Wireless Presence Check System

Abstract

The present invention relates to a Real-Time Localization Systems (RTLS) utilizing Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) tags to determine the presence or absence of individual assets, as well as conformations, at designated locations and areas, generally. Further, Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) tags are utilized to determine if a patient is either present or absent, a seat or bed is either occupied or unoccupied, an ingress or egress is open or closed, or a container or enclosed space is open or closed—all through signal detection and signal obstruction.

Claims

1. A system for providing for detection and monitoring of the conformation of a device comprising: an RFID enabled tag; a receiver; a tag receptacle capable of occluding signals in all directions other than the “line of view” direction of a tag in such a way that the receiver can detect said tag if and only if there is no occupancy of a bed or chair by a person or item; and an attachment or adherence of the tag receptacle to an asset within a location that is targeted for presence or absence detection; entering, recording, storing said detection into a memory; and/or transmitting said information to the cloud for collection or storage.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said tag is a BLE active RFID tag, a non-BLE (active RFID) tag, a “passive RFID” tag or a combination thereof.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein, if said RFID tag is an active tag, said tag would further encompass a battery.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said tags may communicate directly with a receiver, may communicate with each other, may recommunicate or a combination thereof.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said receiver may be a wireless Bluetooth receiver or an RFID antenna.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein lack of receipt of a signal indicates that said bed or chair is occupied.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said RFID enabled tag may be attached or adhered to detectable asset whereby said RFID enabled tag is embedded within a concave enclosure to shield RFID signals in all direction but the desired direction.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein said RFID enabled tag may occlude a signal when attached to a door when the door is closed and may allow a signal when the door is open.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said RFID enabled tag may occlude a signal when attached to an enclosure when the enclosure is closed and may allow a signal when the enclosure is open.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said enclosure is a drawer, cabinet, rack or refrigerator door.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said asset is any piece of facility equipment or tool capable of more than one conformation.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said asset may be a surgical implement, scope, x-ray equipment, mayo tray or any other similar pieces of surgical or janitorial equipment.

13. A method of detection and monitoring of the conformation of the device of claim 1 by the following steps: a. placing a BLE tag in or on an asset; b. inserting said BLE tag within a receptacle occluding a signal from all side, except the side to be detected by a receiver; c. transmitting a signal, in the unoccluded direction, to said receiver; d. receiving, at the receiver, a signal; e. determining, at the receiver, data including the absence of an occluding body at the asset, through signal receipt, or, alternatively, the presence of an occluding body, through non-receipt of a signal; f. storing said data to a memory; g. transmitting said data to the cloud for collection and analysis.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said data may be receipt of a signal from a bed or chair where said bed or chair is vacant.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said data may be no signal receipt from a bed or chair where a bed or chair is occupied.

16. A method of detection and monitoring of the conformation of the device of claim 1 by the following steps: a. placing a BLE tag in or on an asset; b. adhering said BLE tag on an asset, interiorly or exteriorly, or in an asset for the transmittance of a signal; c. said asset occluding a signal when in a closed conformation; d. said asset allowing a signal in an open conformation; e. detecting no signal, at a receiver, when an asset is closed; f. detecting a signal when an asset is open; g. monitoring said closed and open status of an asset; h. collecting data on an asset's conformation; i. storing data on an assets conformation; j. transmitting data on an assets conformation; and k. analyzing data on an assets conformation.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said asset is a room entrance or egress, a refrigerator door, a drawer or drawers, a cabinet or cabinets or any other type of openable and closable enclosure.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0042] While the novel features and method of use of the application are set forth above, the application itself, as well as a preferred mode of use, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by referencing to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in view of the appended claims, wherein:

[0043] FIG. 1 shows a schematic of the present invention and system for a Wireless Presence Check System.

[0044] FIG. 2 depicts a preferred embodiment of the present invention and concave BLE tag placement.

[0045] FIG. 3 is an unoccupied transport and unoccluded BLE tag.

[0046] FIG. 4 illustrates an occupied transport and occluded BLE tag.

[0047] FIG. 5 shows an unoccupied seat with adhered BLE tag.

[0048] FIG. 6 is an occupied seat and occluded BLE tag.

[0049] FIG. 7 depicts a closed door and occluded signal.

[0050] FIG. 8 represents an open door and non-occluded signal.

[0051] And while the present invention, system and method of use are amendable to various modifications and alternative configurations, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in adequate detail to teach those having skill in the art how to make and practice the same. It should, however, be understood that the above description and preferred embodiments disclosed, are not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention disclosure is intended to cover all modifications, alternatives and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined within the claim's broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the specification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0052] And while the invention itself and method of use are amendable to various modifications and alternative configurations, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in adequate detail to teach those having skill in the art how to make and practice the same. It should, however, be understood that the above description and preferred embodiments disclosed, are not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention disclosure is intended to cover all modifications, alternatives and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined within the claim's broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the specification.

