US9525753B2: Integration Of Devices Through A Social Networking Platform

In plain language

Integrated Healthcare System with Predictive Analytics and Risk Management through Social Networking

Witness a healthcare revolution with the integration of predictive analytics Engine and NFC channels, fostering device cooperation in a socially aware network

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What the drawings show

The features of the disclosed embodiments may become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing illustrative embodiments herein, in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary ecosystem of participants interconnected over a socially aware network through a social networking platform, in an embodiment of an embodiment herein.
FIG. 2 illustrates a social networking server for implementing a social networking platform in accordance with an embodiment herein;
FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of social profiles of devices and non-device participants in an embodiment herein;
FIG. 4 illustrates a social networking server among other things in an embodiment herein;
FIG. 5 illustrates a multi-profile architecture for creating device specific multiple social profiles in accordance with an embodiment herein;
FIG. 6 illustrates a communication network for exchange of social content between devices in accordance with an embodiment herein;
FIG. 7 illustrates an implantable medical device (IMD) fitted inside a body of a patient and communicatively coupled to a server for social networking service in accordance with an embodiment herein;
FIG. 8 illustrates a method flowchart for integration of a plurality of participants in an embodiment herein;
FIG. 9 illustrates a method flowchart for integration of a plurality of participants in an embodiment of an embodiment herein.
FIG. 10 illustrates an ecosystem for facilitating sequential, synchronous and automatically coordinated operation of the plurality of devices through interactive elements involving a chain of tasks and devices, in an embodiment herein;
FIG. 11 illustrates an example of a device interconnected with a social networking platform in an embodiment herein;
FIG. 12 illustrates a list of exemplary social activities that a server may be programmed to allow a plurality of devices to perform in accordance with an embodiment herein;
FIG. 13 illustrates an example of a social map showing interconnection of exemplary devices through the social map in accordance with an embodiment herein;
FIG. 14 illustrates a method flowchart for facilitating sequential, synchronous and automatically coordinated operation of a plurality of devices through interactive elements involving a chain of tasks and the devices in accordance with an embodiment herein;
FIG. 15 illustrates interconnection of tasks and devices and their interaction with a social networking server, in an embodiment herein;
FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary social profile depicting social health profile and social specification profile of an exemplary infusion pump in accordance with an embodiment herein;
FIG. 17 illustrates another embodiment of an ecosystem of devices and respective tasks and social profiles interconnected through a social platform implemented by a social networking server for the purpose of health management of the devices, in an embodiment herein;
FIG. 18 illustrates the ecosystem of FIG. 17 with alternative devices interconnected and bypassing faulty devices, in an embodiment herein;
FIG. 19 illustrates a method flowchart for health management of a device interconnected with a plurality of devices through a social networking server in accordance with an embodiment herein;
FIG. 20 illustrates an interconnection of the devices through a chain of tasks and devices in an embodiment herein;
FIG. 21 illustrates a system coupled communicatively to or included in a device for allowing the device to communicate with a social networking server in accordance with an embodiment herein;
FIG. 22 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary hardware environment for practicing the embodiments depicted in FIGS. 1-21 .

Abstract

A system and method for providing a social networking service to a plurality of devices. A social networking server for facilitating social information exchange among the plurality of devices through a socially aware network. A social profiles manager is coupled to the social networking server that creates and manages individual centric profiles of the plurality of devices. The individual centric profiles of the plurality of devices are social representation of individual devices within the socially aware network. The plurality of devices are identifiable by other participants and the social networking server through their social profiles.

The problem it addresses

Technical Field

The embodiments herein generally relate to management and interconnection of devices and in particular to facilitating interconnection and interaction among a plurality of devices through a social networking platform.

Description of the Related Art

Devices interaction and automation is needed in several environments such as medical environment, manufacturing environment, avionics and the like. There are existing systems and procedures for automating and interconnecting the devices. However, still there is a requirement to develop improved systems and methods for the interconnection and automation of devices.

Summary of the invention

An embodiment herein provides a system for providing a social networking service to a plurality of participants and allowing the participants to perform a series of social tasks in a socially aware network. The system includes a social networking server that facilitates social information exchange among the participants through the socially aware network. The plurality of participants includes device participants and non-device participants. The system further includes a social profiles manager included in or coupled to the social networking server. The social profiles manager creates and manages individual centric profiles of devices that are a social representation of individual devices within the socially aware network. The devices are identifiable by other participants and the social networking server through social profiles associated with the devices. The social profiles includes social device profiles and social human profiles associated with device participants and non-device participants respectively such that the social human profiles are associated with one or more device profiles, and wherein the social human profiles are represented as a subset of corresponding device profiles. The system further includes a social device manager included in or coupled to the social networking server. The social device manager manages device relationships and social activity in the socially aware network. The system further includes a social networking application comprising a cluster of social applications each for providing a specific social facility to facilitate social activity among the plurality of participants through the socially aware network.

An embodiment herein provides a method for integration of a plurality of participants comprising a plurality of devices and non-devices through a social networking platform. The method includes creating a device centric social profile for each of the plurality of devices. The social profile is a social representation of a respective device within a socially aware network and each device is identifiable by other devices and a social networking server through a social profile of the each device. The method further includes allowing exchange of social content among the devices by the social networking server for the devices to perform a series of social tasks. The social content is exchanged through a first communication channel and a second communication channel. The first communication channel links a device with an external controller and the second communication channel links the external controller with a socially aware network. The series of social tasks includes one or more of voluntarily joining the socially aware network, disassociating or leaving from the socially aware network, extending interconnection with other like-minded devices, sending invitations for connections to other devices, accepting or rejecting invitations from other devices, viewing profiles of other devices, exchanging social activity information, establishing social signatures for social authorization of profiles, creating devices social groups, joining devices groups, and leaving devices groups voluntarily or upon initiation of an activity by a participant. The method further includes maintaining profiles relationships among the devices within the socially aware network.

