System and method for remote care and monitoring using a mobile device

A system and method for remote care and monitoring of the user of a mobile device, such as a smartphone, and for simplifying use of the mobile device by the user. The system and method comprises software, operable on the mobile device and/or a remote device (such as another smartphone, a computer (including, for example, a web-based application system) or other device), for facilitating the use of a mobile smartphone device while also enabling authorized users (e.g. care providers) to remotely interact with the mobile user, provide them medical care information, daily care instruction, immediate connectivity, mobile phone control and tracking functions, general assistance as well as remotely updating and maintaining the mobile user's mobile device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to remote care and monitoring and, more particularly, to a system and method for remote care and monitoring of the user of a mobile device, such as a smartphone, and for simplifying use of the mobile device by the user.

This invention provides a unique software solution and method for facilitating the use of a mobile smartphone device while also enabling authorized users (e.g. care providers, concerned family members) to remotely interact with the mobile user, provide them medical care information, daily care instruction, alerts and reminders, general assistance, immediately connect to the mobile user's phone without them answering, provide the authorized users remote mobile phone control and tracking functions as well as remotely updating and maintaining the mobile user's mobile device.

Mobile phones historically developed for use by elderly, children or special needs groups have consisted of traditional push button cell phones modified in certain ways—via some combination of a simplified digital menu, amplified speaker, enlarged and/or paired down buttons and sometimes the addition of an urgent call and/or specialized operator button. The use of GPS or other locating device technologies has also been incorporated into some of these traditional phones for informational or emergency location purposes.

These traditional mobile phones, however, have not had the capabilities to facilitate a higher level of interaction between a mobile user and their care provider(s). While some have had features for remotely updating contact information, sending text messages or having an operator assist with dialing, there are many features and capabilities that these telephones do not have. For example, these traditional mobile phones do not have the following capabilities:a. Allow for remotely initiating and creating a live phone (cellular) and/or Internet connection to a primary mobile phone where the primary mobile phone user does not actively answer the phone, click any button, or initiate any other kind of activity in order to do the following:i. Remotely enable the mobile phone's speakerphone, turn up the speaker volume and turn on the microphone in order to hear and speak with whoever or whatever is near the mobile phone itself from a secure Internet application and/or a secondary phone (land or mobile).ii. Remotely turn on the mobile phone's camera, automatically snap pictures and/or videos, and send them via cellular network and/or Internet using Internet upload, email or text methods to an authorized Internet site and/or specified mobile phone(s).iii. Remotely turn on the mobile phone's video conferencing and connect over cellular network or Internet with an authorized user via an Internet portal or specified secondary mobile phone(s).iv. Remotely turn on the mobile phone's location capabilities (GPS and cellular-network-based location positioning) and send those coordinates via Internet and/or cellular network using Internet upload, email or text methods to an authorized Internet site and/or specified mobile phone(s).b. Periodically and/or through a series of predetermined times and/or via a pre-determined trigger(s) (such as those described in the instant application) automatically turn on the mobile phone's location positioning features (e.g., such as GPS, multilateration of radio signals, and/or other mobile positioning technologies) if location positioning features are off, then log the phone's location position along with a date/time stamp, possibly automatically snap picture(s) and/or video(s) (where it could be accessed on the phone) and send all that data/information via Internet or cellular connection to another user via an Internet site, email or text.c. Automatically send a notification (call, electronic and/or otherwise) to 911, an urgent call center and/or authorized care providers and/or an Internet site if the phone is dropped, has not been moved or moved from a geographical location in a predetermined time, if the mobile user has not “checked in” by pressing a special button on the phone, by not satisfactorily answering a wellness check or mobile medical survey on the mobile phone and/or by pressing a button on a separate wireless device linked/connected with that mobile phone.d. Automatically notify authorized users (care providers) and/or Internet site if calls are made to a predetermined list of phone number(s). For example, automatically notify (via call, electronic message or otherwise) when the mobile user's doctors, nurses, therapists, etc. are called—and then log and/or send that information with date/time stamp via Internet and/or cellular network using email, SMS, Internet upload or other electronic connectivity.e. Automatically third party conference in pre-determined authorized user(s)/care provider(s) when calls are made to specific, predetermined phone number(s) using telephonic and/or Internet connectivity.f. Connect wirelessly to a Personal Emergency Response System.g. Automatically call the mobile user and/or create specialized rings/and or audio notification for when the phone battery is low and requires plugging in and/or if there is no cellular signal and also automatically notify pre-determined authorized user(s) and/or Internet site of the low battery.h. Maintain mobile user's medical profile and/or other key care information on the phone for use by physicians, nurses, therapists, emergency personnel or other medical providers. This information can be accessed and maintained locally on the phone and/or remotely via a cellular network, Internet or other electronic remote connection.i. Maintain an automated medication alarm & schedule that can be updated remotely by an authorized user/care provider via electronic connection.j. Allow the user to request medication refills via the mobile device that automatically send a request to the user's corresponding physician.k. Allow an authorized user/care provider to locally and remotely maintain the mobile user's phone calendar/alarm with appointment information, date & times.l. Allow others to send the mobile user information from a file such as Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat or web file (HTML-based) or a variety of image files.m. Allow an authorized user/care provider to create custom “quick texts” for the mobile phone that allow the mobile user to text message people/contacts/phone numbers without having to type out the text messages themselves.n. Allow an authorized user/care provider to create custom, automated wellness checks or surveys that the user responds to once or periodically and which can have custom actions associated with particular responses and/or results based on software customization. Examples of particular automated actions by the software would be electronic notification to authorized caregivers and/or notification to urgent response center and/or 911.o. Allow an authorized user/care provider to view the message logs of the mobile phone (such as text messages, calendar and alarm notifications, and other notifications, including those automatically created).p. Allow an authorized user/care provider to turn on and off different functions and features on the phone remotely via Internet or their own mobile phone.q. Create hot-button dialers for different operators, concierge service, urgent care or other service providers.r. Create a platform by which other medical/lifestyle/other application providers can interact with the mobile phone.s. Provide a navigational interface on the phone that interacts with the user to facilitate cellular phone navigation, including hiding and/or turning on and off certain features and buttons;t. Allow for voice-recognition-based dialing and phone navigation.u. Alter visual and audio notifications to align with user's needs.v. Customize the level of sophistication/complexity of the interface itself, including menu options available, applications available on the phone, ring settings and visual settings—on the phone itself and/or remotely by an authorized person.

The introduction of smartphones—mobile phones offering PC-like capabilities with technologies such as contextually changing touch screens, email, Internet browsing, Wi-Fi, GPS, an accelerometer, a magnetometer/compass, a graphical user interface operating system, a camera and the capability to run a variety of software applications—offer this potential. However, smartphones are generally feature-heavy and complicated to use, even with the most basic configurations. While these smartphones may have some of the technology capabilities mentioned available—such as software that provides location alerts or determines phone location—or the capabilities to provide the features mentioned above, the complexity and general feature-rich design of the smartphone has made it difficult for elderly, young children or people with special needs to adopt.

What is needed, therefore, is a system and method that can provide the aforementioned functionality through smartphone technology. The present invention satisfies this need.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a system and method for remote care and monitoring of the user of a mobile device, such as a smartphone, and for simplifying use of the mobile device by the user. As used herein, a “smartphone” or “mobile device” should be construed to include a smartphone (sometimes referred to herein as a “mobile phone” or a “primary” mobile phone or device), a mobile tablet, and other similar portable computing devices which are able to communicate electronically (through means of cellular, wireless and/or radio communication) for which the invention could be deployed.

