Hand washing enforcement system

• US 20120062382A1
• Filed: 09/19/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yordan Gineff Taneff
• Original Assignee: Yordan Gineff Taneff
• Inventors: Taneff, Yordan Gineff
• Granted Patent: US 9,030,325 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

Abstract

A hand cleansing monitoring system that electronically monitors and communicates hand washing frequency and procedures to management through a computer based system.

Claims

1. A Hand Washing Enforcement System based on a concept of using electronic units, communicating with each other through the use of RF (radiofrequency) waves, detectible within ten feet radius, whose built-in intelligence enables them to form decisions, on their own, without the help of an external device like a computer, when any individual must wash his/her hands in order to comply with existing rules and regulations.

Said Hand Washing Enforcement System comprises:

a. Means for monitoring hand washing practices through the use of electronic units utilizing RF (Radiofrequency) waves, detectable within a radius of ten feet, or less, as a medium of communicating with each other.

b. Means built within said electronic units of claim 1.a. giving them the capability of making determinations, on their own, through communicating with each other, and without the use of an external device like a computer, with regard to having any individual wash his/her hands in order to comply with existing rules and regulations, and, optionally, with regard to duration of hand washing process and compliance with hand rubbing techniques.

c. Means for storing and organizing the hand washing data.

d. At least one mobile RF Identification Unit, RFID, associated with any individual, used to transfer information among the rest of said electronic units of claim 1.a., or among the rest of said electronic units of claim 1.a., and said storing-and-organizing-hand-washing database of claim 1.c. above. Said RFID is worn by each employee. It holds the employee'"'"'s identification information, and his/her recent history of hygiene compliance.

e. At least one stationary RF Sanitization Unit-1, RFSU-1, which is used for washing one'"'"'s hands with cleansing substance and rinsing them, or no such unit(s) if only RFSU-2 of claim 1.g. below is required.

f. At least one stationary RF Sanitization Unit, RFSU-1, which is used for washing one'"'"'s hands with cleansing substance and rinsing them, and which is equipped with a Movement Monitoring System. Said Movement Monitoring System comprises;

1) means for monitoring movements, and

2) means for analyzing said movements of item 1.f.1) above.

Whereby, said Movement Monitoring System could, among an indefinite number of movement patterns, monitor and reinforce, by voice prompts, or any other means, the required movement patterns in step 1 through step 8 of a poster named “

How to Hand Rub”

, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization in soft copy on the Internet at http;

//www.who.int/gpsc/5may/How_To_HandRub_Poster.pdf, and in hard copies, for the purpose of having them prominently displayed for reference at any hand washing station, or no such unit(s), if not needed.

g. At least one stationary RF Sanitization Unit, RFSU-2, which is used for cleansing one'"'"'s hands with cleansing substance that does not require rinsing, or no such unit(s) if only RFSU-1 of claim 1.e. above is required.

h. At least one stationary RF Sanitization Unit, RFSU-2, which is used for cleansing one'"'"'s hands with cleansing substance that does not require rinsing, and which is equipped with a Movement Monitoring System. Said Movement Monitoring System comprises;

1) means for monitoring movements

2) means for analyzing said movements of item 1.h.1) above.

Whereby, said Movement Monitoring System could, among an indefinite number of movement patterns, monitor and reinforce, by voice prompts, or any other means, the required movement patterns in step 1 through step 8 of a poster named “

How to Hand Rub”

, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization in soft copy on the Internet at http;

//www.who.int/gpsc/5may/How_To_HandRub_Poster.pdf, and in hard copies, for the purpose of having them prominently displayed for reference at any hand washing station, or no such unit(s), if not needed.

i. At least one stationary RF Door Unit, RFDU, used for detecting the entering, and exiting, through the main door of a facility, and/or the entering, and exiting, through the door of any contaminated area within said facility, or no such unit(s), if not needed.

j. At least one stationary RF Contamination Unit-1, RFCU-1, installed proximal to a patient'"'"'s bed in a healthcare facility requiring hand washing before, and after, an individual engages said RFCU-1, or no such unit(s), if not needed.

