Patent Publication Number: US-2015084774-A1

Title: Remote breath alcohol monitor

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     This application relates to the technical field of breath alcohol monitoring, and more particularly to a portable handheld wireless breath alcohol monitoring device that utilizes facial recognition and automatic retesting if an initial test is positive for alcohol or if an initial facial match is negative. 
     When an offender is convicted of DUI, domestic violence, or another alcohol-related offense, a typical condition of sentencing or probation is that the individual must stop drinking for a specified period of time. To enforce this prohibition, courts have traditionally looked to random testing methods (blood, breath, ethyl glucuronide or EtG) that only showed if the individual was sober at the specific “point in time” the test was administered. Requiring sobriety of substance-involved offenders under correctional supervision has been trending since the 1980s, when the first Drug Court was established in Miami-Dade County, Florida. Over the next twenty-five years, enforcing sobriety for drug offenders became standard operating procedure in programs throughout the country. Random drug testing became the cornerstone of these treatment-focused courts. The overall philosophy of jurisprudence shifted to a focus on treating the addiction and utilizing swift interventions and sanctions for violations. 
     Alcohol, however, has proven to be more complex than drugs for the courts to manage. Despite the emphasis on drug abuse, alcohol remains the number one drug of abuse in the U.S. corrections system. In fact, it is widely reported that once drug offenders begin random drug testing, they often switch to alcohol as their drug of choice because alcohol may be legally purchased and with standard, random testing the offender can begin drinking right after a test and sober up before the next test. 
     While drug testing, which is usually done on a random schedule, is relatively accurate and cost-effective, the metabolism of the human body makes monitoring for alcohol far more complex. Alcohol is metabolized in the liver, which eliminates 95-98% of ingested alcohol from the body. No matter the rate of ingestion, it can only be metabolized at a certain rate, which can vary from person to person. A small amount of alcohol, about 1-5%, avoids metabolism in the liver and is excreted, unchanged, through the kidneys (urine), the lungs (breath), or the skin (perspiration). 
     Healthy people, on average, metabolize alcohol at a fairly consistent rate: one standard drink (or 0.5 ounces of alcohol) per hour. Heavy alcohol users may metabolize alcohol at a significantly higher rate than average individuals. 
     The result is that it is not just possible, it is probable, that an individual can be tested in the early evening at 6:00 pm or 7:00 pm and then get very intoxicated when they go to bed at 10:00 pm, yet be completely sober in less than eight hours for their next alcohol test. The more severe the alcohol dependence, the faster an individual may metabolize the alcohol and avoid detection between test times. 
     Breath, blood, and urine testing are all reliable at testing individuals for alcohol consumption at any given “point in time.” In 2003 transdermal alcohol testing was introduced as a way to test offenders for alcohol, without requiring active participation of the offender, and at a frequency rate high enough to ensure the offender stayed sober all day long. Typically, for transdermal alcohol testing, an ankle bracelet is attached to the offender with a durable and tamper-proof strap. The ankle bracelet is worn 24/7 by the offender for the duration of his or her court-ordered abstinence period. Periodically, such as every half-hour or hour, the bracelet analyzes samples of the insensible perspiration coming off the offender&#39;s skin and generates transdermal alcohol readings. The bracelet stores this data and, at pre-determined times, transmits the data to a base station or a monitoring network where the data can be analyzed. The testing protocol is prescheduled and automated, eliminating the offender&#39;s ability to manipulate the testing schedule or avoid or delay a request to test. Transdermal analysis and continuous alcohol monitoring (CAM) weren&#39;t developed because conventional testing is unreliable. They were developed because offenders who misuse alcohol are unreliable. 
     Current testing options to enforce sobriety are available on a continuum, from incarceration—the most intense sanction and most costly per day—to ignition interlock, which when installed only tests for sobriety when someone is driving (see  FIG. 1 ). 
     These testing options range in cost and vary in terms of behavioral risk. Employing an assessment process to determine how to balance supervision and monitoring costs with the risk level of each offender is essential to a successful alcohol testing and monitoring program. Lower risk offenders who misuse alcohol may be assigned a less intrusive and less expensive testing and monitoring approach. High risk offenders who are alcoholic dependent or addicted may be assigned a more intrusive, vigorous, and expensive testing and monitoring regimen. Upon successful performance over a several month period of time, high risk offenders may be rewarded for their good behavior by being transitioned to a more convenient, less intrusive, and less expensive testing and monitoring approach. 
     SUMMARY 
     This Summary is provided to introduce in a simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     The detailed description below describes a portable handheld wireless breath alcohol monitoring device that utilizes facial recognition and automatic retesting if an initial test is positive for alcohol or a negative facial match. In addition, a location fix is captured with each breath test. The solution described below enables the monitoring of lower-risk offenders or offenders who have earned the privilege of a less intrusive alcohol testing and monitoring program. 
     The remote breath alcohol monitor (RBAM) described below is portable, easy to carry, and easy to use. It can be programmed with flexible testing schedules with multiple options for both the agencies that require the use of the device and for the offenders who are required to use the device. RBAM features an automated intelligent bio-confirmation system that utilizes facial recognition software that automatically matches an enrollment image of the offender with an image taken at the time of a breath test through a built-in high resolution camera, ensuring that the offender being monitored is the individual actually taking the breath test. The facial recognition software is also able to distinguish between a live person and a printed photograph or mask. Other image-based bio-confirmation methods could be adapted to perform the same function, such as iris recognition and cornea recognition. RBAM has built in wireless cellular communication and in one embodiment is GPS enabled to identify a location fix for each test. Other methods may be used to provide a location fix, including cell-tower triangulation, nearest cell site, other network-based or SIM-based methods commonly referred to as location-based services. Other methods being developed includes crowd sourced Wi-Fi data, Wi-Fi positioning systems, and IP-based geo-location methods. RBAM employs an ethanol fuel cell to determine breath alcohol content (BrAC) and can be programmed for scheduled, random, flexible, or on-demand testing. Other types of ethanol sensors that are not fuel cells may also be used, such as metal oxide sensors or proton exchange membranes. It is anticipated that technologies currently under development and future technologies, such as quartz microbalance (QMB) sensors and thin-film bulk acoustic resonator-based (FBAR) sensors technology, may provide still other types of sensors suitable for this purpose. A supervising agency can be immediately notified, or on a priority notification basis within a relatively short period of time, such as fifteen minutes, upon a positive breath test, negative facial match, or other criteria or combinations of criteria. A positive initial test is automatically followed by a retest, or confirmation test. A negative facial match may also be followed by a retest. 
     As used herein, “at least one,” “one or more,” and “and/or” are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of A, B and C,” “at least one of A, B, or C,” “one or more of A, B, and C,” “one or more of A, B, or C,” and “A, B, and/or C” means A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together. When each one of A, B, and C in the above expressions refers to an element, such as X, Y, and Z, or class of elements, such as X1-Xm, Y1-Yn, and Z1-Zo, the phrase is intended to refer to a single element selected from X, Y, and Z, a combination of elements selected from the same class (e.g., X1 and X2) as well as a combination of elements selected from two or more classes (e.g., Y1 and Z3). 
     It is to be noted that the term “a” or “an” entity refers to one or more of that entity. As such, the terms “a” (or “an”), “one or more,” and “at least one” can be used interchangeably herein. It is also to be noted that the terms “comprising,” “including,” and “having” can be used interchangeably. 
     The term “means” as used herein shall be given its broadest possible interpretation in accordance with 35 U.S.C., §112, Paragraph 6. Accordingly, a claim incorporating the term “means” shall cover all structures, materials, or acts set forth herein, and all of the equivalents thereof. Further, the structures, materials or acts and the equivalents thereof, shall include all those described in the summary of the invention, brief description of the drawings, detailed description, abstract, and claims themselves. 
     “Lower Limit of Detection” (LLOD) means a user settable field that may be pulled down from a monitor network by the RBAM or programmed into the RBAM. In one embodiment the proposed range is from 0.020% to 0.050% BrAC in increments of 0.005%, with a default of 0.020%. One skilled in the art will recognize that other units of measure, ranges, increments, and defaults may be used to suit particular demands or purposes. Breath tests results are considered positive (see definition below) if they are LLOD, and are considered negative (see definition below) if they are &lt;LLOD. 
     “Valid Sample” means the offender properly blows into the RBAM and provides an adequate breath sample for analysis. All valid samples lead to either a positive or negative breath test result. 
     “Invalid Sample” means the offender does not properly blow into the RBAM and does not provide a valid breath sample for analysis. This is almost always because the offender did not blow long enough or hard enough. An invalid sample cannot produce a test result. 
     “No Sample” means the offender does not blow into the RBAM at all. A no sample cannot produce a breath test result. 
     “Initial Test” means the first test provided at a scheduled test time or an on-demand test. If the initial test is a negative test (see definition below), then it is the only test for that scheduled time or on-demand request. 
     “Confirmation Test” or “Retest” means a second test taken shortly after an initial test that was a positive test (see definition below) or after a negative facial match. The confirmation test is intended to determine if the initial test was caused by actual deep-lung breath alcohol (and therefore blood alcohol), or by mouth alcohol. To allow time for mouth alcohol to dissipate, the confirmation test occurs after a certain Wait-To-Retest Period (see definition below) has passed. A confirmation test can also be performed after a negative facial match, allowing the offender to remove sunglasses or be given a second chance if they allowed a different person to take their test, for example. 
     “Retry” means that when there is an invalid sample, the offender is prompted to blow again in order to complete an initial test or a confirmation test. A retry should not be confused with a retest/confirmation test. A confirmation test can also be performed after a negative facial match, allowing the offender to remove sunglasses or be given a second chance if they allowed a different person to take their test, as examples. 
     “On-Demand Test” means a breath test that occurs outside of the defined test schedule. Personnel from a supervising agency may request an on-demand test through a web interface to a monitoring network. When the RBAM checks in to the monitoring network, the on-demand request is downloaded to the RBAM and the RBAM will power on and prompt the offender to take a breath test. 
     “Negative Test” means a test where the offender provides a valid sample, and the breath test result or BrAC is less than the LLOD set by the user. 
     “Positive Test” means a test where the offender provides a valid sample, and the BrAC result of that sample is greater than or equal to the LLOD set by the user. Positive tests can be caused by either actual deep-lung breath alcohol (and therefore blood alcohol), or by mouth alcohol. Therefore, in one embodiment, a confirmation test may be required for all initial positive tests. 
     “Grace Period” means the time allowed from when the breath test is supposed to be performed to when the offender must start blowing. E.g., if the grace period is ten minutes, an offender can start blowing for a 10:00 AM test as late as 10:10 AM. This is a user selectable variable that may be pulled down from a monitor network by the RBAM or programmed into the RBAM. In one embodiment the proposed range is from two to sixty minutes in increments of one minute, with a default of fifteen minutes. Note that the grace period does not apply to confirmation tests/retests. 
     “Wait-To-Retest Period” means the time after an initial test that the offender must wait to provide a confirmation test. This is a user selectable variable that may be pulled down from a monitor network by the RBAM or programmed into the RBAM. The wait-to-retest period can be no shorter than the recovery period (see definition below). In one embodiment the proposed range is from two to twenty minutes in increments of one minute, with a default of two minutes. 
     “Recovery Period” means the minimum time after a valid sample that the offender must wait before providing another breath sample and is hardware driven. E.g., if the fuel cell, and sample system require 83 seconds to “recover,” the recovery period must be greater than 83 seconds and could be rounded to 90 or 120 seconds. The recovery period defines the minimum allowable wait-to-retest period. 
     “Initial Testing Window” means how long the offender has after the RBAM prompts the offender to “BLOW” to provide a valid sample, including all retries. When the initial testing window expires the RBAM locks until the next scheduled test or on-demand test. In one embodiment, the initial testing window is set for five minutes. The initial testing window does not have to be time-based, but could also be determined by limiting the number of retry attempts, or by some combination of time and retry attempts. In another embodiment, the RBAM may be allowed to stay powered up and not locked to allow for a breath test outside of the initial testing window. 
     “Confirmation Testing Window” is analogous to the initial testing window, but applies to confirmation tests/retests. After the wait-to-retest period has expired, the RBAM will display “Blow” for the confirmation test, and the offender has to provide a valid sample before the confirmation test window expires, including all retries. If the offender does not, then a missed or incomplete confirmation test will be reported. In one embodiment, the confirmation testing window is set for five minutes. The confirmation testing window does not have to be time-based, but could also be determined by limiting the number of retry attempts, or by some combination of time and retry attempts. In another embodiment, the RBAM may be allowed to stay powered up and not locked to allow for a breath test outside of the confirmation testing window. 
     The testing windows above in one embodiment are configurable variables, but not user selectable. They may be pulled down from a monitor network by the RBAM as part of a configuration file, enabling the option to change them system-wide if needed. For example, if some field experience indicates that the confirmation test window is too long or short, one change can be made to the configuration file and this new change will make its way down to each RBAM over time. 
     “Circumvention Detected” means any test in which the person blowing into the RBAM is identified not to be the offender, or in which the offender is attempting to provide the breath sample from a source other than the offender&#39;s own breath. In both situations, in one embodiment, this determination is made through inspection of the test image(s) or comparison of the test image(s) to enrollment image(s), either manually or via an automated method. In one embodiment, prior to being confirmed as an attempted circumvention detected, test results are labeled as Pending Review. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a chart of the alcohol monitoring continuum ranging from low risk/low cost to high risk/high cost. 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic/block diagram of an overall system in an embodiment of the remote breath alcohol monitor. 
         FIGS. 3A-3D  show a flow chart of a general method from the offender&#39;s perspective of an embodiment of remote breath alcohol monitoring. 
         FIGS. 4A-4B  show exploded views of an embodiment of a remote breath alcohol monitor. 
         FIGS. 5A-5C  show various assembled views of an embodiment of a remote breath alcohol monitor. 
         FIG. 6  shows a screen capture from the display in an embodiment of a remote breath alcohol monitor. 
         FIGS. 7A-7D  show a flow chart of a general method of implementation in an embodiment of remote breath alcohol monitoring. 
         FIG. 8  shows a block diagram of the circuit boards in an embodiment of a remote breath alcohol monitor. 
     
    
    
     To assist in the understanding of the present disclosure the following list of components and associated numbering found in the drawings is provided herein: 
     
       
         
           
               
            
               
                   
               
               
                 Table of Components 
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Component 
                 # 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
            
               
                   
                 Housing Front Panel 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 Housing Back Panel 
                 2 
               
               
                   
                 Housing Battery Door 
                 3 
               
               
                   
                 Window Assembly 
                 4 
               
               
                   
                 Switch/Indicator Panel 
                 5 
               
               
                   
                 Battery Pack 
                 6 
               
               
                   
                 Main Circuit Board Assembly 
                 7 
               
               
                   
                 Processor Circuit Board Assembly 
                 8 
               
               
                   
                 Camera Circuit Board Assembly 
                 9 
               
               
                   
                 Fuel Cell Assembly With Tubing 
                 10 
               
               
                   
                 OLED Display 
                 11 
               
               
                   
                 Pump 
                 12 
               
               
                   
                 RF Shield 
                 13 
               
               
                   
                 Breath Tube 
                 14 
               
               
                   
                 USB Connector 
                 15 
               
               
                   
                 Charging Connection 
                 16 
               
               
                   
                 Mirrors 
                 17 
               
               
                   
                 Camera 
                 18 
               
               
                   
                 Mute Switch 
                 19 
               
               
                   
                 Visual Speaker Indicator 
                 20 
               
               
                   
                 Power On/Off Switch 
                 21 
               
               
                   
                 Battery Indicator 
                 22 
               
               
                   
                 Visual Battery Indicator 
                 23 
               
               
                   
                 Speaker 
                 24 
               
               
                   
                 Vent Opening 
                 25 
               
               
                   
                 Connectors 
                 26 
               
               
                   
                 Remote Breath Alcohol Monitor (RBAM) 
                 200 
               
               
                   