In the disclosed embodiment, the system and method of the present invention comprises several components, including software operable on the mobile device and/or a remote device (such as another smartphone, a computer (including, for example, a web-based application system) or other device, sometimes referred to herein as a “secondary” device). More specifically, the present invention comprises:a. A system and method comprising software, operable on a mobile device, such as a smartphone, that, in part, simplifies the use of a smartphone by acting as an interface between the user and the smartphone features and functions. The software runs on a smartphone's operating system and behaves as a new interface to the end user, altering the phone's user interface, creating new navigation features and hiding access to other features and functions.i. The interface and its functions can be customized on the mobile phone itself or remotely via cellular and/or Internet connectivity by authorized users/caregivers. Examples include but are not limited to:1. Creating a larger dial-pad via larger graphics on the touchscreen.2. Simplifying menu items available and providing the ability to turn on and off functions not helpful or too complex to the end user.3. Turning on and off specialized functions that are helpful to the end user and may specifically assist with the user's medical or lifestyle care.4. Enabling a variety of audible and visual ringing/notification and interface options.5. Automatically calling the mobile user and/or creating specialized rings and/or audio notification for when the phone battery is low and requires plugging in and/or if there is no cellular signal. The system and method will also automatically notify authorized users/caregivers when such instances occur, including detailing a log of the situation with location coordinates and date/time stamp.6. Allowing for the creation of graphical emergency/urgent call buttons that provide immediate connection to an operator, 911 and/or urgent care response centers.7. Allowing for voice-recognition-based dialing and phone navigation.8. Allowing for a simpler interface to read and navigate custom news, Internet information and other messages.b. A system and method comprising smartphone connectivity application software, operable on the remote device, that interacts with the smartphone remotely in order to remotely customize the interface software as well as to provide many of the functions and features described in the instant patent application.c. A system and method comprising software, operable on the mobile device and/or the remote device, to remotely initiate and create a live phone (cellular) and/or Internet connection to a primary mobile phone when the primary mobile phone user does not actively answer the phone, click any button, or initiate any other kind of activity in order to do any combination or all of the following:i. Remotely enable the mobile phone's speakerphone, turn up the speaker volume and turn on the microphone in order to hear and speak with whoever or whatever is near the mobile phone itself from a secure Internet application and/or a secondary phone (land or mobile).ii. Remotely turn on the mobile phone's camera, automatically snap pictures and/or videos, and send them via cellular network and/or Internet using Internet upload, email or text methods to an authorized Internet site and/or specified mobile phone(s).iii. Remotely turn on the mobile phone's video conferencing and connect over cellular network or Internet with an authorized user via an Internet portal or specified secondary mobile phone(s).iv. Remotely turn on the mobile phone's location capabilities (GPS and cellular-network-based location positioning) and send those coordinates via Internet and/or cellular network using Internet upload, email or text methods to an authorized Internet site and/or specified mobile phone(s).d. A system and method comprising software, operable on the mobile device and/or the remote device, to establish cellular and Internet connectivity to a mobile phone automatically and/or remotely when that mobile device has been idle, not having had a cellular and/or Internet connection for some period.e. A system and method comprising software, operable on the mobile device and/or the remote device, to periodically and/or through a series of predetermined times and/or via a pre-determined trigger(s) (such as those described in the instant application) automatically turn on the mobile phone's location positioning features (e.g., such as GPS, multilateration of radio signals, and/or other mobile positioning technologies) if location positioning features are off, then log the phone's location position with a date/time stamp, possibly automatically snap picture(s) and/or video(s) and send all that linked data/information via Internet, cellular or other remote electronic connection to another user via an Internet website, an email, text message and/or other form of electronic message.f. A system and method comprising software, operable on the mobile device and/or the remote device, to automatically send a notification (in the form of a call, electronic and/or otherwise) to 911, an urgent call center and/or authorized care providers and/or an Internet site if the mobile phone is dropped, has not been moved or moved from a geographical location for a predetermined amount of time, if the mobile user has not “checked in” by pressing a special button on the phone, by not satisfactorily answering a wellness check or mobile medical survey on the mobile phone and/or by pressing a button on a separate wireless device linked/connected with that mobile phone.g. A system and method comprising software, operable on the mobile device and/or the remote device, to automatically notify specified users (e.g., care providers) and/or an Internet site if calls are made to a predetermined list of phone number(s). For example, automatically notify (via call, electronic message or otherwise) when the mobile user's doctors, nurses, therapists, etc. are called—and then log and/or send that information with date/time stamp via Internet and/or cellular network using email, SMS (short message service), Internet upload or other electronic connectivity.h. A system and method comprising software, operable on the mobile device and/or the remote device, to automatically party conference a mobile phone with pre-determined specified user(s)/care provider(s) via telephonic and or Internet connectivity when calls are made to specific, predetermined phone number(s).i. A system and method comprising software, operable on the mobile device and/or the remote device, to allow an authorized user/care provider to create custom, automated wellness checks or surveys that the mobile user responds to once or periodically and which can have custom actions associated with particular responses and/or results based on software customization. Examples of particular automated actions by the software include without limitation electronic notification to authorized caregivers and/or notification to urgent response center and/or 911 containing or providing access to survey results, medical or other information, including software-triggered recommendations, mobile phone location tracking information, pictures, audio and/or video captured from the mobile phone.j. A system and method comprising software, operable on the mobile device and/or the remote device, for providing caregiving features to a user through a mobile smartphone and/or remote Internet-based application, including without limitation the features discussed above and the following additional features:i. Medically-related instructions including therapy and medication instructions sent to mobile user by authorized remote user/caregiver or authorized medical providerii. Specialized alarms, alerts and schedules that notify the user of appointments and provide related, relevant information. For example, a doctor appointment reminder that also includes instructions on diet and driving directions linked together and then logged on the mobile phone and via Internet with date/time stamp, the type of alert or alarm, the information linked with alarm and the mobile user's response (such as acknowledgement of the alarm). These alarms, alerts & schedules could also be linked with actions that the mobile user can take—such as responding with text communication or phone call to relevant parties to the alarm or automatically refilling medication. These alarms, alerts and schedules can be setup on the mobile phone itself or remotely through a cellular and/or Internet connection by an authorized user/caregiver.iii. Medication tracking features that notify user when the time for a refill is approaching and whether a refill is available. The system and method can automatically request a refill and/or renewal on medications or can prompt the mobile user to have the system and method automatically request a refill and/or renewal to the physician(s) and/or the user's choice pharmacy. The system and method also logs the events, information and associated actions for reference by an authorized user/caregiver. These medication tracking features and actions can be setup on the mobile phone itself or remotely through a cellular and/or Internet connection by an authorized user/caregiver.iv. Specialized hot buttons dialers for initiating urgent calls to 911 and/or urgent response centers, different operators, concierge service and/or other service providers. Once pressed, these buttons not only connect user to 911 and/or urgent response centers (or other intended receiver), they also cause notification to authorized users/ caregiver(s) and a logging of event for view by and notification to authorized users/caregiver(s). These button(s) can be graphical action buttons on the mobile phone screen or buttons located outside the screen on the mobile phone itselfv. A series of pre-customized texts that the mobile user can use to communicate to authorized users/caregivers and/or medical providers without having to type an entire or portion of a text notification. These pre-customized texts can be customized on the mobile phone or remotely by an authorized user/caregiver.vi. Specialized Internet and mobile phone portals for administrative and caregiving access and interaction with the mobile user and among one another by a mobile user's medical providers, living facility administration, urgent response centers, other lifestyle and/or application providers and authorized caregivers.k. A radio alert connectivity device that, when activated, sends a signal to its host radio-enabled mobile phone (ex. via Bluetooth) to dial a predetermined number and/or connect via secure Internet connection to a predetermined application (call center or authorized user). The alert connectivity device also contains a microphone and speakerphone that can be used to listen and speak with the person/call center to which the phone connected. The device also initiates location tracking of the smartphone device, message notifications (via text, email or Internet) to authorized third parties and picture capture & send. This functionality essentially turns phone into a mobile Personal Emergency Response System (PERS).l. A system and method comprising software, operable on the mobile device and/or the remote device, for remotely customizing mobile phone—including font size, screen colors, volume, creating and setting custom alarms with calling actions, creating and setting custom surveys with calling actions, editing/updating phone contact information, medical profile, turning on/off certain features as well as interacting via the various methods and features discussed herein.m. A system and method comprising software, operable on the mobile device and/or the remote device, for maintaining a medical profile of the mobile user on the mobile phone that can be accessed and/or updated on the mobile phone itself or remotely via cellular and/or Internet connection by authorized users.n. A system and method comprising software, operable on the mobile device and/or the remote device, for identifying a shaking pattern and/or voice recognition process that results in the mobile phone answering the phone and/or taking other pre-determined actions (instead of pushing a button to answer the phone or take an action).o. A system and method comprising software, operable on the mobile device and/or the remote device, to provide the aggregated feature set or subsets of the capabilities and features described herein, for use in connecting users and caregivers with elderly and/or children and/or special needs for urgent and non-urgent situations. The feature set includes without limitation direct connect, automated remote connectivity, location tracking, automated picture sending/remote camera monitoring, automated fall detection, automated wellness checks/custom actionable surveys, remotely updating and customizing mobile phone from secure Internet application/mobile applications).p. A unique purchase and installation process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The benefits and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art after reviewing the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.

It should be further understood that the title of this section of this specification does not imply, nor should be inferred to limit, the subject matter disclosed herein.

In a disclosed embodiment, the system and method of the present invention comprises the individual and aggregated feature set and/or subsets of the capabilities and features described in the instant application, for use in connecting primary users750and authorized remote parties760(e.g., caregivers) with one another for urgent and non-urgent situations.

The feature set includes but is not limited to audio and/or video direct connect, automated remote connectivity, automated call conferencing based on predetermined phone numbers, location tracking, automated picture and/or video sending/remote camera monitoring, automated location tracking with photo and/or video logging, intelligent monitoring of urgent and non-urgent situations, including but not limited to lack of movement with the primary mobile phone206, lack of reaching a location by the primary mobile phone206, automated fall detection, automated wellness checks/custom actionable surveys, as well as remotely updating and customizing the primary mobile phone206application (it will be appreciated that reference numeral206refers to the primary mobile phone with software installed thereon, sometimes referred to herein as the “application,” for causing the primary mobile phone to operate in accordance with the principles of the system and method of the present invention) in from a secure Internet application202and/or secondary mobile applications204and a specialized user interface that compels the primary application user750to utilize their phone206though it is not required to make use of the application features described herein.

The system and method of the present invention is designed, in part, to interact with some of the innate programmed features of the mobile phone but mask the phone's standard user interface and navigation so that those innate features (such as the dialer, the user phone book, the web browser, the camera, battery indicator, and menu options) are accessible to the user in a simplified, easier-to-use interface presented to the primary mobile application user. Developing an interface that overlays an existing interface is a well-documented process and is known to those skilled in the art. It is accomplished through basic level application programming interface (API) and/or other coding utilized by the manufacturer and/or operating system provider of the smartphone to connect and interact with the phone's hardware and operating system features.

The application interface is built through a series of screens that contain a combination of buttons, text information, graphics and/or interactive objects that are part of the interface API functions of a smartphone. Examples of interactive objects include virtual graphic buttons, physical buttons that are part of the phone itself, text boxes, selection lists, radio buttons, check boxes and other objects as are known to those skilled in the art. Interactive objects leverage user feedback in order to take action and are generally part of the smartphone's operating system API. The inclusion of the interface as a part of the instant invention is necessary not for the novelty of creating an interface but for the novelty of the interface itself and also for the novelty in how the interface is being applied to the utilization of the various embodiments of the invention described herein.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the system and method of the instant invention may be adapted to operate with any number of mobile device operating systems (including without limitation iOS, Android, etc.), mobile devices (including without limitation iPhones, iPads, etc.) and desktop operating systems (Mac OS, Windows, etc.). All such mobile operating systems, devices and desktop operating systems are included with the scope of the instant disclosure.

As seen inFIG. 1, the system and method of the present invention provides a simplified mobile device interface. The exemplary interfaces illustrate simplified mobile device navigation and provide:A simple, uncluttered designLarge, easy-to-read, high-contrast text and buttonsIntuitive to use, haptic (sensory) feedback that simulates pressing of buttonsLoud, flashing ring tonesVoice recognition dialing and navigation integratedVideo conference capabilities where availableClear, easy to read and understand instructionsA simplified way to read news and information

Some of the novel features of the interface, also shown inFIG. 1. include:Phonebook and other configurable features of the phone and of the primary mobile application206described can be remotely updated by an authorized user760such as a caregiver or service operatorAn alert in the form of a pretend phone call that mimics a real call by alerting the primary mobile user750with a telephone ring and then prompting user750audibly and visually that the battery is low and/or that they are out of cell rangePhysical shaking of phone to prompt phone to ask primary mobile user750if they intend to dial 911 or other urgent call center and then do so upon user750confirmationAllowing the primary mobile user750to make VOIP calls directly from the application206and/or to switch back-and-forth between standard telephonic, cellular-based audio phone connectivity and/or a VOIP audio connectivity and a VOIP/Internet-based audio and video connection via the interface, including while a phone call is underway in the application system or a while a phone call may appear to be underway in the application system.Allowing the primary mobile application user750to switch among prebuilt interface designs to accommodate their needs or preferences around font size, color contrast, sound and volume features.Allowing the primary mobile user750to access features of the primary mobile application206described in detail in the instant application, including, but not limited to:Ability to receive and respond to primary mobile application alerts, status check-ins that are launched by the application, mobile wellness checks, medication and other reminders, electronic messages; these alerts are not simply calendar alerts but also have actionable response options such as allowing the user to alter prescription information on the user's medical profile of the primary mobile application206Configuring the primary mobile application itself, including enabling and/or disabling certain application features such as direct connect, fall detections, electronic PERS radio receiver connectivity, configuring authorized remote users such as caregivers, wellness checks and/or any of the other primary application configuration options described herein.Allowing the primary mobile user to press a button that launches the secondary mobile application204(it will be appreciated that reference numeral204refers to the secondary mobile phone or device with software installed thereon, sometimes referred to herein as the “application,” for causing the secondary mobile phone or device to operate in accordance with the principles of the system and method of the present invention) of the invention described here and/or integrates the features of the secondary mobile application204described herein.

The details for the novel implementation of the collection of these features are further discussed in the instant application. For those comfortable with navigating a modern smartphone, the interface of the primary smartphone application206can be customized to hide and/or to turn on and off other applications, phone features and buttons (such as the search button, home button, or the camera or web browser). The software of the system and method of the present invention can run in the background to provide the powerful caregiving connectivity features that assist with both resolving urgent situations and enhancing daily interactions even if the simplified interface is turned off.

If the interface is turned on, it helps facilitate the navigation and use of the monitoring and caregiving features described herein through direct access to many of those features and the configuration of those features. Furthermore, many of those would-be primary mobile application users are not able and/or willing to use the smartphone in its native form because of any combination of issues, such as: over complexity of the phone including features and functions that are foreign and wouldn't be utilized by the user; small or difficult to read fonts and font size; lack of enough contrast among graphics and text that make it difficult to see and/or read; difficulty configuring the phone with the functions desired; difficulty navigating the phone because of concepts and features not found in traditional phones; etc.

With the primary mobile application206interface, many of these users would now be able to successfully use a smartphone to make calls and then leverage the smartphone to interact with loved ones and caregivers because the interface provides an easy, intuitive way for them to use a smartphone and a direct, easy and intuitive way to perform the many helpful caregiving functions of the primary mobile application206described in this document. If enabled, the primary mobile application interface will run as soon as the smartphone itself is booted up as part of the start sequence in order to mask other smart phone functions via the interface.

The primary mobile application206functions by resting in a home state and then being triggered to change states based on a variety of internal and/or external triggers. The application206then takes action in those different states, sometimes switching among the states, until completing the series of tasks and returning to the home state configuration.

