Protected zone system

• US 8,212,653 B1
• Filed: 03/20/2008
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dempsey, Michael K., Goldstein, Arthur L., Newbower, Ronald S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Nam V
• Application Number:
  US12/052,543
• Time in Patent Office: 1,566 Days
• Field of Search: 340/10.1, 340/573.1, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/572.1, 340/528, 340/600, 340/5.1, 235/375, 700/108, 700/9, 705/2, 732/90
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication

Abstract

A system is provided for establishing a protected zone and monitoring interactions therewith. The system includes a protected zone designator and a wearable device. The protected zone designator establishes the protected zone. The protected zone designator is configured for placement at a location in which the protected zone is desired. The wearable device is separate and distal from the protected zone designator. The wearable device includes a protected zone recognition component configured to recognize the protected zone and identify pre-defined interaction criteria for the protected zone. Upon the wearable device entering the protected zone, the protected zone recognition component recognizes the protected zone and identifies the interaction criteria of the protected zone. Based on the interaction criteria the wearable device determines and records compliance with the interaction criteria.

Claims

1. A system for establishing a protected zone and monitoring interactions therewith, the system comprising:

a protected zone designator for establishing the protected zone, the protected zone designator configured for placement at a location in which the protected zone is desired, the protected zone designator having a transmitter transmitting one or more signals that establish the protected zone; and

a wearable device separate and distal from the protected zone designator, the wearable device comprising a protected zone recognition component configured to recognize the protected zone and identify pre-defined interaction criteria for the protected zone and configured to be associated with a particular user wearing the wearable device, the protected zone recognition component comprising;

a signal receiver capable of receiving the one or more signals that establish the protected zone;

a processor connected to the signal receiver; and

a recordable medium connected to the processor and storing instructions for the processor;

wherein upon the wearable device entering the protected zone, the protected zone recognition component recognizes the protected zone and identifies the interaction criteria of the protected zone and based on the interaction criteria the wearable device determines and records compliance of the particular individual with the interaction criteria in the recordable medium.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the protected zone designator transmitter transmits one or more signals having a transmission range establishing the protected zone.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the transmitter comprises an ultrasonic transmitter.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the wearable device comprises a badge.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the wearable device comprises a badge holder.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the signal receiver comprises an ultrasonic receiver.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the protected zone designator comprises a transponder.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the protected zone recognition component comprises a transmitter for transmitting a signal to the transponder;

and a receiver for receiving a responsive signal from the transponder in response to the signal transmitted from the transmitter.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein upon the wearable device entering the protected zone, the wearable device provides notice of the protected zone.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein after the wearable device determines compliance with the interaction criteria, if there is non-compliance, the wearable device enters a non-compliance mode.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the non-compliance mode comprises an alarm emission from the wearable device.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the interaction criteria for the protected zone comprise hand washing requirements.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the hand washing requirements comprise

a determination that a user of the wearable device has washed their hands prior to entering the protected zone.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the wearable device further comprises:

a hand washing monitor configured to record interactions with a hand washing station.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the hand washing requirements comprise:

a determination that a user of the wearable device has washed there their hands after exiting the protected zone.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the interaction criteria for the protected zone comprise temporal requirements.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the interaction criteria for the protected zone are derived from time of day.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the interaction criteria for the protected zone include a time limit for compliance with the interaction criteria.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the interaction criteria for the protected zone comprise certification requirements.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the interaction criteria for the protected zone are derived from a role of a user of the wearable device.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the interaction criteria for the protected zone are derived from an identity of a user of the wearable device.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the interaction criteria for the protected zone comprises biohazard requirements and/or notification.

23. The system of claim 1, wherein the wearable device further comprises an override for an action resulting from determination of a non-compliance of the interaction criteria.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the override is selectable by a user of the wearable device.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein availability of the override depends on an identity of a user the wearable device.

26. The system of claim 23, wherein availability of the override depends on a role of a user of the wearable device.

27. The system of claim 23, wherein use of the override is recoded by the wearable device.

28. The system of claim 1, wherein the interaction criteria comprises requirements upon the wearable device exiting the protected zone.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the interaction criteria are configurable.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein access to configure the interaction criteria requires authorization, authentication, or both.

31. The system of claim 1, further comprising a base station configured to communicate with the wearable device for transferring data between the wearable device and the base station.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the base station communicates with the wearable device wirelessly.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the interaction criteria are configured using the base station.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the base station provides a graphical user interface for configuring the interaction criteria.

35. A method of establishing a protected zone and monitoring interactions therewith, the method comprising:

a protected zone designator having a transmitter transmitting a signal that defines the protected zone;

receiving the signal at a wearable device upon entry of the wearable device into the protected zone, the wearable device being configured to be associated with a particular user wearing the wearable device and having a signal receiver capable of receiving the signal that defines the protected zone;

the wearable device identifying predetermined interaction criteria for the protected zone using a processor on the wearable device connected to the signal receiver; and

based on the interaction criteria, the wearable device determining and recording compliance of the particular user with the interaction criteria in a recordable medium on the wearable device connected to the processor.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the protected zone designator transmits the signal in response to receiving a signal from the wearable device.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

the wearable device providing notice of the protected zone.

38. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

the wearable device entering a non-compliance mode if there is a non-compliance of the interaction criteria.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein entering the non-compliance mode comprises emitting an alarm from the wearable device.

40. The method of claim 35, wherein the interaction criteria for the protected zone comprise hand washing requirements.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the hand washing requirements comprise determining if a user of the wearable device has washed their hands prior to entering the protected zone.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising:

receiving at the wearable device a signal from a hand washing station indicating that the user of the wearable device has washed their hands;

the wearable device recoding the signal received from the hand washing station.

43. The method of claim 40, wherein the hand washing requirements comprise:

determining that a user of the wearable device has washed their hands after exiting the protected zone.

44. The method of claim 35, wherein the interaction criteria for the protected zone comprise temporal requirements.

45. The method of claim 35, wherein the interaction criteria for the protected zone are derived from time of day.

46. The method of claim 35, wherein the interaction criteria for the protected zone include a time limit for compliance with the interaction criteria.

47. The method of claim 35, wherein the interaction criteria for the protected zone comprise certification requirements.

48. The method of claim 35, wherein the interaction criteria for the protected zone are derived from a role of the user of the wearable device.

49. The method of claim 35, wherein the interaction criteria for the protected zone are derived from an identity of the user of the wearable device.

50. The method of claim 35, wherein the interaction criteria for the protected zone comprise biohazard requirements and/or notification.

51. The method of claim 35, wherein the interaction criteria comprise requirements upon the wearable device exiting the protected zone.

52. The method claim 35, further comprising:

providing an override for the interaction criteria;

determining whether the override for the interaction criteria has been activated; and

if the override has been activated, recording activation of the override.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein providing the override is based on a role of a user of the wearable device.

54. The method of claim 52, wherein providing the override is based on an identity of a user of the wearable device.

55. The method of claim 35, wherein the interaction criteria is configurable.

56. The method of claim 35, further comprising:

a base station communicating with the wearable device to transfer data between the wearable device and the base station.