Time and accounting system

• US 4,658,357 A
• Filed: 10/02/1984
• Issued: 04/14/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1983
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: B.I. Incorporated (Geo Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: B.I. Incorporated (Geo Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Carroll, Gary T., Hunter, Robert D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Michael R.
• Application Number:
  US06/657,002
• Time in Patent Office: 924 Days
• Field of Search: 364/406, 340/539, 340/531, 340/534, 340/573, 340/572, 340/571, 340/506, 340/825.49, 375/23, 455/31, 455/343, 235/380
• US Class Current: 705/32
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/10 Tax strategies
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/125 Finance or payroll
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/20 Checking timed patrols, e.g. of watchman
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence

Abstract

A system for automatically logging the interaction between a plurality of objects. Small, self-contained transmitting beacon units are attached or carried by a first set of objects. These beacon units transmit a uniquely coded signal at prescribed intervals. A small, self-contained portable transceiving unit is attached to a second set of objects. The second set of objects typically moves in, about, and among the first set of objects, although either set may move relative to the other. The signals transmitted by the beacon units have a limited range. If the transceiving unit is within this range for a specified period of time, the unique code associated with the transmitted signal is time-logged into a memory element contained within the portable receiving unit. At the end of a specified period of time, such as a work day, the contents of the memory of the transceiving unit may be examined to determine the objects with which an interaction has been had during the time period. Alternatively, stationary receiving units may be selectively placed in and around the region wherein the first set of objects moves, and the receiving unit can then receive and time-log the unique codes associated with the objects that move within the specified limited range from the receiving unit. A computer may be used to analyze, sort, and generate reports from the data thus logged within the transceiving or receiving units. The system is particularly well suited for use as a time and accounting system in a custodial environment, such as a hospital or similar facility.

Claims

1. A system for recording the interaction between a plurality of objects, at least one of which objects moves relative to the other objects, said system comprising:

transmitting and generating means for generating a uniquely coded signal and for transmitting said uniquely coded signal at prescribed intervals, said transmitting and generating means being attached to a selected one of said plurality of objects;

whereby said uniquely coded signal thereafter identifies said selected object; and

receiving means for receiving said uniquely coded signal only when said transmitting and generating means and said receiving means remain within a specified distance of each other, said receiving means including recording and timing means for recording the receipt of the uniquely coded signal, including the time at which the uniquely coded signal was received, said recording and timing means comprising

means for generating a first code signal representative of the location of the receiving means,

means for generating a second code signal representative of the time at which the uniquely coded signal is received from said transmitting and generating means,

means for combining said first code signal and said second code signal with said uniquely coded signal to generate a combined code word (CCW), and

means for storing said combined code word for subsequent retrieval;

whereby the combined code word generated within the receiving means may be examined to determine the time at which a particular transmitting and generating means came within the specified distance of the receiving means and the duration of time during which said specified distance was maintained, thereby providing an indication of the interaction between the selected objects and said receiving means.

2. The system of claim 1 further including a central processing unit (CPU) that receives combined code words from a plurality of receiving units selectively placed in and around a prescribed area wherein said plurality of objects interact.

3. A receiving device for use with a plurality of beacon units, each beacon unit being attached on or near a selected movable object, each beacon unit including transmitting means for transmitting at selected intervals an identifying signal that is receivable within a specified range, said receiving device comprising:

means for receiving said identifying signal when one of said beacon units moves to within the specified range from said receiving device;

means for generating a first code signal representative of the location of the receiving unit;

means for generating a second code signal representative of the time at which the identifying signal is received from one of said beacon units;

means for combining said first code signal and said second code signal with said identifying signal to generate a combined code word;

memory means located in said receiving device for storing the combined code word therein, said memory means comprising;

a multiplicity of memory locations where information can be stored, and

control means for storing the combined code word in a desired memory location; and

examination means for examining the contents of said memory means.

4. A method for generating a history of the interaction between a group of objects, said method comprising the steps of

(a) assigning a unique code to each one of the objects;

(b) transmitting a signal modulated by said unique code from each of said objects;

(c) receiving said modulated signals at one of a plurality of receiving units only when the distance between any object and said one receiving unit is less than a prescribed distance;

(d) demodulating the signals received by the receiving unit in order to recover the unique code therefrom;

(e) combining the unique code with a time code to form a combined code word, and storing said combined code word in memory means located within said one receiving unit, said time code indicating the time period during which the modulated signal was received; and

(f) at the end of a desired period of time, examining the combined code words stored in said memory means and generating a history therefrom, said history indicating the interaction between the group of objects and said one receiving unit.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein step (f) comprises examining the combined code words stored in said memory of all of said plurality of receiving units and generating said history therefrom, said history indicating the interaction between the group of objects and all of said receiving units.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the combined code word formed in step (e) further includes a location code that represents the location of said one receiving unit.