Wireless Tracking System And Method Utilizing Near-Field Communication Devices

• US 20110068892A1
• Filed: 09/18/2010
• Published: 03/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Clinical Patents, LLC (Halma PLC)
• Original Assignee: Awarepoint Corporation
• Inventors: Truscott, Anthony, Perkins, Matthew R.
• Application Number:
  US12/885,509
• Publication Number:
  US 20110068892A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/263 Multiple coils at either side
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system to determining a near-field communication interaction in a wireless tracking mesh network. The present invention preferably utilizes near-field communication devices in conjunction with tracking tags to transmit signals for reception by sensors stationed throughout a facility which form a mesh network and forward the signals to an information engine for analysis.

Claims

1. A system utilizing near-field communications, the system comprising:

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

a plurality of near-field communication devices, each of the plurality of near-field communication devices comprising a transceiver for transferring interaction data from one near-field communication device to another near-field communication device when the near-field communication devices are within a predetermined distance of each other, and a transceiver for transmitting a signal to at least one of the plurality of plug-in sensors, the signal comprising the interaction data and positioning data; and

an information engine in communication with the mesh network, the information engine processing the interaction data and positioning data.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the near-field communication data comprises a number of previous interactions between the near-field communication devices within a predetermined time period.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein a bearer of a near-field communication device is at least one of a medical professional, a patient, an asset, an object, an area of the facility, or a host for a tag.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the interaction data is used to authenticate a user for access to at least one of or a combination of a computer, a medical equipment, a protected area of the facility, a medication drawer, or a patient'"'"'s room.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the interaction data comprises at least one of or a combination of a previous location of the first bearer, a previous location of the second bearer, a current location of the first bearer, a current location of the second bearer, and a number of other objects located near the interaction.

6. A method utilizing near-field communications, the method comprising:

sensing for a near-field communication interaction;

verifying a near-field communication interaction;

recording data concerning the near-field communication interaction at least one of an interacting near-field communication device; and

transmitting the data concerning the near-field communication interaction over a mesh network.

7. The method according to claim 6 wherein the mesh network comprises a plurality of plug-in sensors.

8. The method according to claim 6 wherein the data concerning the near-field communication interaction is transmitted to an information engine for processing.

9. The method according to claim 6 wherein the near-field communication data comprises a number of previous interactions between the near-field communication devices within a predetermined time period.

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

a plurality of first near-field communication devices, each of the plurality of first near-field communication devices having bearer of the near-field communication device;

a plurality of second near-field communication devices, each of the plurality of second near-field communication devices representing an 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 obtaining data on a near-field communication interaction between either plurality of first near-field communication devices or at least one first near-field communication devices and a second object, the near-field communication interaction comprising a position location of the interaction and a duration of the interaction.

11. The system according to claim 10 wherein the second object is fixed or mobile.

12. The system according to claim 10 wherein the near-field communication data comprises a number of previous interactions between the near-field communication devices within a predetermined time period.

13. The system according to claim 10 wherein a bearer of a near-field communication device is at least one of a medical professional, a patient, an asset, an object, an area of the facility, or a host for a tag.

14. The system according to claim 10 wherein a near-field communication interaction occurs when the near-field communication devices are within a predetermined distance of each other.

15. The system according to claim 14 wherein the predetermined distance is less than one meter.

16. The system according to claim 10 wherein each of the plurality of second near-field communication devices comprises an RIFD tag for tracking of each of the objects within the facility.

17. The system according to claim 10 wherein the near-field communication interaction data further comprises a number of previous interactions between the first person and the second person within a predetermined time period.

18. The system according to claim 10 wherein each of the first plurality of near-field communication devices is mounted on a corresponding identification card or is an identification card.

19. The system according to claim 10 wherein the near-field communication interaction data further comprises at least one of or a combination of a previous location of the first object, a current location of the first object, a previous location of the second object, a current location of the second object, and the number of other objects located near the interaction.

20. The system according to claim 10 wherein the facility is a hospital.

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

transmitting a signal from a first near-field communication device associated with a first person;

receiving the signal from first near-field communication device at a second near-field communication device associated with a second person;

determining that a near-field communication interaction is occurring between the first person and the second person based on the signal;

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.

22. The method according to claim 21 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.

23. The method according to claim 21 further comprising receiving a signal from the first near-field communication device at a mesh network established within the facility.

24. The method according to claim 21 wherein a near-field communication interaction occurs when the near-field communication devices are within ten centimeters of each other.

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

a plurality of near-field communication devices, each of the plurality of near-field 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 a near-field communication interaction 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.

26. The system according to claim 25 wherein the information engine analyzes the near-field communication interaction to determine a billing charge for services of the first person.

27. The system according to claim 25 wherein the facility is a hospital and the information engine analyzes the near-field communication interaction to determine medical services provided to a patient.