Multi-channel GPRS-based mobile telemedicine system with bluetooth and J2ME interfaces

One of the emerging issues in m-Health is how best to exploit the mobile communications technologies that are now almost globally available. This thesis describes a multi-channel m-Health system with a Bluetooth interface based on the General Packet Radio Service (GPRS). The challenge here is to produce a system to transmit a patient's biomedical signals directly to a hospital using a mobile phone on a commercial GPRS network. As greater patient mobility gradually becomes a trend in remote monitoring, the integration of medical sensors with global connectivity seems to be the next step in providing telemedicine services. The system samples signals from sensors on the patient, then transmits the incoming digital data over a Bluetooth link to a GPRS mobile phone. The system is equipped with patient user interface programs for the patient to perform the data acquisition process from the sensors. There are two programs available, one being the patient interface on a laptop while the other is the patient interface on a mobile phone. The later interface program is developed based on Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME) MIDlet suite application. The system is integrated with client-server application programs to allow the monitoring and management of medical data. An application server is responsible for handling the telemedicine session and controlling the client connection request from a remote patient. All the medical data transmitted during a telemedicine session are stored in a database together with the patient information and telemedicine session details for further assessment. These data are available to clinicians as and when required, by accessing the database via browser programs. The prototype system allowed real-world mobile tests to be carried out and provide valuable insights into real user experience with m-Health systems.