WO2005110209A1

WO2005110209A1 - Remote control with alert function

Info

Publication number: WO2005110209A1
Application number: PCT/IB2005/051599
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Peter Louis Simons
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N. V.
Priority date: 2004-05-18
Filing date: 2005-05-17
Publication date: 2005-11-24

Abstract

The application provides a remote control (100) for alerting and/or reminding a user of a predefined event. The remote control is adapted for bi-directional wireless signal transmission to a base station (112) and for generating a perceptible alert in response to receiving an alert signal from a base station. The remote control is ideally suitable for applications within a telehealth system for alerting or reminding a patient of an event of a medical action plan. The remote control combines alert functionality as well as wireless entry of control commands into the base station. Moreover, the remote control can be personalized to a specific user allowing a plurality of users to share a base station of a telehealth system.

Description

Remote control with alert function

The present invention relates to the field of interactive television applications and in particular without limitation to interactive television applications in the framework of telehealth. Telehealth has turned out to be an efficient means for managing the disease of chronically ill patients in the convenience of their own home. A telehealth system provides the communication platform between a patient and his care community for providing remote medical care. Telehealth systems are therefore typically installed in the home of a patient. On the one hand a patient may autonomously perform a diagnostic process in order to acquire diagnostic medical data. Acquired medical data can then be transmitted to a medical service center such that it can be monitored and reviewed by the appropriate care providers. This is generally called telemonitoring. On the other hand by means of a telehealth system a care provider can provide personalized care to a patient when needed and change the patient's behavior to enforce treatment compliance. For example, instructions to perform some kind of medical related action, like e.g. measuring blood pressure or taking a prescribed pill can be delivered to the patient. This is generally called telemedicine. Currently, the traditional institutional care in many countries is under pressure because of demographic pressures, such as ageing and shortage of skills, rising costs that are increasingly passed on to patients, and consumerism in health-care, i.e. patients having the right to choose particular medical services. This will drive the health-care industry towards a more patient-centric care, self-care, and preventive care. Telehealth solutions will play an important role in this. Telehealth systems are typically implemented as home telemonitoring systems, that consist of a base station and one or more measurement devices, such as a scale and a blood-pressure cuff. The measurement devices connect wired or wirelessly to the base station. The base station connects via telephony or Internet connectivity based on e.g. DSL or Cable to a medical service center. Patients are instructed to take measurements on a regular basis, and the resulting measurement data are subsequently transferred via the base station to the medical service center for review by the medical care staff. If an intervention is needed, a phone-call is made by the care staff to the patient to provide treatment. In this case, the patient needs to remember when to take measurements. In a more advanced set-up, the patient gets a set-top-box (STB) like base station, that in addition to communicating to measurement devices and the medical service center, also can provide patient interactive applications, for example using the patient's conventional television set and remote control. Such a home telehealth system can provide a plurality of various functionalities. For example, messages and recommendations from a care provider can be sent to and viewed by the patient on a regular basis. The medical data that has been acquired through the use of the measurement devices allows to generate a kind of log book reflecting trends of acquired medical data on the basis of a long time scale. The patient can review these on his television via an interactive application. Moreover, such a home telehealth system may be adapted to provide medical educational videos to a patient. Finally, home-shopping functionality, e.g. for medication refills to the pharmacy may become accessible to a patient through his home television. Especially chronically ill people as well as elderly persons have to take medications on the basis of a regular schedule. Similarly when a home telemonitoring system is used for regularly monitoring the blood pressure of a hypertension patient, the patient may easily forget that a certain medical action, e.g. taking a pill or monitoring blood pressure, is due. Therefore, home telemonitoring systems typically have some kind of alert or reminder function in form of generating an acoustic or visual signal indicating to the patient that some type of prescribed action is due. Since the basic element of a home telemonitoring system, the base station, is usually connected to the access network ,e.g. phone or cable, and a television set, the base station is designed as a stationary device that is installed in a particular room of a house or an apartment. In cast of an interactive telehealth system, in addition to the medication reminders and measurement reminders, also notification of new messages or similar items, from a care provider have to be conveyed to the patient. In a scenario where some kind of action is due and the set top box generates a corresponding reminder signal, the patient may be at a remote location simply not being aware of the alert.

US patent US 6,373,787 discloses a system for generating a humanly perceptible signal as a reminder for administration of a medical treatment. This disclosed system has the separation of a control unit that controls the timing of administration of medications and, correspondingly, a signaling and an external signal device. This allows for providing the patient with a corresponding signal at an arbitrary location, namely anywhere that an external signal device is provided. For this purpose, a number of external signal devices can be provided at various locations at a building. In a dwelling, for example, a signal device can be provided in each room. A device that generates mechanical, acoustic or optical signals and communicates with the control and/or processing unit via a wireless communication connection and that is to be worn by the affected person can be employed as additional mechanical, acoustic and/or optical signal device. Given use of such a device, the patient is informed of the time for taking the medication on the basis of corresponding vibrations that can be felt, so that he can act correspondingly when the signal is given. However, the disclosure of US 6,373,787 provides a solution to the problem of forgetting a medical treatment, it comes along with a plurality of various devices that need to interact appropriately. Moreover, the control unit is connected to an acknowledgment switch allowing the patient to indicate to the control unit that a medication was taken in timely fashion. This administration acknowledgment can also be provided with an input unit in the form of a keyboard that is also connected to the control unit. Hence, the disclosed system features a plurality of devices each of which providing signal input into a control unit or being exclusively adapted for receiving of signals from the control unit in order to generate a reminder indicator. The invention provides a remote control for alerting a user. The remote control comprises a transceiver module for bi-directional wireless signal transmission to a base station. The remote control further comprises means for generating an alert in response to receiving an alert signal from the base station and input means for wireless entry of a control command into the base station. For example, such control commands include input to respond to the alert signal, and additionally to navigate through an interactive TV application, here related to a medical action plan. In contrast to conventional remote controls, the inventive remote control is also adapted to wirelessly receive signals from the base station. Preferably, signals being received from the base station are indicative of an alert or a reminder for a user. While the base station is preferably installed at a particular location within a home environment, the remote control preferably features a compact design allowing for carrying along of the remote control. A user that needs to enter a control command into the base station on the basis of a predefined schedule may easily forget a predefined point of time when an entry of a control command is due. Such entries are for example the confirmation of taking of a prescribed medication or entering of a measured data like blood pressure values or weight. Especially when the user is not in close vicinity to the base station an alert generated by the base station might not be perceivable. Transmission of an alert signal from the base station to the remote control and generating a perceivable alert in response to receiving the alert signal by means of the remote control effectively reminds the user to execute a predefined action like e.g. entering a control command into the base station.

The inventive remote control incorporates an alert functionality as well as a functionality of wireless entry of a control command into the base station. Merging of these two functionalities in one device effectively limits the number of components of an alert or reminder system. In this way a separate signaling or alerting device is not needed because its functionality is entirely embedded in the remote control. In principle, the inventive remote control can be implemented in a variety of environments. The remote control is preferably applicable in the framework of telehealth and home telemonitoring. It might also be useful for interactive television applications where a user wants to be reminded of a beginning of a preferred television show or program. Preferably, the base station stores or generates a user specific alert or reminder schedule and autonomously generates corresponding alert signals when a predefined action is due. These actions may refer to any kind of user action like e.g. ingesting a medication, performing a blood pressure measurement, switching on of a television program, switching to a health channel, contacting a general practitioner, etc... According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the alert is indicative of an event of a medical action plan and the alert signal generated by the base station and transmitted to the remote control is generated on the basis of this medical action plan. Medical action plan refers to any medical related action to be executed by a user or patient making use of a telehealth or home telemonitoring system. In this case the base station is implemented as a kind of medical gateway providing sufficient communication between the patient in his or her home environment and a medical care party like a medical service center or a general practitioner. The medical action plan may universally refer to diagnostics, medical precaution, medical treatment, or a medical healing process. The medical action plan may for example specify certain time intervals or certain points of time at which some predefined medication has to be taken by the patient or user. Moreover, the medical action plan might be indicative that a particular action has to be performed by the patient, like e.g. measuring of blood pressure, measuring of blood sugar or the like. Additionally, the medical action plan may serve as appointment reminder or message reminder for the patient or user of the telehealth system. For example an alert generated by the base station and transmitted to the remote control might be indicative that contacting of the general practitioner or a medical care center is due. Typically, the base station acting as a medical gateway comprises means to communicate with a medical service center. Furthermore, the base station is adapted to store the medical action plan and to generate corresponding alert signals.

Additionally, the base station can be effectively used to store medical related data that is entered by the user making use of the remote control. For example, a user or patient suffering hypertension is on the one hand reminded of measuring blood pressure within predefined time intervals. On the other hand the hypertension patient can effectively make use of the remote control in combination with the base station to regularly enter measured blood pressure values. These entered values are then preferably stored by means of the base station. Since the base station is adapted to communicate with a medical service center, acquired medical data can be transmitted to the service center and a medical action plan can be received from the medical service center. Therefore, a medical action plan is not statically stored in the base station but can be universally modified by a medical service center or a general practitioner. For instance, when the general practitioner or the medical service center receive acquired medical data indicating a health status of the patient, an updated medical action plan can be generated and transmitted to the base station as a prescription for the patient. The base station acting as medical gateway can thus be universally programmed by the medical service center. Communication between the base station acting as medical gateway and a medical service center can be established on the basis of conventional communication techniques, i.e. broadband internet connection, telephone connection, cellular phone connection or facsimile. Depending on the capacity and availability of communication between the base station and the medical service center, and depending on the resource constraints of the base station, the storage and processing of the medical action plan can be distributed across the base station and the medical service center. Therefore any implementation for either communicating the complete medical action plan or incrementally communicating changes of the medical action plan are possible. Also communicating a partial medical action plan and/or individual alerts is conceivable. Similar variations for communicating of data that is collected by the base station to the medical service center, such as user responses and measurement data, are possible. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the means for generating the alert are adapted to generate a visual and/or audible and/or textual and/or graphical and/or haptic alert. In this way the remote control is adapted to universally generate any kind of perceivable alert or reminder for the user. In a basic embodiment the means for generating the alert may comprise a blinking light in combination with an acoustic beep tone. Even generation of a beep tone is usually sufficient to draw the patient's attention. Already by making use of such a basic implementation the generated alert may be indicative of various urgency levels. Since the medical action plan provides a variety of different medical related actions that are more or less important to be performed, a corresponding alert or reminder signal generated by the remote control may be indicative of the urgency of the medical related event. For example, forgetting to take a specific medication may have dramatic consequences for the patient, whereas forgetting of measuring the blood pressure in the framework of medical precaution is certainly less dramatic and may therefore generate an alert or reminder signal that indicates an event of minor relevance. Various levels of urgency can for example be represented by the frequency and/or the volume of the beep tone. Equipping the remote control solely with audible means for generating an alert allows to realize a very compact design of the remote control. In case of an alert or reminder generated by the remote control, the patient may not be aware of which particular medical related action has to be performed. In this case the patient is instructed by the alert to activate the base station for receiving further information. In a more sophisticated embodiment, the remote control is adapted to generate the alert in form of textual or graphical form. For this purpose, the remote control comprises a kind of display or graphical user interface for graphically visualizing some kind of instruction or for displaying a text message indicating which type of medical related action has to be performed. Preferably, audible and textual or graphical alerts are combined. Additionally, the remote control may be adapted to generate an haptic alert, hence to generate a mechanical vibration. This is particularly advantageous when the remote control is carried along with the patient. Alerts of haptic or audible type are particularly advantageous to draw the patient's attention to an alert. Visually displaying a textual or graphical information in combination with the audible and/or haptic alert may directly instruct the user of the necessary medical related event. In this way the user is not only informed that an event of the medical action plan is due but moreover the patient is simultaneously informed of the medical event in its entirety. Hence, the patient not necessarily has to activate the base station in order to obtain information related to an event of the medical action plan, but receives necessary information directly by means of the remote control. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the remote control further comprises a storage module that is adapted to store a predefined alert schedule for autonomously generating an alert. The predefined alert schedule is thereby received from the base station by means of a synchronization. Preferably, the predefined alert schedule is a part of the medical action plan stored in the base station. By means of the synchronization a part of the medical action plan can be transferred into the storage module of the remote control where it is stored as predefined alert schedule. For example the predefined alert schedule is indicative of alerts or reminders that are due during a predefined time interval, like e.g. a day, whereas the medical action plan might be indicative of reminders and alerts of an entire week. Storing of the predefined alert schedule locally in the remote control allows for autonomous generation of the alert by means of the remote control itself. In this way an alert signal does not have to be transmitted from the base station to the remote control. Since transmission of alert signals between base station and remote control is only possible within a predefined spatial range, a patient carrying along the remote control would be restricted to continuously stay within the transmission range of the base station. By locally storing the predefined alert schedule in the remote control and autonomously generating the alert on the basis of the locally stored predefined alert schedule, an alert can even be generated when the remote control is located beyond the transmission range of the base station. In this way a patient carrying along the remote control is given an increased mobility and flexibility. Preferably while performing a synchronization, the patient is also informed of the type of medication or which type of medical diagnostic instruments are needed during the time interval covered by the predefined alert schedule. Hence, the patient is instructed to carry along a concrete number of medications that have to be ingested upon generation of the alert or reminder. This allows to make use of the alert or reminder system even at remote locations. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the storage module is further adapted to store patient input that is entered into the remote control by making use of the input means. For example, when the medical action plan and hence the predefined alert schedule instruct the patient to enter some kind of medical related data into the remote control, this medical related data is locally stored in the storage module of the remote control. When the remote control comes within the transmission range of the base station the acquired medical data is then transmitted to the base station, either autonomously or in response to a user command. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the remote control further comprises a transmission control module that is adapted for determining the strength of the signals that are transmitted between the portable electronic device and the base station. The transmission control module is preferably adapted to detect when the strength of the transmitted signals is below a predefined threshold. Typically, this predefined threshold specifies a signal strength that is sufficient for reliable signal transmission. Dropping of the signal strength below this predefined threshold might become a reason for erroneous signal transmission. Preferably, the transmission control module is further adapted to generate a warning signal in response to a dropping of the signal strength below the predefined threshold. This warning signal is preferably transmitted to the means for generating the alert that are in turn adapted to produce a corresponding perceptible warning indicating that the remote control is within a critical range with respect to the position of the base station. Practically, the threshold of the signal strength is chosen such that signals having the predefined threshold can still be sufficiently transmitted between the remote control and the base station. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the remote control further comprises an identifier module that is adapted to assign the remote control to a user specific medical action plan. Hence, the remote control can be personalized to a particular patient. Moreover, by making use of the identifier module, a plurality of remote controls may be adapted for transmission of signals to a common base station. In this way a telehealth system can be effectively used by a plurality of different patients. In this scenario, each patient makes use of a personalized remote control but in combination with a common base station. In this way a household with a number of patients may be provided with a single base station and a plurality of corresponding personalized remote controls. By assigning each remote control to a user specific medical action plan, the base station generates alert signals that are user specific. Transmission of user specific alert signals from the base station to the plurality of remote controls only activates a single remote control to generate a corresponding user specific alert. Moreover, user specific input commands can be automatically assigned to a user specific medical action plan. Hence, by entering a control command by means of a specific remote control, the control command is assigned to the medical action plan that corresponds to this specific remote control. For example, a weight measurement entered into a first person's remote control can be automatically assigned to the first person's medical action plan. In another aspect, the invention provides a system for alerting a user to a medical action plan. The inventive system comprises a base station for storing a medical action plan and a remote control that is adapted for wireless bi-directional transmission of signals to the base station and for generating a perceptible alert on the basis of the medical action plan by means of receiving of an alert signal from the base station. The base station is further adapted for wireless transmission of signals to the remote control and is further adapted to be connected to a television set for audio visually interacting with the user. In this way a telehealth system incorporating an alert or reminder system can be effectively implemented by making use of two devices, namely a base station and a corresponding remote control. Interactive communication with the user is then preferably implemented by making use of a conventional TV set that is usually available in a home environment. Alternatively, a plurality of remote controls that are typically distributed in various rooms of a home may also be used by a single patient. For example, when according to the medical action plan a specific medical action is due the base station broadcasts an alert signal to each of the plurality of remote controls each of which generating a perceivable alert. Depending on its actual location the user may then make use of any one of remote controls, i.e. typically that one which is located nearby, to dismiss the alert and to perform the corresponding action. The functionality of the inventive remote control can also be implemented in other portable devices that are adapted to provide bi-directional wireless transmission to the base station. For example, a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone with a dedicated software application may provide the necessary functionality of the remote control. Mobile phones inherently provide means for generating an audible, visual and/or haptic alert and further comprise a display for interaction with a user as well as several buttons for inputting some kind of command. When appropriately modified by means of e.g. a particular software application, such a mobile phone may provide the functionality of the inventive remote control. Moreover, another embodiment of the remote control can in principle be realized by means of a dedicated wrist watch featuring at least one input button and an appropriate display. By implementation of wireless transmission means into a wristwatch for bi-directionally communicating alert signals and control commands between the watch and the base station the functionality of the inventive remote control can in principle be provided by such a wristwatch. Such a compact design of the remote control is particularly advantageous because it can be easily carried along with the patient. In the event that an alert occurs, it is inherently guaranteed that the remote control is in close vicinity to the patient. In another aspect, the invention provides a base station of an alert system for alerting at least one user to a medical action plan. The inventive base station comprises a transceiver module that is adapted to provide wireless bi-directional transmission of signals to at least one remote control. The base station further comprises a storage module for storing at least one medical action plan and means for generating an alert being perceptible by the at least one user, wherein the alert is generated on the basis of the at least one medical action plan. Furthermore, the base station comprises a processing unit for processing of control commands that is received from the at least one remote control. Hence, the base station is adapted to store the medical action plan and to generate corresponding reminders or alerts when performing of an event of the medical action plan is due. Therefore, the base station is adapted to directly generate a perceptible alert on the basis of the medical action plan as well as simultaneously transmitting corresponding alert signals to the remote control. According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the base station further comprises a first interface for connecting the base station to a television set for audio visually interacting with the user and a second interface for connecting the base station to a medical service center. Connection to a television set effectively provides audio visual interaction with the user in order to instruct the user to execute actions related to the medical action plan and for entering of medical related data acquired by the user. The audio visual interaction with the user is based on the medical action plan that is stored in the base station. The second interface in turn provides communication to a medical service center in order to transmit acquired medical data from the base station to the medical service center and for transmitting or modifying of a medical action plan when necessary. Typically, the medical service center processes medical related data that is received from the base station of a telehealth system. When with respect to processing of the acquired medical data a modification of the prescribed medical action plan is due, the medical service center may transmit modification signals to the base station or may even transmit a new medical action plan. The connection between the base station and the medical service center may be based on a broadband internet connection, telephone connection, cellular telephone connection or even facsimile. Preferably, the base station autonomously connects to the medical service center on the basis of a regular time interval, like e.g. once a day. Depending on the medical action plan and the urgency of a related medical treatment, connection between the base station and the medical service center may also be realized continuously. According the another preferred embodiment of the invention, the base station can be implemented by a personal computer or laptop computer. A personal computer tjφically provides storage capacity as well as means for generating an alert signal on the basis of a medical action plan. The latter can effectively be realized by installing an appropriate software application on the personal computer. The transceiver module can for example be implemented on a personal computer by means of a corresponding extension card that provides for wireless bi-directional communication with the remote control and/or with a television set. Alternatively, the transceiver module might also be implemented on the mainboard of a personal computer. In this way, a personal computer that might already be available to the patient can provide the entire functionality of the base station. The inventive system for alerting the user to the medical action plan can therefore be implemented by purchasing a dedicated remote control and installing the appropriate software application and extension card on the personal computer. In this way, the user does not have to purchase a dedicated base station that is particularly designed for the telehealth system. This is particularly advantageous to reduce the overall costs of purchase for a telehealth system and opens the market of telehealth systems to a large group of consumers. In another aspect, the invention provides a computer program product for a base station of an alert system that is adapted to alert or remind a user to a medical action plan. The computer program product of the base station comprises computer program means that are adapted for storing of a medical action plan, for processing the stored medical action plan for generating an alert or reminder signal that is adapted to be transmitted to a remote control of the base station and processing of a control command that is received from the remote control. Preferably, the computer program product allows for reconfiguration of the medical action plan in response to receive an instruction command from a medical service center. In this way the computer program product enables universal usage of the base station and adaptation of the base station to a variety of different medical action plans. In still another aspect, the invention provides a method of alerting a user to a medical action plan. This inventive method comprises the steps of generating an alert signal on the basis of a medical action plan by means of a base station, wireless transmitting the alert signal from the base station to a remote control and generating a perceptible alert in response of receiving the alert signal by means of the remote control. Further, it is to be noted that any reference sign in the claims of the present application shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. In the following preferred embodiments of the invention will be described in detail by making reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a block diagram of the inventive remote control, Figure 2 shows a block diagram of an inventive system for alerting or reminding a user to a medical action plan, Figure 3 illustrates a front view of the remote control, Figure 4 shows a sophisticated block diagram of the remote control, Figure 5 illustrates a block diagram of a multi-user alert system.

Figure 1 is illustrative of a block diagram of the remote control 100. The remote control 100 has a transceiver module 102, an alert module 106 and an input module 104. The transceiver module 102 provides bi-directional transmission of signals between the remote control and a base station. Furthermore, the alert module 106 is connected to the transceiver module. Additionally, the input module 104 is uni- directionally connected to the transceiver module 102. The remote control 100 is adapted to provide bi-directional wireless communication between a user of the remote control 100 and a base station. Wireless communication is preferably based on low-power RF transmission standards and protocols. Alternatively and/or additionally, other wireless communication techniques and standards like e.g. BlueTooth, Zigbee, wireless LAN (e.g. IEEE 802.11), Ultra Wideband (UWB) or infrared protocols (IrDA, RC5, RC6) can also be implemented with the inventive remote control. Making use of the remote control 100, on the one hand a user can enter a control command by making use of the input module 104. These control commands are then transmitted from the input module 104 to the transceiver module 102. The transceiver module 102 in turn transmits the control commands of the user to the base station. Another feature of the remote control 100 is the generation of perceptible alerts or reminders. Therefore, the alert module 106 is adapted to generate a visual and/or audible and/or textual and/or graphical and/or haptic alert. Preferably, an alert is generated by means of the alert module 106 in response to receiving a corresponding signal from the transceiver module 102. Typically, an alert is generated by the base station on the basis of a medical action plan. Upon generation of an alert by the base station a corresponding alert signal is transmitted to the remote control 100 and is received by the transceiver module 102. In response to receive such an alert signal, the transceiver module 102 forwards the alert signal to the alert module 106 which thereupon generates the corresponding perceptible alert or reminder. Figure 2 is illustrative of a block diagram of a system for alerting a user to a medical action plan. The illustrated system moreover represents a telehealth system or a home telemonitoring system. The telehealth system has a base station 112, a remote control 100 and a television set 110. A user 108 makes use of the remote control 100 and the television set 110. The alert or reminder system further makes use of a network 114 and a medical service center 116. The medical service center 116 established a medical action plan for a telehealth environment. The medical action plan is transmitted to the base station 112 via the network 114. The network 114 may be realized by any conventional communication network, like the internet, telephone network, wireless or cellular phone network or the like. Depending on the implemented network 114 a communication protocol is appropriately selected and installed. The medical service center 116 and the base station 112 are either continuously or intermittently connected. In this way, a medical action plan stored in the base station 112 can be arbitrarily modified by the medical service center 116 whenever a communication link between the medical service center 116 and the base station 112 is established via the network 114. The base station 112 that is typically installed in a home environment of a patient or user serves as a medical gateway. On the one hand the base station 112 instructs and assists a user 108 via the television set 110. Hence, the television set 110 provides audio visual means for instructing the user 108 to perform a medical related action and to provide medical related information to user 108. The user 108 in turn is enabled to enter control commands into the remote control 100 that are wirelessly transmitted to the base station 112. On the other hand the base station 112 is principally enabled to remind or to alert the user 108 to perform a medical related action at a predefined point of time. In order to remind the user 108 to the medical related action, the base station 112 transmits an alert or reminder signal to the remote control 100 which in turn generates a perceptible reminder or alert in response to the receipt of the alert signal from the base station 112. Typically, the user 108 is then instructed to activate the base station 112 and to switch to a designated health channel provided by the base station 112 in combination with the television set 110. Figure 3 is illustrative of a possible front view of the remote control 100. The remote control 100 has a speaker 120, a display 122, a light 124 as well as a number of buttons 126. Typically, the light 124 is implemented as a light emitting diode (LED). Light 124, speaker 120 as well as display 122 are adapted to generate visual and/or audible and/or textual and/or graphical alerts. The remote control further has a vibration module 128 that is adapted to generate a haptic alert signal, i.e. a vibration of the remote control 100. The Light 124 may be adapted for generating a blinking light. Intensity and/or frequency of the blinking of the Light 124 may indicate an urgency or relevance of the corresponding alert or reminder. In a similar way the speaker 120 may be adapted for generating a beep tone as an audible alert signal. This can be implemented as well as a frequently beeping sound with variable volume for indicating an urgency. The buttons 126 are adapted for wireless entry of a control command into the base station. In order to realize a compact design of the remote control 100, the number of buttons 126 should be limited. This can be effectively achieved by implementing a menu guided visualization of user instructions by making use of the television set connected to the base station. In this case necessary user input may be limited to such simple functions as "yes" or "no". In a more sophisticated embodiment the remote control 100 comprises a display 122. The display 122 is either adapted for providing textual information or even graphical illustrations that are related to the medical action to be performed by the patient or user. Typically, the display 122 is implemented as a liquid crystal display. By combining the perceptible alert generated by light 124 and/or speaker 120 with alert or reminder specific information, the patient or user of the remote control is immediately informed of the corresponding action. In this case the patient does not have to check with the base station what particular action of the medical action plan is due. Alternatively or additionally the speaker 120 may be adapted to reproduce synthesized speech that is informative of the reminder related action. Hence, a perceptible alert or reminder can be produced on the basis of each of the modules 120, 122, 124 or by various combinations. Furthermore, an alert may consist of various visual and/or audible signals. For example, an alert may start with a blinking of the light 124 and after a period of time when the user does not switch off the alert by making use of the one of the buttons 126, the speaker 120 may start to produce a beeping noise. Furthermore, intensity and/or frequency of a blinking light or beeping tone may vary with time. The design of the remote control is by no means restricted to the block diagram illustrated in figure3. Preferably, the functionality of the remote control can be implemented in any communication device that supports bi-directional wireless communication with the base station. For example, a Bluetooth enabled mobile phone can provide the basic functionalities of the remote control. By installing a dedicated software application e.g. Java or Symbian based application, on such a mobile phone, transmission of control commands to the base station and generating alerts in response to receiving alert signals from the base station might be enabled straightforward. This is of practical relevance since a mobile in principle provides means for generating an audible, visual, textual or haptic alert as well as a graphical user interface (GUI) and buttons for entering commands. In another example, the functionality of the remote control can be implemented in a dedicated wrist watch that features at least one button for inputting the control command and a display for illustrating a relevant action to the patient. Implementations of the remote control in form of a mobile phone and in particular in form of a wrist watch are advantageous with respect to the aspect that the remote control is carried along with the patient. In the event that an alert is generated it is effectively guaranteed that the remote control is in close vicinity to the patient and that the alert is perceivable by the patient. Figure 4 illustrates a more sophisticated block diagram of the remote control 100. Again, the remote control 100 has a transceiver module 102, an input module 104 as well as an alert module 106. Additionally, the block diagram of figure 4 shows a processing module 140, an identifier module 134, a storage module 136 and a transmission control module 138. Moreover, the alert module has a visual alert module 130 as well as an audible alert module 132. The visual alert module 130 is an abstract representation of e.g. the light

