Intermediary Server for Seamless SMD Data Acquisition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Many sensors, monitors, and devices (SMDs) are not 'connected' to external systems, preventing regular data entry into central databases for analysis, which hinders effective management of chronic conditions like hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize email, SMS, MMS, or instant messaging interfaces to collect data from non-connected SMDs, leveraging existing user interfaces for seamless data acquisition and transmission to a central server, enabling data mining and alert notifications based on user-defined thresholds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If users manually enter data from non-connected SMDs into a central database, then data can be collected for analysis, but the process becomes cumbersome and difficult to maintain regularly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system comprising an email server, SMS gateway, or instant messaging server that acts as a mediator between non-connected SMDs and the central database. Users send data via familiar communication interfaces (email, SMS, IM) to designated addresses, and the intermediary automatically routes and stores this data in the central database, eliminating manual entry while maintaining user convenience through familiar interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing users to automatically transmit their own SMD data without requiring assistance from healthcare providers or complex manual processes. Users simply send data through their preferred communication channel, and the system automatically processes, validates, and stores the information, making regular data entry hassle-free and sustainable.
2Reliability
If a central database system is implemented to collect and analyze SMD data, then chronic condition management improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a universal communication interface that handles multiple data transmission methods (email, SMS, instant messaging) through a single centralized system. This multi-functional approach allows the system to accept data from various sources and transmit it to different destinations (central database, healthcare providers, patients) without requiring separate specialized systems for each function, thereby managing complexity while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediary server acts as a simplifying layer between complex backend systems and simple user interfaces. It handles data validation, formatting, routing, and storage automatically, shielding users from system complexity while ensuring data integrity and reliable delivery to the central database and other stakeholders.
3Productivity
If users are required to navigate complex web interfaces to enter data, then data can be collected, but user compliance and regular usage decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages existing, familiar communication interfaces (email clients, SMS capabilities, instant messaging applications) that users already know how to use. Instead of requiring users to learn and navigate a new complex web interface, the system copies the simplicity and familiarity of these existing interfaces, allowing users to send data through channels they already use daily, thereby dramatically improving compliance and regular usage.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring users to actively navigate to a web interface and initiate data entry, the system inverts the approach by allowing users to passively send data through their existing communication channels to a designated address. The system then主动 retrieves and processes the data, reversing the traditional client-server interaction model to better suit user behavior and habits.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus to provide user data through a monitor, alert, control, and share (MACS) device comprising a data receiving logic to receive intermittent data from a user about readings from a real sensor, monitor or device (SMD), from a user and a verification engine to verify that the data is accurate prior to adding it to a database. The apparatus further comprising an intelligent notification engine to communicate with the user and a presentation layer to enable a user to interface with the always-on virtual MACS device, the always-on virtual MACS device providing data regardless of a status of the real SMD.