Office communication system

• US 7,812,709 B2
• Filed: 07/13/2007
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Davis Medical Communications LLC
• Original Assignee: Andrew Peter Davis
• Inventors: Davis, Andrew Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US11/777,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20080014868A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,187 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/286.07
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

An office communication system provides intra-office communication within a medical or dental office, for example. The system includes a door or wall unit, a table or desk unit, and a wearable or portable unit. The door and desk units are configured to transmit and receive both infrared and radio frequency type wireless signals. The portable unit may include an infrared light transmitter configured to transmit infrared light encoded with a unique address or identifier. The system operates to non-obtrusively notify office personnel whether a practitioner has entered or is presently within a particular exam room of the office, even if a door of the exam room is closed.

Claims

1. An office communication system for use in an office having a plurality of examination rooms, the office comprising:

a first communication unit associated with at least one of the plurality of examination rooms, the first communication unit comprising;

a wireless transceiver; and

a microprocessor in signal communication with the wireless transceiver;

a second communication unit located at a nursing station of the office, the second communication unit comprising;

a receiving module configured to receive the wireless signal from the first communication unit;

an indicator; and

a microprocessor in signal communication with the receiving module and the indicator,

a wearable communication unit comprising;

a housing configured to be attachable to a clothing item of a person associated with the business operating in the office, the housing comprising;

a wireless transceiver configured to receive a signal initiated by user interaction with the first communication unit; and

a microprocessor operable to receive the signal from the wireless transceiver and generate an output signal based on the received signal; and

a sensory output device in communication with the microprocessor and actuatable by the microprocessor to provide a user detectable action;

wherein the first communication unit receives a wireless signal from the wearable communication unit, the wireless signal comprises information indicating proximity to the first communication unit and identification information of the user of the wearable communication unit, the first communication unit transmits a wireless signal indicative of the wearable communication unit being located within one of the plurality of examination rooms associated with the first communication unit when the microprocessor determines if the wearable communication unit is within a predetermined vicinity from the first communication unit based on the received proximity information,

wherein when the second communication unit receives the wireless signal transmitted by the first communication unit, the microprocessor of the second communication unit activates the indicator to notify others within the office that the wearable communication unit is located within the office associated with the first communication unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver of the wearable communication unit includes a transmitting component and a receiving component to respectively transmit and receive a wireless signal.

3. The unit of claim 2, wherein the transmitting and receiving components operate within a desired radio frequency range.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensory device of the wearable communication unit includes a light emitting diode (LED) coupled to the housing and wherein the LED is visible to the human sensory system.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the wearable communication unit further comprises a motor unit having a vibration mechanism for providing a vibratory output signal detectable by the human sensory system.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensory device of the wearable communication unit includes a mechanism for providing an audible output signal.

7. The unit of claim 6 wherein the mechanism is a piezoelectric beeper.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising a switch located on the housing of the wearable communication unit configured to be manually activated for placing the sensory device in one of a detectable or a non-detectable state.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless signal from the wearable communication unit includes infrared light.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the wireless signal from the first communication unit includes a radio frequency.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the indicator is a light emitting diode.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the predetermined vicinity includes a room within the office.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver of the wearable communication unit is configured to receive a signal initiated by user interaction performed on one of the first or second communication units, wherein the microprocessor of the wearable communication unit is operable to receive the signal from the wearable communication unit wireless transceiver and the sensory output device is configured to output a user detectable action based on the received signal.

14. An office communication system for use in an office having a plurality of examination rooms, the office comprising:

a communication unit associated with at least one of the plurality of examination rooms, the communication unit comprising;

a wireless transceiver;

a microprocessor in signal communication with the wireless transceiver; and

an indicator coupled to the communication unit to provide a user detectible action to notify office personnel; and

a wearable communication unit comprising;

a housing configured to be attachable to a clothing item of a person associated with the business operating in the office, the housing comprising;

a wireless transceiver configured to receive a signal initiated by interaction with the communication unit; and

a microprocessor operable to receive the signal from the wireless transceiver and generate an output signal based on the received signal; and

a sensory output device in communication with the microprocessor and actuatable by the microprocessor to provide a user detectable action;

wherein the communication unit receives a wireless signal from the wearable communication unit, the wireless signal comprises information indicating proximity to the communication unit and identification information of the user of the wearable communication unit,

wherein the microprocessor of the communication unit activates the indicator to notify others within the office when the wearable communication unit is located within one of the plurality of examination rooms of the office associated with the communication unit.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the wireless signal from the wearable communication unit includes infrared light.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the wireless signal from the communication unit includes a radio frequency.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the indicator is a light emitting diode.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the wireless transceiver of the wearable communication unit is configured to receive a signal initiated by user interaction performed on the communication unit, wherein the microprocessor of the wearable communication unit is operable to receive the signal from the wearable communication unit wireless transceiver and the sensory output device is configured to output a user detectable action based on the received signal.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the wireless transceiver of the wearable communication unit includes a transmitting component and a receiving component to respectively transmit and receive a wireless signal.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the transmitting and receiving components operate within a desired radio frequency range.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the sensory device of the wearable communication unit includes a light emitting diode (LED) coupled to the housing and wherein the LED is visible to the human sensory system.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the wearable communication unit further comprises a motor unit having a vibration mechanism for providing a vibratory output signal detectable by the human sensory system.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the sensory device of the wearable communication unit includes a mechanism for providing an audible output signal.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the mechanism is a piezoelectric beeper.

25. The system of claim 14, further comprising a switch located on the housing of the wearable communication unit configured to be manually activated for placing the sensory device in one of a detectable or a non-detectable state.