GB2477260A

GB2477260A - Connected care system

Info

Publication number: GB2477260A
Application number: GB0917803A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anne-Marie Perry
Original assignee: ABILINK Ltd
Current assignee: ABILINK Ltd
Priority date: 2009-07-11
Filing date: 2009-10-12
Publication date: 2011-08-03
Also published as: GB0912089D0; GB0917803D0

Abstract

A process to enable persons to be connected remotely to third parties including health care providers, social care providers, call centres, friends, family or other third parties via a range of communications media including computer and audio-visual technology. The process includes a pre-arranged call schedule and if such a call is not answered then the agency are alerted so as to contact the recipient by other means, be it telephone, physical attendance or otherwise. There may also be an alarm system which monitors the health, movement, or other characteristics of a person or any unexpected occurrences within their abode. The system can also include a means to store information regarding the care history of the recipient.

Description

PATENT SPECIFICATION I DESCRIPTION

Connected Care System This invention comprises a process to enable social care services to be provided to users through a connected care system involving an integrated system of communication with them through a variety of media.

People in need of health and social care have difficulties remaining in their home because of the fear of needing medical attention unexpectedly or loneliness. Without a care worker living with them or attending on them physically it has to date presented a problem in providing the necessary monitoring remotely for health and social care needs. In addition those in need of care generally wish to preserve their independence as long as possible and this entails living in their own place of residence for as long as possible prior to requiring more traditional domiciliary care.

To overcome these problems the present invention proposes a process that is designed to enable persons to communicate remotely with the necessary intermediaries to enable the appropriate monitoring and care to be provided without the need for someone to be physically attending upon the person 24 hours a day. The service provider is able to see, speak to and hear the customer who appears on a monitoring screen based at the call centre. The customer is able to see, speak to and hear the care worker who appears on the customer's TV screen or monitor.

The invention permits the customer to receive communication from an outside agency such as a call centre by arrangement at a pre-arranged time such that the agency can monitor the customer for health and social care reasons which can include a check to ensure that the customer is fit and well, helping them to plan and manage the events for that day and taking care of themselves. If the customer either fails to respond to the pre-arranged call or shows signs of distress or ill health when contacted the agency can alert the relevant care agency to provide the necessary care or companionship. The customer is also able to contact the call centre and initiate a communication session.

The potential customers who could benefit from this invention include but are not limited to the elderly who are in need of health or social care and younger customers with a specific need such as a chronic illness or disability or some level of special needs where several young people may live together in one dwelling house and require checks or reminders. Such checks or reminders may comprise a prompt to take necessary medication if need be several times a day in order that the person concerned remains in good health.

By this invention a call centre or other agency is also enabled to coordinate communication between the customer and a number of other parties concerned.

These parties can include care workers, friends, relatives, alarm service providers and other third parties. These parties can view the customer including whilst communicating with them. This allows interaction between the customer and third parties situated (in each case) anywhere in the world and at family events in particular which would otherwise be likely to be missed due to mobility issues. The customer is also able to communicate with social and community groups and third party goods or service providers including supermarket home delivery services, and entertainment service providers of services such as bingo, information, exercise classes and health education.

It is able to do this through using a form of computer application that enables the communications of such third parties to be routed through and to appear on and sound through a touch screen, television or other audio-visual device used by the customer.

The technical effects that result from this invention include the following: 1. customers who use it will enjoy greater control over their own lives for longer; 2. customers who spend many hours at home or isolated will be able to enrich their lives with greater social interaction and remain active members of the local community; 3. the improvement in life and the greater feeling of well being which will result from the customer's use of this system will contribute towards the improvement in their health and delay the effects of memory loss. This will in turn delay the need for that customer to have residential care; 4. customers will be prompted to take prescribed medication and this will contribute towards their keeping well and avoiding hospital admissions as well as delaying or removing the need for residential care; 5. the system will reduce the carbon footprint implications because the number of physical attendances by carers or other third parties at the customers' premises will be much reduced.

The invention is further described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows the constituent elements of the connected care system in diagrammatic form.

Figure 2 shows in diagrammatic form the various different components comprising the connected care system followed by a list of each of those components ranging from the constituent elements of hardware, touch screen, set top box, software, camera, mic and call button, remote control and router.

Figure 3 comprises a list of the technical hardware used in the system.

Figure 4 comprises a list of the various services that can be accessed via the system.

Figure 3 1 Hardware The hardware needs the following facilities: Enough power to handle video calls.

Currently using Intel® Atom 1.6GHz hyperthreading processor overciocked.

