The present disclosure relates to the use of a system for detecting and identifying use of a monitored device to provide a power supply, a communications network, and data storage for a plurality of accessory devices.
In many industries, it is desirable to implement accessory devices operable to collect and communicate data for a variety of purposes. For example, healthcare facilities routinely seek accessory devices capable of monitoring and communicating temperature values associated with refrigeration units housing perishable supplies. While there are accessory devices operable to meet this need, each device requires use of a facility's network. Accordingly, in an effort to overcome this limitation, accessory devices are assigned a channel on the facility's network. However, as the number of accessory devices on a channel increases, a reduction in the flow of data across the channel occurs. This creates delays associated with communicating data which becomes problematic for accessory devices operable to communicate data at a high rate. Therefore, there is a need for a system having a network operable to support a plurality of accessory devices without compromising the functionality of the network.
Another challenge associated with implementing accessory devices in a facility relates to power. Unless the accessory devices are battery powered, the facility must provide a power supply to power said devices. As such, depending on the number of accessory devices being installed, a facility may incur substantial costs associated with the time and labor necessary to provide additional power. Therefore, there is a need for a system operable to distribute an already existing power supply to the accessory devices, thereby eliminating the need for a facility to run additional lines for power. Still further, yet another challenge associated with implementation of accessory devices in a facility relates to data storage. Accessory devices require use of a server on the facility's network operable to store data. Therefore, there is a need for a system operable to store data for accessory devices on a single server, thereby eliminating the need for additional servers.
While the discussion thus far has focused on the shortcomings of accessory devices operable to collect and communicate data, facilities continue to incur substantial costs associated with the installation of these devices, because the value of the data they obtain outweighs those substantial costs. Accordingly, there is a need for a system operable to eliminate each of the challenges mentioned above providing a more affordable and less burdensome solution for implementing accessory devices in a facility.
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to the use of a system for detecting and identifying use of a monitored device by accessory devices. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a use of the system, wherein the system provides a power supply, a communications network, and data storage which accessory devices may use, further reducing the cost and time associated with implementing accessory devices in a facility. In an exemplary embodiment, a hand hygiene compliance (HHC) system provides a power supply, a communications network, and data storage for a plurality of accessory devices. More specifically, the HHC system comprises a plurality of control units and a server to communicate with the control units over a communications network. The control units are operable to distribute a power supply from the HHC system to accessory devices and to communicate with accessory devices and the server. Accordingly, through the communications network, control units may communicate data from accessory devices to the server for storage in a database. Further, the control units are also equipped with a feedback device in the form of a small display operable to display data from the accessory devices and in some embodiments serves as an interface allowing a user to communicate with and manually configure parameters associated with the accessory device.
This embodiment and other embodiments of the present disclosure will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the disclosure not being limited to any particular embodiment(s) disclosed.
The various embodiments of the present disclosure and their advantages may be understood by referring to the attached drawings. The elements of the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of preferred embodiments of the present disclosure. Throughout the drawings, like numerals are used for like and corresponding parts of the drawings. The present disclosure may be provided in other specific forms and embodiments without departing from the essential characteristics as described herein. Accordingly, the embodiments described below are considered in all aspects as illustrative only and not restrictive in any manner.
The present disclosure relates to a system for monitoring and identifying use of a monitored device, with the system further providing electrical power, a communications network, and data storage for a plurality of accessory devices. The system comprises a control unit, a feedback device, and a server in communication with the control unit over a communications network. The control unit is operable to distribute electrical power to accessory devices as well as communicate data from accessory devices to the server through the communications network. The feedback device displays data from the accessory devices and in some embodiments serves as an interface allowing a user to communicate with and manually configure parameters associated with the accessory devices. The server is operable to record data from the accessory devices and in some embodiments communicates data to an application server where the data may be hosted for a user, such as a facility administrator. As used herein, the term “accessory device” broadly refers to any device operable to collect data. Likewise, the term “feedback” device broadly refers to any visual, auditory, or tactile device capable of conveying information to a person, including displays associated with a control unit. Further, the basic components and operation of a system for monitoring and identifying use of a monitored device are known to those of ordinary skill in the art and will not be described in detail here.
Referring now to
Still referring to
Still further, using the communications port (126), the accessory device (110) is operable to communicate data to the control unit (120). When the control unit (120) receives data from the accessory device (110) via the communications port (126), the data is communicated to the server (140) through a transmission (180) involving the communications network, including a wireless transmission with the network bridge (130). The network bridge (130) is any communications bridge, hub router, node, or other unit known in the art for transferring information over a network, in any network topology or architecture. Alternatively, the control unit (120) is operable to communicate data directly to a receiver communicatively coupled to the server (140). Moreover, once the server (140) receives data, a database (190) associated with the server (140) records data, with the server (140) in some embodiments further operable to communicate data from the database (180) to an application server where the data may be hosted for a user, such as a facility administrator.
