SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR POWERING, COMMUNICATING, AND STORING DATA FOR ACCESSORY DEVICES USING A DEVICE UTILIZATION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A method of providing a power source and a communications link to accessory devices in a room or area of a health care facility, the method comprising:
- delivering power from an offline power source to a control unit of a hand hygiene compliance system, the control unit operable to detect tagged personnel and monitor use of a hand hygiene dispenser in proximity to the control unit;
providing a port on the control unit for DC power and data communications, wherein the port is accessible to accessory devices; and
connecting the control unit to a communications network associated with the hand hygiene compliance system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a system and method for providing a power source, a communications link, and data storage for accessory devices. In a preferred embodiment, a control unit of a hand hygiene compliance system provides a power source, a communications link, and data storage for accessory devices in a room or area of a healthcare facility. In this particular embodiment, the control unit receives power from an offline power source and has a communications module to communicate with a server over a communications network associated with the hand hygiene compliance system. Also, the control unit is further comprised of a port for DC power and data communications that is accessible to accessory devices. As follows, upon receiving data from an accessory device via the port, the control unit is operable to communicate data to the server for storage on a database.
9 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method of providing a power source and a communications link to accessory devices in a room or area of a health care facility, the method comprising:
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delivering power from an offline power source to a control unit of a hand hygiene compliance system, the control unit operable to detect tagged personnel and monitor use of a hand hygiene dispenser in proximity to the control unit; providing a port on the control unit for DC power and data communications, wherein the port is accessible to accessory devices; and connecting the control unit to a communications network associated with the hand hygiene compliance system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An apparatus for providing a power source and a communications link to accessory devices in a room or area of a health care facility, the apparatus comprising:
a control unit of a hand hygiene compliance system supplied with power from an offline power source and having a communications module for communicating with a server over a communications network associated with the hand hygiene compliance system, the control unit comprising a port for DC power and data communications, wherein the port is accessible to accessory devices. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A hand hygiene compliance system for providing a power source, a communications link, and data storage for accessory devices in a room or area of a health care facility, the system comprising:
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a control unit supplied with power from an offline power source, the control unit comprising a port for DC power and data communications, wherein the port is accessible to accessory devices; and a server in communication with the control unit over a communications network associated with the hand hygiene compliance system, the server operable to store data the control unit receives from accessory devices via the port. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification