Badge for a locating and tracking system
First Claim
1. A badge configured to locate and track an asset in a hospital, the badge comprising:
- a motion sensor configured to generate a first signal that corresponds to a speed of movement of the asset through the hospital; and
a transmitter coupled to the motion sensor to receive the first signal therefrom, the transmitter being further configured to periodically transmit a second signal at any one of at least three different transmission intervals that correspond to the first signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A badge (26) for locating and tracking a hospital asset (11) includes a motion sensor (30) carried by the asset (11) that generates a motion signal when the asset (11) is in motion. The motion signal varies with changes in the speed of the moving asset (11). The badge (26) further includes a transmitter (34) coupled to the motion sensor (30) that transmits an information signal at a transmission rate that varies as a function of the variable motion signal. The badge (26) may be configured to provide fault tolerant reception by transmitting information in packets including periodic error codes.
160 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A badge configured to locate and track an asset in a hospital, the badge comprising:
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a motion sensor configured to generate a first signal that corresponds to a speed of movement of the asset through the hospital; and
a transmitter coupled to the motion sensor to receive the first signal therefrom, the transmitter being further configured to periodically transmit a second signal at any one of at least three different transmission intervals that correspond to the first signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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- 4. The badge of claim l, wherein the motion sensor includes a first accelerometer that is configured to respond to a first acceleration of the asset along a first axis and a second accelerometer that is configured to respond to a second acceleration of the asset along a second axis.
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13. A system configured to locate and track an asset in a hospital, the system comprising:
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a motion sensor configured to generate a motion signal that corresponds to a speed of movement of the asset through the hospital, the motion sensor including a first accelerometer that is configured to respond to a first acceleration of the asset along a first axis and a second accelerometer that is configured to respond to a second acceleration of the asset along a second axis, the motion sensor further configured to include in the motion signal a plurality of first pulses having a duty cycle that is proportional to the first acceleration of the asset and a plurality of second pulses having a duty cycle that is proportional to the second acceleration of the asset; and
a transmitter coupled to the motion sensor to receive the motion signal therefrom, the transmitter being further configured to periodically transmit an identification code on an infrared carrier at any one of at least three different transmission intervals that correspond to the motion signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A method for locating and tracking an asset in a hospital, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating a first signal that corresponds to a speed of movement of the asset through the hospital; and
periodically transmitting a second signal at any one of at least three different transmission intervals that correspond to the first signal. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method for fault-tolerant reception of a message packet in a hospital locating and tracking system, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) checking for a synchronization signal;
(b) receiving a first set of data bits;
(c) receiving a first error code;
(d) determining whether the first error code agrees with the first set of data bits;
(e) checking for a stop signal upon a determination that the first error code agrees with the first set of data bits;
(f) repeating steps (a)-(d) upon a determination that the first error code does not agree with the first set of data bits;
(g) upon a determination that the stop signal has not been received;
receiving a second set of data bits;
receiving a second error code;
determining whether the second error code agrees with the second set of data bits;
checking for the stop signal upon a determination that the second error code agrees with the second set of data bits;
repeating steps (a)-(g) upon a determination that the second error code does not agree with the second set of data bits; and
(h) constructing a message packet that includes the first set of data bits and the second set of data bits upon a determination that the stop signal has been received. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. An apparatus for fault-tolerant reception of a message packet in a hospital locating and tracking system, the apparatus comprising:
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a receiver configured to (a) check for a synchronization signal;
(b) receive a first set of data bits;
(c) receive a first error code;
(d) determine whether the first error code agrees with the first set of data bits;
(e) check for a stop signal upon a determination that the first error code agrees with the first set of data bits;
(f) repeat operations (a)-(d) upon a determination that the first error code does not agree with the first set of data bits;
(g) upon a determination that the stop signal has not been received;
receive a second set of data bits;
receive a second error code;
determine whether the second error code agrees with the second set of data bits;
check for the stop signal upon a determination that the second error code agrees with the second set of data bits;
repeat operations (a)-(g) upon a determination that the second error code does not agree with the second set of data bits; and
(h) construct a message packet that includes the first set of data bits and the second set of data bits upon a determination that the stop signal has been received. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40)
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41. A badge for locating and tracking a hospital asset, including:
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a motion sensor coupled to the asset that generates a first motion signal when the asset moves at a first speed and a second motion signal when the asset moves at a second speed; and
a transmitter coupled to the motion sensor, the transmitter transmitting an information signal at a first transmission rate in response to the first motion signal and at a second transmission rate in response to the second motion signal. - View Dependent Claims (42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A badge for locating and tracking a hospital asset, including:
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a motion sensor carried by the asset that generates a motion signal when the asset is in motion, the motion signal varying with changes in the speed of the moving asset; and
a transmitter coupled to the motion sensor that transmits an information signal at a transmission rate that varies as a function of the variable motion signal. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49)
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Specification