An embodiment herein provides a method for integration of a plurality of participants comprising a plurality of devices and non-devices through a social networking platform. The method includes creating a device centric social profile for each of the plurality of devices. The social profile is a social representation of a respective device within a socially aware network and the device is identifiable by other devices and a social networking server through the social profile. The method further includes sending a connection invitation by a first device to a second device through a multi-communication channel including a first near field communication (NFC) channel and the socially aware network. The sending of the connection invitation includes sending the connection invitation from the first device to the external controller associated with the first device through the first NFC channel. The sending of the connection invitation further includes transferring the connection invitation from the external controller to a network point of the socially aware network. The sending of the connection invitation further includes transferring the connection invitation from the network point through the socially aware network to the device. The method further includes accepting or rejecting the connection invitation by the second device upon receipt. The method further includes maintaining a profiles relationship of the first device and the second device based on acceptance or rejection of the connection invitation by the second device. The method further includes allowing an exchange of social content through a social activity between the first device and the second device based on the maintained profile relationships. The social activity comprises a series of social tasks including one or more of devices to voluntarily join the socially aware network, disassociate or leave from the socially aware network, extend interconnection with other like-minded devices, send invitations for connections to other devices, accept or reject invitations from other devices, view profiles of other devices, exchange social activity information, establish social signatures for social authorization of profiles, create devices social groups, join devices groups, and leave devices groups voluntarily or upon initiation of an activity by a participant.

The full summary

An embodiment herein provides a non-transitory program storage device readable by a computer, and comprising a program of instructions executable by the computer to perform a method for integration of a plurality of participants including a plurality of devices and non-devices through a social networking platform. The method includes creating a device centric social profile for each of the plurality of devices. The social profile is a social representation of a respective device within a socially aware network and each device is identifiable by other devices and a social networking server through a social profile of the each device. The method further includes allowing exchange of social content among the devices by the social networking server for the devices to perform a series of social tasks. The social content is exchanged through a first communication channel and a second communication channel. The first communication channel links a device with an external controller and the second communication channel links the external controller with a socially aware network. The series of social tasks includes one or more of voluntarily joining the socially aware network, disassociating or leaving from the socially aware network, extending interconnection with other like-minded devices, sending invitations for connections to other devices, accepting or rejecting invitations from other devices, viewing profiles of other devices, exchanging social activity information, establishing social signatures for social authorization of profiles, creating devices social groups, joining devices groups, and leaving devices groups voluntarily or upon initiation of an activity by a participant. The method further includes maintaining profiles relationships among the devices within the socially aware network.

An embodiment herein provides a system for facilitating sequential, synchronous, and automatically coordinated operation of a plurality of devices through interactive elements involving a chain of tasks and devices. The system includes a social networking server that provides a social networking service to the plurality of devices so that each of the plurality of devices are communicatively connected to the social networking service by associating respective social profiles with the social networking server. The respective social profiles are social representation of the plurality of devices, wherein the social networking server is programmed to allow the plurality of devices to coordinate for a synchronous social times-based functioning by a process. The process includes associating connection type social device relationships between a first device and a second device of the plurality of devices. The connection type social device relationships allow the first device and the second device to view a social profile of one another through a device user interface enabled by the social networking server. The process further includes receiving social content from the first device, wherein the social content is indicative of a social action performed by the first device and an instruction to the second device to perform an action in association with action timelines, and wherein the action timelines are indicative of time points associated with the action and define time when actual action occurs at the plurality of devices. The process further includes notifying the second device of the social content received from the first device. The social content includes the instruction to the second device to perform the action in association with the action timelines.

An embodiment herein provides a method for facilitating sequential, synchronous, and automatically coordinated operation of a plurality of devices through interactive elements involving a chain of tasks and devices. The method includes providing a social networking service by a social networking server to the plurality of devices so that each of the plurality of devices are communicatively connected to the social networking service by associating respective social profiles with the social networking server, wherein the respective social profiles are a social representation of the plurality of devices, and wherein the social networking server is programmed to allow the plurality of devices to coordinate for a synchronous social times-based functioning. The method further includes associating connection type social device relationships between a first device and a second device of the plurality of devices. The connection type social device relationships allow the first device and the second device to view a social profile of one another through a device user interface enabled by the social networking server. The method includes receiving social content from the first device. The social content is indicative of a social action performed by the first device and an instruction to the second device to perform an action in association with action timelines. The action timelines are indicative of time points associated with the action and define time when actual action should occur at the plurality of devices. The method further includes notifying the second device of the social content received from the first device, wherein the social content includes the instruction to the second device to perform the action in association with the action timelines.

An embodiment herein provides a system for health management of a plurality of devices interconnected through a social networking platform. The system includes a social networking server that provides a social networking-based health service to the plurality of devices and allows the plurality of devices to perform a series of social health tasks by exchange of social content in a socially aware network. The social networking server is programmed to create and manage individual centric profiles of the plurality of devices that are a social representation of individual devices within the socially aware network. The individual devices are identifiable by other devices and the social networking server through social profiles of the individual devices. The social profiles of each of the individual devices include a health profile indicative of health disciplines corresponding to each device and a specification profile including details corresponding to predefined working parameters of the each device. The social networking server is further programmed to associate device social relationships in the socially aware network. The social networking server is programmed to receive updates pertaining to a health profile and a specification profile of a device through a social activity involving social content exchange between a first device and the social networking server. The social networking server is further programmed to associate a relationship between the specification profile of the device and its health profile, wherein a mismatch between one or more parameters of the health profile and the specification profile represents a fault in the device. The social networking server is further programmed to identify a connection device to alternatively perform a function of a faulty device such that the connection device is in an idle state for a time period during which the connection device is required to alternatively perform the function.

