Abstract:
A remote healthcare system that incorporates a cloud based platform with a service provider having servers that store data and administrative applications for delivering healthcare features to a care recipient by an authorized member of a caretaker group where the system includes a care recipient controller at the location of the care recipient being provided the healthcare features, the care recipient controller being under primary control of the care recipient and having an internal microcontroller programmed to function as a general purpose computer to permit communications with cloud platform systems and with the care recipient, wherein the controller has circuitry to connect wirelessly and by landline to authorized members of the caretaker group, such that one authorized member of the caretaker group can remotely take control of the recipient controller as authorized by the service provider, and remotely control services to the care recipient including initiating emergency calls to 911 through the controller switch circuitry for the care recipient&#39;s landline.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This non-provisional utility application claims the priority date of the filed provisional application Ser. No. 62/283,962 filed Sep. 16, 2015. 
     
    
     FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to a remote healthcare system that is particularly adapted for family care that is inclusive of family members and close friends as well as professionals in the health care business. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0005]    The desire for independent living by elders, the infirm, or those who can benefit from remote healthcare has prompted healthcare providers to adopt solutions that are effective in personalizing the healthcare to the individual client. By means of cloud computing, personalized healthcare can be provided with a minimal financial burden. Savings in physician time as well as allowing real time, face-to-face consultations with a patient, while the patient remains at home or in a general care facility justify the hardware and system operation costs. Adoption of remote healthcare systems provides real savings to both the professional healthcare provider and the client patient. 
         [0006]    Communication systems utilizing cloud computing enable a single healthcare provider to remotely engage all its enrolled patients using simple systems that take advantage of modern smartphones and touch screen tablets. The complexity of such systems increases exponentially when access is provided not only to healthcare professionals, but members of the family of the client patient, and others who may have an interest in the care of the client patient. As the communication systems become more personalized to the client patient the remote healthcare system can integrate its system with the communication systems that have become commonplace with the use of tablets and smart phones by young and old alike. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The remote healthcare system of this invention is particularly adapted for family care that is inclusive of both healthcare providers and the family and friends of the healthcare receiver. The healthcare receiver may be a client patient or simply an elder that desires to maintain a degree of independent living with the help of others. The focus is healthcare receiver centric. The healthcare system of this invention is most suitable for mobile tablets with an intuitive touch screen interface. From the healthcare receiver&#39;s end, touchscreen icons are preferably arranged in a matrix format forming a control panel. This feature enables a compact grid of multiple mnemonic icons to be formed in the control panel of the touch screen tablet. The icons, which comprise portals to the various controls, services and information available to the healthcare receiver as a service provider client, are simple and easily recognizable even on the smaller touch screen of a mobile tablet or smart phone. Notably, the healthcare receiver need not subscribe to the complete set available and a base set with an extended set may be offered using the healthcare system of this invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic overview of the remote healthcare system of this invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is diagrammatic view of a user interface for the care recipient and the caretaker group. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a central controller in a care recipient control box. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of a combined tablet and custom amplifier in an external casing. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a front view of the external casing of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart for the procedure for remote dialing of 911 through the care recipient landline. 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a schematic of an exemplar chip set for the remote dialing feature and the custom amplifier in the care recipient control box. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0015]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the remote healthcare system of this invention is designated generally by the reference numeral  10 . The healthcare system  10  includes both hardware and software features and is dependent on the cloud  12  having a cloud-based platform  14 . The cloud-based platform  14  includes infrastructure in the form of servers  16  and administrative applications  18  typically run by the service provider  20 . The servers  16  and applications  18  include a system database and the software to run client applications among the multiple caretakers and typically multiple care recipients. For simplicity, the healthcare system  10  described will consider one care recipient  22  and one caretaker group  24 . Typically, the caretaker group  24  includes the service provider  20  that administers the program when that service provider is also a primary healthcare provider  26  for the care recipient. However, the service provider  20  may not be the primary health care provider for the care recipient  22  and may simply administer the cloud-based platform for the remote healthcare system  10  with the active participation of the primary healthcare provider  26  or simply a primary member of the caretaker group  24 . 
