2007; and 
         [0013]    U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/006,098, titled “Method and System for Data Transmission for Use with Biosensor Device or Gateway,” filed on Dec. 19, 2007; each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0015]    The present invention generally relates to automated systems and methods for collecting physiological data, and more particularly to wireless body area network systems, methods and computer program products for facilitating the reading, transmission and presentation of such physiological data. 
         [0016]    2. Related Art 
         [0017]    In today&#39;s technological environment, systems containing individual sensors with (or without) wireless transceivers are known and used for collecting and transmitting physiological (and ambient or motion) data (e.g., vital signs such as blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration), which reflect the health status or well being of a person. Such systems are commonly referred to as Wireless Body Area Networks (WBANs). The goal of WBANs, and their supporting information infrastructures, is to offer unprecedented opportunities to (remotely) monitor the state of health of the wearer of such systems, without constraining the activities of the wearer. The convergence of technologies such as low-power wireless communication standards, plug-and-play device buses, off-the-shelf development kits for low-power microcontrollers, handheld computers, electronic medical records, and the Internet have allowed WBAN technologies to come about. 
         [0018]    One example of the use of WBANs are for elderly people and/or other individuals that need frequent monitoring and thus are living in a nursing home or other managed care facility environment. Such environments, obviously, limit the monitored individuals&#39; ability to continue living independently (e.g., in their own homes). This is primarily because care givers may not be available to constantly monitor their physiological indicators and/or ambient factors, especially in the case of care givers who do not live in close proximity to the monitored individual. Further, the costs of nursing homes and other managed facilities have skyrocketed in recent years. With the use of WBANs, however, one or more sensors of differing types are employed to remotely and ambulatorily monitor a user&#39;s physiological indicators and/or other ambient factors (e.g., motion sensors, electrocardiograms (ECGs), electromyograms (EMGs), electro-encephalograms (EEGs)). The sensors can be located on the body as wearable apparatuses or tiny intelligent patches, integrated into clothing, or even implanted below the skin or muscles. 
         [0019]    Further, WBAN systems typically utilize a storage device for aggregating the sensed and collected data for future access and processing, or are dependent on smart phones and similar mobile devices for collecting and then transmitting the data to a healthcare provider or a health monitoring entity. 
         [0020]    While the above-described systems work for their respective intended purposes, the state of the art is such that they are often cumbersome to put on and operate. This is true both from the perspective of weight and size of the WBAN-related equipment, as well as because many such systems require wires for interconnecting the various components. 
         [0021]    Further, there are currently no available methods, systems and computer program products for data monitoring and transmission, such that, when data levels fall below or rise above certain pre-defined or pre-selected parameter ranges, the monitoring and transmission occur in one of a plurality of selectable modes. There are also no currently-available methods, systems and computer program products that allow for discrete monitoring and transmission of data while the monitored parameters fall within certain pre-defined or pre-selected ranges and for continuous, near real-time monitoring and transmission of data when the monitored parameters fall outside of the pre-defined or pre-selected ranges. 
         [0022]    Given the foregoing, what are needed are improved wireless, near-real time WBAN systems, methods and computer program products for facilitating the reading, transmission and presentation of physiological data. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    Embodiments of the present invention meet the above-identified needs by providing systems, methods and computer program products for facilitating the reading, transmission and presentation of physiological data. 
         [0024]    An advantage of some embodiments of the present invention is that these embodiments provide simple-to-put-on, lightweight sensors, thus making them ideal for everyday use, without impeding the user&#39;s normal activities. 
         [0025]    Another advantage of embodiments of the present invention is that these embodiments are completely wireless and the sensed and collected physiological and/or ambient data are made available in near-real-time, both through a secure browser connection and on mobile devices, to service subscribers. 
         [0026]    Another advantage of embodiments of the present invention is that the sensed and collected physiological and/or ambient data is made available in discrete intervals or in a continuous transmission mode, both through a secure browser connection and via mobile devices, to service subscribers. 
         [0027]    Another advantage of embodiments of the present invention is that a user is able to set and change physiological indicator and/or ambient factor parameter ranges, such that a deviation from these ranges would trigger a modified (e.g., continuous, near real-time) monitoring and transmission mode. 
         [0028]    Yet another advantage of embodiments of the present invention is that a user interface is provided, such that a user may set and change information related to the monitored individual, such as pre-programmed emergency telephone numbers, contact information in case of an emergency, and the like. 
