System and method for providing a personalized washroom experience to patrons

• US 10,037,678 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2015
• Issued: 07/31/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Becker, Stephen, Dunbar, Charlene, Kirkland, Jason, Moede, Warren, Schulz, Tom, Sheehan, Chrissy, Shipp, Jr., Peter W., Zielinski, Matt, Tramontina, Paul F.
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUIN, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US15/544,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20170372589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 340 1042
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/10 Services
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

A washroom system and related operations method are provided wherein patrons receive a personalized message or other personalized washroom experience. A washroom facility is configured with a receiver that receives a respective ID signal unique to particular patrons that enter the facility. The unique ID signal is transmitted by a device carried by the patrons. A processor system is in communication with the receiver for receipt of the unique ID signals. The processor system includes a memory with a file associated with each of the unique ID signals, the files containing information on the respective patron associated with the unique ID signal that is retrieved by the processor and used to generate and transmit the personalized message to a broadcast device in the washroom facility.

Claims

1. A washroom system wherein patrons receive personalized messages, comprising:

a washroom facility configured with a receiver that receives a respective ID signal unique to particular patrons that enter the washroom facility;

an ID signal transmitter carried by the patrons, each of the ID signal transmitters generating the ID signal unique to the respective patron;

a processor system in communication with the receiver, wherein the receiver transmits the unique ID signals to the processor system, the processor system remote from the washroom facility and common to a plurality of different washroom facilities;

the processor system comprising a memory with files associated with each of the unique ID signals, the files containing information on the patron associated with the unique ID signal that is retrieved by the processor upon receipt of the unique ID signal from the receiver, the processor using the personal information to generate and transmit the personalized message to a broadcast device in the washroom facility; and

wherein the personalized messages greet the respective patron by name and provide additional information or instruction to the patron.

2. The washroom system as in claim 1, wherein the files contain personal preferences of the respective patron that are unrelated to activities performed by the patron in the washroom facility, and the additional information or instruction relates to subject matter of preferences.

3. The washroom system as in claim 1, wherein the files contain medical information of the respective patron, and the additional information or instruction relates to the medical information.

4. The washroom system as in claim 1, wherein the processor system is linked to an electronic calendar for the respective patron, and the additional information or instruction relates to upcoming events on the patron'"'"'s calendar.

5. The washroom system as in claim 1, wherein the processor system comprises a library of generic messages and retrieves and personalizes one of the generic messages with the information unique to the respective patron to generate the personalized message to the patron.

6. The washroom system as in claim 1, wherein the additional information or instruction relates to status or availability of functional locations within the washroom facility.

7. The washroom system as in claim 1, further comprising a remote washroom monitoring station within a common building as the washroom facility, the processor system located at the washroom monitoring station, the processor system being common to a plurality of similarly configured washroom facilities within the building.

8. The washroom system as in claim 1, wherein the ID single transmitter is a Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) beacon that emits a unique BTLE ID signal for each respective patron, the receiver comprising a BTLE-enabled receiver that receives and transmits all or a portion of the unique BTLE ID signals to the processor system to enable retrieval of one or more of the personalized messages for playback to the patron.

9. The washroom system as in claim 8, wherein the BTLE beacon is incorporated with a trinket provided to the patrons.

10. The washroom system as in claim 8, wherein the BTLE beacon is incorporated with a mobile smart device carried by the patron, the mobile smart device having an application that causes the mobile smart device to transmit the unique BTLE ID signal.

11. The washroom system as in claim 1, wherein the broadcast device is any one or combination of an audio device, video device, or audio-video device.

12. The washroom system as in claim 11, wherein the washroom facility comprises a plurality of individual functional locations, each of the functional locations having one of the receivers and broadcast devices associated therewith such that multiple patrons at the various functional locations are simultaneously provided with the personalized messages.

13. The washroom system as in claim 1, wherein the files contain preferences of the respective patron with respect to environmental conditions within the washroom facility, the processor system in communication with an environmental controller to change the environmental conditions within the washroom facility in accordance with the patron'"'"'s preferences upon detection of the respective patron within the washroom facility.

14. The washroom system as in claim 13, wherein the environmental conditions are any one or combination of temperature, lighting, music, or air freshener.