Hardware system for active RFID identification and location tracking

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11082807-B2
Application number	US-202016841318-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 6, 2020
Priority date	Jul 25, 2014
Publication date	Aug 3, 2021
Grant date	Aug 3, 2021

Abstract

Systems and methods for facilitating proximity detection and location tracking using a hub or bridge are disclosed. An example apparatus is to receive a message from a beacon at a second location within a proximity area of the apparatus, the message indicative of the second location and identifying the beacon; and relay the message to a location server to determine asset location.

First claim

We claim:

1. A location hub apparatus arranged at a first location, the apparatus comprising:
memory including instructions to be executed;
a communication interface to receive and transmit via at least a first communication technology and a second communication technology;
at least one processor to execute the instructions to at least:
receive, via a first communication technology, a message from a beacon at a second location within a proximity area of the apparatus, the message indicative of the second location and identifying the beacon; and
relay, via a second communication technology, the message to a location server to determine asset location, wherein the second communication technology is different from the first communication technology; and

a power source drawing external power for the memory, the communication interface, and the at least one processor.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is to receive a plurality of messages and batch the plurality of messages according to at least one of a) a number of messages or b) a time period before sending the batch of received messages to the location server.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the message includes a timestamp and a received signal strength indication.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the at least one processor is to determine a proximity of the beacon to the apparatus by comparing the received signal strength indication to a threshold associated with the proximity area and is to discard the message when the received signal strength indication is less than the threshold.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the communication interface is to receive and transmit using wireless communication.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the wireless communication includes at least one of Bluetooth™ and Wi-Fi communication.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second location is identified in the message using at least one of spatial coordinates or a location identifier.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the message enables tracking of asset interaction with fixed locations.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the fixed locations include at least one of soap dispensers, beds, walls, or equipment.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is at least one of incorporated into or affixed to an asset.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the memory is to store an identifier for the apparatus, the identifier to be relayed to the location server with the message.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the memory, the communication interface, and the at least one processor are incorporated in a system on a chip.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including a sensor to detect an event.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the event includes at least one of patient movement, asset movement, or hand hygiene dispensing.

15. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the at least one processor is to infer an event based on movement of the beacon in the proximity area.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the sensor includes a motion sensor.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 , further including an internal management unit to manage power utilization of the apparatus.

18. A system comprising:
a hub module communicatively coupled to a wireless receiver, a wireless transmitter, and an external power source; and
a beacon tag including a wireless transmitter, the wireless transmitter configured to broadcast at least one wireless message, the at least one wireless message being broadcast using a first wireless protocol,
wherein the hub module is configured to receive the at least one wireless message through the wireless receiver, determine a proximity of a beacon tag to the hub module by comparing a received signal strength indication to a threshold associated with a proximity area, and discard the at least one wireless message when the received signal strength indication is less than the threshold.

19. The system of claim 18 , wherein the wireless transmitter of the hub module is configured to use a second wireless protocol to send a second wireless message, and wherein the first wireless protocol and the second wireless protocol are different wireless protocols.

20. The system of claim 19 , further including a real-time location services (RTLS) server in communication with the hub module, the RTLS server being configured to determine a location of the beacon tab in relation to the hub module.

21. The system of claim 18 , wherein the hub module is affixed to a stationary or near stationary surface.

22. A location hub apparatus arranged at a first location, the location hub apparatus comprising:
memory including instructions to be executed;
a communication interface to receive and transmit data via at least a first communication technology and a second communication technology;
at least one processor to execute the instructions to at least:
receive, via the first communication technology, a message from a beacon at a second location within a proximity area of the location hub apparatus, the message indicative of the second location and identifying the beacon;
determine a proximity of the beacon to the location hub apparatus by comparing a received signal strength indication to a threshold associated with the proximity area, and discard the message when the received signal strength indication is less than the threshold; and
relay, via a second communication technology, the message to a location server to determine asset location when the received signal strength indication is equal to or greater than the threshold.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Theurer Charles
• Good Brandon
• Liu Shaopeng

Classifications

• H04L67/52

  specially adapted for the location of the user terminal · CPC title

• G16H40/63

  for local operation · CPC title

• G16Z99/00

  Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass · CPC title

• H04W4/025

  using location based information parameters · CPC title

• G16H40/20

  for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms · CPC title