Portable locator system

• US 6,539,393 B1
• Filed: 09/30/1999
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Kabala, Stanley J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): Alaubaidi, Haythim J.
• Application Number:
  US09/410,386
• Time in Patent Office: 1,272 Days
• Field of Search: 379/38, 345/181, 455/66, 382/103, 340/825.25, 707/1, 707/9, 707/10, 707/102
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/02 Indoor
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0295 Proximity-based methods, e.g. position inferred from reception of particular signals
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/16 using electromagnetic waves other than radio waves
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/0008 General problems related to the reading of electronic memory record carriers, independent of its reading method, e.g. power transfer
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10059 transponder driven
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99931 Database or file accessing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A portable locator system for tracking movement of persons or objects within a facility and listing information relating to visits by persons or objects at different locations. The locator system includes portable wireless transmitters for transmitting identification codes and portable wireless transceivers for collecting the identification codes. The identification codes are forwarded to a central processor to determine and list the places visited and times of the visits.

Claims

1. A locator system for locating objects within a facility, comprising:

a plurality of badges, each having a badge transmitter for wirelessly transmitting a unique identification code;

a database for storing a list of each badge, its identification code and a person or an object associated with said each badge; and

a plurality of transceivers spatially dispersed within said facility, each of said transceivers having a transceiver receiver for receiving said identification code and a transceiver transmitter for wirelessly forwarding signals to a central processor, said signals including said unique identification code received from said badges, wherein said central processor determines from the signals received from said transceivers the location of said person or object, and said central processor emits a request that causes said transceiver transmitters to forward the signals to said central processor.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said central processor further determines from said signals received from said transceivers the time said identification codes were received, by which transceivers, and the durations of receipt of the same identification code.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said central processor generates a database listing the persons or objects located, locations visited by the persons or objects, and the duration of each visit.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of said transceivers receives in infrared said unique identification codes from said badges.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said transceivers transmit said signals to said central processor in RF.

6. The system according to claim 1, further including transceiver modules connected to said central processor through a local area network.

7. A method of collecting location data within a facility comprising the steps of:

associating each of a plurality of objects or persons to a respective one of a plurality of badges, each of said badges having a unique identification code;

wirelessly transmitting from each of said plurality of badges said unique identification code;

receiving at transceivers within range of reception said unique identification code;

providing a central processor to cause said transceivers to wirelessly transmit signals to said central processor including said unique identification code and a transceiver identification code;

determining from said signals received from said transceivers the locations of said transceivers and badges; and

maintaining at said central processor, a list of objects or persons associated with respective badges and the locations of said objects or persons traveled within said facility.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said badges transmit in infrared and said transceivers wirelessly transmit in RF.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said list includes the names of said persons, locations visited, and times and durations of visits.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said list includes an identification of an object, the types of products visited, and the times and durations of each visit at each product.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said step of wirelessly transmitting from said transceivers includes forwarding said signals to a transceiver module, which in turn is connected to said central processor via a local area network.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein said central processor is operatively connected to a RF receiver for receiving said signals wirelessly transmitted from said plurality of transceivers.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said central processor further includes a RF transmitter for transmitting interrogation signals to each of said plurality of transceivers.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein said determining step includes use of signal strength information included in said signals.

15. A locator system for locating objects within a facility comprising:

a plurality of wireless transmitters, each having a unique identification code, for periodically transmitting said identification code;

at least one wireless transceiver for receiving within its reception range said identification code transmitted from each of said wireless transmitters and for transmitting a message including said identification code of said wireless transmitter and identification code of said wireless transceiver; and

a plurality of transceiver modules for receiving said message from said wireless transceiver and transmitting signals to a central processor in response to receiving a request from said central processor, said signals including said identification codes of said wireless transmitter and said wireless transceiver, wherein said central processor determines the locations of said wireless transmitters from said signals.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein said wireless transmitters and said wireless transceiver transmit in RF.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein said plurality of transceiver modules are connected to said central processor via a local area network (LAN) and messages, including portions of said signals are transmitted to said central processor through said LAN.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein said at least one wireless transceiver receives identification codes transmitted from said wireless transmitters in infrared and transmits said message in RF.

19. The system according to claim 15 including a database for storing a list of each of said wireless transmitters, its identification code, identification of a person or an object associated with each said wireless transmitter, and locations and times of travel.

20. The system according to claim 15 further including a database listing generated by said central processor, said listing includes names of persons or identification of objects associated with each of said wireless transmitters, products associated with said at least one wireless transceiver having received transmissions from said wireless transmitters, and times and durations of said reception.

21. A locator system for locating objects within a facility, comprising:

a plurality of badges, each having a badge transmitter for wirelessly transmitting first signals including a unique identification code;

a processor including a database for storing a list of each badge, its identification code and a person or an object associated with each badge;

a plurality of transceivers spatially dispersed within the facility to receive the first signals from the badges; and

means for wirelessly communicating second signals to the processor in response to receiving a request from the processor, the second signals including the unique identification code received in the first signals from the badges, wherein the central processor determines the location of the person or object from the second signals received from the transceivers.

22. The locator system of claim 21, wherein the first signal includes a timestamp.

23. The locator system of claim 22, wherein the transceiver detects a signal strength of the first signal and the second signal includes the signal strength and the timestamp.

24. The locator system of claim 23, wherein the processor responds to receipt of two second signals having the same unique identification codes and substantially equal timestamps by comparing the signal strengths to determine the location of the person or object.

25. A locator system for locating people within a facility, comprising:

a plurality of transmitters respectively associated with a plurality of people, each transmitter wirelessly transmitting a unique identification code;

a database for storing a list of each transmitter, its identification code and a person or an object associated with each transmitter; and

a plurality of transceivers dispersed within the facility, each transceiver having a receiver for receiving the identification codes and an RF transmitter to wirelessly transmit signals including the identification codes; and

a central processor for requesting the transmission of the signals and for determining a location of a person associated with a transmitter from the signals received from the transceivers.

26. A method of collecting location data comprising:

associating each of a plurality of objects or persons to a respective one of a plurality of badges, each of the badges having a unique identification code;

transmitting a first signal including an identification code from a badge;

receiving the first signal at a location having an identifier;

determining a strength of the first signal and a time at which the first signal was received;

requesting transmission of a second signal including information representing the received identification code, the reception time, the location identifier, and the signal strength;

wirelessly transmitting the second signal in response to the requesting step;

receiving the second signal; and

recording the second signal information.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of recording is performed by a processor that associates the unique identification codes with the plurality of badges.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of receiving the second signal includes the step of receiving a plurality of second signals.

29. The method of claim 28, further including the steps of determining whether two second signals include the same received identification code and substantially equal reception times, comparing the signal strengths of the two second signals to determine the greater signal strength, and determining a location of a person based on the second signal having the greater signal strength.

30. A method of collecting location data comprising the steps of:

associating each of a plurality of objects or persons to a respective one of a plurality of badges, each of the badges having a unique identification code;

transmitting a first signal including an identification code from a badge;

receiving the first signal at a first location having an identifier;

determining a strength of the first signal and a time at which the first signal was received;

requesting a second signal including information representing the received identification code, the reception time, the first location identifier, and the signal strength;

transmitting the second signal;

receiving the second signal; and

recording the second signal information.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the transmitting steps include wireless transmitting.

32. The method of claim 30, wherein the step of receiving the second signal includes the step of receiving a plurality of second signals.

33. The method of claim 32, further including the steps of determining whether two second signals include the same received identification code and substantially equal reception times, comparing the signal strengths of the two second signals to determine the greater signal strength, and determining a location of a person based on the second signal having the greater signal strength.

34. A locator system for locating objects within a facility, comprising:

a plurality of badges, each having a badge transmitter for wirelessly transmitting a unique identification code;

a database for storing a list of each badge, its identification code and a person or an object associated with said each badge; and

a plurality of first transceivers spatially dispersed within said facility, each of said first transceivers having a transceiver receiver for receiving said identification code and a transceiver transmitter for wirelessly forwarding signals to a central processor via a second transceiver, said signals including said unique identification code received from said badges, wherein said central processor determines from the signals received from said first transceivers the location of said person or object and the time said identification codes were received, by which first transceivers, and the durations of receipt of the same identification code.

35. The system according to claim 34, wherein the duration is determined by subtracting the time of an earliest signal from the time of a latest signal.

36. The system according to claim 34, wherein said central processor generates a database listing the persons or objects located, locations visited by the persons or objects, and the duration of each visit.

37. The system according to claim 34, wherein transceiver transmitters wirelessly forward signals to the central processor after receiving a request from the central processor.

38. A method of collecting location data within a facility comprising the steps of:

associating each of a plurality of objects or persons to a respective one of a plurality of badges, each of said badges having a unique identification code;

wirelessly transmitting from each of said plurality of badges said unique identification code;

receiving at first transceivers within range of reception said unique identification code and associating a reception titnestamp therewith;

wirelessly transmitting signals from said first transceivers to a central processor via second transceivers, said signals including said unique identification code, a transceiver identification code, and the associated timestamp;

determining from said signals received from said first transceivers the locations of said first transceivers and badges and the duration of stay at each location; and

maintaining at said central processor, a list of objects or persons associated with respective badges and the locations of said objects or persons traveled within said facility and the duration of stay at each location.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said central processor is operatively connected to an RF receiver for receiving said signals wirelessly transmitted from said plurality of transceivers.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said determining step includes use of signal strength information included in said signals.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the step of wirelessly transmitting signals from said transceivers to said central processor is performed in response to a request issued by said central processor.

