Healthcare beacon device configuration systems and methods

• US 10,311,352 B2
• Filed: 04/04/2018
• Issued: 06/04/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company, Zebra Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company, ZIH Corp. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Cannell, Matthew James, Nguyen, David, Geiger, Edward, Vangati, Mahender, Woodburn, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Bilodeau, David
• Application Number:
  US15/945,424
• Publication Number:
  US 20180293478A1
• Time in Patent Office: 426 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 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 Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/40 for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades

Abstract

Beacon devices and associated components, methods, etc., are disclosed. An example beacon device includes a memory, a communication interface, and a processor to execute instructions with respect to configuration information to control the communication interface and operation of the processor based on a mode in which the beacon device is set to operate, the processor to dynamically transition among a plurality of modes based on an operating condition of the beacon device and a communication received from at least one of the receiver or the controller. In certain examples, the plurality of modes includes a configuration mode and a broadcast mode. When in the configuration mode, the operation of the processor is to process the communication received from the controller to adjust the configuration information. When in the broadcast mode, the operation of the processor is to generate a beacon signal to transmit to at least one of the receiver or the controller via the communication interface.

Claims

1. A low-power, short-range radio frequency wireless beacon device comprising:

a memory to store instructions and configuration information;

a communication interface to communicate with at least one of a receiver or a controller; and

a processor to execute the instructions with respect to the configuration information to at least;

control the communication interface and operation of the processor based on a mode in which the beacon device is set to operate; and

transition dynamically among a plurality of modes after the beacon device has determined an operating condition of the beacon device, wherein the operating condition is based on a power status of the beacon device and communication activity of the beacon device with respect to at least one of the receiver or the controller,

wherein the plurality of modes includes a configuration mode and a broadcast mode, wherein, when in the configuration mode, the operation of the processor is to process the communication received from the controller to adjust the configuration information, and, when in the broadcast mode, the operation of the processor is to generate a beacon signal to transmit to at least one of the receiver or the controller via the communication interface.

2. The beacon device of claim 1, wherein the communication interface includes at least one of an antenna or a peripheral interface.

3. The beacon device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of modes further includes at least one of a sleep mode or a shipping mode.

4. The beacon device of claim 3, wherein, when in the at least one of a sleep mode or a shipping mode, the operation of the processor includes reducing functionality to conserve power.

5. The beacon device of claim 1, wherein the operating condition includes at least one of idle, low power, transmitting, or receiving.

6. The beacon device of claim 1, wherein the processor is to transition from a first mode to a second mode in response to a first stimulus and is to transition from the first mode or the second mode to a third mode in response to a second stimulus.

7. The beacon device of claim 6, wherein the first stimulus includes a selection for a first period of time, and wherein the second stimulus includes a selection for a second period of time, the first period of time different from the second period of time.

8. The beacon device of claim 7, further including an indicator to indicate the mode of the beacon device, the indicator to provide a first indication for the second mode and to provide a second indication for the third mode.

9. The beacon device of claim 1, wherein the configuration information is to configure at least one of an identifier, a protocol, a power level, a channel usage identification, a transmit frequency, a transmit interval, or a payload for the beacon device.

10. At least one non-transitory medium including instructions which, when executed, cause at least one processor in a beacon device to at least execute the instructions with respect to configuration information to at least control a communication interface and operation of the at least one processor based on a mode in which the beacon device is set to operate and transition dynamically among a plurality of modes after the beacon device has determined an operating condition of the beacon device,

wherein the operating condition is based on a power status of the beacon device and communication activity of the beacon device with respect to at least one of the receiver or the controller, wherein the plurality of modes includes a configuration mode and a broadcast mode, wherein, when in the configuration mode, the operation of the at least one processor is to process the communication received from the controller to adjust the configuration information, and, when in the broadcast mode, the operation of the at least one processor is to generate a beacon signal to transmit to at least one of the receiver or the controller via the communication interface.

11. The at least one non-transitory medium of claim 10, wherein the communication interface includes at least one of an antenna or a peripheral interface.

12. The at least one non-transitory medium of claim 10, wherein the plurality of modes further includes at least one of a sleep mode or a shipping mode.

13. The at least one non-transitory medium of claim 12, wherein, when in the at least one of a sleep mode or a shipping mode, the operation of the processor includes reducing functionality to conserve power.

14. The at least one non-transitory medium of claim 10, wherein the operating condition includes at least one of idle, low power, transmitting, or receiving.

15. The at least one non-transitory medium of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is to transition from a first mode to a second mode in response to a first stimulus and is to transition from the first mode or the second mode to a third mode in response to a second stimulus.

16. The at least one non-transitory medium of claim 15, wherein the first stimulus includes a selection for a first period of time, and wherein the second stimulus includes a selection for a second period of time, the first period of time different from the second period of time.

17. The at least one non-transitory medium of claim 16, further including an indicator to indicate the mode of the beacon device, the indicator to provide a first indication for the second mode and to provide a second indication for the third mode.

18. The at least one non-transitory medium of claim 10, wherein the configuration information is to configure at least one of an identifier, a protocol, a power level, a channel usage identification, a transmit frequency, a transmit interval, or a payload for the beacon device.

19. A method of controlling a beacon device including at least one processor and a communication interface, the method comprising:

executing, using the at least one processor, instructions with respect to configuration information to at least control the communication interface and operation of the at least one processor based on a mode in which the beacon device is set to operate, and transition dynamically among a plurality of modes after the beacon device has determined an operating condition of the beacon device, wherein the operating condition is based on a power status of the beacon device and communication activity of the beacon device with respect to at least one of the receiver or the controller,

wherein the plurality of modes includes a configuration mode and a broadcast mode;

when in the configuration mode, processing, using the at least one processor, communication received from the controller to adjust the configuration information; and

when in the broadcast mode, generating, using the at least one processor, a beacon signal to transmit to at least one of the receiver or the controller via the communication interface.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the processor is to transition from a first mode to a second mode in response to a first stimulus and is to transition from the first mode or the second mode to a third mode in response to a second stimulus.