System and method for automatically generating, collecting, monitoring and acting on information in an institutional setting

• US 20060158308A1
• Filed: 01/04/2006
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Benjamin Clayton Arthur Mcmullen, Claire Renee Slusarz, Mariah Leigh Wright, Nicholas Andrew Pirc
• Original Assignee: Benjamin Clayton Arthur Mcmullen, Claire Renee Slusarz, Mariah Leigh Wright, Nicholas Andrew Pirc
• Inventors: Pirc, Nicholas Andrew, Slusarz, Claire Renee, Wright, Mariah Leigh, McMullen, Benjamin Clayton Arthur
• Application Number:
  US11/325,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20060158308A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.610
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management

Abstract

This invention relates to methods and system for wireless data capture and transaction processing in institutional environments in which time-sensitive actions can be automated and decision made based on real-time or near real-time information about the location and/or status of people and objects.

Claims

1. A system for automatically generating, gathering, transmitting, storing, and analyzing information in institutional environments, comprised of

one or more RFID tags placed on one or more items or persons,

one or more RFID readers located within the institutional environment capable of generating and receiving signals from at least one RFID tag,

one or more controllers capable of receiving signals from at least one RFID reader, on which are stored

one or more databases containing information about the environment, and

one or more software programs including decision rules and capable of performing one or more analyses or functions associated with activities in the institutional environment.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the signals from at least one RFID tag uniquely identify the person or item with which such RFID tag is associated.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein said RFID readers are located so as to be able to read the RFID tags of persons entering or exiting a particular building room or space.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said database is able to be updated to show the attendance, presence or status of a particular person or item in a particular building, room, space or location.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a controller that includes a clock mechanism capable of time-stamping signals received from an RFID reader.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein the signals from RFID tags indicate a particular person taking physical control of a particular item.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said item is a library book, musical instrument or container of food.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein an account associated with said particular person is charged a specified amount associated with said item.

9. They system of claim 4 further comprising means for reporting the presence or status of particular persons or items in particular locations to system administrators.

10. The system of claim 4 further comprising means for sending signals from said controller through particular RRID readers to particular RFID tags to cause certain desired actions to be taken.

11. A method for automatically generating, gathering, transmitting, storing and analyzing information in an institutional environment by

generating and receiving signals containing information specific to the bearer of one or more RFID tags,

reading said signals,

forwarding said signals to a controller,

identifying a specific RFID tag from which a given signal was received, and

storing said signal in a database.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising applying relevant decision rules to information contained in said signal.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising generating a response or order based on such decision rules.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising performing a function based on such response or order.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising creating and sending a report of the process to an administrative authority.

16. A locker system comprised of

a locker with a locking and unlocking mechanism that can be activated by radio signals

an RFID tag

an RFID reader

a controller containing a database and one or more software programs including decision rules and capable of generating a signal to lock or unlock said locker.

17. The locker system of claim 16 wherein said database is capable of storing information identifying the individual to whom the locker is assigned and said software program is capable of identifying a signal from an RFID tag worn by such individual and generating a signal to lock or unlock said locker.

18. The locker system of claim 17 wherein the presence of a specified RFID tag within a specified proximity of said locker causes said software program to generate a signal to unlock said locking mechanism on said locker.

19. The locker system of claim 17 wherein the movement of a specified RFID tag from within a specified proximity of said locker causes said software program to generate a signal to lock said locking mechanism on said locker.