Wireless tracking system and method utilizing near-field communication devices

• US 8,867,993 B1
• Filed: 02/04/2013
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Centrak Incorporated (Halma PLC)
• Original Assignee: Awarepoint Corporation
• Inventors: Perkins, Matthew R., Geng, Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): GONZALES, APRIL GUZMAN
• Application Number:
  US13/759,009
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/63 for local operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/263 Multiple coils at either side
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/70 specially adapted for specific purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/20 based on geographic position or location
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system for determining a near-field communication interaction in a wireless tracking mesh network. The present invention preferably utilizes near-field communication devices in conjunction with tracking tags to transmit signals for reception by sensors stationed throughout a facility which form a mesh network and forward the signals to an information engine for analysis. Bearers of the near-field communication devices preferably include individuals, objects, assets and rooms of the facility.

Claims

1. A system utilizing near-field communications, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensors located in a facility for real-time location tracking of objects and users in the facility, each of the plurality of sensors communicating utilizing a medium range wireless communication format, wherein each of the plurality of sensors operates in a geo-spatially fixed physical location in the facility;

a plurality of near-field communication devices, each of the plurality of near-field communication devices operating on a low power short-range wireless communication format and a medium range wireless communication format which is different than the low-power short-range wireless communication format, each of the plurality of near-field communication devices comprising a transceiver for transferring interaction data from one near-field communication device to another near-field communication device when the near-field communication devices are within a predetermined distance of each other, and a transceiver for transmitting a signal to at least one of the plurality of sensors, the signal comprising the interaction data; and

an information engine in communication with the plurality of sensors, the information engine processing the interaction data.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the signal from the near-field communication device further comprises a number of previous interactions between the near-field communication devices within a predetermined time period.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein a bearer of a near-field communication device is at least one of a medical professional, a patient, an asset, an object, an area of the facility, or a host for a tag.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the interaction data is used to authenticate a user for access to at least one of or a combination of a computer, a medical equipment, a protected area of the facility, a medication drawer, or a patient'"'"'s room.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the interaction data comprises at least one of or a combination of a previous location of a first bearer, a previous location of a second bearer, a current location of the first bearer, a current location of the second bearer, and a number of other objects located near the interaction.

6. A system for determining a business relationship between individuals within a facility, the system comprising:

a plurality of first near-field communication devices, each of the plurality of first near-field communication devices having a bearer, each of the plurality of first near-field communication devices operating on a low power short-range wireless communication format and a medium range wireless communication format which is different than the low-power short-range wireless communication format;

a plurality of second near-field communication devices, each of the plurality of second near-field communication devices representing an object, each of the plurality of second near-field communication devices operating on a low power short-range wireless communication format;

a plurality of sensors located in a facility for real-time location tracking of objects and users in the facility, each of the plurality of sensors communicating utilizing a medium range wireless communication format; and

an information engine in communication with the plurality of sensors, the information engine obtaining data on a near-field communication interaction between either at least two of the plurality of first near-field communication devices or at least one first near-field communication device and at least one second near-field communication device.

7. The system according to claim 6 wherein the near-field communication interaction comprises a position location of the interaction and a duration of the interaction.

8. The system according to claim 6 wherein the near-field communication data comprises a number of previous interactions between the near-field communication devices within a predetermined time period.

9. The system according to claim 6 wherein a bearer of a near-field communication device is at least one of a medical professional, a patient, an asset, an object, an area of the facility, or a host for a tag.

10. The system according to claim 6 wherein a near-field communication interaction occurs when the near-field communication devices are within a predetermined distance of each other.

11. The system according to claim 6 wherein the near-field communication interaction data further comprises a number of previous interactions between a first person and a second person within a predetermined time period.

12. The system according to claim 6 wherein the medium range wireless communication format comprises one of ZIGBEE, BLUETOOTH, BLUETOOTH low energy, WiFi, Low-power WiFi, Ultrasound and Infrared communication formats.

13. The system according to claim 6 wherein the near-field communication interaction data further comprises at least one of or a combination of a previous location of the first object, a current location of the first object, a previous location of a second object, a current location of the second object, and the number of other objects located near the interaction.