         [0029]    Further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of these various embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0030]    The features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-most digit of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears. 
           [0031]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an exemplary system for facilitating the reading, transmission and presentation of physiological data according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  is an electronic block diagram illustrating an exemplary body patch according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  is a flowchart depicting the operation and data flow of a body patch according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 4  is an electronic block diagram illustrating an exemplary body-wearable gateway device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 5  is a flowchart depicting operation and data flow of a body-wearable gateway device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0036]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram of an exemplary data center network architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram of an exemplary computer system useful for implementing embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0038]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart depicting operation and data flow of a data center according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0039]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart depicting operation and data flow of a data center, from a user&#39;s perspective, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0040]      FIG. 10  is a flowchart depicting operation and data flow of a data center, from a call centre/emergency response perspective, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0041]    Embodiments of the present invention are directed to systems, methods, and computer program products for facilitating the reading, transmission and presentation of physiological data. 
         [0042]    In an embodiment of the present invention, an integrated system for obtaining a person&#39;s physiological and/or ambient data (e.g., vital signs), through non-invasive methods, securely transmitting the information, and transforming the information into an easily-understood display is disclosed. That is, a physiological and activity data aggregation, transmission and presentation system, method, and computer program product for the purpose of monitoring a person&#39;s vital signs by the person&#39;s family members, care takers, healthcare providers and the like, through non-invasive features is disclosed. Such a system, in one embodiment, includes miniaturized physiological sensors, a gateway device, short- and long-range transceivers, software for data aggregation and transmission from multiple sensors, a data center environment with multiple server computers, and software for data storage, retrieval, manipulation, analysis, display, and transmission to an end user viewing device via, for example, the Internet. This disclosed system may be completely wireless and present the data to end users on a near-real-time basis. Furthermore, the system components placed on a person&#39;s body may be small and lightweight, so that these components do not interfere with normal daily activities. Finally, the gateway device offers an alert button for emergency two-way voice communication. 
         [0043]    In one embodiment, the method and computer program product perform the steps of obtaining physiological data from the sensors, processing the data, encrypting the data, and then transmitting the data to the gateway device. That gateway aggregates the physiological data from the sensor sources and forwards the data to the data center. At the data center, the data is processed, analyzed, and transformed into easily understood, real-time status and historical trend displays. These displays are made available through a secure web interface for display, for example, on personal computers and mobile devices. 
         [0044]    Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail herein in terms of the above exemplary context. This description is for convenience only and is not intended to limit the application of embodiments of the present invention. In fact, after reading the following description, it will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement embodiments of the following invention in alternative ways. 
         [0045]    The terms “person,” “patient,” “subject,” “user,” “subscriber,” “client,” “wearer,” “being,” and/or the plural form of these terms are sometimes used interchangeably herein to refer to those person(s) or other living being(s) from whom physiological data are being collected (or, in some cases, the safety and medical personnel and professionals entrusted with their well being), and thus would benefit from the system, method, and computer program products that embodiments of the present invention provide for facilitating the reading, transmission, and presentation of physiological data of persons or other living beings. 
         [0046]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a block diagram illustrating an exemplary WBAN system  100  for facilitating the reading, transmission, and presentation of physiological data, according to an embodiment of the present invention, is shown. 
         [0047]    WBAN system  100 , in one exemplary embodiment, includes a person  102  wearing a simple-to-put-on, lightweight sensor  104  attached to their body, along with a body-wearable gateway device (BWGD)  106 . 
         [0048]    In one embodiment, sensor  104  is an adhesive patch integrating several miniaturized physiological sensors, which is attached to the body. Patch  104  includes a microprocessor, a short-range wireless transceiver, and a miniaturized power supply onto a single board. The sensors obtain vital sign physiological data, which can then be processed, encrypted, and aggregated by the microprocessor for transmission by the transceiver to the gateway at pre-determined intervals. 
         [0049]    In one embodiment, BWGD  106  is a wrist-wearable device integrating several other sensors, a microprocessor, a short-range wireless transceiver, a long-range wireless transceiver, and a power supply. BWGD  106  processes and encrypts its sensor data, then aggregates this data with the incoming radio frequency (RF) patch  104 -supplied data. The microprocessor packages the aggregated data, for example, for burst transmission through the long-range transceiver at pre-determined or pre-selected intervals. 
         [0050]    In one embodiment, BWGD  106  is in wireless communications with a data center  108 . As will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein, data center  108  may be an environment of one or more networked sets of servers and communication devices operated by an entity on a per-use, subscription, or other basis for receiving and transmitting communications, processing and analyzing physiological and activity data of one or more persons  102 , defining a presentation layer for data distribution to subscribers, plus managing subscriber memberships and communications. 
         [0051]    In one embodiment, BWGD  106  is also in wireless communications with a call center  110 , where a live operator may respond to the activation (e.g., the depressing) of an alert button, by the person  102  wearing device  106 . This activation may be used, for example, for emergency two-way voice communication between the person  102  and personnel at the call center  110 . 
         [0052]    In one embodiment, data center  108  is in communication with a subscriber  112 , who may be a family member, caretaker, medical services provider, health care provider, or the like  102 . Such communications may be through a wide or local area network (WAN or LAN) running a secure communications protocol (e.g., secure sockets layer (SSL)) or the global Internet  114  using a secure web interface (e.g., Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS)) for display on a personal computer or other device belonging to subscriber  112 . In an alternate embodiment, such communications may be through wireless communications to a mobile device (e.g., mobile telephone or the like) belonging to subscriber  112 . As will be appreciated by one skilled in the relevant art(s), subscriber  112  may receive and interface with data from data center  108  using any processing device, including, but not limited to, a desktop computer, laptop, palmtop, workstation, set-top box, mobile telephone, personal data assistant (PDA), or the like. 
         [0053]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , an electronic block diagram of body patch  104  is shown according to an embodiment of the present invention. In such an embodiment, patch  104  comprises three sensors  202   a ,  202   b  and  202   c , a microprocessor  204  with memory, an amplifier  206 , a power supply  208 , and a transceiver  210  with an antenna  212 . Patch  104  is described in more detail in co-pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/900,118 titled “Body Patch for Non-Invasive Physiological Data Readings,” filed on Feb. 8, 2007. 
         [0054]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , a flowchart depicting exemplary operation and data flow  300  of the patch  104  of  FIG. 1  according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, the physiological and/or ambient data read by sensors  202   a ,  202   b  and  202   c  contained within patch  104  is collected and stored in the internal storage of microprocessor  204  in a step  302 . In step  304 , the data are processed for on-patch analysis. In a step  306 , processor  204  determines whether to wait in a step  308  until it is time to transmit, or if it is time to initiate a transmission to BWGD  106 . If step  306  determines that it is time to transmit, the transmission preparation process begins. Thus, in step  310 , readings from the sensors  202   a - c  are aggregated and compressed. 
         [0055]    In a step  312 , the data is encrypted in preparation for transmission. Next, in step  314 , the data are packaged into a message, according to the (short-range) transmission protocol being employed. Any number of protocols may be used, the majority of which specify an operating frequency range. Other protocols may operate on a single frequency. In alternate embodiments, transmission protocols may include ZigBee (802.15.4), Cellular (CDMA, TDMA, GSM and others), Wireless (802.11a/b/g/n), Wi-Fi (802.11 p), ANT, Bluetooth (802.15.1), or custom wireless protocols working in available frequencies. In step  316 , transceiver  210  is activated. Finally, in step  318 , a burst transmission of data from patch  104  to BWGD  106  occurs, and transceiver  210  is then deactivated until the next transmission event (e.g., until data flow  300  is repeated). 
         [0056]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , an electronic block diagram illustrating an exemplary body-wearable gateway device (BWGD)  106  according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. In this embodiment, BWGD device  106  comprises two sensors  402   a  and  402   b , a gyroscope/accelerometer  404 , an amplifier  406 , a microprocessor with memory  410 , an alert switch  412 , a microphone  414 , a speaker  416 , a power supply  418 , a short-range wireless transceiver  420   a , a long-range wireless transceiver  420   b , and an antenna  422 . BWGD device  106  is described in more detail in co-pending U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/899,410 titled “Communications and Biosensor Device,” filed on Feb. 5, 2007. 
         [0057]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , a flowchart depicting operation and data flow  500  of body-wearable gateway device (BWGD)  106  in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. As will be appreciated by one skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein, data flow  500  comprises two distinct data flows—one occurring automatically as part of operations of the system  100  of  FIG. 1  and the other is initiated by system wearer  102  of  FIG. 1 , indicating an alert condition as described below. 
