Personal monitoring apparatus and method

Abstract

An apparatus, including a housing; a pulse rate monitor, thermometer, or blood pressure monitor, which is separate and apart from the housing, which monitors and detects a physiological state of an individual; a Bluetooth device which transmits or enters information obtained by the pulse rate monitor, thermometer, or blood pressure monitor, to or into the apparatus; a global positioning device which determines a position or location of the housing; a camera or video recorder attached to, or located on, the housing; and a beacon attached to or located within the housing. The apparatus detects a physiological state indicating a healthcare need or a position or location of the housing outside of a safe zone of travel, establishes a communication link or a telephone call with a computer or a telephone, activates the camera or video recorder, and activates the beacon to facilitate locating the housing.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a housing;   an input device, wherein the input device is a pulse rate monitor, a thermometer, or a blood pressure monitor, wherein the pulse rate monitor, the thermometer, of the blood pressure monitor, is separate and apart from the housing, wherein the input device monitors and detects a physiological state of an individual;   a Bluetooth device, wherein the Bluetooth device transmits or enters information obtained by the pulse rate monitor, the thermometer, or the blood pressure monitor, to or into the apparatus;   a global positioning device, wherein the global positioning device determines a position or location of the housing;   a camera or a video recorder, wherein the camera or the video recorder is attached to, or located on, the housing; and   a beacon, wherein the beacon is attached to or located within the housing,   wherein the apparatus detects an event, wherein the event is either a detection of a physiological state of the individual indicating a healthcare need or a detection of a position or a location of the housing outside of a safe zone of travel, and further wherein, upon detecting a physiological state of the individual indicating a healthcare need or detecting a position or a location of the housing outside of a safe zone of travel, the apparatus initiates and establishes a communication link or a telephone call with a computer or a telephone located separate and apart from the housing, activates the camera or the video recorder to record a photograph, a picture, or a video recording, and activates the beacon to facilitate an tracking of, or a locating of, the housing.   
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a touch screen keyboard, wherein the touch screen keyboard is viewable or accessible via the display.   
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a scanner for scanning information into the apparatus.   
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a blood alcohol monitor.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the housing is wearable. 
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the housing is attachable to clothing. 
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the housing is implantable within the human body. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a pacemaker or a defibrillator.   
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 communication equipment located within the housing for enabling the apparatus to function as a cellular telephone.   
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 navigation equipment located within the housing for enabling the apparatus to function as a navigation system.   
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the apparatus detects a dropped communication link or a dropped telephone call and automatically reestablishes the a new communication link or a new telephone call with the computer or the telephone. 
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the apparatus further comprises:
 an on/off switch to disable an operation of the apparatus.   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a transmitter, wherein the transmitter transmits a message to the computer or to the telephone containing the position or the location of the housing.   
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a transmitter, wherein the transmitter transmits a message to the computer or to the telephone containing information regarding the physiological state of the individual.   
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the housing is a housing associated with a cellular telephone or a smart phone. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the housing is a housing associated with a watch. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the housing is an article associated with a bracelet or a necklace. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the housing is an article associated with an article of jewelry. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , further comprising:
 a speaker, wherein the speaker is located on the housing; and   a microphone, wherein the microphone is located on the housing,   wherein the speaker and the microphone facilitate a hands-free telephone call mode of operation.   
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the apparatus detects a deviation of the position or the location of the housing from an expected position or location of the housing.