14. A method for determining a business relationship between individuals within a facility, the method comprising:

transmitting a signal from a first near-field communication device associated with a first person, the first near-field communication device operating on a low power short-range wireless communication format and a medium range wireless communication format which is different than the low-power short-range wireless communication format;

receiving the signal from first near-field communication device at a second near-field communication device associated with a second person, the signal sent on a low power short-range wireless communication format, the second near-field communication device operating on a low power short-range wireless communication format and a medium range wireless communication format which is different than the low-power short-range wireless communication format;

determining that a near-field communication interaction is occurring between the first person and the second person based on the signal;

transmitting a signal using the medium range wireless communication format to at least one sensor of a plurality of sensors for transmission to an information engine;

determining a business relationship between the first person and the second person based on at least one of a plurality of factors comprising a position location of the interaction, a duration of the interaction, a previous location of the first person prior to the interaction, a previous location of the second person prior to the interaction and the number of other persons at the interaction.

15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the plurality of factors further comprises a position designation of the first person, a number of previous interactions between the first person and the second person within a predetermined time period, and a position designation of the second person.

16. A system for determining a business relationship between individuals within a facility, the system comprising:

a plurality of near-field beacons located in a facility, each of the plurality of near-field beacons devices operating on a low power short-range wireless communication format and transmitting a beacon signal;

at least one first near-field communication device associated with a bearer, the at least one first near-field communication device operating on a low power short-range wireless communication format and a medium range wireless communication format which is different than the low-power short-range wireless communication format;

a plurality of sensors located in the facility for real-time location tracking of objects and users in the facility, each of the plurality of sensors communicating utilizing a medium range wireless communication format; and

an information engine in communication with the plurality of sensors, the information engine obtaining data on a near-field communication interaction between the at least one first near-field communication device and at least one of the plurality of near-field beacons.

17. The system according to claim 16 further comprising at least one second near-field communication device associated with a second bearer, the at least one second near-field communication device operating on a low power short-range wireless communication format and a medium range wireless communication format which is different than the low-power short-range wireless communication format, the at least one second near-field communication device interacting with the at least one first near-field communication device, wherein a signal is transmitted to the information engine to determine a business relationship between the bearer of the at least one first communication device and the bearer of the at least one first communication device based on at least one of a plurality of factors comprising a position location of the interaction, a duration of the interaction, a previous location of the bearer prior to the interaction, a previous location of the second bearer prior to the interaction and the number of other persons at the interaction.

18. The system according to claim 16 wherein the near-field communication interaction comprises a position location of the interaction and a duration of the interaction.

19. The system according to claim 16 wherein a bearer of a near-field communication device is at least one of a medical professional, a patient, an asset, an object, an area of the facility, or a host for a tag.

20. The system according to claim 16 wherein each of the plurality of near-field beacons is positioned within an area of the facility, and each of the plurality of near-field beacons transmits a beacon comprising an identification of the near field beacon.

21. A system for determining a business relationship between individuals within a facility, the system comprising:

a plurality of near-field beacons located in a facility, each of the plurality of near-field beacons devices operating on a low power short-range wireless communication format and transmitting a beacon signal;

at least one first near-field communication device associated with a bearer, the at least one first near-field communication device operating on a low power short-range wireless communication format;

at least one bridge for receiving data on a near-field communication interaction; and

an information engine in communication with the bridge, the information engine obtaining data on a near-field communication interaction between the at least one first near-field communication device and at least one of the plurality of near-field beacons.

22. The system according to claim 21 further comprising a plurality of sensors located in the facility for real-time location tracking of objects and users in the facility, each of the plurality of sensors communicating utilizing a medium range wireless communication format, the plurality of sensors in communication with the bridge for communication with the information engine.

23. The system according to claim 21 further comprising at least one second near-field communication device associated with a second bearer, the at least one second near-field communication device operating on a low power short-range wireless communication format and a medium range wireless communication format which is different than the low-power short-range wireless communication format, the at least one second near-field communication device interacting with the at least one first near-field communication device, wherein a signal is transmitted to the information engine to determine a business relationship between the bearer of the at least one first communication device and the bearer of the at least one first communication device based on at least one of a plurality of factors comprising a position location of the interaction, a duration of the interaction, a previous location of the bearer prior to the interaction, a previous location of the second bearer prior to the interaction and the number of other persons at the interaction.

24. The system according to claim 22 wherein the medium range wireless communication format comprises one of ZIGBEE, BLUETOOTH, BLUETOOTH low energy, WiFi, Low-power WiFi, Ultrasound and Infrared communication formats.