Method and system for monitoring personnel

• US 5,218,344 A
• Filed: 07/31/1991
• Issued: 06/08/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Black Creek Integrated Systems Corp.
• Original Assignee: James G. Ricketts
• Inventors: Ricketts, James G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, III, Glen R.
• Application Number:
  US07/738,652
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573, 340/539, 340/574, 340/572, 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 340/825.35, 340/825.36, 364/409, 364/413.02, 364/423
• US Class Current: 340/573.4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 26/007 Wireless interrogation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/1083 Pager locating systems

Abstract

A method and system for monitoring personnel in an institution such as a correctional facility, hospital, school, military installation, and the like, includes a computer connected with one or more stationary transceivers in a defined area of the facility, and a portable transceiver unit worn by each individual who is to be monitored. The computer sends command signals to the stationary transceivers, which broadcast interrogation signals to the portable units. The portable units are configured to respond only to interrogation signals unique to that individual, and upon decoding an interrogation signal incident thereon, broadcast a response signal to the stationary transceivers. The stationary transceivers relay corresponding data to the computer, where the data is analyzed to provide an indication of the number, location and identity of the individuals. The portable transceiver units have an emergency alarm button which may be actuated by the individual in the event of an emergency, and selected portable transceiver units may also be configured to be sensitive to proximity between them. In addition, the portable units may be coded for access to vending apparatus.

Claims

1. A method of electronically monitoring the number, location and identity of individuals in an institution such as a correctional facility, hospital, school, and the like, comprising the steps of:

sending commands from a computer to one or more stationary transceivers positioned in an area containing individuals to be monitored;

broadcasting interrogation signals from the stationary transceivers to a plurality of portable transceiver units in the area, each portable unit being secured to an individual to be monitored and each being configured to respond only to an interrogation signal unique to that individual;

decoding the interrogation signals in the portable units, producing a response signal only in those units configured to respond to the interrogation signals, and broadcasting the response signals to the stationary transceivers; and

receiving the response signals in the stationary transceivers and relaying corresponding data to the computer, where the data is analyzed to provide an indication of the number, location and identity of the individuals being monitored, wherein the determination of location is based upon the difference in time it takes a signal from a portable transceiver unit to reach the stationary transceivers.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, including the step of:

providing a selectively operable alarm signal generating means in each portable transceiver unit, that may be activated by the individual wearing that unit to summon help in an emergency.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, including the steps of:

configuring selected portable transceiver units to be responsive to each other; and

producing a signal whenever individuals carrying the selected units approach each other beyond a predetermined threshold.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, including the step of:

providing a selectively operable alarm signal generating means in each portable transceiver unit, that may be activated by the individual wearing that unit to summon help in an emergency.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, including the steps of:

providing at least three stationary transceivers in each area to be monitored; and

determined the location of individuals in that area by triangulation techniques based on data received by the stationary transceivers from the portable units, and analyzed in the computer.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, including the step of:

providing a selectively operable alarm signal generating means in each portable transceiver unit, that may be activated by the individual wearing that unit to summon help in an emergency.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, including the steps of:

configuring selected portable transceiver units to be responsive to each other; and

producing a signal whenever individuals carrying the selected units approach each other beyond a predetermined threshold.

8. A method as claimed in claim 3, including the steps of:

providing each selected portable transceiver unit with signal broadcasting and receiving means to render the selected units directly sensitive to the proximity of each other; and

producing an alarm signal to the wearer of the selected units whenever they approach one another within a predetermined distance.

9. A method as claimed in claim 3, including the steps of:

using the computer to send interrogation signals to the stationary transceivers for broadcast and receipt of signals between them and selected portable transceiver units, including the broadcast, receipt and analysis of data to indicate the proximity of selected portable units to one another; and

providing an alarm signal whenever selected portable units approach each other within a predetermined distance.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9, including the step of:

providing a selectively operable alarm signal generating means in each portable transceiver unit, that may be activated by the individual wearing that unit to summon help in an emergency.

11. A method as claimed in claim 8, including the step of:

providing a selectively operable alarm signal generating means in each portable transceiver unit, that may be activated by the individual wearing that unit to summon help in an emergency.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1, including the step of:

using the portable transceiver unit to access vending means, by providing coded data on each unit and analyzing that data with the computer to determine the availability of the requested vending means to that individual.

13. A system for monitoring individuals in an institution such as a hospital, correctional facility, school and the like, comprising:

a plurality of portable transceiver units each having means for securing it to the person of an individual to be monitored, and each having circuit means operable to respond to an interrogation signal unique to that unit and to broadcast a response to said interrogation signal;

at least one stationary transceiver located in an area where individuals to be monitored may be found, said stationary transceiver having circuit means for broadcasting said interrogation signal and receiving said response; and

a computer connected to said stationary transceivers for sending command signals to said stationary transceivers and receiving data therefrom, and operable to analyze said data to provide an indication of the number, location and identity of individuals being monitored, wherein the location is determined by the amount of time it takes a signal from the portable transceiver to reach the stationary transceiver.

14. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

each portable transceiver unit includes circuitry operable to send an alarm signal; and

a self-locking alarm button is connected with said circuitry and is actuatable by the individual wearing that unit to energize said circuitry and send an alarm signal to said stationary transceivers to summon help in an emergency.

15. A system as claimed in claim 13, wherein:

means is provided to render selected portable transceiver units sensitive to the proximity of others.

16. A system as claimed in claim 15, wherein:

said means comprises circuit means in each of the selected portable transceiver units to render them directly responsive to the proximity of another of them; and

means in said units for giving an alarm when two of said units approach one another within a predetermined distance.

17. A system as claimed in claim 16, wherein:

said means comprises said computer and said stationary transceivers, which collect data indicative of the locations of the selected units, analyze the data to determine the proximity of them to one another, and provide an alarm signal to each of the offending units when they approach each other beyond a predetermined threshold.