1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to bio sensors that connect to a mobile communications device, such as a cellphone, mobile phone, smartphone, portable media player, or tablet, and more particularly, the present invention pertains to improvements in real-time communication of one or more bio sensors signals from a mobile with a live patient connected to a remote bio sensor signal viewer.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

In light of numerous concerns, it is crucially important that bio sensor signals and other patient information are communicated or transmitted from the patient as quickly and as clearly as possible, preferably while the patient is still connected to the bio sensor (i.e. "live"). Especially in critical medical scenarios the person observing the patient data (such as a physician, nurse, emergency technician, or other medical personnel) may be located some distance from the patient and must be able to observe the patient's bio sensor signals (along with personal data such as name, age, weight, diagnosis and the like) with a minimum of delay.

Another concern is reducing in risk associated with subsequent delays and breaks in communication that result in loss of bio sensor signal(s) and personal information, and may also create gaps, and speed changes in the receipt of bio sensors signals that can impede their understanding and interpretation. Gaps in transmission and changes in speed effectively contaminate the bio sensor signals with visual noise during viewing and may result in delayed or incorrect diagnosis. Hence, what is needed is a device that will communicate bio sensor signals with a minimum of gaps and a maximum of fidelity and clarity.

Accessibility is also major concern. The patient may be located at some distance from the medical personnel and require an immediate diagnosis that can be rendered by the remote personnel by utilizing the patient's bio sensor signals(s). Mobile communications devices provide access to computer networks via wireless transmitters communicating with cells towers or other communications equipment such as network access points. Hence, patients that are not located near medical personnel would benefit from rapid access to their bio sensor signals.

Still another concern is producing a green product that minimizes environmental impact. A mobile device with a portable bio sensor consumes less power and requires fewer resources to produce than a larger traditional bio sensor monitor such as a typical ECG recorder. Reduction in power consumption can allow longer usage times, smaller batteries, and less time spent recharging the device. Bio sensor availability is certainly a major concern for medical personnel who may lose a bio sensor due to loss of power while monitoring a critical patient in the field.

Finally, cost is a major concern, especially for medical care personnel and patients in remote and under developed areas who would most benefit from the integration of a low-cost mobile communications device with a bio sensor. As well, the travel costs for the remote medical personnel are reduced when they can diagnose the patient without travel.

What is needed then is an apparatus for mobile communications of bio sensor signals that utilizes mobile communications devices that can transmit patient bio sensor signals in realtime with a minimum of delay, maximum of clarity; as well as reduction in cost, power consumption, and environmental impact while providing access of patients to remote medical personnel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Mobile communications device technology has continuously improved in terms of processing power, storage capabilities, display capabilities, user interface, data transmission, cell network capabilities, and so forth. For example, modern smartphones are capable of providing complex application support for bio sensors by allowing storage, display, calculation of health parameters, and the like. However, the most important capability of the mobile communications device is its ability to rapidly and accurately communicate data. In the case of this invention, the data that is communicated is the bio sensor data from the patient's actual location to a remote viewing device at another location while the patient is connected to the bio sensor. For example, an ambulance having a patient and an ECG bio sensor may stream the live bio sensor signals such as ECG waveforms and transmit other information about the patient such as heart rate to a remote viewing device such as a mobile phone or tablet that is attended by a cardiologist.

The present invention is an apparatus for mobile communication of bio sensor signals and personal data that uses a mobile communications device with a wireless transmitter, such as a smartphone to continuously transmit ("stream") live bio sensor signals while the patient is connected and with minimum delay to a remote viewing device. The signals can be streamed either while the patient is connected to the bio sensor(s) or from a previously recorded file containing bio sensor signals and personal data. The bio sensor signals are streamed along with other personal information (such as patient name, ID, vital signs, diagnosis, and so forth).

The first hour after a heart attack is called the golden hour because it is within this hour that treatment is crucial to the survival and quality of life of the patient. Hence, medical personnel strive to minimize the delay from when the first responder makes contact with a patient until she is diagnosed and treated. It is one object of this apparatus to minimize the delay from the patient's production of the bio signal until it is properly displayed on the remote viewing device for the doctor's analysis (as well, to minimize the time from personal data entry until receipt, such as for a diagnosis note sent back to the first responder by the doctor). Finally, to maximize display comprehension by streaming the bio sensor signals into a smoothly swept plot at substantially the same rate that the data was acquired with a minimum of buffering breaks.

In one embodiment the apparatus for mobile communication of bio sensor signals and personal data may comprise a mobile communications device with a at least one wireless transmitter (having a computer network address); a remote viewing device having a display and a communication receiver (also with a computer network address); a bio sensor device (in communication with the mobile communications device); a person having a biological signal (such as a respiratory or cardiac signal) and personal data (such as patient name, diagnosis, and the like). The person's biological signal is in communication with the bio sensor device which derives a corresponding bio sensor signal and communicates it to the mobile (as well, personal data is in communication with the mobile communications device— frequently entered by the user of the mobile communications device). The apparatus also comprises a computer network configured to communicate with the mobile communications device and the remote viewing device, a server (also in the computer network) that receives the mobile communications device's computer network address and the remote viewing device's computer network address. Finally, the apparatus' mobile communications device is configured to transmit the bio sensor signal and the personal data, while the remote viewing device is receives and displays the bio sensor signal and the personal data.

Thus, it is one object of the apparatus to provide a fast, simple and secure communication of bio sensor signals and personal data by employing a server to establish a communication link.

In alternative embodiments the mobile communications device may be a cellphone, mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a smartphone, a portable media playback device, a handheld tablet, and the like. Thus, it is one object of the invention to provide flexibility so that it will be compatible with a variety of mobile communications devices.

In alternative embodiments the remote viewing device may be a cellphone, a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a smartphone, a portable media playback device, a handheld tablet, a net book personal computer, a laptop personal computer, a USB device based personal computer, a smart television, a monitor, a workstation, and a desktop personal computer. Thus, it is another object of the apparatus to provide flexibility so that it will be compatible with a variety of remote viewing devices. . Thus, it is one object of the invention to provide flexibility so that it will be compatible with a variety of remote viewing devices.

In alternative embodiments of the apparatus, the personal data may be a name, an age, a weight, a height, an identifying string, a patient ID, an address, an institution name, an institution address, a distance, a rate, a position, a location, an altitude, a physician, an operator, an attending physician, a remote physician, a prescription, a time, a time range, a MET level, a vital sign, a note, an annotation, a diagnosis, a treatment, an assessment, a condition, a test result, a gender, a video, a photo, a heart rate, a blood oxygen saturation level, a body temperature, a blood pressure, a blood sugar, and/or any other medical record information. Thus, it is also an object of the apparatus to allow for rapid sharing of information about the patient, his condition, and the diagnosis.

Another embodiment the apparatus for mobile communication of bio sensor signals and personal data has a server that is configured to receive, cache, store, translate and/or transmit the computer network address for the mobile communications device and the computer network address for the remote viewing device. The server uses these addresses to establish a

communication link between the mobile communications device and the remote viewing device.

Thus, it is one object of the apparatus to provide fast communication of bio sensor signals and personal data by employing a server to establish a communication link using the available computer network addresses to quickly determine how to transmit bio sensor signals from the mobile communications device to the remote viewing device.

In alternative embodiments of the apparatus, the server is additionally configured to receive and transmit bio sensor signals and personal data on the communication link or some portion of the communication link (acting as a relay between the devices). So, the server receives bio sensor signals and personal data from one or more mobile communications devices and then transmits that bio sensor signal and personal data to one or more remote viewing devices.

Thus, it is one object of the apparatus to provide reliable communication of bio sensor signals and personal data by employing a server to relay the data especially when the devices are not directly accessible to each other and require a mutually known and accessible relay server as an intermediary.

In another embodiment of the apparatus, the server is additionally configured to receive-- from a mobile communications device(s) or a remote viewing device(s)— and store a record in server memory with at least one bio sensor signal and personal data; and is further configured to transmit the record (or the portion of the record) from the server to one or more remote viewing devices and one or more mobile communications devices.

Hence, it is another object of the apparatus to provide data security through backups and ease of use through cloud access by allowing the devices to send records (files and/or database information) to be stored on the server as a backup, for web browser access, and other shared access. Furthermore, the server can record during relaying thereby creating an immediate record as a backup or to be shared.

In another embodiment of the apparatus, the communication link streams a bio sensor signal that is sampled at a known rate from the mobile communications device to the remote viewing device, wherein the rate at which the bio sensor signal is displayed on the remote viewing device display is substantially the known rate.

Therefore it is the object of the apparatus to provide an accurate timeline of the bio sensor signal for smoothly animated plots, and optimum buffering.

In one embodiment of the apparatus, the remote viewing device receives an amount of one or more bio sensor signals data substantially corresponding to the width of remote viewing device's bio sensor displaying area before displaying an animated bio sensor signal sweep therein. Thus, it is one object of the apparatus to provide for a high quality continuous sweep within a portion of the display (bio sensor displaying area) with no interruptions or velocity changes, and to pause for data buffering before beginning a sweep thereby providing clear bio sensor signal plots without the display of a vertical sweep bar and/or time discontinuity while waiting for next sweep to buffer.

In another embodiment of the apparatus, the communication link transmits a bio sensor signal and personal data from the mobile communications device to the remote viewing device. Moreover, the communication link comprises a low latency channel and a normal latency channel. One or more bio sensor signals are transmitted on the normal latency channel and the one or more personal data are usually sent on the low latency channel (alternatively personal data could be sent or received on the normal latency channel).

Therefore, it is another object of the apparatus to provide a channel for quickly transmitting higher priority personal data messages such as a diagnosis. The low latency channel can avoid any delays of the normal latency channel, which is being used for bio sensor streaming and, hence, could have a significant buffering delay. Alternatively, personal data that is associated with a time position in the bio sensor signal can be interspersed with the bio sensor data in the normal latency channel at that position such as a heart rate value (BPM).

In alternative embodiments of the apparatus, the computer network may be a local area network, a wireless local area network (LAN), a wide area network, a private network, a public network, a virtual private network, a metropolitan area network, a campus area network, the Internet, the Cloud, a Bluetooth ^® personal area network, a cellular network, a mobile network, and a peer-to-peer network. Thus it is an object of the apparatus to utilize a wide range of computer networks, which makes it useful for a range of public and private computer networks including hospital LANs and the Internet.

In one aspect of another embodiment, the bio sensors are electrodes including ECG electrodes, a photo plethysmograph (PPG), a pulse oximeter, a sphygmomanometer (such as an inflatable non-invasive blood pressure cuff), a thermometer/temperature sensor, a pedometer, a capnograph, a respiratory movement sensor, a respiratory flow sensor, a patient movement and orientation sensor, a transdermal blood alcohol sensor, and/or a blood sugar sensor (glucometer). Thus it is an object to provide for a wide range of medical, health, sports and fitness bio sensors.

In alternative embodiments of the apparatus, the mobile communications device has one or more buffers configured to store at least one bio sensor signal for transmission to the computer network. Thus it is an object to transmit and provide contiguous, uninterrupted bio sensor signals despite breaks and slowdowns of the mobile communications device's communication link.

In one aspect of yet another embodiment, the remote viewing device has one or more buffers configured to store at least one bio sensor signal; wherein the one or more buffers hold an amount of data substantially corresponding to the current width of one or more ECG plots on the display. Thus it is an object to adapt the buffering apparatus to receive and display/animate a contiguous bio sensor signal in a continuous uninterrupted sweep even when the remote viewing device may be experiencing slow downs and interruptions to the remote viewing device's communication link.

In another embodiment of the apparatus, the server has one or more buffers configured to contain stored data from the at least one bio sensor signal wherein the stored data is transmitted to one or more remote viewing devices and/or saved into a file on the server.

Thus it is an object to ensure the transmission of a contiguous bio sensor signal despite slowdowns or breaks in the communication link between the remote viewing device(s) and the server, and the mobile communications device and the server. It is also an object to provide for storage of data on the server, for example, in the form of a file while the data is being transmitted to the server.

In another embodiment of the apparatus the display of the remote viewing device provides an animated sweep of the bio sensor signals that elapses at substantially the same rate as the biological signal by utilizing a known period of time between bio sensor signal samples. So it is an object of the apparatus to provide for remote viewing of the ECG signal at substantially the same rate that the ECG was captured or digitized allowing for an accurate playing of the ECG data at the remote viewing device.

In still another embodiment of the apparatus a display of the mobile communications device and/or the display of the remote viewing device provides one or more of a group consisting of a control to pause the animated sweep of the at least one bio sensor signal, a control to play the animated sweep of the at least one bio sensor signal, a control to enlarge a region of the at least one bio sensor signal on the display, a control to reduce a region of the at least one bio sensor signal on the display, a control to pan the at least one bio sensor signal on the display, a buffering indicator, a scroll bar display, a control to select a time segment of the bio sensor signal to display, and a control to advance the time segment of the bio sensor display to a most recent bio sensor signal data.

Thus it is one object to provide the user with controls to interact with the live animated display to stop and carefully view the bio sensor signals, for example, to diagnose any pathology and subsequently recommend any diagnosis at the earliest possible time. As well, to traverse the bio sensor signals data and return to the live most recent bio sensor signal transmission.

in another embodiment of the apparatus the remote viewing device is configured to transmit at least one personal data, such as a diagnosis or a treatment, and the mobile

communications device is configured to receive the at least one personal data.

Therefore, it is another object to provide a quick diagnosis and/or treatment to the medical personnel attending the patient so that the patient may be treated at the earliest possible time.

In one embodiment of the apparatus, the mobile communications device and the remote viewing device are configured to transmit and receive at least one bio sensor signal file.

Thus it is an object to provide for a cardiac ecosystem wherein the person's bio sensor files can be shared over a network of physicians and other medical personnel to aid in consultation and in proper diagnosis and treatment.

In another embodiment, a method of communicating live bio sensor signals and personal data between a remote viewing device and a mobile communications device has the following steps: 1) a server retrieving an identifier and a password provided by a remote viewing device and a mobile communications device and performing verification; 2) rejection if verification fails, otherwise allowing 3) selection of an at least one user having a remote viewing device; 4) determining if a request for transmission of bio sensor signals and personal data to the remote viewing device is required, if not required go to step 8; 5) if required, sending the request for the transfer of bio sensor signals and personal data to the remote viewing device; 6) the remote viewing device receives a request notification that is one or more in a group consisting of a ring tone, a sound, a vibration, and a displayed information; 7) the request notification is accepted or denied by the remote viewing device; and 8) if accepted, then the bio sensor signals and personal data are transmitted on a communication link between the mobile communications device and the remote viewing device.

Hence, it is an object of this invention to provide for rapid and seamless sharing of bio sensor signals and personal information by providing for multiple users to select and

communicate this information. As well, to provide for a proper notification of the remote viewing device's user(s) such as a cardiologist who may be alerted by a ringtone, vibration, or other notification when live patient data is being streamed to her device.

