Use of location awareness to facilitate clinician-charger interaction in a healthcare environment

• US 20060181243A1
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Published: 08/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Fitchett, Jeff, Graves, Alan F.
• Application Number:
  US11/065,099
• Publication Number:
  US 20060181243A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 320/116
• 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 charger for electrically charging a plurality of mobile terminals of a healthcare establishment communications network. The charger comprises a plurality of charging stations, each charging station receiving a respective one of the mobile terminals and electrically charging the respective terminal; an input for receiving an indication of potential retrieval of one of the terminals from the charger; and a terminal suggestion unit coupled to said input, said terminal suggestion unit being operative to physically suggest a particular one of the terminals to be retrieved from the charger in response to reception at said input of an indication of potential retrieval of one of the terminals from the charger. In this way, the convenience with which a clinician may pick a terminal from the charger is enhanced. Various additional security features may be provided to prevent information from becoming displayed on the selected terminal until successful authentication by the clinician.

Claims

1. A charger for electrically charging a plurality of mobile terminals of a healthcare establishment communications network, said charger comprising:

a plurality of charging stations, each one of the charging stations being adapted to receive a respective one of the mobile terminals and being operative to electrically charge the respective one of the mobile terminals;

an input for receiving an indication of potential retrieval of one of the mobile terminals from the charger; and

a mobile terminal suggestion unit coupled to said input, said mobile terminal suggestion unit being operative to physically suggest a particular one of the mobile terminals to be retrieved from the charger in response to reception at said input of an indication of potential retrieval of one of the mobile terminals from the charger.

2. A charger as defined in claim 1, wherein the indication of potential retrieval of one of the mobile terminals from the charger is generated based at least in part on an indication of a potential user of one of the mobile terminals being in proximity to the charger.

3. A charger as defined in claim 2, wherein the indication of a potential user of one of the mobile terminals being in proximity to the charger is generated based at least in part on data regarding a wirelessly detectable tag associated to the potential user.

4. A charger as defined in claim 3, wherein the data regarding the wirelessly detectable tag comprises:

data indicative of an identifier of the wirelessly detectable tag; and

data indicative of a distance between the wirelessly detectable tag and a detector associated to a given one of the mobile terminals and operative to detect a signal provided by the wirelessly detectable tag.

5. A charger as defined in claim 4, wherein the data indicative of a distance between the wirelessly detectable tag and a detector associated to a given one of the mobile terminals and operative to detect a signal provided by the wirelessly detectable tag comprises data indicative of a travel time of the signal between the wirelessly detectable tag and the detector.

6. A charger as defined in claim 4, wherein the data indicative of a distance between the wirelessly detectable tag and a detector associated to a given one of the mobile terminals and operative to detect a signal provided by the wirelessly detectable tag comprises data indicative of an intensity of the signal.

7. A charger as defined in claim 3, wherein the data regarding the wirelessly detectable tag comprises:

data indicative of an identifier of the wirelessly detectable tag; and

data indicative of a respective distance between the wirelessly detectable tag and each one of at least three detectors spatially distributed in the healthcare establishment communications network, each one of the at least three detectors being operative to detect a signal provided by the wirelessly detectable tag.

8. A charger as defined in claim 7, wherein the data indicative of a respective distance between the wirelessly detectable tag and each one of at least three detectors spatially distributed in the healthcare establishment communications network comprises data indicative of a respective travel time of the signal detected by each one of the at least three detectors.

9. A charger as defined in claim 7, wherein the data indicative of a respective distance between the wirelessly detectable tag and each one of at least three detectors spatially distributed in the healthcare establishment communications network comprises data indicative of a respective intensity of the signal detected by each one of the at least three detectors.

10. A charger as defined in claim 3, further comprising:

a detector operative to detect a signal provided by the wirelessly detectable tag;

wherein the data regarding the wirelessly detectable tag comprises;

data indicative of an identifier of the wirelessly detectable tag; and

data indicative of a distance between the wirelessly detectable tag and the detector.

11. A charger as defined in claim 10, wherein the data indicative of a distance between the wirelessly detectable tag and the detector comprises data indicative of a travel time of the signal between the wirelessly detectable tag and the detector.

12. A charger as defined in claim 10, wherein the data indicative of a distance between the wirelessly detectable tag and the detector comprises data indicative of an intensity of the signal.

13. A charger as defined in claim 1, wherein said mobile terminal suggestion unit comprises a visual indicator, and wherein said mobile terminal suggestion unit being operative to physically suggest a particular one of the mobile terminals to be retrieved from the charger comprises said mobile terminal suggestion unit being operative to visually indicate the particular one of the mobile terminals via the visual indicator.

