Wireless Tracking System And Method For Analyzing An Interaction Between Objects

• US 20100256983A1
• Filed: 06/14/2009
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Centrak Incorporated (Halma PLC)
• Original Assignee: Awarepoint Corporation
• Inventors: Perkins, Matthew R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,285,564 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

The present invention provides a solution to determining an interaction between objects through wireless tracking. The present invention utilizes communication devices attached to objects that transmit signals for reception by sensors stationed throughout a facility which forward the signals to an information engine for analysis.

Claims

1. A system for determining a business relationship between individuals within a facility, the system comprising:

a plurality of first tags, each of the plurality of first tags representing a first object;

a plurality of second tags, each of the plurality of second tags representing a first object;

a mesh network comprising a plurality of plug-in sensors located within the facility; and

an information engine in communication with the mesh network, the information engine determining a business relationship between a first object and a second object having an interaction based on a plurality of factors comprising a position location of the interaction and a duration of the interaction.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the first object is fixed or mobile and the second object is mobile.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the first object is a group of objects and the second object is a group of objects.

4. The system according to claim 1 the first object is fixed and the second object is a group of objects.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the first object is mobile and the second object is a group of objects.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the first object is a group of mobile objects and the second object is a group of mobile objects.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the first object is a first person and the second object is a second person and the plurality of factors further comprises a position designation of the first person and a position designation of the second person.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the first object is a first person and the second object is a second person and the plurality of factors further comprises a number of previous interactions between the first person and the second person within a predetermined time period.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein each of the first plurality of tags is mounted on a corresponding identification card or is an identification card.

10. The system according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of factors further comprises a previous location of the first object, a previous location of the second object and the number of other objects located near the interaction.

11. A method for determining a business relationship between individuals within a facility, the method comprising:

transmitting a signal from a first tag associated with a first person;

transmitting a signal from a second tag associated with a second person;

determining that an interaction is occurring between the first person and the second person based on the signal from the first tag and the signal from the second tag;

determining a business relationship between the first person and the second person based on at least one of a plurality of factors comprising a position location of the interaction, a duration of the interaction, a previous location of the first person prior to the interaction, a previous location of the second person prior to the interaction and the number of other persons at the interaction.

12. The method according to claim 11 wherein the plurality of factors further comprises a position designation of the first person, a number of previous interactions between the first person and the second person within a predetermined time period, and a position designation of the second person.

13. The method according to claim 11 further comprising receiving the signal from the first tag and the signal from the second tag at a mesh network established within the facility.

14. The method according to claim 11 further comprising receiving the signal from the first tag at the second tag.

15. A system for determining a business relationship between individuals within a facility, the system comprising:

a plurality of peer-to-peer communication devices, each of the plurality of peer-to-peer communication devices associated with an individual person;

a plurality of tags, each of the plurality of tags representing a first object;

a mesh network comprising a plurality of plug-in sensors located within the facility; and

an information engine in communication with the mesh network, the information engine analyzing an interaction between a first object and a second object based on at least one of a plurality of factors comprising a position location of the interaction, a duration of the interaction, a previous location of the first person prior to the interaction, and information for a mobile object within a predetermined distance of the location of the interaction.

16. The system according to claim 15 wherein the information engine analyzes the interaction to determine a billing charge for services of the first person.

17. The system according to claim 15 wherein the facility is a hospital and the information engine analyzes the interaction to determine medical services provided to a patient.

18. A system for analyzing an action of an individual, the system comprising:

a plurality of tracking devices, each of the plurality of tracking devices associated with an individual person;

a plurality of tags, each of the plurality of tags associated with a mobile object;

a mesh network comprising a plurality of sensors positioned within a facility, the mesh network receiving transmissions from at least one of the plurality of tags and at least one of the plurality of tracking devices; and

an information engine in communication with the mesh network, the information engine analyzing an action of a first person based on at least one of a plurality of factors comprising a position location of the action, a duration of the action, a previous location of the first person prior to the action, and information for a mobile object within a predetermined distance of the location of the action.

19. The system according to claim 18 wherein the facility is a hospital and the information engine analyzes the action to determine medical services provided to a patient.

20. The system according to claim 18 wherein the information engine analyzes the action to determine a billing charge for services of the first person.