Method and system for selectively monitoring activities in a tracking environment

• US 20030227386A1
• Filed: 05/23/2003
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Healthcare Finland OY (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Instrumentarium Dental Incorporated (Envista Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Pulkkinen, Otto, Hakkinen, Matti, Sarkka, Jukka-Pekka
• Granted Patent: US 6,954,148 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1127 using markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6889 Rooms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/98 using electromagnetic means, e.g. transponders
• 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 system for selectively collecting location information in a tracking environment includes a first energy signal identification badge for detecting trigger signals and transmitting identification data signals indicating existence of a proximity condition between the first badge and a source of the trigger signals. The trigger source transmits trigger signals of a predetermined power level, wherein the first badge can detect the trigger signals only if the first badge is within a predetermined radius of the trigger source when the trigger source transmits the trigger signals. The first badge transmits the identification data signals when the first badge detects the trigger signals transmitted by the trigger source.

Claims

1. A method for electronic monitoring of activities in a tracking environment comprising:

selecting a schedule including a plurality of events;

collecting activity data in substantially real time from the tracking environment, wherein the activity data includes proximity information concerning first and second energy signal identification badges, wherein the first badge is a normally off energy transceiver, wherein the first badge is activated when the first badge detects trigger signals transmitted at a minimum power level and from within a predetermined radius of the first badge, wherein the second badge generates the trigger signals for activating the first badge, and wherein the first badge generates activity data signals representative of a proximity condition between the first and second badges when the first badge is activated by the trigger signals from the second badge;

evaluating the activity data in substantially real time to determine whether at least one of the events of the schedule has been performed, wherein the evaluating includes using the proximity information;

updating a status record of the schedule in substantially real time based on the evaluation of the activity data; and

making the status record of the schedule and the activity data available for access in real time.

2. A method for selectively monitoring location of a service provider within a tracking environment comprising:

providing each of a monitoree and a service provider with an energy signal identification badge;

providing an energy signal transceiver at a predetermined zone within the tracking environment or to at least one of the service provider and the monitoree;

determining whether the monitoree is within a proximity of the service provider based on energy signals received at the transceiver and generated at or reflected away from the badge of at least one of the service provider and the monitoree, wherein the energy signals represent detection of the presence of the service provider at a location at a first time; and

storing data representative of the detection of the service provider at the location at the first time only upon determination that the service provider was within the proximity of the monitoree at the first time.

4. A system for selectively collecting location information in a tracking environment, comprising:

a first energy signal identification badge for detecting trigger signals and transmitting identification data signals indicating existence of a proximity condition between the first badge and a source of the trigger signals;

wherein the trigger source transmits trigger signals of a predetermined power level, wherein the first badge can detect the trigger signals only if the first badge is within a predetermined radius of the trigger source when the trigger source transmits the trigger signals; and

wherein the first badge transmits the identification data signals when the first badge detects the trigger signals transmitted by the trigger source.

3. The method of claim 4, wherein the service provider badge is normally off and activated by a trigger signal, and wherein, when the monitoree badge transmits a trigger signal for activating the normally off badge of the service provider, the service provider badge transmits data signals indicating a proximity condition between the service provider and the monitoree.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the trigger signals and the identification data signals are at least one of radio frequency and infrared energy signals.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the trigger source is a second, portable identification badge.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the trigger source is a fixed sensor transceiver assembly for detecting the identification data signals.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the trigger source is a fixed energy signal identification badge.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the first badge is a source of pre-trigger signals, wherein the pre-trigger signals are converted to trigger signals when reflected by an encoded energy reflecting medium.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein the reflecting medium is an RF transponder or IR readable bar code.

11. A system for electronic monitoring of activities in a tracking environment comprising:

a plurality of energy identification badges disposed in the tracking environment for generating identification data signals;

a plurality of sensors disposed in the tracking environment for detecting the identification data signals, converting the detected signals into activity data signals and transmitting the activity data signals, wherein the detecting, converting and transmitting are performed by the sensors in substantially real time;

a microcontroller for receiving the activity data signals and processing the activity data in accordance with a schedule including a plurality of events, wherein the processing is in real time and comprises;

evaluating the activity data to determine whether at least one of the events of the schedule has been performed, wherein the activity data includes proximity information concerning first and second energy signal identification badges, wherein the evaluating includes using the proximity information, wherein the first badge is a normally off energy transceiver, wherein the first badge is activated when the first badge detects trigger signals transmitted at least at a predetermined minimum power level and from within a predetermined radius of the first badge, wherein the second badge generates the trigger signals for activating the first badge, and wherein the first badge generates activity data signals representative of a proximity condition between the first and second badges when the first badge is activated by the trigger signals from the second badge;

updating a status record of the schedule based on the evaluation of the activity data; and

making the status record of the schedule and the activity data available for access in real time.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the badges automatically generates identification data signals and the sensors passively and automatically detect the identification data signals.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the sensors passively and automatically causes at least one of the badges to generate identification data signals.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein at least a first of the badges passively and automatically causes at least a second of the badges to generate identification data signals and wherein the sensors passively and automatically detect the identification data signals.

15. A method for selectively recording location information in a tracking environment, comprising:

Receiving transmitted signals indicative of a particular source and location,

Determining whether said source and location correlates to an expected relationship, and

If the determination is positive, recording information relative to the source, location and time of the signal, and

If the determination is negative, insuring that information relative to the source, location and time of the signal is not recorded.

16. A system for selectively recording location information in a tracking environment, comprising:

Means for transmitting signals indicative of a first source and its location,

Sensors for receiving transmitted signals,

Means for communicating the received signals to a controller,

Means for determining whether the source and location correspond to an expected relationship,

Means for recording the source, location and time of the signal if the determination is positive, and for insuring that the source, location and time of the signal is not recorded if the determination is negative.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for transmitting signals indicative of a second source, wherein the source, location and time of the signal are always recorded.