         [0016]    In the schematic diagram of  FIG. 1 , the hub of the remote healthcare system  10  from the perspective of the care receiver  22  is a compact central controller  28  in the recipient&#39;s local environment, such as the care recipient&#39;s home. The care receiver&#39;s central controller  28  is connected by hardwire or wirelessly to a home network router  29 , which in turn connects to the cloud  12  and particularly to the cloud-based platform  14  administered by the service provider  20 . In addition, the care receiver&#39;s central controller  28  communicates wirelessly with one or more mobile touchscreen tablets  30  that may be portable or mounted at strategic locations in the home. 
         [0017]    Importantly, the central controller  28  connects to a telephone landline  32  and includes circuitry  34  to bypass a connected telephone  36  for communication over the public switched network. In addition to providing direct landline communication, the circuitry  34  enables communication when the telephone is inadvertently or accidentally left “off the hook.” Also, the circuitry  34  of the central controller  28  enables the tablets  30  that are installed with enhanced speaker and volume control to function as an annunciator when a caretaker in the caretaker group  24  seeks to communicate with the care recipient  22 . Importantly, the enhanced speaker and volume control component described later, is of particular advantage when the care recipient  22  is elderly and/or hearing impaired. 
         [0018]    The control features of the central controller  28  preferably use Bluetooth wireless for connecting to a number of health monitoring sensors  38  and controlled appliances  40 . Among the health monitoring sensors  38  are a blood pressure monitor  42  for checking blood pressure, a scale  44  for checking weight fluctuations, an accelerometer pendant  45  for tracking activity and alerting caretakers of falls and/or extended periods of lack of movement, an oximeter  46  for determining pulse and blood oxygen levels, and a glucometer  47  for determining blood sugar levels. Other health monitoring devices may be added as the medical conditions of the care recipient  22  requires. 
         [0019]    Among the controlled appliances are a remotely controlled television  48  for allowing remote command of the television, a smart thermostat  50  for monitoring and regulating the home temperature, and a security system  52  for providing remote monitoring, remote activation, deactivation and monitoring for alarms. In addition, one or more Bluetooth controlled power outlets  54  for controlling other appliances such as lights, humidifiers, clock alarms and controllable devices typical in a modern home. 
         [0020]    In the schematic diagram of  FIG. 1 , the distributed network of the remote health care system  10  from the perspective of the caretaker group  24  is a wireless connection to the cloud-based platform  14  by a plurality of conventional cloud access devices  56 , including personal computers  58 , tablets  60  and smartphones  62 . The access devices  56  include or are loaded with a software access application  64  providing controlled access, preferably wireless, to the cloud-based platform  14 . 
         [0021]    In the preferred family care focus of the remote healthcare system  10  the care recipient  22  designates the level of access for each member of the caretaker group  24 . In this manner, a friend will likely have less access than a physician to medical records, tests and other health-related information. However, to minimize professional care and its expense, a family member may have the least restricted access of any member of the caretaker group  24 . So long as the care recipient  22  is in command of his or her faculties, the care recipient  22  has greatest access and control and can designate the levels of access of each member of the caretaker group  24 . 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a preferred user interface  66  is illustrated for the client central controller  28 , which is part of a care recipient control box  68  of  FIG. 1 , that preferably includes a display screen  70  as depicted in  FIG. 2 . It is to be understood, that as a central controller  28 , the control box  68  may dedicate one of the many touch screen tablets  30  as its display screen. In this manner, an upgrade and/or replacement of a tablet  30  is a less expensive alternative than replacing the control box  68 . The tablet  30  may be mounted on the control box  68  as an attached component and connected by hardwire to eliminate potential rf (radio frequency) interference. Alternately, the control box  68  includes its own dedicated display screen  70 . 