14. A charger as defined in claim 13, wherein the visual indicator comprises a light.

15. A charger as defined in claim 1, wherein said mobile terminal suggestion unit comprises a locking mechanism for locking each one of the mobile terminals in the respective one of the charging stations in which it is received, and wherein said mobile terminal suggestion unit being operative to physically suggest a particular one of the mobile terminals to be retrieved from the charger comprises said locking mechanism being operative to disable locking of the particular one of the mobile terminals from the respective one of the charging stations in which it is received.

16. A charger as defined in claim 15, wherein said mobile terminal suggestion unit further comprises a visual indicator, and wherein said mobile terminal suggestion unit being operative to physically suggest a particular one of the mobile terminals to be retrieved from the charger further comprises said mobile terminal suggestion unit being operative to visually indicate the particular one of the mobile terminals via the visual indicator.

17. A charger as defined in claim 16, wherein the visual indicator comprises a light.

18. A charger as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

a charge level monitoring unit coupled to each one of the charging stations, said charge level monitoring unit being operative to monitor a respective charge level of each one of the mobile terminals;

wherein said mobile terminal suggestion unit being operative to physically suggest a particular one of the mobile terminals to be retrieved from the charger comprises said mobile terminal suggestion unit being operative to physically suggest a particular one of the mobile terminals to be retrieved from the charger based at least in part on the respective charge level of each one of the mobile terminals.

19. A method of managing retrieval of a mobile terminal of a healthcare establishment communications network from a charger electrically charging a plurality of mobile terminals of the healthcare establishment communications network, said method comprising:

receiving data regarding a wirelessly detectable tag associated with a potential user of one of the mobile terminals;

determining whether the potential user is positioned relative to the charger such that a potential user-charger proximity condition is satisfied based at least in part on the data regarding the wirelessly detectable tag; and

responsive to the potential user-charger proximity condition being satisfied, physically suggesting a particular one of the mobile terminals to be retrieved from the charger.

20. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein the data regarding the wirelessly detectable tag comprises:

data indicative of an identifier of the wirelessly detectable tag; and

data indicative of a distance between the wirelessly detectable tag and a detector associated to a given one of the mobile terminals and operative to detect a signal provided by the wirelessly detectable tag.

21. A method as defined in claim 20, wherein the data indicative of a distance between the wirelessly detectable tag and a detector associated to a given one of the mobile terminals and operative to detect a signal provided by the wirelessly detectable tag comprises data indicative of a travel time of the signal between the wirelessly detectable tag and the detector.

22. A method as defined in claim 20, wherein the data indicative of a distance between the wirelessly detectable tag and a detector associated to a given one of the mobile terminals and operative to detect a signal provided by the wirelessly detectable tag comprises data indicative of an intensity of the signal.

23. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein the data regarding the wirelessly detectable tag comprises:

data indicative of an identifier of the wirelessly detectable tag; and

data indicative of a respective distance between the wirelessly detectable tag and each one of at least three detectors spatially distributed in the healthcare establishment communications network, each one of the at least three detectors being operative to detect a signal provided by the wirelessly detectable tag.

24. A method as defined in claim 23, wherein the data indicative of a respective distance between the wirelessly detectable tag and each one of at least three detectors spatially distributed in the healthcare establishment communications network comprises data indicative of a respective travel time of the signal detected by each one of the at least three detectors.

25. A method as defined in claim 23, wherein the data indicative of a respective distance between the wirelessly detectable tag and each one of at least three detectors spatially distributed in the healthcare establishment communications network comprises data indicative of a respective intensity of the signal detected by each one of the at least three detectors.

26. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein the charger comprises a detector operative to detect a signal provided by the wirelessly detectable tag, and wherein the data regarding the wirelessly detectable tag comprises:

data indicative of an identifier of the wirelessly detectable tag; and

data indicative of a distance between the wirelessly detectable tag and the detector.

27. A method as defined in claim 26, wherein the data indicative of a distance between the wirelessly detectable tag and the detector comprises data indicative of a travel time of the signal between the wirelessly detectable tag and the detector.

28. A method as defined in claim 26, wherein the data indicative of a distance between the wirelessly detectable tag and the detector comprises data indicative of an intensity of the signal.

29. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein determining that the potential user-charger proximity condition is satisfied comprises obtaining an indication of the potential user being within a predetermined distance from the charger.

30. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein determining that the potential user-charger proximity condition is satisfied comprises obtaining an indication of the potential user being within a predetermined distance from the charger for a predetermined period of time.

31. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein the charger comprises a visual indicator, and wherein physically suggesting a particular one of the mobile terminals to be retrieved from the chargers comprises visually indicating the particular one of the mobile terminals via the visual indicator.

