System and method for real-time monitoring, assessment, analysis, retrieval, and storage of physiological data over a wide area network

1. A system for network-based transmission of data from a patient-side physiological collecting device, comprising:

at least one patient-side device for collecting physiological data from a patient, the patient-side device being operatively coupled to a wide area network;

multiple provider-side devices coupled to the network, the at least one patient-side device sending the data to the provider-side devices;

an engine coupled to the network and resident on a device intermediate the at least one patient-side device and the provider-side devices, the engine communicating with the at least one patient-side device and the provider-side devices, the engine managing transmission of the data from the patient-side device to the provider-side devices;

wherein the data is monitored for an event, wherein an alert is output by at least one of the patient-side device and the provider-side devices upon occurrence of the event,

wherein the at least one patient-side device encrypts the data prior to sending the data;

wherein the at least one patient-side device compresses the data prior to sending the data;

wherein a fee is charged for coordinating the sending of the data to the provider-side devices,

wherein a fee is charged by a human provider viewing the data on one of the provider-side devices,

wherein the at least one patient-side device includes a browser-based interface for allowing the patient to send human language communications to the provider-side devices,

wherein the provider-side devices each include a browser-based interface for allowing one or more providers to send human language communications to the patient-side device,

wherein one or more providers is allowed to remotely control the at least one patient-side device,

wherein one or more providers is allowed to remotely control at least a portion of the browser based interface of the at least one patient-side device,

wherein clinical notes are stored on the device intermediate the at least one patient-side device and the provider-side devices,

wherein the at least one patient-side device automatically detects medical devices coupled thereto,

wherein the at least one patient-side device is capable of connecting to any medical device having communications capabilities.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising a storage device for storing the data.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the patient-side device includes at least one of: a medical device for collecting biomedical data from the patient and a biofeedback device for collecting biofeedback data from the patient.

4. The system as recited in claim 3 , further comprising a computing device interfacing with the patient-side device, the computing device receiving a software module for managing communication with the patient-side device from the engine.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the human language communications include at least one of electronic mail, and instant messaging.

6. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein at least one of audio and video data is sent with the physiological data from the patient-side device to the second device, wherein the at least one of the audio and video data is output with the physiological data and synchronized therewith.

7. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the data relates to at least one of cardiovascular readings, blood pressure readings, blood glucose readings, pulse oxymetry reading, urinary tact-related readings, vulva-related readings, fetal monitoring, hemodialysis, pulmonary data, and sleep-related readings, and fitness equipment readings.

8. The system as recited in claim 1 , wherein physiological responses of the patient are predicted based on trends of the physiological data collected from the patient.