System and method for instructing personnel on washroom maintenance requirements

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11030553-B2
Application number	US-202016900180-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2020
Priority date	Mar 30, 2015
Publication date	Jun 8, 2021
Grant date	Jun 8, 2021

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 method 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, the method comprising:
for each of the washroom facilities, configuring the product dispensers 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;
storing one or more washroom facility files on a server system, the one or more washroom facility files including information regarding the product level or amount condition of the product dispensers;
generating a message including a set of instructions unique to each of the washroom facilities based upon a set of washroom facility files stored on a server system, the set of instructions including instructions as to the amount of product refill to be added to the dispenser; and
transmitting the message including the set of instructions to maintenance personnel at the beginning of their work shift regarding expected refill requirements of the washroom facilities assigned to the maintenance personnel based on current conditions or requirements in the washroom facility files.

2. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the message including the set of instructions is transmitted to maintenance personnel at the beginning of their work shift such that maintenance personnel can accurately load their cart with required refill products.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the message is delivered to a mobile smart device carried by the maintenance personnel.

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

5. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the message identifies each of the washroom facilities assigned to the maintenance personnel.

6. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the message informs the maintenance personnel of upcoming events that may increase usage of the washroom facility.

7. The method as in claim 1 , wherein the message including the set of instructions includes dispenser refill instructions based on an anticipated usage of the washroom before a next scheduled visit by the maintenance personnel.

8. The method as in claim 1 , further comprising an identification (ID) system configured within each washroom facility to identify a maintenance personnel that enters the washroom facility and provide a second message to the maintenance personnel.

9. The method as in claim 8 , wherein the ID system is configured to deliver the second message to a mobile smart device carried by the maintenance personnel.

10. The method as in claim 8 , further comprising an audio or visual display device in the washroom facility, the second message delivered via the audio or visual display device.

11. The method as in claim 8 , wherein a 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.

12. The method as in claim 11 , wherein the ID signal transmitters are 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.

13. The method as in claim 11 , wherein the BTLE beacon is incorporated with a device provided to the maintenance personnel.

14. The method as in claim 11 , 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.

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

• H04W4/80

  Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication · CPC title

• G06Q10/087

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

• G06Q10/06

  Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling · CPC title

• G07F9/002

  Vending machines being part of a centrally controlled network of vending machines · CPC title

• G07F13/025

  wherein the volume is determined during delivery · CPC title