Personnel and asset tracking method and apparatus

• US 20050151641A1
• Filed: 11/03/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hill-Rom Services Incorporated (Baxter International Inc.)
• Inventors: Patel, Sanjeev, Wagener, Michael Edward, Schmid, Joseph James, Ulrich, Daniel J., Jennings, Robert J.
• Application Number:
  US10/980,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20050151641A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.130
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L

Abstract

A method for processing messages in a system for locating and tracking tags within an area is provided. Each tag includes a transmitter configured to transmit a unique identifier periodically. Location messages are received and processed by at least one monitoring system to determine whether a tag has changed location.

Claims

1. In a locating and tracking system, a method for processing location messages, comprising the steps of:

receiving a location message,

determining whether an entry condition has occurred,

starting a timer if an entry condition has occurred, and

generating an exit message if the timer expires after a predetermined time during which no location messages are received.

2. In a locating and tracking system, a method for processing action messages, comprising the steps of:

receiving an alert signal,

determining whether a first response to the alert signal is available,

initiating the first response if the first response is available,

determining whether a second response to the alert signal is available, and

initiating the second response if the second response is available.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the alert signal is received from a tag.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the first response is maintained by a first computer and the second response is maintained by a second computer.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of initiating the second response is performed only if the first response is not initiated.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the first response and the second response are one of an audible, visual, and electronic response.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of sending one of the first response and the second response to a pager.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of sending one of the first response and the second response to an audio annunciator.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of sending one of the first response and the second response to a client.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of storing the alert signal at a central server.

11. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of storing the time that the alert signal was received.

12. A method for processing a location message in a system for locating and tracking objects, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a location message,

evaluating the location message to determine whether an event has occurred,

determining whether a notification is needed based on the results of the evaluating step, and

notifying a client if necessary based on the results of the determining step.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the evaluating step includes the step of comparing a current location to a prior location.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the evaluating step includes the step of determining whether a rule applies based on the location message.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the evaluating step includes the steps of determining whether the location message invokes any rules, and determining whether the location message violates any rules.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the notifying step includes the step of determining whether the client is registered to be notified of the event.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the location message includes information relating to an object at a location.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the notifying step includes the step of determining which client to notify of the event.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of verifying that the client wants to be notified of the occurrence of the event prior to notifying the client.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the event includes a change in location of a tag.

21. The method of claim 12, wherein the event includes a change in status of a tag.

22. The method of claim 12, wherein the event includes a tag being present at a location.

23. The method of claim 12, wherein the event includes a tag exiting from a location.

24. The method of claim 12, wherein the event includes a tag entering a location.

25. In a system for locating and tracking objects, a computer program product operable to process a location message, comprising:

means for receiving a location message,

means for evaluating the location message to determine whether an event has occurred, and

means for notifying a client of the occurrence of an event if an event has occurred.

26. In a locating and tracking system, a method for processing location messages, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a location update,

storing the location update in a memory,

processing the location update to determine whether a rule applies,

generating a notification pursuant to an applicable rule, and

sending the notification to a client.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the location update includes tag information for a location.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the location update includes location information for a tag.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the rule is associated with a tag.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the rule is associated with a location.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the rule is associated with an asset assigned to a tag.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the rule is associated with a person assigned to a tag.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein the rule is defined by a user.

34. The method of claim 26, wherein the rule is associated with an event.

35. The method of claim 26, wherein the event includes a tag changing location.

36. The method of claim 26, wherein the event includes a tag entering a location.

37. The method of claim 26, wherein the event includes a tag exiting a location.

38. The method of claim 26, wherein the event includes a change in status of a tag.

39. In a locating and tracking system, a method for processing status updates, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a status update,

storing the status update in a memory,

processing the status update to determine whether a rule applies,

generating a notification pursuant to an applicable rule, and

sending the notification to a client.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the status update relates to a tag.

41. The method of claim 39, wherein the status update relates to a location.

42. The method of claim 39, wherein the status update relates to an asset assigned to the tag.

43. The method of claim 39, wherein the status update relates to a person assigned to the tag.

44. The method of claim 39, wherein the rule is defined by a user.