FR2831294A1 - System for acquisition of biological signal such as ECG using a portable recorder to send data to a remote server, uses remote server to control dialogue with recorder to collect measurements - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has a portable recorder (1) attached to a patient to sample different biological measurements on the patient and record the data. A remote server (3) stores information on the patient and controls communication with the recorder over a telecommunication network (4), using a predefined communication protocol, with the server acting as master and the recorder acting as slave.

Description

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SYSTEM FOR ACQUIRING A SIGNAL
ORGANIC TYPE OF ECG TYPE USING A PORTABLE RECORDER DEVICE AND TRANSFERRING THIS SIGNAL
The present invention relates to the field of monitoring or remote medical monitoring of the physiological state of an individual. In this field, its main object is a system that allows, by means of a portable recording device, the acquisition and digitization in the form of digital samples, of at least one analog biological signal of an individual, and transferring digital samples representing this analog biological signal to a remote server. Among the biological signals concerned by the invention, mention may be made by way of non-limiting and non-exhaustive example of the ECG signal representative of the cardiac activity of an individual, a signal measuring the temperature, the arterial pressure, etc. , of an individual.

 In order to monitor or monitor the physiological state of a patient, it is known to use recorders, which, once put in place on the patient, make it possible to acquire an analogue-type biological signal, such as by a patient. ECG signal. Depending on the type of monitoring or medical follow-up desired, these recorders can also be designed to record several different biological signals in parallel.

 A first known type of recorder is non-ambulatory type.

This is a heavy and expensive equipment that is well suited for real-time monitoring of the evolution of the physiological state of a non-mobile patient. In practice this type of recorder is used in hospital or similar.

 In order to allow monitoring or medical follow-up of a patient, without the patient having to stay in a hospital or similar environment, and / or without hindering patient mobility, it has already been proposed to make portable recorders , ambulatory type. It's about

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 small and relatively lightweight recorders that can be placed on a patient without hindering his mobility. With this type of portable recorder, the acquisition of biological signals can advantageously be performed in any place, and for example at the patient's home, and / or while the patient is in motion. In practice, in existing systems these portable recorders store in memory the digital data relating to the acquired biological signal. Regularly, the patient is forced to move to his doctor, who is equipped with a reading device to read the digital data that has been acquired. In addition to this displacement constraint, these systems have the disadvantage of allowing only delayed medical monitoring, corresponding to the period between two consultations; there is therefore a risk of late diagnosis of a pathology. Also, the recorder must be equipped with a large local memory to be able to store the digital data acquired between two consultations to the doctor. In some cases, this local memory may be insufficient, and be filled prematurely; this results in a detrimental loss of information on the physiological evolution of the patient over time.

 The main objective of the present invention is to propose a system which makes it possible, by means of a portable recording device, to acquire and record at least one biological signal of an individual, and which overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks. .

 Another object of the invention is to provide a system for acquiring and recording a biological signal that is flexible and scalable.

 Another object of the invention is to propose a system for acquiring and recording a biological signal, which implements portable recording devices of simple design.

 These objects are achieved by the system of the invention. In known manner, the system of the invention comprises a recording device

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 portable device which includes a local memory, and which, once set up on a user, allows acquisition and digitization in the form of one or more digital samples of at least one biological signal of the user, and recording in said local memory of each digital sample.

 Characteristically according to the invention, the system further comprises a computer server for storing information relating to said user, and means for communicating the recording device with the computer server, via a telecommunications network; the recording device is further adapted to transfer to the server each digital sample of the signal stored in its local memory; the server and the recording device are designed to communicate according to a predefined communication protocol during which the server operates as a master by sending one or more successive commands to the recording device, and the recording device operates as a slave by executing the function corresponding to the each order received.

 The implementation of the abovementioned communication protocol advantageously makes it possible to design simplified recording devices at a lower cost. Also, it offers the possibility of driving and / or having the recording device configured by the server. This provides a more scalable system, whose features can be more easily modified or adapted, or that can be supplemented with new features, by simply modifying the server, and without having to change the electronic architecture of the recording devices or replace recording devices already placed on the market. This communication protocol also allows the server to send to the recording device the confirmation of the reception of the digital samples and / or to allow the recording device to make a new acquisition, for example by modifying the state of a flag in the local memory of the recording device.

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 In a particular embodiment, the means making it possible to communicate the recording device with the computer server comprise a communication device, which is external to the recording device, and which comprises a modem. More particularly, the recording device and the communication device are designed to exchange data by an infra-red link; the communication device further comprises an omnidirectional RF antenna, and is able to exchange data over the air with the telecommunication network. Preferably, the communication device is portable, and is constituted by a mobile phone equipped with an infrared transmitter / receiver.

 Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred variant embodiment of a system of the invention, which description is given by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a system of the invention; - Figure 2 shows an exemplary housing corresponding to the recording device of the system of the invention.

 FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an example of an electronic architecture of a recording device, FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the steps corresponding to the main loop executed by the microcontroller of the recording device, FIG. is a flowchart illustrating the steps implemented by the microcontroller of the recording device, during an acquisition phase of an ECG signal, - Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating the steps implemented by the microcontroller of the device. during a transfer phase to the server of the digital signal samples recorded

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 by the recording device; and FIG. 7 is a flow chart which illustrates the steps implemented by the server 3 during a transfer of the digital samples.

 FIG. 1 shows a system of the invention comprising a non-invasive portable recorder device 1 capable of communicating with a remote server 3 via a telecommunication network 4.

The recording device 1, once non-invasively placed on a patient P, allows the acquisition of a biological signal of the patient, the sampling in the form of digital samples of this signal, and the recording in a local memory of the device 1 of the digital samples. In the particular application that will be described hereinafter with reference to the appended figures, the biological signal acquired by the recording device 1 is an analog-type electrical signal, commonly called ECG, which is and representative of the patient's cardiac activity. . The invention is however not limited to this particular type of biological signal, but may be used to record other types of biological signals such as for example the temperature of a part of the patient's body, the patient's blood pressure , cardiac pulsations, respiration, fetal parameters, neurological parameters, auditory parameters, ophthalmological parameters, muscular parameters, osteoarticular parameters, olfactory parameters, metabolic parameters such as blood glucose or oximetry, digestive parameters, urinary parameters, respiratory parameters. Also, the recording device
1 could be designed to achieve the acquisition of several biological signals of different natures. To adapt the recording device
1 described hereinafter, it suffices for a person skilled in the art simply to replace the analog acquisition means of an ECG signal described hereinafter by the acquisition means which are adapted to the biological signal to be recorded, and which are otherwise already known.

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 The system of the invention also comprises a communication device 2, which integrates a modem 21, and which makes it possible to communicate the recording device 1 with the remote computer server 3, via the telecommunication network 4. In the preferred example of illustrated embodiment, this communication device 2 is external to the recording device 1. In another embodiment, this communication device 2 could be an integral part of the portable recording device 1. Once the connection established with the server 3, the recording device 1 is able to exchange data with the server 3, via the telecommunications network 4, and in particular is designed to transfer to the server 3, the digital samples stored in local memory, for archiving by the server 3.

 In the present text, the term "telecommunication network" generally refers to any network allowing the long-distance exchange of data between the server 3 and a recording device 1. a long-distance network of WAN computer network type, such as for example the Internet network, etc. In practice, the telecommunication network 4 will generally be a set of interconnected networks of different types.

 The computer server 3 allows the archiving of information on each patient, including the digital samples transferred. This archiving is for example done in a database, which is accessible by any means of communication known by the patient's doctor. The concept of computer server should be taken in this text in its broadest acceptance. Thus, computer server designates any programmed computer processing unit that allows digital data to be saved in a memory, regardless of the type of memory, and that includes an interface allowing a user (in practice, the doctor to follow up the patient). ) to access this data. The server can thus be a computer station

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 fixed type personal computer (PC) or workstation, having as a user interface a keyboard and a screen, which allow local access to the data stored in memory. It may also be a programmed computer processing unit, whose data stored in memory can be accessed remotely by a user, via a telecommunication network (LAN type local computer network, Wan type long distance computer network , switched telephone network, ...). In particular, the computer server can be a server hosted by a website, the information on each patient can be viewed remotely, and securely by the patient's doctor (or any other third party designated by the patient), via the network global Internet. Also, the server 3 may advantageously be designed to, upon receiving a set of digital samples transmitted by a recording device 1, automatically trigger a warning procedure of a third person designated by the patient, for example his doctor. This warning procedure results, for example, in the sending by the server 3 of an SMS type message and / or an electronic mail via the Internet, informing said person of the receipt of the digital samples, so that said person can quickly connect to server 3 and view the samples received.

 FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of a recording device 1. In this example, the device comprises a flat B-box of small size, containing an electronic circuit whose architecture and operation will be detailed later, and which is powered autonomously by batteries or battery. On one of the faces of the housing B are mounted flat electrodes 10, which when applied to the patient, allow the acquisition in parallel of three analog electrical signals, from which is generated in a known manner in a single electrical signal. analogue, which is the ECG signal.

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 As a user interface, the device 1 of FIG. 2 comprises two push buttons 11a and 11b with fugitive action, which are accessible from outside the box B, three light-emitting diodes of different colors L 1, L 2, and L3 (for example green, red and orange diodes), which are used to signal to the user the state of the recording device 1, and a buzzer (not shown in FIG. 2 and referenced 17 in FIG. emitting auditory signals at different frequencies. The button 11a allows the patient P to control the acquisition of the ECG signal and its recording in the form of digital samples in a local memory of the device 1. The button 11b allows the patient P to control the transfer to the server 3 of the digital samples stored in local memory of the device 1.

 In practice, the patient P permanently keeps the recording device 1 with him. When he wishes to record an ECG signal, for example when he feels certain symptoms, the patient appropriately positions the casing B on his chest, so that the electrodes 10 are applied to the skin with respect to the region of the patient. heart. Once the housing B correctly set up, the patient presses the button 11a to trigger a phase of acquisition of the biological signal. When this acquisition phase is completed, the patient P connects the housing B with the communication device 2 so that they can exchange data, and press the button 11b to trigger the transfer phase to the server 4 digital samples recorded.

 In the variant embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the recording device 1 and the modem 21 of the communication device 2 are designed to exchange data locally via an infrared link. For this purpose, with reference to FIG. 2, the recording device 1 comprises an infrared transmitter / receiver 13 (whose two emission and reception diodes, respectively, are shown diagrammatically on FIG.

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 Figure 2). The communication device 2 similarly comprises a transmitter / receiver 22, for the local communication with the recording device 1. In this embodiment, to trigger the transfer phase, the patient P previously removes the housing B from its body and the positioned near the communication device 2, so that the infrared transmitters / receivers 13 and 22 are opposite, and then triggers the transfer by pressing the button 11 b. Of course, although the use of an infrared-type contactless link is preferred for communicating the recording device 1 with the modem 21 of the communication device 2, it is conceivable in the context of the invention to use any other known type of bond; it can in particular be a contact connection, the housing B comprising in this case a communication port to be electrically connected (by an electric cable or the like) to a communication port of the communication device 2.

 More particularly, for the communication with the server 3, the communication device 2 is furthermore designed to exchange data with the telecommunication network 4 over the air, and for this purpose is equipped, in particular, with an antenna 23 enabling omnidirectional type RF transmission / reception. In a preferred embodiment, the communication device 2 consists of a mobile phone equipped with an infrared transmitter / receiver. This embodiment is advantageous because, on the one hand, this type of mobile phone is commonly found in commerce, and on the other hand a patient equipped with such a mobile phone naturally tends to keep on it this phone, given the other usual uses he can make of it.

 The only additional constraint of use for the patient is ultimately to take everywhere with him the housing B. Also, the transfer of data to the server can advantageously and easily be done in any place where the mobile phone 2 is able to detect a carrier to connect to the network 4. The patient P is thus in

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 able to perform a acquisition of a biological signal and a transfer of data to the server 3, in any place where the network 4 is accessible by his mobile phone.

Electronic architecture of a recording device 1 / ficre 3
A particular example of an electronic architecture of a recording device 1 is schematically illustrated in the functional diagram of FIG. 3. This architecture is based on the use of a microcontroller 14, such as for example the PIC16C74 component of the FIG. MICROCHIP company. Of course, in a more general manner, the electronic architecture of the recording device 1 may be based on any type of programmed processing unit, made from a known microprocessor or microcontroller, the PIC16C74 component being mentioned only for non-limiting example. Also, the microcontroller 14 could be replaced by a specific electronic microcircuit, of the ASIC type.

The microcontroller 14 essentially comprises: a RISC processor 141 which is clocked by a quartz 15, and which is powered by a continuous and autonomous power supply 16, of battery or battery type; a ROM-type memory 142 containing a resident program operating the processor 141, a memory 143 of the RAM type, a multi-channel analog / digital converter 144, input / output ports 145 of different types connected by part with the various elements previously described (buttons 11a and 11b, diodes L 1, L2 and L3, buzzer 17) of the user interface (1) and secondly with the infrared transmitter / receiver 13 mentioned above.

 With reference to FIG. 3, the electrodes 10 of the device 1 are connected to the input of an amplification system 18, the output of which is connected to the input of the analog / digital converter 144, and which outputs an analog signal 19 (corresponding to the ECG signal),

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 from the signals S1, S2 and S3 delivered by the electrodes 10. The amplification system 18 is known per se and will therefore not be further detailed. The analog signal 19 (ECG) is sampled at a predetermined sampling frequency (for example 300 Hz) by the converter 144. In the acquisition phase, the digital samples delivered by the converter 144 are stored by the processor 141 in a memory 12 external to the microcontroller 14. Preferably the memory 12 is of non-volatile type, and thus allows to keep data without being powered by an external power source. Preferably, the memory 12 is a flash memory.

Activation of the recording device
The recording device 1 does not have an On button, and the microcontroller 14 is permanently in stand-by mode.

(low consumption). The activation of the recording device 1 is carried out by a prolonged pressing (for example more than 3 seconds) on one of the buttons 11a or 11b. once activated, the microcontroller 14 executes a program resident in memory 142 and consists essentially of three modules: a main loop (FIG. 4) in which the microcontroller 141 turns indefinitely as long as a function has not been validated; an ACQUISITION function (FIG. 5); a TRANSFER function (FIG. 6).

Main Loop / Figure 4
After activation of the recording device 1 by pressing one of the buttons 11a or 11b for a long time, the microcontroller 14 executes the main loop of the flowchart of FIG. 4.

 According to this flow chart, if the microcontroller 141 does not detect pressure on one or other of the buttons 11a, 11b for a predetermined time (TimeOUT), the microcontroller 14 returns to low power consumption mode (mode Standby) and is waiting to be reactivated.

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 If on the other hand a pressure is exerted by the user on one of the buttons 11a or 11 the microcontroller 14 executes the routine corresponding to the function called (Figure 4 / ACQUISITION or TRANSFER).

ACQUISITION function / figure 5 This function, which is triggered by simply pressing the lla button, allows the user's initiative to digitize the signal 19 (ECG signal) and to store the digital samples in the flash memory 12. from this digitization. The microcontroller 14 is authorized to perform this acquisition (Figure 5 / Step 50), provided that a flag (REGISTRATION authorization) in memory 12 has the right value. As will become more apparent later, the state of this flag is updated in memory 12, by the server 3 after each successful transfer of digital samples, in order to allow the recording device 1 to make a new acquisition. of a signal.

 In the particular example illustrated in the flowchart of FIG. 5, the acquisition is carried out until a predetermined number of digital samples (test 51) are stored in memory 12, which corresponds to a duration of predetermined sampling; the beginning and the end of acquisition are audibly signaled to the user by emitting a beep by means of vibrator 17; during acquisition, the green LED L 1 is lit.

TRANSFER function / figure 6
This function, which is triggered by simply pressing the button 11b, allows the user to send, on his own initiative, the digital samples stored in memory 12, to the computer server 3 via the network 4.

