Abstract:
An alarm system is designed to remind individuals, specifically individuals suffering from memory related diseases, of scheduled events and appointments. The device utilizes a digital scheduling device, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), to input messages to be communicated at a scheduled time. The message is communicated via a set of speakers either directly or indirectly connected to the digital scheduling device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to an alarm system for reminding an individual of scheduled events and appointments. 
   More particularly, this invention pertains to an alarm system to help remind individuals suffering from memory related diseases. 
   Systems for reminding individuals of scheduled events are well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,831,568 discloses a personal digital assistant (PDA) which inserts into a cradle. The personal digital assistant is utilized to store certain scheduling information. At the time of the scheduled event the cradle contains a simple alarm which provides a visual blinking signal in addition to a typical alarm sound signal, such as a buzzing sound. 
   Another prior art embodiment, U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,056, contains a control program including a program timer which determines the time when dosages of medication are to be taken from a pillbox. Upon reaching the scheduled time, a simple alarm is rung in order to remind the individual to take a particular medication. 
   None of the prior art systems, however, teaches a system which actually communicates a message to the user about a particular appointment or medical event. All of the prior art systems simply contain simple alarms which send blinking signals or buzzing sounds or do not contain a separate device such as a docking unit dedicated to the communication of the message to the patient. Particularly, no device utilizes a digital scheduling unit, such as a personal digital assistant to assist a dementia patient with medical appointments and medical events. 
   What is needed, then, is a system which contains a unit for the communication of messages to a dementia patient. In this manner, the capabilities of a digital scheduling unit, such as a PDA, can be maximized to assist persons suffering from memory diseases. 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   As described in detail in this application, the invention has several features which can assist patients dealing with memory problems. The device contains a docking unit which docks a digital scheduling unit and connects the scheduling unit to attendant devices through a data port. The device also contains a memory device and a microprocessor wherein the message inputted from the digital scheduling unit is stored in the memory device. At the scheduled time, the microprocessor causes the transfer of the message to a messaging device which communicates the message. The communication of the message thus directly alerts a dementia patient of the scheduled task to be performed. 
   Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to remind persons with memory diseases of scheduled appointments or events. 
   Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which reminds a person of a scheduled event by actually communicating a message. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to utilize the scheduling functions of a digital scheduling unit, such as a PDA, to remind persons of scheduled events. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide a system for communicating a message about a scheduled event which can communicate the message remotely to messaging devices not positioned at the actual scheduling device. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to verbalize a message to a person suffering from a memory disease so that they may be reminded of the specific task to be performed. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to remind a person to take a medicine at a scheduled time. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a top view of one embodiment of this invention with a docking unit. 
       FIG. 2A  is a block diagram of one embodiment of the present invention wherein the microprocessor and the memory device are contained within the docking unit. 
       FIG. 2B  is one embodiment of the present invention wherein the microprocessor and the memory device are contained within the digital scheduling unit. 
       FIG. 3  is a front view of an embodiment of the present invention having a display for textually representing a message. 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of a remote speaker. 
       FIG. 5  is a top view of a second embodiment of this invention containing an alarm and a set of pillboxes. 
       FIG. 6  is a top view of a third embodiment of this invention with a message transfer unit. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 ,  2 A and  2 B, the device contains a docking unit  10  having a data port  12 . The data port  12  may be any port suitable for the transfer of data. Such ports include a 6 mini DIN female port, a 5 DIN female port, a 4 mini DIN port, a DB 9  or DB  15  female or male port or a USB port. The device also contains a messaging device  14  which in this case is a speaker  26 . A digital scheduling unit  20 , which in the diagram is a personal digital assistant  20 A, inputs a message for communication at a scheduled time. While the figure shows a personal digital assistant  20 A, any digital unit having the capability of inputting messages for communication at a scheduled time is suitable. Thus, the digital scheduling unit  20  may be a digital device specifically designed to input the information required by the system. The digital scheduling unit  20  docks within the docking unit  10  thereby connecting the scheduling unit  20  to the data port  12 . The message is transferred from the digital scheduling unit  20  through the data port  12  to a memory device  16 . The microprocessor  18  provides this functionality. At the scheduled time, the microprocessor  18  causes the transfer of the message from the memory device  16  to the messaging device  14  which communicates the message. 
   Referring now specifically to  FIGS. 2A and 2B  the microprocessor  18  may be contained within either the digital scheduling unit  20  or the docking unit  10 . Normally, if the microprocessor  18  is contained within the digital scheduling unit  20 , the device will be a personal digital assistant  20 A. The microprocessor  18  will thus likely be a general purpose microprocessor. The personal digital assistant will come equipped with a software program for storing a schedule with the message and for causing the transfer of the message from the memory device  16  to the messaging device  14 , as shown in  FIG. 2B . However, the microprocessor  18  may also be contained within the docking unit  10 . In this situation, the microprocessor  18  is likely to be a microcontroller specifically designed to perform the functions required by the system. As shown in  FIG. 2A , the microcontroller will cause the transfer of the message to the memory device  16  and ultimately to the messaging device  14  for communication to the patient. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3  the messaging device  14  may comprise a display  22  which communicates the message through text  24 . As previously mentioned and referring again to  FIG. 1 , the messaging device  14  may also comprise a speaker  26  for verbalizing the message. Thus, the messaging device  14  actually communicates the information to the patient, as opposed to simply buzzing or blinking an alarm without providing information about the reason for alerting the patient. The microcontroller  18  may format the message for communication to the specific messaging device  14 . For example, if the messaging device  14  is the display  22 , the microcontroller may contain functionality for formatting the message into ASCII. Alternatively if the messaging device  14  is the speaker  26 , the microprocessor may be configured to turn digital audio information into analog signals for a speaker. Alternatively, the microprocessor  18  may be controlled by a software program in either the digital scheduling unit  20  or a separate memory device containing processor instructions. 