k. Optionally, at least one stationary RF Bed Unit, RFBU, installed proximal to a patient'"'"'s bed in a healthcare facility, for the purpose of ensuring that anybody who is treating, or is in close proximity with, said patient has complied with required hygiene regulations of washing his/her hands before and after engaging said RFBU, and for the purpose of communicating with said RFPU of claim 1.l. below in order to upgrade said RFPU'"'"'s status, or no such unit(s), if not needed.

l. Optionally, at least one mobile RF Patient Unit, RFPU, associated with a patient in a healthcare facility, which is used for the purpose of upgrading the patient status as needed through using the information received from said RFBU of claim 1.k. above, and which is used for the purpose of forwarding said information to said storing-and-organizing-hand-washing database of claim 1.c. above, or no such unit(s), if not needed.

m. At least one stationary RF Contamination Unit-2, RFCU-2, installed proximal to an object, like urinals, toilet bowls, contaminated equipment, etc., that requires hand washing after an individual disengages said object, or no such unit(s), if not needed.

n. Optionally, means built within said electronic units of claim 1.a., giving them capability of emitting detectable RF waves within a radius of ten feet, or less, wherein the exclusive use of said detectable RF waves generated by said electronic units within a radius of ten feet is claimed within the context of this invention only.

o. Optionally, a sensor(s), having the means of detecting if a certain contaminated object, or equipment, has been cleaned properly. The object'"'"'s, or equipment'"'"'s ID, together with the person'"'"'s RFID, will be recorded at the time and day said object, or equipment, was cleaned, and subsequently, said data will be transferred to the data base.

p. Optionally, means built within said electronic units of claim 1.a., giving them capability of monitoring, and enforcing proper hygiene for the visitors of any establishment.

q. Optionally, all RF communication units having means to be active, or passive, or any combination thereof as technology allows.

r. Optionally, a sensor(s), having the means of detecting humidity, or any other substance associated with human incontinence, in a patient'"'"'s bed or chair in a hospital, or any other healthcare facility, which in combination with visual and/or audible alerts, connected to the nurse'"'"'s station, could enforce timely change of diapers and bed pads.

s. Optionally, means built within said RFID of claim 1.d. above, wherein all identification cards, issued to any employee for purposes other than the present invention, could be integrated within said RFID of claim 1.d.

Whereby, the management of any establishment and/or governmental agencies, charged with overseeing said establishment, could monitor employees of said establishment for use of proper hygiene while on the premises of said establishment through the use of said Hand Washing Enforcement System.

4. Said RFID of claim 1.d., and said RFPU of claim 1.l., having means to function as described in sub-item 4.f., and 4.g., respectively below, and comprising the following components:

a. Microcontroller.

b. Embedded database to store identification information, and the hygiene history of the employee.

c. RF transceiver with, an optional, embedded antenna.

d. An optional tri-color status light, flashing orange (in the rest room), alternating green/red (engaged with RFSU-1, or 2), flashing green (passed), and flashing red (failed).

e. Power supply. One embodiment of said power supply could be a battery system with one-year life span.

f. RFID of claim 1.d. possessing means to function as follows;

1) Communicating with the RFDU at every entry to get time-stamped.

2) Optionally, keeping track of the time while within the restroom.

3) Communicating with a minimum of one of said RFSU-1, or said RFSU-2, units of claim 1.e., 1.f., 1.g. and 1.h. in order to record the employee'"'"'s engagement with the hand washing process.

4) Receiving, and recording, a pass/fail status of compliance, or non-compliance, respectively, from at least one of said RFSU-1, and said RFSU-2 units of claims 1.e., 1.f., 1.g. and 1.h., and saving it for reporting.

5) Communicating with the RFDU at each exit and reporting its pass/fail status.

6) Upgrading its own status after analyzing its communications with said electronic units of claim 1.a., and reporting its change of status as needed to said storing-and-organizing-hand-washing database of claim 1.c.

g. Said RFPU of claim 1.l. possessing means to function as follows;

1. Communicating with RFBU of claim 1.k. in order to receive information in regard to its status.

2) Upgrading its status as needed, and forwarding it to said storing-and-organizing-hand-washing database of claim 1.c.

