Universal communications, monitoring, tracking, and control system for a healthcare facility
First Claim
1. An asset management and communication system for a healthcare facility, including:
- a server coupled to a database;
a plurality of tags coupled to a corresponding plurality of assets, each tag being configured to transmit a tag ID that is uniquely associated in the database with asset data describing the corresponding asset;
a first network coupled to the server including a plurality of first transceivers configured to receive the tag IDs and transmit the tag IDs and a transceiver ID to the server via the first network, whereby, in response to receipt of a tag ID and a transceiver ID from a transceiver, the server is configured to update the database with location information for the asset corresponding to the tag ID to indicate that the corresponding asset is adjacent the transceiver;
a second network coupled to the server including a plurality of access points; and
a plurality of portable client devices, each client device including a display and a transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit to the server via one of the plurality of access points a client device ID that is uniquely associated in the database with a user of the client device, whereby, in response to receipt of the client device ID, the server is configured to update the database with location information for the user to indicate that the user is within a reception range of the one access point.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for a facility including a server coupled to a database, a plurality of tags coupled to a plurality of assets, each tag being configured to transmit a tag ID that is uniquely associated in the database with data describing the asset, a plurality of first transceivers for receiving tag IDs and transmitting the tag IDs and a transceiver ID to the server, which is configured to update the database with location information for the asset to indicate that the asset is adjacent the transceiver, and a plurality of portable client devices configured to wirelessly transmit to the server a client device ID that is uniquely associated in the database with a user of the client device, whereby, in response to receipt of the client device ID, the server is configured to update the database with location information for the user to indicate a location of the user.
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Citations
99 Claims
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1. An asset management and communication system for a healthcare facility, including:
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a server coupled to a database;
a plurality of tags coupled to a corresponding plurality of assets, each tag being configured to transmit a tag ID that is uniquely associated in the database with asset data describing the corresponding asset;
a first network coupled to the server including a plurality of first transceivers configured to receive the tag IDs and transmit the tag IDs and a transceiver ID to the server via the first network, whereby, in response to receipt of a tag ID and a transceiver ID from a transceiver, the server is configured to update the database with location information for the asset corresponding to the tag ID to indicate that the corresponding asset is adjacent the transceiver;
a second network coupled to the server including a plurality of access points; and
a plurality of portable client devices, each client device including a display and a transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit to the server via one of the plurality of access points a client device ID that is uniquely associated in the database with a user of the client device, whereby, in response to receipt of the client device ID, the server is configured to update the database with location information for the user to indicate that the user is within a reception range of the one access point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. An asset management system for a healthcare facility, including:
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a workstation;
a database coupled to the workstation;
a plurality of tags coupled to a corresponding plurality of assets, each tag being configured to transmit a tag ID that is uniquely associated in the database with the corresponding asset; and
a plurality of transceivers positioned at fixed locations in the facility, each transceiver being configured to receive tag IDs and to transmit the tag IDs to the workstation with a transceiver ID that is uniquely associated in the database with the location of the transceiver, thereby enabling the workstation to update location data in the database to indicate that the corresponding assets are adjacent the transceiver location;
wherein the workstation further includes an interface configured to read ID signals from tags, an input device for entering asset data describing the corresponding assets for storage in the database, and a display configured to display the location data. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. An asset management and control system for a healthcare facility, including:
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a computer coupled to a database;
a plurality of tags coupled to a corresponding plurality of assets, each tag being configured to transmit a tag ID that is uniquely associated in the database with the corresponding asset;
a first sensor configured for mounting adjacent an opening through a barrier between a first area and a second area, the first sensor being coupled to the computer and configured to receive tag IDs from tags as corresponding assets are passed through the opening, and to transmit signals to the computer indicating the tag IDs, the computer determining from the transmitted signals that the corresponding assets moved into one of the first area and the second area. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62)
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63. An asset management and communication system for a healthcare facility, including:
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a server coupled to a database;
a plurality of tags coupled to a corresponding plurality of assets, each tag being configured to transmit a tag ID that is uniquely associated in the database with asset data describing the corresponding asset; and
a plurality of portable client devices, each client device including a display and an interface for receiving the tag IDs, each client device responding to receipt of a tag ID by wirelessly transmitting the tag ID via a network to the server to access the associated asset data for viewing on the display. - View Dependent Claims (64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82)
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83. A communication system for a healthcare facility, including:
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a server coupled to a database;
a network coupled to the server; and
a plurality of portable client devices, each client device including a display and a transceiver configured to wirelessly transmit to the server via the network ID information corresponding to a current user, the server logging the current user in to the system if the ID information corresponds to one of a list of authorized users stored in the database and transmitting data representing any other users logged in to the system to the client device for viewing on the display. - View Dependent Claims (84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97)
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98. An asset management and communications system for a healthcare facility, including:
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a server coupled to a database;
a plurality of tags associated with a corresponding plurality of assets, each tag having a unique ID;
a plurality of sensors, each sensor configured to read the tag IDs of tags adjacent the sensor and to transmit a signal to the server indicating that the tags are adjacent the sensor, thereby permitting the server to update the database with location information indicating that the tags are adjacent a known location of the sensor; and
a plurality of portable client devices coupled to the server via access points positioned at known locations within the facility, each client device including a transceiver configured to transmit a unique ID signal to the server via an access point, thereby permitting the server to update the database with location information indicating that the client device is within a reception range of the access point;
the client device transceivers being further configured to access the tag location information in the database.
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99. An asset management and communication system for a heathcare facility, including:
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means for storing information;
a plurality of tag means coupled to a corresponding plurality of assets for transmitting means for uniquely identifying an asset associated in the information storing means with asset data describing the corresponding asset;
means for receiving the asset identifying means;
means for transmitting the asset identifying means to the information storing means;
means for updating the information storing means with asset location data based upon receipt of the asset identifying means from the transmitting means;
a plurality of means for communicating, each communicating means including means for communicating with other communicating means, means for accessing data stored in the information storing means, and means for transmitting an identification signal to the updating means, the updating means responding to the identification signal by updating the information storing means with additional location data;
means, coupled to the information storing means, for sensing movement of assets through a barrier between two areas;
means, coupled to the information storing means, for writing information to the tag means; and
means, coupled to the information storing means, for displaying data stored in the information storing means.
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Specification