         [0023]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the user interface  66  for the client central controller  28  is programmable and has a matrix  72  of user-friendly icons  74 . The icons  74  are arranged in the matrix  72  for compactness, allowing a large number of large, easily visible and understandable icons  74  on the limited screen area of a tablet or smartphone. The icons  74  provide a touch control for the features depicted. 
         [0024]    The icon matrix  72  also may include pathways  76  that indicate links between or among the various icons  74 . The pathways or links  76  and the arrangement of icons  74  are adjustable to illustrate pertinent relationships among the icons  74 . 
         [0025]    Also shown in  FIG. 2 , is a simplified user interface  78  for the caretaker group  24 . A list  80  of user-friendly icons  82  provides general access to the listed portals  84 . As noted the listed portals  84  are all preferably available to the family member of the caretaker group  24  having the primary responsibility for the health care recipient  22 . Depending on the nature of the professional care, the professional health care member or members of the caretaker group  24  have a controlled access that may be as extensive as the family member of the caretaker group  24 . Typically, a friend member of the caretaker group  24  may have only limited access, for example to the dashboard, calendar, and communications part of the listed portals  84 . Features in the dashboard may be further limited to access, preferably by the care recipient  22  or the principal family member of the caretaker group  24 . 
         [0026]    In the block diagram of  FIG. 3 , the central controller  28  in the control box  68  is divided into two sections, the Linux (or other operating system) microcontroller board  85  and the speaker and phone board  86 . The microcontroller board  85  and the speaker and phone board  86  are in communication by a USB connection  88 . The microcontroller board  85  preferably includes a Linux microcontroller  90  having a Linux operating system or OS  92  with a power supply  94  and communication modules including a USB module  96 , a WiFi transceiver  98  and a Bluetooth transceiver  100 . Communication with the cloud  12  by Ethernet line (not shown) may also be made in a conventional manner. 
         [0027]    The speaker and phone board  86  includes a USB module  102  that facilitates direct connection and communication with the USB module  96  of the microcontroller board  85 . The speaker and phone board  86  also includes a microcontroller module  104  with embedded firmware  106  and an IR interface module  108 , a Bluetooth transceiver module  110  and a cellular phone band transceiver module  112  (GSM or other system types). 
         [0028]    Also included is an audio amplifier module  126  and a telephone control module  114 . As noted, the circuitry  34  in the central controller  28  includes the custom circuitry for emergency communications through the telephone landline  32 . The part of the circuitry  34  for the telephone control module  114  includes switch sub-circuitry  116  that detects when the telephone landline  32  is interrupted or disconnected by a telephone  36  being “off hook.” This switch sub-circuitry  116  and the attendant software are described further in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a tablet  30  having a touch sensitive display screen  70  has an external casing  118  that encloses the tablet  30  and an amplifier  119  with a pair of auxiliary amplifier speakers  120 . Within the casing  118  the stock audio output module  122  of the tablet  30  is connected by USB connection  123  to an audio input module  124  that is amplified by an audio amplifier sub-circuitry  125  of the audio amplifier module  126  within the audio amplifier  119  to drive the added speakers  120 . The custom audio amplifier module  126  is powered by a USB connection  128  to the tablet  30 . 
         [0030]    It is to be understood that the mobile tablets  30  are typically battery powered. The stationary mounted tablets including the tablet mounted to the control box  68  may be powered by a conventional wall connected, low-voltage power transformer (not shown). The stationary mounted tablets may use the internal battery power of the tablets or a backup battery in the event that normal household power is interrupted. 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a flow chart  130 , defines the procedure for enabling the emergency call to 911 for assistance when the care recipient  22  is not responsive and the care recipient&#39;s telephone line  32  appears to be busy. If an authorized member of the caretaker group  24  believes that the care recipient&#39;s connected telephone  36  may be inadvertently or accidentally “off the hook,” then the override procedure may be initiated. 
         [0032]    From the start  132  the remote user initiates the remote 911 call procedure through the web interface in the browser via his or her caretaker device  56 , such as a computer  58 , tablet  60  or smartphone  62  at block  134 . The authorized member of the caretaker group  24  in one alternative can initiate the 911 emergency call application even when the care recipient&#39;s telephone may be on the hook, but the care recipient does not respond to conventional calls. 
         [0033]    The remote 911 call application available to the authorized member of the caretaker group  24  via the cloud based platform  14  establishes a connection with the client controller  28  through the central controller board  85  in the care recipient&#39;s control box  68  in procedure box  136 . In decision box  138  the controller board routes the request to the control circuitry  34  in the speakerphone board  86 . 
         [0034]    The specialty sub-circuitry  116  in the speakerphone board  86  analyzes the state of the telephone line  32 . If the telephone line  32  is confirmed to be not available or not “open” to receive calls, then in block  140  the procedure invokes a switch to the digital telephone procedure in the sub-circuitry to mimic a 911 phone call at procedure block  142 . Alternately, the step can be omitted when all calls using the authorized 911 emergency procedure automatically invoke a switch in the sub-circuitry  116  to bypass the line to the telephone  32 . 
         [0035]    At box  144  the sub-circuitry  116  checks to see if the care recipient&#39;s landline to the 911 operator is open and available to make an emergency 911 call. 
         [0036]    If the line to the 911 operator is not open to enable a pass through or bypass call regardless of the state of the telephone line  32 , then the remote 911 call application again establishes a connection with the controller board application of the care recipient  22  in box  146  and displays an error message to the remote caller in the caretaker group in box  148  and prompt the concerned member to re-dial. 
         [0037]    If the line is open to calling, then decision block  144  allows the procedure to directly begin the 911 phone call at procedure block  150 . If the line is clear to contact the 911 operator, the call is made at box  144 , and the operator answer at box  150  will receive the emergency call location for the care recipient  22  and at box  152  the remote member of the care taker group  24  is enabled to communicate with the 911 emergency operator and relay details of the emergency at the 911 call location of the care recipient  22 . 
         [0038]    In operation the remote healthcare system  10  utilizes the cloud  12  and the cloud based platform  14  with its servers  16  and applications  18  to deliver a broad-based care platform to a care recipient  22  from multiple members of a caretaker group  24 . The primary software applications and database are maintained at the cloud level and the remote monitoring of the care recipient  22  is accessible through conventional browser based software by phone, tablet and computer. The care recipient  22  typically accesses the client applications by tablet. The members of the caretaker group  24  have access depending on the level of authorization with the level determined primarily by the care recipient  22 . However, this level of authorization may be determined by the primary caretaker, or the family member having primary responsibility for monitoring the care provided. 
         [0039]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , the schematic circuit diagram for the chip set  154  is an exemplar of a part of the circuitry  34  of the client controller  28  that operates the volume control feature and the “off the hook” emergency dial feature. The circuit diagram shows the chip set  154  for the switch sub-circuitry  116  of the telephone control module  114  and for the audio gain sub-circuitry  125  of the amplifier module  126 . It is to be understood that other chip components, including integrated chips, or conventional electrical circuit elements can be substituted for the chip set shown. 
         [0040]    A general 12V DC power supply  156  feeds a step-down voltage transformer chip  158  to power the chips at a 12V, 5V and 3.3V voltage as required by the particular chip. A microcontroller chip  160  controls the telephone control module  114  and the audio amplifier module  126 . The microcontroller chip  160  connects to the telephone interface chip  162  by line  164 . The telephone interface chip  162  includes the switch sub-circuitry  116  to switch the landline service to an emergency or bypass state as previously described. The line terminals  166  and  168  provide the line in and line out for the two call states for ordinary and emergency calls. 
         [0041]    The microcontroller chip  160  also connects to an audio filter and gain control chip  170  by lines  172  and  174 . The telephone control module  114  and the audio amplifier module  126  are largely separate and are both controlled by the microcontroller chip  160 , but have cross connecting lines  176  and  178  between the telephone interface chip  162  and the gain control chip  170  and the provide the ability to utilize the enhanced volume of the audio amplifier module  126  for use as an annunciator, or loud speaker for telephone calls, for example, in an attempt to contact the care recipient  22  via the caretaker&#39;s landline and wireless alternatives. 
