초록 ▼

A new and improved method for supervising and monitoring people from a remote location comprising the use of a communication system that builds upon telecommunications connections, computer interfaces, and information management via the internet. Strategically placed web cams, microphones, speakers,

A new and improved method for supervising and monitoring people from a remote location comprising the use of a communication system that builds upon telecommunications connections, computer interfaces, and information management via the internet. Strategically placed web cams, microphones, speakers, and display monitors are operatively linked to computers and information management means, and are used to permit a person in a remote location to view and listen to people in a plurality of active locations to verbally or visually prompt responses to inquiries or directives. The people in the active locations may also interact via these same interconnections to the person at the remote location. Touch screen technology may be included for purposes of automated supervision of tasks performed to accomplish a particular routine by the people in the active locations. Safety devices, such as smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and intrusion detectors, may also be installed to warn a remotely located supervisor, the police or fire departments, or emergency medical services.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A method for interactive communication between one or more spaced apart active locations, each having one or more rooms therein, and a single remote supervision location comprising the steps of providing a communication system between said remote supervision location and eac

What is claimed is: 1. A method for interactive communication between one or more spaced apart active locations, each having one or more rooms therein, and a single remote supervision location comprising the steps of providing a communication system between said remote supervision location and each of said active locations, said communication system including an audio system and a visual system, said communication system selectively providing communication between each of said active locations and said remote supervision location, selectively prompting a first action at one of said spaced apart active locations through use of said communication system, awaiting at said remote supervision location for acknowledgment of the performance of said first action at said one active location, repeating said first-action prompting step and said awaiting step if no acknowledgment is received at said remote supervision location within an agreed upon response time until an acknowledgment is received at said remote supervision location, receiving acknowledgment from said one active location through said communication system of the performance of said first action, and selectively prompting a second action to be performed at said one active location through said communication system after receipt of acknowledgment that said first action is completed, whereby multiple actions to be performed at multiple spaced apart active locations may be monitored and supervised from a single remote supervision location. 2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first-action prompting, awaiting, repeating and second-action prompting steps are a part of supervising a step-by-step performance of a task at one or more of said spaced apart active locations. 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of selectively prompting a first action at another of said spaced apart active locations through use of said communication system, awaiting at said remote supervision location for acknowledgment of the performance of said first action at said other active location, repeating said first-action prompting step and said awaiting step if no acknowledgment is received at said remote supervision location within an agreed upon response time until an acknowledgment is received at said remote supervision location, receiving acknowledgment from said other active location through said communication system of the performance of said first action, and selectively prompting a second action to be performed at said other active location through said communication system after receipt of acknowledgment that said first action is completed at said other active location. 4. The method of claim 3 wherein said steps to be performed at said one active spaced apart location are performed independently of said steps to be performed at said other spaced apart active location. 5. The method of claim 4 wherein said steps performed at said one active location are performed during the same time period as the steps to be performed at said other active location. 6. The method of claim 3 further comprising the steps of prompting a first action at a third of said spaced apart active locations through use of said communication system, awaiting at said remote supervision location for acknowledgment of the performance of said first action at said third active location, repeating said first-action prompting step and said awaiting step if no acknowledgment is received at said remote supervision location within an agreed upon response time until an acknowledgment is received at said remote supervision location, receiving acknowledgment from said third active location through said communication system of the performance of said first action, and selectively prompting a second action to be performed at said third active location through said communication system after receipt of acknowledgment that said first action is completed at said third active location. 7. The method of claim 6 wherein said steps to be performed at said one and other active locations are performed independently of said steps to be performed at said third active location. 8. The method of claim 7 wherein said steps performed at said one and other active locations are performed during the same time period as the steps to be performed at said third active location. 9. The method of claim 6 further comprising the steps of selectively prompting a first action at a fourth of said spaced apart active locations through use of said communication system, awaiting at said remote supervision location for acknowledgment of the performance of said first action at said fourth active location, repeating said first-action prompting step and said awaiting step if no acknowledgment is received at said remote supervision location within an agreed upon response time until an acknowledgment is received at said remote supervision location, receiving acknowledgment from said fourth active location through said communication system of the performance of said first action, and selectively prompting a second action to be performed at said fourth active location through said communication system after receipt of acknowledgment that said first action is completed at said fourth active location. 10. The method of claim 9 wherein said steps to be performed at said one, other and third active locations are performed independently of said steps to be performed at said fourth active location. 11. The method of claim 10 wherein said steps performed at said one, other and third active locations are performed during the same time period as the steps to be performed at said fourth active location. 12. The method of claim 11 wherein a plurality of processes simultaneously being performed at a plurality of spaced apart locations may be monitored and supervised by a single person from said remote supervision location on a single monitor and performed by one or more persons at each of the plurality of spaced apart locations during the same time frame. 13. The method of claim 1 wherein prompts for each of said first-action prompting steps and each said second-action prompting steps are to be chosen from the group of prompts consisting of audio prompts, visual prompts, physical sensory prompts, and combinations thereof. 14. The method of claim 13 wherein the manner of providing said prompts is capable of indicating different severities of prompting. 15. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of physically visiting said active location if multiple prompting is not acknowledged. 16. The method of claim 1 wherein said acknowledgment includes a communication chosen from the group consisting of acknowledgments that the action was performed, acknowledgments of receipt of the prompt but needing help, acknowledgment of needing a physical visit, or a combination of the same. 17. The method of claim 1 wherein said communication system comprises at least one video camera, video monitor, audio speaker, audio microphone, and light system installed in each of said active locations, and a video camera, a video monitor, an audio speaker, an audio microphone located at said remote supervision location, said video cameras, video monitors, audio speakers, audio microphones, and light system being operatively interconnected through an information exchanging means for simultaneous communication of video pictures, audio messages, audio signals, and visual signals between said remote supervision location and said active locations and for operation of said remote video cameras and visual signals and combinations thereof, said information exchanging means including computing means for communicating prompts of actions, acknowledgements of completion of actions, recording data, assembling data, displaying data and reporting data in a variety of formats, whereby multiple actions to be performed in multiple spaced apart active locations may be monitored and supervised from a single remote supervision location. 18. The method of claim 17 further comprising a pager worn by one or more persons at said spaced apart active locations being monitored and supervised from said remote supervision location; said pager being wirelessly operatively interconnected to said information exchanging means, whereby said prompts and acknowledgements may be performed through said pager. 19. The method of claim 17 wherein both said video monitors and the lights in the rooms of said active location may be utilized to display visual signals and prompts. 20. The method of claim 17 wherein said video monitors include touch screens operatively connected to said information exchange means, said touch screens collecting, organizing and accessing information contained in said information exchanging means, and providing communication between said video monitors. 21. A communication system for enabling interactive communication between one or more spaced apart active locations having one or more rooms therein and a single remote supervision location, comprising at least one video camera, video monitor, audio speaker, and audio microphone, and light flasher installed in each of said active locations, and a video camera, a video monitor, an audio speaker, and an audio microphone located at said remote supervision location, each of said video cameras , video monitors , audio speakers, audio microphones located at both of said locations being operatively interconnected through an information exchanging means for selective simultaneous communication of video pictures, audio messages, audio signals, and visual signals between said remote supervision location and said spaced apart active locations, and for selective operation of said video cameras, visual signals, audio speakers, audio signals, and selective combinations thereof, said information exchanging means including computing means for communicating prompts of actions, acknowledgements of completion of actions, recording data, assembling data, displaying data and reporting data in a variety of formats, whereby multiple actions to be performed in multiple spaced apart active locations may be monitored and supervised from a the single remote supervision location. 22. The communication system of claim 21 further comprising a pager worn by one or more persons being monitored and supervised from said remote supervision location, said pager being wirelessly operatively interconnected to said information exchanging means, whereby each of said prompts and acknowledgements may be performed through said pager. 23. The communication system of claim 21, further including a light in at least one of said rooms of said one or more spaced apart active locations, wherein both said video monitors and lights in said rooms of said active locations said light may be utilized to provide visual signals and prompts . 24. The communication system of claim 21 wherein said video monitors include touch screens operatively interconnected to said information exchange means, said touch screens collecting, organizing and accessing information contained in said information exchanging means, and providing interactive communication between said video monitors at said remote supervision location and at said active locations. 25. The communication system of claim 21 further comprising means for shutting down said communication system during non-intervention hours, said means having a panic button thereon, said panic button signaling said remote supervision location and activating of the communication system. 26. The communication system of claim 21 further comprising smoke and or carbon monoxide detectors interconnected to said information exchange means, said smoke and or carbon monoxide detectors signaling said remote supervision location when activated. 27. The communication system of claim 25 wherein said smoke and or carbon monoxide detectors also signal emergency communication system of the local fire department and or police department. 28. The method of claim 17 wherein said video cameras are moveable to scan the room in which is located. 29. The method of claim 17 further comprising at least one detection mechanism and a detection mechanism receiver operably interconnected through said information exchanging means, said detection mechanism being chosen from the group of detection mechanisms consisting of smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, motion detectors, intrusion detectors, door break sensors, window break sensors, and combinations thereof. 30. The method communication system of claim 21 wherein said video cameras are is moveable to scan the room in which the video camera is located. 31. The method communication system of claim 21 further comprising at least one detection mechanism and a detection mechanism receiver operatively interconnected through said information exchanging means, said detection mechanism being chosen from the group of detection mechanisms consisting of smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, motion detectors, intrusion detectors, door break sensors, window break sensors, and combinations thereof . 32. The communication system of claim 21 further comprising: at least one light flasher installed in at least one active location. 33. The communication system of claim 21 further comprising: a video camera located at said remote supervision location. 34. A communication system for enabling interactive communication between one or more spaced apart active locations and a remote supervision location, comprising: at least one video camera, audio speaker, and audio microphone installed in said one or more active locations, and a video monitor, an audio speaker, and an audio microphone located at said remote supervision location, said video camera, video monitor, audio speakers, and audio microphones located at said locations being operatively interconnected for selective simultaneous communication of video pictures, audio messages, audio signals, and visual signals between said remote supervision location and said one or more spaced apart active locations, and for selective operation of said video cameras, visual signals, audio speakers, audio signals, and selective combinations thereof, means for sequentially communicating prompts of actions to said one or more active locations and for confirming completion of the actions at the remote supervision location, whereby multiple actions to be performed in the one or more spaced apart active locations may be monitored and supervised from the remote supervision location. 35. A method for interactive communication between one or more spaced apart active locations and a remote supervision location comprising the steps of providing a communication system between said remote supervision location and each of said active locations, said communication system comprising an audio system and a visual system, said communication system selectively providing communication between each of said active locations and said remote supervision location, selectively prompting a first action at one of said spaced apart active locations through use of said communication system, awaiting at said remote supervision location for confirmation of the performance of said first action at said one active location, repeating said first-action prompting step and said awaiting step if no confirmation is received at said remote supervision location until confirmation is received at said remote supervision location, receiving confirmation from said one active location through said communication system of the performance of said first action, and selectively prompting a second action to be performed at said one active location through said communication system after receipt of confirmation that said first action is completed, whereby multiple actions to be performed at multiple spaced apart active locations may be monitored and supervised from a remote supervision location. 36. The system according to claim 34, wherein the means for sequentially communicating prompts of actions comprises a computer with software for use in prompting the actions. 37. The system according to claim 34, wherein the means for sequentially communicating prompts of actions comprises a computer with software for sequencing a routine of actions to be performed for at least one active location. 38. The system according to claim 34, further including means for exchanging information associated with the means for sequentially communicating prompts of actions to the active locations and for confirming completion of the actions at the remote supervision location. 39. The communication system of claim 21 further comprising: at least one video monitor installed in at least one active location.