         [0058]    In one embodiment, under normal operating conditions, as shown in  FIG. 5 , there are two sources of data within flow  500 —one from body patch  104   FIG. 1  and one from sensors  402   a - c  ( FIG. 4 ) integrated within gateway device  106 . In this embodiment, data are received from patch  104  ( FIG. 1 ) via short-range transceiver  420   a  ( FIG. 4 ) in step  502 , and data are received from sensors  402   a - c  in step  504 . Received data is collected and placed in internal storage on microprocessor  410 . In step  506 , microprocessor  410  processes the data to determine patterns and compress the data. In step  508 , it is determined if it is time to initiate a scheduled transmission. If not, data flow  500  waits until it is transmission time. 
         [0059]    In step  512 , the data (including the data from the body patch  104  and gateway device  106  of  FIG. 1 ) are aggregated in preparation for transmission. In step  514 , the data are compressed and encrypted for security purposes. In step  516 , a transmission message is constructed, including identifying information, destination, transmission type, and other pertinent information, according to the long-range transmission protocol being employed, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s). Any number of protocols may be used, the majority of which specify an operating frequency range. Other protocols may operate on a single frequency. In alternate embodiments, transmission protocols may include ZigBee (802.15.4), Cellular (CDMA, TDMA, GSM and others), Wireless (802.11a/b/g/n), Wi-Fi (802.11 p), ANT, Bluetooth (802.15.1), or custom wireless protocols working in available frequencies. In step  518 , long-range transceiver  420   b  ( FIG. 4 ) is activated, and as soon as a network connection is established, in step  520 , the message is transmitted to data center  108  ( FIG. 1 ) for analysis, further processing, and eventual presentation to subscribers  112  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0060]    In an alternate mode of operation of data flow  500  of  FIG. 5 , an alert condition is initiated by wearer  102  of gateway device  106  as shown in  FIG. 1 . An alert condition is usually indicative of a situation requiring immediate attention by a human. Thus, in step  522 , data flow is initiated by wearer  102  ( FIG. 1 ) pressing alert button (which triggers alert switch  412  of  FIG. 4 ) on gateway device  106  ( FIG. 1 ). Consequently, long-range transceiver  420   b  ( FIG. 4 ) is activated (in step  524 ) and, in one embodiment, gateway device  106  ( FIG. 1 ) causes communications to be initiated with call center  110  of  FIG. 1  (e.g., by dialing a telephone number via cellular communications), thus initiating two-way voice communication between wearer  102  ( FIG. 1 ) and personnel at the call center  110  of  FIG. 1  (in step  526 ). Under these circumstances wearer  102  ( FIG. 1 ) describes the alert condition and personnel at call center  110  ( FIG. 1 ) can take follow-on actions, which may include notifying emergency contacts of wearer  102  of  FIG. 1  (e.g., subscribers  112  of  FIG. 1 ) or contacting first responders or other emergency personnel. (See also  FIG. 10  and accompanying text.) 
         [0061]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , a block diagram of an exemplary data center  108  network architecture according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. In such an embodiment, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s), data center  108  ( FIG. 1 ) is equipped to receive the physiological and activity data of one or more persons  102  ( FIG. 1 ), and then process, analyze and transform such data into easily understood, real-time status and historical trend displays for presentation to one or more users (e.g., subscribers  112  of  FIG. 1 ). In one embodiment, the components of data center  108  ( FIG. 1 ) are connected and communicated via a wide or local area network (WAN or LAN) running a secure communications protocol (e.g., secure sockets layer (SSL)) that support data analytics and online operations, including customer service, client communications, billing, and customer relationship functions. 
         [0062]    More specifically, in one embodiment, data center  108  ( FIG. 1 ) includes a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) server  602 , which manages information acquired from sales, marketing, customer service, and support, for example, such as user information and interaction history. A billing server  604  supports user, subscriber and reseller billing information. One or more database servers  606  perform system data warehousing, sensor and data aggregation, and data analytics support. One or more application servers  608  assemble, deploy and maintain data collection across data center  108  ( FIG. 1 ) by facilitating alert generation and data collection and analytics. A web server  610  runs a Web site which sends out web pages in response to Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP/HTTPS) requests from remote browsers (e.g., subscribers  112  of WBAN system  100  shown in  FIG. 1 ). That is, server  610  provides the graphical user interface (GUI) to users of the system  100  ( FIG. 1 ) in the form of Web pages. These Web pages sent to the subscriber&#39;s personal computers may result in GUI screens being displayed. Such pages may include client registration, GUI customization, data access and presentation, alert customization, subscription management, and subscription renewal pages. 
         [0063]    In one embodiment, the connection from web server  610  to the Internet is via a firewall  616 . Firewall  616  serves as the connection and separation between the WAN/LAN, which includes the plurality of system elements (e.g., servers  602 - 614 ) “inside” of the data center  108  ( FIG. 1 ), and the global Internet  114  ( FIG. 1 ) “outside” of data center  108  ( FIG. 1 ). Generally speaking, firewalls are well known in the relevant art(s) and are dedicated gateway machines with special security precaution software. Firewalls are typically used, for example, to service Internet connections and dial-in lines and protect the cluster of more loosely administered network elements hidden behind it from external invasion. 
         [0064]    Data center  108  ( FIG. 1 ) also includes an email server  612  which handles electronic mail communications, such as email alerts and subscriber, user, and reseller and marketing personnel email communications. Data center  108  ( FIG. 1 ) also includes an alert server  614 , which is capable of communicating to subscribers  112  ( FIG. 1 ) via one or more (long-range) wireless communications infrastructure  618  via one or more wireless communications protocols. 
         [0065]    Embodiments of the present invention—e.g., system  100  ( FIG. 1 ), the methods  300  ( FIG. 3 ),  400  ( FIG. 4 ),  800  ( FIG. 8 ),  900  ( FIG. 9) and 1000  ( FIG. 10 ) for facilitating the reading, transmission and presentation of physiological data of embodiments of the present invention, or any part(s) or function(s) thereof—may be implemented using hardware, software or a combination thereof and may be implemented in one or more computer systems or other processing systems. However, the manipulations performed in accordance with embodiments of the present invention are often referred to herein in terms, such as adding or comparing, which are commonly associated with mental operations performed by a human operator. No such capability of a human operator is necessary, or desirable in most cases, in any of the operations described herein which form part of embodiments of the present invention. Rather, the operations are machine operations. Useful machines for performing the operation of embodiments of the present invention include general purpose digital computers or similar devices. 
         [0066]    In fact, in one embodiment, the invention is directed toward one or more computer systems capable of carrying out the functionality described herein. An example of a computer system  700  is shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0067]    The computer system  700  includes one or more processors, such as processor  704 . The processor  704  is connected to a communication infrastructure  706  (e.g., a communications bus, cross-over bar, or network). Various software embodiments are described in terms of this exemplary computer system. After reading this description, it will become apparent to a person skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement the invention using other computer systems and/or architectures. 
         [0068]    Computer system  700  can include a display interface  702  that forwards graphics, text, and other data from the communication infrastructure  706  (or from a frame buffer not shown) for display on the display unit  730 . 
         [0069]    Computer system  700  also includes a main memory  708 , preferably random access memory (RAM), and may also include a secondary memory  710 . The secondary memory  710  may include, for example, a hard disk drive  712  and/or a removable storage drive  714 , representing a floppy disk drive, a magnetic tape drive, an optical disk drive, etc. The removable storage drive  714  reads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit  718  in a well known manner. Removable storage unit  718  represents a floppy disk, magnetic tape, optical disk, etc. which is read by and written to by removable storage drive  714 . As will be appreciated, the removable storage unit  718  includes a computer usable storage medium having stored therein computer software and/or data. 
         [0070]    In alternative embodiments, secondary memory  710  may include other similar devices for allowing computer programs or other instructions to be loaded into computer system  700 . Such devices may include, for example, a removable storage unit  722  and an interface  720 . Examples of such may include a program cartridge and cartridge interface (such as that found in video game devices), a removable memory chip (such as an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM), or programmable read only memory (PROM)) and associated socket, and other removable storage units  722  and interfaces  720 , which allow software and data to be transferred from the removable storage unit  722  to computer system  700 . 
         [0071]    Computer system  700  may also include a communications interface  724 . Communications interface  724  allows software and data to be transferred between computer system  700  and external devices. Examples of communications interface  724  may include a modem, a network interface (such as an Ethernet card), a communications port, a Personal Computer Memory Card International Association (PCMCIA) slot and card, etc. Software and data transferred via communications interface  724  are in the form of signals  728  which may be electronic, electromagnetic, optical or other signals capable of being received by communications interface  724 . These signals  728  are provided to communications interface  724  via a communications path (e.g., channel)  726 . This channel  726  carries signals  728  and may be implemented using wire or cable, fiber optics, a telephone line, a cellular link, an radio frequency (RF) link and other communications channels. 
