Claims:1. The processor in this invention is attached to the memory. The memory may contain one or more processor-executable commands configured for implementation on the processor. The server can accept enquiries from the pill dispenser unit or the monitoring client through the transceiver.
2. The database in this invention may be a Structured Query Language ("SQL") based database, a relational database, a mySQL database, an active database, a cloud database, a data warehouse, a distributed database, an embedded database, or the like. The server in this invention may interrelate with the pill dispenser to: validate a user, a caregiver, a patient, or other person; and to track the location of the pill dispenser; verify the data, the instructions, the prescription, or other information within the pill dispenser.
3. When a pill is dispensed by this unit, the pill dispenser may design to check the safety of the pill. The pill-viewing cameras and/or may recognize the pill by associating characteristics of the pill using an internal database.
, Description:In this invention, the pill dispenser comprises a button operatively attached to the housing. The button is in operational communication with the one or more processors. The storage medium may further comprise instructions for dispensing the pill only when the button is pressed and/or for educating the recognizing camera to capture the third image when the button is pushed. Additionally, or alternatively, the storage medium may comprise instructions for educating the recognizing camera to capture a variety of images counting the third image in agreement with a predetermined schedule when the button is pressed. The unauthorized user may be determined throughout an authorization algorithm to authorize the dispensing of the pill. Figure.1 shows a model preparation of this system for electronic patient care in agreement with present invention. This invention comprises a monitoring client 2 (e.g., Smartphone, IPod, Ipad, Blackberry-OS based phone or device, Android-based phone or device, tablet computer, laptop, PDA, an audio/visual device such a television with an adapter having a processor and communications capability, etc.) that is connected to a number of patient-care devices via docks, counting an infusion pump related to and carrying from a slighter bag of liquid, an infusion pump coupled to and carrying from a larger bag of liquid, a drip-detection device linked to tubing from the smaller bag, and a microinfusion pump. This system also comprises a pill dispenser associated wirelessly to the monitoring client. Furthermore, or alternatively, the monitoring client may interconnect wirelessly with patient-care devices, as recommended by the absence of a wired connection between the drip-detection device and the monitoring client device. The transportations between the pill dispenser and the monitoring client device may be via a USB cable attached amongst the dock and the pill dispenser. Supplementary wired or wireless communications may be made among the monitoring client and the pill dispenser, including parallel or serial communications, WiFi, Zigbee, mesh networking, Bluetooth (e.g., via pairing), FireWire, fiber optics, or using any known communication protocol, method or technology. The pill dispensing technology may comprise pill cartridges. The pill cartridges may each have an individual memory. The memories may comprise a pill dispensing agenda for a individual pill cartridge, a treatment regime, serial numbers, inventory data related to the pills within the pill cartridges, the number of pills enduring within a cartridge, the number of pills dispensed from the cartridge, encryption keys, patient information, patient serial numbers, the name of the pharmacy that occupied the prescription, the pharmacy's address or telephone number, the patient's name, the name of the pharmacists that filled the medicine, the license number of the pharmacist that filled the prescription, the expiration date of the pills, the maximum number of pills that may be transported within a predetermined amount of time, etc. The pill dispenser unit may be loaded at the pharmacy physically, using automated technologies, or some combination as stated. Likewise, the pill cartridges may be manually or automatically loaded into the pill-dispensing unit at the pharmacy. The pill dispenser unit may have a scanner, e.g., an RFID inquisitor that interrogates or a barcode scanner such as one using a camera, to regulate that the pills within the pill dispenser parallels to the particular patient (e.g., as determined from a patient's barcode, RFID, or other patient identification). For example, a serial number of the pill dispenser unit and a serial number of a patient are analysed and compared to serial numbers in electronic medical records in a database to regulate if they correctly match with an entry of the patient as designated by the patient's serial number or the patient's name inside the electronic medical records.