U.S. patent application number 10/868676 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-27 for medical monitoring device and system.
Invention is credited to Goldberg, Jason.
Application Number | 20050020887 10/868676 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 25522699 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050020887 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Goldberg, Jason |
January 27, 2005 |
Medical monitoring device and system
Abstract
A portable device that receives data provided by one or more
sensors and displays statistical data related to the sensor data or
otherwise related to the person. Statistical data may include high,
low, average, mean value, median value, standard deviation, least
square, variance, distribution, compilation, etc. for or at any
given time or period of time for the person being monitored, as
well as for such values for segments or groups of the population,
or limit values, or target values, etc. The values may represent
measurements and other data related to physiological signs and
parameters such as blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature,
electrocardiogram, glucose level, substances and/or chemical
presence or level, analyze measurements, etc. The portable device
may also display such measurements. The portable device may compute
the statistical data, with or without the aid of a remote computer,
and/or store statistical data, and/or a remote computer may compute
and/or store statistical data. The portable device may communicate
with a remote computer through a wireless link from the portable
device, which may compute and/or store statistical data and
measurements.
Inventors: |
Goldberg, Jason; (Thornhill,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BROWN, RAYSMAN, MILLSTEIN, FELDER & STEINER LLP
900 THIRD AVENUE
NEW YORK
NY
10022
US
|
Family ID: |
25522699 |
Appl. No.: |
10/868676 |
Filed: |
June 15, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10868676 |
Jun 15, 2004 |
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09975097 |
Oct 11, 2001 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
600/300 ;
128/903 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61B 5/1455 20130101;
A61B 5/743 20130101; Y10S 128/903 20130101; A61B 5/681 20130101;
G16H 40/67 20180101; Y10S 128/92 20130101; A61B 5/6838 20130101;
A61B 5/6826 20130101; A61B 5/02055 20130101; A61B 5/14546 20130101;
A61B 5/021 20130101; A61B 5/0022 20130101; A61B 5/024 20130101;
A61B 5/14532 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
600/300 ;
128/903 |
International
Class: |
A61B 005/00 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A medical monitoring device sized to be carried by a person to
be monitored, comprising: an electronic controller; at least one
memory coupled to the electronic controller that at least
temporarily stores (a) sensor data provided by at least one sensor
associated with the monitored person in response to at least one
physiological characteristic of the monitored person, and (b)
statistical data related to sensor data provided by the at least
one sensor; and a display device that displays at least statistical
data stored in the at least one memory.
2. The device of claim 1 comprising a communications unit coupled
to the electronic controller that transmits sensor data over a
wireless communications link and receives over the wireless link
statistical data related to sensor data transmitted by the
communications unit, the statistical data received by the
communications unit being stored at least temporarily in the at
least one memory.
3. The device of claim 2, wherein the communications unit comprises
a two-way pager.
4. The device of claim 1, wherein the display device displays
sensor data stored in the memory.
5. The device of claim 1, wherein the controller includes means for
computing statistical data stored in the at least one memory.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein the statistical data comprises at
least one of an average, a variance, a standard deviation, a least
square, a distribution, and a compilation of sensor-related
data.
7. The device of claim 1, wherein the display device displays
statistical data as at least one of text and graphics.
8. A system comprising one or more devices as defined in claim 2
and a remote computer and associated memory that at least
temporarily stores sensor data and statistical data processed from
or related to the stored sensor data, the communications unit of
the device transmitting sensor data for receipt by the computer and
receiving statistical data provided by the computer.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the remote computer comprises a
web server connected to the Internet.
10. The system of claim 9, comprising means for providing at least
sensor data stored by the associated memory to devices in
accordance with an authorization procedure.
11. The system of claim 8, wherein the remote computer provides all
statistical data stored in the device's memory.
12. The system of claim 8, comprising a plurality of devices, the
communications units of the plurality of devices transmitting
sensor data for receipt by the computer and receiving statistical
data provided by the computer.
13. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is programmed to
control transmission of sensor data by the communication unit to
the remote computer in response to a user input to the device and
to request statistical data from the remote computer in response to
a user input to the device.
14. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is programmed to
control transmission of sensor data by the communication unit to
the remote computer at programmed time intervals and to request
statistical data from the remote computer at programmed time
intervals.
15. The system of claim 8, wherein the remote computer is
programmed to provide statistical data to the device according to
programmed parameters.
16. A medical monitoring system comprising: a plurality of portable
electronics units each sized to be carried by a person being
monitored and each comprising: an electronic controller; at least
one memory coupled to the electronic controller that at least
temporarily stores (a) sensor data provided by at least one sensor
associated with the monitored person in response to at least one
physiological characteristic of the monitored person, and (b)
statistical data processed from or related to sensor data provided
by the at least one sensor; a communications unit coupled to the
electronic controller that transmits sensor data over a wireless
communications link and receives over the wireless link statistical
data based from or related to sensor data transmitted by the
communications unit, the statistical data received by the
communications unit being stored at least temporarily in the at
least one memory; and a display device that displays at least
statistical data stored in the at least one memory; and a remote
computer and associated memory that at least temporarily stores
sensor data and statistical data processed from or related to the
stored sensor data, the communications unit of the electronics unit
transmitting sensor data for receipt by the computer and receiving
statistical data provided by the computer; the display displaying
statistical data provided only by the remote computer.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the communications unit
comprises a two-way pager.
18. The system of claim 16, wherein the display device displays
sensor data stored in the memory.
19. The system of claim 16, wherein the statistical data comprises
at least one of an average, a variance, a standard deviation, a
least square, a distribution, and a compilation of sensor-related
data.
20. The system of claim 16, wherein the display device displays
statistical data as at least one of text and graphics.
21. The system of claim 16, wherein the remote computer comprises a
web server connected to the Internet.
22. The system of claim 16, comprising means for providing at least
sensor data stored by the associated memory to devices in
accordance with an authorization procedure.
23. The system of claim 16, wherein the controller is programmed to
control transmission of sensor data by the communication unit to
the remote computer in response to a user input to the device and
to request statistical data from the remote computer in response to
a user input to the device.
24. The system of claim 16, wherein the controller is programmed to
control transmission of sensor data by the communication unit to
the remote computer at programmed time intervals and to request
statistical data from the remote computer at programmed time
intervals.
25. The combination of claim 16, wherein the remote computer is
programmed to provide statistical data to the device according to
programmed parameters.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates generally to a portable
medical monitoring device that is sized to be carried by a
monitored person, and more particularly, to a portable device that
receives data provided by one or more sensors and displays
statistical data related to the sensor data. The portable device
also provides measurement readings of physiological signs and
parameters such as blood pressure. The portable device may operate
in a system including a remote computer and a wireless
communication link to the portable device. Statistical data may be
computed by the portable device, with or without the aid of a
remote computer, and/or provided to the portable device partially
or entirely by the remote computer.
[0002] The following United States patents disclose various devices
that provide health-related information based upon data obtained by
or stored in the devices: U.S. Pat. No. 6,175,752 (Say et al.);
U.S. Pat. No. 5,822,715 (Worthington et al.); U.S. Pat. No.
5,840,020 (Heinonen et al.); U.S. Pat. No. 5,576,952 (Stutman et
al.); U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,203 (Sackner et al.).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention provides a portable device that
receives data provided by one or more sensors and displays
statistical data related to the sensor data or otherwise to the
person. Statistical data may include high, low, average, mean
value, median value, standard deviation, least square, variance,
distribution, compilation, etc. for or at any given time or period
of time for the person being monitored, as well as for such values
for segments or groups of the population, or limit values, or
target values, etc. The values may represent or be related to
measurements, and other data for or related to physiological signs
and parameters such as blood pressure, heart rate, body
temperature, electrocardiogram, glucose level, substances and/or
chemical presence or level, analyze measurements, etc. The portable
device may also display such measurements and/or sensor data.
