Architecture for field upgrade of a health monitoring system

Abstract

An architecture allows individual system components to be developed and tested individually, i.e., as distinct modules, and to be subsequently combined through standardized electrical and communication interfaces. Any combination of these modules can be implemented to form different products that provide any number of functions, such as an integrated system for monitoring a health condition and/or delivering a medication. The architecture also provides an approach for dynamically updating the product and offering its users the latest generation of technology even after the users have already purchased the product. In particular, the embodiments employ the communication interfaces to also provide connection to a remote network that can update or upgrade the product's software when the product is out in the field.

1 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . A system for managing healthcare data for a user, comprising:
 a first module circuit providing a first function, the first module circuit being a blood glucose meter configured to generate one or more measurements of a blood glucose concentration of the user, the blood glucose meter including:
 a sensor-receiving module disposed within a housing configured to receive a test sensor therein; 
 a reaction-detection system disposed within the housing, the reaction-detection system being configured to be coupled with the test sensor received within the housing to detect a reaction caused by a blood sample being received by the test sensor; and 
 at least one processor that executes program instructions to determine a glucose concentration of the blood sample based at least in part on the detected reaction; 
   a second module circuit providing a second function, the second module circuit being a global positioning system (GPS) unit configured to generate GPS data associated with each of the one or more measurements; and   a central circuit controlling the first module circuit and the second module circuit, the central circuit being configured allow the first module circuit to communicate with the second module circuit.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the second module circuit is configured to generate location data indicative of a location of the user. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the second module circuit is configured to analyze the location data to determine movement of the user. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the determined movement of the user includes exercise of the user. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the determined movement of the user includes a distance traveled by the user and a speed of the user. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the second module circuit periodically generates the location data once per time period. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the time period is about 150 seconds. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the second module circuit is configured to generate a plurality of sets of GPS data and correlate each set of GPS data with a respective one of the one or more measurements. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein each set of GPS data includes location data associated with the respective measurement and a timestamp associated with the respective one measurement. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the location data associated with the respective one measurement includes location data for a first time period occurring prior to the respective one measurement. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 27 , wherein the location data associated with the respective one measurement includes location data for a second time period occurring after the respective one measurement. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 26 , wherein the first module circuit is configured to identify a first set of measurements of the one or more measurements falling within an acceptable range, and a second set of measurements of the one or more measurements generated in accordance with a predefined schedule. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the first module circuit is configured to analyze the location data and the time stamp correlated with each of the measurements in the first set of measurements to identify activities of the user related to the measurements falling within the acceptable range. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 29 , wherein the first module circuit is configured to analyze the location data and the time stamp correlated with each of the measurements in the second set of measurements to identify activities of the user related to the measurements generated in accordance with the predefined schedule. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the first module circuit is configured to analyze the sets of GPS data to identify activities of the user associated with desirable measurements of the one or more measurements. 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the desirable measurements include measurements falling within an acceptable range, measurements generated in accordance with a predefined schedule, or both. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the first circuit is configured to plan future activities for the user based on the identified activities associated with the desirable measurements. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the first module circuit is configured to analyze the sets of GPS data to automatically record exercise data associated with each of the one or more measurements. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the first module circuit is configured to record data related to a diet of the user and a medication regimen of the user. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 36 , wherein the first module circuit is configured to create a schedule for obtaining future measurements of the blood glucose concentration of the user based on at least (i) the plurality of sets of GPS data and (ii) the data related to the diet of the user and the medication regimen of the user.