 With reference to FIG. 6, this function uses three subprograms: IRDA link establishment, server call, communication with the server.

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Sub-program: Institution link IRDA
The recording device 1 performs an infrared connection with the modem 21 of the mobile phone 2 according to the IrDA standard. The recorder device 1 is the master of the transaction and the modem 21 of the mobile phone 2 acts as a slave.

 If the attempt to establish the infrared link fails (FIG. 6 / test 60 and branch 61 of the flowchart), for example because the recording device 1 is too far or misdirected with respect to the mobile telephone 2, the The user is visually and audibly informed of this failure (flashing of the red L2 diode and transmission by the buzzer 17 of a characteristic alarm beep).

 If the attempt to establish the infrared link succeeds (FIG. 6 / test 60 and branch 62 of the flowchart), the microcontroller 141 calls in this case the call routine of the server. When the infrared link is established between the recording device 1 and the internal modem 21 of the mobile phone 2, the communication between these two elements is performed using the known HAYES commands of the IODA standard. Preferably, only the HAYES commands of the IrDA standard which are useful for communicating with the modem of the mobile phone 2 are implemented in the recording device 1.

Subprogram: Calling the server
The recording device 1 sends a connection request to the computer server 3, via the mobile phone 2 and the network 4.

Advantageously, the telephone number of the computer server 3 is stored in flash memory 12 of the recording device 1. The user is prevented from having to manually dial this number to call the server 3, the composition of this telephone number being completely automatic.

 During the establishment of this connection with the server 3, the internal modem 21 of the mobile phone 2 informs the recording device 1, via the link IrDA, the state of the transaction by

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NO CARRIER
OK.. through ASCII strings:
CONNECT
BUSY

NO CARRIER
OKAY..

When the microcontroller 14 of the recording device 1 receives the CONNECT message, the microcontroller 14 calls the subprogram Communication with the server.

Subprogram: Communication with the server
The communication with the server 3 is carried out according to a specific communication protocol of the system of the invention, and in which the server 3 operates as a master by sending specific commands to the recording device 1, which operates as a slave by executing the functions which correspond to each order received. In order to maintain the greatest latitude in the server 3, each command is independent and can be used in any order.

 In the particular example described below, these commands are preferably reduced to the strict minimum in order to allow the server 3 to interrogate or configure the flash memory 12 of the recording device, or to operate the vibrator 17 of the recording device. Other commands could of course be implemented (for example for the operation of diodes L 1, L 2 or L 3 by the server).

The table below gives an example of commands (Com.) That can be used by the server 3:

<Tb>
<tb> Com. <SEP> Arguments <SEP> Comments
<tb> 1 <SEP> 2 <SEP> 3 <SEP> 4
<tb> Page <SEP><SEP> L <SEP> PageL <SEP> X <SEP> Initializes <SEP> the <SEP><SEP> pointer
<tb> H <SEP> End <SEP> transfer <SEP> to <SEP> PageH <SEP> PageL
<Tb>

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<Tb>
<tb> R <SEP> X <SEP> X <SEP> X <SEP> X <SEP> Read <SEP> The <SEP> bytes <SEP> of
<tb> pointer <SEP> to <SEP> PageL <SEP> End
<tb> s <SEP> X <SEP> X <SEP> X <SEP> X <SEP> Stopped <SEP> the <SEP> communication
<tb> IrDA
<tb> B <SEP> Time <SEP> Freq <SEP> X <SEP> X <SEP> Vibrate
<tb> W <SEP><SEP> Page <SEP> L <SEP> Ad. <SEP> Byte <SEP> Value <SEP> Write <SEP> to <SEP> Address <SEP> PageH
<tb> H <SEP> PageL <SEP> Ad. <SEP> Byte <SEP> of <SEP> Value
<Tb>
Command 1: Initialization When it receives this command, the microcontroller 14 of the recording device 1 initializes a read start pointer (PageH pageL), and an end of read stop (PageL END) in the flash memory 12.