[0004] The portable device may compute statistical data, with or
without the aid of a remote computer, which communicates with the
portable device, and/or store statistical data with or without a
remote computer, which communicates with the portable device. The
portable device may also compute measurements, with or without the
aid of a remote computer and/or store measurements. The remote
computer, if any, may also compute and/or store measurements. The
portable device may communicate with a remote computer through a
wireless link from the portable device.
[0005] The portable device has memory for at least temporary
storage of sensor data and/or statistical data and/or measurements.
The remote computer may process sensor data and provide
measurements and/or statistical data, and/or the remote computer
may store data and/or measurements data for transmission to a
computer or portable device (e.g., of a person being monitored or a
health care professional), such data and measurements being
provided partially or entirely by the portable device and/or the
remote computer or another device.
[0006] A remote computer has memory for at least temporary storage
of data and/or measurements, and the remote computer may process
sensor data and/or measurements provided by the portable device and
provide statistical data and/or measurements.
[0007] In a network embodiment, the remote computer may comprise a
server that can be accessed in push and/or pull modes by, for
example, authorized client computers of parties such as the
monitored person and his or her family members, and health care
professionals. The remote computer may also initiate messages to
portable devices of patients being monitored and/or computers or
other electronic devices (computers, facsimile machines, PDA
devices, telephone, etc.) of designated authorized parties. For
example, such messages may be alerts that sensor data, measurements
and/or statistical data is indicative of a medically or
statistically unsatisfactory condition of the monitored person.
[0008] The invention, according to one embodiment, provides a
portable medical monitoring device sized to be carried by a person
to be monitored, comprising: an electronic controller; at least one
memory coupled to the electronic controller that at least
temporarily stores (a) sensor data provided by at least one sensor
associated with the monitored person in response to at least one
physiological characteristic of the monitored person, and (b)
statistical data related to sensor data provided by the at least
one sensor; and a display device that displays at least statistical
data stored in the at least one memory.
[0009] In addition to displaying statistical data, the display
device may also display sensor data and/or measurements obtained by
or provided to the portable device.
[0010] The controller may include means for computing statistical
data, and/or the statistical data may be provided to the device
from an external source.
[0011] The statistical data may comprise at least one of high, low
average, means value, median value, standard deviation, least
square, variance, distribution, data, etc. The display device can
display statistical data as text, graphics, or both.
[0012] In a preferred embodiment, the portable device includes a
communications unit that transmits sensor data and/or measurements
over a wireless communications link and receives over the wireless
link at least statistical data related to sensor data or otherwise
to the person being monitored. The statistical data received by the
communications unit is stored at least temporarily in the at least
one memory. In the preferred embodiment, the communications unit
comprises a two-way pager, or any suitable wireless technology.
[0013] The invention also provides a system comprising one or more
portable devices described above and a remote computer and
associated memory that at least temporarily stores sensor data,
measurements and/or statistical data related to the stored sensor
data or otherwise to a person being monitored. In the system, the
communications unit of the portable device transmits at least
sensor data and/or measurements for receipt by the computer and
receives at least statistical data provided by the computer.
[0014] The remote computer may comprise a web server connected to
the Internet, or an intranet or other network.
[0015] The remote computer may include means for automatically
providing at least sensor data, measurement data and/or statistical
to one or more portable devices in accordance with an authorization
procedure.
[0016] In one embodiment, the remote computer provides all
statistical data stored in a portable device's memory, and in other
embodiments, the electronic controller may provide statistical data
stored in the portable device's memory.
[0017] The controller is preferably programmed to control
transmission at least of sensor and/or measurements data by the
communication unit to the remote computer in response to a user
input to the portable device and to request at least statistical
data and/or measurements from the remote computer in response to a
user input to the device, and also to preferably control obtaining
sensor data or taking a measurement in response to user input. For
example, a user may initiate display of sensor data, and/or a
measurement, and/or statistical data.
[0018] The remote computer may be programmed to provide statistical
data to the portable device according to programmed parameters,
either exclusively or in addition to user input.
[0019] In addition, the portable device can compute measurements,
provide measurements to a remote computer and receive measurements
stored in or computed by a remote computer.
[0020] In a preferred embodiment, the remote computer comprises a
World Wide Web server. The storage of sensor, measurement and/or
statistical data on the web server facilitates efficient access to
such information by authorized parties. This feature can be
particularly advantageous to health care professionals who can
obtain and/or provide information associated with many portable
devices and many monitored persons.
[0021] The server (or a remote computer), accessible by authorized
parties, may transmit an automatic message alert to an authorized
party communications device dependent on at least one of sensor
data, a measurement and statistical data. In some embodiments, the
server or remote computer comprises a value range associated with a
physiological characteristic and where at least one of sensor data,
measurement and statistical data is compared against the value
range to determine if the automatic message alert should be
transmitted. Further, the value range may be ascertained by the
programmed input of a parameter associated with a physical trait of
a specified monitored person into a function.
[0022] Embodiments employing processing of sensor data, and/or
measurements, and/or storage of statistical data by a remote
computer reduce the requirements for on-board processing and
storage in a portable monitoring device.
[0023] Wireless links to the portable device may be provided by any
suitable means, including pager, cell phone and mobile radio
technology and systems.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The invention may be better ascertained by referring to the
following description in conjunction with the accompanying
drawings, which are exemplary and not intended to be exhaustive,
and in which:
[0025] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a portable
medical monitoring device incorporating the invention;
[0026] FIG. 1A is a block diagram of another embodiment of a
portable medical monitoring device incorporating the invention;
[0027] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a portable medical
monitoring device and sensors coupled to the device;
[0028] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the communication signal path
between a portable medical monitoring device and a remote computer
according to one embodiment of the invention;
[0029] FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating a portable
medical monitoring device incorporating the invention showing
user-actuable switch buttons thereof;
[0030] FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating the signal path between a
portable medical monitoring device and a server according to
another embodiment;
[0031] FIGS. 6a, 6b, and 6c are illustrations of text displayed by
the display of a portable medical monitoring device incorporating
the invention;
[0032] FIG. 6d is an illustration of a graphical display displayed
on the display device of a portable monitoring device incorporating
to the invention; and
[0033] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the communication signal path
between a server, portable monitoring device, an authorized party
device, and automated phone system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0034] Referring to FIG. 1, the portable medical monitoring device
100 according to the invention comprises an electronic controller
102, a display device 108, an electronic memory 106, and one or
more sensors 104. The electronic controller can be implemented by
any suitable commercially available integrated circuit application
specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The sensor(s) 104 convert
physiological characteristics of the monitored person into
electrical signals that are provided to the electronic controller
102 or to the memory 106, where they are stored temporarily or
longer term. Various sensors 104 are known in the art for
converting physiological characteristics of the type disclosed
herein into electrical signals, and for providing the signals to
the controller 102 and/or memory 106. The sensor(s) 104 can be
coupled to the controller 102 and/or memory by wire or wirelessly,
and such ways of coupling are well known in the art.
[0035] In the preferred embodiment, the display device 108 is
capable of displaying sensor data, and measurement data and
statistical provided by the controller 102 and/or memory 106. In
the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the controller 102 processes sensor
data to provide measurement data and/or statistical data.
Alternatively, means can be provided for up loading and down
loading data from and to device 100, and such means are well known
in the art including wired and wireless, communication links, 232
communications port, serial port, etc.
[0036] FIG. 1A depicts an embodiment of a medical monitoring device
100a that includes a communications unit 110 for receiving and
transmitting data. Sensor data, measurement and/or statistical data
are provided to the communications unit 110, under control of
controller 102, for transmission to a remote computer or device
(not shown in FIG. 1A). The communications unit 110 may be any
suitable wireless communications device, e.g., two-way wireless
data pager, cell phone, two way radio, etc..
[0037] The sensors 104 are positioned as to sense physiological
characteristics of the monitored person, and in the preferred
embodiment, a sensor 104 can be associated with one or more of the
monitored person's blood pressure, pulse, oxygen-haemoglobin
saturation, glucose, body temperature, respiration, and
electrolyte. As mentioned, these sensors are well know in the art
and are commercially available.
[0038] FIG. 2 depicts a portable device 100a mounted in an assembly
or housing 112 that is sized to be carried by an individual, and in
this embodiment, strapped to the persons wrist or forearm by any
conventional strap apparatus. FIG. 2 also depicts somewhat
schematically a sensor 104a positioned on a finger of the monitored
person. Sensor 104a in this embodiment is a pulse oximetry sensor
104a to sense the monitored person's oxygen-haemoglobin saturation.
In addition, a blood pressure cuff sensor 104b is used to sense the
monitored person's blood pressure and strap also functions to the
device 101a to a person's forearm or wrist. In another embodiment,
a non-invasive sensor is used to measure electrolyte levels by
emitting an electric current to sense Na.sup.+1 and/or K.sup.+1
ions. It is contemplated that the medical monitoring device may
contain one, all, or any combination of the above-mentioned sensor
types, as well as other sensors. It should be further appreciated
that present invention may be comprised of any type of
physiological sensor 104 suitable or use with a portable monitoring
device.
[0039] FIG. 3 depicts the communication signal path between the
medical portable device 100a and a remote computer 302 through a
communications network 300. The sensor data and/or measurements
originating with the portable device 100a, are converted and
transmitted by the communications unit 110, and travel through an
at least partially wireless path 200 to the communications network
300. Specifically, sensor data, measurement data and/or statistical
data is directed to the remote computer 302 for processing and/or
storage. For example, sensor and measurement data can be processed
into statistical data. Also, statistical data can be further
processed and/or stored, and sensor and measurement data can be
stored. Statistical information (as well as stored measurement and
sensor data) is transmitted from the remote computer 302 to the
portable/device 100a in reverse fashion.
[0040] FIG. 4 illustrates schematically a portable device 101a with
user-actionable buttons 114-118. In the preferred embodiment, the
transmission of sensor data and/or measurement data from the
portable device 101a to the remote computer 302 can be initiated by
a user actionable send button 120, thereby allowing a monitored
person to send data and measurements to the remote computer 302 at
the monitored person's discretion. In an alternative embodiment,
the electronic controller 102 is programmed to transmit and/or
request data at predetermined time intervals (i.e. twice per
day).
[0041] The portable device 101a also has user-actuable buttons for
initiating the electronic controller to direct a sensor 104 to take
a measurement. A first measurement initiating button 114 is
associated with a first sensor, the pulse oximetry sensor 104a for
example, and a second measurement initiating button 115 is
associated with a second sensor, the blood pressure cuff sensor
104b for example. Sensor data is stored in the memory 106, and is
transmitted as described above to the remote computer 302 in
response to the send button 120, or in an alternative embodiment,
at a programmed time. A display choice user-actionable button 121
operates in cooperation with switch buttons 114-118 to display
data, in both graphical and textual. Use of the display button 121
directs the electronic controller 102 to display varying
statistical, sensor, and/or measurement data from the memory 106 on
the display device 108 in accordance with a drop-down menu, or any
other suitable user interface.
[0042] The portable device may also include in one embodiment an
integrated content retrieval function for the display of content
information related to, for example, news, sports, or entertainment
on the display device 108. FIG. 4 illustrates a user-actionable
content retrieval button 119 for initiating content retrieval. Upon
receiving a content request, remote computer 302 transmits stored
or retrieved content information back to the portable device
101a.
[0043] FIG. 5 illustrates an embodiment with an at least partially
wireless connection 200 between the portable device 101a and a
remote computer, in this embodiment a WWW server 302a. Data is
wirelessly transmitted from the portable device 101a by the
communications unit 110 to a paging network receiving/transmitting
tower 202. Packet-based paging protocols such as mobitex and reflex
are well known in the art and are utilized in the preferred
embodiments. Embodiments utilizing an alternative communications
unit 110 such as mobile telephone communications utilize such
protocols as GPRS, TDMA, or CDMA.
[0044] The data is transmitted to the paging network terminal 204,
which directs the data to a paging network gateway 206 with an
information network, such as the Internet 300a. The paging network
gateway 206 forwards the data to the Internet 300a, for delivery to
the web server 302a. An analogous process occurs in the reverse
when statistical data is transmitted from the web server 302a to
the communications unit 110 of the portable device 101a.
