Command console for home monitoring system

Abstract

A method and apparatus for a home monitoring system is provided. The home monitoring system may include a command console for monitoring and processing the output of sensors. The processing of the sensors includes (1) providing a history of the sensor as an indicator to the operator of the sensor output over time; (2) analyzing the trends of the sensor to increase the effectiveness of the sensor beyond simply the current sensor output; and (3) analyzing the output of one sensor which may impact interpretation of a second sensor's output. The monitoring system may also be a prescription reminder system. The prescription reminder system may be used in homes or institutional medical facilities (assisted living or nursing homes) to provide patients with a manner to remind them to take pharmaceutical drugs at prescribed times.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A monitoring system comprising in combination: 
 a plurality of sensors;    a command console in communication with the plurality of sensors, the command console comprising:    a predetermined values look-up table, the look-up table including predetermined values for the plurality of sensors during normal operation;    means for receiving data from the plurality of sensors to the command console;    a historical look-up table, the historical look-up table for storing data from the means for receiving data;    a processor, the processor connected to the predetermined values look-up table, to the means for receiving data and to the historical look-up table, the processor for comparing actual values received by the plurality of sensors with the predetermined values; and    an alarm connected to the processor, the alarm for notifying a user based on the comparison of the actual values received by the plurality of sensors with the predetermined values.    
     
     
         2 . A monitoring system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the processor analyzes the data in the historical look-up table in order to determine trends in the data and wherein the alarm includes an aural based alarm, the aural based alarm sounding based on the trends of the data.  
     
     
         3 . A monitoring system as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the plurality of sensors includes a carbon monoxide sensor in communication with the processor and wherein the alarm sounds when the data of the carbon monoxide sensor indicate an upward trend.  
     
     
         4 . A monitoring system as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the plurality of sensors includes a temperature sensor in communication with the processor and wherein the alarm sounds when the data of the temperature sensor indicate an upward trend.  
     
     
         5 . A monitoring system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the predetermined look-up table includes initial values for the plurality of sensors and wherein the command console further comprises means for sending the initial values from the command console to the plurality of sensors in order to initialize the sensors.  
     
     
         6 . A monitoring system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the command console further comprises a notification look-up table connected to the processor, the processor using the notification look-up table based on the comparison of the actual values received by the plurality of sensors with the predetermined values.  
     
     
         7 . A monitoring system as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the notification look-up table contains telephone numbers for the command console to call based on the comparison of the actual values received by the plurality of sensors with the predetermined values.  
     
     
         8 . A monitoring system as claimed in  claim 6  wherein the notification look-up table contains electronic mail addresses for the command console to mail based on the comparison of the actual values received by the plurality of sensors with the predetermined values.  
     
     
         9 . A monitoring system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of sensors includes an electricity sensor in communication with the processor and wherein the alarm sounds when the electricity sensor detects a loss of power.  
     
     
         10 . A monitoring system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of sensors includes an electricity sensor in communication with the processor, wherein the electricity sensor transmits data to the processor when a power outage occurs and wherein the look-up table records the data transmitted.  
     
     
         11 . A monitoring system as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the plurality of sensors includes an electricity sensor in communication with the processor, the electricity sensor communicating when there is a power outage, 
 wherein the predetermined values include time of power outage and number of times the power outage occurs,  
 wherein the processor communicates to the historical look-up table when the power outage communicated by the electricity sensor exceeds the time of power outage in the predetermined values look-up table, and  
 wherein the processor notifies the alarm when the number of times the processor communicates to the historical look-up table when the power outage communicated by the electricity sensor exceeds the time of power outage in the predetermined values look-up table equals the number of the power outage occurs in the predetermined values look-up table.  
 
     
     
         12 . A method of monitoring a security system, the security system having a plurality of sensors and a command console, the method comprising the steps of: 
 sending of data regarding current status of the plurality of sensors to the command console;    recording the data regarding the current status of the plurality of sensors in a first look-up table;    comparing the data regarding the current status of the plurality of sensors with values in a second look-up table; and    activating an alarm on the security system based on the comparison of the data regarding the current status of the plurality of sensors with values in a second look-up table.    
     
     
         13 . A method of monitoring a security system as claimed in  claim 12  further comprising the steps of: 
 analyzing the data in the first look-up table in order to determine trends in the data; and  
 activating the alarm based on the trends of the data.  
 
     
     
         14 . A method of monitoring a security system as claimed in  claim 13   wherein the step of sending of data regarding the current status of the plurality of sensors includes sending data regarding a carbon monoxide sensor;    wherein the step of analyzing the data in the first look-up table includes analyzing the data regarding the carbon monoxide sensor; and    wherein the step of activating the alarm is based on an upward trend in the data of the carbon monoxide sensor.    
     
     
         15 . A method of monitoring a security system as claimed in  claim 13   wherein the step of sending of data regarding the current status of the plurality of sensors includes sending data regarding a temperature sensor;    wherein the step of analyzing the data in the first look-up table includes analyzing the data regarding the temperature sensor; and    wherein the step of activating the alarm is based on an upward trend in the data of the temperature sensor.    
     
     
         16 . A method of monitoring a security system as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the second table includes initial values for the plurality of sensors and further comprising the step of sending the initial values from the command console to the plurality of sensors in order to initialize the sensors.  
     
     
         17 . A method of monitoring a security system as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the plurality of sensors includes an electricity sensor and further comprising the step of activating the alarm when the electricity sensor indicates an intermittent power outage.  
     
     
         18 . A method of monitoring a security system as claimed in  claim 17  wherein the values in the second look-up table include time of power outage and number of times the power outage occurs, and 
 wherein the step of activating the alarm when the electricity sensor indicates an intermittent power outage includes: 
 determining whether power outage as indicated by the electricity sensor exceeds the time of power outage in the second look-up table, and  
 determining whether occurrences of when the power outage as indicated by the electricity sensor exceeds the time of power outage in the second look-up table equals the number of times the power outage occurs in the second look-up table.  
 
 
     
     
         19 . A home monitoring system comprising in combination: 
 a gas meter for sensing the amount of gas dispensed;    a water meter for sensing the amount of water dispensed;    an electricity meter for sensing the amount of electricity dispensed; and    a command console in communication with the gas meter, the water meter and the electricity meter, the command console comprising: 
 means for receiving data from the gas meter, the water meter and the electricity meter to the command console;  
 a processor;  
 a look-up table, the look-up table connected to the processor for storing data from the means for receiving data; and  
 means for transmitting data from the look-up table to a central station.  
   
     
     
         20 . A boat monitoring system comprising in combination: 
 a water level sensor;    a carbon monoxide sensor;    means for monitoring movement of a lifeboat connected to the boat; and    a command console in communication with the water level sensor, the carbon monoxide sensor and the means for monitoring movement of a lifeboat, the command console comprising: 
 receiver for receiving readings from the water level sensor, the carbon monoxide sensor and the means for monitoring movement of a lifeboat;  
 a processor connected to the receiver;  
 a look-up table, the look-up table connected to the processor for storing data from the receiver; and  
 means for transmitting data from the look-up table to a central station.  
   
     
     
         21 . A boat monitoring system as claimed in  claim 20  wherein the means for monitoring movement of a lifeboat connected to the boat includes a pressure sensor, the pressure sensor connected between the boat and the lifeboat.  
     
     
         22 . A method of monitoring a security system, the security system having a gas meter, a water meter, an electricity meter, a command console and a control center, the method comprising the steps of: 
 reading the gas meter to determine the amount of gas dispensed;    transmitting the reading of the gas meter to the command console;    reading the water meter to determine the amount of water dispensed;    transmitting the reading of the water meter to the command console;    reading the electricity meter to determine the amount of electricity used;    transmitting the reading of the electricity meter to the command console;    storing the readings of the gas meter, water meter and electricity meter in a look-up table containing a history of meter readings; and    periodically transmitting a message to the control center with the readings of the gas meter, water meter and electricity meter.    
     
     
         23 . A method as claimed in  claim 22  further comprising the steps of: 
 analyzing the readings the gas meter, water meter and electricity meter in order to determine trends in the readings; and  
 activating the alarm based on the trends of the data.  
 
     
     
         24 . A method of monitoring a security system, the security system having a gas meter, a command console and a control center, the method comprising the steps of: 
 reading the gas meter to determine the amount of gas dispensed;    transmitting the reading of the gas meter to the command console;    storing the reading of the gas meter in a look-up table containing a history of gas meter readings;    determining whether there is a gas leak;    transmitting a message to the control center if there is a gas leak; and    periodically transmitting a message to the control center with the reading of the gas meter.    
     