These and other aspects and objects of the present invention will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following description while indicating preferred embodiments of the present invention is given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof, and the invention includes all such modifications. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals represent like parts throughout, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a top elevational view of an embodiment of the apparatus for mobile communication of bio sensor signals and personal data of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a top elevational view of an embodiment of the present invention with a server;

Fig. 3 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention having buffering storage;

Fig. 4 is a top elevational view of an embodiment of the present invention having multiple remote viewing devices;

Fig. 5 is a top elevational view of an embodiment of the present invention having multiple mobile communications devices;

Fig. 6 is front view of a remote viewing device showing an animated sweep of bio sensor signals;

Fig. 7 is a block diagram of an embodiment of the present invention showing two channel prioritization;

Fig. 8 is flow chart of an embodiment of a method of the present invention; and

Fig. 9 is front elevational view of the remote viewing device display of an embodiment of the present invention showing status and control elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

With reference to Fig. 1 , there is shown a first embodiment of the apparatus for mobile communication of bio sensor signals and personal data 10. A person 12 is having one or more biological signals in communication with one or more bio sensor devices 14 which are in turn in communication with a mobile communications device shown as smartphone 16.

In other embodiments, the mobile communications device 16 can be any of a number of cellphones, mobile phones, or smartphones such as an iPhone® or an Android® phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA) such as a Blackberry®, a portable audio playback device such as an MP3 player, a portable media playback device such as an iPod®, or a handheld tablet such as an iPad® or Android® tablet.

Continuing with Fig. 1 , the bio sensor devices 14 communicate the bio sensor signals 18 (which are derived from the biological signals of person 12) to the mobile communications device smartphone 16. The mobile communications device has personal data corresponding to person 12 such as a name 20. The smartphone 16 transmits the bio sensor signals 18 and the personal data 20 with a wireless transmitter (not shown) to a remote viewing device shown as smartphone 26 via a computer network 22 as depicted by communication links 24 and 28. The remote viewing device shown as smartphone 26 has a communication receiver (not shown) which receives the bio sensor signals 18 and personal data 20 and shows the received

information 18, 20 on the display 30.

In other embodiments, the remote viewing device 26 can be any of a number of cellphones, mobile phones, or smartphones such as an iPhone® or an Android® phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA) such as a Blackberry®, a portable audio playback device such as an P3 player, a portable media playback device such as an iPod®. a handheld tablet such as an iPad®, a net book personal computer, a laptop personal computer, a USB device based personal computer, a smart television, a monitor, a workstation, or a desktop personal computer. Referring now to Fig. 2, an embodiment of the present invention 40 is shown. A person 12 is having one or more biological signals in communication with bio sensor device 14 which is in turn in communication with a mobile communications device shown as smartphone 16. The bio sensor device 14 communicates the bio sensor signals 18 (which are derived from the biological signals of person 12) to the mobile communications device smartphone 16. The mobile communications device has personal data corresponding to person 12 such as a name 20 shown on display 32. The smartphone 16 transmits the bio sensor signals 18 and the personal data 20 with a wireless transmitter (not shown) having at least one computer network address A via communication link 24 to a computer network 22. Computer network 22 is also connected to server 34 via communication link 26 (having computer network address B), and to remote viewing device 26 via communication link 28 having at least one computer network address C. The server 34 is configured to receive the mobile communications device's computer network address A and the remote viewing devices computer network address C. The bio sensor signals 18 and personal data 20 transmitted by smartphone 16 are received by the remote viewing device shown as smartphone 28 via communication receiver (not shown) which receives the bio sensor signals 18 and personal data 20 and shows the received information 18, 20 on the display 30.

