Personnel Tracking System Using Relay Devices for Noise-Resistant Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tracking and monitoring systems for personnel in hazardous environments are unreliable due to interference from electrical noise, cumbersome devices, and limited communication efficiency, making it difficult to accurately locate and monitor personnel in real-time, especially in environments with high levels of noise and interference.
Innovation Solution
A personnel tracking and monitoring system comprising electronic devices with unique identifiers, imaging, and biologic monitoring capabilities, using wireless communication protocols and portable relay devices to transmit location and status data to monitoring stations, which compare the data against predetermined criteria to generate alerts or warnings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional tracking and monitoring systems are used in hazardous environments, then personnel location and status can be monitored, but the systems are unreliable due to interference from electrical noise and high levels of noise
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs portable relay devices as intermediary components that establish wireless communication between personnel electronic monitor devices and monitoring stations. These relay devices act as mediators to transmit signals through hazardous environments with electrical noise, improving reliability by providing multiple communication paths and signal regeneration capabilities that overcome noise interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system integrates multiple functions into a unified platform that combines location tracking, status monitoring, real-time communication, and alert generation. This multi-functional approach ensures reliable operation across diverse hazardous environments by adapting to different communication conditions and providing comprehensive personnel safety monitoring despite electrical noise interference.
2Ease of operation
If conventional monitors such as man-down beepers are used, then personnel location can be indicated, but communication is limited to audible and visible indications within hearing range and line of sight
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional line-of-sight audio/visual communication to three-dimensional wireless electromagnetic field communication. Portable relay devices and electronic monitor devices transmit signals through space without requiring direct line of sight, enabling communication beyond hearing range and visual contact while maintaining operational simplicity through automated wireless transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces mechanical acoustic communication (beepers requiring line of sight and hearing range) with electronic wireless communication systems. This substitution eliminates the limitations of audible and visible indications by using electromagnetic signals that can penetrate obstacles and transmit over extended distances without requiring direct physical proximity between personnel and monitors.
3Reliability
If multiple separate devices are used for tracking and monitoring, then comprehensive monitoring can be achieved, but the devices become cumbersome and difficult to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges location tracking, status monitoring, communication, and alert functions into an integrated electronic monitor device worn by personnel. This consolidation combines multiple separate tracking and monitoring functions into a single unified device, reducing complexity while maintaining comprehensive monitoring coverage through wireless communication with portable relay devices and central monitoring stations.
4Reliability
If real-time monitoring of personnel location and status is implemented, then safety can be improved, but communication efficiency is reduced in environments with high noise and interference
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback loops where electronic monitor devices continuously transmit personnel location and status data to portable relay devices, which relay information to central monitoring stations. The monitoring stations process this real-time data and provide immediate feedback alerts when predetermined safety criteria are exceeded, maintaining high communication efficiency despite environmental noise through automated signal processing and threshold-based alerting.
Data Source
AI summary
A personnel tracking and monitoring system and method comprises sets of monitoring devices each including: an electronic device having a unique identifier, a locating device, and a wireless communication device communicating via a plurality of protocols. The unique identifier, the location data and time data are associated and are transmitted wirelessly to one or more monitoring stations which store same in a database. The electronic devices and/or one or more relay devices may be configured before arrival at the site and/or while en route. Data stored in the data base is compared with predetermined criteria and if any predetermined criteria is exceeded, an indication thereof is communicated to the monitoring stations and/or to the electronic device to which such indication relates.