Hygiene monitoring and management system and method

• US 8,786,429 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2010
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Diversey Incorporated (Sealed Air)
• Original Assignee: Diversey Incorporated (Sealed Air)
• Inventors: Li, Anderson Chun Kong, Bhagvanji, Anup
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): DARAMOLA, ISRAEL O
• Application Number:
  US13/254,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20110316695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,603 Days
• Field of Search: 205/687, 235/375, 340/539.13, 340/573.1, 340/8.1, 422/5, 700/245, 700/262, 701/23, 701/300
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 11/06 using intensity measurements
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2013/466 by Trilateration, i.e. two antennas or two sensors determine separately the distance to a target, whereby with the knowledge of the baseline length, i.e. the distance between the antennas or sensors, the position data of the target is determined
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0011 associated with a remote control arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0016 characterised by the operator's input device input arrangements for computing systems in general G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0033 by having the operator tracking the vehicle either by direct line of sight or via one or more cameras located remotely from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/245 Reminder of hygiene compliance policies, e.g. of washing hands
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms

Abstract

A Real Time Locating System (RTLS) hygiene management and monitoring system for individuals and companies to manage and monitor the hygiene of their surroundings. In some embodiments of the invention, RTLS is used to monitor and manage cleanliness of rooms and surfaces and the location of cleaning supplies and cleaning personnel. The invention provides improved efficiency and quality of hygiene services. For instance, the invention can enable prioritization of cleaning, improve efficient use of cleaning supplies and cleaning personnel, track short and long term cleaning operations, and provide insight into ineffective cleaning.

Claims

1. A hygiene monitoring and management system comprising:

a wireless tag operable to transmit distance signals, wherein each distance signal indicates a tag distance between the wireless tag and an associated access point and wherein the tag distance is based on a strength of a wireless signal from the associated access point received by the wireless tag;

a monitoring module operable to

track movement of the wireless tag by repeatedly determining the location of the wireless tag based on the tag distances, and

determine a cleanliness level of an area based on the tracked movement of the wireless tag; and

a cleaning implement including a second wireless tag,

wherein the monitoring module is further operable to monitor a cleaning solution output of the cleaning implement, and indicate the cleanliness level of the area based on both the tracked movement of the cleaning implement and the cleaning solution output of the cleaning implement.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless tag is selectively attached to one of a person, a cleaning implement, and a mobile cleaning station.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring module is operable to determine the cleanliness level of the area based on at least one of a clean signal and a dirty signal received from a fixed call actuator in the area or coupled to a wall bounding the area.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a display unit, wherein the monitoring module is operable to graphically depict the cleanliness level of the area and the location of the wireless tag on the display unit.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the cleanliness level of the area is based on one of a duration of the wireless tag being present in the area as detected by the monitoring module and a quantity of trips into the area by the wireless tag as detected by the monitoring module.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring module is operable to control at least one of an amount of a cleaning solution output, the location of the cleaning solution output, and a type of the cleaning solution output.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring module determines the location of the wireless tag by one of using the tag distances as indexes into a look up table and using the tag distances in triangulation equations.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein

the wireless tag is coupled to a spray device,

the cleaning implement is a wiping device, and

the monitoring module determines a surface cleanliness level of a surface within the area based on:

predicting a spray pattern of the spray device on the surface based on tracking the movement of the spray device and detecting a dispensement of the spray device, and

estimating an effective wipe area on the surface based on the spray pattern and tracking movement of the wiping device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the monitoring module determines an appropriate cleaning agent based on tracking the movement of the spray device relative to a proximate surface.

10. A method of hygiene monitoring and management comprising:

receiving, by a wireless tag, wireless signals from a plurality of access points;

receiving, by each access point, an associated tag distance from the wireless tag, wherein each associated tag distance represents a strength of each associated access point'"'"'s wireless signal at the wireless tag;

repeatedly determining a location of the wireless tag based on the tag distances to track movement of the wireless tag;

determining a cleanliness level of an area based on tracking the movement of the wireless tag; and

graphically displaying

a floor plan with a plurality of areas including the area,

a cleanliness level of each of the plurality of areas, and

at least one of a current location of the wireless tag on the floor plan and a path indicating the tracked movement of the wireless tag on the floor plan.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein determining the cleanliness level is based on one of a fixed call actuator output, a total duration of the wireless tag and other wireless tags being present in the area, and a total quantity of trips into the area by the wireless tag and other wireless tags.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising,

determining that the area is dirty based on at least one of wireless tag traffic, a length of time since a previous cleaning, and actuation of a fixed call actuator,

sending a cleaning call to a mobile cleaning station upon determining that the area is dirty;

and

displaying a dirty indication on the floor plan that the area is dirty.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising

determining that the area is clean upon at least one of

receiving a clean signal from the fixed call actuator,

receiving a clean signal from the mobile cleaning station, and

determining if a path of a cleaning implement with the wireless tag was sufficient to clean the area;

and

displaying a clean indication on the floor plan that the area is clean.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein repeatedly determining a location of the wireless tag is performed by one of using the tag distances as indexes into a look up table and using the tag distances in triangulation equations.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the area is one of a room, a floor surface, and a table surface.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the wireless tag is secured to a spray device and a second wireless tag is secured to a wiping device, and wherein the method further comprises

determining a surface cleanliness level of a surface within the area based on

predicting a spray pattern of the spray device on the surface based on tracking the movement of the spray device and detecting a dispensement of the spray device, and

estimating an effective wipe area on the surface based on the spray pattern and tracking movement of the wiping device.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising determining an appropriate cleaning agent based on tracking the movement of the spray device and a proximate surface.

18. A hygiene monitoring and management system comprising:

a wireless tag operable to transmit distance signals, wherein each distance signal indicates a tag distance between the wireless tag and an associated access point and wherein the tag distance is based on a strength of a wireless signal from the associated access point received by the wireless tag;

a display unit; and

a monitoring module operable to

track movement of the wireless tag by repeatedly determining the location of the wireless tag based on the tag distances,

determine a cleanliness level of an area based on the tracked movement of the wireless tag, and

graphically depict on the display unit;

a floor plan with a plurality of areas including the area,

a cleanliness level of each of the plurality of areas, and

at least one of a current location of the wireless tag on the floor plan and a path indicating the tracked movement of the wireless tag on the floor plan.