Contextual medication prompting pillbox
View Patent ↗A medication box may include a processor, a plurality of compartments configured to store medication and a transceiver capable of communication with a patient via a user or patient device which is within communication range of the medication box. A server which may be configured to communicate information stored by the processor to a third-party device via wired or wireless communication methods. An estimated distance between the medication box and an RF patient device can be determined by a received signal strength indicator measured by the medication box or by the RF patient device.
1. A medication box comprising:
a processor configured to communicate with a transceiver;
a plurality of compartments configured to store medication;
the transceiver, wherein the transceiver is capable of communication with a patient via a RF user or patient device which is within communication range of the medication box; and
a display that is configured to present at least one question or comment to a user or patient;
wherein the medication box is configured to determine information about a location of the medication box relative to the RF user or patient device so as to prompt the patient or user to take a particular medication when the patient or user is within sufficiently close range of the medication box.
2. The medication box of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of compartments have respective compartment doors configured to open and close the plurality of compartments.
3. The medication box of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of compartment doors have respective switches capable of detecting whether the respective compartment door is open or closed.
4. The medication box of claim 3 , wherein the switches are magnetic reed switches which are capable of detecting an open or closed state of the compartment door depending on whether the compartment door is opened a predetermine distance.
5. The medication box of claim 1 , further comprising:
an LCD;
a speaker;
a user input device; and
a clock.
6. The medication box of claim 5 , wherein the LCD is capable of providing information including at least a time of day, a date, and a pill to be taken at a particular time and capable of presenting at least one question to a user or patient.
7. The medication box of claim 5 , wherein the user input device includes at least one input button which is configured to allow a user to manipulate the LCD and which is also configured to allow a user or patient to respond to respond to requests for information.
8. The medication box of claim 5 , wherein the speaker is configured to present questions to a user or patient on a daily basis or at preset times.
9. The medication box of claim 8 , wherein the user input device is configured to allow the
user to answer the questions presented by the speaker and where the processor is configured to store data relating to the information input by the user input device.
10. The medication box of claim 1 , further comprising a server which is configured to communicate information stored by the processor to a third-party device via wired or wireless communication methods.
11. The medication box of claim 10 , wherein the server is configured to facilitate communication of information from the medication box over the Internet to a third-party device.
12. The medication box of claim 1 , wherein the transceiver enables the medication box to be configured remotely.
13. The medication box of claim 1 , wherein the transceiver is configured to measure signal strength and link communications quality of a radio signal which enables the medication box to determine information about a relative location of the medication box and the patient device that is an RF patient device which is capable of wirelessly communicating with the medication box.
14. The medication box of claim 1 , wherein the medication box is capable of prompting a patient to take a particular medication if the transceiver determines that the patient is within sufficiently close range of the medication box.
15. The medication box of claim 3 , wherein an estimated distance between the medication 1 box and the RF patient device can be determined by a received signal strength indicator measured by the medication box or by the W patient device.
16. A medication reminder system, comprising:
a medication box having a processor configured to communicate with a transceiver, a plurality of compartments configured to store medication and the transceiver;
an RF patient device capable of wireless communication with the medication box, wherein the medication box is configured to determine information about the location of the medication box relative to the RF patient device so as to prompt the patient or user to take a particular medication when the patient or user is within sufficiently close range of the medication box and to prompt a user or patient to take medication at a predetermined time.
17. The medication reminder system of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of compartments have respective compartment doors configured to open and close the plurality of compartments.
18. The medication reminder system of claim 17 , wherein the plurality of compartment doors have respective switches capable of detecting whether the respective compartment door is open or closed.
19. The medication reminder system of claim 18 , wherein the switches are magnetic reed switches which are capable of detecting an open or closed state of the compartment door depending on whether the compartment door is opened a predetermine distance.
20. The medication reminder system of claim 16 , wherein the medication box further comprises an LCD; a speaker; a user input device; and a clock.
21. The medication reminder system of claim 20 , wherein the LCD is capable of providing information including at least a time of day, a date, and a pill to be taken at a particular time and capable of presenting at least one question to a user or patient.
22. The medication reminder system of claim 20 , wherein the user input device includes at least one input button which is configured to allow a user or patient to manipulate the LCD and which is also configured to allow the user or the patient to respond to respond to requests for information.
23. The medication reminder system of claim 20 , wherein the speaker is configured to present questions orally to a user or patient on a daily basis or at preset times.
24. The medication reminder system of claim 23 , wherein the user input device is configured to allow the user or the patient to answer the questions presented by the speaker and where the processor is configured to store data relating to the information input by the user input device.
25. The medication reminder system of claim 16 , further comprising a server which is configured to communicate information stored by the processor to a third-party device via wired or wireless communication methods.
26. The medication reminder system of claim 25 , wherein the server the server is configured to facilitate communication of information from the medication box over the Internet to a third-party device.
27. The medication reminder system of claim 16 , wherein the transceiver enables the medication box to be configured remotely.
28. The medication reminder system of claim 16 , wherein the transceiver is configured to measure signal strength and link communications quality of a radio signal which enables the medication box to determine information about a relative location of the medication box and an RF patient device which is capable of wirelessly communicating with the medication box.
29. The medication reminder system of claim 16 , wherein the medication box is capable of prompting a user or patient to take a particular medication if the transceiver determines that the patient is within sufficiently close range of the radio signal.
30. The medication reminder system of claim 16 , wherein an estimated distance between the medication box and the RF patient device can be determined by a received signal strength indicator measured by the medication box or by the RF patient device.