Turning to Fig. 3, an embodiment of the present invention 50 is shown. A person 12 is having one or more biological signals in communication with bio sensor device 14 which are in turn in communication with a mobile communications device 16. The bio sensor device 14 communicates the bio sensor signals to the mobile communications device 16. The mobile communications device has personal data corresponding to person 12 such as a name 20 and may also store the bio sensor signals in buffer 52. The mobile communications device 16 having at least one computer network address A transmits the bio sensor signals from buffer 52 and the personal data 20 with a wireless transmitter 54 via communication link 24 to a computer network 22. Computer network 22 is also connected to server 34 via communication link 36 and having computer network address B. The server 34 is configured to receive, cache, store, translate and/or transmit one or more of the mobile communications device's computer network address A and the remote viewing devices computer network address C (stored on the server as 64). The server 34 is further configured to establish a communication link between the mobile

communications device 16 and the remote viewing device 26 wherein the communication link is shown as pathways 24, 28 entering and exiting the computer network 22 respectively. The bio sensor signals from buffer 52 and the personal data 20 are further transmitted to remote viewing device 26 with computer network address C via communication link 28. The bio sensor signals from buffer 52 and personal data 20 are subsequently received by the remote viewing device 26 via communication receiver 56. The bio sensor signals from buffer 52 may be stored in buffer 60 which can be configured to hold an amount of data corresponding to one or more complete display sweeps, i.e. an amount of data substantially corresponding to the width of remote viewing device's display of the bio sensor signals (or an integer multiple thereof)- Further, the personal data 20 may be stored and/or displayed 58.

In other embodiments, personal data 20 can be a name, an age, a weight, a height, an identifying string, a patient ID, an address, an institution name, an institution address, a distance, a rate, a position, a location, an altitude, a physician, an operator, an attending physician, a remote physician, a prescription, a time, a time range, a MET level, a vital sign, a note, an annotation, a diagnosis, a treatment, an assessment, a condition, a test result, a gender, a video, a photo, a heart rate, a blood oxygen saturation level, a body temperature, a blood pressure, a blood sugar, and/or medical record information.

Returning to Fig. 3, the server 34 may also have one or more buffers to store bio sensor signal data 62 and/or personal data such as name 66 in server memory as record 68. The record 68 may have been received from either the mobile communications device 16 and/or the remote viewing device 26. The server 26 may transmit the record 68 to one or more remote viewing devices such as 26 or one or more mobile communications devices 16, and/or save the record into a file on the server (not shown). Referring to Fig. 4, an embodiment of the present invention 70 is shown having multiple remote viewing devices. A person 12 is having one or more biological signals in communication with bio sensor device 14 which are in turn in communication with a mobile communications device shown as smartphone 16. The bio sensor device 14 communicates the bio sensor signals 18 (which are derived from the biological signals of person 12) to the mobile communications device smartphone 16.

The bio sensors may be a photo plethysmograph, a pulse oximeter, ECG or other electrodes, a sphygmomanometer, a thermometer, a pedometer, a capnograph, a respiratory movement sensor, a respiratory flow sensor, a patient movement and orientation sensor, a transdermal blood alcohol sensor or a blood sugar sensor.

Returning to Fig. 4, the mobile communications device also has personal data corresponding to person 12 such as a name 20 shown on display 32. The smartphone 16 transmits the bio sensor signals 18 and the personal data 20 with a wireless transmitter (not shown) having at least one computer network address A via communication link 24 to a computer network 22. Computer network 22 is also connected to server 34 via communication link 36 (having computer network address B), and to remote viewing devices 26a (a

smartphone), 26b (a laptop), 26c (a workstation) via communication links 28a, 28b, 28c

(respectively) having computer network addresses CI, C2, C3 respectively.