     
         25 . A method of monitoring a security system as claimed in  claim 24  wherein the step of determining whether there is a gas leak includes reading a gas detector.  
     
     
         26 . A method of monitoring a security system, the security system having an electricity meter, a command console and a control center, the method comprising the steps of: 
 reading the electricity meter to determine the amount of electricity used;    transmitting the reading of the electricity meter to the command console;    storing the reading of the electricity meter in a look-up table containing a history of electricity meter readings;    analyzing the readings in the electricity meter look-up table to determine if there is an electricity spike;    transmitting a message to the control center if there is an electricity spike; and    periodically transmitting a message to the control center with the reading of the electricity meter.    
     
     
         27 . Patient monitoring system comprising in combination: 
 service center device including a service center processor and a service center memory device connected to the service center processor, the service center memory device including a patient data look-up table containing patient data regarding types of prescriptions taken by the patient and times for taking the prescriptions by the patient; and    at least one patient home device including a patient home processor having a clock, a patient home memory device connected to the patient home processor, means for notifying a patient, and means for communicating with the service center in order to transfer patient data,    wherein the patient home memory device includes a patient home look-up table containing patient data regarding types of prescriptions taken by the patient and times for taking of the prescriptions, the patient data being obtained from the patient data look-up table via the means for communicating with the service center and    wherein the processor notifies the patient via the means for notifying a patient based on the patient data in the patient home look-up table and based on the clock.    
     
     
         28 . A patient monitoring system as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the look-up table contains scheduled times in which to take the prescription and wherein the processor reads the scheduled times from the look-up table and activates the means for notifying based on the output of the clock.  
     
     
         29 . A patient monitoring system as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the look-up table further contains directions for taking the prescription and wherein the means for notifying outputs the directions for taking the prescription.  
     
     
         30 . A patient monitoring system as claimed in  claim 27  further comprising: 
 prescription data device including a prescription data processor, means for communicating with the service center device and a prescription data memory device, the prescription data memory device electrically connected to the prescriptions data processor and including a prescription data look-up table; and  
 pharmacy branch device including a pharmacy branch processor, means for communicating with the prescription data device, and a pharmacy branch memory device, the pharmacy branch memory device electrically connected to the pharmacy branch processor and including a pharmacy branch look-up table,  
 wherein the pharmacy branch look-up table contains patient data regarding prescriptions and wherein the prescription data look-up table obtains the patient data regarding prescriptions from the pharmacy branch look-up table.  
 
     
     
         31 . A patient monitoring system as claimed in  claim 30  wherein the means for communicating with the service center device includes a modem.  
     
     
         32 . A patient monitoring system as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the means for notifying a patient includes a television.  
     
     
         33 . A patient monitoring system as claimed in  claim 32  wherein the television is receiving a television signal and wherein the means for notifying a patient further includes a textual message for overlay on the television signal.  
     
     
         34 . A patient monitoring system as claimed in  claim 32  wherein the means for notifying a patient further includes a picture of a pill in order for the patient to identify the type of prescription to take.  
     
     
         35 . A patient monitoring system as claimed in  claim 27  wherein the means for notifying a patient includes an aural alarm.  
     
     
         36 . In a system having a service center and at least one patient home, a method of monitoring a patient's taking of prescriptions comprising the steps of: 
 compiling a look-up table at the service center that contains prescription data schedules for taking the prescription;    sending the prescription data to the patient home;    compiling a look-up table at the patient home that contains prescription data including schedules for taking the prescription;    determining when to notify the patient to take the prescription based on the schedules in the look-up table at the patient home; and    notifying the patient when the patient is scheduled to take the prescription.    
     
     
         37 . A method of monitoring a security system as claimed in  claim 36  wherein the step of notifying the patient includes activating an aural alarm.  
     
     
         38 . A method of monitoring a security system as claimed in  claim 36  wherein the step of notifying the patient includes producing a textual message on a screen.  
     
     
         39 . A method of monitoring a security system as claimed in  claim 38  wherein the step of notifying the patient further includes producing a picture of a pill from the prescription on the screen.