                 Offender 
                 202 
               
               
                   
                 Cellular Network 
                 204 
               
               
                   
                 Monitor Network 
                 206 
               
               
                   
                 Monitoring Station 
                 208 
               
               
                   
                 Supervising Agency 
                 210 
               
               
                   
                 Wireless Communication Link 
                 212 
               
               
                   
                 Communication Link 
                 214 
               
               
                   
                 Internet 
                 216 
               
               
                   
                 Communication Link 
                 218 
               
               
                   
                 Internet Connection 
                 220 
               
               
                   
                 Communication Link 
                 222 
               
               
                   
                 Method 
                 300 
               
               
                   
                 Initial Test Routine 
                 315 
               
               
                   
                 Initial Retry Test Subroutine 
                 329 
               
               
                   
                 Confirmation Test Routine 
                 353 
               
               
                   
                 Confirmation Retry Test Subroutine 
                 367 
               
               
                   
                 Messages 
                 602 
               
               
                   
                 Time of Day 
                 604 
               
               
                   
                 Cellular Signal Strength 
                 606 
               
               
                   
                 Battery Strength 
                 608 
               
               
                   
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the figures, like reference numerals and names refer to structurally and/or functionally similar elements thereof, and if objects depicted in the figures that are covered by another object, as well as the tag line for the element number thereto, may be shown in dashed lines.  FIG. 1  shows a chart of the alcohol monitoring continuum ranging from low behavioral risk/low monitoring cost to high behavioral risk/high monitoring cost. Referring now to  FIG. 1  and moving from left to right, low risk offenders may be required to have an ignition interlock device or breath alcohol ignition interlock device (IID and BAIID) installed on their vehicle. An IID or BAIID is a mechanism, like a breathalyzer, installed on a motor vehicle&#39;s dashboard. Before the vehicle&#39;s engine can be started, the driver first must exhale into the device. If the resultant BrAC is greater than the programmed BrAC (which varies between jurisdictions), the device prevents the engine from being started. 
     Next on the continuum is a random testing program. Typical programs require the offender to submit to random alcohol and drug screens on the days they appear for their status hearings and random days between court appearances and in some cases unannounced home visits by a probation officer. 
     A more rigorous testing program on the alcohol monitoring continuum has an abstinence requirement and requires an offender to report to a local sheriff&#39;s office or other designated location twice daily for alcohol testing. Typical times are between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. 
     Next on the continuum is the use of alcohol biomarkers, which are physiological indicators of alcohol exposure or ingestion. Alcohol biomarkers are generally divided into indirect and direct biomarkers. Indirect alcohol biomarkers suggest heavy alcohol use by detecting the toxic effects that alcohol may have had on organ systems or body chemistry. Direct alcohol biomarkers are analytes of alcohol metabolism. Direct alcohol biomarkers include alcohol itself and ethyl glucuronide (EtG). 
     Continuous alcohol monitoring (CAM) is next on the alcohol monitoring continuum scale. CAM is accomplished with a transdermal alcohol monitoring device that is worn on the body of the offender. One such device is the Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor, or SCRAM®, from Alcohol Monitoring Systems, Inc., Littleton, Colo. Transdermal alcohol monitoring means that alcohol is measured “through the skin,” or by the content of alcohol present in the insensible perspiration that is constantly given off by the skin. If an offender has been drinking, it shows up in the level of ethanol vapor present in this insensible perspiration. 
     Next on the continuum is the use of CAM combined with house arrest. House arrest (also called home arrest, home confinement, home detention, curfew monitoring, or electronic monitoring) is a measure by which a person is confined by the authorities to a certain residence. Travel is usually restricted, if allowed at all. House arrest is a lenient alternative to prison time. House arrest is often enforced through the use of technology devices or services. One method is an electronic sensor locked to the offender&#39;s ankle (technically called an ankle monitor, and sometimes referred to as a tether). Typically, the electronic sensor transmits a radio frequency signal to a fixed base station. The base station is connected to a police facility or a monitoring service. Most programs allow employed offenders to continue to work, and only confine them to their house during non-working hours. House arrest can also be accomplished with GPS tracking bracelets. Some devices combine CAM with house arrest tracking in a single device, such as SCRAM® from Alcohol Monitoring Systems, Inc., Littleton, Colo. Other devices exist that combine CAM with GPS tracking. 
     Next, pharma-injectible drugs may be used for some high behavioral risk offenders. After being injected, if the offender drinks alcohol, these drugs produce a physical reaction that may include flushing, nausea, vomiting, and headaches. 
     Finally on the alcohol monitoring continuum scale, jail or prison may be the only option for the highest behavioral risk offenders. This option is also the most expensive. 
     The use of RBAM  200  (see  FIG. 2 ) that is the subject of this disclosure is positioned toward the low behavior risk and low monitoring cost on the alcohol monitoring continuum. The typical candidate for RBAM  200  would be a first time or second time DUI offender or one who has committed a public order offense. The offender would typically have a low blood alcohol content (BAC) or BrAC at the time of arrest. For those offenders who start out on a higher risk/higher cost alternative, their compliance with those standards would allow them to earn the right to this lower cost and less intrusive alcohol monitoring solution. 
       FIG. 2  shows a schematic/block diagram of the overall system of an embodiment of remote breath alcohol monitoring. Referring now to  FIG. 2 , in one embodiment RBAM  200  is a portable handheld wireless breath alcohol tester with built in cellular, GPS, and facial recognition capabilities that is designed to be rugged for everyday use in the corrections environment. RBAM  200  is used by the Offender  202  being monitored in a manner to be described below. RBAM  200  can be carried around by Offender  202  throughout the day and night, just like a typical cell phone. There are a number of anti-tamper features designed into RBAM  200  to ensure that the breath tests taken are from Offender  202 , and accurately represent the breath alcohol level of Offender  202  and not some other person. Though this discussion focuses on one Offender  202 , one skilled in the art will recognize that many RBAM  200   s  may be used by many Offender  202   s  at the same time over a broad geographic area, and all may be monitored by Monitor Network  206 , which is the intended purpose. Likewise, there may be multiple Monitor Networks  206  and Monitoring Stations  208  that manage additional Offender  202   s  in diverse geographic locations. 
     Offender  202  will be instructed by RBAM  200  to provide breath tests that are time stamped at scheduled or random intervals during any given twenty-four hour period, and could be seven days a week, 365 days a year, or any given set of days. There may be days when no tests are required. Testing schedules may vary from one Offender  202  to another Offender  202 . Offender  202  typically knows when the request to give fixed breath tests will occur. Random monitoring eliminates the ability for Offender  202  to manipulate drinking patterns to avoid detection. Offender  202  typically does not know when the request to take random breath tests will occur. 
     Breath tests taken as scheduled, or randomly, are uploaded at the conclusion of each breath test along with the location fix, facial match results, and an image of Offender  202  taken while blowing. All of these are collectively referred to as test results. RBAM  200  places a call via Wireless Communication Link  212  to Cellular Network  204 . Cellular Network  204  completes the call via Communication Link  214  to Monitor Network  206 . In practice, Cellular Network  204  may actually be many different networks, including the Internet, interoperating with each other but is shown as a single network for simplicity. Communication Link  214  may be a wireless link or a combination of a wireless and a wired link. If there is no Wireless Communication Link  212  at the location where the breath test was taken, RBAM  200  will store the test results and send the test results when a Wireless Communication Link  212  becomes available. Once a Wireless Communication Link  212  is established, RBAM  200  calls Monitor Network  206  via Cellular Network  204  and Communication Link  214 . Monitor Network  206  validates the identity of RBAM  200  and authenticates the test results before it is permanently stored. Monitor Network  206  then analyzes the test results received and separates and groups the test results into a number of separate categories for reporting to monitoring personnel at Monitoring Station  208 . The test results can then be accessed by the monitoring personnel through the use of secured dedicated websites through the Internet  216  and Internet Connection  220  to Monitor Network  206 . When Monitor Network  206  analyzes the test results received, an automatic alert, based upon predetermined, stored rules, may be sent directly from Monitor Network  206  to a call center at Supervising Agency  210  over Communication Link  222 , or to an individual previously designated by Supervising Agency  210 , when a specific alert, or combination of alerts, are received. The alert may be an e-mail, text message, or a page to a previously provided number. Communication Link  222  may be a wire or wireless connection. The term “server” used with respect to Monitor Network  206  may be one hardware device partitioned into many functional virtual servers, such as a central server, database server, rules-based server, etc., or it may be several hardware devices dedicated to a particular function, each in communication with each other. 
     Monitoring Station  208  may be located at Monitor Network  206 , or in a separate location as shown in  FIG. 2 . Monitoring personnel at Monitoring Station  208  have access to all of the data gathered on all of the Offenders  202 . Supervising personnel at the call center of Supervising Agency  210 , however, only have access to those Offender  202   s  that are associated with Supervising Agency  210 . 
     Monitoring Station  208  may automatically or periodically transmit data received from RBAM  200  via Cellular Network  204  to Monitor Network  206  to one or more persons at Supervising Agency  210  who are assigned to monitor Offender  202 , such as a parole officer, probation officer, case worker, or other designated person or persons in charge of enrolling Offender  202  and monitoring the data being collected on Offender  202 . Only one Supervising Agency  210  is shown for simplicity, but one skilled in the art will recognize that many Supervising Agencies  210  may be accessing Monitor Network  206  at any given time. A connection is established with Supervising Agency  210  through Communication Link  218 . Typically this connection is accomplished via the telephone system through a wire or wireless link, and may connect to a pager or cellular phone of the designated person or via email. Designated personnel at Supervising Agency  210  may also access Monitor Network  206  through the use of secured dedicated websites through the Internet  216  and Internet Connection  220  to Monitor Network  206 . Monitor Network  206  hosts a website that allows Supervising Agency  210  the ability to log on and track Offender  202  compliance in a manner most suitable to the needs of Supervising Agency  210 , and can be defined to fit the needs of both small and large programs. Each Supervising Agency  210  may customize the frequency of testing and the method of notification for alerts that they want to receive from Monitor Network  206 . Alerts may be categorized by the type and severity of alert, allowing each Supervising Agency  210  to prioritize and better categorize a response (e.g., a low battery warning versus a possible alcohol consumption violation). 
     Each Supervising Agency  210  has its own separate data storage area on the database server at Monitor Network  206  so that representatives from each Supervising Agency  210  can retrieve the secure data they need when they need it. 
       FIGS. 3A-3D  show a flow chart of a general method from the offender&#39;s perspective of an embodiment of remote breath alcohol monitoring. Referring now to  FIG. 3A , Method  300  begins in block  302  where an RBAM  200  assigned to a particular Offender  202  obtains the testing schedule, the Lower Limit of Detection (LLOD), the grace period designated as T grace , the wait-to-retest period designated as T retest , the initial testing window designated as T itwin , and the confirmation testing window designated as T ctwin , for this particular Offender  202  from Monitor Network  206 . Decision block  304  determines if there is a new testing schedule or a changed testing schedule from what was previously stored in RBAM  200 . If no, then decision block  306  determines if an on-demand test has been ordered. If no, then RBAM  200  in block  308  waits for the next scheduled test time from the RBAM master test schedule to arrive. 
     If the answer in decision block  304  is yes, then in block  312  the RBAM master test schedule in RBAM  200  is updated and stored in RBAM  200 . If the answer in decision block  306  is yes, or, the next scheduled test time has arrived in block  308 , control passes to block  316  in  FIG. 3B . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3B , the steps enclosed within Dashed Line Box  315  encompass the Initial Test Routine. In block  316  a message is displayed to Offender  202  on OLED Display  11  (see  FIGS. 5B and 5C ) such as “BLOW” which indicates that Offender  202  should insert Breath Tube  14  into RBAM  200  and begin blowing into Breath Tube  14 . In block  318  the timer for the grace period (T grace ) is started. Decision block  320  determines if T grace  has expired. If yes, this test result is sent to Monitor Network  206  in block  322  and RBAM  200  is locked, and control passes to block  324  in  FIG. 3D . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3D , in block  324  Monitor Network  206  sends a message to Supervising Agency  210  that a test was missed by Offender  202  if missed tests have been selected for immediate notification. The test results are stored in a server in Monitor Network  206 . Control then returns to block  302  in  FIG. 3A . 
     Referring back now to  FIG. 3B , if decision block  320  determines that T grace  has not expired, then decision block  326  determines if a breath sample has been delivered by Offender  202  into RBAM  200 . If no, then control returns to decision block  320  to determine if T grace  has expired. If decision block  326  determines that a breath sample has been delivered by Offender  202  into RBAM  200 , then in block  327  the timer for the initial testing window (T itwin ) is started. Decision block  328  determines if the breath sample is a valid sample. If no, then control passes to the steps within Dashed Line Box  329  encompassing the Retry Subroutine. In block  332  a message is displayed to Offender  202  on OLED Display  11  asking Offender  202  to retry taking a breath test. Decision block  336  determines if T itwin  has expired. If no, decision block  338  determines if a breath sample has been delivered. If yes, control returns to decision block  328  to determine if the breath sample is valid. If decision block  338  determines that no breath sample has been delivered, control returns to decision block  336  which determines if T itwin  has expired. If no, control returns to decision block  338  to determine if a breath sample has been delivered. If T itwin  has expired in decision block  336 , this test result is sent to Monitor Network  206  in block  340  and RBAM  200  is locked, and control passes to block  342  in  FIG. 3D . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3D , in block  342  Monitor Network  206  sends a message to Supervising Agency  210  that an incomplete test has occurred for Offender  202  if incomplete tests have been selected for immediate notification. The test results are stored in a server in Monitor Network  206 . Control then returns to block  302  in  FIG. 3A . 
     Referring back now to  FIG. 3B , if decision block  328  determines that a valid sample has been received, then decision block  344  determines if the BrAC1 (the breath alcohol content from the initial breath test) is greater than or equal to the LLOD. If no, this test result is sent to Monitor Network  206  in block  346  and RBAM  200  is locked, and control passes to block  348  in  FIG. 3D . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3D , in block  348  Monitor Network  206  sends a message to Supervising Agency  210  that a passed test has occurred for Offender  202  if passed tests have been selected for immediate notification (typically not the case). However, if the facial match is negative for this test, the test is labeled as Pending Review, and Monitor Network  206  sends a message to Supervising Agency  210  that a failed test with circumvention detected has occurred if this test result has been selected for immediate notification. The test results are stored in a server in Monitor Network  206 . Control then returns to block  302  in  FIG. 3A . 
     Referring back now to  FIG. 3B , if decision block  344  determines that the BrAC1 is greater than or equal to the LLOD, indicating a failed breath test, then in block  350  a message is displayed to Offender  202  on OLED Display  11  asking Offender  202  to retest. Control then passes to block  352  in  FIG. 3C . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3C , the steps enclosed within Dashed Line Box  353  encompass the Confirmation Test Routine. In block  352  the timer for the wait-to-retest period (T retest ) is started. Once T retest  has passed, in block  354  a message is displayed to Offender  202  on OLED Display  11  asking Offender  202  to start blowing. In block  356  the timer for the confirmation testing window (T ctwin ) is started. Decision block  358  determines if T ctwin  has expired. If yes, the test result is sent to Monitor Network  206  in block  360  and RBAM  200  is locked, and control passes to block  362  in  FIG. 3D . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3D , in block  362  Monitor Network  206  sends a failed test message to Supervising Agency  210 , which in this case was a positive initial test (indicating alcohol) that was followed by a missed confirmation test for Offender  202  if failed tests have been selected for immediate notification. However, if the facial match is negative for the initial test, the test event is labeled as Pending Review, and Monitor Network  206  sends a message to Supervising Agency  210  that a failed test with circumvention detected has occurred if this test result has been selected for immediate notification. The test results are stored in a database server in Monitor Network  206 . Control then returns to block  302  in  FIG. 3A . 
