Identification and tracking of information stored on radio frequency identification devices

• US 20060220787A1
• Filed: 03/01/2006
• Published: 10/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harvey L. Kasdan, Richard H. Turner
• Original Assignee: Harvey L. Kasdan, Richard H. Turner
• Inventors: Turner, Richard H., Kasdan, Harvey L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,692,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.610
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range

Abstract

A method and apparatus for detecting and tracking an object within a defined area, and determining its position, status, movement and identity therein, includes interrogating the defined area to communicate with an information device associated with an object and transmit information received to a master controller unit, which determines the object'"'"'s presence, position, status, movement and identity within the defined area. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or the meaning of the claims.

Claims

1. A method of tracking a patient specimen, comprising:

reading patient information stored on a first information device associated with a patient;

reading specimen collection information stored on a second information device associated with an order for a patient'"'"'s specimen collection;

writing the patient information and specimen collection information to a third information device associated with at least one specimen collection vessel so that each at least one specimen collection vessel is associated with the patient and the order for the patient'"'"'s specimen collection; and

transferring the patient information and the specimen collection information from the third information device stored on the at least one specimen collection vessel to a fourth information device associated with at least one specimen analysis device, so that each at least one specimen analysis device is associated with the patient and the order for the patient'"'"'s specimen collection.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising writing additional information to the third information device, the additional information including at least one of a time of transfer of patient information and specimen collection information to the specimen collection vessel, a location from which a patient'"'"'s specimen is transferred, a location of the specimen collection vessel, information describing a handling party, information describing the specimen analysis device, and descriptive information of circumstances of transfer to the specimen collection vessel.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting the patient information, the specimen collection information, and the additional information to a master controller unit for storing and tracking the patient information, the specimen collection information, and the additional information.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising writing the patient information and specimen collection information to a plurality of third information devices each associated with one of a plurality of specimen collection vessels, so that each one specimen collection vessel in the plurality of specimen collection vessels is associated with the patient and the order for the patient'"'"'s specimen collection.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising sensing at least one result produced by the specimen analysis device and writing the at least one result to the fourth information device.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising transmitting the patient information, the specimen collection information, and at least one result of the specimen collection analysis device to a master controller unit for storing and tracking the patient information, the specimen collection information, and the at least one result of the specimen collection analysis device.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the reading patient information stored on a first information device associated with a patient further comprises interrogating the first information device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the reading specimen collection information stored on a second information device associated with an order for a patient'"'"'s specimen collection further comprises interrogating the second information device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the transferring the patient information and the specimen collection information from the third information device stored on the at least one specimen collection vessel to a fourth information device associated with at least one specimen analysis device further comprises interrogating the third information device and writing the patient information, the specimen collection information, and the additional information to the fourth information device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the information describing the specimen analysis device includes a time of transfer of information to the specimen analysis device, a location of the specimen analysis device, descriptive information of circumstances of transfer to the specimen analysis device, and a location of the specimen analysis device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising tracking the patient information, the specimen collection information, the additional information, and information describing the specimen analysis device as a patient'"'"'s specimen, a specimen collection vessel, and a specimen analysis device are moved between a plurality of different locations.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein at least one interrogation device performs interrogating the first information device, interrogating the second information device, and interrogating the third information device.

13. The method of claims 1 or 2, wherein the reading patient information and the reading the specimen collection information further comprise interrogating a radio frequency identification tag.

14. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the specimen collection information indicates the type of patient specimen to be taken.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the patient specimen includes biological matter of the patient.

