Reprogrammable remote sensor monitoring system

Abstract

An automated, real-time, reprogrammable monitoring and control system for portable, remote sensors and subjects includes one or more portable monitoring units, each of the portable monitoring units having a sensor, a location-determining device, and a sensor interface unit. Each sensor interface unit is separately configured to monitor its sensor and to transmit that sensor's data, via a digital wireless communications network, to a central monitoring device. The portable unit is carried or worn by a person or animal, or affixed to an inanimate subject.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for remotely monitoring the status of a subject, comprising the steps of 
 providing the subject with a portable monitoring unit comprising 
 at least one automatic sensor of a condition associated with the subject,  
 a portable-unit location-determining device,  
 a sensor interface unit including 
 a programmable microprocessor having an active state and an inactive state, the microprocessor being operable to change from the inactive state to the active state responsive to the occurrence of any of a set of activating parameters for an activation condition selected from the group consisting of a preselected state of the at least one automatic sensor and a request signal from an external source, the microprocessor being in communication with the at least one automatic sensor and the location-determining device,  
 a communications device interface in communication with the microprocessor,  
 a first transceiver of a communications device in communication with the communication device interface, and  
 a power supply that provides power to the microprocessor, the communication device interface, and the first terminal of the communications device;  
 
   programming the microprocessor with a set of activating parameters for the activation conditions;    the microprocessor entering the inactive state;    the microprocessor entering the active state responsive to the occurrence of the activating parameters of one of the activation conditions;    the microprocessor obtaining a status of the subject from the sensor interface unit and the location of the portable unit from the location-determining device; and    the microprocessor sending a status message over the first transceiver of the communications device, the content of the status message including the status of the subject and the location of the portable unit.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , 
 wherein the subject is a human being, and    wherein the step of providing the subject with a portable monitoring unit includes the step of 
 providing the subject with a sensor interface unit including a programmable microprocessor having an active state and an inactive state, the microprocessor being operable to change from the inactive state to the active state responsive to the occurrence of any of a set of activating parameters for an activation condition selected from the group consisting of a preselected state of the at least one automatic sensor, a status signal by the subject, and a request signal from an external source, the microprocessor being in communication with the at least one automatic sensor and the location-determining device.  
   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing a central monitoring device includes the step of 
 providing a portable central monitoring device.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , including the additional steps of 
 providing a central monitoring device including a second terminal of the communications device, and    receiving the status message at the second terminal of the communications device.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , including the additional steps of 
 providing a central monitoring device including 
 a second terminal of the communications device, and  
 a display in communication with the second terminal of the communications device, and  
   receiving the status message at the second terminal of the communications device, and    displaying the status message on the display.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the subject with a portable monitoring unit comprising a portable-unit location-determining device includes the step of 
 providing the subject with a portable monitoring unit comprising a global positioning system receiver.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the subject with a portable monitoring unit comprising at least one automatic sensor includes the step of 
 providing the subject with a portable monitoring unit comprising a sensor selected from the group consisting of an audio/visual sensor, a biological condition sensor, a chemical sensor, a meteorological sensor, a motion sensor, an electromagnetic sensor, a seismic sensor, and an apparatus sensor.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing the subject with a portable monitoring unit comprising a first transceiver of a communications device includes the step of 
 providing the subject with a communications transceiver selected from the group consisting of a digital cellular telephone, a Personal Communication System, a Global Systems for Mobile Communication device, a wireless local area network device, a citizen's band radio, and a satellite transceiver.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of the microprocessor sending a message includes the step of 
 the microprocessor assigning to the status message a unique identifier associated with the portable monitoring unit.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , including an additional step, after the step of the microprocessor sending a status message, of 
 reprogramming the microprocessor with a second set of activating parameters for the activation conditions.    
     
     
         11 . Apparatus for remotely monitoring and assessing the status of a subject, the apparatus comprising: 
 a portable monitoring unit comprising 
 at least one automatic sensor associated with the subject;  
 a portable-unit location-determining device; and  
 a sensor interface unit including 
 a programmable microprocessor having an active state and an inactive state, the microprocessor being operable to change from the inactive state to the active state responsive to the occurrence of any of a set of activating parameters for an activation condition selected from the group consisting of a preselected state of the at least one automatic sensor and a request signal from an external source, the microprocessor being in communication with the at least one automatic sensor and the location-determining device,  
 a communications device interface in communication with the microprocessor,  
 a first transceiver of a communications device in communication with the communication device interface, and  
 a power supply that provides power to the microprocessor, the communication device interface, and the first terminal of the communications device.  
 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor interface unit further includes 
 an audio/visual indicator in communication with the microprocessor.    
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further including 
 a subject status signal input device activatable by the subject and in communication with the microprocessor.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further including 
 a central monitoring device including a second terminal of the communications device.    
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the central monitoring device is portable.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further including 
 at least one additional portable monitoring unit having the structure set forth in  claim 11 .    
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , further including 
 at least one additional central monitoring device having the structure set forth in  claim 11 .    
     
     
         18 . Apparatus for remotely monitoring and assessing the status of a subject, the apparatus comprising: 
 a portable monitoring unit comprising 
 at least one automatic sensor associated with the subject;  
 a sensor interface unit including 
 a programmable microprocessor having an active state and an inactive state, the microprocessor being operable to change from the inactive state to the active state responsive to the occurrence of any of a set of activating parameters for an activation condition selected from the group consisting of a preselected state of the at least one automatic sensor and a request signal from an external source, the microprocessor being in communication with the at least one automatic sensor and the location-determining device,  
 a communications device interface in communication with the microprocessor,  
 a first transceiver of a communications device in communication with the communication device interface, and  
 a power supply that provides power to the microprocessor, the communication device interface, and the first terminal of the communications device;  
 
   a central monitoring device including a second terminal of the communications device; and    a portable-unit location-determining device.    
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein at least a portion of the portable-unit location-determining device is included in at least one of the portable monitoring unit and the central monitoring device.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 18 , further including 
 at least one additional portable monitoring unit having the same structure as the portable monitoring unit of claim  18 .