Personnel proximity detection and tracking system
First Claim
1. A system for identifying and/or mapping activity of personnel throughout a facility, comprising:
- a plurality of badges, each badge comprising one or more transmitters configured to transmit a series of differing signals, including a series of signals that are transmitted a predetermined distance from the badge and/or at a different signal strength, and wherein each signal of the series of the signals transmitted includes signature information identifying the badge transmitting the signal and an identifying code differentiating the signal from other ones of the plurality of signals transmitted by the badge;
a plurality of receivers positioned at selected locations throughout the facility, each receiver configured to collect one or more signals of the series of signals transmitted from each badge carried within a selected range of the receiver; and
a server or processor in communication with the plurality of receivers and as adapted to receive collected badge signals and receiver signature information identifying each receiver collecting the badge signals from the receivers;
wherein upon receiving the collected badge signals and receiver signature information associated therewith, the server or processor identifies each badge from which the signals are collected by each receiver based upon the signature information included in the received signals from each badge, and determines a plurality of positions or movements of each identified badge in relation to each of the one or more receivers collecting the signals therefrom, based on the differing signals collected from each badge associated with the identifying codes of the signals, and wherein the processor further comprises programming configured to identify and map the movements of each badge based on the plurality of determined positions for each badge moving throughout the facility.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for tracking, locating, identifying, or mapping movements of persons or personnel within a facility may include badges carried by selected persons or personnel through the facility, and these badges can each include a transmitter configured to transmit a series of signals including signature information identifying the badges and also identifying codes of each signal transmitted. In addition, a series of receivers can be positioned at selected locations of the facility and can receive the signals transmitted by the transmitters of the badges, and these receivers can be configured to identify each badge from which signals are received based upon signature information for identified badges and also to determine the proximity, range, distance, or zone between the badge identified and one or more receivers.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for identifying and/or mapping activity of personnel throughout a facility, comprising:
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a plurality of badges, each badge comprising one or more transmitters configured to transmit a series of differing signals, including a series of signals that are transmitted a predetermined distance from the badge and/or at a different signal strength, and wherein each signal of the series of the signals transmitted includes signature information identifying the badge transmitting the signal and an identifying code differentiating the signal from other ones of the plurality of signals transmitted by the badge; a plurality of receivers positioned at selected locations throughout the facility, each receiver configured to collect one or more signals of the series of signals transmitted from each badge carried within a selected range of the receiver; and a server or processor in communication with the plurality of receivers and as adapted to receive collected badge signals and receiver signature information identifying each receiver collecting the badge signals from the receivers; wherein upon receiving the collected badge signals and receiver signature information associated therewith, the server or processor identifies each badge from which the signals are collected by each receiver based upon the signature information included in the received signals from each badge, and determines a plurality of positions or movements of each identified badge in relation to each of the one or more receivers collecting the signals therefrom, based on the differing signals collected from each badge associated with the identifying codes of the signals, and wherein the processor further comprises programming configured to identify and map the movements of each badge based on the plurality of determined positions for each badge moving throughout the facility. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of monitoring personnel or equipment within in a facility, comprising:
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assigning each badge of a plurality of badges to selected identified personnel or equipment, the badges each including at least one transmitter; as the identified personnel or equipment move through the facility, transmitting a plurality of signals from the badges assigned thereto, wherein each signal of the plurality of signals transmitted by each badge is transmitted at a prescribed intensity, range or predetermined distance, and contains a one or more signal identifying codes; receiving the signals transmitted from the badges at a plurality of receivers positioned at selected locations throughout the facility; identifying the personnel or equipment according to a signature identifier corresponding to the badge from which the signal is transmitted; and determining a plurality of positions of the identified personnel or equipment carrying each of the assigned badges from which signals are received in relation to the plurality of receivers based on the one or more received signal identifying codes indicating the predetermined distance of each transmitted signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for identifying, tracking, and/or mapping movements of workers within a medical facility, comprising:
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a plurality of badges, each assigned to a selected worker, and each badge comprising one or more transmitters configured to transmit a plurality of varying signals, wherein each signal of the plurality of signals includes signature information identifying the badge from which each signal is transmitted and a code differentiating each from the plurality of signals transmitted by each badge; a series of receivers positioned in selected locations adjacent one or more patient treatment areas of the medical facility and configured to receive the signals transmitted by the badges, wherein one or more of the receivers transmits an activation signal configured to cause one or more badges of the plurality of badges coming within a desired proximity thereto to transmit their series of signals; a processor in communication with each of the receivers, the processor including programming whereby when one or more of the receivers receives signals transmitted by one or more of the badges and communicates the received signals to the processor, the processor identifies each badge from which the signals were received based upon the signature information, and determines a plurality of positions of each badge within the patient treatment area based on the codes differentiating each signal received; and a database in communication with the processor and adapted to store medical information for patients within the patient treatment area; wherein the processor further comprises programming configured to cross-reference the information on the patients stored in the database with the plurality of positions of each badge within the patient treatment area. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification