System and method for audible prescription label information using RFID prescription packaging

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12437852-B1
Application number	US-202117217925-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Mar 30, 2021
Priority date	Mar 30, 2020
Publication date	Oct 7, 2025
Grant date	Oct 7, 2025

Abstract

Pharmacy data systems, mobile computing devices, and methods for audible prescription label information using near-field encoded prescription packaging, such as prescription containers with radio frequency identifier (RFID) tags, are described. A mobile computing device, such as a smartphone, may include a near-field reader that reads a first set of prescription label information from an RFID attached to a prescription container. Using the first set of prescription label information, a second set of prescription label information may be accessed, such as from a remote pharmacy data system. The two sets of prescription label information may be used to populate an audible script template and converted to an audible human voice for delivery to the user.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a near-field memory device attached to a prescription container, wherein:
the near-field memory device is configured to store a first set of prescription label information encoded as label data fields and corresponding field values; and
the near-field memory device has a capacity selected to store the first set of prescription label information; and

a mobile computing device comprising:
a processor;
a memory configured to store a plurality of audible script templates, wherein each audible script template of the plurality of audible script templates comprises:
a first set of template data fields for that audible script template corresponding to label data fields from the first set of prescription label information;
a second set of template data fields for that audible script template corresponding to label data fields from a second set of prescription label information not encoded in the near-field memory device and exceeding the capacity of the near-field memory device; and
a plurality of natural language elements for that audible script template configured to merge field values from the first set of template data fields and the second set of template data fields into a spoken language script for that audible script template;

a near-field reader configured to:
receive a signal from the near-field memory device that encodes the first set of prescription label information from the near-field memory device; and
decode the label data fields and corresponding field values to a text format;

a communication unit configured for network communication with at least one remote data server hosting at least one remote prescription label information source;
a graphical user interface display; and
a speaker;

wherein the mobile computing device is configured to, responsive to the signal from the near-field memory device:
determine a status of the communication unit corresponding to whether the communication unit has a network connection to the at least one remote data server, wherein the status is selected from an online mode and an offline mode;
conditionally select, based on the status of the communication unit being the online mode, a first audible script template from the plurality of audible script templates to be a selected audible script template;
conditionally select, based on the status of the communication unit being the offline mode, a second audible script template from the plurality of audible script templates to be the selected audible script template;
generate an instance of the selected audible script template in the memory of the mobile computing device;
read, from the near-field memory device, the first set of prescription label information into the first set of template data fields in the memory to populate the first set of template data fields;
selectively read, responsive to reading the first set of prescription label information and based on an index value in the first set of prescription label information, the second set of prescription label information from stored local data into the second set of template data fields in the memory to populate the second set of template data fields, wherein selectively reading the second set of prescription label information from the stored local data is further responsive to determining the status of the communication unit to be the offline mode;
selectively receive, responsive to reading the first set of prescription label information and based on the index value in the first set of prescription label information, the second set of prescription label information from the at least one remote prescription label information source accessible through the communication unit, wherein selectively receiving the second set of prescription label information from the at least one remote prescription label information source is further responsive to determining the status of the communication unit to be the online mode;
merge, using the plurality of natural language elements in the selected audible script template, the first set of prescription label information in the first set of template data fields and the second set of prescription label information in the second set of template data fields into a populated audible script template in the memory;
display, on the graphical user interface display, the populated audible script template from the memory as a formatted sequence of text arranging the first set of data fields, the second set of data fields, and the plurality of natural language elements in an order defined by the selected audible script template;
sequentially convert, using text-to-voice conversion, the formatted sequence of text displayed on the graphical user interface display to an audio signal; and
generate, by the speaker and using the audio signal, an audible human voice delivering the formatted sequence of text from the populated audible script template as an audible user interface of the mobile computing device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the mobile computing device further comprises a local non-volatile memory configured to store at least a portion of the second set of prescription label information as the stored local data; and
the mobile computing device is further configured to populate the second set of template data fields in the memory by:
accessing, from the local non-volatile memory and using the index value, at least a portion of the second set of prescription label information; and
writing, to the second set of template data fields in the memory, the portion of the second set of prescription label information.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the mobile computing device is further configured to, responsive to determining the status of the communication unit to be the online mode, populate the second set of template data fields in the memory by:
querying, from the at least one remote prescription label information source, at least a portion of the second set of prescription label information;
receiving, responsive to the querying, the portion of the second set of prescription label information;
storing the portion of the second set of prescription label information as stored local data; and
writing, to the second set of template data fields in the memory, the portion of the second set of prescription label information.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile computing device is further configured to, responsive to the signal from the near-field memory device:
determine whether a user has been verified for access to a verified-user portion of the second set of prescription information;
conditionally select, responsive to determining that the user has been verified for access, the first audible script template and the second audible script template from audible script templates in the plurality of audible script templates that include a verified-user portion of the second set of prescription information;
selectively access, responsive to determining that the user has been verified for access, the verified-user portion of the second set of prescription information for populating the selected audible script template;
conditionally select, responsive to determining that the user has not been verified for access, the first audible script template and the second audible script template from audible script templates in the plurality of audible script templates that include an unverified-user portion of the second set of prescription information; and
selectively access, responsive to determining that the user has not been verified for access, the unverified-user portion of the second set of prescription information for populating the selected audible script template.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the first set of prescription information

Assignees

• Cvs Pharmacy Inc

Inventors

• Beaumariage Sophia
• Capista Scott
• Desrosiers Lindsey
• Hoang Misa Q
• Lambert Melissa
• Spears Joseph

Classifications

• G10L13/08

  Text analysis or generation of parameters for speech synthesis out of text, e.g. grapheme to phoneme translation, prosody generation or stress or intonation determination · CPC title

• G16H20/13

  delivered from dispensers · CPC title

• G06K19/0723

  the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs · CPC title

• G06Q30/0611

  Request for offers or quotes · CPC title

• G16H20/10 Primary

  relating to drugs or medications, e.g. for ensuring correct administration to patients · CPC title