R command: (Reading) When it receives this command, the microcontroller 14 of the recording device 1 controls the immediate transfer to the server 3 of the data stored in a flash memory area 12 whose address area is identified by the read start pointer (PageH pagel), and the end of read stop (PageL END) previously initialized by the order (1). The transfer stops at the end of playback stop, that is, when PageL reaches PageL End.

S command: Stop When receiving this command, the microcontroller 14 of the recording device 1 releases the IrDA link.

Order B: Vibrator When it receives this command, the microcontroller 14 of the recording device 1 activates the vibrator 17 at the frequency (Freq) for a duration (Duration).

Order W: (Writing)
When it receives this command, the microcontroller 14 of the recording device 1 writes the value (value argument) to the address PageH,
PageL and Ad. Byte of flash memory 12.

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A particular example of parameters and flag saved in the flash memory 12 is given below as an indication:

<Tb>
<tb> Parameters <SEP> bytes <SEP> Address <SEP><SEP> value by <SEP> default <SEP> Format
<tb> Number <SEP> of <SEP> 20 <SEP> 0 <SEP> ASCII
<tb> phone
<tb> Number <SEP> of <SEP> series <SEP> 6 + 6 <SEP> xxxxxx <SEP>! <SEP> (xxx <SEP> xxx) <SEP> ASCII
<tb><SEP> Acquisition Time <SEP> 1 <SEP> 20 <SEP> Seconds <SEP> HEXA
<tb> of <SEP> signal <SEP> E. <SEP> C. <SEP> G
<tb> Frequency <SEP> 1 <SEP> 300 <SEP> HZ <SEP> HEXA
<tb> sampling
<tb> Number <SEP> 2 <SEP> 0000 <SEP> HEXA
<tb> records
<tb> done
<tb> Number <SEP> of <SEP> transfer <SEP> 2 <SEP> 0000 <SEP> HEXA
<tb> done
<tb> Date <SEP> of <SEP> manufacture <SEP> 6 <SEP> 00 <SEP> 00 <SEP> 00 <SEP> ASCII
<tb> Code <SEP> last <SEP> error <SEP> 1 <SEP> 0 <SEP> HEXA
<tb><SEP> string of <SEP> 1000 <SEP> NULL <SEP> ASCII
<tb> characters
<tb> FLAG <SEP> bits <SEP> Address <SEP><SEP> value by <SEP> default <SEP> Format
<tb> VIBREUR <SEP> 1 <SEP> TRUE
<tb> DIODE <SEP> 3 <SEP> TRUE <SEP> TRUE <SEP> TRUE
<tb> TRANSFER <SEP> 1 <SEP> TRUE
<tb> authorization
<tb> RECORDING <SEP> 1 <SEP> TRUE
<tb> T <SEP> authorization
<Tb>

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By using the command (R) above, the server 3 can advantageously read not only the digital samples stored in flash memory 12 during a transfer, but also the various configuration parameters of the device 1, including the serial number (see particularly step 70 of the flowchart of Figure 7), and flags. Also, using the (W) command, the server 3 can modify the configuration parameters of the recording device 1, and in particular the telephone number, the duration and the sampling frequency, as well as certain flags including the flag RECORDING authorization.

Progress of a transfer at the server level / FIG. 7 The flowchart of FIG. 7 describes the main steps implemented by the server 3 (master) during a transfer of the digital samples.

 The digital sample transfer request step is performed in two stages: firstly, the server 3 sends to the recording device 1 an initialization command (1) specifying the addressing of the memory area to be transferred (arguments Page H, Page L, and PageL End of the command 1), and in a second time the server 3 sends to the recording device 1 a read command (R). Upon receipt of this command (R), the microcontroller 14 of the recording device returns to the server 3 successively all the digital samples stored in the flash memory 12, in the memory area that has been specified by the initialization command (1). In another embodiment, the commands 1 and R could be grouped into a single command.

 Once the server 3 has received all the samples requested (the number of samples received must correspond to the size of the area

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 memory specified by the server with the initialization command (1), the server 3 archives in a database or the like the samples related to the serial number of the recording device 1 (Figure 7 / step 71). The server 3 authorizes a new acquisition (FIG. 7 / step 72) by modifying in the flash memory 12 the flag RECORDING authorization (sending a write command (W) appropriate). The microcontroller 14 is then authorized to perform a new acquisition, if the user presses the button 11a. The server 3 then sends a command (B) (FIG. 7 / step 73), to briefly ring the buzzer 17 of the recording device 1, which makes it possible to warn the user that the transfer of the samples has gone smoothly and he can, if he wishes, proceed to a new acquisition by pressing the key 11 a. Finally, the server 3 stops the transaction with the recording device 1, sending a command (S) and then hanging up the telephone line (Figure 7 / step 74).

Claims (17)

CLAIMS 1. System for acquiring and recording at least one biological signal (19) of a user, of the type comprising a portable recording device (1) which comprises a local memory (12), and which, a once set up on a user, enables acquisition and digitization in the form of one or more digital samples of at least one biological signal (19) of the user, and recording in said local memory (12) , each digital sample, characterized in that it further comprises a computer server (3) for storing information relating to said user, and means (2) for communicating the recording device (1) with the server computer, via a telecommunication network (4), in that the recording device (1) is adapted to transfer to the server (3) each digital sample of the signal stored in its local memory (12), and in that the server ( 3) and the recording device (1) are designed to communicate according to a predefined communication protocol in which the server (3) operates as a master by sending one or more successive commands to the recording device (1), and the recording device (1 ) operates as a slave by executing the function corresponding to each received command. 2. System according to claim 1 characterized in that for carrying out the transfer of one or more digital data stored in local memory (12) of the recording device (1), the server (3) is designed to send to the recording device (1). ) one or more commands (I, R) by communicating to it the addressing (Page H, PageL, PageL FIN) of the area of the local memory (12) of the recording device (1) which contains the data to be transferred .  3. System according to claim 1 characterized in that the communication protocol comprises a command (W) allowing the server (3) to write one or more data in the local memory (12) of the <Desc / Clms Page number 20>  recording device. 4. System according to claim 1 characterized in that the communication protocol comprises at least one command (B) allowing the server (3) to operate an element (17) of the recording device (1). 5. System according to one of claims 1 to 4 characterized in that the recording device (1) is non-invasive type. 6. System according to one of claims 1 to 5 characterized in that the local memory (12) of the recording device contains one and / or the other of the following parameters: Telephone number of the server (3), number of recorder device series (1), signal acquisition time, sampling frequency. 7. System according to one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the server (3) is designed for, after each successful transfer of digital samples of a signal, allow the recording device (1) to make a new acquisition of 'a signal. 8. System according to claim 7 characterized in that the authorization of a new acquisition is given by the server (3) by changing the state of a flag (authorization registration) in the local memory (12) of the recording device (1).  9. System according to one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that the recording device (1) comprises two buttons (11a, 11b), a (11a) buttons for triggering the acquisition of a signal the other (11b) for triggering the transfer of the digital samples of the acquired signal to the server.  10. System according to one of claims 1 to 9 characterized in that the recording device (1) comprises a buzzer (17).  11. System according to claims 4 and 10 characterized in that the server is adapted to control the buzzer (17) of the recording device (1).  12. System according to claim 11 characterized in that the server (3) <Desc / Clms Page number 21>  is designed to, after each successful transfer of the digital samples of a signal, control the buzzer (17) of the recording device (1). 13. System according to one of claims 1 to 12 characterized in that the means for communicating the recording device (1) with the server (3) comprise a communication device (2), which is external to the recording device ( 1), and which includes a modem (21). 14. System according to claim 13 characterized in that the recording device (1) and the communication device (2) are designed to exchange data by an infra-red link. 15. System according to claim 14 characterized in that the communication device (2) comprises an omnidirectional RF antenna (23), and is able to exchange data over the air with the telecommunication network (4). 16. System according to one of claims 13 to 15 characterized in that the communication device (2) is portable. 17. System according to claims 15 and 16 characterized in that the communication device (2) is constituted by a mobile phone equipped with a transmitter / receiver infra-red port (13).