Method of remotely managaing the distribution of medicine

Abstract

A method is provided of remotely managing the distribution of medicine. The method includes the step of providing a plurality of medicine containers. Each medicine container receives at least one dosage of medicine therein and includes a control circuit. Each control circuit controls distribution of a dosage of medicine from a corresponding medicine container. The control circuits and a central server are interconnected to a communications network. Instructions are transmitted by the central server to the control circuits over the communications network.

1 . A method of remotely managing the distribution of medicine, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a medicine container for housing at least one dosage of medicine therein, the medicine container including a control circuit;    interconnecting the control circuit to a communications network; and    receiving data transmitted over communications network with the control circuit.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the additional steps of: 
 distributing at least one dosage of medicine from the medicine container;    monitoring the distribution of the at least one dosage of medicine from the medicine container; and    transmitting predetermined information corresponding to the distribution of the at least one dosage of medicine from the medicine container to a central server over the communications network.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the control circuit performs the additional steps of: 
 determining a number of dosages of medicine in the medicine container; and    transmitting data corresponding to the number of dosages to a central server over the communications network.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  comprising the additional step of storing the number of dosages in the medicine container on a central server.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the additional step of providing a visual display in response the data received by the control circuit.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the additional step of distributing a dosage of medicine in response to the data received by the control circuit.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the additional step of distributing a predetermined number of dosages of medicine from the medicine container in response to the data received by the control circuit.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the additional step of preventing the distribution of the at least one of medicine in response to the data received by the control circuit.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  comprising the additional steps of: 
 interconnecting a central server to the communications network; and    synchronizing the control circuit to the central server at predetermined time intervals.    
   
   
       10 . A method of remotely managing the distribution of medicine, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a medicine container for receiving at least one dosage of medicine therein;    providing a control circuit for controlling distribution of a dosage of medicine from the medicine container;    interconnecting the control circuit to a communications network; and    transmitted instructions over the communications network to the control circuit.    
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  comprising the additional steps of: 
 distributing at least one dosage of medicine from the medicine container;    monitoring the distribution of the at least one dosage of medicine from the medicine container; and    transmitting predetermined information corresponding to the distribution of the at least one dosage of medicine from the medicine container to a central server over the communications network.    
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the control circuit performs the additional steps of: 
 determining a number of dosages of medicine in the medicine container; and    transmitting data corresponding to the number of dosages to a central server over the communications network.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  comprising the additional step of storing the number of dosages in the medicine container on a central server.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  comprising the additional step of providing a visual display in response the instructions received by the control circuit.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 10  comprising the additional step of distributing a dosage of medicine in response to the instructions received by the control circuit.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 10  comprising the additional step of distributing a predetermined number of dosages of medicine from the medicine container in response to the instructions received by the control circuit.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10  comprising the additional step of preventing distribution of the at least one of medicine in response to the instructions received by the control circuit.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 10  comprising the additional steps of: 
 interconnecting a central server to the communications network; and    synchronizing the control circuit to the central server at predetermined time intervals.    
   
   
       19 . A method of remotely managing the distribution of medicine, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a plurality of medicine containers, each medicine container receiving at least one dosage of medicine therein;    providing each medicine container with a control circuit, each control circuit controlling distribution of a dosage of medicine from a corresponding medicine container;    interconnecting the control circuits to a communications network; and    transmitted instructions over the communications network to the control circuits.    
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  comprising the additional step of interconnecting a central server to the communications network so as to allow the central server to communicate with the control circuits.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 19  comprising the additional step of each of the plurality of medicine containers providing a visual display in response the instructions received by the control circuit.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 19  wherein each control circuit controls the distribution of a dosage of medicine in response to the instructions received by the control circuit.