System and a method for physiological monitoring

Abstract

A personal health monitor, including: (a) a physiological data input device operative to gather physiological data; and (b) a multi-purpose personal data accessory, whereas the multi-purpose personal data accessory is adapted to execute health monitoring software such as to enable the multi-purpose personal data accessory to receive the physiological data, process the physiological data to provide processed physiological data and control a long range transmission of the processed physiological data to a remote entity; wherein the physiological data input device controls a transmission of the physiological data to the multi-purpose personal data accessory.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A personal health monitor comprising: a physiological data input device operative to gather physiological data; and a multi-purpose personal data accessory, whereas the multi-purpose personal data accessory is adapted to execute health monitoring software such as to enable the multi-purpose personal data accessory to receive the physiological data, process the physiological data to provide processed physiological data and control a long range transmission of the processed physiological data to a remote entity; wherein the physiological data input device controls a transmission of the physiological data to the multi-purpose personal data accessory; wherein the physiological data input device comprises a receiver that is maintained in a low power mode during idle periods that are determined by the physiological data input device. 
     
     
         2 . The personal health monitor of  claim 1  wherein the physiological data input device determines whether physiological data can be sent from the physiological data input device to the multi-purpose personal data accessory. 
     
     
         3 . The personal health monitor of  claim 2  wherein the physiological data input device generates an alert in response to a determination that a transmission of physiological data to the multi-purpose personal data accessory is expected to fail. 
     
     
         4 . A personal health monitor comprising: a physiological data input device operative to gather physiological data; and a multi-purpose personal data accessory, whereas the multi-purpose personal data accessory is adapted to execute health monitoring software such as to enable the multi-purpose personal data accessory to receive the physiological data, process the physiological data to provide processed physiological data and control a long range transmission of the processed physiological data to a remote entity; wherein the multi-purpose personal data accessory is adapted to receive physiological data input device related information and to provide, in response to the physiological data input device related information, a physiological data input device instruction to the physiological data input device; wherein the physiological data input device is adapted to send configuration information to the multi-purpose personal data accessory in response to the physiological data input device instruction. 
     
     
         5 . A personal health monitor comprising: a physiological data input device operative to gather physiological data; and a multi-purpose personal data accessory, whereas the multi-purpose personal data accessory is adapted to execute health monitoring software such as to enable the multi-purpose personal data accessory to receive the physiological data, process the physiological data to provide processed physiological data and control a long range transmission of the processed physiological data to a remote entity; wherein the multi-purpose personal data accessory is adapted to receive physiological data input device related information and to provide, in response to the physiological data input device related information, a physiological data input device instruction to the physiological data input device; wherein the physiological data input device instruction comprises a configuration instruction and wherein the physiological data input device is adapted to configure itself in response to configuration instruction. 
     
     
         6 . The personal health monitor according to  claim 5  wherein the physiological data input device instruction is a physiological data retrieval instruction and wherein the physiological data input device is adapted to send physiological data in response to the physiological data retrieval instructions. 
     
     
         7 . The personal health monitor according to  claim 5  wherein the multi-purpose personal data accessory is adapted to extract the physiological data input device instruction from the physiological data input device related information. 
     
     
         8 . The personal health monitor according to  claim 5  wherein the multi-purpose personal data accessory is adapted to access a remote entity; retrieve a physiological data input device instruction from the remote entity; and send the physiological data input device instruction to the physiological data input device. 
     
     
         9 . The personal health monitor according to  claim 8  wherein the multi-purpose personal data accessory is adapted access a remote entity that provides web based services; provide to the remote entity an identifier included within the physiological data input device related information; and retrieve from the remote entity physiological data input device instructions. 
     
     
         10 . The personal health monitor according to  claim 9  wherein the multi-purpose personal data accessory is adapted send a physiological data input device instruction that is selected from a list consisting of physiological data retrieval instructions and configuration instructions. 
     
     
         11 . A method for health monitoring, comprising: gathering physiological data, by a physiological data input device; providing the physiological data to a multi-purpose personal data accessory using a communication link that is controlled by the physiological data input device; executing health monitoring software, by the multi-purpose personal data accessory to process the physiological data to provide processed physiological data; transmitting the processed physiological data and -maintaining a receiver of the physiological data input device in a low power mode during idle periods that are determined by the physiological data input device. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11  comprising determining by the physiological data input device whether physiological data can be sent from the physiological data input device to the multi-purpose personal data accessory. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11  comprising generating an alert, by the physiological data input device, in response to a determination that a transmission of physiological data to the multi-purpose personal data accessory is expected to fail. 
     
     
         14 . A method for health monitoring, comprising: gathering physiological data, by a physiological data input device; providing the physiological data to a multi-purpose personal data accessory; executing health monitoring software, by the multi-purpose personal data accessory to process the physiological data to provide processed physiological data; transmitting the processed physiological data; receiving physiological data input device related information by the multi-purpose personal data accessory; and providing, in response to the physiological data input device related information, a physiological data input device instruction to the physiological data input device; the method further comprising sending configuration information, by the physiological data input device, to the multi-purpose personal data accessory in response to the physiological data input device instruction wherein the physiological data input device instruction comprises a configuration instruction and wherein the method comprises configuring the physiological data input device in response to the configuration instruction. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein the physiological data input device related information comprises a physiological data retrieval instruction and wherein the method comprises sending physiological data from the physiological data input device in response to the physiological data retrieval instruction. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14  comprising extracting the physiological data input device instruction by the multi-purpose personal data accessory. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 14  comprising accessing a remote entity; retrieving a physiological data input device instruction from the remote entity; and sending the physiological data input device instruction to the physiological data input device. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 14  comprising accessing a remote entity that provides web based services; providing to the remote entity an identifier included within the physiological data input device related information; and retrieving from the remote entity physiological data input device instructions. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 14  comprising sending, by the multi-purpose personal data accessory, a physiological data input device instruction that is selected from a list consisting of physiological data retrieval instructions and configuration instructions.