Room Management System
First Claim
1. An apparatus for observing utilization of one or more rooms, comprising:
- at least one visibly indicating display adapted for location proximate a room and adapted for indicating at least one room status value selectable from a plurality of room status values;
a manually operable input device operatively coupled to said display and adapted for selecting said at least one room status value selected from said plurality of room status values; and
a timer operatively coupled to said input device, operatively coupled to said display, and adapted, with reference to said plurality of room status values, to select a predetermined second room status value when a predetermined time period has elapsed after a first room status value has been selected, except when a third room status value is selected from said plurality of room status values during said predetermined time period.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and method for managing utilization of rooms in a clinic, for example, include a visible display, for example, colored lights at an examining room, indicating one or more of several available room status values for the room. An input device including, e.g., push buttons, is coupled to the display and adapted for selecting the room status value. A timer coupled to the input device and display automatically changes the status value of a room when a predetermined time period has elapsed after the status value is first selected, except when a third room status value is selected. This feature notifies personnel if, for example, a patient has been left alone in a room too long. A central control provides a database to accumulate minute-by-minute utilization data of the clinic rooms and also programs to access and compute from the data the overall utilization by variable periods. This utilization data are useful for planning, reallocation and investment in new space.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for observing utilization of one or more rooms, comprising:
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at least one visibly indicating display adapted for location proximate a room and adapted for indicating at least one room status value selectable from a plurality of room status values; a manually operable input device operatively coupled to said display and adapted for selecting said at least one room status value selected from said plurality of room status values; and a timer operatively coupled to said input device, operatively coupled to said display, and adapted, with reference to said plurality of room status values, to select a predetermined second room status value when a predetermined time period has elapsed after a first room status value has been selected, except when a third room status value is selected from said plurality of room status values during said predetermined time period. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of managing utilization of one or more rooms, having the steps of:
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selecting proximate a room at least one first room status value selectable from a plurality of room status values; displaying proximate said first room said selected room status value; and automatically selecting a second room status value selectable from said plurality of room status values when a predetermined time period has elapsed after a first room status value has been selected, except when a third room status value is selected from said plurality of room status values during said predetermined time period. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification