Mosquito net and system comprising multiple registered mosquito nets and a method for triggering smartphone communication by a mosquito net

Abstract

A mosquito net (10) comprises a mesh fabric (15) and a carrier sheet (16) attached to the mesh fabric (15) and carrying an identifier item (18) with a unique identifier code, which is registered in a database (21) of a server system (20). The identifier item (18) provides a smartphone-readable link for information exchange with the server system (20).

Description

[0001] Mosquito net and system comprising multiple registered mosquito nets and a method for triggering smartphone communication by a mosquito net

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a mosquito net that carries an identifier item. It also relates to a system and a method of triggering smartphone communication by a mosquito net.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Traditional mosquito nets are the most efficient way to protect humans against malaria. In its simplest form, a mosquito net is a mesh fabric spanning as a canopy over a dwelling space occupied by humans, for example as a bed night over a sleeping place. Enhancement of efficacy against mosquitoes and other insects has been by adding insecticides to the nets.

[0006] In relation to WHO criteria specifically for long lasting mosquito nets, LLINs, an assessment tool for survivorship, integrity and bio-efficacy was developed, as reported in the research article “A tracking tool for long-lasting insecticidal (mosquito) net intervention following a 2011 national distribution in Benin” by Azondekon et al., published in Parasites & Vectors 2014, 7:6, available on the Internet on the site http: / / www.para- sitesandvector s . com / content / 7 / 1 / 6 In this study, LLINs were marked by a double marking system in which a label with a unique study code was used in addition to an indelible ink mark. Manually, read, data were entered into a database in relation to specific coded nets including data for the name of the head of household and GPS coordinates.

[0007] As a feasibility study, this is useful, but there is a lack of a global tracking system in which mosquito nets can be tracked from the supplier to the end user and where information about the net is available to the end user at all times. In particular, in this study, GPS coordinates and net codes were entered manually into a database for the tracking, which implies risk for errors due to it relying on humans entering the data. Additionally, the necessity of experts of the study having to be on the spot where the LLIN is located in order to track it makes this principle not useful in broader scale.

[0008] In general, it is well known to provide products in packages comprising bar codes containing information about the product. So called QR codes can contain an internet address that can be scanned by a user with a smartphone to connect to an internet page for obtaining more information about the product and even registering the product. However, once the product is removed from the package, the information is not readily available any more. For mosquito nets, such package declaration is useless. The current information provided on mosquito nets does not go beyond information about the producer and potentially its production lot number. Accordingly, there is still need for improvements.

[0009] In this connection, the following observation is useful. The technologies in this field within the last few decades have advanced to provide long-lasting insecticidal nets, LLIN, having a lifetime of several years, despite being washed. Accordingly, people maintain their nets for long time, and when they move from place to place, be it because of drought or war, the mosquito net is typically one of the items that is always taken along, in particular because of its importance as a guard against vector borne diseases and against the nuisance of biting insects, but also due to its low weight and volume making it easy to carry. Accordingly, mosquito nets could be useful tools for tracking location of the owner, illustrating movements of people in rural areas. However, such global tracking system is not available.

[0010] Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide improved systems solving problems that exist in the prior art.

[0011] DESCRIPTION / SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] It is therefore an objective of the invention to provide an improvement in the art. In particular, it is an objective to provide mosquito nets with an identifier with improved trackability and as a useful tool in healthcare. Additionally, it is an objective to provide a system that uses the unique identifier in a broader perspective for information exchange with the user of the mosquito net. This objective and further advantages are achieved with a mosquito net, as well as systems and methods set forth below and in the claims.

[0013] In short, a mosquito net is provided that comprises a mesh fabric and a carrier sheet attached to the mesh fabric and carrying an identifier item with a machine-readable unique identifier code, which is registered in a database of a server system. The identifier item provides a smartphone-readable link for information exchange with the server system.

[0014] Typically, the mesh fabric is formed as a canopy for covering a sleeping place and protecting humans against insects. Advantageously, the carrier sheet is made of a flexible material and has an edge portion, which is attached to the mesh fabric, optionally by sewing. In particular, the following has been found useful.