An embodiment herein provides a method for health management of a device interconnected with a plurality of devices through a social networking platform. The method includes creating and managing individual centric profiles of the plurality of devices that comprise a social representation of individual devices within a socially aware network. The individual devices are identifiable by other devices and a social networking server through a social profile of each individual device. The social profile of each individual device includes a health profile indicative of health disciplines corresponding to a device and a specification profile including details corresponding to predefined working parameters of the device. The method further includes associating device social relationships in the socially aware network. The method further includes receiving updates pertaining to a health profile and a specification profile of a device through a social activity involving social content exchange between the first device and the server. The method further includes associating a relationship between the specification profile of the device and its health profile. A mismatch between one or more parameters of the health profile and the specification profile represents a fault in the device. The method includes identifying a connection device to alternatively perform a function of a faulty device such that the connection device is in an idle state for a time period during which the connection device is required to alternatively perform the function.

An embodiment herein provides a system for monitoring and conveying health related information from a first device to a second device interconnected through a socially aware network. The system includes a processing circuit coupled to the first device. The system includes a social event timeline recorder that stores information pertinent to when an event should occur at the first device, wherein the event should occur at a defined social time. The system includes a social event timeline monitoring unit that monitors an event occurrence time for the event. The system includes a fault detector that compares the social event timeline with the event occurrence time for the event, wherein a gap between the social event timeline and the event occurrence time beyond a threshold limit is indicative of a fault. The event at the first device and the event at the second device are interdependent. The system includes a communication circuit that allows sharing of a social content, indicative of the fault and a predicted modified event occurrence time at the first device, to a social networking server through a two-way communication channel including a near field communication channel and a socially aware network channel. The social networking server sends the social content to the second device. The first device and the second device include connections and parts of a same chain of integrated tasks.

An embodiment herein provides a method for monitoring and conveying health related information from a first device to a second device interconnected through a socially aware network. The method includes storing information related to defined social event timelines for tasks associated with the first device, wherein the defined social event timelines define times when an event should occur at the first device. The method includes monitoring a social event occurrence time by a social event timeline monitoring unit. The method includes detecting a fault in functioning of the first device by comparing the social event timeline with an event occurrence time for the event. A gap between the social event timeline and the event occurrence time beyond a threshold limit is indicative of the fault. The event at the first device and the event at the second device are interdependent. The method further includes sharing a social content, indicative of the fault and a predicted modified event occurrence time at the first device, to a social networking platform through a two-way communication channel including a near field communication channel and a socially aware network channel. The social networking platform sends the social content to the second device. The first device and the second device comprise connections and parts of a same chain of integrated tasks.

Independent claims

Claim 1

An integrated healthcare system for providing a social networking service to a plurality of participants and allowing said participants to perform a series of social tasks in a socially aware network, said system comprising: a social networking server that facilitates social information exchange among said participants through said socially aware network, said plurality of participants comprising medical devices and non-device participants; a social profiles manager included in or coupled to said social networking server, wherein said social profiles manager creates and manages individual centric profiles of said medical devices that are a social representation of individual said medical devices within said socially aware network, wherein said medical devices are identifiable by other participants and said social networking server through social profiles associated with said medical devices, the social profiles comprising social device profiles and social human profiles associated with said medical devices and non-device participants respectively such that said social human profiles are associated with one or more device profiles, and wherein said social human profiles are represented as a subset of corresponding device profiles; a social device manager included in or coupled to said social networking server, wherein said social device manager manages device relationships and social activity in said socially aware network; a social networking application comprising a cluster of social applications each for providing a specific social facility to facilitate social activity among said plurality of participants through said socially aware network, said social networking application comprising: a web-sharing facility that allows information exchange among said participants; a social profiles facility that allows said participants to create respective social profiles; a social groups facility that creates a social group dedicated for said participants and exhibiting a defined behavior or belonging to a defined class; a prediction analytics engine that: determines a predicted future behavior of a non-device participant based on historical social data about said non-device participant; and generates information about what a medical device corresponding to said non-device participant can do in future, based on said predicted future behavior; an information security facility that encrypts and decrypts said social content during exchange among said participants; and a risk manager that: retrieves social profile information corresponding to said medical devices; predicts an individual risk pattern for each of said plurality of medical devices indicative of how safe and reliable it is for a new device to join said social group for social information exchange; calculates an aggregate risk based on said individual risk pattern of each of said medical devices; provides risk documentations based on said individual and aggregate risks in said social profiles of said medical devices; and updates said risk documentations based on networking and interconnection of said medical devices with another group of medical devices having different risks; wherein a connection with the new device is accepted or rejected based on said risk documentations.

Claim 20

A method for integration of a plurality of participants comprising a plurality of devices and non-devices through a social networking platform, said method comprising: creating a device centric social profile for each of said plurality of devices, wherein said social profile comprises a social representation of a respective device within a socially aware network and each device is identifiable by other devices and a social networking server through a social profile of said each device; allowing exchange of social content among the devices by said social networking server for said devices to perform a series of social tasks, wherein social content is exchanged through a first communication channel and a second communication channel, the first communication channel linking a device with an external controller and the second communication channel linking said external controller with a socially aware network, wherein said series of social tasks comprise one or more of voluntarily joining said socially aware network, disassociating or leaving from said socially aware network, extending interconnection with other like-minded devices, sending invitations for connections to other devices, accepting or rejecting invitations from other devices, viewing profiles of other devices, exchanging social activity information, establishing social signatures for social authorization of profiles, creating devices social groups, joining devices groups, and leaving devices groups voluntarily or upon initiation of an activity by a participant; maintaining profiles relationships among said devices within said socially aware network allowing information exchange among said participants; allowing said participants to create respective social profiles; creating a social group dedicated for said participants and exhibiting a defined behavior or belonging to a defined class; determining a predicted future behavior of a non-device participant based on historical social data about said non-device participant; generating information about what a device corresponding to said non-device participant can do in future, based on said predicted future behavior; encrypting and decrypting said social content during exchange among said participants; retrieving social profile information corresponding to said devices; predicting an individual risk pattern for each of said plurality of devices indicative of how safe and reliable it is for a new device to join said social group for social information exchange; calculating an aggregate risk based on said individual risk pattern of each of said devices; providing risk documentations based on said individual and aggregate risks in said social profiles of said devices; updating said risk documentations based on networking and interconnection of said devices with another group of devices having different risks; and accepting or rejecting a connection with one or more of the plurality of devices based on said risk documentations.

Claim 22

A method for integration of a plurality of participants comprising a plurality of devices and non-devices through a social networking platform, said method comprising: creating a device centric social profile for each of said plurality of devices, wherein said social profile comprises a social representation of a respective device within a socially aware network and the device is identifiable by other devices and a social networking server through said social profile; allowing information exchange among said participants; allowing said participants to create respective social profiles; creating a social group dedicated for said participants and exhibiting a defined behavior or belonging to a defined class; determining a predicted future behavior of a non-device participant based on historical social data about said non-device participant; generating information about what a device corresponding to said non-device participant can do in future, based on said predicted future behavior; encrypting and decrypting said social content during exchange among said participants; retrieving social profile information corresponding to said devices; predicting an individual risk pattern for each of said plurality of devices indicative of how safe and reliable it is for a new device to join said social group for social information exchange; calculating an aggregate risk based on said individual risk pattern of each of said devices; providing risk documentations based on said individual and aggregate risks in said social profiles of said devices; updating said risk documentations based on networking and interconnection of said devices with another group of devices having different risks; sending a connection invitation by a first device to a second device through a multi-communication channel including a first near field communication (NFC) channel and said socially aware network, wherein the sending of the connection invitation comprises: sending said connection invitation from said first device to said external controller associated with said first device through said first NFC channel; transferring said connection invitation from said external controller to a network point of said socially aware network; and transferring said connection invitation from said network point through said socially aware network to said device; accepting or rejecting said connection invitation by said second device upon receipt based on the risk documentations; maintaining a profiles relationship of said first device and said second device based on acceptance or rejection of said connection invitation by said second device; and allowing an exchange of social content through a social activity between said first device and said second device based on the maintained profile relationships, wherein said social activity comprises a series of social tasks comprising one or more of devices to voluntarily join said socially aware network, disassociate or leave from said socially aware network, extend interconnection with other like-minded devices, send invitations for connections to other devices, accept or reject invitations from other devices, view profiles of other devices, exchange social activity information, establish social signatures for social authorization of profiles, create devices social groups, join devices groups, and leave devices groups voluntarily or upon initiation of an activity by a participant.

Claim 23

A non-transitory program storage device readable by a computer, and comprising a program of instructions executable by said computer to perform a method for integration of a plurality of participants including a plurality of devices and non-devices through a social networking platform, said method comprising: creating a device centric social profile for each of said plurality of devices, wherein the profile comprises a social representation of a respective device within a socially aware network and the device is identifiable by other devices and a social networking server through said social profile of said device; allowing exchange of social content among said plurality of devices by said social networking server for said plurality of devices to perform a series of social tasks, wherein said social content is exchanged through a first communication channel and a second communication channel, the first communication channel linking a device with an external controller and the second communication channel linking said external controller with a socially aware network, wherein said series of social tasks comprise one or more of voluntarily joining said socially aware network, disassociating or leaving from said socially aware network, extending interconnection with other like-minded devices, sending invitations for connections to other devices, accepting or rejecting invitations from other devices, viewing profiles of other devices, exchanging social activity information, establishing social signatures for social authorization of profiles, creating devices social groups, joining devices groups, and leaving devices groups voluntarily or upon initiation of an activity by a participant; maintaining profiles relationships among said plurality of devices within said socially aware network; allowing information exchange among said participants; allowing said participants to create respective social profiles; creating a social group dedicated for said participants and exhibiting a defined behavior or belonging to a defined class; determining a predicted future behavior of a non-device participant based on historical social data about said non-device participant; generating information about what a device corresponding to said non-device participant can do in future, based on said predicted future behavior; encrypting and decrypting said social content during exchange among said participants; retrieving social profile information corresponding to said devices; predicting an individual risk pattern for each of said plurality of devices indicative of how safe and reliable it is for a new device to join said social group for social information exchange; calculating an aggregate risk based on said individual risk pattern of each of said devices; providing risk documentations based on said individual and aggregate risks in said social profiles of said devices; updating said risk documentations based on networking and interconnection of said devices with another group of devices having different risks; and accepting or rejecting a connection with one or more of the plurality of devices based on said risk documentations.