     Referring back now to  FIG. 3C , if decision block  358  determines that T ctwin  has not expired, then decision block  364  determines if a valid breath sample has been delivered by Offender  202  into RBAM  200 . If no, then control returns to decision block  358  to determine if T ctwin  has expired. If in decision block  364  a breath sample has been delivered, decision block  366  determines if the breath sample is valid. If no, then control passes to the steps within Dashed Line Box  367  encompassing the Confirmation Retry Test Subroutine. In block  370  a message is displayed to Offender  202  on OLED Display  11  asking Offender  202  to retry taking a breath test. Decision block  374  determines if T ctwin  has expired. If no, decision block  376  determines if a breath sample has been delivered. If yes, control returns to decision block  366  to determine if the breath sample is valid. If decision block  376  determines that no breath sample has been delivered, control returns to decision block  374  which determines if T ctwin  has expired. If yes, the result is sent to Monitor Network  206  in block  378  and RBAM  200  is locked, and control passes to block  380  in  FIG. 3D . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3D , in block  380  Monitor Network  206  sends a failed test message to Supervising Agency  210 , which in this case was a positive initial test (indicating alcohol) that was followed by an incomplete confirmation test for Offender  202  if failed tests have been selected for immediate notification. However, if the facial match is negative for the initial test, the test is labeled as Pending Review, and Monitor Network  206  sends a message to Supervising Agency  210  that a failed test with circumvention detected has occurred if this test result has been selected for immediate notification. The test results are stored in a database server in Monitor Network  206 . Control then returns to block  302  in  FIG. 3A . 
     Referring back now to  FIG. 3C , if decision block  366  determines that the breath sample is valid, decision block  382  determines if the BrAC2 (the breath alcohol content from the confirmation breath test) is greater than or equal to the LLOD. If no, this result is sent to Monitor Network  206  in block  384  and RBAM  200  is locked, and control passes to block  386  in  FIG. 3D . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3D , in block  386  Monitor Network  206  sends a passed test message to Supervising Agency  210 , which in this case was a positive initial test (indicating alcohol) that was followed by a negative confirmation test for Offender  202  if passed tests have been selected for immediate notification (typically not the case). However, if the facial match is negative for the initial test or the retest, the test is labeled as Pending Review, and Monitor Network  206  sends a message to Supervising Agency  210  that a failed test with circumvention detected has occurred if this test result has been selected for immediate notification. The test results are stored in a database server in Monitor Network  206 . Control then returns to block  302  in  FIG. 3A . 
     Referring back now to  FIG. 3C , if decision block  382  determines that the BrAC2 is greater than or equal to the LLOD, then decision block  388  determines if the BrAC2 is, in one embodiment, within plus or minus 0.020% of BrAC1. This value, which is a system variable not changeable by Supervising Agency  210 , determines an abnormal test. When the BrAC difference between the initial test and the confirmation test is greater than 0.02%, there is most likely mouth alcohol in one or both of the tests, or it could be a different person taking one of the tests. The human body in the short period of time between the initial test and the confirmation test cannot burn off that much alcohol. The value used for abnormal tests could be any other value or predetermined criteria based on particular legal, policy, or supervisory needs. If no, then this result is sent to Monitor Network  206  in block  390  and RBAM  200  is locked, and control passes to block  392  in  FIG. 3D . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3D , in block  392  Monitor Network  206  sends a failed test message to Supervising Agency  210 , which in this case was a positive initial test (indicating alcohol) that was followed by a positive (indicating alcohol) but an abnormal confirmation test for Offender  202  if failed tests have been selected for immediate notification. However, if the facial match is negative for the initial test or the retest, the test event is labeled as Pending Review, and Monitor Network  206  sends a message to Supervising Agency  210  that a failed test with circumvention detected has occurred if this test result has been selected for immediate notification. The test results are stored in a database server in Monitor Network  206 . Control then returns to block  302  in  FIG. 3A . 
     Referring back now to  FIG. 3C , if decision block  388  determines that the BrAC2 is, in one embodiment, within plus or minus 0.020% of BrAC1. This value, which is a system variable not changeable by Supervising Agency  210 , could be any other value or predetermined criteria based on particular legal, policy, or supervisory needs. This result is sent to Monitor Network  206  in block  394  and RBAM  200  is locked, and control passes to block  396  in  FIG. 3D . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3D , in block  396  Monitor Network  206  sends a failed test message to Supervising Agency  210 , which in this case was a positive initial test (indicating alcohol) that was followed by a positive confirmation test for Offender  202 . However, if the facial match is negative for the initial test or the retest, the test is labeled as Pending Review, and Monitor Network  206  sends a message to Supervising Agency  210  that a failed test with circumvention detected has occurred if this test result has been selected for immediate notification. The test results are stored in a database server in Monitor Network  206 . Control then returns to block  302  in  FIG. 3A . 
     The steps enclosed within Dashed Line Box  397  encompass all of the different final test results received from RBAM  200  that may be sent to Supervising Agency  210  in one embodiment, subject to modification by the results of the facial match. Other embodiments may have different final test results and use facial match results differently. 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  show exploded views of an embodiment of a remote breath alcohol monitor. Referring now to  FIGS. 4A and 4B , RBAM  200  has a Housing Front Panel  1  and a Housing Back Panel  2 . Battery Pack  6  fits within Housing Back Panel  2  and is secured within Housing Back Panel  2  by Housing Battery Door  3 . Battery Pack  6  provides power for all the functions of RBAM  200 . Battery Pack  6  in one embodiment is a rechargeable battery. Battery Pack  6  is not replaceable by Offender  202  but can be replaced by Supervising Agency  210  or other authorized personnel. 
     Window Assembly  4  and the Switch/Indicator Panel  5  fit within a midway opening in Housing Front Panel  1 . Window Assembly  4  and Switch/Indicator Panel  5  are shown in more detail in  FIG. 5  and are discussed in detail below. 
     Offender  202  is instructed to take a breath test through output displayed on OLED Display  11 . In other embodiments other types of displays, sound tones, or tactile feedback, may be used to instruct Offender  202  to take a breath test. Offender  202  then inserts Breath Tube  14  into an opening in a lower portion of Housing Front Panel  1 . Breath Tube  14  was designed to be flat instead of round as is typical in prior art breathalyzers on the market today. The flat design of Breath Tube  14  prevents offenders from circumventing the breath test by inserting a smaller round tube inside the larger round breathalyzer tube, and having someone else blow into the smaller round tube into the breathalyzer. There simply is no room in Breath Tube  14  to insert another tube. 
     When the user is instructed to blow as displayed on OLED Display  11 , the breath from the user travels through Breath Tube  14  and into tubing that is a part of Fuel Cell Assembly With Tubing  10 . Offender  202  must blow hard enough and long enough as measured by a pressure transducer within Fuel Cell Assembly With Tubing  10  for the breath sample to be valid. Once the pressure requirement is met, Pump  12  pumps a portion of the breath sample to the fuel cell within Fuel Cell Assembly With Tubing  10 . The bulk of the breath sample is vented out of RBAM  200  through Vent Opening  25  (see  FIGS. 5B and 5C ) in the lower portion of Housing Front Panel  1 . The electrical signal registered in the fuel cell, whose signal strength is proportional to the alcohol content of the breath sample, is sent to Main Circuit Board Assembly  7 . Main Circuit Board Assembly  7  in one embodiment has a low power processor from the MSP family of processors available from Texas Instruments and runs continuously, allowing Main Circuit Board Assembly  7  to perform processes in the background without waking up RBAM  200 . Other embodiments could use a different processor. 