124 and the audible alert module 132 represents e.g. the speaker 120. Both visual alert module 130 and audible alert module 132 are uni-directionally connected to the processing module 140. The processing module 140 is the central component of the remote control 100 and serves to coordinate interaction between the various modules of the remote control 100. The processing module 140 is bi-directionally connected to the transceiver module 102. An alert or reminder signal received by the transceiver module 102 is transmitted to the processing module 140. Depending on the type of alert signal the processing module 140 may selectively trigger the visual alert module 130 and/or the audible alert module 132. By means of the input module 104 a user or patient input is transmitted to the processing module 140 where the input is further processed and transmitted to the transceiver module 102 for transmission to the base station. The identifier module 134 preferably stores an unequivocal identification code of the remote control 100, like e.g. the serial number of the remote control. By means of this identification code that is preferably stored in a non-volatile way each remote control can be correctly identified. This allows to assign a remote control to a user and thereby to personalize a remote control. Alternatively, the identifier module 134 stores a set of user credentials of the corresponding user, like e.g. a username and passcode. By means of these user credentials, the base station can communicate to the medical service center on behalf of the corresponding user. The storage module 136 is adapted to bi-directionally communicate with the processing module 140. The storage module 136 is preferably adapted to store a predefined alert schedule being part of the medical action plan. By means of a synchronization procedure the predefined alert schedule is received from the base station via the transceiver module 102 and processed by the processing module 140. Typically processing of a received predefined alert schedule results in storing of the predefined alert schedule by means of the storage module 136. When the predefined alert schedule is stored by means of the storage module 136, preferably in a non-volatile way, the remote control 100 is principally enabled to autonomously generate appropriate alerts and reminders. Hence, for a time interval that is entirely covered by the predefined alert schedule, the remote control 100 can be arbitrarily moved outside of the transmission range of the base station. The transmission control module 138 is uni-directionally connected to the transceiver module 102 and to the processing module 140. The transmission control module 138 is preferably adapted to determine the signal strength of signals that are received by the transceiver module 102. The transmission control module checks the strength of received signals with respect to a predefined threshold signal strength. In case the signal strength drops below the predefined threshold, the transmission control module 138 generates a corresponding warning signal that is transmitted to the processing module 140. In response to receipt of the warning signal the processing module 140 typically generates a perceptible warning by making use of the alert module 106. The user or patient is then indicated that the remote control 100 is currently located in a critical distance with respect to the base station where sufficient and reliable signal transmission may no longer be guaranteed. Figure 5 is illustrative of a block diagram of a multi-user environment of a telehealth system. Similar as already illustrated in figure 2 the base station 112 acts as a medical gateway and is therefore connected to a network 114. Additionally, the base station 112 is connected to a television set 110 for providing sufficient audio visual interaction with a user. Here, a plurality of users 208, 210, 212 makes use of a plurality of remote controls 200, 202, 204. Each one of the remote controls 200, 202, 204 is adapted to bi-directionally communicate with the base station 112. This embodiment makes particular use of an identifier of each remote control 200, 202, 204. Moreover, each remote control is assigned to a particular user. Remote control 200 is assigned to user 208, remote control 202 is assigned to user 210 and remote control 204 is assigned to user 212. For each user 208, 210, 212 the base station 112 stores a medical action plan. Whenever an alert or reminder of any of the three medical action plans is due, the base station 112 transmits a corresponding signal being indicative of the alert or reminder as well as the identification code of an assigned remote control. In one example an alert referring to a medical action plan of user 208 is broadcasted by the base station 112, and since the broadcasted signal is also indicative of the identification code of the remote control 200 that is assigned to the user 208, only remote control 200 will generate a corresponding alert or reminder in response to receipt of the broadcasted signal. In another example, an alert referring to a medical action plan of user 208 is unicasted by the base station 112 directly to the corresponding remote control 200 based on the identification code. Hence a single base station 112 can be used in combination with a plurality of remote controls 200, 202, 204. In this way the base station 112 serves as a medical gateway not only for a single patient or user but to a plurality of users that share for example a common household. The invention therefore provides an effective approach for reminding a patient of an event of a medical action plan. Since a remote control of a base station acting as a medical gateway incorporates both functionalities of wireless entry of control commands as well as generating a perceptible alert, the number of devices for implementing a telehealth system can be effectively reduced. Moreover, by assigning a remote control to a patient, a plurality of users can effectively share the entire functionality of a base station of a telehealth system. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