[0015] For example, when a mosquito net is transported from the production site to an end user site, for example, a rural area in a remote location in Africa, the unique identifier code, which is individual for each specific mosquito net, can be used for following the mosquito net, even once the mosquito net is taken out of its package.

[0016] The carrier sheet is attached to the mesh fabric of the net. Typically, only an edge region of the carrier sheet, but not the entire edge that surround the carrier sheet, is attached to the net, for example by sewing, similar to the normal attachment method use for an information label. For example, the carrier sheet, thus, resembles the information labels that are typically attached with one of their edges to the mesh fabric for providing information about the net and the provider. Being similar with such information label, also the carrier sheet has dimensions much smaller than the mosquito net, in particular being at least one or two order of magnitude smaller than dimensions of the mesh fabric, itself. All in all, the carrier sheet has dimensions and typically also the shape similar to the information label attached to the mesh fabric and differs from the prior art information labels in that it carries an identifier item that is machine readable and comprise a unique identifier code. Being solidly attached, the label will follow the mesh of the mosquito net from the manufacturer to the end user site without any risk of the unique identifier code getting lost on the journey or during use. For example, such canopy has a size in the order of two or three meter length from the top of the mosquito net till bottom edge when hanging. The carrier sheet is much smaller, for example in the range of 10-30 cm long and wide.

[0017] As already mentioned, the carrier sheet carrying the identifier item is made of a flexible material, typically fabric or film. It has an edge portion that is attached to the mesh fabric, optionally by sewing, although, it can also be glued or plastic welded to the mesh, the latter being possible for thermoplastic materials, such as polyester, polyethylene or polypropylene.

[0018] In a simple form, the identifier item is a QR code on the carrier sheet, which, when scanned with a smartphone, provides information to the smartphone. As a QR code has a data capacity of 3 kB, it can provide a text with about 4000 alphanumeric characters. For example, this is sufficient to give the user instructions for how to hang, use, and clean the net. It can also be used to give the user a telephone number or internet address to call for questions, medical help or emergency, be it via internet or other digital data transmission lines or by a telephone line. However, typically, the QR code contains internet addresses as a link to a server system and is used to cause the smartphone to automatically initiate data transfer or prompt to the user for a feedback on the data transfer.

[0019] For example, the identifier item acts as a trigger mechanism for causing actions when scanned by a smartphone. Optionally, the trigger mechanism is used for providing trigger information in relation to a specific computer application, a so-called APP, which is responsive to the trigger mechanism and potentially also to user input and / or input from an external server or person. In some embodiments, the APP is necessary to read information from the trigger mechanism so that risk for fraud is minimized.

[0020] However, in other embodiments, the identifier item functions as a trigger mechanism using the normal functionality of the smartphone, for example the camera QR reader function, which automatically connects to a server system upon reading the QR code.

[0021] For example, scanning of the QR code causes the smartphone to connect to the internet and exchange data with the server system linked to the QR code, typically including the unique identifier code. This way, the smartphone can be used for obtaining additional information from the user and / or giving additional information to the user.

[0022] For example, by scanning the QR code or other type of identifier item, the user receives information about usage of the mosquito net, such as improvement of bed net usage and may give feedback to a server system.

[0023] Smartphones are useful also because they can reveal their location, for example by GPS or through the location of the data transmitter hubs. Accordingly, the carrier sheet with the identifier item can also be used to register, in the database of the server system, information about the use of the net, such as geographical location information.

[0024] As alternatives to QR codes, or as additional codes, the identifier item may comprise an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) code for reading by a smartphone. A further alternative is a Short Message Service (SMS) code. An advanced option is a machine readable chip, especially a near field communication (NCF) chip, such as a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) chip.

[0025] In the following, the term identifier item will be used for the QR code or for such alternative code. Special for the codes is that each net individually has a unique identifier code, provided at the producer site prior to shipment of the mosquito net to the end user in order to allow tracking of individual mosquito nets from the producer to the user. Although, examples are given for QR codes, this term is interchangeably with other codes or even machine readable chips having such function as alternative identifier in as far as technically applicable.

[0026] It is generally advantageous to use a smartphone as a communication link between the user and a remote server system for automatic data exchange, once initiated by the identifier item. Examples of useful data exchange relate to information sharing, health, or social online services, for financial transactions, promotions, and surveys.

[0027] The system and method presented herein are also useful for monitoring and evaluation (M&E), and including statistics and observations of social & behavioural changes in relation to the registered mosquito nets. Optionally, upon scanning of the identifier item, the smartphone establishes a communication line to remotely located personnel for communication with such remotely located personnel, accessible through a telephone connection or wireless data transfer connection. As an option, such personnel is medical personnel, especially healthcare workers, so that the user can receive online health support merely by scanning the identifier item, optionally after activating a prompt on the user interface of the smartphone. This is highly useful in rural areas where no hospital or even doctor or nurse are available.

[0028] As it appears from the above, use of the technology for information exchange is within the fields of education, health, agricultural, as well as applications in relation to the net, including information sharing, anti-counterfeiting, and detection of durability of the net and its insecticide.

[0029] In some concrete embodiments, a system is provided that comprises multiple mosquito nets, for example for tracking the mosquito nets from a production site to users. Each mosquito net comprising a mesh fabric as well as a carrier sheet that has been attached to the mesh fabric at the production site. Each carrier sheet comprises an identifier item that is machine-readable, and the identifier item comprises a unique identifier code that is individually unique for the mosquito net having the specific identifier item. The multiple mosquito nets are provided with carrier sheets carrying identifier items with different unique identifier codes for uniquely identifying each of the multiple mosquito nets relatively to each other. The system comprises a server system with a database, the database containing multiple different records, each of which is related to only one of the unique identifier codes, and the corresponding record comprises data related to the production site and comprises a record field with identification data of a user of the mosquito net.

[0030] It is particularly advantageous if, as explained above, the identifier item contains machine-readable instructions for causing a smartphone to exchange digital data with the server system upon scanning the identifier item with the smartphone. As an option, the record field with identification data of a user of the mosquito net contains identification data of a smartphone that exchanges digital data with the server system upon scanning the identifier item with the smartphone.

[0031] As a further option, each of the multiple different records comprise a field for geographical location data as received from the smartphone of the user.

[0032] Advantageously, the smartphone of a user is part of the system, optionally comprising a specific dedicated app, and, periodically, a communication connection between the smartphone and the server system for exchange of data between the smartphone and the server system. For example, the system is configured to automatically prompt the user to connect with at least one of health, social, agricultural, educational, financial, or environmental online services upon scanning of the identifier item with the smartphone.

[0033] As a practical embodiment, a method is provided, in which mosquito nets are registered in a database of a server system. The method is advantageously used for triggering smartphone communication by a mosquito net. Other uses include tracking of multiple mosquito nets from a production site to user.

[0034] In this method, each of the multiple mosquito nets comprises a mesh fabric as well as a carrier sheet that comprises an identifier item, options and functions of which were already discussed above. The carrier sheet is attached to the mesh fabric at a production site, for example where the mesh fabric has been produced or at another production site, to which the mesh fabric has been brought and where the carrier sheet is attached to the fabric as a final or intermediate step for the production. As already discussed above, the identifier item comprises a unique identifier code. Accordingly, the multiple mosquito nets are provided with different unique identifier codes for uniquely identifying one mosquito net relatively to another. For example, the identifier item comprise not only the batch or lot number but a further identifier that is only provided once during production, namely for production of this specific mosquito net. The method comprises further registration of the unique identifier code in a database of a server system and only after such registration, the mosquito net is transported from the production site to the user. For triggering smartphone communication, the user is then caused, for example by a visual prompting on the carrier sheet, to scan the identifier item with a smartphone. As a result of the scanning, information is provided to the user through the smartphone and / or information retrieved by the server system through the smartphone.

[0035] For example, the number of the smartphone is automatically transmitted to the server system upon scanning of the identifier item. Additionally, or alternatively, the information provided to the user is a further prompting to the user to provide user-related information by input into the user interface of the smartphone. Various options exists.

[0036] For example, the method comprises at least one of the following:

[0037] - providing information to the user about how to arrange and maintain the mosquito net;

[0038] - providing information to the user with incentives for improved net usage;

[0039] - providing information to the user about health, social, agricultural, educational, financial, or environmental online services;

[0040] - providing information to the user about health, social, agricultural, educational, financial, or environmental online services and establishing a communication line between the smartphone and a corresponding online service provider;

[0041] - connecting the user to health workers through the smartphone for online health support;

[0042] - submitting geographical location data from the smartphone to the database and registering the geographical location data in relation to the corresponding unique identifier code;

[0043] - use of the unique identifier code for personalised information sharing, health or social online services, for financial transactions, promotions, or surveys;

[0044] - providing information to the user about a survey and prompt input from the user and collecting survey information from the user for the survey and storing the collected survey information in relation to the unique identifier code in the database or in a further database, the further database being related to the survey;

[0045] - tracking each of the mosquito nets from the producer to the user, including geolocation of the net, for example from production to end-of-life of the mosquito net.

[0046] For sake of completeness, it is pointed out that the term “smartphone” herein not only covers flat cuboid-shaped smartphones but also cover corresponding devices that are carried on a wrist of a person in as far as they have the capability of reading the identifier item and display the related information to the user and / or establish a connection to the server system for data exchange, as described in detail above.

[0047] In a useful option for tracking, a copy of the unique identifier code is provided on a packaging list, and the mosquito nets are transported in steps from the production site to the user, and for each transport step, the identifier item is scanned and related data submitted to the server system and the information of the transport step registered in the database in relation to the corresponding unique identifier code.

[0048] Alternatively, the packaging list contains a batch identifier, and the identifier item is only scanned at the user site, for example when the net is distributed to the user or scanned by the user.

[0049] In some embodiments, the label also comprises a functional item, such as a medical diagnostic functional item for a diagnostic test and configured for indicating a medical diagnostic test result by the diagnostic test. However, in other embodiments, the label and also other potential labels of the mosquito net is / are free from such medical diagnostic functional item.

[0050] In some embodiments, the label also comprises a technical functional item for personal use household, environment, or agriculture in rural areas, where the technical functional item is configured for providing at least one of a physical and / or chemical reactive result in response to a stimulant when in use. However, in other embodiments, the label and also other potential labels of the mosquito net is / are free from such technical functional item.

[0051] SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0052] The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, where FIG. 1 illustrates a mosquito net with carrier sheets attached to it;

[0053] FIG. 2 illustrates a carrier sheet with a QR code 8 and an optional different identifier item;

[0054] FIG. 3 illustrates a tracking scheme for periodically tracking a cargo of multiple mosquito nets from the producer to the user. DETAILED DESCRIPTION / PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0055] FIG. 1 illustrates a mosquito net 10. The mosquito net 1 has a roof 12 and sidewalls 13, which in this illustrated embodiment comprises upper portion 4A and lower portion 4B of sidewalls 13. Such sidewalls 13 with a lower portion 14B made of a more durable material than the upper portion 14 A, are found in the insecticidal mosquito net with the trademark PermaNet 3.0®, but this is not necessary for the invention, where the sidewalls 3 can also be in one type of material.

[0056] Attached to the net fabric 15 of the mosquito net 10, typically by a sewing 17, is a carrier sheet 16 and potentially provided in addition to labels 16’ that are attached to the mesh fabric 15 of the mosquito net 10 as a standard for providing information to the user about the net and the manufacturer. As will become more apparent in the following, the standard principle of labels 16’ on mosquito nets 10 can be used for more sophisticated unique identifier items on carrier sheets 16 attached to the mesh fabric 15 of the mosquito net 10. The latter brings about a number of distinct advantages, as explained in more detail in the following.

[0057] Typically, such carrier sheet 16 is attached with one of its edges to the lower edge 11 A of the mosquito net 10. As an alternative means for fastening carrier sheets 16 to the mesh fabric 15 of the mosquito net 10, the carrier sheets 16 can be attached with their edge to another portion of the mosquito net 10, for example being sewn by a sewing 17 into the seam 11B between the upper portion 14A and the lower portion 14B of the sidewalls 13, which is also illustrated in FIG 1.