42. A locator system for locating objects within a facility comprising:

a plurality of wireless transmitters, each having a unique identification code, for periodically transmitting said identification code;

at least one wireless transceiver for receiving within its reception range said identification code transmitted from each of said wireless transmitters, for associating a reception timestamp therewith, and for transmitting a message including said identification code and said timestamp of said wireless transmitter and identification code of said wireless transceiver; and

a plurality of transceiver modules for receiving said message from said wireless transceiver and transmitting signals to a central processor, said signals including said identification codes of said wireless transmitter, said timestamp, and said wireless transceiver, wherein said central processor determines the locations of said wireless transmitters and the duration of stay near the locations from said signals.

43. The system according to claim 42, wherein said plurality of transceiver modules are connected to said central processor via a local area network (LAN) and messages, including portions of said signals are transmitted to said central processor through said LAN.

44. The system according to claim 42, wherein said at least one wireless transceiver receives identification codes transmitted from said wireless transmitters in infrared and transmits said message in RF.

45. The system according to claim 42, including a database for storing a list of each of said wireless transmitters, its identification code, identification of a person or an object associated with each said wireless transmitter, and locations and times of travel.

46. The system according to claim 42, wherein transceiver modules transmit signals to said central processor after receiving a request from said central processor.

47. A locator system for locating objects within a facility, comprising:

a plurality of badges, each having a badge transmitter for wirelessly transmitting first signals including a unique identification code;

a processor including a database for storing a list of each badge, its identification code and a person or an object associated with each badge;

a plurality of transceivers spatially dispersed within the facility to receive the first signals from the badges and associate a timestamp therewith; and

means for wirelessly communicating second signals to the processor, the second signals including the unique identification code received in the first signals from the badges and associated timestamp, wherein the central processor determines the location of the person or object and duration of stay from the second signals received from the transceivers.

48. The locator system of claim 47, wherein duration is determined by subtracting the timestamp of an earliest signal from the timestamp of a later signal.

49. The locator system of claim 48, wherein the transceiver detects a signal strength of the first signal and the second signal includes the signal strength and the timestamp.

50. The locator system of claim 49, wherein the processor responds to receipt of two second signals having equal unique identification codes and substantially equal timestamps by comparing the signal strengths to determine the location of the person or object.

51. The locator system of claim 49, wherein said means of wirelessly communicating second signals to the processor communicates second signals to the processor after receiving a request from the processor.

52. A locator system for locating people within a facility, comprising:

a plurality of transmitters respectively associated with a plurality of people, each transmitter wirelessly transmitting a unique identification code;

a database for storing a list of each badge, its identification code and a person or an object associated with each badge; and

a plurality of first transceivers dispersed within the facility, each first transceiver having a receiver for receiving the identification codes and associating a timestamp therewith and an RF transmitter to wirelessly transmit signals including the identification codes and timestamps; and

a second transceiver to receive the signals from the plurality of first transceivers;

a central processor in communication with the second transceiver for determining a location of a person associated with a transmitter and the duration spent at the location from the signals received from the first transceivers.

53. A method of collecting location data comprising:

associating each of a plurality of objects or persons to a respective one of a plurality of badges, each of the badges having a unique identification code;

transmitting a first signal including an identification code from a badge;

receiving the first signal at a location having an identifier;

determining a strength of the first signal and a time at which the first signal was received;

wirelessly transmitting a second signal including information representing the received identification code, the reception time, the location identifier, and the signal strength;

receiving the second signal;

recording the second signal information; and

determining a location of the object or person and the duration of stay.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the step of receiving the second signal includes the step of receiving a plurality of second signals.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the determining step includes determining whether two second signals include the same received identification code and substantially equal reception times, comparing the signal strengths of the two second signals to determine the greater signal strength, and determining a location of a person based on the second signal having the greater signal strength.

56. The method of claim 53, wherein the step of wirelessly transmitting a second signal is performed in response to a request.

57. A method of collecting location data comprising the steps of:

associating each of a plurality of objects or persons to a respective one of a plurality of badges, each of the badges having a unique identification code;

transmitting a first signal including an identification code from a badge;

receiving the first signal at a first location having an identifier;

determining a strength of the first signal and a time at which the first signal was received;

transmitting a second signal including information representing the received identification code, the reception time, the first location identifier, and the signal strength;

receiving the second signal;

recording the second signal information; and

determining a location of the object or person and the duration of stay.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the transmitting steps include wireless transmitting.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein the step of receiving the second signal includes the step of receiving a plurality of second signals.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the determining step includes determining whether two second signals include the same received identification code and substantially equal reception times, comparing the signal strengths of the two second signals to determine the greater signal strength, and determining a location of a person based on the second signal having the greater signal strength.

61. The method of claim 57, wherein the step of wirelessly transmitting a second signal is performed in response to a request.