Continuing with Fig. 4, the server 34 is configured to receive the mobile communications device's computer network address A and the remote viewing devices computer network addresses CJ_, C2, C3. The server 34 is in communication with the computer network 26 via communication link 36. The bio sensor signals 18 and personal data 20 transmitted by smartphone 16 are received by the remote viewing devices shown as smartphone 28a, laptop 28b, and workstation 28c which receive the bio sensor signals 18 and personal data 20 and show the received information 18, 20 on the displays 30a, 30b, and 30c. Thus, the received information 18, 20 is contemporaneously received by several remote viewing devices 26a, 26b, 26c either directly from the mobile communications device 16 or indirectly, if the remote communications device 16 first sends the information 18, 20 to the server 34, through communication link 24 and then the server 34 then sends the information 18, 20 to the remote viewing devices 26a, 26b, 26c through communication links 28a, 28b, 28c respectively. Notably, the amount of information 18, 20 transmitted by the mobile communications device 16 is reduced when the mobile

communications device 16 sends the information 18, 20 to the server 34 and the server then sends information to more than one remote viewing device.

Turning now to Fig. 5, an embodiment of the present invention 80 is shown having multiple mobile communications devices. A first person (not shown) is having one or more bio sensor signals 18a and personal data such as name 20a in communication with a mobile communications device shown as smartphone 16a. A second person (not shown) is having one or more bio sensor signals 18b and personal data such as name 20b in communication with a mobile communications device shown as smartphone 16b. The mobile communications devices 16a, 16b transmit the bio sensor signals 18a, 18b and the personal data 20a, 20b through respective wireless transmitters (not shown) having at least one computer network address AT . A2 via communication link 24a, 24b respectively to a computer network 22. Computer network 22 is also connected to server 34 via communication link 36 (having computer network address B), and to remote viewing devices 26 (a workstation) via communication link 28 having computer network addresses C.

The computer network 22 may be local area network, a wireless local area network, a wide area network, a private network, a public network, a virtual private network, a metropolitan area network, a campus area network, the Internet, the Cloud, a personal area network such as one based on Bluetooth®, a cellular network, a mobile network, or a peer-to-peer network.

Continuing with Fig. 5, the server 34 is configured to receive the mobile communications devices' computer network addresses AJ _. , A2 and the remote viewing device's computer network address C. The server 34 is in communication with the computer network 26 via communication link 36. The bio sensor signals 18a, 18b and personal data 20a, 20b transmitted by smartphone 16a and 16b respectively are received by the remote viewing device shown as workstations 28, which receives the bio sensor signals 18a, 18b and personal data 20a, 20b and shows the received information 18a, 18b, 20a, 20b on the display 30. Thus, multiple persons' information 18a, 18b, 20a, 20b is contemporaneously received by a single remote viewing device 26 either directly from the mobile communications devices 16a, 16b or indirectly, if the remote communications devices 16a, 16b first send the information 18a, 18b, 20a, 20b to the server 34, through communication link 24a and 24b respectively and then the server 34 then sends the information 18a, 18b, 20a, 20b to the remote viewing devices 26 through communication link 28. Notably, the amount of information from multiple persons 18a, 18b, 20a, 20b transmitted by the mobile communications device 16a, 16b may be sent to a single remote viewing device whereupon the user such as a cardiologist or nurse (not shown) may monitor multiple persons' bio sensor signals from a single remote viewing device 26.

Referring now to Fig. 6, a remote viewing device workstation 26 having a display 30 with plots of the bio sensor signals 18 is shown. The remote viewing device 26 receives an amount of one or more bio sensor signals data substantially corresponding to the width of remote viewing device's bio sensor displaying area 82 before displaying an animated bio sensor signal sweep 86 (indicated by the vertical line which may or may not be actually shown in the displaying area). Note that the arrow 88 only indicates the animation or movement of the sweep 86 from left to right. The width of the bio sensor displaying area 82 may be less than or equal to the width of the display 84. The bio sensor data is originally sampled at a known rate and is replayed at substantially this known rate on the remote viewing device. 16. The display of the remote viewing device 26 provides an animated sweep of the bio sensor signal 86 that elapses at substantially the same rate as the biological signal by utilizing a known period of time between bio sensor signal samples thereby preserving substantially the same time scales.

Hence, synchronization is substantially maintained for accuracy during replay and to avoid any data accumulation (when replay is at a rate less than a rate corresponding to the known sampling rate) or delays in data arrival (when replay is at a rate more than the rate corresponding to the known sampling rate).

