Patent Issued for Single point devices that connect to a display device (USPTO 11589003): American Well Corporation

2023 MAR 09 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Daily News -- From Alexandria, Virginia, NewsRx journalists report that a patent by the inventors Schoenberg, Roy (Boston, MA, US), filed on October 5, 2020, was published online on February 21, 2023.

The patent’s assignee for patent number 11589003 is American Well Corporation (Boston, Massachusetts, United States).

News editors obtained the following quote from the background information supplied by the inventors: “The present disclosure is directed to connecting consumers with service providers using a single point device.

“Systems have been developed to connect consumers and their providers over the Internet and the World Wide Web. Some systems use e-mail messaging and web-based forms to increase the level of connectivity between a member of a health plan and his assigned health care provider. The consumer sends an e-mail or goes to a website that generates and sends a message (typically an e-mail or an e-mail type message) to a local provider. These types of services have been broadly referred to as “e-visits.” While generally viewed as an addition to the spectrum of services that may be desired by consumers, the benefits of such services are not clear. One of the concerns associated with offering additional communication channels, such as e-mail, is that it can result in over consumption of services, rather than provide for better coordination.

“Plans are embracing the notion of consumerism by offering advanced tools for consumers to become informed and acquire medical services. Facilitating timely and more organized communication between the member and their provider is perceived as a natural investment in the new consumer-driven healthcare world. While still at an early stage, interest in e-visits has picked up both in the commercial world as well as in the strategic planning sessions of health plans around the country. Vendors offering health portals for health plans typically now describe their roadmap for the incorporation (or interfacing with) e-visit platforms. An example of an e-visit platform is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,590,550, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.”

As a supplement to the background information on this patent, NewsRx correspondents also obtained the inventors’ summary information for this patent: “In an aspect, a single point device is provided. The single point device includes a port for establishing a connection to a port on a display device and for switching the display device from a first mode to a second mode, wherein the display device is configured to render a program in the first mode and is further configured to stream data for a communication session received from a data processing system in the second mode, wherein the data processing system configured to receive requests from medical service providers to initiate live time communication sessions with a user of the display device. The single point device includes an audio video device configured to capture image data representing one or more images of physical entities in a field of view of the audio video device and further configured to capture acoustic data. The single point device includes a receiver device. The receiver device is configured for dedicated communication with a data processing system that receives requests from medical service providers to initiate live time communication sessions with a user of the display device. The receiver device is configured to receive (a) audio signals, during a live time communication session, from a client device of an identified medical service provider through the data processing system, and (b) a user interface signal from the data processing system and carrying user interface data that is renderable on the display device that, when rendered by the display device, causes the display device to interrupt a program displaying on the display device. The single point device includes a transmitter device. The transmitter device is configured for dedicated communication with the data processing system that receives a request from a medical service provider to initiate a live time communication sessions. The transmitter device is configured to transmit, through the data processing system and to the client device, image data captured by the audio video device and audio signals received from the audio video device. The transmitter device is configured to transmit the user interface signal received from the receiver device to the display device in the second mode to cause the display device to interrupt the program to initiate the communication session, as requested by the medical service provider.

“The receiver device can be further configured to receive a user interface signal to render a graphical user interface to prompt the user of the display device for authorization to establish a communication session through the data processing system with the client device of the identified medical service provider. The audio video device can include a microphone. The audio video device can include a speaker device configured to output the audio signals received by the receiver device. The audio video device can include a camera.

“The display device can include a television display. Causing the display device to interrupt the program and render the graphical user interface can include causing the display device to cease displaying of the program. Causing the display device to interrupt the program and render a graphical user interface can include causing the display device to display the graphical user interface in a first portion of the display device and continue displaying the program in a second portion of the display device. The first portion can be larger than the second portion.

“The dedicated communication with the data processing system can be established through a wireless network. The receiver device can be further configured to receive, from a control device, control signals indicating that the user has authorized interruption of the program.

“In an aspect, a method implemented by a data processing system for rendering live streamed data responsive to provider initiated requests for consultations is provided. The method includes receiving, from a client device of a medical service provider, a request to initiate a communication with a client device of a patient. The method includes, responsive to the request to initiate the communication, transmitting, by the data processing system to a single point device that is communicatively coupled to a display device, a signal that causes the display device to switch input modes from a first mode to a second mode, with the first mode being a mode for rendering a program and with the second mode being a mode for streaming data received from the data processing system. The method includes transmitting, to the single point device, a user interface signal carrying graphical user interface data that when rendered by the display device in the second mode interrupts displaying of a program on the display device and renders a graphical user interface, with the graphical user interface prompting a viewer of the display device for updates on a health status of the viewer and initiating a communication session. The method includes establishing, by the data processing system, the communication session between the single point device and the client device.”

The claims supplied by the inventors are:

“1. A single point device, comprising: a port for establishing a connection to a display device and for switching the display device from a first mode to a second mode, wherein the display device is configured to render a program in the first mode and is further configured to stream data for a communication session received from a data processing system in the second mode, wherein the data processing system is configured to receive requests from medical service providers to initiate communication sessions with a user of the display device; a device configured to: capture image data representing one or more images of physical entities in a field of view of the device, and further configured to capture acoustic data, motion data, or both acoustic and motion data; detect an event or to receive event data representing the event, wherein detecting the event or receiving the event data comprising capturing motion data or acoustic data; based on the motion data or acoustic data, determine a health status of a patient associated with the device; based on the health status that is determined, determine a type of a medical service that is responsive; based on the type of the medical service that is responsive, authorize establishment of a communication session with a medical service provider that provides the type of the medical service; receive (a) one or more audio signals, during a communication session, from a client device of an identified medical service provider through the data processing system, and (b) a user interface signal from the data processing system that causes the display device to interrupt a program displaying on the display device; transmit, in response to detection of the event or receipt of the event data, data requesting establishment of the communication session with the medical service provider; transmit, through the data processing system and to the client device, image data captured and one or more audio signals received; and transmit the user interface signal received to the display device in the second mode to cause the display device to interrupt the program to initiate the communication session.