5. Said RFSU-1, and said RFSU-2 units of claim 1.e., 1.f., 1.g., and 1.h., having means to function as described in sub-item 5.m. below, and comprising the following components:

a. Microcontroller.

b. Embedded database to temporary store the monitored washing activities.

c. RF transmitter, or transceiver, with an optional internal antenna, for communicating with the RFID.

d. Interface circuit to control dispensation of any necessary substance.

e. Interface circuit for intelligent sensors.

f. An optional Distance Ranger.

g. An optional Interface circuit for any future input/output devices such as drivers for tankless heating system with temperature control

h. An optional Large back-lit LCD to display the name of the engaged person and the steps of the hand washing process.

i. An optional speaker for added audible messaging.

j. An optional programming port for upgrading and uploading.

k. The following optional components;

1) An elegant compartment design

2) A clear window to show the LCD display in an elegant fashion

3) A hidden mesh opening for audio speaker.

4) Various dispensation spouts for water, soap, or any other necessary substances.

l. Power supply. One embodiment of said power supply could be an AC-powered, automatic charger with a backup battery of one-month life.

m. Said RFSU-1, and RFSU-2, possessing means to function as follows;

1) Detecting the employee'"'"'s RFID (name, time stamps) once he/she is within an engagement distance.

2) optionally, said RFSU-1, welcoming the employee by name (LCD &

speaker) and walking him/her through the hand washing sequence, which is;

dispensing soap, monitoring of hand rubbing, while having trickling flow of water, either by utilizing a motion sensor only, or by utilizing a motion sensor and a distance ranger for monitoring the specific requirements of a poster named “

How to Hand Rub”

, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization in soft copy on the Internet at http;

//www.who.int/gpsc/5may/How_To_HandRub_Poster.pdf, and then rinsing the employee'"'"'s hands under full flow of water, all for programmable durations displayed for the employee in countdown timers. Again, optionally, said RFSU-2, having the same features and sequence as said RFSU-1, except that the use of water dispensation is unnecessary.

3) Communicating with the RFID at the end of the hand washing process to stamp it with pass/fail status.

4) Optionally, if the washing sequence is not completed, the engaged RFID is stamped with a fail status.

5) Optionally, generating the appropriate messages, either appreciating compliance or warning otherwise.

6. Said RFDU of claim 1.i., having means to function as described in sub-item 6.i. below, and comprising the following components:

a. Microcontroller.

b. Embedded database to store the hygiene history of all the employees that have engaged it, if needed.

c. RF transmitter, or transceiver, with an optional internal antenna, for communicating with the RFID.

d. Communication link to upload the hand washing activities of all the employees that have engaged it to the company'"'"'s main computer, if needed. This could be done through the use of USB, Ethernet, Phone, wireless, RFID, or others.

e. An optional large back-lit LCD to display names and the appropriate message of welcoming at each entrance or acknowledging compliance/warning at each exit.

f. An optional speaker for added audible messaging.

g. An optional tri-color status light, flashing orange (some employees in the rest room), flashing green (exiting employee passed), and flashing red (exiting employee failed).

h. Power supply. One embodiment of said power supply could be an AC-powered, automatic charger with a backup battery of one-month life.

i. Said RFDU possessing means to function as follows;

1) Detecting the employee'"'"'s RFID at every entry and, optionally, welcoming the employee by name via its LCD &

speaker

2) Communicating with the RFID at each exit and, optionally, transmitting the employee'"'"'s pass/fail status, and immediately generating message, either acknowledging compliance or warning otherwise.

3) Keeping a real-time log of all entries, exits, and hygiene history of all employees, if needed. Uploading the hand washing activities to the company'"'"'s main computers, if needed.

7. Said RFCU-1 of claim 1.j., and said RFBU of claim 1.k., having means to function as described in sub-item 7.f. below, and comprising the following components:

a. Microcontroller.

b. Embedded database for temporary storage of the monitored hand washing activities, if needed.

c. RF transmitter, or transceiver, with an optional internal antenna, for communicating with the RFID.

d. An optional speaker for added audible messaging.

e. Power supply. One embodiment of said power supply could be an AC-powered, automatic charger with a backup battery of one-month life.

f. Said RFCU-1, and said RFBU, possessing means to function as follows;

1) Assuring that anybody who is protected by said RFCU-1, like a patient in a healthcare facility, will be treated by a person with clean hands.

2) Detecting said employee'"'"'s RFID as soon as said RFID is within the sphere of engagement of said RFCU-1.

3) Approving the engagement with the RFID if the employee has washed his/her hands within a predetermined number of seconds before engaging it, and warning said employee to wash his/her hands within a predetermined number of seconds after disengaging it.

4) Warning the employee to wash his/her hands if he/she has not washed them within 10 seconds before engaging said RFCU-1.

5) Allowing more than one person to engage said RFCU-1 as long as said person(s) has washed his/her hands within a predetermined number of seconds before engaging it.

6) Optionally, keeping a real time log of all engagements for the last thirty days.

7) Said RFBU, in addition to the functionalities above, must be in constant communication with said RFPU of claim 1.l. in order to update said RFPU'"'"'s status as needed.

8. Said RFCU-2 of claim 1.i., having means to function as described in sub-item 8.f. below, and comprising the following components:

a. Microcontroller.

b. Embedded database to temporary store the monitored hand washing activities, if needed.

c. RF transmitter, or transceiver, with an optional internal antenna, for communicating with the RFID.

d. An optional speaker for added audible messaging.

e. Power supply. One embodiment of said power supply could be an AC-powered, automatic charger with a backup battery of one-month life.

f. Said RFCU-2 possessing means to function as follows;

1) Detecting the employee'"'"'s RFID as soon as the RFID is within the sphere of engagement of said RFCU-2.

2) Optionally, warning said employee to wash his/her hands within a predetermined number of seconds after disengaging said RFCU-2.

3) Optionally, allowing more than one person to engage said RFCU-2.

4) Optionally, keeping a real time log of all engagements for the last thirty days.

13. Said RFCU-1 of claim 9.e., and said RFBU of claim 9.f., having means to function as described in sub-item 7.f. below, and comprising the following components:

a. Microcontroller.

b. Embedded database for temporary storage of the monitored hand washing activities, if needed.

c. RF transmitter, or transceiver, with an optional internal antenna, for communicating with the RFID.

d. An optional speaker for added audible messaging.

e. Power supply. One embodiment of said power supply could be an AC-powered, automatic charger with a backup battery of one-month life.

f. Said RFCU-1, and said RFBU, possessing means to function as follows;

1) Assuring that anybody who is protected by said RFCU-1, like a patient in a healthcare facility, will be treated by a person with clean hands.

2) Detecting said employee'"'"'s RFID as soon as said RFID is within the sphere of engagement of said RFCU-1.

3) Approving the engagement with the RFID if the employee has washed his/her hands within a predetermined number of seconds before engaging it, and warning said employee to wash his/her hands within a predetermined number of seconds after disengaging it.

4) Warning the employee to wash his/her hands if he/she has not washed them within a predetermined number of seconds before engaging said RFCU-1.

5) Allowing more than one person to engage said RFCU-1 as long as said person(s) has washed his/her hands within a predetermined number of seconds before engaging it.

6) Optionally, keeping a real time log of all engagements for the last thirty days.

7) Said RFBU, in addition to the functionalities above, must be in constant communication with said RFPU of claim 1.l. in order to update said RFPU'"'"'s status as needed.

18. The Hand Washing Enforcement System of claim 1. having the means to function with the following algorithm for hand washing monitoring and enforcement, among many other algorithms:

a. Said RFID is approaching a contaminated area (for example a restroom) and now it is within the radius of communication of said RFDU mounted at the entrance or the doorway of said contaminated area.

b. Said RFDU transmits a signal to said RFID that it is in a contaminated area and proper hand washing is required before exiting said area. Said information is being stored in said RFID'"'"'s memory unit.

c. The person wearing said RFID must engage with said RFSU before exiting and follow the step by step requirements for proper hand washing. Only after following and completing said sequence, said RFSU transmits a signal to said RFID stamping it with a pass status.

d. When exiting the contaminated area, said RFID is interrogated again by said RFDU to verify its compliance status. Said status is stored in said RFDU for reporting to said database of claim 1.c., or said status is reported, real time, to said database of claim 1.c. by said RFID itself.

e. Optionally, In the event the RFID was stamped with a pass status, the RFDU would announce a greeting.

f. Optionally, In the event said RFID attempts to exit the contaminated area without engaging said RFSU or completing said cleaning process sequence, said RFDU will generate a warning to the person wearing said RFID to reenter and engage the cleaning process. In case of noncompliance said RFID will be stamped with a fail status, and a report will be forwarded to said database of claim 1.c.