Turning to Fig. 7, an embodiment of the present invention 90 is shown having two prioritized channels in a single communication link. A mobile communications device 16 has a communication link comprising communication paths 24, 28 connected to computer network 22. The communication link 24 is comprised of low latency channel 24L and a normal latency channel 24H. As well, communication link 28 is comprised of low latency channel 28L and a normal latency channel 28H. Personal data, such as a diagnosis 20T indicating a patient myocardial infarction (shown as 'Ml'), is transmitted from the mobile communications device 16 to the remote viewing device 26 through the low latency channel 26L, 28L. The low latency data generally arrives at the remote viewing device 26 with less delay compared to the normal latency channel 24N, 28N which may be busy transmitting bio sensor signal data 18 that would cause a consequential delay in the MI diagnosis 20T. Similarly, the operator of the remote viewing device 26 sends personal data, such as a treatment 20R indicating to treat the patient by thrombolysis (shown as 'Thrombolize'), from the remote viewing device 26 to the mobile communications device 16 through the low latency channel 26L, 28L; but in the opposite direction.

Alternatively, communication paths 24L, 28L may be bidirectional and the patient information 20R may be transmitted from the remote viewing device 26 to the mobile communications device 16 through the normal latency channel 26N, 28N which may not be busy with any bio sensor signal(s) transmission in the opposite direction effectively serving as a low latency channel (not shown).

Thus, the low latency transmission channels are used to insure that crucial personal data such as diagnosis and treatment are not 'backed up' by delays from the transmission of the bio sensor signals. Turning now to Fig. 8, an embodiment of the present invention 100 is shown as a method of communicating live bio sensor signals and personal data between a remote viewing device and a mobile communications device in steps of 1 ) a server retrieving an identifier and a password provided by the said devices and performing verification 102; 2) rejection if verification fails 104, otherwise allowing 3) selection of an at least one user having a remote viewing device 106; 4) determining if a request for transmission of bio sensor signals and personal data to the remote viewing device is required 108, if not required go to step 8 109; 5) if required, sending the request for the transfer of bio sensor signals and personal data to the remote viewing device 1 10; 6) the remote viewing device receives a request notification that is one or more in a group consisting of a ring tone, a sound, a vibration, and a displayed information 1 12; 7) the request notification is accepted or denied by the remote viewing device 1 14; and 8) if accepted, then the bio sensor signals and personal data are transmitted on a communication link between the mobile communications device and the remote viewing device 1 16, otherwise the steps are ended 1 18.

Referring now to Fig. 9, a remote viewing device smartphone 26 having a display 30 with plots of the bio sensor signals 18 is shown. The user interface on display 30 consists of a control to pause the animated sweep of the bio sensor signal(s) 120, a control to play the animated sweep of the bio sensor signal(s) 122, a control to enlarge a region of the bio sensor signal(s) on the display 124, a control to reduce a region of the bio sensor signal(s) on the display 126, buffering indicators 128, 130, a scroll bar display 132, a control to select a time segment of the bio sensor signal to display 134, and a control to advance the time segment of the bio sensor display to a most recent bio sensor signal data 136.

Continuing with Fig. 9, some controls are not explicitly shown: a control to pan (i.e. move) at least one bio sensor signal on the display by touching and moving a finger across the display 30; and a control to reduce and/or enlarge a region of the sensor signal(s) by touching the display 30 with two digits that are brought closer together or moved further apart across the display 30 to respectively reduce or enlarge a region of the bio sensor(s) on the display 30. In one aspect of another embodiment (not shown), the mobile communications device and the remote viewing device are configured to transmit and receive at least one bio sensor signal(s) file.

It is noted that many changes and modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit thereof. The scope of some of these changes is discussed above. The scope of others will become apparent from the appended claims.