Method and apparatus for optimized work flow monitoring
First Claim
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1. A method of monitoring work flow of a resource, comprising:
- defining a work flow describing an expected work path of the resource, the work flow comprising a sequence of a plurality of defined work zones;
monitoring the location of a wireless tag associated with a defined resource type and attached to a resource being a member of the defined resource type;
when the monitored location of the wireless tag moves from a first work zone to a second work zone, determining if the second work zone sequentially follows the first work zone in the sequence of work zones;
if the second work zone does not sequentially follow the first work zone in the sequence of work zones, associating the monitored location of the wireless tag with the first zone; and
if the second work zone sequentially follows the first work zone, associating the monitored location of the wireless tag with the second zone.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for monitoring work flow of a resource is disclosed. The method accounts for the expected work flow of the resource in determining the location of the resource as well as dwell times at each work zone.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring work flow of a resource, comprising:
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defining a work flow describing an expected work path of the resource, the work flow comprising a sequence of a plurality of defined work zones; monitoring the location of a wireless tag associated with a defined resource type and attached to a resource being a member of the defined resource type; when the monitored location of the wireless tag moves from a first work zone to a second work zone, determining if the second work zone sequentially follows the first work zone in the sequence of work zones; if the second work zone does not sequentially follow the first work zone in the sequence of work zones, associating the monitored location of the wireless tag with the first zone; and if the second work zone sequentially follows the first work zone, associating the monitored location of the wireless tag with the second zone. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for monitoring work flow of a resource, comprising:
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a wireless locating system having a plurality of tags; a receiver for receiving signals transmitted by the plurality of tags; a locating system for locating the tags based on the received signals, the locating system comprising a processor having a memory storing instructions comprising instructions for; accepting a defined a work flow describing an expected work path of the resource, the work flow comprising a sequence of a plurality of defined work zones; monitoring the location a wireless tag associated with a defined resource type and attached to a resource being a member of the defined resource type; when the monitored location of the wireless tag moves from a first work zone to a second work zone, determining if the second work zone sequentially follows the first work zone in the sequence of work zones; associating the monitored location of the wireless tag with the first zone if the second work zone does not sequentially follow the first work zone in the sequence of work zones; and associating the monitored location of the wireless tag with the second zone if the second work zone sequentially follows the first work zone. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus for monitoring work flow of a resource, comprising:
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means for defining a work flow describing an expected work path of the resource, the work flow comprising a sequence of a plurality of defined work zones; means for monitoring the location a wireless tag associated with a defined resource type and attached to a resource being a member of the defined resource type; means for determining when the monitored location of the wireless tag moves from a first work zone to a second work zone; means for determining if the second work zone sequentially follows the first work zone in the sequence of work zones when the monitored location of the wireless tag moves from a first work zone to a second work zone; means for associating the monitored location of the wireless tag with the first zone if the second work zone does not sequentially follow the first work zone in the sequence of work zones; and means for associating the monitored location of the wireless tag with the second zone if the second work zone sequentially follows the first work zone. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification