TRACEABLE RECORD GENERATION SYSTEM AND METHOD USING WIRELESS NETWORKS

• US 20080089313A1
• Filed: 10/11/2007
• Published: 04/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Quartex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Quartex Incorporated
• Inventors: Brykowski, Derek J., Cayo, Jerald M., O'Neill, Terrence J.
• Application Number:
  US11/870,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20080089313A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/345
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/106 using time related information in packets, e.g. by adding timestamps
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring

Abstract

A data center in communication with a plurality of remote wireless clocks of a network comprises a server in communication with the network. The server is operable to send time information and non-time information through the network to a remote wireless clock among the remote wireless clocks. The server is also operable to receive status information through the network from the remote wireless clock, generate a traceable record based on the received status information, store the traceable record in a database, and host a software application for remote access by a user. The software application is operable to provide a plurality of functions associated with the remote wireless clock. The server is further operable to selectively output at least one of the time information, the non-time information, and the traceable record.

Claims

1. A data center in communication with a plurality of remote wireless clocks of a network, the data center comprising:

a server in communication with the network, the network including a wireless access point, the server operable to send time information and non-time information through the network to a remote wireless clock among the remote wireless clocks,

the server operable to receive status information through the network from the remote wireless clock,

the server operable to generate a traceable record based on the received status information and to store the traceable record in a database,

the server operable to host a software application for remote access by a user, the software application operable to provide a plurality of functions associated with the remote wireless clock, and

the server operable to selectively output at least one of the time information, the non-time information, and the traceable record.

2. The data center of claim 1, wherein the traceable record includes a time stamp associated with an operation of the remote wireless clock.

3. The data center of claim 2, wherein the time stamp includes a date and a time of a status change of the remote wireless clock.

4. The data center of claim 1, wherein the remote wireless clock is a module of a medical device.

5. The data center of claim 4, wherein the traceable record includes information regarding an operation performed by the medical device and a time stamp associated with the operation of the medical device.

6. The data center of claim 1, wherein the remote wireless clock is a module of an alarm system.

7. The data center of claim 6, wherein the traceable record includes information regarding a status change of the alarm system and a time stamp associated with the status change.

8. The data center of claim 1, wherein the data center is operated by a hosted software provider.

9. A method of operating a data center in communication with a plurality of remote wireless clocks of a network, the data center including a server operable to host a software application for remote access by a user, the method comprising:

sending, by the server, time information and non-time information through the network to a remote wireless clock among the remote wireless clocks;

receiving, by the server, status information through the network from the remote wireless clock;

reporting, by the server, condition information to a remote user via the software application, based at least in part on the status information; and

executing, by the server, a plurality of functions associated with the remote wireless clock via the software application.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the status information includes position information associated with the remote wireless clock.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the status information includes environment information associated with the remote wireless clock.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the status information includes time drift information associated with the remote wireless clock.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the remote wireless clock is a module of a device, and wherein the status information includes usage information associated with the device.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the remote wireless clock is a module of a medical device, and wherein the condition information includes a time stamp associated with an operation of the medical device.

15. A time keeping device configured for use with a server via a wireless network, the time keeping device comprising:

a portable power source;

a central control unit coupled to the portable power source and including a transceiver, the transceiver configured to receive time information and non-time information from the server via the wireless network and configured to send status information through the wireless network, the status information including a power source life, the central control unit operable to track an operating time of the portable power source, without monitoring a voltage of the portable power source, to determine the power source life; and

a display coupled to the portable power source and the central control unit, the display operable to display at least one of the time information and the non-time information.

16. The time keeping device of claim 15, wherein the central control unit is operable to track the operating time of the portable power source by measuring a period of time since the power source was put in service.

17. The time keeping device of claim 15, wherein the central control unit is operable to track the operating time of the portable power source by multiplying amps per hour used of the portable power source and number of hours of use of the portable power source.

18. The time keeping device of claim 15, wherein, when the power source life falls below a predetermined threshold, the transceiver is operable to send an alert to the server to remotely notify a user.

19. The time keeping device of claim 15, wherein the portable power source includes at least one lithium-based battery.

20. The time keeping device of claim 15, further comprising a light sensor operable to detect when the time keeping device is located in a dark environment.

21. The time keeping device of claim 20, wherein the display includes an analog clock display, and wherein, when the time keeping device is located in the dark environment, the central control unit disables movement of a second hand of the analog clock display.

22. The time keeping device of claim 15, wherein the power source life is monitorable by a remote user via the server.