[0045] The web server 302a processes sensor and/or measurement
data, or data related thereto (which is still referred to as sensor
and/or measurement data) into statistical data. The server 302a
utilizes sensor data or measurements associated with a specific
physiological characteristic to calculate statistical data such an
average value over time intervals, such as daily, weekly, or
monthly intervals, and/or to calculate a variance, standard
deviation, least square, or a distribution, for example. The remote
computer 302 or web server 302a may also compute measurements from
statistical data, etc. Such statistical data is transmitted from
the server 302a through signal path 200 to the communications unit
110 of the portable device 101a. The electronic controller 102
directs storage and/or display of the statistical data.
[0046] The information stored in server 302a is available over the
Internet to devices and computers 310 of a monitored person or
health care professionals.
[0047] The display device 108 is a liquid crystal device (LCD).
However, any suitable display device may be used. FIGS. 6a, 6b, and
6c illustrate statistical data displayed on the display device 108.
Measurement data, statistical data, and sensor data can be
displayed in any manner that effectuates a communication of the
associated information to the monitored person. FIG. 6d is an
example of statistical data displayed graphically. It is
contemplated that statistical data, measurement data and sensor
data can be graphically displayed alone or in combination and in
any manner that effectuates communication of the associated
information to the monitored person. Preferred graphical displays
specifically include but are not limited to graphs, charts, and
tables, such as histograms and other graphical communications of
data.
[0048] Server 302a (FIG. 5) preferably includes automatic message
alert functionality alerting the monitored person and authorized
parties when sensor, measurement or statistical data is more than,
less than, or equal to or is outside of a given range. The server
302a is programmed with at least one function, each function being
associated with a specific physiological characteristic of a
"generic" person, normative in relevant physiological respects. A
value or range of values is produced when the function is
considered in light of at least one parameter each associated with
a specific physical trait of the particular monitored person, such
as the person's age or weight. Such parameters are considered in
order to tailor and/or personalize the function in a manner so as
to yield a custom value or value range representative of medically
satisfactory conditions for the associated physiological
characteristic of the particular monitored person.
[0049] Once this value or value range has been ascertained, it is
compared against either sensor data or statistical data. The choice
of sensor, measured or statistical data more than, less than, equal
to or is dependent on whether the particular function is associated
with instantaneous thresholds or statistical thresholds. If the
sensor measurement or statistical data is outside the value range,
then the server transmits an automatic message alert indicative of
an emergency medical condition associated with the specific
monitored person whose data outside the value range.
[0050] FIG. 7 depicts a system 350 that includes portable devices
100a and authorized party devices 400 that communicate with a
server 302a. Automatic message alerts are sent to the
communications devices 400 of specified authorized parties, such as
health care professionals and family members, as well as to the
concerned portable device 100a. In this embodiment, the authorized
party devices 400 may comprise a pager, telephone, mobile
telephone, PC, or laptop computer. Both the portable device 100a
and authorized party devices 400 are programmed to receive
transmitted automated message alerts. In the preferred embodiments,
there is any number and combination of authorized party devices
400. Methods of interconnectivity, signal paths 500, and data and
protocol conversions between authorized devices 400 and the
Internet 300 are varied and well known in the art, and often
particular to the type of authorized party device 400 (i.e. mobile
telephone, desktop computer, etc.). In the preferred embodiment, an
automated message alert may be also initiated manually by the use
of a touch tone telephone 600. Methods of interconnectivity, signal
routing, and data and protocol conversion between the telephone
600, the telephone network 700, the Internet 300a and a
communications network 300 are known in the art. Also, in the
preferred embodiment, authorized party devices 400 also have access
to the server 302a to view at least one of sensor data and
statistical data. Access is subject to security measures such as
password protection, and methods of security are well known in the
art.
[0051] The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the
present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration
and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit
the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many
modifications and variations are possible in light of the above
teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to
best explain the principles of the invention and its practical
application. It is intended that the scope of the invention be
defined by the claims appended hereto and their equivalents.
* * * * *