19. Said RFSU-1, and said RFSU-2 of claims 1.f., and 1.h., wherein each one of them further comprises a distance ranger, and a motion detector, and wherein said distance ranger, and said motion detector provide means to said Movement Monitoring System of claims 1.f., and 1.h. to monitor the hand rubbing techniques required by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization.

2. A combination invention combining two known practices in prior art, i.e. the use of radio frequency communications, and the use of mobile radio frequency information transfer agents, and one unknown practice in prior art, which is the use of a Movement Monitoring System for monitoring the specific steps of hand rubbing techniques recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO) for hand washing, wherein said combination invention is being used for the purpose of enforcing the recommended hand washing hygiene by said organizations above, through the use of a Hand Washing Enforcement System comprising:

a. Means of monitoring of proper hygiene through the use of stationary units emitting radiofrequency (RF) waves.

b. Means of monitoring of proper hygiene through the use of a mobile unit(s), emitting radiofrequency (RF) waves, and acting as information transfer agent(s) between said stationary units of item 2.a. above, or acting as information transfer agent(s) between said stationary units of item 2.a. above and said database(s) of item 2.c. below.

c. Means of storing information into a database(s)

d. A Movement Monitoring System comprising;

1) means for monitoring movements, and

2) means for analyzing said movements of item 2.d.1) above.

Whereby, said Movement Monitoring System could, among an indefinite number of movement patterns, monitor and reinforce, by voice prompts, or any other means, the required movement patterns in step 1 through step 8 of a poster named “

How to Hand Rub”

, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization in soft copy on the Internet at http;

//www.who.int/gpsc/5may/How_To_HandRub_Poster.pdf, and in hard copies, for the purpose of having them prominently displayed for reference at any hand washing station, and

Whereby, the management of any establishment and/or governmental agencies, charged with overseeing said establishment, could monitor employees of said establishment for use of proper hygiene while on the premises of said establishment through the use of said Hand Washing Enforcement System.

OR

A combination invention combining two known practices in prior art, i.e. the use of radiofrequency (RF) communication, and the use of mobile RF information transfer agents for the purpose of enforcing hand washing compliance through the use of said Hand Washing Enforcement System comprising;

e. Means of monitoring of proper hygiene through the use of stationary units emitting radiofrequency (RF) waves.

f. Means of monitoring of proper hygiene through the use of a mobile unit(s), emitting radiofrequency (RF) waves, and acting as information transfer agent(s) between said stationary units of item 2.a. above, or acting as information transfer agent(s) between said stationary units of item 2.a. above and said data base(s) of item 2.c. below.

g. Means of storing information into a data base(s)

Whereby, the management of any establishment and/or governmental agencies, charged with overseeing said establishment, can monitor employees of said establishment for use of proper hygiene while on the premises of said establishment.

9. The Hand Washing Enforcement System recited in claim 2, further comprising at least one each of two, and optionally more, main hardware components, of which hardware component(s) RFSU-1, and/or RFSU-2, listed below in sub-item 9.b. could be used interchangeably solely or jointly, to with:

a. At least one RF (radiofrequency) Identification Card, RFID, emitting detectable RF waves within a radius of ten feet or less, having the means of making decisions without the help of an external device like a computer, on its own, through communicating with said stationary units of claim 2.a., and having the means of transferring said decisions as needed to said database of claim 2.c. Said RFID is worn by each employee, holding the employee'"'"'s identification information and his/her recent history of hygiene compliance.

b. At least one stationary RF Sanitization Unit-1, RFSU-1, emitting detectable RF waves within a radius of ten feet or less, and used for washing one'"'"'s hands with cleansing substance and rinsing them, or at least one stationary RF Sanitization Unit-2, RFSU-2, emitting detectable RF waves within a radius of ten feet or less, and used for cleansing one'"'"'s hands with cleansing substance not requiring rinsing, or at least one of each, RFSU-1 and RFSU-2, whenever needed.

c. At least one stationary RF Sanitization Unit-1, RFSU-1, emitting detectable RF waves within a radius of ten feet or less, and used for washing one'"'"'s hands with cleansing substance and rinsing them, or at least one stationary RF Sanitization Unit-2, RFSU-2, emitting detectable RF waves within a radius of ten feet or less, and used for cleansing one'"'"'s hands with cleansing substance not requiring rinsing, or at least one of each of said RFSU-1 and said RFSU-2, wherein each one of them is equipped with a Movement Monitoring System. Said Movement Monitoring System comprises;

1) means for monitoring movements, and

2) means for analyzing said movements of item 9.b.1) above.

