CONTACT MONITORING SYSTEM

• US 20140191876A1
• Filed: 04/26/2012
• Published: 07/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Veraz Limited
• Original Assignee: Veraz Limited
• Inventors: Best, Kenneth Alaric
• Granted Patent: US 9,245,437 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/686.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for monitoring contact or close proximity between one or more sources of contact within an environment and to one or more devices suitable for implementing such a system. Each source of contact is provided with a monitoring device. Each monitoring device comprises an indicator unit and a detecting unit. The indicator unit is operable to emit a signal and the detecting unit is operable to detect and identify signals of the type emitted by the indicator unit of another monitoring device and output an information signal indicative thereof.

Claims

1. A system suitable for monitoring the contact between a plurality of sources of contact within an environment, the system comprising:

a monitoring device connected to each source, each monitoring device comprising an indicator unit and a detecting unit, the indicator unit being operable to emit a signal and the detecting unit being operable to detect and identify signals of the type emitted by the indicator unit of another monitoring device and output an information signal indicative thereof.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each source is a person, an article or an area.

3. A system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the monitoring device detects the contact between at least two sources within the environment, the contact being from a physical contact between the at least two sources and/or from the at least two sources being in a close proximity.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal is indicative of the type of source.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each indicator unit emits a signal unique to its source.

6. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each indicator unit is operable to emit a signal incorporating a unique identification code.

7. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detecting unit only outputs an information signal if the signal detected is different to the signal emitted by the indicator unit of the same monitoring device.

8. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detecting unit only detects a signal if its signal strength exceeds a threshold level and/or the signal duration exceeds a pre-set period.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the threshold level includes a determination of the contact quality, the contact quality being based on the detected signal strength and/or duration.

10. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the determination of the contact quality involves extracting information from the detected signal or another signal.

14. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is provided with a status display unit for outputting a visual indication of contact between the at least two sources.

15. A system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the indication displayed by the status display unit takes the form of a colour, pattern, text, symbol or any combination thereof.

16. A system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the status display unit comprises one or more illuminable elements, which vary their illumination in response to variation in the information signal.

17. A system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the status display unit is operable to change colour to indicate a different level of classification.

18. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the status display unit is operable to output an audio indication of the contact between at least two sources.

19. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the status display unit is an integral part of the monitoring device, or comprises a separate article in communication with the monitoring device.

20. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the indicator unit is operable to emit signals of more than one type.

21. A system as claimed in claim 20, wherein the signals comprise electrical signals and radio frequency signals.

22. A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the indicator unit is operable to emit an electrical signal only or a radio frequency signal only.

23. A system as claimed in claim 21, wherein the indicator unit comprises an electrical signal emitter and a radio frequency transmitter, thus being operable to emit either or both electrical and radio frequency signals.

24. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detecting unit is operable to detect electrical signals only or radio frequency signals only.

25. A system as claimed in claim 24, wherein the detecting unit comprises an electrical signal receiver and a radio frequency receiver, thus being operable to detect either or both electrical and radio frequency signals.

26. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is provided with attachment means enabling attachment to the source.

27. A system as claimed in claim 26, wherein the attachment means further comprises one or more electrical surfaces enabling electrical connections to be made between the monitoring device and the source.

28. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the system further comprises a management unit.

29. A system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the management unit is in one way or two way communication with one or more monitoring devices.

30. A system as claimed in claim 29, wherein the or each monitoring device is operable to transmit the information signal to the management unit.

31. A system as claimed in claim 30, wherein the management unit is operable to store a record of contact between two or more sources over time.

32. A system as claimed in claim 28, wherein the management unit is in one way or two way communication with one or more status display units.

33. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the monitoring device comprises a package adapted to be carried about a person, affixed to an article, or affixed to a wall of an area.

11. A system as claimed in claim wherein the detecting unit classifies the contact according to any suitable classification scheme.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11, wherein the classification scheme has a number of different levels depending on any associated risk resulting from the contact.

13. A system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the classification varies from one level to another in response to each contact.

34. A method of monitoring the contact between a plurality of sources of contact within an environment, the method comprising:

attaching monitoring devices to or in proximity to each source, the monitoring devices each comprising an indicator unit and a detecting unit;

detecting signals of the type emitted by an indicator unit with the detecting unit; and

outputting an information signal indicative thereof.

35. A monitoring device suitable for monitoring the contact between a plurality of sources of contact within an environment, the monitoring device comprising:

an indicator unit;

a detecting unit;

connection means for connecting the monitoring device to the source;

wherein the detecting unit comprises a receiver operable to detect signals of the type emitted by the indicator unit; and

a processing unit operable to identify the signal and output an information signal indicative thereof.