32. A method as defined in claim 31, wherein the visual indicator comprises a light, and wherein visually indicating the particular one of the mobile terminals via the visual indicator comprises controlling the light to visually indicate the particular one of the mobile terminals.

33. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein the charger comprises a locking mechanism for locking each one of the mobile terminals in the charger, and wherein physically suggesting a particular one of the mobile terminals to be retrieved from the charger comprises said locking mechanism disabling locking of the particular one of the mobile terminals from the charger.

34. A method as defined in claim 33, wherein the charger further comprises a visual indicator, and wherein physically suggesting a particular one of the mobile terminals to be retrieved from the chargers further comprises visually indicating the particular one of the mobile terminals via the visual indicator.

35. A method as defined in claim 34, wherein the visual indicator comprises a light, and wherein visually indicating the particular one of the mobile terminals via the visual indicator comprises controlling the light to visually indicate the particular one of the mobile terminals.

36. A method as defined in claim 19, further comprising monitor a respective charge level of each one of the mobile terminals, wherein physically suggesting a particular one of the mobile terminals to be retrieved from the charger comprises physically suggesting a particular one of the mobile terminals to be retrieved from the charger based at least in part on the respective charge level of each one of the mobile terminals.

37. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein physically suggesting a particular one of the mobile terminals to be retrieved from the charger comprises causing display of a message on a display of the particular one of the mobile terminals.

38. A method as defined in claim 19, further comprising:

responsive to the potential user-charger proximity condition being satisfied, providing an opportunity for authentication of the potential user.

39. A method as defined in claim 38, wherein providing an opportunity for authentication of the potential user comprises being attentive to data indicative of a request for authentication of the potential user.

40. A method as defined in claim 38, wherein providing an opportunity for authentication of the potential user comprises being attentive for a predetermined period of time to data indicative of a request for authentication of the potential user.

41. A method as defined in claim 39, wherein the data indicative of a request for authentication of the potential user comprises authentication data for the potential user.

42. A method as defined in claim 38, wherein providing an opportunity for authentication of the potential user comprises causing display of a greeting message on a display of the particular one of the mobile terminals.

43. A method as defined in claim 38, wherein the healthcare establishment communications network includes a healthcare information system, said method further comprising:

determining whether a session is established for the potential user between a terminal of the healthcare establishment communications network and the healthcare information system;

responsive to successful authentication the potential user and to determining that a session is not established for the potential user between a terminal of the healthcare establishment communications network and the healthcare information system, causing establishment of a session for the potential user between the particular one of the mobile terminals and the healthcare information system.

44. A method as defined in claim 38, wherein the healthcare establishment communications network includes a healthcare information system, said method further comprising:

determining whether a session is suspended for the potential user between a terminal of the healthcare establishment communications network and the healthcare information system;

responsive to successful authentication the potential user and to determining that a session is suspended for the potential user between a terminal of the healthcare establishment communications network and the healthcare information system, enabling resumption of the session for the potential user between the particular one of the mobile terminals and the healthcare information system.

45. A method as defined in claim 38, wherein the charger comprises a locking mechanism for locking each one of the mobile terminals in the charger, wherein physically suggesting a particular one of the mobile terminals to be retrieved from the charger comprises said locking mechanism disabling locking of the particular one of the mobile terminals from the charger and is performed only responsive to successful authentication the potential user.

46. A method as defined in claim 45, wherein providing an opportunity for authentication of the potential user comprises being attentive to data indicative of a request for authentication of the potential user.

47. A method as defined in claim 45, wherein providing an opportunity for authentication of the potential user comprises being attentive for a predetermined period of time to data indicative of a request for authentication of the potential user.

48. A method as defined in claim 47, wherein the data indicative of a request for authentication of the potential user comprises authentication data for the potential user.

49. A method as defined in claim 45, wherein providing an opportunity for authentication of the potential user comprises causing display of a greeting message on a display of the particular one of the mobile terminals.

50. A system for managing retrieval of a mobile terminal of a healthcare establishment communications network from a charger electrically charging a plurality of mobile terminals of the healthcare establishment communications network, said system comprising:

a first functional entity adapted to determine, based at least in part on data regarding a wirelessly detectable tag associated with a potential user, when the potential user is positioned relative to the charger such that a proximity condition is satisfied for the potential user and the charger;

a second functional entity adapted to select one of the mobile terminals suitable for retrieval from the charger; and

a third functional entity adapted to indicate to the potential user which of the mobile terminals is the selected mobile terminal, in response to the proximity condition being satisfied for the potential user and the charger.

51. The system defined in claim 50, wherein the second functional entity being adapted to select one of the mobile terminals comprises the second functional entity being adapted to select one of the mobile terminals on a basis of a respective charge of each of the mobile terminals.