System and method of monitoring equipment and facilities

Abstract

A method for monitoring an environment is provided. The method includes: encoding in an optical code information pertaining to equipment functions and facility maintenance in a commercial environment, displaying the optical code for an authorized user to perform a task found in the optical code transmitting a correct response upon completion of the task.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MONITORING EQUIPMENT AND FACILITIES BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0001] The use of barcodes or QR codes on machines is known. Often these barcodes or QR codes provide information on the equipment warranty, troubleshooting guides, or other information preciously found in a user’s manual for the equipment.

[0002] We all have an image of the night watchman checking the bank vault to ensure no break-ins have occurred. The night watchman has a key which he places in a clock to record the time he has checked the area.

[0003] Refrigerators or incubators often have a round recording chart that tells the reader if any drop or rise in temperature has occurred.

[0004] Hotels, factories, commercial buildings, laboratories, schools, hospitals, etc. need to have routine tasks performed. These tasks include cleaning a room, checking the security of an unoccupied building, or performing routine machine service, all are just some of the examples of tasks that need to be performed and recorded. In the past there where logs that were signed, key mechanisms to clock in on, charts to be collected read and stored, and any variety of means for collecting data.

[0005] This application provides a method to do any or all of these tasks with an optical code and a reading device.SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0006] Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method for monitoring an environment, the environment monitoring is accomplished by encoding an optical code with information unique to the environment. In an embodiment, the optical code is displayed for an authorized user to read with a device. In an embodiment the device transmits the information from the optical code to the authorized user in the form of a task, in an embodiment the authorized user performs the task and when completed the authorized user provides the correct response to record the task is completed.

[0007] In an embodiment, reading the optical code requires use of a device, the device can be a digital device where information is displayed on the screen of the device or as a printout from the device. In an embodiment the screen of the digital device remains locked until the user enters a correct response upon completion of the task. In an embodiment the authorized user is restricted to the use of the device by an individualized access code.

[0008] In an embodiment the device is an electronic reader configured to read a pattern containing the optical code. In an embodiment nonlimiting examples of devices include a cellular telephone, a camera, or a computer.

[0009] In an embodiment the optical code is for example a multidimensional symbol, a bar code, a QR code, a Datamatrix, and a Maxicode. In an embodiment the multidimensional symbol is a computer encoded data generated by a quantum system.

[0010] In an embodiment the correct response is timed to ensure the task is performed as expected and can be used to evaluate employee performance. In an embodiment the correct response is transmitted to a data center capable of comparing previous correct responses.

[0011] In an embodiment the correct response may be sent to a memory storage unit attached to the device. In an embodiment the correct response may be sent to a remote storage unit.

[0012] In an embodiment nonlimiting examples of the environment are a hospital, a hotel, a school, a factory, an industrial facility, an apartment building, or a commercial building. In an embodiment examples of tasks include cleaning an area of the environment or ensuring the environment is secured from intruders.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0013] The terms used in this specification generally have their ordinary meanings in the art, within the context of the invention, and in the specific context where each term is used. Certain terms are discussed below, or elsewhere in the specification, to provide additional guidance to the practitioner in describing the compositions, and methods of the invention and how to make and use them. Moreover, it will be appreciated if the same thing can be said in more than one way. Consequently, alternative language and synonyms may be used for any one or more of the terms discussed herein, nor is any special significance to be placed upon whether or not a term is elaborated or discussed herein. The use of examples anywhere in this specification, including examples of any terms discussed herein, is illustrative only, and in no way limits the scope and meaning of the invention or of any exemplified term. Likewise, the invention is not limited to the examples presented.

[0014] As used herein a term preceded by “a” or “an" includes both singular and plural of such term.

[0015] As used herein, the expression "at least" means one or more and thus includes individual components as well as combinations that still enable a working invention.

[0016] As used herein, the “authorized user” is an at least one individual that is required to perform a task on the environment. This individual may be an owner of the environment or an employee in the environment. The authorized user will have access to a device for reading the optical code. The authorized user may have an individualized access code for using the device.

[0017] As used herein, the expression ’’comprising”, comprises, including, has, having or similar variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion.

[0018] As used herein a “device” is any mobile or fixed device configured to read a pattern known as an optical code. The device may also be called a digital device in the context of this application. The device may lock the screen once the optical code is read. The screen can only be unlocked when the task is completed, and a correct response is input on the device. Nonlimiting examples of a device include a cellular telephone, computer or a camera. A device may include hardware or software systems to perform the functions described herein. Hardware that operates to read optical code is based on software or hardwired instructions.

[0019] As used herein “displaying” is attaching the optical code in a secure manor to the environment. The optical code is intended to be fixed in the environment until the information changes or the environment no longer requires monitoring. The optical code is meant to be displayed in a way that does not have a negative visual impact on the environment while being readily accessible to the authorized user.

[0020] As used herein, “embodiment” or similar language is an example and is not intended to limit similar features, structures, or characteristics of the embodiment.

[0021] As used herein, “encoding” is a functional term that encompasses a variety of processing steps that are commercially available. The process for encoding an optical code involves hardware, software, and firmware configured to the customer’s request. These are conventional techniques related to signal processing, data transmission and operating systems.