     The digital image taken by Camera  18  is sent to Processor Circuit Board Assembly  8 . In one embodiment, Processor Circuit Board Assembly  8  has an i.MX family of processors available from Freescale Semiconductor and runs the Android operating system. Other embodiments could use a different processor, different operating system, or no operating system. Processor Circuit Board Assembly  8  runs a camera module, and a wireless cellular phone module embedded in Main Circuit Board Assembly  7 . In one embodiment, the wireless cellular phone module is a Cinterion 3G GSM module. One skilled in the art will recognize that a CDMA module could also be used, as well as other wireless communication technologies including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, and others. In one embodiment, the Processor Circuit Board Assembly processes the image from the camera to perform facial matching. Thus the software for performing facial matching is run on Processor Circuit Board Assembly  8  in RBAM  200  as opposed to sending the image over a communications network to a central server for facial match processing. In another embodiment, the facial matching software is stored on a server at Monitoring Network  206  and the image may be uploaded to Monitoring Station  208  to perform facial matching. In another embodiment, part of the facial matching process is performed on Processor Circuit Board Assembly  8  in RBAM  200  and part by Monitoring Network  206 . In another embodiment, facial matching may be performed by a third party service provider. That is, data required for facial matching is communicated to the third party service provider, and the results of the facial match are communicated by the third party service provider back to RBAM  200  or Monitoring Network  206  or both. The image uploaded may be at a lower resolution than what the facial matching software uses to perform a facial match. The lower resolution image saves on uploading costs but still gives Supervising Agency  210  personnel the ability to compare the uploaded image with an enrollment image to verify that the right person took the breath test. 
     Liveness face detection can prevent breaching the system with printed photographs of Offender  202  placed in front of RBAM  200 . Liveness face detection takes a video, or several different still images, to detect eye movement, mouth movement, etc., to determine that a real face is being viewed prior to taking the image when Offender  202  is blowing into Breath Tube  14 . Due to its high power consumption, Processor Circuit Board Assembly  8  is only powered on when needed, such as when a breath sample is being taken, an image is taken and processed for facial recognition, and the results are sent via the wireless cellular phone module to Monitor Network  206 . Through GPS technology in the wireless cellular phone module, or through backup location technologies available from the cellular carrier&#39;s network, the location fix of Offender  202  is also transmitted to Monitor Network  206 . Power management in RBAM  200  is unique, using a low power processor to perform some functions coupled with a high power processor to perform other functions, in order to conserve battery power. Other embodiments could use just a single processor instead of the two processors described herein. Processor Circuit Board Assembly  8  is protected from radio frequency electromagnetic radiation by RF Shield  13 . 
       FIGS. 5A-5C  show various assembled views of an embodiment of a remote breath alcohol monitor. Referring now to  FIGS. 5A-5C , USB Connector  15  allows RBAM  200  to be connected to a PC so that a variety of functions can be performed, such as firmware upgrades, diagnostic testing, troubleshooting, calibration, etc. The PC accesses Monitor Network  206  via Internet  216  to download firmware updates and onto RBAM  200  through USB Connector  15 . Charging Connection  16  allows RBAM  200  to be plugged in to a charger (not shown) to recharge Battery Pack  6 . 
     Mirrors  17  in Window Assembly  4  help Offender  202  to properly align Offender  202 &#39;s face so that an image can be taken with Camera  18  mounted within Camera Circuit Board Assembly  9 . If Offender  202  can see his/her face in the Mirrors  17 , then Offender  202  knows that he/she has achieved correct alignment with RBAM  200 . The lens of Camera  18  seats within an opening in Window Assembly  4  between Mirrors  17 . In one embodiment, Camera  18  is a high resolution camera, capable of taking both still images and video, using CMOS technology. Other embodiments can use other types of cameras such as CCD devices. While Offender  202  is delivering a breath sample, Camera  18  in Camera Circuit Board Assembly  9  takes an image of Offender  202 . One skilled in the art will recognize that it may not be practical to take the image at the precise instant the breath sample is delivered, so this image could be taken at the beginning, middle, end, or any reasonable time period before or after the instant the breath sample is delivered. The Camera Circuit Board Assembly may have light sensors in it to adjust the camera module to the current lighting environment, or it may always use a flash regardless of the current lighting environment to control the exposure. The length of Breath Tube  14  is designed to place the face of Offender  202  at the right focal distance from the lens of Camera  18 , which is approximately eight inches. In addition, the flat design of Breath Tube  14  prevents Offender  202  from tilting her/her head too much from side-to-side. Movement from side-to-side needs to be limited to no more than about ten degrees for facial recognition purposes. OLED Display  11  of Switch/Indicator Panel  5  will output, at various times, various commands, status, and information to Offender  202 . 
     Switch/Indicator Panel  5  has Mute Switch  19  that Offender  202  can press to mute Speaker  24  at any time. Visual Speaker Indicator  20  turns red when muted. Pressing Mute Switch  19  again will un-mute Speaker  24 . 
     Switch/Indicator Panel  5  also has Power On/Off Switch  21 . Offender  202  can press and hold Power On/Off Switch  21  for a few seconds to force RBAM  200  to power on and check in with Monitor Network  206 , and then RBAM  200  will turn itself off after downloading any schedule changes or other information. 
     Switch/Indicator Panel  5  also has Battery Indicator  22 . Visual Battery Indicator  23  turns red when Battery Pack  6  needs charging. When plugged in and charging, Visual Battery Indicator  23  turns yellow, and turns green when fully charged and still plugged in via Charging Connection  16  to the charger. When fully charged and unplugged, no color is displayed by Visual Battery Indicator  23 . RBAM  200  will notify Monitor Network  206  if the remaining life of Battery Pack  6  is estimated to be less than a certain percent of battery capacity. RBAM  200  may also provide tactile feedback (vibration) to Offender  202  at various points of operation. 
       FIG. 8  shows a block diagram of the circuit boards in an embodiment of a remote breath alcohol monitor. Referring now to  FIG. 8 , Main Circuit Board Assembly  7 , Processor Circuit Board Assembly  8 , and Camera Circuit Board Assembly  9  communicate with each other through Connectors  26 . These could all be on one circuit assembly, two circuit assemblies, or any other number as a design choice. The MSP low power processor, the breath testing components, and the cellular phone module are all physically located on Main Circuit Board Assembly  7 . The MSP processor controls the scheduling of breath tests and initiates communication with Monitor Network  206  through the cellular phone module. The i.MX processor is physically located on Processor Circuit Board Assembly  8 . The i.MX processor controls the taking of a breath sample, taking the image, and in one embodiment, performing facial matching, and certain communications with Monitor Network  206 . 
       FIG. 6  shows a screen capture from the display in an embodiment of a remote breath alcohol monitor. Referring now to  FIG. 6 , when on, OLED Display  11  will display various messages to Offender  202  during a course of operation, such as Message  602 . The Time of Day  604  from the clock within RBAM  200  may also be displayed along with the Cellular Signal Strength  606  which is displayed with one to four vertical bars when OLED Display  11  is on. Battery Strength  608  is displayed with one to four boxes when OLED Display  11  is on. 
     Described now is just one series of messages. One skilled in the art will recognize that many different messages for many different purposes may be programmed into the operation of RBAM  200 , and this discussion is simply exemplary of one purpose, and the individual messages may be different from that described below. 
     For a typical breath test, a series of sequential Messages  602  are displayed on OLED Display  11  which are encompassed in the steps shown in blocks  316 ,  332 ,  350 ,  354 , and  370  in  FIGS. 3B and 3C . The first Message  602 , “PLEASE WAIT” is displayed for a short period of time before the test. When it is time to begin the test, Message  602  will change to “BLOW” and is displayed on OLED Display  11  (block  316  in  FIG. 3B ). If after a certain period of time, such as two minutes, if Offender  202  has not begun to blow, a sound, such as a beep, and/or a tactile output, such as a vibration are output from RBAM  200 . The sound and/or vibration are repeated periodically, such as every two minutes, until T grace  expires or Offender  202  begins to blow. A short time after Offender  202  begins to blow, Message  602  changes to “STOP” and is displayed on OLED Display  11 . When RBAM  200  determines that a valid sample has been received, Message  602  then changes to “ANALYZING DATA.” Message  602  then changes to “TEST COMPLETE.” Message  602  then changes to “SHUTTING DOWN” and OLED Display  11  goes dark when shut down is complete. 
     If RBAM  200  determines that an invalid sample has been received, Message  602  changes to “BLOW STEADY” and is displayed on OLED Display  11  (block  332  in  FIG. 3B ). In addition, a sound and/or vibration may be output to Offender  202 . 
     If the BrAC measured is greater than the LLOD, the T retest  period of time must pass before a retest can be performed. If there is a negative facial match upon taking the breath test, a second test can be taken right away without having to wait for the T retest  period of time to pass. Typically, RBAM  200  will not output any reasons to Offender  202  as to the nature of the failure that requires a retest (i.e., negative facial match, BrAC limit exceeded, etc.). If a retest is required, Message  602  is changed to “RETEST IN 3 MIN” (where T retest  is three minutes) and is displayed on OLED Display  11  (block  350  in  FIG. 3B ). One minute later, Message  602  is changed to “RETEST IN 2 MIN.” One minute later, Message  602  is changed to “RETEST IN 1 MIN.” When it is time to begin the test, Message  602  will change to “BLOW” (block  354  in  FIG. 3C ) and is displayed on OLED Display  11  and the sequence above is repeated. 
     If a valid sample is not received, then Message  602  will change to “BLOW STEADY” (block  370  in  FIG. 3C ) and is displayed on OLED Display  11  and the sequence above is repeated. In addition, a sound and/or vibration may be output to Offender  202 . RBAM  200  will upload the test results to Monitor Network  206 , and then turn itself off. 
       FIGS. 7A-7D  show a flow chart of a general method of implementation in an embodiment of remote breath alcohol monitoring. Referring now to  FIGS. 7A-7D , the set up process begins in block  702 , typically at Supervising Agency  210 . Supervising Agency  210  may be a court, government agency, law enforcement agency, or private corrections service provider working in conjunction with a local judicial district to handle a variety of offenders associated with DUI/DWI, probation, specialty courts, family courts, and underage drinking. In block  702  Supervising Agency  210  adds a new client, such as Offender  202 , through the website available over the Internet  216  at Monitor Network  206 . Based upon the circumstances and/or court orders associated with Offender  202 , a schedule for taking breath tests is established, which may be a fixed schedule, a random schedule, a flexible schedule, or any combination of the above. A fixed schedule would require a test at a fixed time, such as 8:00 am on a particular day. For a random test schedule, personnel at Supervising Agency  210  through the user interface for the website for setting up a new client select a window of time during the day, such as three hours as a default time, and a random time during that three hour block will be generated for taking a breath test. For a flexible schedule, a window of time is selected (e.g., 10:00 am to 1:00 pm), and Offender  202  can provide a breath test any time within that window. The schedule may also be provisioned to receive on-demand breath tests. The cell phone number of Offender  202  is also associated with the schedule. When a scheduled test is eminent, a text message or cell phone call can be made to the cell phone number of Offender  202  as a courtesy reminder to Offender  202  that there is an upcoming breath test. In another embodiment, Offender  202  may turn RBAM  200  on whenever they want and take a breath test, either instead of a test schedule, or in addition to a test schedule. 
     In block  704  an RBAM  200  is assigned to Offender  202 . The serial number of the RBAM  200  is associated with the name of Offender  202 . The wireless capability of the RBAM  200  is activated on the wireless network through a wireless carrier or intermediate wireless service provider, and RBAM  200  is powered on. In block  706  the assigned RBAM  200  communicates with Monitor Network  206  and the schedule and other settings that were established for Offender  202  are downloaded from Monitor Network  206  to RBAM  200 . A supervisory person or agent associated with Supervising Agency  210  could also perform the set up process from a laptop in the field as long as a connection to Internet  216  is available. Alternatively, RBAM  200  can simply be mailed to Offender  202  who powers it on and as long as a connection to Cellular Network  204  is available, the schedule and other settings for Offender  202  may be downloaded from Monitor Network  206  to RBAM  200 . 
     The enrollment process begins in block  708  where Offender  202  will take a breath test. Offender  202  may first be required or offered the opportunity to review some training materials (printed matter, videos, etc.) on how to use RBAM  200 . Offender  202  blows through Breath Tube  14 , RBAM  200  takes an enrollment image of Offender  202 . An enrollment template is extracted from the enrollment image and that enrollment template will be used as a comparison for future tests. The template is a mathematical model that reflects the characteristics of the facial image. There are critical factors/numbers when performing a facial match, such as the distance between the pupils (typically the most critical feature), the shape of the face and facial features, the location of the nose and mouth with respect to each other and the pupils, the shape of the eyes, etc. The template defines these critical factors/numbers. Every image taken during a breath test has a template extracted from the image, and that template is compared to the enrollment template for facial matching. The location fix where the test was taken is also captured for the breath test. The facial matching software processes the image taken in block  710  and generates a quality score for the image. Decision block  712  determines if the quality score is greater than or equal to a predetermined image quality score deemed to be of high enough quality to serve to extract a template for future facial matching purposes. If not, output is sent to OLED Display  11  or to Monitor Network  206  requesting to take another test so that another image can be taken. Once the facial matching software determines that a sufficiently high quality image has been taken, it extracts a template that is stored on RBAM  200  to be used for facial matching of future tests provided by Offender  202 . Next, in block  714  (see  FIG. 7B ) the enrollment image is uploaded to Monitor Network  206  which stores the enrollment image associated with Offender  202 . This enrollment image is also typically used for human comparison if needed, and a lower resolution version of this image is often all that is required to do so. Other embodiments may upload enrollment images to the Monitor Network  206  and have Monitor Network  206  generate quality scores, do the template extraction, and store the enrollment template. Additional embodiments may perform some of these functions on RBAM  200  and others on Monitor Network  206 , or even perform them in both places. 
     The training process in block  716  enables Offender  202  to practice holding RBAM  200  properly, lining up RBAM  200  properly with the eyes or nose as reflected in Mirrors  17 , and practice blowing so Offender  202  can learn to not blow too hard but also not blow too softly. When Offender  202  is finished with training, by holding down the Power On/Off Switch  21  for five seconds, or after five minutes of inactivity, the training mode will stop. 
     The normal operation process begins in block  718  where RBAM  200 , in one embodiment, checks in every twenty minutes with Monitor Network  206  to see if any changes to the settings, the schedule, or if an on-demand test has been ordered. The check-in interval is chosen based on trade-offs between immediacy of pulling new data down to RBAM  200  and power consumption, and any interval could be used. Changes are uploaded to RBAM  200  in block  720 . When it is time for a scheduled test in block  722 , a prompt may be sent in block  724  to Offender  202  via a text message or a phone call with a pre-recorded message to the cell phone associated with Offender  202 . In block  726 , when the scheduled time arrives, RBAM  200  turns on and sends a prompt to Offender  202  to begin blowing into Breath Tube  14  of RBAM  200  as described above in more detail in reference to  FIG. 6 . In block  728  (see  FIG. 7C ) Offender  202  blows into Breath Tube  14  inserted into RBAM  200 , a still image is taken by Camera  18 , the breath sample is processed by Fuel Cell Assembly With Tubing  10 , and the location fix is obtained. The facial recognition software analyzes the facial image and determines a quality score for the image and creates a template for this test. If the quality score of the image does not meet a threshold value, no facial recognition attempt will be made. The template for this test is compared to the template extracted from the enrollment image taken in block  708  and stored in memory in Processor Circuit Board Assembly  8 , and a match score is determined. The match score must meet certain predefined criteria to be considered a facial match. In one embodiment the match score must be above a predefined threshold value to be considered a facial match. Raising the acceptable threshold value would force a stricter match, and lowering the threshold value would loosen the criteria to declare a match. The goal is to set the predetermined criteria to minimize false rejections when Offender  202  did indeed take the test, and also minimize false acceptance of a match when Offender  202  did not take the test. In one embodiment of the invention, the image taken by Camera  18  is uploaded to Monitor Network  206  and facial matching is done at Monitor Network  206 , or, just the template is uploaded to be compared with the enrollment template stored at Monitor Network  206 , or any combination. In another embodiment, when Offender  202  begins blowing, prior to taking the image required for facial matching, Camera  18  first begins taking a video or series of still images of Offender  202  to be analyzed by a liveness detection component of the facial recognition software, which analyzes the video or series of images to determine movement of the eyes, eyebrows, nose, mouth, etc. A printed photograph or mask placed in front of RBAM  200  will not have any movement of these facial parts. 
