Abstract:
A novel system and method for identifying objects uses a device, such as a pen. The device has integrated components and wireless access to identify objects according to stickers placed on the objects.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/818,738, filed Jul. 6, 2006, and entitled “Method and Apparatus for a Health-Monitoring System using a Wireless Pen,” by C. Zegelin, et al., which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND  
       [0002]     A number of problems arise in taking medicine. Individuals need to remember to take medicine. They need to take just the right amount. Some individuals even take the wrong medicine if not prevented from doing so.  
         [0003]     Many individuals take medicine on a schedule. Often times this schedule is regimented and involves a number of different medicines. The complexity makes remembering which medicines to take at which times difficult for individuals.  
         [0004]     Caregivers sometimes create medicine schedules for the individuals. This requires that individuals have a caregiver. However, caregivers are in short supply and are expensive. Further, some individuals cannot remember to look at the schedule. This requires a caregiver to be present to look at the schedule for the individual as well as encourage the individual to take the medicine.  
         [0005]     In identifying medicine, pill bottles all look the same to some individuals. The labeling on the bottles is small and sometimes difficult for to read. Individuals can misidentify medicine. This is dangerous because individuals who take many pills could become ill or overdose by taking the wrong medicine.  
         [0006]     The foregoing examples of the related art and limitations related herewith are intended to be illustrative and not exclusive. Other limitations of the related art will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0007]     The following embodiments and aspects thereof are described and illustrated in conjunction with systems, tools, and methods that are meant to be exemplary and illustrative, not limiting in scope. In various embodiments, one or more of the above-described problems have been reduced or eliminated, while other embodiments are directed to other improvements.  
         [0008]     A novel system and method use stickers and a device to identify objects. A device identifies the objects by the stickers placed on the objects.  
         [0009]     In the case of identifying medicine, stickers are used to identify medicine by placing the stickers on medicine containers. The stickers are used to regulate the time and dosage of the individual&#39;s intake of one or more medicines. The schedule is prepared according to a predetermined prescription issued by the individual&#39;s doctor. The device has integrated communication means and wireless access to communicate with caregivers and doctors.  
         [0010]     In using the device, stickers are placed on the medicine containers to identify the medicine to the device. The device monitors the schedule for the medicine. At the appropriate time, the device notifies the individual to take the medicine. The individual places the device near the sticker. There the device identifies the medicine by the sticker attached to the medicine container. The device determines whether the medicine is the correct medicine or not. If the medicine is incorrect, the user is warned not to take it.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     Embodiments of the inventions are illustrated in the figures. However, the embodiments and figures are illustrative rather than limiting; they provide examples of the inventions.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  depicts an example of a system  100  for identifying objects using a wireless device.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  depicts a flowchart  200  of an example of a method of identifying medicine and scheduling medicine intake.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  depicts an example of a device  300  including a plurality of integrated devices.  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  depicts a flowchart  400  of an example of a method for using a wireless device to identify medicine and schedule intake.  
         [0016]      FIG. 5  depicts an example of system  500  including a wireless device tapping a medicine container while a camera of the wireless device takes a picture of a sticker on the medicine container to identify medicine.  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  depicts an example system  600  including an individual talking to a caregiver who gives advice to the individual over the internet via a wireless device.  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  depicts an example of a wireless pen  700  including a plurality of integrated devices.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]     In the following description, several specific details are presented to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or in combination with other components, etc. In other instances, well-known implementations or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of various embodiments of the invention.  
         [0020]      FIG. 1  depicts an example of a system  100  for identifying and scheduling medicine intake using a wireless device. Although this illustration depicts components as functionally separate, such depiction is merely for illustrative purposes. Those skilled in the art know that the components portrayed in this figure can be arbitrarily combined or divided into separate software, firmware, and/or other hardware components. Furthermore, such components, regardless of how they are combined or divided, can execute on the same computing device or multiple computing devices wherein the multiple computing devices can be connected by one or more networks.  
         [0021]     The system  100  includes individual  102 , wireless device  104 , object  106 , sticker  107 , remote terminal  108 , caregiver  109 , printer  110 , internet  112 , and server  114 . In the example of  FIG. 1  object  104  could be any number of different items, such as medicine, household appliances, pictures, picture frames, doors, food items, and any other item that individual  102  may wish to identify using system  100 . In operation, individual  102  places wireless device  104  near object  106 . Wireless device  104  identifies object  106 ; e.g. individual  102  places sticker  107  on a picture frame, places wireless device  104  near sticker  107 , then wireless device  104  alerts individual  102  as to the contents of the picture frame. In this example of a picture frame, the device could say “this is a picture of your granddaughter.” 
         [0022]     In an illustrative embodiment, individual  102  has a medicine schedule which requires her to take certain medicines at certain times. The wireless device  104  knows the schedule, and is wirelessly connected to printer  110  for printing the medicine schedule and related information. Object  106  is a medicine container. Object  106  has sticker  107  attached to it for identification. Individual  102  is alerted by wireless device  104  that it is time to take her medicine. Individual  102  taps wireless device  104  against sticker  107  and wireless device  104  identifies the medicine in object  106 . Wireless device  104  determines that the medicine contained in medicine container  106  is the correct medicine. Individual  102  then takes medicine from object  106 .  
         [0023]     In some embodiments, wireless device  104  transmits a note to printer  110  which prints the note stating that the medicine has been taken, a report of the medicine taken, or a schedule of medicine to take. Wireless device  104  communicates with remote terminal  108  to notify caregiver  109  that the medicine has been taken. Also, server  114  stores a record that the medicine has been taken.  
         [0024]     In some embodiments, the medicine is not the correct medicine. In the case that individual  102  taps wireless device  104  against the wrong medicine, then wireless device  104  sounds an alert to notify individual  102  that the medicine in the medicine container  106  is not the correct medicine. Individual  102  may then attempt to find the correct medicine for her schedule.  
         [0025]      FIG. 2  depicts a flowchart  200  of an example of a method of identifying medicine and scheduling medicine intake. Although this figure depicts functional steps in a particular order for the purposes of illustration, the process is not limited to any particular order or arrangement of steps. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the various steps portrayed in this figure could be omitted, rearranged, combined and/or adapted in various ways.  
         [0026]     In the example of  FIG. 2 , the flowchart starts at module  202  with positioning a device near a sticker attached to a medicine container. In this example, medicine container contains medicine which is part of a medication schedule, and an individual is using the device to identify the medicine in a medicine container based on the attached sticker. In a non-limiting embodiment, the wireless device described in relation to  FIG. 1  is the device. The device may also be configured as a pen, such as shown and described in regard to  FIG. 7 .  
         [0027]     In the example of  FIG. 2 , the flowchart continues to module  204  with taking a picture of the sticker using a camera of the device. In this example, the device has an integrated camera as well as local storage for an image that is taken by the camera. The image is stored in the local storage for use in future steps.  
         [0028]     In the example of  FIG. 2 , the flowchart continues to module  206  with identifying the sticker as related to the medicine contained in the medicine container the sticker is attached to. The device has related image recognition software as well as a file of stored images to match the image from the camera to. In this example, the image taken by the camera is compared with images on file to find a match with a particular image. Medicine is associated with the image on file, and once the image is recognized, the medicine stored in the medicine container is identified.  
         [0029]     In the example of  FIG. 2 , the flowchart continues to module  208  with producing an alert to provide information about the medicine contained in the medicine container the sticker is attached to. In this example, the medicine is the correct medicine, and the user is alerted that the medicine is correct and should be taken. A discussion of  FIG. 4  explains what to do when the medicine is not correct.  
         [0030]      FIG. 3  depicts an example of a device  300  including a plurality of integrated devices. The device  300  includes environmental sensors  302 , graphic display  304 , accelerometer  306 , buttons  308 , biometric sensors  310 , microphone  312 , light source  314 , camera  316 , vibrator  318 , and speaker  320 .  
         [0031]     In the example of  FIG. 3 , environmental sensors  302  can be used to ascertain a user&#39;s health, ambient temperature, motion of the device and other environmental conditions may be collected. Device  300  may be a wireless device that communicates wirelessly with other devices. Graphic display  304  can be used to provide information about medicine that is to be taken, information regarding an object identified by a sticker, incoming messages to the user and a variety of other information. Accelerometer  306  can be used to provide information to wireless device  300  about the movements of wireless device  300 . Accelerometer  306  can also be used to provide information used to ascertain a user&#39;s health. Buttons  308  receive user input to cause wireless device to perform functions.  