“2. The single point device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a microphone.

“3. The single point device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a speaker device configured to output the audio signals received.

“4. The single point device of claim 1, wherein the display device comprises a television display.

“5. The single point device of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a camera.

“6. The single point device of claim 1, wherein causing the display device to interrupt the program comprises rendering a graphical user interface and causing display device to cease displaying of the program.

“7. The single point device of claim 1, wherein causing the display device to interrupt the program comprises causing the display device to display a graphical user interface in a first portion of the display device and continue displaying the program in a second portion of the display device.

“8. The single point device of claim 7, wherein the first portion is larger than the second portion.

“9. The single point device of claim 1, wherein the communication session with the data processing system is established through a wireless network.

“10. The single point device of claim 1, further comprising a second port configured to communicate with one or more biometric sensors, wherein the event data comprise biometric data representing the health status of the patient, the biometric data representing a blood pressure, a heart status, or at least a portion of an electrocardiograph.

“11. The single point device of claim 1, further comprising a second port configured to communicate with one or more motion sensors, wherein the event data comprise motion data representing motion of a user of the single point device.

“12. A method, comprising: establishing, by a port, a connection to a display device and for switching the display device from a first mode to a second mode, wherein the display device is configured to render a program in the first mode and is further configured to stream data for a communication session received from a data processing system in the second mode, wherein the data processing system is configured to receive requests from medical service providers to initiate communication sessions with a user of the display device; capturing, by a device, image data representing one or more images of physical entities in a field of view of the device, and further configured to capture acoustic data; detecting, by the device, an event or to receive event data representing the event, wherein detecting the event or receiving the event data comprising capturing motion data or acoustic data; based on the motion data or acoustic data, determining a health status of a patient associated with the device; based on the health status that is determined, determining a type of a medical service that is responsive; based on the type of the medical service that is responsive, authorizing establishment of a communication session with a medical service provider that provides the type of the medical service; receiving, by the device, (a) one or more audio signals, during a communication session, from a client device of an identified medical service provider through the data processing system, and (b) a user interface signal from the data processing system that causes the display device to interrupt a program displaying on the display device; transmitting, by the device in response to detection of the event or receipt of the event data, data requesting establishment of the communication session with the medical service provider; transmitting, by the device, through the data processing system and to the client device, image data captured and one or more audio signals received; and transmitting, by the device, the user interface signal received to the display device in the second mode to cause the display device to interrupt the program to initiate the communication session.

“13. The method of claim 12, wherein the device comprises a microphone.

“14. The method of claim 12, wherein the device comprises a speaker device configured to output the audio signals received.

“15. The method of claim 12, wherein the display device comprises a television display.

“16. The method of claim 12, wherein the device comprises a camera.

“17. The method of claim 12, wherein causing the display device to interrupt the program comprises rendering a graphical user interface and causing display device to cease displaying of the program.

“18. The method of claim 12, wherein causing the display device to interrupt the program comprises causing the display device to display a graphical user interface in a first portion of the display device and continue displaying the program in a second portion of the display device.

“19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first portion is larger than the second portion.

“20. One or more non-transitory computer readable media storing instructions that when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform operations comprising: causing a port to establish a connection to a display device and for switching the display device from a first mode to a second mode, wherein the display device is configured to render a program in the first mode and is further configured to stream data for a communication session received from a data processing system in the second mode, wherein the data processing system is configured to receive requests from medical service providers to initiate communication sessions with a user of the display device; causing a device to capture image data representing one or more images of physical entities in a field of view of the device, and further configured to capture acoustic data; causing the device to detect an event or to receive event data representing the event, wherein detecting the event or receiving the event data comprising capturing motion data or acoustic data; based on the motion data or acoustic data, causing the device to determine a health status of a patient associated with the device; based on the health status that is determined, causing the device to determine a type of a medical service that is responsive; based on the type of the medical service that is responsive, causing the device to authorize establishment of a communication session with a medical service provider that provides the type of the medical service; causing the device to receive (a) one or more audio signals, during a communication session, from a client device of an identified medical service provider through the data processing system, and (b) a user interface signal from the data processing system that causes the display device to interrupt a program displaying on the display device; causing the device to transmit, in response to detection of the event or receipt of the event data, data requesting establishment of the communication session with the medical service provider; causing the device to transmit, through the data processing system and to the client device, image data captured and one or more audio signals received; and causing the device to transmit the user interface signal received to the display device in the second mode to cause the display device to interrupt the program to initiate the communication session.”

For additional information on this patent, see: Schoenberg, Roy. Single point devices that connect to a display device. U.S. Patent Number 11589003, filed October 5, 2020, and published online on February 21, 2023. Patent URL (for desktop use only): https://ppubs.uspto.gov/pubwebapp/external.html?q=(11589003)&db=USPAT&type=ids

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