[0053] The present invention is made of 4 basic parts in its most basic configuration: (1) a tag (that may be a BLE (active RFID) tag, a non-BLE (active RFID) tag, a “passive RFID” tag or a combination thereof), (2) a receiver that may be a wireless Bluetooth receiver or an RFID antenna, (3) a tag holder (receptacle) capable of screening signals in the “line of view” of a tag in such a way that the receiver can see the tag if and only if there is no occupancy (of a bed or chair) by a person or item and (4) an attachment or adherence of the tag holder to an asset within the location that is targeted for presence (or absence) detection. This information may then be collected and stored to a memory and subsequently transmitted to the cloud for further processing and analysis.

[0054] Manifestly, a device “containing” a BLE tag and restricting a wireless signal's reception by a wireless receiver is the most essential part of this invention whereby the BLE signal propagates in all directions, if left unconcluded, and inherently reflects off of multiple walls or objects nearby. This makes the RTLS localization process uncertain and detection undiscernible. Yet, by blocking the wireless signal with a device made of a material that dampens and absorbs the signal emitted by the BLE tag, at least on each side and bottom, inventors restrict the propagation of the signal on one side, multiple sides or via a directed signal with an angular cone (i.e., concave “dish”).

[0055] If an object or person blocks the signal on an open side of the “line of sight” view or opening of an angular cone, the signal disappears from the receiver registration and no signal is registered. This allow the present system to detect the presence or absence of an item or a person that is blocking signal transmittance from the targeted location. The individuals or items tracked block the wireless signal with the dense make-up of their constitution (i.e., the human body being occlusive and 80% water as well as with other items that are opaque, not transparent to wireless waves including most solid objects).

[0056] Without a screening (signal blocking/absorbing materials) device, a signal can easily propagate backward then reflect off of any surface to remain visible/detectable by the receiver.

[0057] The choice of the absorbing material can be simple: inventors 3D print an empty receptacle with the shape of choice that is filled by any number of signal absorbing materials of sufficient density. For example, water itself is an excellent absorbing material for wireless waves. Alternatively, and for safety purposes in a hospital environment, solid materials, other antibacterial liquids or gels may be used to fill the occlusive portions of a receptacle (e.g., alcohol liquid gel or other similar absorbing materials). What is more, the absorbing properties of the liquid, water, or alcohol liquid gel can be enhanced by mixing salt with the liquid wherein it has been determined that sea water absorbs wireless waves better than fresh water. (See RF Path and Absorption Loss Estimation for Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks in Different Water Environments, Umair Mujtaba Qureshi, Faisal Karim Shaikh, Zuneera Aziz, Syed M. Zafi S. Shah, Adil A. Sheikh, Emad Felemban and Saad Bin Qaisar Sensors 2016, 16, 890; doi:10.3390/s16060890)

[0058] To optimize the system (i.e., the shape and dimension of the screening device that holds the BLE tag), one can use either a simulation tool of electromagnetic wave propagation or a direct measurement in order to minimize the possibility of rogue reflecting waves. These non-productive waves add noise or interference to the presence detection system when the BLE tag's wireless signal is not completely blocked by the person or item blocking a signal to a receiver. Vice versa, the shape of a receptacle may be optimized or augmented in order to enhance signal recognition in order to make sure that the signal is “seen” and that the transmission is transmitted with sufficient strength to be perceived by the receiver when the person or item is not present.

[0059] Examples of commercially available BLE tags include (a) Wearable BLE Tag Long Range nRF52832 Beacon For Key Finder With Multi-color Case, (b) Jaalee Ibeacon 40 Meters in Open Air 28 mm*8 mm 12-month Bluetooth transmitter Cr2032 enabled device, and (c) SGW8130 BLE beacon Bluetooth 5.0 link Cr2032 enabled device, but other BLE device are equally within the contemplation of inventors.

[0060] FIG. 1 is a schematic representative of the present invention which provides the basis and design premise for the present invention which is a BLE enabled detection and monitoring system 100. As can be seen, BLE tag 120 is superior to a screening area 150 having a 2-dimensional area defining the thickness of said screening area 150 whereby this the thickness is determined by L×l (‘L’ defined as length and height, depth or thickness defined as ‘l’). Area 150, being made of an absorbing material (e.g., water, liquid alcohol, salt water, etc. without limitation) where the higher the capacity or absorption of a material is inversely related to ‘l’ and as the capacity increases ‘l’ proportionally decreases.

[0061] FIG. 2 illustrates a concave depression 160 wherein BLE tag 120 is placed in a depressed area, concave indention 160, of screening are 150 limiting the “sight of view” of the BLE tag 120 to a geometric cone of angle Theta 180 in interval (0,Pi). There is a balance between sensitivity and robustness for the presence system associated to the choice of theta where Theta=0 provides the best robustness of the present invention but low sensitivity. FIG. 2 further represents the occlusion or “blocking” of a signal inferior and to either side of BLE tag 120. It is to be understood that the concave indention (here displayed 2 dimensionally) would more accurately be see as an “dish” or “bowl” where BLE tag 120 is made to rest within (or is embedded in) concave indention 160 and have the signal occluded inferiorly and about all sides of said BLE tag 120 (leaving only the superior portion of BLE tag 120 “open” and capable of emitting receivable transmission of signals.

[0062] In terms of beds and transports, FIGS. 3 and 4 depict the present invention in terms of a transport 200, in the form of a bed or gurney, which may be mobile or stationary, and which denotes the present invention's vacancy (FIG. 3) and occupancy by a signal 220 occluding patient's body 210 (FIG. 4), wherein the unoccupied (vacant) bed has signal 220 freely transmitted to a receiver 240 in FIG. 3 and wherein signal 220 is “blocked” or occluded from receiver 240 in FIG. 4.

[0063] The same theory is applicable to seating, wherein in FIG. 5, seat 300 is vacant (transmitting signal 220 to receiver 240) to provide vacancy data and, in FIG. 6 occupant 320 is “blocking” or occluding wireless signal 220 from receiver 240 causing no signal to be detected and occupancy of the seat 300 to be detected, verified, monitored, tracked and recorded.

[0064] In terms of enclosed spaces (e.g., rooms), the present invention and method of operation is easily transferable to enclosures including rooms with doors, drawers, cabinets, racks, refrigerators and the like. As in FIG. 7, when a door is closed, the BLE tag is attached or adhered to the rear of the door where, depending on wall properties, the signal strength of the wireless tag measured by the receiver is blocked or advertising much lower than in open space. Conversely, when the door in an open conformation, as in FIG. 8, the device attached to the back or rear of the door is in direct line of sight of the receiver, and the signal strength is high denoting that the door is open. It is, however, within the contemplation of inventors that the BLE tag 120 may be located in other sections of the door (i.e., on the front or sides of the door or, alternatively, within the door) as to provide variable locations of BLE tag 120 placement (not shown). What is more inventors have within their purview the ability to reconfigure the systems operability and door closure allows the receive to detect a signal and door opening causes signal occlusion. Further, the same principles applicable to door opening and closure are equally and directly relatable to any like enclosure system (a refrigerator door, drawer, cabinet, rack), surgical (mayo) tray, any tool capable of movement or adjustment between use and non-use (e.g., endoscopy tower), implement, cleaning device (mop and bucket) or any other device capable of movement from one conformation to, at least, another conformation.

[0065] It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely illustrative and that forms and designs of the apparatuses, systems and methods shown and described herein are to be taken as the presently best known means of accomplishing the present invention. Elements and materials may be substituted for those illustrated and herein described, parts and processes may be rearranged, and certain features of the apparatuses, systems and methods may be utilized independently, all of which would be apparent to one having skill in the art having the benefit of this present disclosure. Changes, amendments and modifications may be made in the elements described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as described in the following claims.

REFERENCES

[0066] [1] RF Path and Absorption Loss Estimation for Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks in Different Water Environments, Umair Mujtaba Qureshi, Faisal Karim Shaikh, Zuneera Aziz, Syed M. Zafi S. Shah, Adil A. Sheikh, Emad Felemban and Saad Bin Qaisar [0067] Sensors 2016, 16, 890; doi:10.3390/s16060890 [0068] [2] Analysis of Human Body Shadowing Effect on Wireless Sensor Networks Operating in the 2.4 GHz Band, Lukasz Januszkiewicz [0069] Sensors 2018, 18, 3412; doi:10.3390/s18103412 [0070] [3] Kamel Boulos M N, Berry G. Real-time locating systems (RTLS) in healthcare: a condensed primer. Int J Health Geogr. 2012; 11:25. Published 2012 Jun. 28. doi:10.1186/1476-072X-11-25 [0071] [4] Bakare, Bodunrin & Enoch, Joseph. (2019). Investigating Some Simulation Techniques for Wireless Communication System. 14. 56-65. 10.9790/2834-1403015665. [0072] [5] Experimental Evaluation of Wireless Simulation Assumptions, David Kotz, Calvin Newport, Robert S. Gray, Jason Liu, Yougu Yuan, Dartmouth College https://digitalcommons.dartmouth.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4073&context=facoa