         [0032]     In the example of  FIG. 3 , Biometric sensors  310  may be any of, but not limited to temperature, pressure (such as pressure from grip), blood pressure, conductivity, and a pulse sensor. Microphone  312  receives user voice and other sounds. Light source  314  provides a light for camera  316 . Light source  314  may be a flash. Camera  316  may be used for taking pictures, e.g. for taking a picture of a sticker to identify an object. Vibrator  318  may be used to silently alert an individual with a medicine schedule, incoming messages, or another user specified alert. Speaker  320  projects alerts and recordings. Speaker  320  can be used to communicate using VOIP wherein a remote person&#39;s voice is projected to an individual using the device.  
         [0033]      FIG. 4  depicts a flowchart  400  of an example of a method for using a wireless device to identify medicine and schedule intake. Although this figure depicts functional steps in a particular order for the purposes of illustration, the process is not limited to any particular order or arrangement of steps. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the various steps in this figure could be omitted, rearranged, combined, and/or adapted in various ways.  
         [0034]     In the example of  FIG. 4 , the flowchart starts at module  402  with creating a medicine intake schedule from a prescription. The prescription is created by the individual&#39;s doctor, and may be provided to the individual. In an illustrative embodiment, the prescription may be electronically provided to the patient and stored in a server. The prescription dictates the times and dosages of the medicine to be taken. The medicine intake schedule lists times and relevant information, e.g. a number of pills to take at the specified times. The medicine intake schedule, or part of the schedule, is stored on a device the individual can use as part of her health monitoring system.  
         [0035]     In the example of  FIG. 4 , the flowchart continues to module  404  with affixing a sticker to a medicine container to identify a medicine. In an illustrative embodiment, the sticker is an adhesive based sticker bearing an image. The image is associated with a medicine. The medicine is identified by the image on the sticker. Other methods of identifying a medicine using a sticker are contemplated, e.g. barcodes, embedded chip, or other forms of attaching an identifying sticker which can quickly and easily be recognized.  
         [0036]     In the example of  FIG. 4 , the flowchart continues to module  406  with alerting an individual to take a medicine. This alert can be auditory, by text, light, vibration, or any other means of getting an individual&#39;s attention. The alert is timed by the schedule, and occurs at or before the time that the individual is required to take her medication. In an illustrative embodiment, the alert sounds 5 minutes before it is time to take the medicine so that the individual is able to prepare to take the medicine. The timing of the alert may be changed as is convenient or desirable.  
         [0037]     In the example of  FIG. 4 , the flowchart continues to module  408  with positioning a device near a sticker attached to a medicine container. This positioning could be pointing at, tapping, swiping, or otherwise bringing a device into a close proximity with the sticker. In an illustrative embodiment, the device is tapped against the sticker. Tapping both brings the device near the sticker and provides the individual with a specific action to take that can be mentally associated with determining the contents of the medicine container.  
         [0038]     In the example of  FIG. 4 , the flowchart continues to module  410  with taking a picture of the sticker using a camera of the device. The camera being in close proximity to the sticker is able to capture the image on the sticker.  
         [0039]     In the example of  FIG. 4 , the flowchart continues to module  412  with identifying the medicine by the sticker attached to the medicine container. Image recognition software associated with the device will associate the picture taken with the camera and a picture on file. This association will be used to determine a medicine contained in the medicine container to which the sticker is attached to.  
         [0040]     In the example of  FIG. 4 , the flowchart continues to module  414  with determining whether the medicine is the correct medicine to take or not according to the medicine intake schedule. Once the medicine has been identified, the device compares the medicine with the medicine listed on the schedule. If the medicine does not match, then the device assumes that the incorrect medicine has been selected. If the medicine does match, then the device assumes that the correct medicine has been selected. This decision is made based on the sticker. It is a requirement that the correct sticker be applied to the correct medicine container.  
         [0041]     In the example of  FIG. 4 , if the correct medicine was selected, the flowchart continues to module  416  with confirming the medicine is correct. This confirmation could be an alert to notify the individual that the medicine is the correct medicine. E.g. the device makes a noise, vibrates, displays text, or otherwise alerts the individual that the medicine is correct.  
