Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-26
2001-05-01
Hofsass, Jeffery (Department: 2736)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S010500, C340S010510, C340S010520, C340S573100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06225906
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to tag monitoring systems and, more specifically, to a user friendly interactive remotely controlled computer system for monitoring a tag attached to a patient or object and generating an alarm when the tag is carried outside a predetermined unauthorized area or the tag has been cut for removal from the person or object.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous other tracking and monitoring systems used for locating items within a designated area and generating an alarm signal when the items leave or are carried out of the designated area are provided in the prior art. Such systems include tag alarms placed on merchandise which must be disabled at the retail store registers.
Security access systems installed in doorways which require a user to key-in a combination code or pass an ID badge through a card reader are also provided in the prior art for monitoring the location of an item. Additionally, security and surveillance systems using a processor to generate a signal that is transmitted to perform task specific functions such as locking down of a site have also been developed for similar purposes.
While these systems may be suitable for the purposes for which they were designed, none provide all the unique features of the present invention. Therefore, they would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention, as hereinafter described.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to tag monitoring systems and, more specifically, to a user friendly interactive remotely controlled computer system for monitoring a tag attached to a patient or object and generating an alarm when the tag is carried outside a predetermined unauthorized area or the tag has been cut for removal from the person or object.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide a patient monitoring and alarm system that will overcome the shortcomings of prior art devices.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a patient monitoring and alarm system which is able to assign a tag to a patient upon admission to a health care facility and monitor the location of the patient while within the facility and until such time as the patient is discharged from the facility.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a patient monitoring and alarm system able to protect patients from abduction by signaling authorized personnel upon detecting the patient is being taken from a designated area.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a patient monitoring and alarm system able to prevent the substitution of identification from one patient to another, as in the case of swapping the tags of newborns.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a patient monitoring and alarm system which is able to alert authorized personnel when an attempt is being made to disable or remove the tag from a patient.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a patient monitoring and alarm system which is able to passively monitor a patient using strategically located sensors which will report movement of tagged patients authorized personnel.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a patient monitoring and alarm system having a plurality of remote sensors able to transmit radio frequency signals to a central processing station, the central processing station recording and reporting the movement of a tagged patient within a health care facility to authorized personnel.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a patient monitoring and alarm system including one or more user-friendly interactive central stations each having a monitor, a keyboard, a card reader, a transmitter, a receiver and a printer for reporting, displaying and editing data through the use of graphical user interfaces and capable of displaying a location of an alarm condition on a floor plan or floor plans of the facility.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a patient monitoring and alarm system whereby a tag can be assigned to a patient for monitoring purposes.
An even further object of the present invention is to provide a patient monitoring and alarm system able to generate real time alarms and reports to thereby prevent unauthorized tampering or removal of a tag from the patient.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide a patient monitoring and alarm system wherein a plurality of sensors are positioned throughout a health care facility acting in concert with the tag of a patient to generate a record and, upon detection of certain predetermined conditions, causing an alarm signal to be generated.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a patient monitoring and alarm system wherein staff and/or security personnel are able to disengage the system for a predetermined period of time in order to adjust the tag without causing the alarm signal to be generated.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a patient monitoring and alarm system able to allow movement of a tagged patient from one location to another outside of a predetermined range of motion for a predetermined period of time whereby a return time for the patient is monitored and an alarm signal is generated upon expiration of the predetermined period of time or if the patient deviates from a path to be followed to a predetermined destination.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a patient monitoring and alarm system including security access functions whereby a user must have an ID badge and/or password to access the system.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a patient monitoring and alarm system which will deter individuals from criminal acts by its very presence and provide a comfort factor to the staff and patrons of the facility.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a patient monitoring and alarm system that is simple and easy to use.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a patient monitoring and alarm system that is economical in cost to manufacture.
Additional objects of the present invention will appear as the description proceeds.
A system for monitoring tagged objects within a predefined area provides a user-friendly interactive interface for monitoring tagged objects in a predetermined area is disclosed by the present invention. The method of providing the user interface includes the steps of entering security information permitting users access to the interface, generating a first menu tool bar on a screen for initiating a plurality of functions and initiating a function selected from the first menu toolbar. The plurality of functions able to be initiated from the toolbar include at least two of monitoring a status of alarms on tags, associating a uniquely identified tag with an individual object, updating tag information, updating object identification information, and disabling tag monitoring system for a selected tag. The toolbar includes a plurality of icons, each of said icons representing a respective one of the plurality of functions. Selection of any one of the icons generates an display screen specific to the function selected.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4837568 (1989-06-01), Snaper
patent: 5117222 (1992-05-01), McCurdy et al.
patent: 5295062 (1994-03-01), Fukushima
patent: 5347628 (1994-09-01), Brewer et al.
patent: 5396227 (1995-03-01), Carroll et al.
patent: 5512879 (1996-04-01), Stokes
patent: 5525969 (1996-06-01), LaDue
patent: 5652570 (1997-07-01), Lepkoofker
patent: 6002401 (1999-12-01), Baker
Hofsass Jeffery
Kroll Michael I
Tang Son
LandOfFree
Patient monitoring and alarm system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Patient monitoring and alarm system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Patient monitoring and alarm system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2516748