Claim 24

An integrated computer network system for facilitating sequential, synchronous, and automatically coordinated operation of a plurality of devices through interactive elements involving a chain of tasks and devices, said system comprising: a social networking server that provides a social networking service to said plurality of devices so that each of said plurality of devices are operatively connected to said social networking service by associating respective social profiles with said social networking server, the respective social profiles being social representation of said plurality of devices, wherein said social networking server is programmed to allow said plurality of devices to coordinate for a synchronous social times-based functioning by a process comprising: associating connection type social device relationships between a first device and a second device of said plurality of devices, wherein said connection type social device relationships allow said first device and said second device to view a social profile of one another through a device user interface enabled by said social networking server, receiving social content from said first device, wherein said social content being indicative of a social action performed by said first device and an instruction to said second device to perform an action in association with action timelines, and wherein said action timelines are indicative of time points associated with said action and define time when actual action occurs at said plurality of devices; and notifying said second device of said social content received from said first device, wherein said social content comprising said instruction to said second device to perform said action in association with said action timelines; allowing information exchange among said participants; allowing said participants to create respective social profiles; creating a social group dedicated for said participants and exhibiting a defined behavior or belonging to a defined class; determining a predicted future behavior of a non-device participant based on historical social data about said non-device participant; generating information about what a device corresponding to said non-device participant can do in future, based on said predicted future behavior; encrypting and decrypting said social content during exchange among said participants; retrieving social profile information corresponding to said devices; predicting an individual risk pattern for each of said plurality of devices indicative of how safe and reliable it is for a new device to join said social group for social information exchange; calculating an aggregate risk based on said individual risk pattern of each of said devices; providing risk documentations based on said individual and aggregate risks in said social profiles of said devices; updating said risk documentations based on networking and interconnection of said devices with another group of devices having different risks; and accepting or rejecting a connection with one or more of the plurality of devices based on said risk documentations.

Claim 25

A method for facilitating sequential, synchronous, and automatically coordinated operation of a plurality of devices through interactive elements involving a chain of tasks and devices, said method comprising: providing a social networking service by a social networking server to said plurality of devices so that each of said plurality of devices are operatively connected to said social networking service by associating respective social profiles with said social networking server, wherein said respective social profiles comprise a social representation of said plurality of devices, and wherein said social networking server is programmed to allow said plurality of devices to coordinate for a synchronous social times-based functioning; associating connection type social device relationships between a first device and a second device of said plurality of devices, wherein said connection type social device relationships allow said first device and said second device to view a social profile of one another through a device user interface enabled by said social networking server; receiving social content from said first device, wherein said social content is indicative of a social action performed by said first device and an instruction to said second device to perform an action in association with action timelines, and wherein said action timelines are indicative of time points associated with said action and define time when actual action should occur at said plurality of devices; notifying said second device of said social content received from said first device, wherein said social content comprising said instruction to said second device to perform said action in association with said action timelines; allowing information exchange among said participants; allowing said participants to create respective social profiles; creating a social group dedicated for said participants and exhibiting a defined behavior or belonging to a defined class; determining a predicted future behavior of a non-device participant based on historical social data about said non-device participant; generating information about what a device corresponding to said non-device participant can do in future, based on said predicted future behavior; encrypting and decrypting said social content during exchange among said participants; retrieving social profile information corresponding to said devices; predicting an individual risk pattern for each of said plurality of devices indicative of how safe and reliable it is for a new device to join said social group for social information exchange; calculating an aggregate risk based on said individual risk pattern of each of said devices; providing risk documentations based on said individual and aggregate risks in said social profiles of said devices; updating said risk documentations based on networking and interconnection of said devices with another group of devices having different risks; and accepting or rejecting a connection with one or more of the plurality of devices based on said risk documentations.

All 25 claims

An integrated healthcare system for providing a social networking service to a plurality of participants and allowing said participants to perform a series of social tasks in a socially aware network, said system comprising: a social networking server that facilitates social information exchange among said participants through said socially aware network, said plurality of participants comprising medical devices and non-device participants; a social profiles manager included in or coupled to said social networking server, wherein said social profiles manager creates and manages individual centric profiles of said medical devices that are a social representation of individual said medical devices within said socially aware network, wherein said medical devices are identifiable by other participants and said social networking server through social profiles associated with said medical devices, the social profiles comprising social device profiles and social human profiles associated with said medical devices and non-device participants respectively such that said social human profiles are associated with one or more device profiles, and wherein said social human profiles are represented as a subset of corresponding device profiles; a social device manager included in or coupled to said social networking server, wherein said social device manager manages device relationships and social activity in said socially aware network; a social networking application comprising a cluster of social applications each for providing a specific social facility to facilitate social activity among said plurality of participants through said socially aware network, said social networking application comprising: a web-sharing facility that allows information exchange among said participants; a social profiles facility that allows said participants to create respective social profiles; a social groups facility that creates a social group dedicated for said participants and exhibiting a defined behavior or belonging to a defined class; a prediction analytics engine that: determines a predicted future behavior of a non-device participant based on historical social data about said non-device participant; and generates information about what a medical device corresponding to said non-device participant can do in future, based on said predicted future behavior; an information security facility that encrypts and decrypts said social content during exchange among said participants; and a risk manager that: retrieves social profile information corresponding to said medical devices; predicts an individual risk pattern for each of said plurality of medical devices indicative of how safe and reliable it is for a new device to join said social group for social information exchange; calculates an aggregate risk based on said individual risk pattern of each of said medical devices; provides risk documentations based on said individual and aggregate risks in said social profiles of said medical devices; and updates said risk documentations based on networking and interconnection of said medical devices with another group of medical devices having different risks; wherein a connection with the new device is accepted or rejected based on said risk documentations.
The system of claim 1 , wherein each of said medical devices are operatively connected with an external controller through a near field communication (NFC) channel so that a communication point of said NFC channel receives social content from said medical device and transfers said social content to said external controller, and wherein said external controller is communicatively coupled to said socially aware network.
The system of claim 2 , wherein a first device participant is independently incapable of performing computation tasks.
The system of claim 3 , wherein said first device participant is operatively connected with a second device participant that is incapable of performing computation tasks, a third device participant that is partially capable of performing computation tasks, a fourth smart device that is independently capable of performing computation tasks, and a non-device participant associated with one of the device participants, wherein said first device participant transfers said social content to said second device, said third device, the fourth device, and the non-device participant through said NFC channel and said socially aware network, wherein said socially aware network is automatically triggered upon receipt of said social content by the NFC point.
The system of claim 1 , wherein said medical devices are incapable of computation capabilities completely or partially.
The system of claim 1 , wherein said social tasks comprise one or more of devices that voluntarily join said socially aware network, disassociate or leave from said socially aware network, extend interconnection with other like-minded devices, send invitations for connections to other devices, accept or reject invitations from other devices, view profiles of other devices, exchange social activity information, establish social signatures for social authorization of profiles, create devices social groups, join devices groups, and leave devices groups voluntarily or non-voluntarily through an action of a participant.
The system of claim 1 , wherein said social device manager comprises: a relationship manager that associates a relationship of a device with other devices, wherein said relationship comprises at least one of an installation relationship, time relationship, operation relationship, location relationship, reliability-based relationship, network type-relationship, security-based relationship and human relationship; and a relationship information storage module that stores information pertaining to associated relationship among the devices.
The system of claim 1 , wherein said social networking application further comprises one or more of: a notification facility that facilitates receipt and sending of invitation notifications for extending a social space of a participant; a recommendation facility that shares recommendations for a device based on noticed past behavior of a device by a connection device; and a messaging facility that shares social content from a participant to another connection participant.
The system of claim 1 , wherein said social profiles manager comprises: a participants profiles storage module that stores profiles of said plurality of participants, wherein said profiles comprise a device profile and a human profile associated with said device profile, and wherein said device profile comprises a manufacturing social profile, an installation social profile, an operation social profile, a schedules social profile, a location social profile, a reliability social profile, a network social profile, a security social profile, a time profile, a location profile, and a human profile; a profiles updating module that updates said profiles based on a change in one or more of manufacturing parameters of said devices, installation parameters of said devices, operation parameters of said devices, schedules or constraints of said devices, network parameters of said devices, reliability of said devices, security of said devices, time parameters of said devices, location of said devices, and associated non-device parameters of said devices; a profiles aggregator that aggregates information pertinent to a manufacturing social profile of said devices, an installation social profile, an operation social profile, security profile, network profile, security profile, location profile, associated non-device profile, time profile, and a schedules social profile information into a common social profile of said devices; and a profiles federation engine that federates said common social profile into a respective manufacturing social profile, installation social profile, operation social profile, security profile, network profile, security profile, location profile, associated non-device profile, time profile, and schedules social profile.
The system of claim 1 , wherein said socially aware network comprises a Wi-Fi or internet such that the network allows interconnection and automation among a plurality of remotely located participants, and between said plurality of remotely located participants and said social networking server.
The system of claim 1 , wherein each device is communicatively coupled to a sensing and monitoring apparatus, the sensing and monitoring apparatus being communicatively coupled to an external controller that communicates with a near field communication (NFC) point through a NFC channel.
The system of claim 11 , wherein an activity of social content exchange from said external controller to said NFC point triggers said socially aware network to socially share said social content to remotely located participants through said socially aware network.
The system of claim 11 , wherein an activity of social content exchange from a socially aware network point of said socially aware network to said external controller triggers a near field point of a near field network that socially shares said social content to a remotely located device associated with said external controller through said social networking server.
The system of claim 11 , wherein said NFC channel comprises a short range NFC communication network, and wherein a range of said short range communication network is substantially 100 meters to allow a device that is located within proximity of 100 meters from said external controller to communicate social content with said external controller.
The system of claim 14 , wherein the NFC network comprises a Bluetooth™ network.
The system of claim 11 , wherein said NFC channel comprises a short range NFC communication network, and wherein a range of said short range communication network is substantially 30 feet to allow a device that is located within proximity of 30 feet from said external controller to communicate social content with said external controller.
The system of claim 16 , wherein said NFC network is based on a radio frequency identification (RFID) system such that said device comprises a RFID tag that is readable by a reader communicatively coupled to or included within said external controller.
The system of claim 11 , wherein said NFC network comprises a Body Area Network.
The system of claim 11 , wherein said devices comprise NFC tags programmable by NFC applications.
A method for integration of a plurality of participants comprising a plurality of devices and non-devices through a social networking platform, said method comprising: creating a device centric social profile for each of said plurality of devices, wherein said social profile comprises a social representation of a respective device within a socially aware network and each device is identifiable by other devices and a social networking server through a social profile of said each device; allowing exchange of social content among the devices by said social networking server for said devices to perform a series of social tasks, wherein social content is exchanged through a first communication channel and a second communication channel, the first communication channel linking a device with an external controller and the second communication channel linking said external controller with a socially aware network, wherein said series of social tasks comprise one or more of voluntarily joining said socially aware network, disassociating or leaving from said socially aware network, extending interconnection with other like-minded devices, sending invitations for connections to other devices, accepting or rejecting invitations from other devices, viewing profiles of other devices, exchanging social activity information, establishing social signatures for social authorization of profiles, creating devices social groups, joining devices groups, and leaving devices groups voluntarily or upon initiation of an activity by a participant; maintaining profiles relationships among said devices within said socially aware network allowing information exchange among said participants; allowing said participants to create respective social profiles; creating a social group dedicated for said participants and exhibiting a defined behavior or belonging to a defined class; determining a predicted future behavior of a non-device participant based on historical social data about said non-device participant; generating information about what a device corresponding to said non-device participant can do in future, based on said predicted future behavior; encrypting and decrypting said social content during exchange among said participants; retrieving social profile information corresponding to said devices; predicting an individual risk pattern for each of said plurality of devices indicative of how safe and reliable it is for a new device to join said social group for social information exchange; calculating an aggregate risk based on said individual risk pattern of each of said devices; providing risk documentations based on said individual and aggregate risks in said social profiles of said devices; updating said risk documentations based on networking and interconnection of said devices with another group of devices having different risks; and accepting or rejecting a connection with one or more of the plurality of devices based on said risk documentations.