16. An apparatus for tracking a patient specimen, comprising:

a plurality of information devices including;

a first information device associated with a patient and having stored thereon patient information;

a second information device associated with an order for a patient'"'"'s specimen collection and having stored thereon specimen collection information;

a third information device associated with at least one specimen collection vessel;

at least one interrogation device capable of communication with the plurality of information devices, the at least one interrogation device reading the patient information from the first information device and the specimen collection information from the second information device, writing the patient information and the specimen collection information to the third information device associated with an at least one specimen collection vessel, and transmitting the patient information and the specimen collection information from the third information device stored on the at least one specimen collection vessel to a fourth information device associated with at least one specimen analysis device, so that each at least one specimen analysis device is associated with the patient and the order for the patient'"'"'s specimen collection.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein additional information is written to the third information device, the additional information including at least one of a time of transfer of patient information and specimen collection information to the specimen collection vessel, a location from which a patient'"'"'s specimen is transferred, a location of the specimen collection vessel, information describing a handling party, and descriptive information of circumstances of transfer to the specimen collection vessel.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the additional information written to the fourth information device includes information describing the specimen analysis device, the information describing the specimen analysis device comprising a time of transfer of information to the specimen analysis device, a location of the specimen analysis device, descriptive information of circumstances of transfer to the specimen analysis device, and a location of the specimen analysis device.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising tracking the patient information, the specimen collection information, the additional information, and information describing the specimen analysis device as a patient'"'"'s specimen, a specimen collection vessel, and a specimen analysis device are moved between a plurality of different locations.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a sensor coupled to the at least one specimen analysis device, wherein a result produced by the at least one specimen analysis device is sensed by the sensor and written to the fourth information device.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a master controller unit having a memory, the patient information, the specimen collection information, the additional information, and the information describing the specimen analysis device being transmitted to the master controller unit by the interrogation device for storing in the memory and tracking the patient information, the specimen collection information, the additional information, and the information describing the specimen analysis device.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising a master controller unit having a memory, the patient information, the specimen collection information, the additional information, the information describing the specimen analysis device, and the result produced by the at least one specimen analysis device being transmitted to the master controller unit by the interrogation device for storing in the memory and tracking the patient information, the specimen collection information, the additional information, the information describing the specimen analysis device, and the result.

23. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of information devices are radio frequency identification tags.

24. The apparatus of claims 16 or 17, wherein the specimen collection information indicates the type of patient specimen to be taken.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the patient specimen includes biological matter of the patient.

26. A method for tracking custody of evidence, comprising:

writing identification information to a first information device associated with an evidence collection vessel;

interrogating the first information device associated with the evidence collection vessel to obtain the identification information when the evidence collection vessel moves from a first location to at least one other location;

confirming custody of the evidence collection vessel; and

writing the identification information to a second information device associated with a piece of evidence stored in the evidence collection vessel.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein an interrogation device at the at least one other location interrogates the information device associated with the evidence collection vessel.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising transmitting the identification information to a master controller unit and storing the identification information on a memory in the master controller unit.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising writing the identification information to a plurality of second information devices, each information device in the plurality of second information devices associated with a piece of evidence stored in the evidence collection vessel.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the writing identification information to a first information device and the writing the identification information to a second information device further comprise writing the identification information to radio frequency identification tags, each of the first and second information devices comprising radio frequency identification tags.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the one location and the at least one other location each have an interrogation device and a master controller unit for reading and writing identification information.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the confirming the custody of the evidence collection vessel includes generating chain of custody information by comparing the identification information associated with the evidence collection vessel at the first location to the identification information associated with the evidence collection vessel at the at least one other location.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising transmitting the identification information and the chain of custody information to a master controller unit and storing the identification information and chain of custody information on a memory in the master controller unit for tracking the piece of evidence as it moves from the first location to the at least one other location.

34. An apparatus for tracking custody of evidence, comprising:

a first information device associated with an evidence collection vessel;

a first interrogation device for receiving identification information from a center and transmitting the identification information to the first information device;

an additional interrogation device capable of reading the identification information on the first information device when the evidence collection vessel is moved from a first location to at least one other location, the additional interrogation device positioned at the least one other location and certifying custody of the evidence collection vessel;

an additional information device associated with a piece of evidence in the evidence collection vessel; and

a master controller unit controlling transmission of the identification information to the additional information device when the piece of evidence is removed from the evidence collection vessel to maintain custody of the piece of evidence.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the master controller unit controls the first interrogation device to receive identification information from the center and to transmit the identification information to the first information device, and controls the additional information device to read identification information on the first information device when the evidence collection vessel moves from the first location to the at least one other location.

36. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein a plurality of information devices includes the first information device and the additional information device, each information device in the plurality of information devices being associated with a piece of evidence.

37. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the evidence collection vessel comprises a plurality of pieces of evidence.

38. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein a plurality of information devices includes the first information device and the additional information device, each information device in the plurality of information devices being a radio frequency identification tag.

39. The apparatus of claim 36, wherein the identification information is tracked as the piece of evidence is moved between a plurality of different locations.

40. A method of obtaining calibration information for analysis of chemical compositions, comprising:

sensing an information device associated with a first reagent in a plurality of reagents when the first reagent is placed within an instrument for analysis;

interrogating the first information device;

reading calibration information related to response characteristics of the first reagent and stored on the first information device; and

transmitting the calibration information to an instrument to substantially increase accuracy in determining a response of the first reagent in a chemical reaction.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising reading calibration information related to response characteristics of each reagent in a plurality of reagents, each reagent in the plurality of reagents having a information device having calibration information stored thereon, and transmitting the calibration information of each reagent in the plurality of reagents to an instrument to substantially increase accuracy in determining a response of each reagent in the plurality of reagents in a chemical reaction.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising transmitting the calibration information to a master controller unit for tracking the calibration information and storing the calibration information in a memory unit.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising tracking the plurality of reagents as they move between a plurality of different locations.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein each information device is a radio frequency identification tag.

45. The method of claim 40, wherein the sensing an information device associated with a first reagent in a plurality of reagents when the first reagent is placed within an instrument for analysis further comprises a sensor coupled to the first reagent.

46. The method of claim 41, wherein each reagent in the plurality of reagents includes a sensor coupled to the reagent.

47. A calibration apparatus, comprising:

a sensor for sensing the presence of an information device associated with a first reagent in a plurality of reagents when the first reagent is placed within an instrument for analysis;

an interrogation device for interrogating the first information device to read calibration information related to response characteristics of the first reagent stored on the first information device and for transmitting the calibration information to the instrument to substantially increase accuracy in determining a response of the first reagent in a chemical reaction; and

a master controller unit for storing and tracking the calibration information associated with each reagent in the plurality of reagents.

48. The apparatus of claim 47, wherein each reagent in the plurality of reagents is associated with an information device having calibration information stored thereon, the calibration information of each reagent in the plurality of reagents being transmitted to an instrument to substantially increase accuracy in determining a response of each reagent in the plurality of reagents in a chemical reaction.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, wherein the master controller unit tracks the plurality of reagents as they move between a plurality of different locations.

50. The apparatus of claim 49, wherein each information device is a radio frequency identification tag.

51. The apparatus of claim 50, wherein each reagent in the plurality of reagents includes a sensor coupled to the reagent.

52. A method of tracking information, comprising:

transferring identification information between a plurality of information devices, the identification information including a time of transfer, a location from transfer, a location to transfer, information describing a person handling a transfer, and descriptive information of circumstances of transfer, wherein at least one interrogation device interrogates an information device in the plurality of information devices, reads the identification information, and transfers the identification information to another information device in the plurality of information devices through at least one master controller unit.

53. The method of claim 52, further comprising comparing identification information stored on one information device within the plurality of information devices with identification information stored on another information device in the plurality of information devices to ensure accuracy of identification information between information devices.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein different information devices in the plurality of information devices are located at different locations, so that identification information is transferred from a first location to a second location.

55. The method of claim 54, further comprising comparing identification information at the first location with identification information at the second location to ensure accuracy of the identification information between different locations.