System and method for instructing personnel on washroom maintenance requirements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10719790-B2
Application number	US-201916551082-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 26, 2019
Priority date	Mar 30, 2015
Publication date	Jul 21, 2020
Grant date	Jul 21, 2020

Abstract

A system and associated method are provided for maintenance of a plurality of washroom facilities by maintenance personnel, wherein each of the washroom facilities has one or more consumable product dispensers that require periodic refill. For each of the washroom facilities, the product dispensers are configured with a sensor that detects a product level or amount condition of the product dispenser, the sensors in communication with a monitoring station assigned to the washroom facility. A set of instructions unique to each of the washroom facilities is generated based upon the detected product level or amount conditions of the dispensers in the respective washroom facility, the set of instructions including instructions as to the amount of product refill to be added to the dispensers. With an identification (ID) system configured within each washroom facility, maintenance personnel that enter the washroom facility are identified and provided with the unique set of instructions in a message via a mobile smart device carried by the maintenance personnel or an audio or visual display device within the washroom facility.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for maintenance of a plurality of washroom facilities by maintenance personnel, comprising:
one or more product dispensers within each of the washroom facilities that require periodic refill of a consumable product;
a sensor configured with each of the product dispensers that detects a product level or amount condition of the product dispenser, the sensors in communication with a monitoring station assigned to the washroom facility;
a server system configured to generate a set of instructions unique to each of the washroom facilities based upon the detected product level or amount conditions of the dispensers in the respective washroom facility, the set of instructions including instructions as to the amount of product refill to be added to the dispensers; and
an identification (ID) system configured within each washroom facility to identify a maintenance personnel that enters the washroom facility and provide the unique set of instructions to the maintenance personnel in a message delivered to the maintenance personnel.

2. The system as in claim 1 , wherein the ID system is configured to deliver the message to a mobile smart device carried by the maintenance personnel.

3. The system as in claim 1 , further comprising an audio or visual display device within the washroom facility, the messages delivered via the audio or visual display device.

4. The system as in claim 1 , wherein the maintenance personnel is identified by name in the message.

5. The system as in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of the washroom facilities are assigned to a common monitoring station, the monitoring station in communication with the server system, and wherein the ID system includes an ID signal transmitter carried by each of the maintenance personnel that generates an ID signal that is unique to the maintenance personnel, the washroom facility configured with a receiver that receives the ID signals from the ID signal transmitters and transmits the ID signals to a controller that is in communication with the server system.

6. The system as in claim 5 , wherein the ID signal transmitters comprise Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) beacons that emit a unique BTLE ID signal, the server system maintaining a library of the unique BTLE signal assigned to each maintenance personnel, the receiver comprising a BTLE-enabled receiver that receives and transmits all or a portion of the unique BTLE ID signals to the controller to enable retrieval of the file related to the unique BTLE ID signal by the server system.

7. The system as in claim 6 , wherein the BTLE beacon is incorporated with a device provided to the maintenance personnel.

8. The system as in claim 6 , wherein the BTLE beacon is incorporated with a mobile smart device carried by the maintenance personnel, the mobile smart device having an application that causes the mobile smart device to transmit the unique BTLE ID signal.

9. The system as in claim 8 , wherein the message is delivered to the maintenance personnel via the mobile smart device.

10. The system as in claim 5 , wherein the server system maintains a file on each of the washroom facilities, wherein conditions or requirements specific to the washroom facilities are entered into the files and used to generate the unique set of instructions.

11. The system as in claim 10 , wherein the unique set of instructions inform the maintenance personnel of upcoming events that may increase usage of the washroom facility.

12. The system as in claim 10 , wherein the unique set of instructions includes dispenser refill instructions based on an anticipated usage of the washroom before a next scheduled visit by the maintenance personnel.

Assignees

• Kimberly Clark Co

Inventors

• Becker Stephen
• Dunbar Charlene
• Kirkland Jason
• Moede Warren
• Schulz Thomas H
• Sheehan Chrissy
• Shipp Jr Peter W
• Tramontina Paul F
• Zielinski Matthew T

Classifications

• G06Q20/308

  using the Internet of Things · CPC title

• G07F13/025

  wherein the volume is determined during delivery · CPC title

• G06Q10/087

  Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders · CPC title

• G06Q10/20

  Administration of product repair or maintenance · CPC title

• G07F9/026

  for alarm, monitoring and auditing in vending machines or means for indication, e.g. when empty · CPC title