Wireless Tracking System And Method For Backhaul Of Information

• US 20130257614A1
• Filed: 05/25/2013
• Published: 10/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Clinical Patents, LLC (Halma PLC)
• Original Assignee: Awarepoint Corporation
• Inventors: Perkins, Matthew R.
• Application Number:
  US13/902,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20130257614A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• 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: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 with access to wired networks

Abstract

The present invention provides a solution to backhauling health information. The present invention utilizes a mesh network to backhaul the health information. The system includes a plurality of first tags, a mesh network, and an information engine. Each of the tags represents a first object. The mesh network preferably includes a plurality of plug-in sensors located within the facility. At least one node in the mesh network operates as healthcare device. The information engine is in communication with the mesh network and determines a position location of the healthcare device and an operation of the healthcare device.

Claims

1. A system for backhauling health information over a network, the system comprising:

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

a network comprising a plurality of sensors located within the facility;

a healthcare device, wherein the healthcare device is an end point in the network; and

an information engine in communication with the network;

wherein information from the healthcare device is backhauled over the network to the information;

wherein the information engine is configured to determine a position location of the healthcare device and an operation of the healthcare device based on the information.

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

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the healthcare device is at least one of a fluid pump, heart monitor, ventilation pump and electrocardiogram.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the network routes information from the healthcare device to a predetermined destination.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the information comprises an identity of the person to last accessed the healthcare device.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the information comprises how much time remains before the healthcare device needs to be serviced.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the information comprises the type of chemicals in the healthcare device.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the information comprises the status of the healthcare device.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein each of a plurality of firmware upgrades is transmitted over the network to the healthcare device.

10. The system according to claim 1 wherein the healthcare device operates as a RTLS device using one of an ultrasound, an infrared and a radiofrequency communication format.

11. An Enhanced-Accuracy Enterprise-Wide RTLS System, the system comprising:

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

a network comprising a plurality of sensors located within the facility; and

a plurality of RTLS devices, each of the plurality of RTLS device configured to operate as an end point in the network using one of ultrasound, infrared, and a radiofrequency medium, wherein each of the plurality of RTLS devices transmit to at least one of a plurality of sensors in the network;

wherein the network backhauls RTLS information from each of the plurality of RTLS devices to a predetermined destination.

12. The system according to claim 11 wherein the network operates as an RTLS system.

13. The system according to claim 11 wherein the network operates as a secondary RTLS system and a backhaul for information from each of the plurality of RTLS devices.

14. The system according to claim 11 wherein the each of the plurality of RTLS devices operates as a healthcare device.

15. The system according to claim 14 wherein the healthcare device is at least one of a fluid pump, heart monitor, ventilation pump and electrocardiogram.

16. The system according to claim 14 wherein the network routes information from the healthcare device to a predetermined destination.

17. The system according to claim 14 wherein the network transmits data related to who accessed the healthcare device last.

18. The system according to claim 14 wherein the network transmits data related to how much time is left before the device needs to be serviced.

19. The system according to claim 14 wherein the network transmits data related to the status of the device.

20. A system for backhauling health information over a network, the system comprising:

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

a network comprising a plurality of sensors located within the facility, the plurality of sensors communicating over the network using a medium range wireless communication format;

a healthcare device, wherein the healthcare device is an end point in the network, the healthcare device utilizing an ultrasound, an infrared or a radiofrequency communication format; and

an information engine in communication with the network;

wherein information from the healthcare device is backhauled over the network to the information;

wherein the information engine is configured to determine a position location of the healthcare device and an operation of the healthcare device based on the information.