FIG. 15illustrates the core process functioning of the primary mobile application206by detailing some of the major different states and state changes that the phone goes through when the primary smartphone application206(with or without the interface enabled) is running.

The home state is the default starting point for the system. In the home state, the application displays a simplified interface for the user750to interact with the primary smartphone206unless the user has turned off the interface as described above. If the interface is disabled, the user750interacts with the mobile phone operating system regularly while the primary application core activities run in the background. The smartphone's206operating system API allows users to create activities/processes and have them run in the background. Either way (interface enabled or disabled), in the home state, some core activities run in the background, idle until they are triggered. Examples include: (a) logging, (b) fall detection, (c) idleness checks, (d) wellness/safety checks, (e) other monitoring and notification functions, and (f) direct connect receiver that are described herein.

These background activities of the primary mobile application system206, each described briefly below and then in further detail later in the instant application, may or may not prompt user interaction at different points. When invoked, these background activities may change the state of the phone to require an interaction either from the primary mobile user750or remotely from an authorized remote user760.

The states displayed inFIG. 15and shown below illustrate a sampling of changes from the home state that may prompt a user interaction:a. Monitoring notifications: The primary mobile application206will display monitoring-related notifications to users750to acknowledge. These are asynchronous, and may pop-up any time a monitoring process650indicates an event. Monitoring tasks run in the background, unless user input is required per Notification Triggers802. Examples include, but are not limited to: monitoring for a phone shake which prompts the user if they want to dial 911 or other urgent facility and waits for user response; monitoring to detect a fall, which when detected prompts user with a status check; monitoring phone movement through GPS (global positioning system) and accelerometer hardware for lack of movement, for not reaching a particular destination and/or to infer location destinations and/or speed of movement; monitoring responses to alarms, reminders, wellness and safety check-ins. Monitoring notifications may also prompt remote authorized user(s)760to be notified of primary mobile application206/primary mobile application user750status and/or to login to the secondary mobile application204or web application interface202to obtain more detail and/or take some action based on notification. For example, a monitoring notification may prompt the primary mobile application user750to take a medication at a specified time as setup in their medical profile of the primary mobile application206. The primary mobile user750can respond to the notification by clicking a button that says something to the effect of “I no longer take that medication”. That response may prompt a removal in the monitoring notifications of any further similar reminders. It may also send notification to remote authorized caregiver(s)760indicating the primary application user750has indicated they no longer take the medicine and asking the remote authorized user760if they would like to confirm the stopping of the medication or re-enable the medication reminder and potentially alter or update it with relevant information and possibly message the primary application user750that they were re-enabling the reminder and the reason for it. In such a case, the primary application206would receive a second notification with the remote authorized user's760actions and message.b. Incoming or outgoing calls including direct connect requests: The system and method of the present invention may receive or place a call (including direct connect call) requiring the switch from the home state to the call or direct connect interface. The process and methods by which a remotely authorized user760can initiate and create a live phone (cellular) and/or Internet audio and/or video connection to a primary mobile phone206where the primary mobile phone user750does not actively answer the phone, click any button or initiate any other kind of activity is collectively referred to herein as a “direct connect” or “direct connection.”c. Wellness & safety checks: These run at prescheduled times per the configuration. The system and method of the present invention interacts with the users to collect information on specific wellness and safety related checks. These checks may further trigger notifications to either or both the primary application user750and/or the remote authorized user760. Such notifications may then prompt further monitoring processes that await further user action such as those described in monitoring notifications above.d. Phone configuration: The user may choose to change how the primary mobile application or phone260is setup, changing application parameters or phone behavior. The changes to the configuration may require further synchronization, access to phone memory and notifications.e. Logging: The system and method of the present invention logs features that may require the phone to switch out of the home state to collect data, such as camera pictures. The system and method of the present invention collects information, as appropriate and configured and then returns to the home state or current state that smartphone was in prior to logging initiation.f. Primary mobile application user interaction: The user may choose to interact with other features of the interface and go into customized interfaces to explore content such as communities, billing, administration, getting help from the helpdesk etc.

FIG. 2illustrates the system and method of the present invention used to remotely initiate and create a live phone (cellular) and/or Internet audio and/or video connection to a primary mobile phone206where the primary mobile phone user750does not actively answer the phone, click any button, or initiate any other kind of activity. This process may collectively be referred to herein as a “direct connect” or “direct connection.”

The purpose of a direct connection is to allow an authorized remote user760the ability to see, hear and interact with the primary mobile application user750at the authorized remote user's discretion, and to connect with the primary application user750(which may be a care recipient) for primarily concerning, urgent or potentially urgent situations. The authorized remote user760might also leverage the information gathered through the monitoring processes and logged from the primary smartphone application206in order to help illustrate what may have transpired recently with the primary mobile application user750.

In just one example of a direct connection in accordance with the principles of the system and method of the instant invention, the primary mobile application user750responds negatively to a wellness check survey from the primary mobile application206, perhaps indicating they aren't feeling well. The primary mobile application206recognizes the input response as a negative response because response options are pre-configured in the primary mobile application206as positive, negative or neutral. The application206may respond to the primary application user760with a follow-up question based on the logic tree of the wellness check or perhaps it may recommend calling a doctor or 911. The primary user750may choose to take action or may choose not to call or take action.

Regardless, the primary mobile application206may send an electronic notification (email, SMS and/or securely through the web portal application204and/or the secondary mobile application206to inform the remote authorized user(s)760of wellness check outcome and subsequent activities of the primary mobile application and primary mobile phone206including but not limited to: any calls made; date/time-stamped history of location(s) to which the phone traveled tagged with (or without) pictures and/or video taken at those periodic intervals throughout the day; and/or any relevant urgent-or non-urgent producing notifications. The remote authorized user760may then have called the primary application user750with no response. The remote authorized user760, having special permission in the primary mobile application206configuration, may then initiate a direct connect to turn on the primary authorized user's phone to try and interact with them to make sure they are alright and taking the appropriate actions.

As shown inFIG. 2, the steps for a direct connection in one embodiment of the system and method of the present invention comprise:

A remote authorized user760presses a button to initiate a direct connection from either a web application202or a secondary mobile phone application204. As shown inFIG. 3, “Urgent Connect Now”302on the web application202and “Direct Connect”304on the secondary mobile application204are exemplary buttons. In one embodiment of the system and method of the present invention, the option to press the button is available only to pre-authorized users760whose electronic profile has been specially flagged in the primary application system208data store (stored on a suitable computer system) and/or communicated to the primary smartphone application206data store during either the application setup or configuration processes and stored in the configuration data660that is shared among the primary application system208, the primary smartphone206and the web portal application202and secondary mobile phone application204as being allowed to initiate a direct connection.

Step2: Notification of Direct Connect Intention

There are two alternatives for how this process may occur:

Alternative1: Immediately Call

If the direct connection was initiated through a web-portal application interface202, the system and method of the present invention will initiate an Internet-based Voice-Over-IP (VOIP) call, cellular call and/or hybrid VOIP-cellular call to the primary mobile smartphone206through the primary application system208or another method. If the smartphone has video conference capabilities, then the web-portal application202via the primary application system208will initiate a video conference call instead. The primary system application208will recognize video conference capabilities through configured settings in the primary application system208data store that maintain status of whether the primary smartphone206has the hardware and software capability for video conferencing. In one embodiment of the invention, such information is linked and stored during the setup and/or configuration process and stored in the configuration data660that is shared among the primary application system208, the primary smartphone206and the web portal application202and secondary mobile phone application204.

If the direct connect was initiated through a secondary mobile phone204, the system and method of the present invention will directly call the primary mobile phone206through a cellular network, VOIP and/or hybrid VOIP-cellular call or indirectly call the primary mobile phone206via the primary application system208using cellular network, VOIP and/or hybrid VOIP-cellular call. If the system and method of the present invention both the primary smartphone26and the secondary mobile phone204have video conference capabilities, then the secondary mobile (or smartphone) application204will initiate a video conference call instead that may go directly to the primary mobile phone206or indirectly through the primary application system208. The primary smartphone application206and/or the primary application system208will recognize video conference capabilities through configured settings in the primary application system208data store that maintain status of whether the primary smartphone206has the hardware and software capability for video conferencing.

In parallel, the clicking of the direct connect button in web portal application202and secondary mobile application204will also notify the primary application system208that a direct connect call is being placed as well as set specialized flags in the primary application system208and/or the secondary mobile application system204that a direct connect call is being requested.

Alternative2: Notify the Primary Application System208to Request a Direct Connect

The web portal application202and/or the secondary mobile phone application204of the system and method of the present invention will electronically notify the primary application system208that a direct connection call is being requested as well as set specialized flags in the primary application system208and/or the secondary mobile application system204that a direct connect call is being requested.

There are two major alternatives based on the process followed in Step2:

Alternative1: Incoming Calls

The primary mobile smartphone application206will recognize the caller or the source of the call (audio and/or video call) as it is pre-configured with authorized user760identifiable information and/or secondary mobile phone204identifiable information. The primary mobile smartphone application206will pick up any combination of the source phone number, source IP address, and/or other user identifiable information associated with the person initiating the direct connection as obtained by logging into the web portal application202and/or the secondary mobile application204. There are two primary options based on this alternative:

Option1: The primary mobile smartphone application206recognizes the source as having permission to direct connect and automatically causes the primary smartphone itself206to connect/pick up the direct call and/or video conference call (if video conferencing is available and enabled). If video conferencing is not enabled, then the primary mobile phone206may enable it and then connect or respond video conference dial to the initiating web portal202and/or secondary mobile phone application204.

Option2: The primary mobile smartphone206makes an electronic authorization and validation request of the primary application system208to ensure:

A. That the requesting source is an authorized source, and/or

B. To validate that the requesting source is not only authorized but actually requesting a direct connection (as opposed to simply requesting a “regular” call/video conference connection).

Upon authorizing and validating, the primary mobile smartphone application206causes the primary smartphone to pick up the call or call back the source through cellular, VOIP and/or hybrid cellular-VOIP means. If video conferencing is not enabled, then the primary mobile phone206may enable it and then connect or respond with video conference dial to the initiating web portal202and/or secondary mobile phone application204.

Alternative2: Incoming Request for a Direct Connect

The primary application system208will electronically notify the primary mobile smartphone206that an authorized direct connection is being requested (via a web-based/Internet application data transfer, text message, email or other electronic means).

At that point, the primary smartphone application206will automatically call the requesting web portal202user760and/or secondary mobile phone204user760through cellular, VOIP and/or hybrid cellular-VOIP means. If video conferencing is requested then, if it is not enabled, then the primary mobile phone206may enable it and then connect or respond with video conference dial to the initiating web portal202and/or secondary mobile phone application204. The web portal application202(as linked with the primary application system208) and/or the secondary mobile phone application204will have had a flag set to automatically pick up call from the primary smartphone206and/or the primary application system208from Step1.

In both alternatives, the primary mobile smartphone application206will (with reference toFIG. 6) turn on the speakerphone(s)608, microphone606, turn up the volume630, identify primary smartphone location (turning on location identification features if they are disabled610,612,616), turn on camera604and snap pictures (not snapping pictures if video conferencing is selected) via the phone's API, group & link the information together and send it to the primary application server208via the notification system670.

Step4: Call Pickup and Information Viewing

There are three optional paths that stem from the two major alternatives from Step3:

Alternative1—Option1: Primary smartphone application206automatically picks up phone call. For video conference viewing, primary smartphone application enables camera module604and automatically connects via video conference.

Alternative1—Option2: Secondary mobile application204and/or web portal interface202automatically picks up phone call. For video conference viewing, primary smartphone application206automatically connects via video conference. An indicator flag in the secondary mobile application204and/or web portal interface202informs the respective application to automatically pickup/connect.

Alternative2: Secondary mobile application204and/or web portal interface202automatically picks up phone call. For video conference viewing, primary smartphone application206automatically connects via video conference. An indicator flag in the secondary mobile application204and/or web portal interface202informs the respective application to automatically pickup/connect.

In all three paths, the primary application system208will package up all the information gathered and sent from the primary smartphone206in Step3and make it available to authorized users760for viewing via the web portal interface202and/or the secondary mobile application204. The information can be viewed simultaneously, before and/or after the call and/or video call is made.

In all three paths, the primary smartphone application206may also cause a loud ring and/or automated voice to inform user750that a direct connect is underway and also may cause the primary smartphone206to visually cue the user750through changes in color, text, vibration and/or possibly other cues.

FIG. 16shows the process flow from initiation to connection, specifically illustrating how particular connectivity options for a direct connect described above may be selected by the collective system of the invention.

For example, the direct connection request has been received by the primary mobile application206, perhaps through SMS or email electronic communication. The request may have come directly from the remote authorized user's760phone via the secondary mobile application204or through the primary application system208via the secondary mobile application204or from the web portal application interface202. The monitoring process650of the primary mobile application206recognizes the direct connection request and triggers the intelligent event identification engine710to collect phone data around whether the primary phone206can connect to the Internet and if the connection is strong and fast enough.

If not able to connect or if connection is not sufficient, the monitoring process650would trigger the mobile application206to look up the phone number of the authorized remote caregiver760in the primary application data storage/database and initiate an audio/cellular call back to that phone number. In one instance, the requestor application (i.e., the secondary mobile application204and/or the web portal application202), having flagged itself as attempting to direct connect to a particular phone in its own configuration, would identify the incoming phone number as belonging to the primary mobile application206, recognizing it as pre-authorized, automatically answer the call. In another example, the phone could ring until the remote authorized user760picked up the auto-returned phone call.

In a separate example of a direct connection with an audio/cellular call back (as described above), instead of dialing the initiating remote authorized caregiver's phone760, the primary mobile application206may dial a bridge number into the primary application system208, which may then bridge dial the remote authorized user's phone through telephonic bridging/PBX (private branch exchange)/conferencing technology. Alternatively, the remote authorized user's phone204may already have dialed into the primary application system's208PBX/conferencing technology and be conferenced with the primary mobile phone206.

In a different example, the primary application206may recognize Internet access as existent and sufficient, however the initiating secondary mobile application204may detect lack of Internet connectivity or sufficient Internet bandwidth/speed. In such an instance, the secondary mobile application204may initiate a cellular/audio-only direct connect to the primary mobile application206with a special flag indicating that an Internet connection will not suffice. The primary mobile application206will interpret the flag and not attempt an Internet, video and/or VOIP connection but only an audio/cellular direct connection as previously described.

In another example, Internet connectivity from both the initiating phone204or web application202, as well as from the primary mobile application206, is existent and sufficient. In this case, a call back is initiated by the primary mobile application206via its VOIP (voice over IP) client that connects to a VOIP server as part of the primary application system208. The VOIP server also connects to the secondary mobile application204and/or the web application202in advance of notifying the primary mobile application206, or after notifying, or after the primary mobile application206has a VOIP connection with the VOIP server. The VOIP server therefore bridges/creates the connection then between the primary mobile application206and the initiating secondary mobile application204and/or web application interface202.

As described, a direct connect call results in creating a live phone call514and/or live video conference504without the user750of the primary mobile phone206taking action. As shown inFIG. 16, the type of call possible will depend on the quality of connection—if the cellular/internet connectivity is fast enough to support video calling that would take preference over or audio calling. In that case, as a backup, the system and method of the present invention uses a cellular audio call.

Internet existence and sufficiency is determined through API calls checking signal existence and strength of cellular Internet networks and wireless network detections. Pinging certain websites and/or servers using internet protocol calls and timing and comparing response rates is another method that may be used. Such checks are performed on both sides of the connection (the secondary mobile application204or web application202and the primary mobile application206). Notifications are sent among systems using electronic communication—usually some/any combination of SMS texting, email and/or Internet protocol though also possibly via modem or other electronic communication methods that basic operating systems (and possibly their APIs) interact with. Audio calls and call answering are triggered through the device's APIs. VOIP/video conference connections may be established over Internet protocol through interfacing with VOIP clients and server APIs.

FIG. 4provides an illustration of an instance of a direct connect call in place. In this example, a direct connect call has been initiated and is in session. The initiating user, through their web portal interface202and/or secondary mobile application204can see what the primary phone owner406is doing through the camera module604on the primary smartphone206. The initiating user760is conversing404through the direct connection via the speakerphone608and microphone606on the primary smartphone206to the primary owner406.

FIG. 5provides an illustration of exemplary information provided to the web portal application202and/or to the secondary mobile application204in conjunction with a direct connect call in one embodiment of the system and method of the present invention. This information is generally available to authorized remote users760who are logged into the web application interface202and/or secondary mobile application204at any time, including when the urgent notifications have been issued and otherwise.

The purpose of the information made available is to provide a broad and deep picture of what has been and is going on with the primary mobile phone application206and the primary mobile user750and to also help manage the daily caregiving features, urgent connectivity features, interface features and general phone features of the primary mobile application and primary mobile phone206. The information can help determine the primary user's750whereabouts, their well being status (in part through status of status and/or wellness checks), indicate whether any (alarming) incidents occurred (such as dialing 911 and/or a fall detection) and related details; indicate whether they have been following certain patterns of behavior; and, indicating whether the phone206(and the user750) have not moved for a period of time and/or that the phone206(and the user750) did not reach an intended destination.

The information can also indicate whether the user750has indicated that they have been taking medication; whether the user750confirmed certain alarm reminders; whether the user750has been making phone calls—and to when and to whom they have been calling; whether or not the user750have been sending and/or receiving messages; and/or whether the phone battery died or the phone is not in signal range (cellular and/or internet cellular and/or Wi-Fi).

The information may also prompt the remote authorized user760to take action(s), which may include among the many actions described in the present invention: editing, altering, adding or removing reminders including medication reminders (such as taking, refilling and/or renewing medication), updating medical profile information, editing, altering, adding or removing particular automated wellness checks, setting location reminders, sending messages or information; updating or changing the primary mobile application206user interface, updating numbers for auto-conferencing on the primary mobile application206, updating caregiver notification settings and so on.

This sample information, also illustrated inFIG. 5, is provided and accessible to the user760(e.g. caregiver or authorized user) who may be initiating a direct connect call on either the web portal application202and the secondary mobile application204and also to the primary smartphone user750on the web portal application202and the primary mobile application206. The method and process of the invention calls for any and all of the information illustrated inFIG. 5to be available. The sample information should not be construed as exhaustively conveying all possible relevant information being made available and those skilled in the art will recognize that other types of information may be shared without departing for the scope of the instant disclosure.

In further detail, the sample information may include in one embodiment of the system and method of the present invention (with reference toFIGS. 5 and 6):

a. The current and historical location and movement history502as determined through GPS610, wireless614, and/or cellular616location determination systems and accelerometer612logged with primary phone206date and time from internal clock622as periodically checked through the monitoring processes650and configured through the configuration processes660of the primary smartphone application206. Additionally, location and movement history502may have photo and/or video snippets504tagged from the camera module604being engaged periodically by the monitoring processes650and configuration processes660that can be viewed. Location and movement history may be displayed in a textual format and/or via one or more markings or images of locations overlaid upon one or more map images. Furthermore, clicking on a particular location via a map or link or inputting a particular location into input fields on the primary web interface202and/or secondary mobile application204can search the historical logs/database720for other instances of the primary mobile application recording being at or around (within a predetermined distance radius) that location and return a listing of those instances with date/times, duration, and potential pictures and/or videos that may have been tagged and logged. The process flow for the logging process itself for most types of logging is shown and described inFIG. 21.

b. The phone call history log506of inbound, outbound, missed and connected calls may also be available for view. Those calls that were auto third party conferenced via the primary mobile application206may also be specially marked. Furthermore, clicking on a particular phone number or inputting a particular phone number into input field(s) on the primary web interface202and/or secondary mobile application204can search the historical logs/database720for other instances of the primary mobile application and or phone206recording making those phone calls and return a listing of those instances with date/times, duration, and potential location information that may have been tagged and logged. The logging process flow for most types of logging is shown and described inFIG. 21.

c. The current and historical phone status508of the primary smartphone application206may also be available. The basic logging process is shown and described inFIG. 21. The FEATURES logged may include current and historical information on the primary smartphone's206battery life, charging history, when the phone's signal status has been strong, weak or non-existent, availability of 3G and/or 4G networks, location date/time stamping as well as the current status of key phone features602which includes enabled or disabled status of camera module604, microphone606, speakerphones608, GPS610, accelerometer612, wireless radio/LAN614, cellular system616, Bluetooth radio618, touch screen620, internal clock622and other relevant phone features630.

The user760may be able to enable or disable any of these phone features remotely through the web portal application204and/or the secondary mobile application204. Doing so consists of changes to the configuration files that get pushed to the primary smartphone206from the secondary mobile application204and/or the web portal application202and pushed through directly or via the primary application system208.

d. A history of the outcome status of status and/or wellness check-ins516as well as a log of the status and wellness check-ins518, including the questions, user responses and phone actions and corresponding notifications may also be available for view. Status and wellness checks are performed via the process shown and described inFIG. 19. As well, the information and status around any fall detection, phone shaking and/or 911 calls by the primary smartphone application206may be made available.

e. Urgent notifications. In the case of a fall/shaking, the primary smartphone fall detection process would be triggered. The process indicating how this is done is shown and described inFIG. 17. For example, if the phone206fell or was shaken, the phone206would recognize this event, and trigger a check to see if the user750has indeed fallen. The user750can indicate to the primary smartphone application206that they were alright, causing the alert to be dropped, but the event would still be logged in the system. In a different scenario, if the phone206fell or was shaken and the user750did not respond or did respond but responded negatively, that response information as well as the details around the phone calls and/or notification(s) initiated by the primary smartphone application206would also be made available.

f. A history of alerts and reminders520for the primary smartphone user750as well as medication reminders522, the primary smartphone user's750responses and any notification(s) and/or subsequent action(s) that the primary smartphone application206may have taken based on user responses may also be available.

g. The primary smartphone application's206medical profile524and history of changes to the medical profile524as well as any medication reminder history522and changes may be made available.

h. The current configuration526of the primary smartphone application206, which includes settings around the user interface, settings for urgent connectivity and monitoring as well as settings for non-urgent, daily interactions may also be available for viewing and altering. Any changes made on the web portal application202and/or secondary mobile application204are saved as configuration file changes and pushed out to the primary mobile application206to incorporate the new configuration changes either directly or through the primary application system208.

A novel portion of the system and method of the present invention are the monitoring processes that look, listen for and act on a series of triggers, including but not limited to: primary phone/application usage206, remote authorized user interactions760, and location-based and other situational triggers, including potentially urgent situations. These triggers, in combination with the monitoring processes allow for the unique and high level of caregiving interactivity described. Below is further detail around the monitoring processes.

FIG. 6illustrates the monitoring and notification process components and steps. Illustrative flows for sample monitoring processes are shown inFIG. 17andFIG. 18.

FIG. 7further illustrates the internal detail of the monitoring processes and event notification process.

FIG. 8illustrates examples of notification triggers used by the monitoring processes.FIG. 20shows the notification process.

The monitoring processes650digests the data collected702from the various described phone features602and other relevant phone features630. This data collected702includes current and historical status of the various monitoring processes650as they are configured660. An intelligent event identification engine (IEIE)710looks for pattern matches against predetermined scenarios and rules set in the configuration660and monitoring processes650engines. The IEIE710may be setup to utilize various rules and analysis to help in capturing events.

For example, the IEIE710can compare a series of readings collected from the location sensor to identify locations visited in the day. In another example, the IEIE710can evaluate data from accelerometers to identify movement (e.g., is the user moving?). That information is then processed for appropriate event notification670based on notification configuration730. The intelligent inferences themselves512as well as the notification events670that occurred based on the inferences512may be made available.

The intelligent inferences themselves512may also be used as triggers to create notification or other events670, including initiate a direct connection to authorized remote users760or other relevant parties, including 911 or urgent call centers, and/or to trigger some other monitoring process650, logging event720and/or trigger some other action within the primary smartphone application206, primary application system208, the web portal application202, and/or the secondary mobile application204.

Included here are a series of disclosed embodiments of the invention that utilize the specialized monitoring processes650and the intelligent event identification engine710. These embodiments are not exhaustive, but are a sampling of the kind of unique capabilities of the system and methods described here.

In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, the primary phone206hasn't moved for several hours during the day—this is called an “idleness” situation. The monitoring process650records movement at several intervals and compares each as shown and described inFIG. 18. The idle behavior is identified by comparing the location of the primary smartphone with previous location readings. Location readings are taken according to a polling frequency for collecting location data (here PFREQ) and stores those location readings in a log, via the process identified inFIG. 21. If the location has been the same or within a proximate distance defined as within LOCATION_RANGE and a time period equal or greater than that defined in TGT_PERIOD has elapsed, the system identifies this as an “idle situation.” Otherwise, if distance is not within the LOCATION_RANGE, the phone is considered to have moved and the process is reset for the next PFREQ. If the distance is within the LOCATION_RANGE but the TGT_PERIOD has not been reached, the monitoring process will wait for further data points.

Once an “idle situation” is determined, the information is logged as an idle event in the primary mobile application system. The information is logged in the system log, potentially transmitted as an event notification to the primary application system208and an idle status check is initiated. The idle check is an interactive messaging to the user750and may involve validating with the user their status (asking if they are alright, indicating that the phone hasn't moved in TGT_PERIOD) and creating notifications for the appropriate recipients. If the user indicates they are ok and/or have moved in the TGT_PERIOD, the system goes back to waiting for the next reading according to PFREQ. If the user does not indicate that they are alright or indicates a negative response, then the system may perform other notification events to authorized users760and/or 911 based on the primary smartphone application's206configuration.

In this example, the monitoring process650recognizes that both location and phone position haven't moved. It also may recognize that there has not been user activity on the phone260in the form of moving or carrying the phone260, making phone calls, or navigating in the phone in any way. Other data points may also be considered into the idleness assessment.

For example, the monitoring process650also may recognize that on that particular day or date during that particular time period, the phone260is normally at or near a different location (perhaps at a particular address). This is done by the IEIE710through a comparison of historical data—dates, times and locations and looking for patterns in movement to the same locations and deviations from those patterns. It may also recognize that an authorized remote user760(e.g. caregiver) has specified that if the phone260doesn't move during that period of time then to notify specified contacts registered in the configuration660and in the primary smartphone application206. Examples of contacts—authorized remote users760—include, but are not limited too, that remote user760, other remote users, family, friends, professional caregivers, medical providers, medical centers, specialized living facilities and/or urgent call centers.

The intelligent event identification engine710recognizes these patterns and makes inferences that lead to notification of specified contacts and/or a wellness/status check-in, direct connection, and or other action of the primary smartphone application206to the primary smartphone application user750. The responses of that user750are processed and may lead to a notification of specified contacts, logging to be made available for further monitoring processes650to leverage the intelligent event identification engine710, direct connection and/or other actions specified in the primary smartphone application206.

In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, the primary smartphone application206monitoring processes650recognizes that the phone260hasn't reached a destination that it regularly does during that date, day and/or time period or a location that was specified by an authorized remote user760in the configuration660. The monitoring processes650may also record lack of movement and/or other indicators that a problem may exist. The intelligent event identification engine710will identify pattern matches of problems and/or look for specific problems and take appropriate actions and notifications as specified in the primary smartphone application206, possibly including but not limited to wellness/status check-ins and/or creating a direct connection.

In the disclosed embodiment of the system and method of the present invention, the monitoring processes650record movement of the phone260over time. Based on the frequency and pattern of location and/or accelerometer (positioning) movement, the intelligent event identification engine710may infer that the user750is walking versus driving or vice versa. That information may then be recorded for further inferences by the intelligent event identification engine710or used to notify authorized parties, direct connect, automated check-in and/or take some other action of the primary smartphone application206.

In the disclosed embodiment of the system and method of the present invention, the monitoring processes650record movement of the phone260over time. The monitoring processes650may also cause the phone's camera module604to record one or more photographs and/or video. The primary smartphone application206may recognize the photo as dark, and the intelligent event identification engine710may recognize that a dark picture along with the frequency and positioning of the primary smartphone as determined by the GPS610, accelerometer612, wireless radio/WAN614and cellular system616imply that the primary smartphone application user750is a walking and may be carrying the primary smartphone in a bag or purse.

In the disclosed embodiment of the system and method of the present invention, camera module604is used to take a picture of a prescription, perhaps on a prescription bottle or carton or any other medium. The monitoring processes650and specifically the intelligent event identification engine710can use image character recognition and determine that the contents of the image are, indeed a prescription based on characteristics common to all prescriptions (such as medication name, dosage, frequency, number of refills, prescribing physician, etc.). The primary smartphone application206will then automatically directly through notification to the primary application system208may electronically contact the pharmacy and/or medical practice to request a refill and/or renewal. The prescription information could also be redirected to create medication reminder alerts to take and/or to refill that particular medication using the alerts capabilities of the primary smartphone application206and/or to update the medical profile on the primary smartphone application206and/or other third party software.

In the disclosed embodiment of the system and method of the present invention, the monitoring processes650may monitor the primary smartphone's battery for dissipation status and patterns of dissipation that may correlate with various dates, days and/or times. Similarly, the monitoring processes650may monitor the primary smartphone's signal strength for patterns of signal strength and loss based on location pattern and/or date, day and/or time. In both situations, the intelligent event identification engine710may look for patterns to anticipate for the primary smartphone application206user when the battery might run low and/or signal strength might dissipate. In anticipating such an event, an event notification670may be triggered to notify the primary smartphone application user750and/or authorized external parties760and may direct specific action (such as ringing the primary smartphone application user and telling user visually and/or audibly to plug in the phone and/or to make any necessary calls now perhaps with reasons as to anticipated future phone status—depending on the situation).

The same monitoring process650and intelligent event identification engine710are also used in several of the features of the invention described in the instant application.

In the disclosed embodiment of the system and method of the present invention, cellular and Internet connectivity to a mobile phone can be established automatically and/or remotely when the mobile phone has been idle, not having had a cellular and/or Internet connection for some period.

In such instances a primary application system208will send an electronic notification to the primary mobile smartphone206via one or a combination of methods such as SMS text message, cellular call, VOIP call, email or Internet connection. The primary mobile smartphone application206will recognize the source of the call as being from the primary application system208, as pre-configured in the software and will immediately initiate Internet protocol communication to the primary application system208and/or cellular communication to the phone's cellular network. If a connection cannot be made immediately, the primary smartphone application206+ can be configured to periodically re-attempt both connection types (Internet and/or cellular connection) until contact is made.

In the disclosed embodiment of the system and method of the present invention, the system and method of the present invention is configured to periodically and/or through a series of predetermined times and/or via a pre-determined trigger(s)802(as identified in the monitoring processes650) automatically turn on the mobile phone's location positioning features (e.g., such as GPS, multilateration of radio signals, and/or other mobile positioning technologies) if location positioning features had been off, then, once on, log the phone's location position with a date/time stamp, optionally automatically snap picture(s) and/or video(s) and send all that linked data/information via Internet, cellular or other remote electronic connection to another user via an Internet website, an email, text message and/or other form of electronic message.

In the disclosed embodiment of the system and method of the present invention, the system and method of the present invention is configured to automatically send an event notification670(in the form of a call, electronic and/or otherwise or subsequent notification, action and/or trigger) to the primary smartphone application206, the primary smartphone application user750, the primary application system208, the secondary smartphone application204, the web portal interface202and/or to an authorized external party760(e.g., 911, an urgent call center and/or authorized care providers and/or an Internet site) if the mobile phone260is dropped, has not been moved or moved from a geographical location for a predetermined amount of time, if the phone has not reached a predetermined geographical destination by a certain date and time, if the mobile user750has not “checked in” by pressing a special button on the phone260, by not satisfactorily answering a wellness check or mobile medical survey on the mobile phone260and/or by pressing a button on a separate wireless device linked/connected with the mobile phone260. All of these notification triggers802are recognized through the intelligent event identification engine710and processed accordingly. The monitoring process650will recognize if any kind of action or notification event required, partly based on the notification configuration730. If so, an event notification670may be triggered.

The primary smartphone mobile application206can be configured to remain in a listening status via its monitoring processes650to automatically take action (as defined above) upon one or more of the following occurring:A drop in altitude that meets “falling” criteria. The primary smartphone mobile application206can be configured to sense a drop in altitude using the smartphone's accelerometer/gyroscopic technologies612. Falling criteria can be defined to include the rate of drop, the estimated distance dropped and positioning change parameters of the primary smartphone as determined by the phone's accelerometer612. The detailed process for identifying a fall is shown and described inFIG. 17. As shown inFIG. 9, a fall is detected by the smartphone application206and it initiates an automatic check-in902which has both a visual/interactive component906and an audio/voice recognition component904. The monitoring process650listens for both physical responses to the touchscreen in906, audio responses via voice recognition904as well as complete lack of response. In any or all of these cases, a negative and/or lack of response may result in an automatic dial to an urgent response center or 911 as well as an automatic notification to authorized user(s).Idleness. The primary smartphone application206can also be configured using the smartphone's location positioning technologies610,614,616and/or the accelerometer/gyroscopic capabilities612to sense whether the phone260has been moved. The smartphone application206can also be set with criteria for determining whether an alert should be made based on the amount of time the phone has been idle and/or the location of the phone's idleness.Location alerts. The smartphone application206can be configured to alert for notification if the smartphone206is moved from a particular geographic location/locations and/or too a particular geographic location/locations.Lack of check-in/button press. The primary smartphone application system206can require a user750to press a pre-determined button within a pre-set time parameter. If the user750does not press/click the button (physical and/or virtual button), the application alerts for notification events670. The process followed in this case mirrors the process for idleness check as shown and described inFIG. 18.Specific responses to wellness checks/surveys. The smartphone application system206can provide a survey of questions to the user750. Based on preset criteria, specific responses (in the form of button presses and/or clicks and/or input information) or lack of response to the system can cause an alert for notification. The wellness check is a time-based user configurable event executed as shown inFIG. 19.

The mobile application system206can be configured to immediately notify user(s)750,760and/or primary application system208immediately upon one of the foregoing events occurring and/or initiate an inquiry to the mobile user750and/or remote user760to check on the primary mobile application user's750status. For example, the mobile application can ask the user750if they are alright visually and/or audibly through texts, pictures, voice and/or rings/alarms and then listen for a response via a button press and/or audio response (possibly using voice recognition) input of the monitoring processes650. If the inquiry response is negative or there is no response, the application system can then notify the authorized user(s)750and/or760and/or primary application systems206and/or208for further action. Notification can be in any combination of the forms described above as well as logged720for future access by authorized user(s)750,760. The notification process flow for the primary smartphone/application is shown and described inFIG. 20.