100 remote control

102 transceiver module

104 input module 106 alert module

108 user

110 television set

112 base station

114 network 116 medical service center

120 speaker

122 display

124 light

126 input button 128 vibration module

130 visual alert module

132 audible alert module

134 ID module

136 storage module 138 transmission control module

140 processing module

200 remote control

202 remote control

204 remote control 208 user

210 user

212 user

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A remote control (100) for alerting a user (108), the remote control comprising:

- a transceiver module (102) for bi-directional wireless signal transmission to a base station (112), - means for generating an alert in response to receiving an alert signal from the base station,

- input means (104) for wireless entry of a control command into the base station.

2. The remote control (100) according to claim 1, wherein the alert being indicative of an event of a medical action plan and wherein the alert signal being generated on the basis of the medical action plan.

3. The remote control (100) according to claim 1, wherein the means for generating the alert being adapted to generate a visual and/or audible and/or textual and/or graphical and/or haptic alert.

4. The remote control (100) according to claim 1, further comprising a storage module (136) being adapted to store a predefined alert schedule for autonomously generating the alert, the predefined alert schedule being received from the base station (112) by means of a synchronization.

5. The remote control (100) according to claim 1, further comprising a transmission control module (138) being adapted for determining the strength of the signals being transmitted between the remote control and the base station (112).

6. The remote control (100) according to claim 1, further comprising an identifier module (134) being adapted to assign the remote control to a specific user.

7. A system for alerting a user (108) to a medical action plan, the system comprising: - a base station (112) for storing a medical action plan, the base station being adapted for wireless transmission of signals and being further adapted to be connected to a television set (110) for audio- visually interacting with the user,

- a remote control (100) being adapted for wireless bi-directional transmission of signals to the base station and for generating a perceptible alert on the basis of an alert signal received from the base station

8. A base station ( 112) of an alert system for alerting at least one user (108; 208, 210, 212) to a medical action plan, the base station comprising:

- a transceiver module (102) being adapted to provide wireless bi-directional transmission of signals to at least one remote control (100; 200, 202, 204),

- a storage module for storing at least one medical action plan,

- means for generating an alert being perceptible by the at least one user (108; 208, 210, 212), the alert being generated on the basis of the at least one medical action plan,

- a processing unit for processing of a control command being received from the at least one remote control.

9. The base station (112) according to claim 8, further comprising:

- a first interface for connecting the base station to a television set (110) for audiovisual interacting with the user, - a second interface for connecting the base station to a medical service center (116).

10. The base station (112) according to claim 9, wherein the at least one predefined alert schedule being modifiable in response of receiving an instruction command from the medical service center (116).

11. The base station (112) according to claim 8, wherein the base station being implemented by a personal computer.

12. A computer program product for a base station (112) of an alert system being adapted to alert a user (108) to a medical action plan, the computer program product comprising computer program means being adapted for:

- storing of a medical action plan,

- processing the stored alert schedule for generating an alert signal being adapted to be transmitted to a remote control (100) of the base station,

- processing of a control command being received from the remote control.

13. A method of alerting a user ( 108) to a medical action plan, the method comprising the steps of:

- generating an alert signal on the basis of a medical action plan by means of a base station (112), - wireless transmitting the alert signal from the base station to a remote control (100),

- generating a perceptible alert in response of receiving the alert signal by means of the remote control.