The method of claim 20 , further comprising facilitating a recommendation of a connection device by another device based on noticed past behavior of said connection device by said another device.
A method for integration of a plurality of participants comprising a plurality of devices and non-devices through a social networking platform, said method comprising: creating a device centric social profile for each of said plurality of devices, wherein said social profile comprises a social representation of a respective device within a socially aware network and the device is identifiable by other devices and a social networking server through said social profile; allowing information exchange among said participants; allowing said participants to create respective social profiles; creating a social group dedicated for said participants and exhibiting a defined behavior or belonging to a defined class; determining a predicted future behavior of a non-device participant based on historical social data about said non-device participant; generating information about what a device corresponding to said non-device participant can do in future, based on said predicted future behavior; encrypting and decrypting said social content during exchange among said participants; retrieving social profile information corresponding to said devices; predicting an individual risk pattern for each of said plurality of devices indicative of how safe and reliable it is for a new device to join said social group for social information exchange; calculating an aggregate risk based on said individual risk pattern of each of said devices; providing risk documentations based on said individual and aggregate risks in said social profiles of said devices; updating said risk documentations based on networking and interconnection of said devices with another group of devices having different risks; sending a connection invitation by a first device to a second device through a multi-communication channel including a first near field communication (NFC) channel and said socially aware network, wherein the sending of the connection invitation comprises: sending said connection invitation from said first device to said external controller associated with said first device through said first NFC channel; transferring said connection invitation from said external controller to a network point of said socially aware network; and transferring said connection invitation from said network point through said socially aware network to said device; accepting or rejecting said connection invitation by said second device upon receipt based on the risk documentations; maintaining a profiles relationship of said first device and said second device based on acceptance or rejection of said connection invitation by said second device; and allowing an exchange of social content through a social activity between said first device and said second device based on the maintained profile relationships, wherein said social activity comprises a series of social tasks comprising one or more of devices to voluntarily join said socially aware network, disassociate or leave from said socially aware network, extend interconnection with other like-minded devices, send invitations for connections to other devices, accept or reject invitations from other devices, view profiles of other devices, exchange social activity information, establish social signatures for social authorization of profiles, create devices social groups, join devices groups, and leave devices groups voluntarily or upon initiation of an activity by a participant.
A non-transitory program storage device readable by a computer, and comprising a program of instructions executable by said computer to perform a method for integration of a plurality of participants including a plurality of devices and non-devices through a social networking platform, said method comprising: creating a device centric social profile for each of said plurality of devices, wherein the profile comprises a social representation of a respective device within a socially aware network and the device is identifiable by other devices and a social networking server through said social profile of said device; allowing exchange of social content among said plurality of devices by said social networking server for said plurality of devices to perform a series of social tasks, wherein said social content is exchanged through a first communication channel and a second communication channel, the first communication channel linking a device with an external controller and the second communication channel linking said external controller with a socially aware network, wherein said series of social tasks comprise one or more of voluntarily joining said socially aware network, disassociating or leaving from said socially aware network, extending interconnection with other like-minded devices, sending invitations for connections to other devices, accepting or rejecting invitations from other devices, viewing profiles of other devices, exchanging social activity information, establishing social signatures for social authorization of profiles, creating devices social groups, joining devices groups, and leaving devices groups voluntarily or upon initiation of an activity by a participant; maintaining profiles relationships among said plurality of devices within said socially aware network; allowing information exchange among said participants; allowing said participants to create respective social profiles; creating a social group dedicated for said participants and exhibiting a defined behavior or belonging to a defined class; determining a predicted future behavior of a non-device participant based on historical social data about said non-device participant; generating information about what a device corresponding to said non-device participant can do in future, based on said predicted future behavior; encrypting and decrypting said social content during exchange among said participants; retrieving social profile information corresponding to said devices; predicting an individual risk pattern for each of said plurality of devices indicative of how safe and reliable it is for a new device to join said social group for social information exchange; calculating an aggregate risk based on said individual risk pattern of each of said devices; providing risk documentations based on said individual and aggregate risks in said social profiles of said devices; updating said risk documentations based on networking and interconnection of said devices with another group of devices having different risks; and accepting or rejecting a connection with one or more of the plurality of devices based on said risk documentations.
An integrated computer network system for facilitating sequential, synchronous, and automatically coordinated operation of a plurality of devices through interactive elements involving a chain of tasks and devices, said system comprising: a social networking server that provides a social networking service to said plurality of devices so that each of said plurality of devices are operatively connected to said social networking service by associating respective social profiles with said social networking server, the respective social profiles being social representation of said plurality of devices, wherein said social networking server is programmed to allow said plurality of devices to coordinate for a synchronous social times-based functioning by a process comprising: associating connection type social device relationships between a first device and a second device of said plurality of devices, wherein said connection type social device relationships allow said first device and said second device to view a social profile of one another through a device user interface enabled by said social networking server, receiving social content from said first device, wherein said social content being indicative of a social action performed by said first device and an instruction to said second device to perform an action in association with action timelines, and wherein said action timelines are indicative of time points associated with said action and define time when actual action occurs at said plurality of devices; and notifying said second device of said social content received from said first device, wherein said social content comprising said instruction to said second device to perform said action in association with said action timelines; allowing information exchange among said participants; allowing said participants to create respective social profiles; creating a social group dedicated for said participants and exhibiting a defined behavior or belonging to a defined class; determining a predicted future behavior of a non-device participant based on historical social data about said non-device participant; generating information about what a device corresponding to said non-device participant can do in future, based on said predicted future behavior; encrypting and decrypting said social content during exchange among said participants; retrieving social profile information corresponding to said devices; predicting an individual risk pattern for each of said plurality of devices indicative of how safe and reliable it is for a new device to join said social group for social information exchange; calculating an aggregate risk based on said individual risk pattern of each of said devices; providing risk documentations based on said individual and aggregate risks in said social profiles of said devices; updating said risk documentations based on networking and interconnection of said devices with another group of devices having different risks; and accepting or rejecting a connection with one or more of the plurality of devices based on said risk documentations.
A method for facilitating sequential, synchronous, and automatically coordinated operation of a plurality of devices through interactive elements involving a chain of tasks and devices, said method comprising: providing a social networking service by a social networking server to said plurality of devices so that each of said plurality of devices are operatively connected to said social networking service by associating respective social profiles with said social networking server, wherein said respective social profiles comprise a social representation of said plurality of devices, and wherein said social networking server is programmed to allow said plurality of devices to coordinate for a synchronous social times-based functioning; associating connection type social device relationships between a first device and a second device of said plurality of devices, wherein said connection type social device relationships allow said first device and said second device to view a social profile of one another through a device user interface enabled by said social networking server; receiving social content from said first device, wherein said social content is indicative of a social action performed by said first device and an instruction to said second device to perform an action in association with action timelines, and wherein said action timelines are indicative of time points associated with said action and define time when actual action should occur at said plurality of devices; notifying said second device of said social content received from said first device, wherein said social content comprising said instruction to said second device to perform said action in association with said action timelines; allowing information exchange among said participants; allowing said participants to create respective social profiles; creating a social group dedicated for said participants and exhibiting a defined behavior or belonging to a defined class; determining a predicted future behavior of a non-device participant based on historical social data about said non-device participant; generating information about what a device corresponding to said non-device participant can do in future, based on said predicted future behavior; encrypting and decrypting said social content during exchange among said participants; retrieving social profile information corresponding to said devices; predicting an individual risk pattern for each of said plurality of devices indicative of how safe and reliable it is for a new device to join said social group for social information exchange; calculating an aggregate risk based on said individual risk pattern of each of said devices; providing risk documentations based on said individual and aggregate risks in said social profiles of said devices; updating said risk documentations based on networking and interconnection of said devices with another group of devices having different risks; and accepting or rejecting a connection with one or more of the plurality of devices based on said risk documentations.

Related patents

Divided into US10320735B2 Integration Of Devices Through A Social Networking Platform

Every patent of the Integration Of Devices Through A Social Networking Platform family: US10320735B2, US11044221B2, US11777894B2, US12401615B2.

Explained in plain language and in context

Patent summaries

Integrated Healthcare System with Predictive Analytics and Risk Management through Social Networking
Witness a healthcare revolution with the integration of predictive analytics Engine and NFC channels, fostering device cooperation in a socially aware network

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Is US9525753B2 available for licensing?

Yes. Intellectual Frontiers offers US9525753B2, with the rest of the Integration Of Devices Through A Social Networking Platform family, for an exclusive or non-exclusive licence, field-of-use licences included. Terms are agreed on inquiry: write to hello+ip@intellectualfrontiers.com.

Can US9525753B2 be bought?

Yes. US9525753B2 is available for acquisition, alone or with its family. Terms are agreed on inquiry: write to hello+ip@intellectualfrontiers.com.

What is the status of US9525753B2?

Patented Case as of 30 November 2016, according to the USPTO record read 27 September 2026.

When does US9525753B2 expire?

27 December 2034. An estimate from Google Patents, read 9 October 2026. Fees, terminal disclaimers and later events can change it, and it is not legal advice.

What does US9525753B2 cover?

A system and method for providing a social networking service to a plurality of devices. A social networking server for facilitating social information exchange among the plurality of devices through a socially aware network. A social profiles manager is coupled to the social networking server that creates and manages individual centric profiles of the plurality of devices. The individual centric A plain-language summary is at https://www.intellectualfrontiers.com/patent-summaries/integrated-healthcare-system-with-predictive-analytics-and-risk-management-through-social-networking.

Which patents are related to US9525753B2?

It is part of the Integration Of Devices Through A Social Networking Platform family, with US10320735B2, US11044221B2, US11777894B2, US12401615B2.

Who invented US9525753B2 and who holds it?

Shahid N. Shah is the inventor. Intellectual Frontiers LLC holds the rights.