     In decision block  730 , based upon the results of the breath test, facial match result, or quality score of the image taken, RBAM  200  may output a message through OLED Display  11  to Offender  202  to retake the breath test in block  732 . A retest is typically required for a positive breath test and may be required for a poor quality score or negative facial match. The retest is evaluated again in decision block  730 . If there is a facial match, and the quality score of the image is acceptable, and a negative breath test, RBAM  200  in block  734  will send to Monitor Network  206  the results of both tests (BrAC; location fix; and images, match score, templates, and the quality scores from the facial recognition analysis). (See  FIGS. 3A-3D  for details on the different test results that may be sent to Monitor Network  206 .) 
     The analyze operation begins in block  736  where Monitor Network  206  will analyze the test results received: a single test; or, a test and a retest that are combined into a single test event. The outcome of the initial test may be one of the following: missed, incomplete, passed, or failed along with a positive facial match or a negative facial match, and the location fix. For a missed test, Offender  202  never attempted to blow into RBAM  200 . An incomplete test is the result of Offender  202  attempting to blow but failing to deliver a valid sample. This may be the result of Offender  202  not blowing hard enough, or not blowing long enough, or some other reason that results in the failed delivery of a valid sample. For a valid sample, the result is either passed or failed based upon the BrAC level. A positive facial match indicates that the person delivering the sample is the Offender  202  enrolled with the RBAM  200 . A negative facial match may be the result of a different person delivering the valid sample. Or, even if Offender  202  delivered the valid sample, a negative facial match may result due to Offender  202  wearing sunglasses, hair covering the face, or other obstruction such as a hat or scarf. 
     Monitor Network  206  will report a single missed test result as “Missed”; a single incomplete test result as “Incomplete”; a single passed test with a positive facial match as “Passed”; and a single passed test with a negative facial match as “Needs Review”. Needs Review test results may be set to be an immediate notification to Supervising Agency  210 . 
     A failed test is automatically followed by a confirmation test. The possible outcomes for a confirmation test are the same as for an initial test. The confirmation test is the opportunity afforded to Offender  202  to prove that the failed first test was mouth alcohol (such as mouthwash) and not a result of the consumption of alcohol. In the embodiment in which facial matching is performed on RBAM  200 , a retest may also be required for a negative facial match. 
     For a combined test (failed initial test followed by a confirmation test), Monitor Network  206  will report a missed confirmation test as “Failed” (a positive initial test followed by a missed confirmation test (see Block  362  in  FIG. 3D )). Offender  202  had the opportunity to take the confirmation test, but did not. Monitor Network  206  will report a missed confirmation test as “Failed”. Monitor Network  206  will report an incomplete confirmation test as “Failed” (a positive initial test followed by an incomplete confirmation test (see Block  380  in  FIG. 3D )). Offender  202  had the opportunity to take the confirmation test, but failed to deliver a valid sample. Monitor Network  206  will report a negative confirmation test as “Passed” (a positive initial test followed by a negative confirmation test (see Block  386  in  FIG. 3D )). Monitor Network  206  will report a positive but abnormal confirmation test as “Failed” (a positive initial test followed by a positive but abnormal confirmation test (see Block  392  in  FIG. 3D )). Monitor Network  206  will report a positive confirmation test as “Failed” (a positive initial test followed by a positive confirmation test (see Block  396  in  FIG. 3D )). In this scenario, the delta between the two tests is less than or equal to 0.02%. 
     Location fix is determined with each test. In one embodiment this is accomplished by obtaining the GPS coordinates, which are obtained using a GPS receiver. The GPS receiver may be a stand-alone component within the RBAM, or may be built into the cellular module. However, in some cases, typically if Offender  202  is indoors, the satellite signal needed to get the GPS coordinates cannot be obtained and several secondary methods may be used. In one embodiment those secondary methods include cell tower triangulation by RBAM  200  and the cellular service provider. If this option is not available, then in one embodiment, location fix is determined by the nearest cell site. 
     Different types of test results can be sent on an immediate or priority notification basis using Communication Link  222  if Supervising Agency  210  elects to be so notified. For example, Supervising Agency  210  can elect to be notified immediately for failed tests, missed tests, incomplete tests, and needs review. Even if immediate notification is not chosen, all test results are uploaded to Monitor Network  206  upon completion of the test and stored and are immediately available for review by Supervising Agency  210  via the website. An agent at Supervising Agency  210  may review the uploaded data in different ways. For all Offenders  202  being monitored, all their test results can be displayed in the order the tests were uploaded, with the oldest test results on the top of the list, or, with the newest test results on the top of the list. The list can also be sorted by individual Offender  202 , oldest tests on top or newest tests on top. 
     For an agency level view, only alerts and exceptions may be displayed. This exception based monitoring makes more efficient use of agent&#39;s time by focusing agent attention on the tests that matter. All failed, missed, incomplete, and needs review test results can be displayed for the agent, and as the agent deals with each one, the action taken can be logged and the alert or exception resolved. Alerts can include no communication by RBAM  200  with Monitor Network  206  for a given period of time, tamper alerts, and housing breach alerts. Without facial matching, prior art systems had to report everything to a supervising agency and every single one of the tests needed to be looked at and evaluated. Facial matching coupled with automatic confirmation testing eliminates a lot of data that no longer needs to be reviewed by an agent at Supervising Agency  210 . This exception based reporting as disclosed herein is a tremendous improvement over existing remote breath monitoring systems. In addition, when Offender  202  is confronted with a failed test, the date and time, the BrAC, their facial image, and their location fix, it makes it very difficult for Offender  202  to deny what they did. 
     Immediate notification may be accomplished in the following ways: by text message; by email; or by a page sent to a pager. Supervising Agency  210  can then take whatever action they desire. An agent for Supervising Agency  210  may call Offender  202  and inquire as to why Offender  202  missed taking the test. For a missed test, Supervising Agency  210  may have information that Monitor Network  206  does not. For example, Offender  202  may have called in and said they could not take the test for whatever reason. 
     Upon notification of a missed test, or for some other reason, Supervising Agency  210  may request an on-demand test. An agent for Supervising Agency  210  can click a button on their web application ordering an on-demand test for Offender  202 . Since RBAM  200  checks in with Monitor Network  206  periodically, RBAM  200  will receive the on-demand test order within its check-in interval, wake up, and prompt Offender  202  to take a test. Monitor Network  206  may also send a text message to Offender  202 , or the agent may call Offender  202  immediately after the on-demand test is ordered in the web application. The text message or agent will then instruct Offender  202  to hold down Power On/Off Switch  21  for five seconds, which causes RBAM  200  to power up and communicate with Monitor Network  206 , receive the on-demand test order, and prompt Offender  202  to take a test. 
     In block  738  the test results are stored and are immediately available for review by an agent at Supervising Agency  210 . Decision block  740  determines if an immediate or priority notification is necessary based upon preferences established by Supervising Agency  210 . If yes, then in block  742  notification is sent from Monitor Network  206  to Supervising Agency  210  or to a specific agent or supervisor associated with Supervising Agency  210  via communication link  222 . Control returns to block  736  to await the next test results needing analysis. If immediate notification is not needed, then in block  744  (see  FIG. 7D ) if there are any changes to the settings or schedule, those changes are downloaded to RBAM  200 . RBAM  200  will then turn off and control returns to blocks  718  (check in every fifteen to twenty minutes),  722  (wait for next scheduled test), and  724  (send reminder text message) (see  FIG. 7B ). 
     When Offender  202  no longer needs to be monitored as determined by Supervising Agency  210 , in block  745  RBAM  200  is unassigned from Offender  202 . In block  746  monitoring is stopped and Offender  202  returns RBAM  200  to Supervising Agency  210 . In block  748  Monitor Network  206  will communicate with RBAM  200  and in block  750  check RBAM  200  back into inventory, where it becomes available to the next Offender  202 , and RBAM  200  is deactivated from the wireless network. After RBAM  200  is deactivated from the wireless network the method ends. 
     Although the subject matter has been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as example forms of implementing the claims. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that many changes in construction and circuitry and widely differing embodiments and applications will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the disclosed subject matter.