911 services and vital sign measurement utilizing mobile phone sensors and applications

Abstract

Improved methods for utilizing 911 services, for implementing 911 dispatch protocols, and for measuring vital signs of a human, all by accessing mobile phone sensors and applications, are disclosed. Vital signs such as heart rate, breathing rate, breathing distress, and blood pressure can be measured using mobile phone sensors and applications. A method for differential estimation of blood pressure involves the synchronization of time between two mobile phones, locating an appropriate position for one cell phone and recording heart sounds, and recording video data from the finger tip of the subject using the other mobile phone.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . A method for capturing and transmitting chest sounds of a subject using a first mobile phone and a second mobile phone, wherein the first mobile phone comprises a microphone and is capable of capturing and transmitting audio data, wherein the second mobile phone comprises an embedded video camera capable of capturing and recording video data with a lens and a flash and an application for estimating heart rate information using the camera and flash, and wherein the first mobile phone and the second mobile phone further comprise a WiFi receiver, a WiFi transmitter, and Voice over IP (“VOIP”) software, wherein the VOIP software comprises modified signaling protocols which facilitate transmission of information in real-time, comprising:
 synchronizing time between the first mobile phone and the second mobile phone; 
 placing the first mobile phone on the subject at an appropriate location close to the subject's chest; 
 collecting audio data using the first mobile phone that corresponds to chest sounds of the subject; 
 generating chest sounds information for the subject using the audio data; 
 activating the application for estimating heart rate information; and 
 capturing the chest sounds information and the heart rate information; and 
 using the modified signaling protocols of the first mobile phone and the second mobile phone to transmit one or more of the chest sounds information and the heart rate information of the subject to a recipient via an Internet-based network in real-time. 
 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the synchronizing time step utilizes a Bluetooth based synchronization protocol. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the appropriate location close to the subject's chest is a location close to the pulmonary valve of the subject's heart. 
     
     
         28 - 32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the first mobile phone comprises an audio recording application. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the second mobile phone comprises a video recording application. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the placing the first mobile phone on the subject step comprises pressing the microphone of the first mobile phone against the chest of the subject. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the appropriate location close to the subject's chest is on bare skin of the subject. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the subject is in a seated position. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein at least one of the first mobile phone and the second mobile phone is a portable personal device carried by a user on a wrist or arm.