Notifications can be automated, periodic events or asynchronous events caused by the primary smartphone application206monitoring processes or through interactions or physical requests from primary mobile application users750and/or remote authorized users760as described in this document and in the description of log triggering events inFIG. 21. As illustrated inFIG. 20, a notification event is triggered. The monitoring processes will first identify recipients that are flagged to be notified for that particular notification event based on the primary smartphone application's configuration. The monitoring process will then determine if the notification is flagged as a critical event notification. If it is, the notification will be sent to the predetermined recipients750,760either directly and/or through the primary application server208. It will then return to the home or previous state.

If the notification event is not flagged as a critical notification, then the monitoring process will check if the SYNC_PERIOD time interval has been reached. If not, the monitoring process will wait until the SYNC_PERIOD time interval has been reached. Once the SYNC_PERIOD time interval has been has been reached, the monitoring process will check the battery status. If the battery power is below a minimum threshold, BATT_MIN, the notification event will be logged and queued for the monitoring process to attempt at the next SYNC_PERIOD time interval. If the battery power is sufficient (at or greater than BATT_MIN), then the monitoring process will confirm whether any kind of call (regular or direct connect) is in session with the primary smartphone. If the primary smartphone application206is unable to send the notification event while a call is in session, it will log the event and queue it to send either when the call is completed or at the next SYNC_PERIOD.

If the primary smartphone application206can send during a call or if the primary smartphone206is not in a call, then the notification will be sent to the identified recipients750,760either directly and/or through the primary application server208and the phone will then return to the home or previous state.

FIG. 21is a flowchart illustrating the logging process in accordance with the principles of the system and method of the present invention. The flowchart illustrates the process for how the system and method of the present invention determines the timing and actions of a logging event. As illustrated, there are three main triggers that cause a logging event:

Option A. A predetermined time schedule determines periodic logging. LOGPERIOD denotes the time between logging runs as stored in the primary smartphone application206database. The monitoring processes described inFIG. 7recognize when a scheduled logging is going to occur. For example, LOGPERIOD could be set at every hour, at which time, the data called for to be logged in that log type is pooled together.

Option B. A change or event-driven log. Examples include but are not limited to logging the responses of a wellness check, logging if a user shakes the primary mobile smartphone206to indicate an urgent 911 dial or dials 911 directly or through hot button, logging a fall detection and user responses, and/or logging reminders and user responses.

Option C. An authorized remote user750, such as a caregiver, can request a log of certain data related to the primary smartphone application206—including, but not limited to: phone movement history (such as GPS/location movement), phone logging, data around delivery and responses to wellness checks and/or reminders (including medication-related reminders), phone idleness, any alerts, etc. An example of when this might be attempted if a caregiver was concerned about the primary smartphone application user750and the data visible, as illustrated inFIG. 5, was not as recent as the caregiver would like. In this case, the caregiver could press a button on their secondary mobile application204or the Internet portal application202and trigger a collection of data to be logged and sent to the primary application system208to be viewed on either system (202,204).

Each notification trigger of any notification trigger type will have FEATURES of data and information to be collected and logged. The monitoring processes include preconfigured definitions of these triggers and the data to be collected in regard to each. For example, a periodic log may track location movement (e.g. GPS or other location-determining system), phone movement (even if in same location), capture photos and/or video to link with the location and phone movement and a date/time stamp. The monitoring processes recognize the different data requirements of that log (as determined in the configuration.

The monitoring processes will then look at the status of the battery life of the primary smartphone to see if the battery life is greater than a minimum power requirement, BATT_MIN. If the battery is below the BATT_MIN level, the primary smartphone application206will add a local log on the primary smartphone application database indicating battery is too low to send the pooled data to the primary application server208. It will abort the log attempt. However, in a slightly altered version, if the primary smartphone application determines that the primary smartphone has enough battery to send a basic message around the battery log but not enough battery to send the larger pooled data collection, it may send a notification message to the primary application server208indicating as such.

If there is enough battery power, the monitoring processes will then determine whether the primary smartphone is on a call—cellular or Internet/VOIP—based, including whether it is a standard, typical phone call or a direct-connect call as described in this application. If any call type is in session, the primary smartphone application206will wait for a period of time to re-attempt the call logging action, as defined in LOG_REATTEMPT. This assumes that the primary smartphone application206is unable to log data at the same time a call is in session. If the smartphone allows the data to be logged while a call is in session and/or if the mobile carrier allows for data to be separately sent while in a call, then this step can be bypassed.

The monitoring processes of the primary smartphone application206will then collect the data regarding the identified FEATURES. The monitoring processes will turn on (if necessary) any primary smartphone hardware or software component such as those identified in602or primary smartphone application feature necessary to collect that data and then collect the data. Otherwise, the data will simply be collected from the data store in the primary mobile application206.

The data will then be written to the system log of the primary mobile application206. It may also be sent to the primary application server208as a notification event. The primary application will then return to the previous state of the application prior to the logging event.

The monitoring process for identifying a fall is illustrated inFIG. 17. In this example, the primary smartphone application206is actively listening and collecting the phone's accelerometer/orientation/positioning information according to a predefined interval, PFREQ, and storing the data in a log for comparison on the primary smartphone application206. The application206is then comparing the log of the data (accelerometer/orientation/positioning data) and determining whether the difference in the movement data points over a predetermined period of time PREQ is equal to or greater than ACCEL_MAX, indicating a high acceleration to warrant a consideration of a falling event.

Similarly, the application206is then comparing the log of the data (accelerometer/orientation/positioning data) and determining whether the vertical height location difference is equal to or greater than HGHT_MAX, indicating that the fall was from a large enough height to consider it a falling event for the purposes of checking-in with the phone user750.

If neither ACCEL_MAX or HGHT_MAX criteria are met, the monitoring processes continue to listen for further events. However, if both criteria as described are met, then a falling event is stored in the log on the primary mobile application206and potentially sent to the Primary Application System (PAS)208. The user750is then prompted to see if they are alright. If the user responds they are alright, then the monitoring process resets and waits for the next event. If the user indicates they are not alright or does not respond at all, the monitoring process logs event locally and may create a notification event to inform the PAS208, authorized remote user(s)760and/or 911.

In the disclosed embodiment of the system and method of the present invention, the system and method of the present invention is configured to automatically notify specified users760(e.g., care providers) via web portal application202and secondary mobile application204if calls are made to a predetermined list of phone number(s). For example, automatically notify authorized users760(via call, electronic message or otherwise) when the mobile user's doctors, nurses, therapists, etc. are dialed and called—and then log720and/or send that information with date/time stamp via Internet and/or cellular network using email, SMS, Internet upload or other electronic connectivity.

The smartphone application software206can be configured to take specialized action based on a user making calls to certain phone numbers and/or specified users. The actions can include notification events670(e.g. call, electronic message or otherwise) to authorized user(s)750,760, as well as logging of information in the primary system for later access by authorized user(s). To initiate a third party conference or to take other kinds of actions described here, the monitoring processes650check call attempts against the configuration setup660and matching numbers result in an event notification670to corresponding systems and parties202,204,206,208,760based on notification configuration730.

In the disclosed embodiment of the system and method of the present invention, the system and method of the present invention is configured to automatically party conference the mobile phone206with pre-determined specified user(s)/care provider(s)760via telephonic and or Internet connectivity (cellular, VOIP, hybrid cellular-VOIP, PBX and/or other call conferencing technology) when calls are made to specific, predetermined phone number(s). The smartphone application system206can be pre-configured and/or updated through the configuration process660with specific phone numbers that when dialed from the primary smartphone206result in a party-line conference call to pre-determined specified user(s)760via telephonic and/or Internet connectivity.

FIG. 10illustrates an example of the interactivity between the primary smartphone application206and the secondary smartphone application204of the invention for purposes of establishing a conference call with authorized third party760based on a call by the primary smartphone application206to a predetermined phone number.

In one example, a call to predetermined phone number results in a notification to an authorized third party760via SMS, email or secondary mobile application204. The secondary mobile application will receive a notification with optional response button(s)1002. Clicking the response buttons1002results in either direct notification to the primary smartphone application206via electronic communication (SMS, internet, or other) causing the primary smartphone206to auto conference the secondary mobile application's204phone number or indirect notification to the primary smartphone application206via electronic communication (SMS, internet or other) to the primary application system208that notifies the primary smartphone application206to initiate a conference call inclusive of the secondary smartphone/application204and the intended phone number. Alternatively, the primary application system208may initiate the party conference to the primary smartphone/application206, the secondary smartphone/application204and the intended phone number.

It should be noted that all embodiments of the method and system descried in the instant application related to auto conferencing should be construed to include conferencing in pre-authorized users760on any phone in addition or substitution to a secondary mobile application204phone and/or to the pre-authorized user's760web portal application202. However, the secondary mobile application204and the web portal application202allows for the interactivity of response1002, including but not limited to prompting the pre-authorized user to be conference called by the system206,208or possibly to have the primary smartphone application206or primary application system208record the phone call or simply ignore the call. This type of interactive response may also be achieved by other phones not running the secondary smartphone application software204through either specific text/SMS interaction and responses and /or audio request with voice recognition and/or number responses on the phone keypad that are interpreted by the primary smartphone application206and/or primary application system208to take one or any of the actions described above.

The conferencing process of the system may work as described above and/or in one or a combination of the following three methods:

Option1: The primary smartphone application system206uses the cellular network's party conference capability to automatically dial the number being called as well as the pre-authorized user(s)760.

Option2: The primary smartphone application206does not actually dial the number specified but alternatively dials a different phone number that connects with a remote application system208(via cellular, Internet and/or hybrid cellular-Internet method or other). The remote application system208creates a party conference with the primary smartphone206user750, the originally intended phone number and the pre-authorized user(s)760.

In either process, the primary smartphone application206will send an electronic notification to the remote application system208either before making the call (as in Option1) or upon pressing the dial button (as in Option2). The remote application system208via monitoring processes650will then recognize the call as a party conference call, log the action request720, optionally notify pre-authorized users760via electronic application notification, text and/or email and/or other notification event670and initiate the telephone calls.

Option3: Upon pressing the dial button, the initiating primary smartphone application206first sends a notification to pre-configured authorized user(s)760phones (which as previously described may or may not use a secondary mobile application204or web portal application202) as well as to a remote application system208via electronic data and/or telephonic means (including using cellular, Internet, and/or hybrid cellular-Internet means). The authorized user(s)760may see the action being initiated through a secondary remote application204on their mobile phone and/or via a text message, email, Internet web portal202and/or other electronic and/or telephonic notification. The authorized user(s)760can then respond to the notification to:A. Allow or not allow the original intended call to be placed, and/orB. Participate or not participate via party conference in the original call to be placed and/orC. Have the primary smartphone application206or the primary application system208record the call for future reference.

If the authorized user760responds that they would not like the call to be placed, the call is not placed and the original user750may be notified via the primary smartphone application206, the remote application system208and/or directly via an electronic and/or telephonic means to the initiating primary smartphone206.

If the authorized user760responds that they would like to participate in the call, the electronic and/or telephone response is sent either directly to the initiating primary smartphone206or indirectly via the remote application system208. At that point, the party conference can be created either directly from the initiating primary smartphone206(as described in Option1) or from the remote application system208(as described in Option2).

Using either process, the smartphone application206can be set to automatically record the conversation via the primary smartphone application206or the primary application system208. Either system can also be set to automatically send notification670using the same means as described herein.

In the disclosed embodiment of the system and method of the present invention, the system and method of the present invention is configured to allow the primary mobile user750or an authorized user/care provider760to create custom, automated wellness checks or surveys that the mobile user750responds to once or periodically and which can have custom actions associated with particular responses and/or results based on software customization.FIG. 11illustrates an example of an automated wellness check question according to the principles of the system and method of the present invention.

Examples of particular automated notification events670by the software would be electronic notification to authorized caregivers and/or notification to urgent response center and/or 911760containing or providing access to survey results, medical or other information, including software-triggered recommendations, mobile phone location tracking information, pictures, audio and/or video captured from the mobile phone206.

The system and method of the present invention is configured such that a user750,760can create a series of questions/surveys1102for the primary mobile smartphone application206that have pre-configured response actions1104. The response inputs1104can vary in number and type—such as a button selection, menu list selection and/or text input. The user750can input information via touch and/or voice response recognition. The primary smartphone application206will record and log the responses along with a date/time stamp and electronically send the information for data collection702to a remote application system208to be monitored550by the intelligent event identification engine710and for access via a web portal202and/or secondary remote mobile application204by authorized user(s)750,760.

Certain specific responses1104and/or response patterns recognized by the intelligent event identification engine710can be set730to initiate selective actions/event notifications670, such as urgent notification to 911 and/or an urgent response center and/or authorized user(s)760. Other actions include special instructions provided to the primary smartphone user750, location tracking initiated and information sent to pre-authorized user(s)760, camera enabled and pictures to be automatically taken via camera module604and sent or live video conference initiated to pre-authorized user(s)760and/or direct connect capabilities initiated (as described herein).

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the survey(s) can be created on the primary smartphone206itself and/or on a remote application system202,204by an authorized user(s)760that then gets uploaded electronically to the primary smartphone application206. The survey(s) can be configured660to be asked at a particular date/time and/or periodically via preset days, times and/or periods of time that authorized user(s)750,760configure. The survey(s) can be saved on the remote application system208where they can be enabled and/or disabled, saved for later use, and/or reconfigured or re-customized.

FIG. 19is a flowchart illustrating the process followed to execute, collect and log answers for a safety or wellness check in accordance with the principles of the system and method of the present invention. According to a predefined time periods SFREQ and/or WFREQ, a particular safety and/or wellness check is initiated according to the monitoring processes. The primary smartphone application user750will responds to the series of questions as described, with each question and answer being logged accordingly in the primary application system206. As described individual and/or collective answers options can be preconfigured to trigger a notification event, including to authorized remote users760. If the user responds to a question or series of questions that trigger notification (possibly a “negative response” indicating they do not feel alright) then an event notification is created and triggered to notify the primary application system208, authorized remote users750and/or possibly 911. However if the response(s) do not trigger a notification event, then the responses are logged and the system either continues to ask further questions of the safety/wellness check or completes the status/wellness check and logs the response locally on the primary smartphone application206and may send information to primary application system208.

In the disclosed embodiment of the system and method of the present invention, the system and method of the present invention is configured to provide caregiving features to a primary smartphone application user750through a primary mobile smartphone206and/or remote Internet application202,208and/or secondary mobile application204, including but not limited to those mentioned elsewhere in the application as well as those mentioned below.FIG. 12illustrates exemplary interfaces on the primary smartphone application206for some of the caregiving features described according to the principles of the system and method of the present invention.FIG. 12specifically illustrates examples of medically-related instructions, specialized alarms, medication tracking & renewal/refill reminders and potential actions/hot buttons that can be defined and used according to the principles of the system and method of the present invention.a. Medically-related instructions including therapy and medication instructions or other information, news and/or instructions1208relevant to the primary smartphone user750sent to mobile user750by authorized remote user/caregiver or authorized medical provider760. Examples of other kinds of information1208include addresses, driving directions and/or other instructions.b. Specialized alarms, alerts and schedules1202,1204,1206that notify the primary smartphone user750of appointments and provide related, relevant information. For example, an appointment reminder1206that also includes instructions on diet and driving directions linked together and then logged on the primary mobile phone application206and primary application system208and via Internet with date/time stamp, the type of alert or alarm, the information linked with alarm and the mobile user's response (such as acknowledgement of the alarm). These alarms, alerts & schedules are specialized notification objects that may contain the standard event information (such as date/time, subject, description, alarm repeat information & duration) as well as having an active status (active or inactive), specialized system messages and trigger links Some of the trigger links may be tied to the user interface, such as with action buttons beyond the usual confirmation, snooze and cancel buttons. These notification objects are incorporated into the monitoring processes650and intelligent event identification engine710and could be linked with actions/notification events670that can be taken. Examples include a medication refill alert that prompts the user750to push a button to directly call the user's preferred pharmacy, the phone number of which is stored and specially flagged in the database by the primary mobile application206. In another similar example, a medication renewal alert may prompt a button that directly calls the prescribing physician, whose information is stored and linked with the medication in the medical profile data of the primary mobile application206. It could be that the phone number for that physician is also, separately, flagged for auto third party conferencing of a specified remote authorized user760. Upon pressing the call button, the primary mobile application206will call the physician and go through the auto third party notification and conferencing process described previously in this application. In another example, a medication, refill or renewal reminder will have an option for the user750to select that they no longer take that medication. Doing so may stop any further alarm reminders that the system was configured to deliver by removing the alert, causing it to be inactive or removing any future repeat configurations on the alert. It may also cause notification to remote authorized caregivers760as previously described. These alarms, alerts and schedules can be setup on the primary mobile phone206itself or remotely through a cellular and/or Internet connection by the user750and/or by an authorized user/caregiver750.c. Medication tracking features that notify primary application user750when time to take a medication, and/or when a medication refill and/or medication renewal is approaching1204and whether a refill is available. These medication tracking features are incorporated into the monitoring processes650and intelligent event identification engine710and can be linked with actions/notification events670that can be taken. For example, the primary mobile application206and/or the primary application system208can automatically request a refill and/or renewal on medications or can prompt the mobile user750to have the system206,208automatically request a refill and/or renewal to the physician(s) and/or preferred pharmacy via pressing an action button1210or through voice recognition on the primary smartphone application206according to profile as stored in the primary user's configuration660. The system and method of the present invention is configured to log the events, information and associated actions via the data collection process702for reference by the primary user750and/or by an authorized user/caregiver760. These medication tracking features and actions can be setup directly on the primary mobile phone application206or remotely through a cellular and/or Internet connection by an authorized user/caregiver750using the web portal202and/or the secondary smartphone application204.d. Specialized hot buttons dialers for initiating calls to urgent calls to 911 and/or urgent response centers, different operators, concierge service and/or other service providers. Once pressed, these buttons not only connect user750to 911 and/or urgent response centers (or other intended receiver), it also causes notification670to authorized users/caregiver(s)760and a logging of event720for view by primary smartphone user750and/or authorized remote users760. These button(s) can be graphical action buttons on the primary mobile phone screen similar to those in1210or buttons located outside the screen on the primary mobile phone206itself.e. A series of pre-customized texts that the primary mobile user750can use to communicate with authorized users/caregivers and/or medical providers760without having to type an entire or portion of a text notification. These pre-customized texts can be customized on the primary mobile phone application206or remotely on the web portal interface202and/or secondary mobile phone204by an authorized user/caregiver760and electronically sent through the configuration process660back to the primary mobile phone application206for use with text, email and/or other messaging features utilized by the primary mobile phone application206.f. Specialized web/Internet202and mobile phone portals204for administrative and caregiving access and interaction with the primary mobile smartphone application206and among authorized remote users760by a primary mobile user's750medical providers, living facility administration, urgent response centers, other lifestyle and/or application providers and authorized caregivers760. Different kinds of authorized remote users760may have their own specialized interface to those applications202,204.

As mentioned above,FIG. 5illustrates exemplary features that a specialized caregiving Internet portal202and secondary caregiver mobile phone application204has in the disclosed embodiment of the system and method of the present invention. Such a portal202and/or mobile phone application204preferably are accessible through both secure Internet and mobile applications, allowing authorized users/caregivers760to interact with the primary smartphone user750via the primary smartphone application206. Preferably, authorized users/caregivers760are allowed to update the primary smartphone application settings remotely—such as the phone book526, medical profile524, calendar appointments520,522, location tracking interval settings502,504, call recording and notification settings504,512,516,518,520,522,526, urgent notification settings502,512,516,518,520,522,524,526and usability settings526such as changing colors, font size, ring and volume options or others described in the other claims of this application. It could also be used to send information to the primary smartphone application206—such as instructions for taking medication or driving directions.

Examples of remote authorized users760might include, but are not limited to: family, volunteer caregivers, occupational therapists, medical providers, and/or independent living facility staff.

The remote application system208, caregiver portal202and/or the secondary mobile applications204allow the primary mobile user750and remote authorized users760to also get in touch with the larger caregiver community. Authorized users/caregivers760can interact with one another, sharing advice or tips. Such users can also find technical assistance.

In one embodiment of the system and method of the present invention, the secondary mobile application204, with some and/or all of its described functionality, can co-exist on the primary mobile phone206and be used in conjunction with the primary mobile phone application206. Similarly, a primary mobile phone user750can also serve the role of an authorized remote user760and vice versa in various situations. For example, a spouse can act as both a care receiver750and a caregiver760. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that all embodiments, methods, systems and/or processes described in the instant application should be construed also incorporating the possibility of this dual role.

In the disclosed embodiment of the system and method of the present invention, the system and method of the present invention is configured such that web portal202and the secondary smartphone application204provides access to a storefront for obtaining the system software solutions and related cellular hardware, services and accessories.

One embodiment of the system and method of the present invention further comprises a radio alert connectivity device1302that, when activated, sends a signal to its host radio-enabled mobile phone206(e.g., via Bluetooth618or other radio616,630) to dial a predetermined number and/or connect via secure Internet connection to a predetermined application and/or call center and/or other authorized user760.

FIG. 13illustrates an example of a radio alert connectivity device according to the principles of the system and method of the present invention. In addition to containing a radio1308for communicating with the primary smartphone application206, the alert connectivity device1302also contains a microphone1306and speakerphone1304that can be used to listen and speak with primary phone user750as well as the remotely authorized person/call center760to whom the primary smartphone application and phone206are connected. The device1302also initiates location tracking of the primary smartphone device206, message notifications670(via text, email or Internet) to authorized third parties760and picture and/or video capture & send notifications670. Essentially, the device1320turns the primary smartphone206into a mobile Personal Emergency Response System (PERS).

As discussed above, the system and method of the present invention comprises software among the primary system application208, the web application202and the secondary mobile application204configured to remotely customize the primary mobile phone application206—including font size, screen colors, volume, creating and setting custom alarms with calling actions, creating and setting custom surveys with calling actions, editing/updating phone contact information, medical profile, turning on/off certain features as well as interacting with the primary smartphone206via the methods described in all the claims in this application. Configuration changes and setup are made via the interfaces of the web portal application202and/or the secondary mobile application204. The information is captured and pushed either directly to the primary mobile application206or indirectly to the primary application system208which may either push the changes through to the primary mobile application206real time and/or wait for a synchronization event between the primary mobile application206and the primary application system208to occur. The primary application system208will treat the setup and configuration changes as data collected702and log the information in the logging database720for the monitoring processes650, for viewing by primary users750and authorized remote users760and to eventually push to and synchronize with the primary smartphone application206any changes made directly on the primary smartphone application206itself.

In the disclosed embodiment of the system and method of the present invention, the system and method of the present invention is configured to maintain a medical profile of the primary mobile user750on the primary mobile phone application206that can be accessed and/or updated on the mobile phone206itself or remotely via cellular and/or Internet connection by authorized users for use by the primary mobile application206.FIG. 14illustrates an exemplary interface showing how a medical profile might function on the primary smartphone application206. In one embodiment, a sticker on the back of the phone206provides easy instructions for quick access to the medical profile.

A medical profile can include, but is not limited to, information such as medical conditions, allergies and/or drug sensitivities, reactions, medical devices, medications, blood type and/or other relevant patient information for reference in urgent and non-urgent medical situations. The profile can be updated by authorized users750,760on the primary smartphone application206or remotely through the secure remote application system208including an Internet web portal202and/or secondary mobile application204. Certain parts of the medical profile can be flagged in the application's database by the user to be shown on the home screen and/or locked screen of the primary mobile application206.

