Design and method for reading and processing multi-parameter data from various sources

p0001The invention relates to a method and apparatus for recording and processing of data. The acquisition and processing of data from different sources and linking them together is a common problem in many application scenarios. Data sources can in this context objects with a static content (eg, an identity card, the label with the serial number of a device, an ace of hearts from a deck) or those with dynamic, variable data (eg, a thermometer or a watch).

p0002A subset of data to be collected include medical data, as they are recorded daily in hospitals, doctors' offices, nursing homes and even in patients at home. For example, (blood pressure, body weight, blood sugar, etc.), subjective well-being, taking medication, etc. recorded at home monitoring of chronic diseases medical readings. The mostly elderly patients need and want this to be actively involved in the monitoring, even by measuring the necessary data and provide technical aids their doctor.

p0003The (mostly elderly) patient should collect data usually in the course of Homemontoring. These data then different processing steps can be performed, such as: transmission to the doctor, transfer to the doctor Please call, transfer to the doctor and triggering an alarm (emergency), transfer to relatives, recommending a further procedure (eg dosage a medicament), presentation of results (eg weight over the last 4 weeks), etc.

p0004A problem here however is that both the collection of data as well as the triggering of the subsequent processing steps for the patient is often complicated, not very intuitive, and the technologies are not optimized for the elderly.

p0005To collect data using technical tools and process, you need to be read in any way. One possibility would be to manually enter the data in the technical unit. Today, there are also numerous technologies that static data (RFID, barcode scanner, card reader, etc.) or dynamic data (Bluetooth, WIFI, USB) from a source to a target device can be transferred. Prior art are numerous devices that collect and process data via different interfaces. These include computers or mobile phones, receive the data from a variety of media and can process.

p0006The transfer of data to these devices, however, is linked to little intuitive method, such as connecting a cable and manually select the desired data using a GUIs, or a Bluetooth connection and the transfer of data from one device to the other etc.

p0007Prior art are containers that can always read its contents. So there are cabinets with RFID technology, can what items that were previously marked with RFID tags recognize. However, such containers do not have the purpose to process data and they can only a single type of data read (identification code via RFID). A similar approach has also RFID-based access control systems, eg for stadiums work, except that it is not the reading happens when the disk (ie tickets) to the container (ie ground) are, but already at that time, where the Stadium enter.

p0008Furthermore, devices prior art, can read the objects in a container (eg a shopping cart), and on the basis of the identified objects can perform data processing (eg, add the price of all items and the identified items from the inventory list Delete). It can be outside the read-out unit, or it is itself part of the container (the trolley). The type of processing, in such containers, however, not be influenced by the user.

p0009In the home monitoring chronic data technologies are known in which a terminal (eg mobile telephone) fetches data from other devices (for example, via Bluetooth, RFID, IrDA, etc.) and then processed. Bringing the data is carried out either automatically without intervention of the patient (eg, Bluetooth) or by manually reading out the static or dynamic disks by the patient, the data source to the mobile phone contacts (RFID).

p0010The more different data should be collected and used while the more different technologies, the more complicated is the data collection, the harder it is to know which data has already been read out and which the more errors can not yet, and open up during the data collection.

p0011The invention is therefore based on the object to capture data in an intuitive manner and process according to the wishes of the user, so that older persons with no problems can carry out the data acquisition.

p0012Especially when home monitoring of chronic diseases is due to the increasing number of sensors and measuring instruments and measurements, the problem that the data collection, transmission and allocation to other processes of current systems in terms of simplicity, performance, maintainability, safety and economy are insufficient.

p0013Data as such are an elusive object. If it had, collect items, the collector would gather together all the necessary components and place for example in a container. This procedure is very common and therefore each completely intuitive. The aim is therefore to find an equally intuitive method for recording and processing of data.

p0014The object is achieved in that items that have heterogeneous data stored, placed in a container, the data stored on the objects are read automatically, and that then - be carried out different processing steps - depending on at least one of the set in the container objects , The container can be, for example, a suitcase, a charger, a mat etc..

p0015For example, in addition to measuring devices for blood pressure, body weight or blood sugar an RFID card for the processing step "data sent to the doctor" are set as the action determinant object in the container. If the action "Statistics show" placed in the container, can be a statistical evaluation of the in case data displayed on a display device (a TV or digital picture frames as on the container, on a in the container device or on an external device, for example) , Using action cards like "show insulin requirement" therapy recommendations could be displayed, etc.

p0016A possible embodiment applying the invented method, is in <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> shown. A person puts all the necessary for monitoring objects such as an ID card (11), a blood pressure monitor (12), a blood glucose meter (13), a clock (14), medication box with RFID tag (15), mobile phone (16) in a container (17). Finally comes an action-determining subject (18), eg a card "SEND" to and during the closing of the container stored by these objects data is automatically read by means of suitable RFID antenna (19) and the contents of this data depends on a transmission unit (20 ) sent to a data center for further processing.

p0017Processing may start example, when the container is closed down, or if an action determining object is placed in the container.

p0018By combining several action items determining the behavior of the container can be changed. For example, by adding the card "EMERGENCY" to "SEND" card a doctor or the emergency will be alerted while only feedback from the doctor to the data may be desired by the card "Please call".

p0019The action-determining objects may not necessarily only have the function of the action triggering. It can also be triggered by different actions that certain actions are linked to other objects. For example, by inserting each of an identification card of a patient and a doctor the doctor access to the data of a patient are given (action "Allow Access"). Or a doctor can ID cards of several patients to container (eg all members of a family), to obtain a statistical comparison of the data of all these patients (eg to detect genetic correlations; action "Statistical comparison").

p0020The container itself may also contain sensors that as environment variables, determine (pressure, temperature, humidity, current position, etc.), which may be of great importance in many issues. For example, it is known that air pressure and temperature have great influence on the well-being and should therefore be included in a comprehensive home monitoring of the chronically ill. Agent in the container built sensors but can also provide information on the container itself are recorded. For example, whether he is or is, if he shows just the south of importance it has, etc. And the sensors can also properties of the objects that are placed in it, determine, such as their weight (eg for liquid containers for determining the level), their orientation (eg in a dice to determine the value that was diced), their location within the container (for example when the container is divided into several areas with different, for example "only for me visible", " may also see my doctor "," visible to everyone ").

p0021To read bulky objects, themselves also objects can be placed in the container instead of the articles that refer to the objects themselves. For example, instead of a Bluetooth-enabled instrument, an RFID card with the Bluetooth address of the instrument are placed in the container. When reading the data, the Bluetooth address is detected and in the course of processing the data via Bluetooth read by the meter, without the instrument itself was in the container.

p0022Among the set into the container objects also objects can be located, which can even perform data processing. For example, this could be a mobile phone, which then also parts of the processing could perform (for example, the data transmission) or the entire processing.

p0023The set in the container objects can trigger not only the action itself, but also include parameters for the action. For example, an article can include the URL is sent to the data or retrieved from the data, it can be one of eg three cards are to set (for example, red, yellow, green) to the urgency of the request indicate it may be the location where the data should be stored, are taken from one of the articles. Or it may be (eg therapy recommendation, statistics) a card to put in the case of visualizations that affects the font size in the presentation.