[0022] As used herein, “environment ” includes but is not limited to a building, a structure, a room within a building, a piece of machinery located in a building (for example a refrigeration unit) or freestanding externally of any building (for example a dumpster or construction equipment), or any object or location that needs to be regularly checked or maintained.

[0023] As used herein “information unique to the environment” is determined by the environment where the optical code is placed and the task needed to be performed. Some nonlimiting examples include: cleaning a hotel room, emptying a waste container, checking the security of an environment, checking the temperature of refrigeration units, maintenance of equipment, and checking a patient’s vitals.

[0024] As used herein the “optical code” is any encoded information displayed on a discrete sticker or piece of paper attached to the environment and readable by a device. The optical code appears to the human eye or hand as a pattern. This pattern when viewed by a device can be translated by the device to information readable by the human eye or hand. This information contains a task to be performed by an authorized user. Non-limiting examples of optical code include a bar code or a QR code, a multidimensional symbol, a symbol generated by a quantum system, a datamatrix, or a maxicode.

[0025] As used herein “or” also includes the term “and / or”, and “and”.

[0026] As used herein a “task” is individualized to the environment and to the authorized user. The task may be performed within certain time limits. The task may require confirmation of completion by the entry of a correct response as an indication that the task is complete. The correct information may be sent to a memory storage unit attached to the device or a remote storage unit.

[0027] EXAMPLE OF USE 1: In hotels, commercial buildings, and hospitals digital codes are assigned to individual rooms. The digital code is attached to the interior door in the region of the escape route diagram and secured in the same fashion as the escape route diagram. When a room (environment) is vacated the front desk sends out a message to the authorized users that the room is empty. An authorized user responds by entering the room and using the device to scan the optical code. When the optical code is scanned the device transmits a message that an authorized user is now undertaking the tasks assigned to that optical code. When all the tasks in the optical code are complete the authorized user enters the correct response to the device indicated the task is complete and the authorized user is available to respond to the next request. The device has recorded the time the authorized user started the task and the time the authorized user completed the task, providing a means for monitoring the authorized user’s performance in accomplishing a timed task (correct response). Each location will have customized parameters in the optical code.

[0028] EXAMPLE OF USE 2: In engineering departments, directors of the buildings will set up and add optical codes using secured stickers on equipment that requires a tracking record (environment), for example, on a boiler or pool filter room, each pump, each boiler, each water chemical reading needs to be tracked. In a hotel with 2 boilers, the manager can ask the authorized users to take water and temperature readings every 4 hours. The authorized user will scan the optical code on the boiler. The optical code tells the authorized user (through the device) to take the readings seen on the device (task). The authorized user digitally enters the temperatures on the device (correct response). The manager will know for certain that the authorized user was standing in front of that equipment at an exact time because the reading request is specific to that time. Based on the information received the equipment can be set ti high and low limits on for example, pumps, boilers, filters and motors.

[0029] EXAMPLE OF USE 3: Rental companies can attach optical code to a piece of rental equipment such as a dumpster or car (environment). On location cameras will read the optical code on the dumpster or car and determine the delivery and pickup date, time, or location the dumpster or car moved allowing for hourly or daily billing.

[0030] EXAMPLE OF USE 4: In the waste disposal industry, the optical code can be fixed at a fill line on a dumpster. The truck picking up the dumpster with a device fixed to the truck can read the optical code on the dumpster and record the amount of waste over the fixed fill line indicated by the optical code. This information is provided (correct response) and the Overage charge is calculated instantly making the billing and tracking fully digital.

[0031] EXAMPLE OF USE 5: In a hospital setting am optical code can be attached to a patient bed. The authorized user can scan the optical code with a device to determine what patient vital reading is required at timed intervals (task). The vital reading is entered (correct response) and immediately compared to prior readings allowing for an appropriate response if the correct response indicates a dangerous trend in the patient health.

[0032] The Examples provided are not exhaustive and other uses for the disclosed method for environmental monitoring are covered by the following claims.

Claims

ClaimsWHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method for monitoring an environment comprising:Encoding an optical code with an at least one information unique to the environment;Displaying the optical code for an authorized user to read with a device; Wherein the device transmits the information form the optical code to the authorized user in the form of a task; andthe authorized user performs the task and provides a correct response upon completion of the task.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein reading the optical code comprises use of a device.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical code information is displayed on a screen of the device or as a printout from the digital device and the screen remains locked on the screen of the digital device until the user enters the correct response upon completion of the task.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the device is a reader configured to read a pattern containingthe optical code.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the device is a cellular telephone.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the device is a camera.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the correct response is transmitted to a data center capable of comparing previous correct responses.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the correct response is timed.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the optical code is a multidimensional symbol.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the multidimensional symbol is a bar code, a QR code, a Datamatrix, and a Maxicode.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the multidimensional symbol is a computer encoded data generated by a quantum system.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the information is executing a predetermined task.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the authorized user is restricted to use of the device by an individualized access code.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the correct response is sent to a memory storage unit attached to the device.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the correct response is sent to a remote storage unit.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the task is used to determine the authorized user’s performance.

17. The method claim 3, wherein the information is used to determine an equipment performance.

18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the environment is a hospital, a hotel, a school, a factory, an industrial facility, an apartment building, or a commercial building.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein the task is cleaning an area of the environment.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein the task is ensuring an area of the environment is secured from intruders.