         [0072]    In this document, the terms “computer program medium” and “computer usable medium” are used to generally refer to media such as removable storage drive  714 , a hard disk installed in hard disk drive  712 , and signals  728 . These computer program products provide software to computer system  700 . The invention is directed to such computer program products. 
         [0073]    Computer programs (also referred to as computer control logic) are stored in main memory  708  and/or secondary memory  710 . Computer programs may also be received via communications interface  724 . Such computer programs, when executed, enable the computer system  700  to perform the features of the present invention, as discussed herein. In particular, the computer programs, when executed, enable the processor  704  to perform the features of the present invention. Accordingly, such computer programs represent controllers of the computer system  700 . 
         [0074]    In an embodiment where the invention is implemented using software, the software may be stored in a computer program product and loaded into computer system  700  using removable storage drive  714 , hard drive  712  or communications interface  724 . The control logic (software), when executed by the processor  704 , causes the processor  704  to perform the functions of the invention as described herein. 
         [0075]    In another embodiment, the invention is implemented primarily in hardware using, for example, hardware components such as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs). Implementation of the hardware state machine so as to perform the functions described herein will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s). In yet another embodiment, the invention is implemented using a combination of both hardware and software. 
         [0076]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , a flowchart depicting operation and data flow  800  of data center  108  ( FIG. 1 ) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown. In such an embodiment, there are at least two possible data flows—one initiated by a data transmission receipt and the other by a user login to the online system. 
         [0077]    In one embodiment, where transmission of data from gateway device  106  occurs, the transmission message is received through the wireless (e.g., cellular) network and/or through the Internet in step  802 . Upon receipt, in step  804 , the message is decrypted. In step  806 , identifying information is extracted from the message, such that the user  102  is identifiable, and thus the ability to build data associations and determine further processing of the data is possible. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s), system  100  ( FIG. 1 ) assures that this association can only be accomplished at data center  108  ( FIG. 1 ), in order to ensure security and patient privacy. 
         [0078]    At this point data flow  800  takes two separate pathways for two different treatments of the data. 
         [0079]    In step  808 , the data is made anonymous and all references and associations to the user (e.g., patient identifiable information) are removed, and the data retain only demographic and sensor reading information. Next, in step  810 , the data are stored in a data warehouse by database server  606  and used for analytical processing. In alternate embodiments, such data may be analyzed using, for example, proprietary algorithms belonging to the entity operating data center  108  ( FIG. 1 ) and/or off-the-shelf (e.g., OLAP) analytical processing software in step  812 . In such embodiments, the analysis that can be performed on the data includes: (a) Trend Analysis (step  812   a )—to provide information on how physiological readings change over time as impacted by wearer  102  activity, medications, and other influences; (b) Demographic Analysis (step  812   b )—to provide information on how physiological readings may be impacted by the population demographics and identify useful patterns that may be used in providing care; and (c) 
         [0080]    Sensor Analysis (step  812   c )—to provide information on how sensor readings may provide evidence of events, thus potentially leading to prevention methods. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein, other analytical functions and capabilities can also be made available, as well as custom analytics developed by the entity operating WBAN system  100  ( FIG. 1 ) and its users, through several automated methods. 
         [0081]    The second pathway, after step  806 , is the portion of data flow  800  that follows a set of steps to address the needs and requirements of the clients  112  ( FIG. 1 ). In step  814 , the data are categorized based on source, demographics, and other parameters, and stored in a client database by database server  606  so results can be accessed by clients  112  ( FIG. 1 ). In step  816 , the data are also analyzed to extract the information clients require and make it possible to present that information in a succinct and easily understood manner. Furthermore, the data are also organized in historical and current (point in time) views to be presented to clients in steps  816   a - b , respectively. 
         [0082]    At this point, the data flow  800  follows a number of operational steps, as determined by profiles and dissemination requirements set by clients  112  ( FIG. 1 ). A client  112  ( FIG. 1 ) may have opted for wireless transmission of the data as determined by step  818 . If that is not the case, no further action is taken (as indicated by step  820 ). If a client  112  ( FIG. 1 ), however, has requested wireless transmission, the data is prepared for transmission. If the data evidences an “unusual” trend, as determined by step  822 , or it is time to transmit based on a pre-determined or pre-selected schedule, as determined in step  824 , the data is prepared for transmission; otherwise, data flow  800  waits until the next transmission event (as indicated by step  826 ). 
