User association with passive tags

• US 9,743,221 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2015
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Javer, Mahdi, Johnson, Kirk William, Englot, Kelly, Mroszczak, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Claude J
• Application Number:
  US14/825,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20170048650A1
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 235379, 23546244
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/72 for local intradevice communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/47 using RFID associated with sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

Embodiments relate generally to methods and systems for user association with a gas detector using passive NFC tags. Applicants propose a gas detector with a near-field communication (NFC) reader built into the gas detector, thereby allowing the user to scan their employee identification (ID) badge or a specialized individualized NFC tag. In some embodiments, an NFC tag may be attached to an employee ID badge. The gas detector may communicate via NFC with the badge and/or tag, and may recognize the badge and/or tag as associated with a specific user. When the user starts their shift, the gas detector with an NFC reader can scan the tag and associate the user with the detector and store the information in a log for archival purposes. This process can be completed by the user, and does not require connecting the gas detector to a computer to provide the association.

Claims

1. A method for associating a user with gas exposure data comprising:

placing a near-field communication (NFC) tag in proximity to a gas detector configured to be worn by the user, wherein the gas detector comprises an NFC reader, and wherein the NFC tag is attached to an identification (ID) badge associated with the user;

receiving, by the NFC reader of the gas detector, user information from the NFC tag to associate the gas detector with the user, wherein the user information comprises personalized gas detector settings;

setting, by the gas detector, alarm limits based on the user information received from the NFC tag;

associating, by the gas detector without connecting to a computer that is external to the gas detector, all further gas exposure data with the user information received from the NFC tag while the gas detector is associated with the user; and

storing the gas exposure data and associated user information.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising powering on the gas detector, and completing start up procedures, by the gas detector.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein user specific information is stored on the NFC tag.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising communicating the gas exposure data and associated user information to a central monitoring station.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

placing a second NFC tag in proximity to a gas detector, wherein the second NFC tag is attached to a second ID badge;

receiving, by the gas detector, second user information from the second NFC tag;

updating the user information on the gas detector to the second user information;

associating all further gas exposure data with the second user information; and

storing the gas exposure data and associated second user information.

6. A method for associating a user with gas exposure data comprising:

placing a near-field communication (NFC) tag in proximity to a gas detector that is worn by the user, wherein the gas detector comprises an NFC reader, and wherein the NFC tag is attached to an identification (ID) badge that is associated with the user;

receiving, by the gas detector worn by the user, user information from the NFC tag, wherein the user information comprises user identification and personalized gas detector settings;

altering, by the gas detector worn, the settings of the gas detector based on the personalized gas detector settings relating to the user'"'"'s health and the user'"'"'s previous gas exposure information;

associating, by the gas detector without connecting to a computer that is external to the gas detector, all further gas exposure data from detected gas levels with the user identification based on the personalized gas detector settings; and

storing the gas exposure data and associated user information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the personalized gas detector settings are set based on the user'"'"'s job and work area.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

placing a second NFC tag in proximity to a gas detector, wherein the second NFC tag is attached to a second ID badge;

receiving, by the gas detector, second user information from the second NFC tag;

updating the user information on the gas detector to the second user information;

associating all further gas exposure data with the second user information; and

storing the gas exposure data and associated second user information.

9. A gas detector system comprising:

a user identification (ID) badge associated with a user, wherein the ID badge comprises;

a near-field communication (NFC) tag; and

user information stored on the NFC tag, wherein the user information comprises personalized exposure alarm limits that are based on a job and work site of the user and based on the health and previous gas exposure information of the user; and

a gas detector operable to be worn by the user, wherein the gas detector is operable to detect gas levels in the environment and provide alerts and alarms to a user, and wherein the gas detector comprises;

an NFC reader operable to wirelessly pair with the NFC tag of the ID badge;

a user interface; and

a processor and storage that configure the gas detector to;

receive the user information from the NEC tag,

in response to the received user information, alter setting for gas detection to the personalized exposure alarm limits that are based on a job and work site of the user and based on the health and previous gas exposure information of the user,

receive and store gas exposure information based on detected gas levels, and

associate the received gas exposure information with the paired user without requiring connection to a computer that is external to the gas detector.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the gas detector comprises a single button for input from the user to the gas detector.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the gas detector comprises one or more buttons for input from the user to the gas detector.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the ID badge is formed including the NFC tag.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the NFC tag is attached to an already formed ID badge.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein user information comprises user identification, personalized gas detector settings.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the gas detector communicates the gas exposure data and associated user information to a central monitoring station.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the gas detector comprises wireless communication capabilities.

17. The system of claim 9, wherein the gas detector is operable to pair with a second ID badge comprising a second NFC tag, update the user information, and associate further gas exposure data with the new user information.