Camera Fixed for the Touchscreen Pan/Tilt/Zoom for the Set Top Box ) Hard wired network connection 10/100 Wireless network connection (with encryption) Audio mic and speakers Low cable count 1.1 Touchscreen 1.1.1 PC System 1.1.2 Software 1.1.3 Lock 1.2 Set Top Box * 1.2.1 PC System Currently ASUS® EeeBox EB206 **** B206 * ** Operating System Microsoft® Windows XP Home CPU & Chipset Intel® Atom N270 (1.6 0Hz) Memory DDR2 SO-DIMM 1 GB Graphics ATI Radeon HD 3450 series with 256 MB DDR2 memory Storage 160 GB HDD SATA II 10GB Storage Card Reader SD/SDHC/MS/MS Pro/MMC Bluetooth® No Wireless 802.11 bIg/n LAN 10/100/1000 Mbps Audio Chip Realtek ALC662 Azalia CODEC Rear 110 Giga LAN x 1, USB 2.0 x 4 Video out: HDMI port xl / DVI-D (through adapter) Audio ports x 1 (with S/PDIF out) Other N/A Accessories Remote control, stylish stand and 36 W adapter Power Supply l2Vdc, 3A, 36W power adaptor Dimension W x H x D 222 * 178 * 26.9 nun Net Weight 1kg 1.2.2 Software ) L2.3 Camera Currently Logitech® Quickcam Sphere AF 1.2.4 Mic and Call Button Currently Polycom® C100S 1.2.5 Remote Control The remote control is provided in different forms depending on the functionality required.

For basic functions the Polycom® ClOOs is able to place a call and answer a call.

J For the ability to call out to different people and to use the system for basic entertainment and information a remote control like the One4All® would enable S navigation around a list.

*..*.S * . ** More advanced remotes may come at a later stage...

****.* Leading onto full IR or Bluetooth® keyboards.

1.3 Router Currently Netgear® DG834G.

The router is wireless, can be remotely managed, features easy detection of line settings and parameters and also offers diagnostics to enable remote collection of line performance data.

Figure 4 2 Health Services 2.1 Telehealth Services 2.2 Fitness and Activity 3 Domiciliary Care Services 3.1 Medication Compliance 3.2 Social Calls 4 IT Services 4.1 Remote Support 4.2 Installation 4.3 Net,vork Provision Social Networking 5.1 Forum 5.1.1 News 5.1.2 Special Interest 5.1.3 Photo Gallery 5.1.4 Chat Room 5.1.5 Calendar * q 5.1.6 Personal Profile * * 5.2 Events *s..

5.2.1 Group Discussions 5.2.2 Bingo * ..

6 Communication 6.1 Video Calls 6.1.1 Abilink 6.1.2 Friends and Family 6.2 P/tone Calls * 6.2.1 Long Distance Pre-Pay 6.3 Internet 6.4 EMail * 6.5 Shopping 6.5.1 Online Stores 6.5.2 Auction Sites 6.5.3 AbiShop 6.6TVandRadio 6.6.1 Internet (e.g. iPlayer) 6.6.2 Optional TV Freeview Receiver 7 Telecare S., * *

I

**5SS* * S * * S...

S *.e * I * I * S.

Claims

CLAIMSA process designed to assist in the delivery of health, social care and other services through the connecting of various elements of technology including a computer program enabling one party to communicate with other parties through audio-visual machinery in which the recipient is contacted by a health, social care or other service agency under a pre-arranged call arrangement and if such a call is not answered by the recipient then the agency are alerted so as to contact the recipient by other means, be it telephone, physical attendance or otherwise.
2. A process according to Claim 1, in which the recipient of services is able to control the audio-visual machinery by switching on or off the receiving device, be it a screen, television or similar device.
3. A process according to Claim 1, in which the parties communicating are able to view each other remotely via the receiving device.
4. A process according to Claim I, which is connected to an alarm system that enables a party to monitor the movement, health, social well-being or other characteristics of another party, any unexpected emittances of smoke or water, changes of temperature or the response from any door sensors or tilt monitors used in connection with that other party or their place of abode through the application of such alarms.
5. A process according to Claim 1, which is coordinated by a call centre which enables that call centre to communicate with third parties to facilitate the provision of health, social care and other services to users.
6. A process according to Claim 1, which enables friends and family to communicate with a user including by means of Skype and other similar technology.
7. A process according to Claim 1, which enables the service provider to incorporate other electronic, computer or telephonic communications applications into the connected care system.
8. A process according to Claim 1, in which the recipients of services are located in an enclosed environment such as their home.
9. A process according to Claim 1, in which the recipients of such services are elderly, incapacitated, disabled or infirm.
10. A process according to Claim 1, which also stores the information concerning the communications that take place between a health, social care or other service agency and the recipient of services, and other statistics concerning the care history of the recipient which can be processed and accessed.