         [0083]    In a step  828 , the data are aggregated in preparation for transmission. In step  830 , the data are compressed and encrypted for security purposes, based on the specifications of the eventual receiving device used by the client  112  ( FIG. 1 ). In step  832 , a transmission message is constructed, including identifying information, destination, transmission type, and other pertinent information, according to the (long-term) transmission protocol being employed, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s). In step  834 , the message is transmitted to subscribers  112  ( FIG. 1 ) on their (mobile) processing devices including, but not limited to, a computer, laptop, mobile telephone, palmtop, personal data assistant (PDA), or the like. 
         [0084]    As stated above, within data flow  800 , a client (e.g., person  102  or subscriber  112  of  FIG. 1 ) may initiate a data transmission, as indicated in step  836 . This transmission if performed, for example, through a user who accesses a secure website via a login procedure (as indicated in step  838 ) to obtain information or perform other actions. This procedure is commonly performed through a secure web browser connection managed by web server  610  ( FIG. 6 ). 
         [0085]    In one embodiment, an online user  112  ( FIG. 1 ) can access the vital data and displays for one or more persons  102  ( FIG. 2 ) in their subscription (as indicated by steps  840  and  840   a - n .) A user may also view current data and historical trends for each person authorized in their subscription. Through this interface, a user obtains a complete update of the condition of a wearer  102  ( FIG. 1 ), as indicated by the vital signs data collected, aggregated and transmitted by system  100  ( FIG. 1 ). 
         [0086]    As will be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein, once connected to and authenticated by the site, a user can edit or set account preferences, which may include settings for alerts and conditions triggering them, alert and notification levels, notification preferences, notification lists, contact information, and the like (as indicated by step  842 ). A user can also manage their subscription (as indicated by step  844 ) with options for renewing or cancelling the service provided by the entity operating WBAN system  100  of  FIG. 1  (as indicated by step  846 ). 
         [0087]    Turning now to the data flow of users of WBAN system  100  ( FIG. 1 ) from the perspective of a subscriber  112  ( FIG. 9 ) and then from the perspective of wearer  102  of  FIG. 1  ( FIG. 10 ). 
         [0088]    Referring to  FIG. 9 , a flowchart depicting operation and data flow  900  of a data center, from the perspective of a subscriber  112  ( FIG. 1 ), according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s), after reading the description herein, that an online user  112  ( FIG. 1 ) may accesses system  100  ( FIG. 1 ) via a web browser and a secure web connection. Data flow  900  then allows a user  112  ( FIG. 1 ), once on the home page provided by web server  610  ( FIG. 6 ), to have the options of: creating an account (via a series of steps  910 ); requesting a forgotten password (via a series of steps  920 ); or logging into a pre-existing account (via a series of steps  930 ); all via user input (e.g., selection) step  902 . 
         [0089]    In one embodiment, user input step  902  proceeds to the series of steps  910 , such that a user  112  ( FIG. 1 ) can create an account on system  100  ( FIG. 1 ). As will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein, a new user may follow a series of steps  910  for establishing an account and a subscription. First, for example, the user may be asked to differentiate between the person  102  ( FIG. 1 ) being monitored  102  ( FIG. 1 ) and the person  112  ( FIG. 1 ) establishing the account. If the two people are different, the monitored person&#39;s information may need to be entered. That information may include name, address, telephone number(s), age, gender, race, emergency contact information, etc. Next, shipping information may need to be entered for delivery of equipment (e.g., patch  104  and gateway device  106  of  FIG. 1 ). After that, the subscription agreement may need to be accepted. If the agreement is not accepted, the user may have the option of either going back to the agreement and accepting it or exiting the registration process. Following agreement acceptance, the user may be asked to select a subscription duration and then enter billing and payment information. The payment information may be used for the initial shipment and subsequent payments of the subscription and patches  104  ( FIG. 1 ). Upon verification of the payment information, the order may be processed by (overnight) courier logistics, and an order confirmation and shipment tracking number may be provided via email. 
