Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus (12) is presented that detects wireless signals from external devices (18) that uniquely identify each of the external devices, records, in memory (30), information about the external devices without access to an external database, and compares information from the external devices to determine a relative location of the wearable device without using additional, power-hungry position location functionality if there is a threshold match in the compared information. In some embodiments, the invention uses the determined relative location to trigger an action at another device. The invention, using self-contained functionality, enables improvements in same location or home location determination accuracy, memory conservation, and power consumption.

Abstract: A geo-fencing system (102) includes a base device (104) configured to create a virtual fence (108) around the base devise that bounds a safe zone (110). The geo-fencing system further includes a wearable device (106) initially located within the safe zone. The geo-fencing system further includes a processor configured to execute a dynamic adaptive control algorithm that computes at least one operating parameter for at least one of the base device and the wearable device based on a dynamic and adaptive combination of different signals indicative of distance measurements between the wearable device and the base device computed by the at least one of the base device and the wearable device. The processor conveys the at least one operating parameter to the at least one of the base device and the wearable device, which employs the at least one operating parameter for operation and determination of subsequent distance measurements.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus (12) is presented that detects wireless signals from external devices (18) that uniquely identify each of the external devices, records, in memory (30), information about the external devices without access to an external database, and compares information from the external devices to determine a relative location of the wearable device without using additional, power-hungry position location functionality if there is a threshold match in the compared information. In some embodiments, the invention uses the determined relative location to trigger an action at another device. The invention, using self-contained functionality, enables improvements in same location or home location determination accuracy, memory conservation, and power consumption.

Abstract: A geo-fencing system (102) includes a base device (104) configured to create a virtual fence (108) around the base devise that bounds a safe zone (110). The geo-fencing system further includes a wearable device (106) initially located within the safe zone. The geo-fencing system further includes a processor configured to execute a dynamic adaptive control algorithm that computes at least one operating parameter for at least one of the base device and the wearable device based on a dynamic and adaptive combination of different signals indicative of distance measurements between the wearable device and the base device computed by the at least one of the base device and the wearable device. The processor conveys the at least one operating parameter to the at least one of the base device and the wearable device, which employs the at least one operating parameter for operation and determination of subsequent distance measurements.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus is presented that detects wireless signals from external devices that uniquely identify each of the external devices, records, in memory, information about the external devices without access to an external database, and compares information from the external devices to determine a relative location of the wearable device without using additional, power-hungry position location functionality if there is a threshold match in the compared information. In some embodiments, the invention uses the determined relative location to trigger an action at another device. The invention, using self-contained functionality, enables improvements in same location or home location determination accuracy, memory conservation, and power consumption.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an apparatus is presented that detects wireless signals from external devices that uniquely identify each of the external devices, records, in memory, information about the external devices without access to an external database, and compares information from the external devices to determine a relative location of the wearable device without using additional, power-hungry position location functionality if there is a threshold match in the compared information. In some embodiments, the invention uses the determined relative location to trigger an action at another device. The invention, using self-contained functionality, enables improvements in same location or home location determination accuracy, memory conservation, and power consumption.

Abstract: A Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) includes a call device (10) with a call button (12), LAN (20), WAN (22), and locator service(s) (26, 42). The PERS further includes a hub or gateway device (30). The call device is programmed to periodically send transmissions to the hub or gateway device using the LAN, recognize based on the transmissions that the call device is no longer in a home geo-fence, and transition to communicating using the WAN in response to recognizing that the call device is no longer in the home geo-fence. The transition also includes turning on the locator service(s). The call button triggers the call device to contact the hub or gateway device using the LAN, or a PERS call center when using the WAN. A speaker (14) and microphone (16) are built into the call device for use when communicating using the WAN.

Abstract: A mobile button device (10) comprises a call button (12), a local wireless link (20) to a communicator (30), and a cellular connection (22). The mobile button device is programmed to perform an alarm reporting method including: originating an alarm by sending the alarm via the local wireless link to the communicator for alarm reporting by the communicator; after sending the alarm to the communicator, monitoring alarm reporting status via the local wireless link to the communicator; and reporting the alarm via the cellular connection in response to the monitoring determining that the communicator failed to report the alarm. For example, the monitoring may include polling the communicator via the local wireless link and the monitoring determines that the communicator failed to report the alarm if the polling indicates the communicator is unavailable (70) or a timeout condition (72) is reached.

Abstract: A mobile call device (10) for use in conjunction with a Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) includes a cellular radio (20) configured for voice communication (22) and data transmission (24) and a call button (12). The mobile call device is programmed to: send a machine-to-machine (M2M) message (52) from the cellular radio to a PERS call center (42) via a M2M server (40). The M2M message includes at least PERS subscriber or mobile call device identification information, and may further include current location information acquired by one or more locator services (28, 54) of the mobile call device. After sending the M2M message, the mobile call device is further programmed to receive and conduct a voice call (56) originating from the PERS call center. The mobile call device may be further programmed to initiate a voice call to a Public Safety Answering Point (70).

Abstract: A mobile help button device (10) comprises a help button (12) with WiFi (20) and cellular (22) communication and a global positioning system (GPS) receiver (26). The mobile help button device (10) is programmed to perform a locator method including: attempting to wirelessly connect with a base station (30); acquiring WiFi access point (AP), cellular tower, and GPS information; and determining a location. The location is set to a home location if the attempt to wirelessly connect with the base station is successful, or is determined by a global locator service (44) based on the WiFi AP, cellular tower, and GPS information if the attempt to wirelessly connect with the base station is unsuccessful. The location may be tracked over time by breadcrumbing, and the location is determined from the breadcrumbing if the global locator service cannot be reached. An audio beacon (46) may also be provided.

Abstract: A mobile button device (10) comprises a call button (12), a local wireless link (20) to a communicator (30), and a cellular connection (22). The mobile button device is programmed to perform an alarm reporting method including: originating an alarm by sending the alarm via the local wireless link to the communicator for alarm reporting by the communicator; after sending the alarm to the communicator, monitoring alarm reporting status via the local wireless link to the communicator; and reporting the alarm via the cellular connection in response to the monitoring determining that the communicator failed to report the alarm. For example, the monitoring may include polling the communicator via the local wireless link and the monitoring determines that the communicator failed to report the alarm if the polling indicates the communicator is unavailable (70) or a timeout condition (72) is reached.

Abstract: A mobile call device (10) for use in conjunction with a Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) includes a cellular radio (20) configured for voice communication (22) and data transmission (24) and a call button (12). The mobile call device is programmed to: send a machine-to-machine (M2M) message (52) from the cellular radio to a PERS call center (42) via a M2M server (40). The M2M message includes at least PERS subscriber or mobile call device identification information, and may further include current location information acquired by one or more locator services (28, 54) of the mobile call device. After sending the M2M message, the mobile call device is further programmed to receive and conduct a voice call (56) originating from the PERS call center. The mobile call device may be further programmed to initiate a voice call to a Public Safety Answering Point (70).

Abstract: A Personal Emergency Response System (PERS) includes a call device (10) with a call button (12), LAN (20), WAN (22), and locator service(s) (26, 42). The PERS further includes a hub or gateway device (30). The call device is programmed to periodically send transmissions to the hub or gateway device using the LAN, recognize based on the transmissions that the call device is no longer in a home geo-fence, and transition to communicating using the WAN in response to recognizing that the call device is no longer in the home geo-fence. The transition also includes turning on the locator service(s). The call button triggers the call device to contact the hub or gateway device using the LAN, or a PERS call center when using the WAN. A speaker (14) and microphone (16) are built into the call device for use when communicating using the WAN.

Abstract: A communication system is used by a portable patient monitoring device for connecting to other devices, including a docking station, via one or more networks. The communications system includes an adaptive communication interface which, when the patient monitoring device is docked, establishes communication with a first network, and receives from a first docking station a first unique identifier that identifies the first docking station, allowing the patient monitoring device to communicate patient parameters to the first destination. While the portable patient monitoring device is undocked, the adaptive communication interface is inhibited from establishing communication with a network providing an identifier to the portable patient monitor that does not match the first unique identifier.

Abstract: A system for managing patient medical data derived from at least first and second medical devices acquiring respective medical data from a patient includes a proximity detector, for use by the first medical device, for detecting proximity of the second medical device. A command processor responds to the detection of proximity, by initiating generation of signals: (a) to associate patient medical data acquired by the second medical device with patient medical data acquired by the first medical device, and (b) to process patient medical data acquired by the second medical device together with medical data acquired by the first medical device to provide a composite representation of patient medical data.

Abstract: A communication system is used by a portable patient monitoring device for connecting to other devices, including a docking station, via one or more networks. The communications system includes an adaptive communication interface which, when the patient monitoring device is docked, establishes communication with a first network, and receives from a first docking station a first unique identifier that identifies the first docking station, allowing the patient monitoring device to communicate patient parameters to the first destination. While the portable patient monitoring device is undocked, the adaptive communication interface is inhibited from establishing communication with a network providing an identifier to the portable patient monitor that does not match the first unique identifier.

Abstract: A docking station advantageously provides a location identifier to a portable processing device which processes the location identifier to determine docking station location (and other information) and to upload settings and configuration information related to an identified location which is retained until a different docking station location is encountered. In a system for use in a docking station suitable for attaching to a portable patient monitoring device for processing signal parameters acquired from a patient, a power coupler couples power to provide electrical power to a portable processing device. An adaptive communication interface, in a first mode of operation, communicates an identifier associated with a particular docking station to the portable processing device, and in a second mode of operation, establishes connection of the portable processing device to a network.

Abstract: An electrically isolated, combined power and signal coupler, for a patient connected device, is disclosed. A docking station and a portable device, capable of docking with the docking station each include a power coupler and an electrically isolated data transducer. The respective power couplers include a magnetically permeable element including a central pole and a peripheral pole and a printed circuit board with an opening through which the central pole protrudes. The printed circuit board includes windings surrounding the central pole opening: a primary winding in the docking station and a secondary winding in the portable device. When the portable device is docked with the docking station, the magnetically permeable element in the portable device and the magnetically permeable element in the docking station are arranged to form a magnetic circuit, and the data transducer in the portable device and the data transducer in the docking station are arranged to exchange data.

Abstract: A medical data telemetry management system for managing acquisition of patient medical data derived from a plurality of patient connected devices includes an acquisition processor for acquiring medical data from a plurality of different patients attached to a corresponding plurality of patient connected devices using a corresponding plurality of communication channels. A communication interface receives a message, including a particular patient connected device identifier, which is generated in response to the detection of proximity of a particular patient connected device to a wireless patient connected device detector.

Abstract: A system for managing patient medical data derived from at least first and second medical devices acquiring respective medical data from a patient includes a proximity detector, for use by the first medical device, for detecting proximity of the second medical device. A command processor responds to the detection of proximity, by initiating generation of signals: (a) to associate patient medical data acquired by the second medical device with patient medical data acquired by the first medical device, and (b) to process patient medical data acquired by the second medical device together with medical data acquired by the first medical device to provide a composite representation of patient medical data.