   The alarm system may comprise a wireless remote speaker  28 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . This provides important functionality to the system. In this manner, the message may be communicated in various locations thereby reminding the patient of the scheduled event regardless of his location in the home or in the hospital. An electromagnetic signal  41 A carrying the messaging information will be transmitted to a receiver  42 B connected to the remote speaker  28 . Thus, the alarm system is not only designed to remind a person of a scheduled event, but to surround a person&#39;s living space with reminders of appointments. The remote speaker  28  verbalizes the message such that the person is notified of an appointment regardless of their location. 
   Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the docking unit  10  may further comprise one or more pillboxes  30 . These pillboxes  30  will contain one or more medicines to be taken at a specific time by a patient. The digital scheduling unit  20  will thus be configured to input a message which informs when to take one or more medicines within the pillboxes  30 . Each pillbox  30  may correspond to a day of the week so that a user will remember to take specific medicines at particular times during the week. Each pillbox  30  may thus be color coded to indicate the day of the week to take the medicine. In the alternative, referring to  FIG. 3 , the docking unit  10  may further comprise a light  32  under each pillbox  30  wherein the light  32  illuminates the pillbox  30  with the appropriate medicine. In this manner, the inconvenience of regularly keeping up with a patient&#39;s medicine schedule is eliminated. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the device may have a protective cover  36  and a locking mechanism  38  thereby preventing the digital scheduling unit  20  from being disabled by an incoherent or frightened patient. Furthermore, the alarm system may have a flashing light  40  which flashes at a scheduled time. The flashing light  40  may be included within the docking unit  10 . Alternatively the flashing light may be included within the remote speaker  28  as shown in  FIG. 4 . The flashing light illuminates at the scheduled time to assist the hearing impaired and to compensate for other noises in the room such as television and radio. 
   Another feature of the present invention is that the message can be inputted remotely via e-mail. Digital scheduling units  20 , such as PDAs, often come equipped with devices capable of connecting to the Internet, internets or extranets via WIFI or wireless wide area networks. Furthermore a PDA may synchronize data with a contact database, such as Microsoft Outlook or ACT!, hosted on personal computers or company servers. The PDA thus serves as a window to a host computer. Thus, persons such as family members or doctors may set appointment times and schedule medical treatment via the capabilities of the personal digital assistant. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a second embodiment of the invention is shown. This embodiment is specifically toward the provision of medicines from a pillbox  48 . The alarm system has a reminding device  42 . In this case, reminding device  42  is an alarm  42 A. As used in this invention, reminding device  42  has a broader definition than messaging device  14 . Messaging devices  14  actually communicates a message to a person. Instead, reminding devices  42  alert the user of a particular event. Thus while a reminding device  42  may be a messaging device  14  because a messaging device  14  also alerts a user of an event by communicating a message, the reminding device  42  may also simply be an alarm  42 A, a buzzer, or a bell. In fact any device which has the ability to call the attention of a person qualifies as a reminding device. The embodiment also has a docking unit  44  including one or more pillboxes  48 . As in the previous embodiments a digital scheduling unit  50  docks within docking unit  44  and inputs one or more scheduled times for taking one or more medicines  46  within the pillboxes  48 . At the scheduled times, the docking unit  44  sends a signal to the reminding device  42  which causes the reminding device  42  to indicate when to take the medicines  46 . 
   As previously explained, in  FIG. 5  the reminding device  42  comprises an alarm. However, the reminding device may also be a display  22  as shown in  FIG. 3  for textually communicating when to take the medicines  46  from the pillboxes  48 . In addition, the reminding device  42  may also be a speaker for verbalizing when to take the medicines  46  from the pillboxes  48 . As previously explained, the definition of reminding device  42  is broad enough to encompass all of these devices. 
   Referring again to  FIG. 5  each pillbox  48  corresponds to a day of the week. The pillboxes  48  may be color coded for indicating which pills should be taken on a particular day of the week. Furthermore, as shown in  FIG. 3 , a light  32  may be placed under each pillbox  48  when the light illuminates the pillbox  48  from which to take the medicine  46 . As shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , these lights  32  may be controlled by the microcontroller  18 . In the preferred embodiment, the microcontroller  18  controls a switch  34  for turning on a particular light  32 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a third embodiment of the present invention is shown. This embodiment contains a message transfer unit  52  having a data port  54 . Unlike the previous embodiments, the digital scheduling unit  58  does not dock in the message transfer unit  52  but instead is connected by a cable or other means. For example, the message transfer unit  52  may be connected to the digital scheduling unit  58  through wireless devices. As such data port  54  would be a receiver of electromagnetic information from the digital scheduling unit  58 . The embodiment also contains a messaging device  56  which in  FIG. 6  is shown as speaker  56 A. The digital scheduling unit  58  inputs the message for communication at the scheduled time. The digital scheduling unit  58  is connected to the message transfer unit  52  through the data port  54  which transfers the message. As was shown in  FIGS. 2A and 2B , the embodiment also contains a memory device  16  and a microprocessor  18  which perform the functions that were previously explained in the application. 
   Thus, although there have been described particular embodiments of the present invention of a new and useful Alarm System for Dementia Patients, it is not intended that such references be construed as limitations upon the scope of this invention except as set forth in the following claims.