Electronic information tag and system

Abstract

An electronic tag information exchange and control system adapted and configured to interface with a server and dynamically display desired information related to one or more pieces of equipment associated with the electronic tag. In some embodiments, the information displayed can be a maintenance due date, but in alternate embodiments additional information and / or color indicators can be present to provide additional information regarding the status / maintenance due dates of the one or more pieces of equipment associated with the electronic tag.

Description

PATENT COOPERATION TREATY PATENT APPLICATIONTITLEElectronic Information Tag and SystemINVENTORSDwayne JacksonCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims the benefit of priority' to prior-filed and co-pending United States Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 518,315, filed August 8, 2023 by Dwayne Jackson, the compete contents of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUNDTECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present device relates to the field of labeling and more specifically to the field of electronic labeling and tracking for maintenance and obsolescence.BACKGROUND

[0003] Equipment requires maintenance and in many industries tracking of such maintenance is a legal requirement and absent proper maintenance, equipment cannot legally be used.

[0004] Most healthcare facilities are regulated by various governing bodies. Medical equipment specifically has extensive requirements for both documentation and testing. This is generally the job of clinical engineering or biomedical engineering to maintain. All records of maintenance are typically kept in a centralized location called the computerized maintenance management system or CMMS. All clinical engineering or biomedical engineering shops are required to set up a medical equipment management program in which they outline how they are going to provide both scheduled and unscheduled maintenance in regular intervals on apiece of equipment. In conjunction with the individual preventative maintenance inspections that are performed on each medical device a preventative maintenance sticker is affixed to signify the due date of the next scheduled maintenance and ultimately as an indication to the user if the equipment is safe to use on patients. Because of the manual nature of affixing stickers every time maintenance is performed to thousands of medical devices, sometimes multiple times a year, errors are made, or the process can be forgotten entirely. Either way, the main indication of whether a device is safe to use is at that point not accurate and can have grave consequences to patient care. In addition, the availability of documentation on the specific medical devices being utilized can sometimes be hard to manage. Engineers need access to services manuals in order to perform inspections and operators are required to have things like instructions for use and disinfection procedures available for all devices they utilize.

[0005] Currently, various other industries employ a variety of techniques to track equipment for maintenance, but most commonly used is a maintenance sticker attached to a piece of equipment, wherein a technician records information, such as when maintenance was last performed, when future maintenance is due and / or when the piece of equipment is no longer usable (an obsolescence date) and / or other known, convenient and / or desired information regarding the equipment and / or its maintenance. Such stickers are usually applied somewhere on the piece of equipment but suffer from critical flaws — 1) they contain only static information and 2) unless a user of the equipment looks closely and reads the sticker, there is no indication of whether the equipment requires maintenance and / or is obsolete. What is needed is a label that can be dynamically updated with current information and which can provide a evident indicator of the current maintenance / usability status of piece of equipment.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] Further details of the present device are explained with the help of the attached drawings in which:

[0007] Figs, la and lb depict an embodiment of an electronic information tag displaying first status information.

[0008] Fig. 2 depicts an embodiment of the electronic information tag depicted in Figs, la - lb displaying second status information.

[0009] Figs. 3a - 3b depict an embodiment of the electronic information tag depicted in Figs, la - 2 displaying third status information.

[0010] Fig. 4 depicts an embodiment of a system comprising a plurality of electronic information tags and at least one central computing system.

[0011] Fig. 5 depicts an embodiment of a method of operation of the system and electronic information tags depicted in Figs, la - 4.

[0012] Fig. 6 depicts an embodiment of a computing system adapted and configured to implement and support the system and method depicted in Figs. 4 and 5.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, "a", "an", and "the" includes plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0014] Figs, la and lb depict an embodiment of an electronic information tag 100 displaying first status information. In the embodiment depicted in Figs, la and lb, the electronic information tag 100 can comprise a housing 102 comprising a power source 104, a first display 106, a second display 108, one or more additional displays 110 and an indicator panel 112. In some embodiments, the housing 102 can further comprise one or more encoded indicia 1 14, one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) 116 and an antenna 118. In some embodiments, the electronic information tag 100 can communicate via the antenna 118 using Bluetooth® (short-range wireless communication) technology(ies), 2.4 / 5 GHz communication technology, near field communication technology(ies), file transfer protocol (FTP) technology(ies) and / or any other known, convenient and / or desired wired and / or wireless electronic communication technology(ies), method(s) and / or protocol(s).

[0015] In some embodiments, housing 102 can be comprised of plastic, ceramic, polymer material(s) and / or any known convenient and / or desired material or materials and can be adapted and configured to house and / or support the other components of the electronic information tag 100. In some embodiments, housing 102 can have a rectangular geometry. However, in alternate embodiments, housing 102 can have any known convenient and / or desired shape and / or geometry and / or can be specifically adapted in shape and size depending on an identified use. Additionally, housing 102 can be water resistant, water-tight and / or otherwise sealed to restrict and / or prohibit the intrusion of liquids and / or gasses surrounding the housing 102 into the housing 102.

[0016] In some embodiments, the power source 104 can be a user-removable battery, such as a coin-type battery, which can be coupled with any one or more of the components associated with the electronic information tag 100. However, in alternate embodiments, the power source 104 can be a lithium-ion battery', powered by a solar cell 124, ambient energy collection system and / or any known, convenient and / or desired apparatus and / or system adapted and configured to power electronic components.

[0017] In the embodiment depicted in Figs, la - 3b, the housing can comprise a first display 104 and a second display 106. In some embodiments, first display 104 and / or second display 106 can be color liquid crystal displays (LCD) and / or e-ink displays and / or any other known, convenient and / or desired display type adapted and configured to display information that can be dynamically modified. In some embodiments, the first display 104 can selectively display the asset or control number of the medical device. In some embodiments, this first display 104 may be semi -permanent until the electronic information tag 100 itself is reprogrammed regardless of the various maintenance statuses of the equipment. However, in alternate embodiments, the first display can permanently and / or selectively display any known, convenient and / or desired information.

[0018] In the embodiment depicted in Figs, la- 3b, the second display 106 can display the product maintenance (PM) due month and year. This value can be updated through an Application Programming Interface (API) integration with a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) as the PMs are completed. Thus, replacement of the electronic information tag 100 can be avoided, as a previously applied electronic information tag 100 can be updated. In situations in which the equipment does not require maintenance or is part of an Alternative Equipment Maintenance (AEM) program which indicates that no maintenance required, the default message can state "No PM Required” and / or any other convenient and / ordesired message. Additionally, the second display 106 can have one of the additional displays 110 display a reason for the status displayed in the first display 106 and / or second display 108.

[0019] In the embodiment depicted in Figs, la - 3b, the additional displays 110 can comprise three or more fields underneath the PM due date that can be utilized to display additional data at the discretion of the clinical engineering department. These fields can be used to house things like Tech code, next inspection due date, PM interval (quarterly, semi annual, annual), IP address, capital asset tag information, work order number, whether the unit is part of the AEM or OEM program, or any other field loaded into the CMMS. However, in alternate embodiments, the electronic information tag 100 can comprise any known, convenient and / or desired quantity of additional displays 100 and the additional displays 100 can be positioned in any known, convenient and / or desired location on the electronic information tag 100 and can display any known, convenient and / or desired information which can be selectively displayed and / or changed by a user.

[0020] In the embodiment depicted in Figs. 1 a - 3b, the indicator panel 112 can encompass a substantial portion of the front of housing 102 of the electronic information tag 100 and can display a plurality of colors (or other indicia) to visually indicate the maintenance status of the equipment. In some embodiments, through an API integration with the CMMS display colors (or other indicia) can manually or automatically be changed based on cunent service data at push intervals specified by the organization and / or based on trigging events, to visually indicate whether a device is safe to use.

[0021] In some embodiments, the indicator panel 112 can display a simple 3-color scheme wherein, green can indicate that the equipment is up to date with its maintenance, safe to use, has no inspections or work orders open on it, yellow can represent that the equipment is still safe to use but has a PM due within a prescribed time period (such as a month), a non-critical recall inspection open on it. or has some other non-critical work order open on it such as asoftware upgrade, drug library upgrade, or other need, and red can indicate that the equipment is not safe to use, is overdue for inspection, has a recall work order that is critical, or a repair work order has been opened on it. However, in alternate embodiments, any known convenient and / or desired color scheme and / or indica can be employed to provide any known / convenient and / or desired indications regarding status of the associated equipment.

[0022] In some embodiments, electronic information tag 100 can comprise a temperature sensor 120, a humidity sensor 122 and / or any other known, convenient and / or desired sensor adapted and configured to monitor conditions internal and / or external to the electronic information tag 100.

[0023] By way of non-limiting example, in some embodiments when the unit is no longer safe to use, overdue for inspection, a work order has been opened on it, or any other critical reason, the indicator panel 112 can change to red and the PM due month and year text or No PM Required text displayed in the second display 108 (and / or any other of the displays 106 1 10) can automatically or manually be changed to display a message that states “Unit is no longer safe to use. Please contact biomedical engineering at extension XXXX” and / or any other known, convenient and / or desired message. Such information can be customized / changed by a user via the API and / or any known, convenient and / or desired messages can be displayed.

[0024] In some embodiments the electronic information tag 100 can comprise one or more encoded indicia 114. In some embodiments, the encoded indicia 114 can be QR codes. However, in alternate embodiments, any known convenient and / or desired indicia can be used, such as any combination of codes, bar codes, QR codes, numeric sequences, alpha numeric sequences and / or text. In the embodiments depicted in Figs, la - 3b. QR codes are used to depict the encoded indicia 114.

[0025] In some embodiments, a first encoded indicia 114 can be located in a first position on the housing 102 of the electronic information tag 100 and can be labeled SM or Service Manual. In operation, utilizing a smart phone or tablet this QR code can direct a user to the sendee manual of the equipment to which the electronic information tag 100 is associated. This manual can be instantiated in a database, the CMMS, or any other source of storage and can require log in credentials or some other access management credential system to access. In some embodiments, when the incoming inspection is performed a model specific class check can be created in the CMMS and a digital copy of the service manual can be placed in the equipment file. Integration with the CMMS can enable the process to happen automatically for any additional units needing the same service manual because they can have the same class within the system. This step can also be able to be done manually through internal software by loading manuals in the asset tag file of any piece of equipment for CMMS that are underdeveloped in this area. Classifications can also be created within the system for bulk loading of manuals for the same type of equipment.

[0026] In some embodiments, a second encoded indicia 1 14 can be located in a second position on the housing 102 of the electronic information tag 100 and can indicate OD or Operator's Documentation. Like the service manual the operator's documentation can be loaded into the model specific class checks. These documents can be accessed by anyone who has a smart phone, tablet or other electronic device. The database behind this second encoded indicia 114 can be open to the public. This second encoded indicia 114 can take the user to a folder that contains things such as operator's manuals, IFUs. disinfection procedures, educational information and any relevant documentation needed for this piece of equipment. Integration with the CMMS can be established as convenient and / or desired. In this portal some users can add documentation to the individual equipment file or classification and / or add any customized instructions that may be useful for staff. By way of non-limiting example, thiscan be instructions for connectivity of a mobile medical device to the EMR system. This enables documents that are normally hanging or attached to medical devices to always be accessible even if the instructions have fallen off or been lost.

[0027] In some embodiments of the electronic information tag 100 depicted in Figs, la - 3b, the electronic information tag 100 can comprise one or more LEDs 116 or other visual indicators. In some embodiments, one LED 116 can be located in the top left comer to provide additional support in locating the device. However, in alternate embodiments one or more LEDs can be positioned in any location(s) on the housing 102 of the electronic information tag 100. The LED(s) can blink via a ping from the closest wireless base module or AP to facilitate location of the equipment associated with the electronic information tag 100. In operation, when a user would like to locate an asset they can ping the tag via the CMMS or other interface to enable blinking of the one or more LEDs 116 for a prescribed time period and / or until cancelled by a user.

[0028] In some embodiments, the electronic information tag 100 can comprise an antenna 118 to enable wireless communication with the electronic information tag 100 to modify the various features of the electronic information tag 100 and / or provide a location of the electronic information tag 100 and the associated equipment. In some embodiments. Integration through the wireless Local AreaNetwork (LAN) controller can be utilized as an option to locate devices and / or such can be accomplished via WIFI using any known convenient and / or desired communication method or standard, such as, by way of non-limiting example 802. 11 wireless communication standards, Bluetooth® low energy technology (short-range wireless communication), radio frequency signal communication, file transfer protocol communication standards and / or near field communications. The electronic information tags 100 can each comprise a controller / processor 126 in electronic communication with the power source 104, antenna 118, displays 104 / 106 and other electronic components of the electronic informationtags 100 such that the desired information can be dynamically display ed / updated / modified and the electronic information tags 100 can be configured and controlled as desired.

[0029] In some embodiments, signal beacons, gateways, access points and / or other known convenient and / or desired technologies can be implemented to facilitate communication between one or more electronic information tags 100 and / or a server / central computer / controller.

[0030] Fig. 4 depicts an embodiment of a system 400 comprising a plurality of electronic information tags 100 associated with a plurality of pieces of equipment 402 and at least one central computing system 404. In operation, electronic information tags 100 can be affixed and / or associated with disparately located pieces of equipment 402. A server 404 can then communicate with the individual electronic information tags 100 and thereby identify locations of such associated pieces of equipment 402 and / or update / instantiate information into the associated electronic information tags 100.

[0031] In some embodiments server 404 can be located proximal to one or more the electronic information tags 100. However, in alternate embodiments server 404 can be cloud based and distant from one or more of the electronic information tags 100. In some embodiments, server 404 can integrate with local and / or third-party software such as maintenance systems, cyber security software, wireless LAN controllers, local or cloud databases, facility temperature / environmental control systems, building maintenance systems and / or any other known, convenient and / or desired system. In alternate embodiments, server 404 can be a standalone server adapted and configured to monitor and update individual electronic information tags 100 through location communication techniques and / or technology. Communication between electronic information tags 100 can be bidirectional to enable both receipt of information by server 404 from electronic information tags 100 and / or information / updates can be delivered to electronic information tags 100 from server 404. Insome embodiments, electronic information tags 100 can bidirectionally communicate directly with other electronic information tags 100 and exchange information and / or updates. In some embodiments, communication between server 404 and electronic information tags 100 (and / or between electronic information tags 100) can be conducted at prescribed intervals. However, in alternate embodiments, communication between server 404 and electronic information tags 100 (and / or between electronic information tags 100) can be event, manually or automatically (by alternate systems) triggered.

[0032] By way of non-limiting example, an electronic information tag 100 having a temperature sensor 120 can provide information regarding an ambient temperature to a building environmental control system to inform such system regarding the ambient temperature such that such system can make adjustments and / or a temperature sensor 120 can provide information regarding an internal temperature of the electronic information tag 100 which can be used to determine whether the electronic information tag 100 is functioning within identified parameters.

[0033] Fig. 5 depicts an embodiment of a method of operation 500 of the system and electronic information tags depicted in Figs, la - 4. In step 502, electronic information tags 100 can be provided and in step 504 can be associated and in electronic communication with a server 504. In step 506 electronic information tags 100 can be associated with different pieces of equipment 402 and device data can be instantiated in each electronic information tag 100 associated with the piece of equipment 402 with which each electronic information tag 100 is associated in step 508. The status / maintenance status of the associated piece of equipment 402 can then be determined in step 510 and a status identifier can be displayed on the electronic information tag 100 in step 512. The server 402 can then communicate with the electronic information tag 100 to update and report status in step 514. Updated status can then be re-instantiated in the electronic information tag 100 via step 508. Information regarding device location and status can then be provided in step 516.

[0034] The execution of the sequences of instructions required to practice the embodiments can be performed by a computer system 600 as shown in Fig. 6. In an embodiment, execution of the sequences of instructions is performed by a single computer system 600. According to other embodiments, two or more computer systems 600 coupled by a communication link 615 can perform the sequence of instructions in coordination with one another. Although a description of only one computer system 600 will be presented below, however, it should be understood that any number of computer systems 600 can be employed to practice the embodiments.

[0035] A computer system 600 according to an embodiment will now be described with reference to Fig. 6, which is a block diagram of the functional components of a computer system 600. As used herein, the term computer system 600 is broadly used to describe any computing device that can store and independently run one or more programs.

[0036] Each computer system 600 can include a communication interface 614 coupled to the bus 606. The communication interface 614 provides two-w ay communication between computer systems 600. The communication interface 614 of a respective computer system 600 transmits and receives electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals, that include data streams representing various types of signal information, e.g., instructions, messages and data. A communication link 615 links one computer system 600 with another computer system 600. For example, the communication link 615 can be a LAN, in which case the communication interface 614 can be a LAN card, or the communication link 615 can be a PSTN, in which case the communication interface 614 can be an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card or a modem, or the communication link 615 can be the Internet, in which case the communication interface 614 can be a dial-up, cable or wireless modem.

[0037] A computer system 600 can transmit and receive messages, data, and instructions, including program, i.e., application, code, through its respective communication link 615 and communication interface 614. Received program code can be executed by the respective processor(s) 607 as it is received, and / or stored in the storage device 610, or other associated non-volatile media, for later execution.

[0038] In an embodiment, the computer system 600 operates in conjunction with a data storage system 631, e.g., a data storage system 631 that contains a database 632 that is readily accessible by the computer system 600. The computer system 600 communicates with the data storage system 631 through a data interface 633. A data interface 633, which is coupled to the bus 606, transmits and receives electrical, electromagnetic or optical signals, that include data streams representing various types of signal information, e.g., instructions, messages and data. In embodiments, the functions of the data interface 633 can be performed by the communication interface 614.

[0039] Computer system 600 includes a bus 606 or other communication mechanism for communicating instructions, messages and data, collectively, information, and one or more processors 607 coupled with the bus 606 for processing information. Computer system 600 also includes a main memory 608, such as a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device, coupled to the bus 606 for storing dynamic data and instructions to be executed by the processor(s) 607. The main memory 608 also can be used for storing temporary data, i.e.. vanables, or other intermediate information during execution of instructions by the processor(s) 607.

[0040] The computer system 600 can further include a read only memory (ROM) 609 or other static storage device coupled to the bus 606 for storing static data and instructions for the processor(s) 607. A storage device 610, such as a magnetic disk or optical disk, can also be provided and coupled to the bus 606 for storing data and instructions for the processor(s) 607.

[0041] A computer system 600 can be coupled via the bus 606 to a display device 611, such as, but not limited to, a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a liquid-crystal display (LCD) monitor, for displaying information to a user. An input device 612, e.g., alphanumeric and other keys, is coupled to the bus 606 for communicating information and command selections to the processor(s) 607.

[0042] According to one embodiment, an individual computer system 600 performs specific operations by their respective processor(s) 607 executing one or more sequences of one or more instructions contained in the main memory' 608. Such instructions can be read into the main memory' 608 from another computer-usable medium, such as the ROM 609 or the storage device 610. Execution of the sequences of instructions contained in the main memory 608 causes the processor(s) 607 to perform the processes described herein. In alternative embodiments, hard-wired circuitry' can be used in place of or in combination with software instructions. Thus, embodiments are not limited to any specific combination of hardware circuitry and / or software.

[0043] The term "computer-usable medium," as used herein, refers to any medium that provides information or is usable by the processor(s) 607. Such a medium can take many forms, including, but not limited to, non-volatile, volatile and transmission media. Non-volatile media, i.e., media that can retain information in the absence of power, includes the ROM 609, CD ROM, magnetic tape, and magnetic discs. Volatile media, i.e., media that can not retain information in the absence of power, includes the main memory 608. Transmission media includes coaxial cables, copper wire and fiber optics, including the wires that comprise the bus 606. Transmission media can also take the form of carrier waves; i.e., electromagnetic waves that can be modulated, as in frequency, amplitude or phase, to transmit information signals.Additionally, transmission media can take the form of acoustic or light waves, such as those generated during radio wave and infrared data communications.

[0044] In the foregoing specification, the embodiments have been described with reference to specific elements thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes can be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the embodiments. For example, the reader is to understand that the specific ordering and combination of process actions show n in the process flow7diagrams described herein is merely illustrative, and that using different or additional process actions, or a different combination or ordering of process actions can be used to enact the embodiments. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense.

[0045] It should also be noted that the present invention can be implemented in a variety of computer systems. The various techniques described herein can be implemented in hardware or software, or a combination of both. Preferably, the techniques are implemented in computer programs executing on programmable computers that each include a processor, a storage medium readable by the processor (including volatile and non-volatile memory and / or storage elements), at least one input device, and at least one output device. Program code is applied to data entered using the input device to perform the functions described above and to generate output information. The output information is applied to one or more output devices. Each program is preferably implemented in a high level procedural or object oriented programming language to communicate with a computer system. However, the programs can be implemented in assembly or machine language, if desired. In any case, the language can be a compiled or interpreted language. Each such computer program is preferably stored on a storage medium or device (e.g., ROM or magnetic disk) that is readable by a general or special purpose programmable computer for configuring and operating the computer when the storage medium or device is read by the computer to perform the procedures described above. The system can also be considered to be implemented as a computer-readable storage medium, configured with a computer program, where the storage medium so configured causes a computer to operate ina specific and predefined manner. Further, the storage elements of the exemplary computing applications can be relational or sequential (flat file) ty pe computing databases that are capable of storing data in various combinations and configurations.

[0046] A memory or storage device may be an example of a non-transitory computer- readable storage medium for use by or in connection with the video encoder and / or decoder. The non-transitory7computer-readable storage medium contains instructions for controlling a computer system to be configured to perform functions described by particular embodiments. The instructions, when executed by one or more computer processors, may be configured to perform that which is described in particular embodiments.

[0047] Also, it is noted that some embodiments have been described as a process which can be depicted as a flow diagram or block diagram. Although each may describe the operations as a sequential process, many of the operations can be performed in parallel or concurrently. In addition, the order of the operations may be rearranged. A process may have additional steps not included in the figures.

[0048] Particular embodiments may be implemented in a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for use by or in connection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, system, or machine. The computer-readable storage medium contains instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method described by particular embodiments. The computer system may include one or more computing devices. The instructions, when executed by one or more computer processors, may be configured to perform that which is described in particular embodiments

[0049] As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, "a", "an", and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

[0050] Although exemplary embodiments of the invention have been described in detail and in language specific to structural features and / or methodological acts above, it is to be understood that those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many additional modifications are possible in the exemplary’ embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the invention. Moreover, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above. Accordingly, these and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention construed in breadth and scope in accordance with the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat Is Claimed Is:

1. An electronic tag information exchange and control system comprising: a housing; a power source associated with said housing; a dynamic display contained within said housing visible from an exterior of said housing; a first communications antenna associated with said housing to enable wireless communication; a controller associated with said housing in electronic communication with said first communications antenna and said dynamic display; a server computer configured to wirelessly communicate with said controller via said first communications antenna; and a database associated with said server computer, said database containing information regarding at least one piece of equipment associated with said housing; wherein said dynamic display is dynamically configured to display information regarding said at least one piece of equipment associated with said housing.

2. The electronic tag information exchange and control system of claim 1 wherein said database contains information regarding maintenance of said at least one piece of equipment associated with said housing.

3. The electronic tag information exchange and control system of claim 2 wherein at least a portion of said information regarding maintenance of said at least one piece of equipment associated with said housing is transmitted to said controller associated with said housing.

4. The electronic tag information exchange and control system of claim 3 wherein said dynamic display selectively displays at least a portion of said information regarding maintenance of said at least one piece of equipment associated with said housing.

5. The electronic tag information exchange and control system of claim 4 wherein said at least a portion of said information regarding maintenance of said at least one piece of equipment associated with said housing is a maintenance due date.

6. The electronic tag information exchange and control system of claim 5 wherein said dynamic display displays said maintenance due date associated with said at least one piece of equipment associated with said housing.

7. The electronic tag information exchange and control system of claim 6 wherein a color associated with at least a portion of said housing and / or said dynamic display is dynamically modified.

8. The electronic tag information exchange and control system of claim 7 wherein said color associated with at least a portion of said housing and / or said dynamic display is dynamically modified based on whether a date associated with said maintenance due date is in the future or past relative to a current date.

9. The electronic tag information exchange and control system of claim 7 wherein said color associated with at least a portion of said housing and / or said dynamic display is dynamically modified based on whether a date associated with said maintenance due date is within a prescribed time period.

10. The electronic tag information exchange and control system of claim 8 wherein said color associated with at least a portion of said housing and / or said dynamic display is dynamically modified based on whether a date associated with said maintenance due date is within a prescribed time period.

11. The electronic tag information exchange and control system of claim 7 wherein said server computer can determine a location of said housing.

12. The electronic tag information exchange and control system of claim 6 wherein said server computer can determine a location of said housing.

13. The electronic tag information exchange and control system of claim 7 wherein said server computer can determine a location of said housing.

14. The electronic tag information exchange and control system of claim 10 wherein said server computer can determine a location of said housing.

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