In the disclosed embodiment of the system and method of the present invention, the system and method of the present invention is configured to recognize a shaking pattern and/or a voice (through voice recognition) that results in the primary mobile phone206answering the phone and/or resulting in taking other pre-determined actions670(instead of pushing a button to answer the phone or take an action).

A predefined physical shaking pattern is into the primary mobile smartphone application206, which then senses changes in movement based on the accelerometer/gyroscopic technology612embedded in the phone. In a process similar to the fall detection monitoring process shown and described inFIG. 17, if the primary mobile user750shakes the phone206in a manner consistent with a predefined pattern in which acceleration timing is greater than a minimum, pre-defined value and direction change indicates a pattern of movement over a short distance (less than a pre-defined value), followed abruptly by inverted movement over a similar short distance, and then repeated at minimum a number of predefined number of times, the primary mobile smartphone application206can recognize the pattern via the monitoring processes650and the intelligent event identification engine710and take predetermined actions670, such as answering an incoming call and/or taking the response to mean an answer to a question such as “yes” or “no” to a phone survey (as described elsewhere in the instant application) or to initiate a call to a phone number (such as 911 or an urgent call center) that has been pre-linked to a particular pattern.

In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, the primary mobile smartphone application206can prompt the mobile user750for whether they would like to answer the phone, dial a user and/or take similar action and then utilize established voice recognition (VR) technology via APIs into that VR software to await a predetermined voice response (such as “Yes” or “Answer”). Using the monitoring processes650previously described, the intelligent event identification engine710can recognize and match the pattern it sees, consult the configuration660and create appropriate event notifications670.

In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, the primary mobile smartphone application206and/or the secondary mobile application204is configured to allow the mobile user (750,760) to switch back-and-forth between standard telephonic, cellular-based audio phone connectivity and a VOIP/Internet-based audio and/or video connection, including while a phone call is underway or while it may appear to the user that the phone call is underway.

FIG. 1shows an example of this functionality andFIG. 22aillustrates the process of the system and method of the present invention for switching from a standard telephonic, cellular-based audio phone call to an Internet-based, VOIP connection that allows both audio and/or video connectivity while a standard, telephonic, cellular-based audio phone call is underway within the application system.

FIG. 22billustrates the process of the system and method of the present invention for switching from an Internet-based/VOIP connection to a standard telephonic, cellular-based audio phone call while an Internet-based/VOIP connection is underway within the application system.

While a call is underway, the user750,760can switch among a standard telephonic, cellular-based audio call, a VOIP-based audio call and a VOIP-based audio/video call. This is initiated by either the primary mobile user750pressing a button to switch (as illustrated inFIG. 1) on the primary mobile application206in-call screen or by a remote user, such as a remote authorized user760, pressing a similar button on their in-call screen of the secondary mobile application204, the web portal application interface202, and/or a special version of a secondary mobile application204that is designed specifically for (possibly non-authorized) remote users in order to leverage the video streaming/VOIP client that the primary application system208utilizes and requires to make a video/VOIP call. Such as connection switch between audio and/or video and audio may be accomplished as follows:

When the existing call is standard telephonic, cellular-based audio call and the “initiating” user clicks to switch to either a VOIP-based audio or audio/video call, the process of the system and method of the present invention, as illustrated inFIG. 22ais as follows:

When the initiating user is in a standard telephonic, cellular-based audio call, they will have the option to select a button that indicates they can switch to a VOIP call (and possibly given choice whether to maintain audio only or go to video and audio VOIP call). The VOIP call button is only active if the local application (which could be204or206) of the initiating user has that particular contact in the phonebook flagged in the local database as having VOIP access. Alternatively, the local application can check that the remote application has VOIP connectivity after the initiating user clicks on the switch button. Upon clicking, the switch button, the application may confirm intentions with the initiating user. A positive response results in the initiating application204,206showing a message to initiating user to wait while the VOIP connection is established. The initiating application's204or206VOIP client will then initiate a VOIP connection to the same contact as the telephonic phone number as linked in the local application204or206database. This will be accomplished through the primary application server's (PAS)208VOIP server. The PAS208will electronically confirm the “recipient” mobile application's status of its VOIP client to confirm that it exists, is enabled and possibly that it is connected to the Internet and possibly the strength of connection.

If unable to confirm these facets, the PAS208will send an electronic message to the initiating mobile application204,206that the other party does not have VOIP available and the standard, telephonic audio call will continue. If the call has already been dropped for any reason (including dropped by the initiating application204,206in order to attempt a VOIP connection), then the message from the PAS will trigger the initiating application204,206to auto-dial the original contact phone number and the recipient mobile application204,206will recognize the phone number and may automatically pick-up the standard, telephonic phone call.

If the PAS208is able to confirm that the recipient mobile application's204,206VOIP client's status (i.e., that it exists, is enabled and possibly that it is connected to the Internet and possibly connection strength) then the PAS's208VOIP server will reach out to the recipient application's204,206VOIP client and establish a bridge connection with the initiating application's204,206VOIP client.

At any point after initiating the switch, either the initiating mobile application204,206or the PAS208will have notified the recipient remote application204,206to disconnect the standard telephonic audio call and enable, if disabled, the recipient mobile application's204,206VOIP client. If the notification came from the initiating mobile application204,206, then the initiating mobile application204,206will also disconnect the audio call on its own phone. If the notification came from the PAS208, the PAS208will also notify the initiating mobile application204,206to disconnect from the standard telephonic call, likely after confirming that a VOIP connection could be established.

When the existing call is a VOIP-based audio or audio/video call and the initiating user wants to switch between VOIP-based audio and audio/video, the VOIP connection will toggle back and forth in what is an established process for the VOIP connection.

When the existing call is a VOIP-based audio or audio/video call and the initiating user wants to switch to a standard telephonic, cellular-based audio call (perhaps because the Internet connection is not strong at the moment and the initiating mobile application204,206indicates to user that cellular signal strength is strong), the initiating user clicks on a button to switch during the call and the process of the system and method of the present invention, as illustrated inFIG. 22b, is as follows:

When the initiating user is in a VOIP-based audio or audio/video call, they will have the option to select a button that indicates they can switch to a standard telephonic, audio-based cellular call. Upon clicking, the switch button, the application may confirm intentions with the initiating user. A positive response will cause the initiating application204,206to then check whether a cellular signal is available (and possibly strong enough). If not, a message will indicate this to the user and the existing VOIP-based call will continue. Alternatively, initiating application204,206could continuously check status of cellular signal and disable switch when cellular signal is not available.

Assuming the cellular signal is present (and possibly strong enough), the initiating application204,206will message the initiating user to wait while a standard call is established. The initiating application will then initiate a cellular call to the recipient application's204,206phone.

If both initiating and recipient application's204,206are able to maintain both a VOIP connection and standard cellular connection simultaneously, then the recipient application204,206will recognize the phone number via the contact link in the application's204,206database and automatically pick up the phone. At that point, the VOIP connection could be dropped by the initiating application, the receiving application204,206or the PAS's208VOIP server.

If either the initiating or recipient application's204,206phone (or both) are unable to simultaneously maintain a VOIP connection and standard cellular connection simultaneously, then either the initiating application204,206, the recipient application204,206or the PAS208will cause the VOIP client to drop the connection prior to initiating the cellular call. The initiating mobile application204,206would have electronically communicated the intention of the connection switch to both the PAS208and recipient application204,206via electronic communication methods, possibly including via VOIP connection, other internet connection or SMS.

In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, VOIP calls can be made from the outset (not only switched during calls) via the primary mobile application206, the secondary mobile application204and/or the web application system202. The local phonebook database within all those applications is configured to register whether a contact has registered a compatible VOIP client with the PAS208.

In the disclosed embodiment, the system and method of the present invention comprises the aggregated feature set and/or subsets of the capabilities and features described in this application, for use in connecting primary users750and authorized remote parties760(e.g. caregivers) with one another for urgent and non-urgent situations. The feature set includes but is not limited to audio and/or video direct connect, automated remote connectivity, automated call conferencing based on predetermined phone numbers, location tracking, automated picture and/or video sending/remote camera monitoring, automated location tracking with photo and/or video logging, intelligent monitoring of urgent and non-urgent situations, including but not limited to lack of movement with the primary mobile phone206, lack of reaching a location by the primary mobile phone206, automated fall detection, automated wellness checks/custom actionable surveys, as well as remotely updating and customizing the primary mobile phone application206from a secure Internet application202and/or secondary mobile applications204and a specialized user interface that compels the primary application user750to utilize their smartphone206though it is not required to make use of the application features described herein.

In the disclosed embodiment, the system and method of the present invention further comprises a unique purchase and installation process. In the disclosed embodiment, those wishing to purchase the software and/or devices compatible with the system and method of the instant invention can either call or visit a predetermined website202. In the disclosed embodiment, there are two different paths depending on whether the user750,760does or does not already have an existing compatible device.

For users750,760who do not yet own a compatible device, there are five key steps to the purchase process:1. Smartphone and cellular plan selection.The website makes recommendations for specific smartphones that have been thoroughly tested to be compatible with the system and method of the present invention.A secondary mobile application204can also be separately purchased and/or downloaded. The secondary mobile application204is not necessary for receiving text messages or calls on their cell phones.2. User information gatheringInformation gathered includes:a. Primary User750contact informationb. Authorized user(s)/Caregiver(s)760contact information (primary administrator and/or others)c. Preferences for customization660of primary smartphone application206information, including but not limited to: medical profile (if desired), any initial phonebook entries (doctors, caregivers, living facility, etc.), any automated reminders, automated wellness checks and wellness check content, caregiver notification options, phone tracking options for urgent situations (location tracking on/off, tracking intervals, call logging, camera picture snapping on/off, video conference options, simplified interface on/off, etc.) . . .Emails may be sent to the authorized remote user(s)760if provided in the setup process as well as possibly a unique code or series of codes via SMS or by calling the authorized remote user(s)760phone that will be required to be entered and match in order to help confirm their identification from two separate sources.3. Consent and authorization formsElectronic disclaimers and authorization forms for primary users750and authorized user(s)/caregiver(s)760. If the primary user750is not the purchaser or present on the phone when purchasing, they will need to authorize usage on their phone206when it is received.4. Shipping & payment for any purchases, including but not limited to: primary smartphone and primary smartphone application206and/or secondary mobile smartphone and application204.For new primary mobile phone206purchases, the primary mobile application206will be configured and customized so that the phone206is ready to go when the user750receives it. After a user750,760has completed the order, they are presented with an optional online tutorial.5. Phone arrivalOnce the primary smartphone with primary smartphone application206has arrived and the user750,760turns it on, the primary smartphone application206will automatically run and initiate a “startup” process to activate the phone, provide electronic disclaimer/authorization, and to provide an optional tutorial to demonstrate how the phone works. Alternatively, the user750,760may connect to a system operator for a talk-through demonstration and to answer any questions. The primary smartphone application206will have pre-installed all of the preference settings provided during the purchase process, which then can be adjusted at any time on the phone206or remotely by an authorized user/caregiver and/or company authorized operator760.

If the primary user750already has a smartphone that is compatible with the primary smartphone application206, they can go to an authorized marketplace to purchase and download the primary smartphone application software206to their smartphones. They then can visit a specific website202to provide additional user information, setup authorized user(s)/caregiver(s)760, customize other user settings and purchase any additional hardware or accessories (as described above). Alternatively, the user can open the newly downloaded primary smartphone application206and/or secondary mobile phone application204which will also walk them through the setup process on the phone itself as well as provide the appropriate electronic disclaimer(s).

All patents referred to herein, are hereby incorporated herein by reference, whether or not specifically done so within the text of this disclosure.