         [0042]     In the example of  FIG. 4 , if the incorrect medicine was selected, the flowchart continues to module  418  with alerting the individual that the individual is not following the schedule. The medicine is incorrect. The individual is notified that the wrong medicine has been selected. This will prevent the individual from taking the wrong medicine.  
         [0043]     In the example of  FIG. 4 , the flowchart then continues back to module  406  with alerting an individual to take a medicine. This will prompt the individual to proceed through modules  408 ,  410 ,  412 ,  414 , and  416  to the end. This will assure that the individual takes the correct medicine.  
         [0044]     In some embodiments a wireless device is the device as discussed in reference to  FIG. 4  and the wireless device is used to tap against a sticker on a medicine container to identify the medicine contained in the medicine container.  FIG. 5  depicts an example of system  500  including a wireless device tapping a medicine container while a camera of the device takes a picture of a sticker on the medicine container to identify medicine. In the example of  FIG. 5  system  500  includes wireless device  502 , medicine container  504 , and sticker  506 . In the example of  FIG. 5 , wireless device  502  is tapped against sticker  506  located on medicine container  504 . This places wireless device  502  in close proximity to sticker  506  on medicine container  504  so that wireless device  502  can identify sticker  506 , such as by taking a picture of sticker  506  and using image recognition software to identify medicine in medicine container  504 .  
         [0045]     In some embodiments a wireless device is used to communicate with a caregiver or doctor.  FIG. 6  depicts an example system  600  including an individual talking to a caregiver who gives advice to the individual over the internet via a wireless device. In the example of  FIG. 6  system  600  includes individual  602 , wireless device  604 , internet  606 , remote terminal  608  and caregiver  610 . In the example of  FIG. 6  Individual  602  speaks into a microphone integrated into wireless device  604 , and that voice is digitized and transmitted over internet  606 , e.g. via VOIP, or a digital voice transmission protocol having a higher fidelity than VOIP. Caregiver  610  hears the voice of individual  602  through remote terminal  608 . Caregiver  610  may communicate through a microphone of remote terminal  608 . Wireless device  604  projects the voice of caregiver  608  via a speaker so that individual  602  may hear caregiver  610 .  
         [0046]      FIG. 7  depicts an example of a wireless pen  700  including a plurality of integrated devices. Although this illustration depicts components as functionally separate, such depiction is merely for illustrative purposes. Those skilled in the art know that the components portrayed in this figure can be arbitrarily combined or divided into separate software, firmware, and/or hardware components. Furthermore, such components, regardless of how they are combined or divided, can execute on the same computing device or multiple computing devices, and wherein the multiple computing devices can be connected by one or more networks.  
         [0047]     In the example of  FIG. 7  the wireless pen  700  includes microphone  702 , graphic display  704 , speaker  706 , vibrator  708 , light  709 , camera  710 , and writing tip  712 . Here the microphone  702  can be used for receiving instructions to the pen, or recording voice, and even communicating in an outbound manner over the internet to caregivers, doctors, or other persons, e.g. via voice over internet protocol (VOIP) or similar means of transmitting voice. Graphic display provides characters to an individual using the pen. In a non-limiting embodiment, the display has two rows of display. It can display either two rows of characters or one row of large characters. Speaker  706  projects alerts and recordings. Speaker  706  can be used to communicate using VOIP wherein a remote person&#39;s voice is projected to an individual using the pen. Vibrator  708  causes the pen to shake or vibrate in order to alert a user, such as in the case that the user needs to be alerted without using noise. Light  709  provides light, and/or a flash for camera  710  so that camera  710  may take a picture. Camera  710  is takes pictures, such as of stickers attached to medicine containers. Writing tip  712  can be a pen, a pencil, a marker, and any other device which can be used to handwrite with.  
         [0048]     It will be appreciated to those skilled in the art that the preceding examples and embodiments are exemplary and not limiting to the scope of the present invention. It is intended that all permutations, enhancements, equivalents, and improvements thereto that are apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and a study of the drawings are included within the true spirit and scope of the present invention. It is therefore intended that the following appended claims include all such modifications, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true scope of the present invention.