Whereby, said Movement Monitoring System could, among an indefinite number of movement patterns, monitor and reinforce, by voice prompts, or any other means, the required movement patterns in step 1 through step 8 of a poster named “

How to Hand Rub”

, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization in soft copy on the Internet at http;

//www.who.int/gpsc/5may/How_To_HandRub_Poster.pdf, and in hard copies for the purpose having them prominently displayed for reference at any hand washing station, or no such unit(s), if not needed.

d. At least one stationary RF Door Unit, RFDU, emitting detectable RF waves within a radius of ten feet or less, mounted at the main entrance of a facility, such as a restaurant, hospital, or others, and/or at the entrance of any contaminated area, like a restroom within said facility, or no such unit(s), if not needed.

e. At least one stationary RF Contamination Unit-1, RFCU-1, emitting detectable RF waves within a radius of ten feet or less, installed proximal to a patient'"'"'s bed in a healthcare facility, for the purpose of warning any bearer of an RFID to wash his/her hands before, and after, engaging said RFCU-1, or no such unit(s), if not needed.

f. Optionally, at least one stationary RF Bed Unit, RFBU, installed proximal to a patient'"'"'s bed in a healthcare facility for the purpose of warning any bearer of an RFID to wash his/her hands before, and after, engaging said RFBU, and for the purpose of communicating with said RFPU of claim 9.g. below in order to upgrade said PFPU'"'"'s status as needed, or no such unit(s), if not needed.

g. Optionally, at least one mobile RF Patient Unit, RFPU, associated with a patient in a healthcare facility, for the purpose of upgrading the patient status as needed through using the information received from said RFBU of claim 9.f. above and forwarding said information to said database of claim 2.c., or no such unit(s), if not needed.

h. At least one stationary RF Contamination Unit-2, RFCU-2, emitting detectable RF waves within a radius of ten feet or less, installed proximal to a contaminated object, such as an urinal, toilet bowl, contaminated equipment, etc., for the purpose of warning any bearer of an RFID to wash his/her hands after disengaging said object, or no such unit(s), if not needed.

i. Optionally, means built within said stationary, and mobile units of claims 2.a., and 2.b., giving them capability of emitting detectable RF waves within a radius of ten feet, or less, wherein the exclusive use of said detectable RF waves generated by said units within a radius of ten feet is claimed within the context of this invention only.

j. Optionally, all RF communication units having the means to be active, or passive, or any combination thereof as technology allows.

k. Optionally, a sensor(s), having the means of detecting if a certain contaminated object, or equipment, has been cleaned properly. The object'"'"'s, or equipment'"'"'s ID, together with the person'"'"'s RFID will be recorded at the time and day said object, or equipment, was cleaned, and subsequently, said data will be transferred to said data base of claim 2.c.

l. Optionally, a sensor(s), having the means of detecting humidity, or any other substance associated with human incontinence, in a patient'"'"'s bed, or chair, in a hospital, or any other healthcare facility, which in combination with visual and audible alerts, connected to the nurse'"'"'s station, could enforce timely change of diapers and bed pads.

m. Optionally, means built within said stationary, and mobile units of claims 2.a., and 2.b., giving them capability of monitoring, and enforcing proper hygiene for the visitors of any establishment.

n. Optionally, means built within said RFID of claim 9.a. above, wherein all identification cards, issued to any employee for purposes other than the present invention, could be integrated within said RFID of claim 9.a.

