Wireless Tracking System And Method For Backhaul Of Information

• US 20110084806A1
• Filed: 10/07/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Centrak Incorporated (Halma PLC)
• Original Assignee: Awarepoint Corporation
• Inventors: Perkins, Matthew R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,089,354 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/10.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0271 using a remote monitoring unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6889 Rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/25 using a mesh network, e.g. a public urban network such as public lighting, bus stops or traffic lights
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/43 using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth or ZigBee
• 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

Abstract

The present invention provides a solution to backhauling health information. The present invention utilizes a mesh network to backhaul the health information. The system includes a plurality of first tags, a mesh network, and an information engine. Each of the tags represents a first object. The mesh network preferably includes a plurality of plug-in sensors located within the facility. At least one node in the mesh network operates as healthcare device. The information engine is in communication with the mesh network and determines a position location of the healthcare device and an operation of the healthcare device.

Claims

1. A system for backhauling health information over a mesh network, the system comprising:

a plurality of first tags, each of the plurality of first tags representing a first object;

a mesh network comprising a plurality of plug-in sensors located within the facility;

at least one end point in the mesh network that operate as healthcare device; and

an information engine in communication with the mesh network, the information engine determining a position location of the healthcare device and an operation of the healthcare device.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the first object is fixed or mobile.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the healthcare device is at least one of a fluid pump, heart monitor, ventilation pump and electrocardiogram.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the mesh network routes information from the healthcare device to a predetermined destination.

5. The system according to claim 1 wherein the mesh network transmits data related to who accessed the healthcare device last.

6. The system according to claim 1 wherein the mesh network transmits data related to how much time is left before the device needs to be serviced.

7. The system according to claim 1 wherein the mesh network transmits data related to what type of chemicals are in the healthcare device.

8. The system according to claim 1 wherein the mesh network transmits data related to the status of the device.

9. The system according to claim 1 wherein the mesh network provides firmware upgrades to the healthcare device.

10. The system according to claim 1 wherein the healthcare device operates as a RTLS device using one of ultrasound, infrared and radiofrequency medium.

11. An Enhanced-Accuracy Enterprise-Wide RTLS System, the system comprising:

a plurality of first tags, each of the plurality of first tags representing a first object;

a mesh network comprising a plurality of sensors located within the facility; and

a plurality of end points in the mesh network that operate as RTLS devices using one of ultrasound, infrared, and a radiofrequency medium, wherein each of the plurality of end points transmit to at least one of a plurality of sensors in the mesh network;

wherein the mesh network routes RTLS information from each of the plurality of end points to a predetermined destination.

12. The system according to claim 11 wherein the mesh network operates as an RTLS system and a backhaul for information from each of the plurality of end points.

13. The system according to claim 11 wherein the mesh network operates as a secondary RTLS system and a backhaul for information from each of the plurality of end points.

14. The system according to claim 11 wherein the each of the plurality of end points operates as a healthcare device.

15. The system according to claim 14 wherein the healthcare device is at least one of a fluid pump, heart monitor, ventilation pump and electrocardiogram.

16. The system according to claim 14 wherein the mesh network routes information from the healthcare device to a predetermined destination.

17. The system according to claim 14 wherein the mesh network transmits data related to who accessed the healthcare device last.

18. The system according to claim 14 wherein the mesh network transmits data related to how much time is left before the device needs to be serviced.

19. The system according to claim 14 wherein the mesh network transmits data related to the status of the device.

20. The system according to claim 14 wherein the mesh network provides firmware upgrades to the healthcare device.