         [0090]    In one embodiment, user input step  902  proceeds to the series of steps  920 , such that a user can retrieve (e.g., forgotten or lost) login and/or password information to access a preexisting account on system  100  ( FIG. 1 ). As will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein, the user may need to provide some identifying information, including the email address on record, a name and a telephone number. If the information is located in system  100  of  FIG. 1  (e.g., CRM server  602  of  FIG. 6 ), a one-time password may be generated and emailed to the user, along with a link for validating the password. The user may then have to go to the link included in the email, enter the one-time password, and establish a new password, to be used for subsequent access to the system. 
         [0091]    In one embodiment, user input step  902  proceeds to the series of steps  930 , such that a user  112  ( FIG. 1 ) can login to a preexisting account on system  100  ( FIG. 1 ). As will be apparent to those skilled in the relevant art(s) after reading the description herein, a user can login into system  100  ( FIG. 1 ) by authenticating with the proper credentials (e.g., username and password). Following authentication, a user can edit or set account preferences, which include settings for alerts and conditions triggering them, notification preferences, list of persons and contact information for online access, normal transmissions, alerts, and other communications, as described above. A user can also manage the subscription with options for renewing or cancelling the service as described above. A user can also view the vital signs of a person  102  ( FIG. 1 ) wearing the sensor system (i.e., patch  104  and gateway device  106  of  FIG. 1 ) and associated with the account also as described above. 
         [0092]    Referring to  FIG. 10 , a flowchart depicting operation and data flow  1000  of a data center, from the perspective of a wearer  102  ( FIG. 1 ), according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. In such an embodiment, wearer  102  ( FIG. 1 ) does not need to interact with system  100  ( FIG. 1 ), but the ability is provided to address emergency situations. 
         [0093]    As described above with reference to  FIG. 5 , an alert condition may be initiated by wearer  102  ( FIG. 1 ) of gateway device  106  ( FIG. 1 ). An alert condition is usually indicative of a situation requiring immediate attention by a human operator. Thus, in step  1002 , data flow  1000  is initiated by wearer  102  ( FIG. 1 ) pressing alert button (which triggers alert switch  412  of  FIG. 4 ) on gateway device  106  ( FIG. 1 ). Consequently, long-range transmitter  420   b  ( FIG. 4 ) is activated (in step  1004 ) and, in one embodiment, gateway device  106  ( FIG. 1 ) causes communications to be initiated with call center  110  of  FIG. 1  (e.g., by dialing a telephone number via cellular communications in step  1006 ), thus initiating two-way voice communication between wearer  102  ( FIG. 1 ) and personnel at call center  110  of  FIG. 1  (in steps  1008 - 1010 ). Under these circumstances wearer  102 ,  FIG. 1 ) describes the alert condition, and personnel at call center  110  ( FIG. 1 ) can take follow-on actions, which may include notifying the emergency contacts of wearer  102  ( FIG. 1 ), first responders, or other emergency personnel (e.g., one or more subscribers  112  of  FIG. 1 ). 
         [0094]    In one embodiment, as a data center operator answers the telephone, the operator&#39;s computer screen displays the caller&#39;s information, and the operator starts a conversation with the caller. The conversation may include a scripted question and answer exchange, with the objective of establishing the exact reason for the call (step  1012 ). Once the reason is established, follow-up actions are taken. For example, if the call is determined not to be due to an emergency in step  1014 , the operator converses with the caller in step  1016  and reassures the person. When the person is at ease, the operator logs the non-emergency call in CRM system  602  of  FIG. 6  (in step  1018 ), along with a short description of what transpired, and then terminates the call (in step  1020 ). 
         [0095]    If, in step  1014 , the call is identified as an emergency situation, the operator uses the emergency numbers for the caller, as recorded in CRM system  602  of  FIG. 6 , and calls the emergency contacts until one is reached and the emergency is described (steps  1022  and  1024 , respectively). The operator informs the caller of the results (in step  1026 ) before entering the emergency call data in CRM system  602  of  FIG. 6  (in step  1028 ) and terminates the call (in a step  1030 ). 
         [0096]    While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of embodiments of the present invention. Thus, embodiments of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. 
         [0097]    In addition, it should be understood that the figures in the attachments, which highlight the structure, methodology, functionality and advantages of embodiments of the present invention, are presented for example purposes only. Embodiments of the present invention is sufficiently flexible and configurable, such that it may be implemented in ways other than that shown in the accompanying figures. 
         [0098]    Further, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the relevant art(s) who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of this technical disclosure. The Abstract is not intended to be limiting as to the scope of embodiments of the present invention in any way.