[0058] Such carrier sheets 16 are fastened irremovably to the mesh fabric 15 and are intended to remain on the mesh fabric 15, which means that the removal of the carrier sheet 16 by pulling or tearing it away from the mesh fabric 15 would also damage the mesh fabric 15. It is pointed out that cutting, for example with scissors, would be a method to remove a portion of the carrier sheet 16 from the mesh fabric 15, but the sewn portion of the carrier sheet 15 would remain on the mesh fabric 15, and the carrier sheet 16 is not regarded detachable in the sense of the above. The carrier sheet 16 is made from flexible materials in order to prevent it from breaking off the mesh fabric 15.

[0059] The use of carrier sheets 16 that are dimensioned and handled similar to ordinary information labels is advantageous in that the technology for handling such carrier sheets 6 and attaching them to the mesh fabric is similar to the standard information labels, so that the carrier sheets 16 with the identifier items according to the invention can be readily implemented without changing the traditional streamlined production procedure of mosquito nets, keeping extra costs and extra efforts at minimum. The latter is an important aspect, as low pricing for mosquito nets 10 must be preserved.

[0060] FIG. 2 illustrates a carrier sheet 6 attached to the mesh 15 with a sewing 17. The carrier sheet 6 carries an identifier item, exemplified as a QR code 18, although, also, other identifier items 19 can be used, for example, an NFC chip embedded into or provided onto the material of the carrier sheet 16.

[0061] As discussed in detail above, the identifier item 18, 19 is machine readable and comprises a unique identifier code, for which there is stored a corresponding counterpart in a database of a server system as from the production of the mosquito net 10. Each unique identifier code exists only once in order to individualize the mosquito nets 10 with respect to later recognition and tracking.

[0062] FIG. 3 illustrates use of a tracking principle with the identifier item being exemplified as a QR code 18. At the manufacturer site, the identifier item is scanned and the corresponding unique identifier code registered in a database 21 of a server system 20. For example, batch number and production site, as well as location and time are registered in a record of the database 21 together with the unique identifier code. When mosquito nets are transported in batches, for example bales or containers, it suffices to track the batch and container. This is known in the art. However, once the individual mosquito nets 10 are distributed as single items, batch numbers are not any more sufficient for tracking individual nets. Therefore, at the household or end-user level, each mosquito net is tracked individually. This is not any more done on a repeated basis by professional personnel but is left to the user of the mosquito net. By scanning the identifier item with a smartphone, the smartphone is caused to submit the unique identifier to the server system, so that the final destination and distribution of the mosquito net is registered. The server system 20 already has the specific unique identifier code in a register of the database 21, and the connection to the smartphone provides full trackability of the mosquito net from the production site to the end user site, potentially even adding the geo-location of the net in a field of the register in the database.

[0063] In practice, the user is caused, for example by a visual prompting on the carrier sheet itself, to scan the identifier item with a smartphone and as a result of the scanning, information retrieved by the server system through the smartphone and potentially useful information is provided to the user through the smartphone.

[0064] Such connection between the smartphone and the server system can be repeated at other times. For example, the server system comprise a manufacturer server, in which production data, transport data and user data are stored in a register for the specific individual mosquito net, and another server that is related to healthcare personnel service in the are where the mosquito net is located. The server system 20 is not limited to a single server but may comprise several such servers, related to different control and service entities.

[0065] For example, the scanning of the identifier item may cause the smartphone to display a list of available services to the user, from which the user may select a specific service, such as online contact to healthcare providers or other types of services, including but not limited to social, agricultural, educational, financial, or environmental online services.

[0066] As it appears from the above, the link between a unique identifier code and server systems with databases, as explained above, not only allows precise tracking of mosquito nets with corresponding statistical analysis, but also has the possibility of providing additional user-oriented information exchange.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A system comprising multiple mosquito nets, each mosquito net comprising a mesh fabric as well as a carrier sheet that has been attached to the mesh fabric at the production site, wherein the carrier sheet comprises an identifier item that is machine-readable, and wherein the identifier item comprises a unique identifier code, wherein the multiple mosquito nets are provided with carrier sheets carrying identifier items with different unique identifier codes for uniquely identifying each of the multiple mosquito nets relatively to each other; wherein the system further comprises a server system with a database, the database containing multiple different records, each of which is related to only one of the unique identifier codes, and wherein the corresponding record comprises data related to the production site and comprises a record field with identification data of a user of the mosquito net.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the identifier item contains machine-readable instructions for causing a smartphone to exchange digital data with the server system upon scanning the identifier item with the smartphone.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the record field with identification data of a user of the mosquito net contains identification data of a smartphone that exchanges digital data with the server system upon scanning the identifier item with the smartphone.

4. The system of claim 2 or 3, wherein each of the multiple different records comprise a field for geographical location data as received from the smartphone of the user.

5. The system of claim 2 or 3, or 4, further comprising a smartphone of a user and a periodic communication connection between the smartphone and the server system for exchange of data between the smartphone and the server system.

6. The system according to claim 2, 3, 4, or 5 wherein the system is configured to automatically prompt the user to connect with at least one of health, social, agricultural, educational, financial, or environmental online services upon scanning of the identifier item with the smartphone.

7. The system according to any preceding claim, wherein the identifier item comprise at least one of a readable NFC chip, a camera readable QR code, camera readable SMS code, a camera readable USSD code.

8. A mosquito for a system according to any preceding claim, wherein the mosquito net is formed as a canopy for covering a sleeping place and protecting humans against insects and comprising a mesh fabric as well as a carrier sheet that has been attached to the mesh fabric at the production site and which is carrying an identifier item that is machine readable and comprises a unique identifier code configured for individually identifying the mosquito net relatively to other mosquito nets.

9. The mosquito net according to claim 8, wherein the identifier item comprise at least one of a readable NFC chip, a camera readable QR code, camera readable SMS code, a camera readable USSD code.

10. The mosquito net according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the identifier item comprises data that are readable by scanning with a smartphone, wherein the data are configured to automatically cause the smartphone to provide information to the user through the smartphone or cause the smartphone to submit information to a server system through the smartphone, or both11. The mosquito net according to 8, 9, or 10, wherein the carrier sheet has an edge around its periphery and only a portion of the edge, which is shorter than the edge around the periphery, is attached to the mesh fabric.

12. The mosquito net according to claim 8, 9, 10, or 11, wherein the label is free from a medical functional item configured for a medical diagnostic test and free from a technical functional item configured for providing a physical or chemical reactive result in response to a stimulant.

13. A method of triggering smartphone communication by a mosquito net, wherein the method comprises providing for each of multiple mosquito nets a mesh fabric as well as a carrier sheet that comprises an identifier item and attaching the carrier sheetto the mesh fabric at a production site, wherein the identifier item comprises a unique identifier code, and wherein the multiple mosquito nets are provided with different unique identifier codes for uniquely identifying one mosquito net relatively to another; wherein the method comprises registration of the unique identifier code in a database of a server system and only after such registration, transporting the mosquito net from the production site to the user; wherein the method further comprises causing the user to scan the identifier item with a smartphone and as a result of the scanning, providing information to the user through the smartphone or retrieving information by the server system through the smartphone, or both.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the method comprises at least one of the following:- providing information to the user about how to arrange and maintain the mosquito net;- providing information to the user with incentives for improved net usage;- providing information to the user about health, social, agricultural, educational, financial, or environmental online services;- providing information to the user about health, social, agricultural, educational, financial, or environmental online services and establishing a communication line between the smartphone and a corresponding online service provider;- connecting the user to health workers through the smartphone for online health support;- submitting geographical location data from the smartphone to the database and registering the geographical location data in relation to the corresponding unique identifier code;- use of the unique identifier code for personalised information sharing, health or social online services, for financial transactions, promotions, or surveys;- providing information to the user about a survey and prompt input from the user and collecting survey information from the user for the survey and storing the collected survey information in relation to the unique identifier code in the database or in a further database, the further database being related to the survey;- tracking each of the mosquito nets from the producer to the user, including geolocation of the net.

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