10. Said RFID of claim 9.a., and said RFPU of claim 9.g., having means to function as described in sub-item 10.f., and 10.g., respectively below, and comprising the following components:

a. Microcontroller.

b. Embedded database to store identification information, and the hygiene history of the employee.

c. RF transceiver with, an optional, embedded antenna.

d. An optional tri-color status light, flashing orange (in the rest room), alternating green/red (engaged with RFSU-1, or 2), flashing green (passed), and flashing red (failed).

e. Power supply. One embodiment of said power supply could be a battery system with one-year life span.

f. Said RFID of claim 9.a. possessing means to function as follows;

1) Communicating with the RFDU at every entry to get time-stamped.

2) Optionally, keeping track of the time while within the restroom.

3) Communicating with a minimum of one of said RFSU-1, or said RFSU-2, units of claims 9.b., and 9.c. in order to record the employee'"'"'s engagement with the hand washing process.

4) Receiving, and recording, a pass/fail status of compliance, or non-compliance, respectively, from at least one of said RFSU-1, and said RFSU-2 units of claims 9.b, and 9.c., and saving it for reporting.

5) Communicating with the RFDU at each exit and reporting its pass/fail status.

6) Upgrading its own status after analyzing its communications with said stationary, and mobile units of claims 2.a., and 2.b., and reporting its change of status as needed to said database of claim 2.c.

g. Said RFPU of claim 9.g. possessing means to function as follows;

1. Communicating with said RFBU of claim 9.f. in order to receive information in regard to its status.

2. Upgrading its status as needed, and forwarding it to said database of claim 2.c.

11. Said RFSU-1, and said RFSU-2 units of claims 9.b.,and 9.c. having means to function as described in sub-item 5.m. below, and comprising the following components:

a. Microcontroller.

b. Embedded database to temporary store the monitored washing activities.

c. RF transmitter, or transceiver, with an optional internal antenna, for communicating with the RFID.

d. Interface circuit to control dispensation of any necessary substance.

e. Interface circuit for intelligent sensors.

f. An optional Distance Ranger.

g. An optional Interface circuit for any future input/output devices such as drivers for tankless heating system with temperature control

h. An optional Large back-lit LCD to display the name of the engaged person and the steps of the hand washing process.

i. An optional speaker for added audible messaging.

j. An optional programming port for upgrading and uploading.

k. The following optional components;

1) An elegant compartment design

2) A clear window to show the LCD display in an elegant fashion

3) A hidden mesh opening for audio speaker.

4) Various dispensation spouts for water, soap, or any other necessary substances.

l. Power supply. One embodiment of said power supply could be an AC-powered, automatic charger with a backup battery of one-month life.

m. Said RFSU-1, and RFSU-2, possessing means to function as follows;

1) Detecting the employee'"'"'s RFID (name, time stamps) once he/she is within an engagement distance.

2) optionally, said RFSU-1, welcoming the employee by name (LCD &

speaker) and walking him/her through the hand washing sequence, which is;

dispensing soap, monitoring of hand rubbing, while having trickling flow of water, either by utilizing a motion sensor only, or by utilizing a motion sensor and a distance ranger for monitoring the specific requirements of a poster named “

How to Hand Rub”

, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization in soft copy on the Internet at http;

//www.who.int/gpsc/5may/How_To_HandRub_Poster.pdf, and then rinsing the employee'"'"'s hands under full flow of water, all for programmable durations displayed for the employee in countdown timers. Again, optionally, said RFSU-2, having the same features and sequence as said RFSU-1, except that the use of water dispensation is unnecessary.

3) Communicating with the RFID at the end of the hand washing process to stamp it with pass/fail status.

4) Optionally, if the washing sequence is not completed, the engaged RFID is stamped with a fail status.

5) Optionally, generating the appropriate messages, either appreciating compliance or warning otherwise.

12. Said RFDU of claim 9.d., having means to function as described in sub-item 12.i. below, and comprising the following components:

a. Microcontroller.

b. Embedded database to store the hygiene history of all the employees that have engaged it.

c. RF transmitter, or transceiver, with an optional internal antenna, for communicating with the RFID.

d. Communication link to upload the hand washing activities of all the employees that have engaged it to the company'"'"'s main computer, if needed. This could be done through the use of USB, Ethernet, Phone, wireless, RFID, or others.

e. An optional large back-lit LCD to display names and the appropriate message of welcoming at each entrance or acknowledging compliance/warning at each exit.

f. An optional speaker for added audible messaging.

g. An optional tri-color status light, flashing orange (some employees in the rest room), flashing green (exiting employee passed), and flashing red (exiting employee failed).

h. Power supply. One embodiment of said power supply could be an AC-powered, automatic charger with a backup battery of one-month life.

i. Said RFDU possessing means to function as follows;

1) Detecting the employee'"'"'s RFID at every entry and, optionally, welcoming the employee by name via its LCD &

speaker

2) Communicating with the RFID at each exit and, optionally, transmitting the employee'"'"'s pass/fail status, and immediately generating message, either acknowledging compliance or warning otherwise.

3) Keeping a real-time log of all entries, exits, and hygiene history of all employees. Uploading the hand, washing activities to the company'"'"'s main computers for Preferred embodiment #1.

14. Said RFCU-2 of claim 9.h., having means to function as described in sub-item 8.f. below, and comprising the following components:

a. Microcontroller.

b. Embedded database to temporary store the monitored hand washing activities, if needed.

c. RF transmitter, or transceiver, with an optional internal antenna, for communicating with the RFID.

d. An optional speaker for added audible messaging.

e. Power supply. One embodiment of said power supply could be an AC-powered, automatic charger with a backup battery of one-month life.

f. Said RFCU-2 possessing means to function as follows;

1) Detecting the employee'"'"'s RFID as soon as the RFID is within the sphere of engagement of said RFCU-2.

2) Optionally, warning said employee to wash his/her hands within a predetermined number of seconds after disengaging said RFCU-2.

3) Optionally, allowing more than one person to engage said RFCU-2.

4) Optionally, keeping a real time log of all engagements for the last thirty days.

15. The Hand Washing Enforcement System recited in claim 2, wherein said mobile, RFID unit(s) of claim 2.b., acting as information transfer agent(s), among said stationary units, of claim 2.a., has the means of making decisions on its own, without the help of an external device like a computer, and of transferring said decisions to said RFDU(s) of claim 9.c., or said database of claim 2.c., as needed.

16. Optionally, means built within said stationary and mobile units of claim 2., giving them capability of emitting detectable RF waves within a radius of ten feet, or less, wherein the exclusive use of said detectable RF waves generated by said electronic units within a radius of ten feet is claimed within the context of this invention only.

17. The Hand Washing Enforcement System of claim 2. having the means to function with the following algorithm for hand washing monitoring and enforcement, among many other algorithms:

a. Said RFID is approaching a contaminated area (for example a restroom) and now it is within the radius of communication of said RFDU mounted at the entrance or the doorway of said contaminated area.

b. Said RFDU transmits a signal to said RFID that it is in a contaminated area and proper hand washing is required before exiting said area. Said information is being stored in said RFID'"'"'s memory unit.

c. The person wearing said RFID must engage with said RFSU before exiting and follow the step by step requirements for proper hand washing. Only after following and completing said sequence, said RFSU transmits a signal to said RFID stamping it with a pass status.

d. When exiting the contaminated area, said RFID is interrogated again by said RFDU to verify its compliance status. Said status is stored in said RFDU for reporting to said database of claim 2.c., or said status is reported, real time, to said database of claim 2.c. by said RFID itself.

e. Optionally, In the event the RFID was stamped with a pass status, the RFDU would announce a greeting.

f. Optionally, In the event said RFID attempts to exit the contaminated area without engaging said RFSU or completing said cleaning process sequence, said RFDU will generate a warning to the person wearing said RFID to reenter and engage the cleaning process. In case of noncompliance said RFID will be stamped with a fail status, and a report will be forwarded to said database of claim 2.c.

20. Said RFSU-1, and said RFSU-2 of claim 9.c., wherein each one of them further comprises a distance ranger, and a motion detector, and wherein said distance ranger, and said motion detector, provide means to said Movement Monitoring System of claim 9.c. to monitor the hand rubbing techniques required by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the World Health Organization.

3. A device, such as a faucet or others, having the means of dispensing multiple substances through its spout, or closely adjacent spouts. The programmable schedule of dispensation of these substances is to be triggered by a sensor(s) utilizing an intelligent algorithm. Demand-based dispensation may, optionally, be achieved by voice commands.