Personnel and asset tracking method and apparatus

• US 6,462,656 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Patel, Sanjeev, Ulrich, Daniel J., Jennings, Robert J., Wagener, Michael Edward, Schmid, Joseph James
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/751,241
• Publication Number:
  US 20010000958A1
• Time in Patent Office: 648 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539, 340/573.1, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/573.4
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• 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

Abstract

A system is provided for locating and tracking tags within an awareness area including a first sub-awareness area and a second sub-awareness area. Each tag includes a transmitter configured to transmit a unique identifier periodically, and at least one tag is assigned to the first sub-awareness area. The system includes a first monitoring system associated with the first sub-awareness area and a second monitoring system associated with the second sub-awareness area.

Claims

1. A system for locating and tracking tags within an awareness area including a first sub-awareness area and a second sub-awareness area, each tag including a transmitter configured to transmit a unique identifier periodically, and at least one tag being assigned to the first sub-awareness area, the system comprising:

a communication network,

a first monitoring system associated with the first sub-awareness area, the first monitoring system comprising a receiver positioned to receive transmissions from tags positioned within the first sub-awareness area and configured to provide location messages in response to the transmissions, an intermediate location processor connected to the receiver and configured to transmit location messages from the receiver, and a master station connected to the intermediate location processor and connected to the communication network,

a second monitoring system associated with the second sub-awareness area and connected to the communication network, the second monitoring system being configured to transmit downstream location messages to the communication network in response to transmissions from tags positioned within the second sub-awareness area, and

a server connected to the communication network and configured to provide a network location message for each downstream location message associated with a tag assigned to the first monitoring system over the communication network to the first monitoring system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the network location message identifies the tag and the location of the tag.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the master station is configured to transmit master location messages to the server over the communication network in response to receipt of location messages from the intermediate location processor.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the master station is configured to store location messages related to tags which are not associated with the first sub-awareness area in a memory, the master station also being configured to transmit a query to the server requesting an identity of the tags which are not associated with the first sub-awareness area for which the location messages are stored in the memory based on the unique identifier of said tags.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the network location message provides an indication of a location of the tag associated with the first sub-awareness area.

6. A system for locating and tracking objects within an awareness area including a sub-awareness area, the system comprising:

a plurality of tags, each tag being associated with an object, each tag including a transmitter configured to transmit a unique identifier periodically, at least one tag being associated with the sub-awareness area,

an independent monitoring system associated with the sub-awareness area and configured to provide first location messages in response to transmissions from tags positioned within the sub-awareness area,

a second monitoring system configured to provide second location messages in response to transmissions from tags detected by the second monitoring system,

a communication network coupled to the independent monitoring system and coupled to the second monitoring system, the communication network being configured to transmit first location messages and second location messages, and

a server connected to the communication network and configured to receive the first location messages and the second location messages and to provide a network location message in response to each second location message associated with a tag associated with the sub-awareness area to the independent monitoring system through the communication network.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the second monitoring system is a dependent monitoring system.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the second monitoring system is an independent monitoring system.

9. The system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of tags are associated with personnel and assets.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the independent monitoring system is configured to store first location messages related to tags which are not associated with the sub-awareness area in a memory, the independent monitoring system also being configured to transmit a query to the server requesting an identity of the tags which are not associated with the sub-awareness area for which the first location messages are stored in the memory based on the unique identifier of said tags.

11. A system for locating and tracking objects within an awareness area including a sub-awareness area, the system comprising

a plurality of tags, each tag being associated with an object, at least one tag being associated with the sub-awareness area,

an independent monitoring system associated with the sub-awareness area and configured to provide first location messages in response to the detection of tags positioned within the sub-awareness area,

a second monitoring system configured to provide second location messages in response to the detection of tags detected by the second monitoring system, and

a server in communication with the independent monitoring system and the second monitoring system and configured to receive the first location messages and the second location messages and to provide to the independent monitoring system a network location message in response to each second location message associated with a tag associated with the first sub-awareness area.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the second monitoring system is a dependent monitoring system.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the second monitoring system is an independent monitoring system.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of tags are associated with personnel and assets.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the network location message provides an indication of a location of the tag associated with the first sub-awareness area.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the independent monitoring system is configured to store first location messages related to tags which are not associated with the first sub-awareness area in a memory, the independent monitoring system also being configured to transmit a query to the server requesting an identity of the tags which are not associated with the first sub-awareness area for which the first location messages are stored in the memory based on the unique identifier of said tags.

17. A method for locating and tracking objects in an area, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing a first sub-area,

establishing a second sub-area,

assigning objects to the first sub-area,

monitoring objects in the first sub-area,

monitoring objects in the second sub-area, and

notifying a monitor of the first sub-area of the detection in the second sub-area of an object assigned to the first sub-area.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the notifying step includes the step of providing a location message from a monitor of the second sub-area to a server.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the monitor of the first sub-area includes a master station and the notifying step further includes the step of providing a location message from the server to the master station.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising the step of storing a location message associated with an unassigned object not assigned to the first sub-area in a memory of the master station upon detection in the first sub-area of the unassigned object.

21. A system for locating and tracking tags associated with objects, the tags being configured to transmit a unique identifier periodically, the system comprising:

a communication network,

a monitoring system coupled to the communications network, the monitoring system being configured to provide location data for the objects in response to transmissions from tags,

a server in communication with the monitoring system through the communications network, the server including a web server, the monitoring system being configured to provide the location data to the server, and

a client including a web browser interface configured to couple the client to the web server to enable the client to communicate with the server through the web browser interface to obtain location data for a selected object.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the monitoring system is an independent monitoring system including a master station and the master station includes the web browser interface coupling the master station to the web server through the communication network, the master station communicating with the server through the web browser interface to obtain the location data for the selected object.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the monitoring system is a dependent monitoring system including a router and the router includes the web browser interface coupling the router to the web server through the communication network, the router communicating with the server through the web browser interface to obtain the location data for the selected object.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the monitoring system comprises a first monitoring system and a second monitoring system, the first monitoring system being configured to monitor objects in a first sub-area and the second monitoring system being configured to monitor objects in a second sub-area.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the first monitoring system is configured to store location data for monitored objects assigned to the first sub-area.

26. A system for locating and tracking objects in an area, the system comprising:

a plurality of tags, each tag being associated with an object,

a monitoring system configured to provide messages in response to the detection of a tag in the area,

a server comprising a web server and an awareness engine, the server being in communication with the monitoring system and configured to receive the messages from the monitoring system, and

a client in communication with the web server to locate and track the objects in the area.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the awareness engine is configured to monitor changes in a status of an object.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the web server is configured to transmit messages between the client and applications that interact with the awareness engine.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the location and tracking databases each include a storage comprising clients and interests for which each client is registered.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the awareness engine comprises primary location and tracking databases, an awareness engine monitor, and a database.

31. The system of claim 30, further comprising a second client in communication with the server and wherein the primary location and tracking databases include a Registered Interests Cache containing a cross-reference between the clients and interests for which each client is registered.

32. A method for processing a location message in a system for locating and tracking objects, the method comprising the steps of

receiving a location message,

updating a location entry to indicate a new object at a location,

updating an object ID entry to indicate the object ID at a new location,

evaluating the location message,

notifying a client, and

updating a database.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the evaluating step further comprises the steps of determining whether the location message invokes any system rules, determining whether the location message violates any system rules, and notifying the client of any rule violation.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the evaluating step further comprises the steps of determining whether the client subscribed to be notified of an event described by the location message and notifying the client of the event if the event is one for which the client subscribed to be notified.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the receiving step includes the steps of detecting the presence of an object, generating a location message, and providing the location message to a server.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the receiving step further includes the step of providing the location message to a router.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the database is SQL database.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein the evaluating step comprises the step of determining whether the location message violates any rules.

39. The method of claim 32, wherein the evaluating step comprises the step of determining which client to notify of an event described by the location message.

40. A system for locating and tracking at least one object within a first area and a second area, the at least one object being assigned to the first area and including a signal transmitter which transmits object information, the system comprising:

a first monitoring system having a first memory,

a second monitoring system, and

a server in communication with the first monitoring system and the second monitoring system, the server being configured to store object and location information for the at least one object in a memory and transmit location update information for the at least one object to the first monitoring system, the first monitoring system being configured to receive object information from the signal transmitters within the first area, to receive location update information for the at least one object from the server, and to store the object information and location update information in the first memory.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein the second monitoring system is configured to detect the at least one object in the second area and transmit object and location information for the at least one object to the server.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein the server, first monitoring system, and second monitoring system are coupled to a communication network.

43. The system of claim 40, wherein the central storage further comprises an interests database configured to associate the location update information with the corresponding at least one object before transmitting the location update information to the first monitoring system.

44. The system of claim 40, wherein the first monitoring system further comprises a receiver, a location processor coupled to the receiver, and a master station coupled to the location processor, the receiver being configured to receive transmissions from the at least one object assigned to the first area and transmit object information to the location processor in response to the transmissions, the location processor configured to transmit the object and location information to the master station, and the master station configured to transmit the object and location information to the server.

45. The system of claim 40, further comprising at least one second object.

46. The system of claim 45, wherein the second monitoring system is configured to detect the at least one second object in the second area and transmit object and location information for the at least one second object to the server.

47. The system of claim 45, wherein the first monitoring system is configured to assign the at least one second object to the first area.

48. The system of claim 40, wherein the location update information includes information that identifies the monitoring system to which the at least one object is assigned.

49. A method for identifying, locating and tracking at least one object not previously associated with a monitoring system, the at least one object including a transmitter which transmits a unique identifier for the object, the monitoring system being in communication with a server having a central database, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving the unique identifier from a detected object;

determining whether the detected object is associated with the monitoring system,

storing location information related to the detected object in the a memory of the monitoring system,

transmitting an identification request query to the server if the detected object is not associated with the monitoring system,

receiving an identification of the detected object stored in the central database from the server, and

storing the identification of the detected object in the memory of the monitoring system along with the location information for the detected object.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising the steps of forwarding to the monitoring system all previous location information stored in the central database for the detected object and storing the previous location information for the detected object in the memory to enable the monitoring system to track the detected object.

51. The method of claim 49, wherein the forwarded location information includes location messages for the detected object related to locations outside an area monitored by the monitoring system.

52. The method of claim 50, further comprising the steps of registering an interest for the detected object with a web server of the server, and storing the interest in the central database.

53. A method for locating and tracking objects in a monitoring system, the objects configured to a unique identifier to the monitoring system, the monitoring system being configured to provide location messages for the objects, and the monitoring system providing information to a plurality of clients over a communications network, the method comprising the steps of:

storing the location messages for the objects,

indexing the location messages by location and object,

storing rules for the objects and locations,

storing interests for the plurality of clients,

evaluating the rules and location messages to determine whether a change event has occurred,

evaluating the interests to determine which clients to notify of a change event, and notifying the appropriate clients of change events.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the storing step comprises the step of storing the location messages in at least one of a local memory and a central memory.

55. The system of claim 53, wherein the storing step comprises the steps of storing a first subset of the location messages in a local storage and storing a second subset of the location messages in a central storage.

56. A system for monitoring objects in an area, the objects having tags configured to transmit an identifier, the system comprising:

a plurality of clients, and

a server in communication with the plurality of clients, the server comprising a location cache comprising location data indexed by object, a location update cache comprising location data indexed by location, an interests cache, a rules cache, a change event database, a location update application for processing location updates, an interests application for processing interests and rules associated with each of the plurality of clients and objects,

a tag association application for associating tags with objects, and

a subscription application for notifying the plurality of clients of change events in accordance with the rules and interests.

