RFID system and method for ensuring personnel safety

• US 6,853,303 B2
• Filed: 11/21/2002
• Issued: 02/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Terrestrial Comms LLC (IPValuation Partners, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Chen, Fung-Jou, Reade, Walter C., Lindsay, Jeffrey Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US10/301,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20040100384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 810 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/572.1, 340/679, 340/541, 340/5.2, 340/5.7, 235/375, 235/487
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 3/02 Clothing

Abstract

A RFID method and system are provided for ensuring that personnel are properly outfitted with necessary equipment for performance of a particular task or procedure. RFID smart tags are configured with the required pieces of equipment, the smart tags containing information to identify their respective pieces of equipment. A RFID scanner is disposed at a location through which an individual passes prior to performance of the procedure. The scanner interrogates the smart tags and determines if the individual has all of the required pieces of equipment.

Claims

1. A method for ensuring that personnel are properly outfitted with necessary equipment for the performance of particular procedures, said method comprising:

for a given procedure, identifying the equipment that an individual is required to have for performing a procedure;

configuring a smart tag with the identified equipment, the smart tag containing information to identify the equipment it is configured with;

locating a smart tag scanner at a location through which the individual must pass prior to performance of the procedure, the smart tag scanner configured to retrieve the equipment identification information from the smart tags;

conducting an accountability check of the required equipment against the actual equipment identified by the smart tag scanner; and

comprising denying passage for the individual through the location having the smart tag scanner if the individual is lacking a piece of the required equipment.

2. The method as in claim 1, wherein the smart tag scanner is disposed at a security check-point.

3. The method as in claim 1, wherein the smart tag scanner is disposed at a gate facility.

4. The method as in claim 3, wherein the gate facility includes a gate that is interlocked with the smart tag scanner so as to open only upon the individual having the required equipment.

5. The method as in claim 1 wherein the required equipment includes protective clothing or devices.

6. The method as in claim 1, wherein the smart tags are permanently affixed to the pieces of equipment.

7. A method for ensuring that personnel are properly outfitted with necessary equipment for the performance of particular procedures, said method comprising:

for a given procedure, identifying the equipment that an individual is required to have for performing a procedure;

configuring a smart tag with the identified equipment, the smart tag containing information to identify the equipment it is configured with;

locating a smart tag scanner at a location through which the individual must pass prior to performance of the procedure, the smart tag scanner configured to retrieve the equipment identification information from the smart tags;

conducting an accountability check of the required equipment against the actual equipment identified by the smart tag scanner; and

comprising displaying the identification of the pieces of equipment identified by the smart tag scanner to the individual.

8. The method as in claim 7, comprising initiating an alarm in the event that the individual does not have all of the required equipment.

9. The method as in claim 7, comprising associating a smart tag with the individual, the smart tag containing information identifying the individual.

10. The method as in claim 9, comprising electronically storing a respective individual'"'"'s particular equipment requirement profile at the smart tag scanner, calling up the individual'"'"'s profile upon identification of the individual with the smart tag scanner, and conducting the accountability check against the profile.

11. The method as in claim 10, comprising electronically storing respective profiles for a plurality of individuals.

12. The method as in claim 11, wherein the plurality of individuals have different equipment requirements.

13. A method for ensuring that personnel are properly outfitted with necessary equipment for the performance of particular procedures, said method comprising:

for a given procedure, identifying the equipment that an individual is required to have for performing a procedure;

configuring a smart tag with the identified equipment, the smart tag containing information to identify the equipment it is configured with;

locating a smart tag scanner at a location through which the individual must pass prior to performance of the procedure, the smart tag scanner configured to retrieve the equipment identification information from the smart tags;

conducting an accountability check of the required equipment against the actual equipment identified by the smart tag scanner; and

wherein the smart tags contain additional information regarding their respective pieces of equipment that is retrieved by the smart tag scanner and processed to determine if the equipment satisfies particular criteria.

14. The method as in claim 13, wherein the smart tags contain information regarding useful dates or expiration dates of the equipment.

15. The method as in claim 13, wherein the smart tags contain information regarding maintenance required or performed on the equipment.

16. The method as in claim 13, wherein the smart tags contain information regarding history of the equipment.

17. A method for ensuring that personnel are properly outfitted with necessary equipment for the performance of particular procedures, said method comprising:

for a given procedure, identifying the equipment that an individual is required to have for performing a procedure;

configuring a smart tag with the identified equipment, the smart tag containing information to identify the equipment it is configured with;

locating a smart tag scanner at a location through which the individual must pass prior to performance of the procedure, the smart tag scanner configured to retrieve the equipment identification information from the smart tags;

conducting an accountability check of the required equipment against the actual equipment identified by the smart tag scanner; and

wherein the equipment smart tag information includes a link to a remote database having information regarding the equipment.

18. The method as in claim 17, wherein the scanner accesses the remote database and displays information therefrom.

19. The method as in claim 17, wherein the remote database is an Internet site, the scanner being an Internet accessible device.

20. The method as in claim 19, wherein the Internet site is maintained by a manufacturer of the equipment.

21. A system for ensuring that personnel are properly outfitted with necessary equipment for the performance of particular procedures, said system comprising:

predefined equipment pieces that an individual is required to have to perform a procedure;

at least one smart tag configured with each equipment piece, said smart tag containing information to identify said respective piece of equipment it is configured with;

a smart tag scanner disposed at a location through which the individual must pass prior to performance of the procedure, said smart tag scanner configured to retrieve the equipment identification information from said smart tags and conduct an accountability check of said scanned equipment against a stored list of required equipment for the particular procedure to be performed; and

wherein said location through which the individual passes comprises a gated entry, said gated entry operationally interfaced with said smart tag scanner so as to open only upon the individual having the required equipment as scanned by said smart tag scanner.

22. The system as in claim 21, wherein said equipment pieces comprise protective clothing or devices.

23. The system as in claim 21, wherein said scanner is configured with a visual display, said visual display displaying said equipment pieces identified by said scanner.

24. The system as in claim 21, further comprising an alarm.

25. The system as in claim 21, further comprising a smart tag associated with the individual, said individual'"'"'s smart tag containing information identifying the individual.

26. The system as in claim 25, comprising an electronically stored profile of a respective individual'"'"'s particular equipment requirement, said scanner calling up said profile upon identification of the individual by said smart tag scanner, and conducting said accountability check against the profile.

27. The system as in claim 26, comprising electronically stored profiles for a plurality of individuals, wherein the plurality of individuals have different equipment requirements.

28. The system as in claim 21, wherein said smart tags are permanently affixed to said equipment pieces.

29. A system for ensuring that personnel are properly outfitted with necessary equipment for the performance of particular procedures, said system comprising:

predefined equipment pieces that an individual is required to have to perform a procedure;

at least one smart tag configured with each equipment piece, said smart tag containing information to identify said respective piece of equipment it is configured with;

a smart tag scanner disposed at a location through which the individual must pass prior to performance of the procedure, said smart tag scanner configured to retrieve the equipment identification information from said smart tags and conduct an accountability check of said scanned equipment against a stored list of required equipment for the particular procedure to be performed; and

wherein said location through which the individual passes comprises a security check-point.

30. A system for ensuring that personnel are properly outfitted with necessary equipment for the performance of particular procedures, said system comprising:

predefined equipment pieces that an individual is required to have to perform a procedure;

at least one smart tag configured with each equipment piece, said smart tag containing information to identify said respective piece of equipment it is configured with;

a smart tag scanner disposed at a location through which the individual must pass prior to performance of the procedure, said smart tag scanner configured to retrieve the equipment identification information from said smart tags and conduct an accountability check of said scanned equipment against a stored list of required equipment for the particular procedure to be performed; and

wherein said smart tags contain additional information regarding their respective said pieces of equipment, said additional information relating to particular standards or requirements for said equipment pieces.

31. The system as in claim 30, wherein said additional information relates to expiration dates of the equipment.

32. The system as in claim 30, wherein said additional information relates to maintenance required or performed on the equipment.

33. A system for ensuring that personnel are properly outfitted with necessary equipment for the performance of particular procedures, said system comprising:

predefined equipment pieces that an individual is required to have to perform a procedure;

at least one smart tag configured with each equipment piece, said smart tag containing information to identify said respective piece of equipment it is configured with;

a smart tag scanner disposed at a location through which the individual must pass prior to performance of the procedure, said smart tag scanner configured to retrieve the equipment identification information from said smart tags and conduct an accountability check of said scanned equipment against a stored list of required equipment for the particular procedure to be performed; and

wherein said equipment smart tag information includes a link to a remote database having information regarding said equipment.

34. The system as in claim 33, wherein said scanner accesses said remote database and displays information therefrom.

35. The system as in claim 34, wherein said remote database is an Internet site, said scanner being an Internet accessible device.