Patient monitoring and alarm system

• US 6,225,906 B1
• Filed: 03/26/2000
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bernard Shore
• Original Assignee: Bernard Shore
• Inventors: Shore, Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, SON M
• Application Number:
  US09/535,467
• Time in Patent Office: 401 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.4, 340/10.5, 340/10.51, 340/10.52, 340/572.2, 700/17, 700/83, 235/383, 235/385, 235/384
• US Class Current: 340/573.4
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0238 adding new units to the system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0286 Tampering or removal detection of the child unit from child or article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0492 Sensor dual technology, i.e. two or more technologies collaborate to extract unsafe condition, e.g. video tracking and RFID tracking
• 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 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

A system for monitoring tagged objects within a predefined area provides a user-friendly interactive interface for monitoring tagged objects in a predetermined area. The method of providing the user interface includes the steps of entering security information permitting users access to the interface, generating a first menu tool bar on a screen for initiating a plurality of functions and initiating a function selected from the first menu toolbar. The plurality of functions able to be initiated from he toolbar include at least two of monitoring a status of alarms on tags, associating a uniquely identified tag with an individual object, updating tag information, updating object identification information, and disabling tag monitoring system for a selected tag. The toolbar includes a plurality of icons, each of said icons representing a respective one of the plurality of functions. Selection of any one of the icons generates an display screen specific to the function selected.

Claims

1. A method of providing a user interface for monitoring tagged objects in a predetermined area, comprising the steps of:

a) entering security information permitting users access to the interface;

b) generating a first menu tool bar having a plurality of icons each representing a respective one of a plurality of functions on a screen for initiating a plurality of functions including at least two of;

i) monitoring a status of alarms on tags;

ii) associating a uniquely identified tag with an individual object;

iii) updating tag information;

iv) updating object identification information; and

v) disabling tag monitoring system for a selected tag;

c) initiating a function selected from said first menu toolbar, selection of said function of associating includes the step of generating a data input screen for inputting tag and individual object information;

d) said individual object is a person and the step of generating the data input screen includes generating specific areas for input of information including any combination of a first name of the person, a last name of the person, a room in which the person will be located, a sex of the person, remarks concerning the person and a tag number to be associated with the person;

e) placing the information input to the data input screen into a data base for storing information on all tags and the person associated therewith; and

f) selection of said icon representing updating tag information includes the step of generating a display screen including a change band enable icon, wherein selection of said change band enable icon inactivates monitoring of a selected tag for a predetermined period of time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of entering includes passing an identification tag including a unique barcode identification through a barcode reader.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of entering includes the step of entering an identification code on a keyboard.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said icon representing the function of monitoring a status is in the form of an alarm bell.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said icon representing the function of associating is in the form of a rabbit including vertical stripes thereon.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said icon representing the function of associating includes the word |admit| therebelow.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said icon representing the function of updating tag information is in the form of a rabbit having horizontal and vertical intersecting lines thereon.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said icon representing the function of updating tag information includes the word |transport| therebelow.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said icon representing the function of updating object identification is in the form of a baby sleeping.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said icon representing the function of updating tag information includes the word |tags| therebelow.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of functions further include disassociating a tag from an individual object.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said toolbar includes an icon thereon representing said function of disassociating.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said icon representing the function of disassociating is in the form of a rabbit having diagonal lines thereon.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein selection of said icon representing said function of monitoring causes a floor plan of the area being monitored to be displayed on a screen.

15. The method of method of claim 14, further comprising the step of monitoring the predetermined area for alarm situations and indicating a location of an alarm situation on the floor plan upon detection of an alarm situation.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the display screen in response to selection of said icon representing updating tag information further includes the step of displaying a list of all information contained in the database.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein said tool bar further includes an icon representing the function of transporting an object outside the predetermined area.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said icon representing the function of updating tag information is in the form of a rabbit having horizontal and vertical intersecting lines thereon.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the icon representing the function of updating tag information includes the word |transport| therebelow.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein selection of the icon representing the function of updating tag information includes the step of generating a display screen including spaces for inputting a time for transport, a location to transport the object to, a location from which the object will be transported and a time period until the object is returned.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein inputting the information in the display screen generated upon selection of the icon representing the function of updating tag information allows the object to be removed from the predetermined area without triggering an alarm.