Wireless tracking system and method utilizing near-field communication devices

• US 7,941,096 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2010
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Centrak Incorporated (Halma PLC)
• Original Assignee: Awarepoint Corporation
• Inventors: Perkins, Matthew R., Truscott, Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban; Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): HANIDU, GANIYU A
• Application Number:
  US12/885,527
• Publication Number:
  US 20110070833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 233 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/67.1, 455/67.4, 455/456, 455/449, 455/524, 455/522, 455/426.1, 455/343.1, 455/573, 455/574, 455/69, 455/402, 370/314, 370/311, 370/338, 370/310.2, 370/254, 370/445, 370/390, 370/392, 340/572.1, 340/5.1, 340/539.12, 340/539.13, 705/2, 705/3, 705/16, 705/34, 600/300
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• 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: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/22 with access to wired networks

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and system for determining a near-field communication interaction in a wireless tracking mesh network. The present invention preferably utilizes near-field communication devices in conjunction with tracking tags to transmit signals for reception by sensors stationed throughout a facility which form a mesh network and forward the signals to an information engine for analysis. Bearers of the near-field communication devices preferably include individuals, objects, assets and rooms of the facility.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring interaction data for multiple users and objects utilizing near-field communication devices in an indoor healthcare environment through a medium range wireless communication format and a short range wireless communication format, the system comprising:

a mesh network comprising a plurality of sensors utilized for infrastructure-based real-time location tracking of objects and users in the indoor healthcare environment wherein each of the plurality of sensors operates in a geo-spatially fixed physical location in the indoor healthcare environment, each sensor of the plurality of sensors communicating with other sensors of the plurality of sensors utilizing a medium range wireless communication format, wherein each of the plurality of sensors operates in a geo-spatially fixed physical location in the indoor healthcare environment;

a plurality of near-field communication devices, each of the plurality of near-field communication devices operating on a low power short-range wireless communication format and a medium range wireless communication format which is different than the low-power short-range wireless communication format, each of the plurality of near-field communication devices transmitting a beacon signal using the short range wireless communication format receivable by another near-field communication device when the near-field communication devices are within physical proximity of each other, and at least one of the plurality of near-field communication devices transmitting interaction data to the mesh network using the medium range wireless communication format of the mesh network, the medium range wireless communication format utilized for infrastructure-based, real-time location determination of a user of the near-field communication device; and

an information engine in communication with the mesh network for infrastructure-based, real-time location determination of a user of the near-field communication device, the information engine processing the interaction data, wherein the interaction data comprises location of the interaction, identification of each of the plurality of near-field communication devices, duration of the interaction and if mobile a previous location of each of the plurality of near-field communication devices.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the medium range wireless communication format comprises ZIGBEE communication format, Bluetooth communication format, Low-Power BlueTooth communication format, WiFi communication format, Low-Power WiFi communication format, Ultra Wide Band communication format, Ultrasound communication format or Infrared communication format.

3. The system according to claim 1 wherein the short range wireless communication format comprises a near-field communication format, low frequency communication format or a magnetic field communication format.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the short range wireless communication format comprises a magnetic induction communication format, 9 kHz communication format, <

125 kHz communication format, 125 kHz RFID communication format, 433 MHz communication format, 433 MHz RFID communication format, or 900 MHz RFID communication format.