Referring now to
In one embodiment, the RFID antenna (214) is operable to read a unique identification code assigned to a tagged asset, such as a piece of equipment or a supply, and transmit the identification code to the microcontroller (212) over the UART communications link (218). Upon receiving the identification code, the microcontroller (212) transmits the identification code to the control unit (220), with the control unit (220) receiving the identification code via the receive wire (262) coupling the microcontroller (212) with the UART communications port (226). The control unit (220) then communicates the identification code to the server (240) through a transmission (280) involving the communications network, including a wireless transmission, with the network bridge (230). Upon receipt of the identification code, the server (240) records the identification code in a database (290) associated with the server (240). Still further, the server (240) is also operable to transmit commands back to the tagged asset via the RFID reader (210) based at least in part upon the identification code relating to the tagged asset. For example, in one embodiment, the RFID reader (210) transmits a command to an RFID tag associated with a catheter having been recently installed to deactivate the RFID tag to prevent a user from reusing the tag again on the catheter or another piece of equipment or supply. In yet another embodiment, the server (240) may communicate a procedure or set of procedures relevant to a tagged asset, such as a piece of equipment, on a feedback device (228) associated with the control unit (220) based at least in part upon the unique identification code read by the RFID reader (210).
Referring now to
In an exemplary embodiment, the control unit (320) controls the I2C bus (360) and coordinates communications between the control unit (320) and the temperature sensor (310). Accordingly, the control unit initiates a communication transaction with the temperature sensor (310) over the I2C bus (360). This can be accomplished by the control unit (320) by addressing the temperature sensor (310) with a read/write access request. A start condition may be generated over the SDA line (362) by the control unit (320) to inform any other accessory devices coupled to the I2C bus (360) that a communication transaction is occurring. After the temperature sensor (310) acknowledges initiation of the communication transaction, the control unit (320) can send or receive data from the temperature sensor (310). Upon receiving data from the temperature sensor (310), the control unit (320) communicates data to the server (340) through a transmission (380), including a wireless transmission, with the network bridge (330). Upon receiving data, the data is stored in a database (390) associated with the server (340) and in some embodiments is communicated by the server (340) to an application server where data may be hosted for a user.
The control unit (320) further includes a feedback device (328) in the form of a small display operable to communicate data from the temperature sensor (310) to a user. Accordingly, the feedback device (328) may display a real-time temperature reading for a refrigeration unit housing a temperature sensor (310) coupled with the control unit (320). Still further, in another embodiment, the feedback device (328) is operable to display temperature readings from a temperature sensor (310) monitoring temperature of a patient's room or a monitored area in a facility. Accordingly, a temperature sensor (310) coupled with the control unit (320) in a patient's room is operable to dynamically display temperature readings on a feedback device (328) associated with the control unit (320).
Other embodiments of the present disclosure may include accessory devices, such as humidity sensors or ambient light sensors interfacing with a HHC system, whereby the HHC system provides power, communications and data storage capabilities for the accessory devices. For example, an HHC system may interface with a humidity sensor in a facility using a control unit to power and communicate data from the humidity sensor to a server via a communications network associated with the HHC system. Likewise, an HHC system may interface with an ambient light sensor using a control unit to power and communicate data from the ambient light sensor to a server via a communications network associated with the HHC system. More specifically, the HHC system may collect and store data relating to ambient light levels in a room or area of a facility and communicate data to a system in a facility operable to control lighting in the facility based at least in part upon data from the ambient light sensor. The HHC system may also display data from the humidity sensor or ambient light sensor on a feedback device associated with the control unit. For example, in one embodiment, the feedback device is operable to dynamically display humidity readings for a room or area. In another embodiment, the feedback is operable to display a message based at least in part upon data collected by the ambient light sensor informing an individual that the lights may be turned on or off in a room or area of the facility. Still further, similar to the embodiments previously mentioned, the communications link with the control unit and the humidity sensor or ambient light sensor may be any wired or wireless communications link presently existing or developed hereafter.
While an assortment of exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure have been disclosed for purposes of illustration, it is obvious that many modifications and variations could be made thereto. Accordingly, it is intended to cover all of those modifications and variations which fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/539,725 filed 27 Sep. 2011.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/US2012/057575 | 9/27/2012 | WO | 00 | 3/7/2014 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61539725 | Sep 2011 | US |