57. The system of claim 56, wherein at least one of the plurality of clients is in communication with the server through a web browser interface.

58. The system of claim 56, wherein the plurality of clients and the server are in network communication over a global communications network.

59. The system of claim 56, wherein at least one of the plurality of clients is a second monitoring system.

60. The system of claim 59, wherein the second monitoring system is an independent monitoring system.

61. A monitoring system for use in a system for locating and tracking tags within an area, the system for locating and tracking tags including a server, the monitoring system being used to monitor a sub-area of the area, the monitoring system comprising:

a router in network communication with the server,

at least one hub in network communication with the router and

a plurality of nodes in network communication with the hub, wherein each of the plurality of nodes monitors a portion of the sub-area for tag-identifying transmissions, receives a tag-identifying transmission, and generates a first location message based on the tag-identifying transmission, the at least one hub receives the first location message and sends a second location message based on the first location message to the router, and the router receives the second location message and sends a third location message based on the second location message to the server.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein each of the plurality of nodes further comprises a microprocessor which processes the tag-identifying transmissions.

63. The system of claim 61, wherein each of the plurality of nodes further comprises an LED.

64. The system of claim 61, wherein each of the plurality of nodes further comprises an audio annunciator.

65. The system of claim 61, wherein the first, second, and third location messages are presence messages.

66. A computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium capable of being connected to a network to operate to locate and track tags, the computer program product comprising:

means for defining a first area,

means for defining a second area,

means for assigning tags to the first area,

means for monitoring tags in the first area,

means for monitoring tags in the second area, and

means for notifying a monitor of the first area when a tag assigned to the first area is detected in the second area.

67. A computer memory encoded with executable instructions representing a computer program for causing a computer system connected to a network to operate as a system for locating and tracking tags, the system for locating and tracking tags operating to:

monitor tags in a first area,

monitor tags in a second area, and

notify a monitor of the first area when a tag assigned to the first area is detected in the second area.

68. The computer memory of claim 67, wherein the monitor of the first area is a client coupled to the network.

69. The computer memory of claim 68, wherein the client includes a web browser.

70. A computer database product for maintaining information related to objects in an area, the information being maintained for use in a system for locating and tracking the objects, the computer database product embodied in a computer readable medium, the computer database product comprising:

a location cache,

a location update cache,

an interests cache, and

a rules cache, wherein the location cache includes location data indexed by object, the location update cache includes location update data for the objects indexed by location, the interests cache includes interests indexed by interest, and the rules cache includes rules indexed by at least one of object and location.

71. A computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium capable of being connected to a network to operate as a system for locating and tracking objects, the computer program product comprising:

a location update application,

an interests application, and

an awareness engine monitor, wherein the location update application receives location updates, the interests application receives interests, and the awareness engine monitor monitors changes in the location of tags.

72. The computer program product of claim 71, wherein the awareness engine monitor receives a location update indicating a location for an object, updates a location cache to indicate that the object is at the location, and determines whether a message should be generated based on the location of the object and the interests.

73. The computer program product of claim 72, further comprising a subscription service application which sends a message to a client based on the location of the object and the interests.

74. The computer program product of claim 73, wherein the message to a client indicates that the object has been detected outside of a valid area.

75. A computer program product embodied in a computer readable medium capable of being connected to a network to operate as a user interface for communicating with a system for locating and tracking tags associated with objects, the computer program product comprising:

a view application, and

a query application, wherein the view application locates objects associated with tags, assigns tags to objects, deassigns tags from objects, updates object information, and the query application searches for object information based on selected criteria.

76. The computer program product of claim 75, wherein the query application searches for object information based on pre-defined criteria.

77. The computer program product of claim 75, further comprising an edit application which edits object information.

78. The computer program product of claim 75, further comprising a report application which displays object information based on selected criteria.

79. The computer program product of claim 75, further comprising a web browser interface.