         [0042]    The audio filter and gain control chip  170  is connected to an audio codec chip  180  by lines  182  and  184  for bringing in the audio signal and passing it to the gain control chip  170  for amplification. The audio codec chip  180  is connected to a USB hub chip  186  by lines  188  and  190  for routing the audio signals from the care recipients connected devices such tablets  60  for amplification in the control box  68 . The USB hub chip  186  is connected to the microcontroller chip  160  by lines  192 ,  194  and  196  (the last broken for clarity). The USB hub chip  186  connects to an in-terminal  198  and an out-terminal  200 . The USB in-terminal  198  provides a USB connection to the host computer microcontroller board  85  and the USB out-terminal provides a USB connection to the affected devices, not serviced by the speakerphone board  86 . Other components can be added such one or more lamps  202  (one shown) as status indicators for the features described under control of the microcontroller chip  160  through line  204 . 
         [0043]    The following is a list of the primary chips in the chip set  154  for the exemplar implementation of the described features of the telephone control module  114  and the amplifier module  126  of  FIG. 7 . The list includes, the element number, the chip description, the manufacturer, and the catalog code. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 158 
                 Power Supply 
                 Texas Instruments 
                 LM26400Y 
               
               
                 160 
                 Microcontroller 
                 Texas Instruments 
                 CC2540 
               
               
                 162 
                 Telephone Interface 
                 IXYS 
                 CPC5622 
               
               
                 180 
                 USB Audio Codec 
                 Texas Instruments 
                 PCM2900C 
               
               
                 186 
                 USB Hub 
                 Texas Instruments 
                 TUSB2036 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0044]    It is to be understood that the use of the term, chip, is convenient and descriptive for describing a typical integrated electronic circuit for implementing the features of this invention. Similarly, the use of the term, line, is to define a conductor, such as a circuit line on a printed circuit board or a wire conductor for interconnecting the chip set shown. In the exemplar circuit arrangement shown, the lines are instructive and an attempt to inform those skilled in the art the path to follow. It is understood that implementations of the concepts disclosed may improve upon the hardware described to manifest the healthcare system of this invention. 
         [0045]    Using a client controller  28  the Bluetooth enabled health monitoring and home automation devices provide remote control of the care recipient&#39;s thermostat, television, lights and other home automation devices by the authorized caregivers. Health data is automatically collected at the time of measurement using wireless Bluetooth compatible health devices including a body composition scale, oximeter, pendant accelerometer, blood pressure monitor, glucometer and other devices that may be added to the system. The measurements are instantly transferred to the cloud database, and the data and analysis tools are immediately available to both the care recipient and the appropriate authorized caretakers of the caretaker group. 
         [0046]    Communication between select members of the caretaker group and the care recipient include video calls, video messages and text chat messages. The select member or members of the caretaker group can use an emergency intercom system, including one-way live video and two-way live audio directed to the enhanced volume home tablets to initiate communication. An important feature to be used by an authorized member of the caretaker group when the care recipient is unresponsive or unable to dial 911 is an emergency 911 call that is initiated by the authorized member of the caretaker group, but is directed through the circuitry  34  of the client controller  28  to appear from the emergency responder to come from the care recipient location. In this manner the authorized member of the caretaker group can communicate with the 911 operator with the emergency response being directed to the care recipient location. 
         [0047]    Although the detailed description is directed at a single care recipient, it is understood that the remote healthcare system applies to multiple care recipients, for example multiple patients under the primary care of a principal caretaker in a hospital or hospice facility, or the home care of multiple care recipients. 
         [0048]    With the care recipient side of the system being on 24/7, and the access to the care recipient being directed by the service provider and preferably being provided in part by multiple members of the caretaker group, effective monitoring and intervention can be initiated by any one of the members of the group or the service provider as authorized. In this manner a robust remote health care system can be tailored to an individual care recipient according to his or her circumstances.