RTLS Hygiene Monitoring for Real-Time Cleanliness Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems lack efficient methods for monitoring and managing hygiene in real-time, particularly in tracking the cleanliness of rooms and surfaces, and the location of cleaning supplies and personnel, leading to inefficiencies and ineffective cleaning practices.
Innovation Solution
A Real-Time Locating System (RTLS) using wireless tags and access points to track the movement of cleaning personnel and equipment, determine cleanliness levels, and optimize cleaning operations by graphically displaying cleanliness levels and paths on a display unit, enabling prioritization and efficient use of resources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual hygiene monitoring methods are used, then system complexity is low, but measurement precision and real-time monitoring capability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical hygiene monitoring methods with an automated electronic system using wireless tags, access points, and a monitoring module. The system automatically tracks movement of cleaning personnel and equipment, determines cleanliness levels based on tracked data, and provides real-time monitoring without requiring manual inspection or complex mechanical measurement devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces wireless tags as intermediary devices attached to cleaning personnel and equipment, which communicate with access points and the monitoring module. These tags serve as mediators that enable the system to track movement and determine cleanliness levels indirectly through recorded movement data, rather than requiring direct measurement of cleanliness.
2Productivity
If comprehensive tracking of cleaning personnel and equipment is implemented, then productivity and hygiene management quality improve, but device complexity and information processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential information needed for hygiene management from the vast amount of data generated by tracking cleaning personnel and equipment. The monitoring module specifically determines cleanliness levels based on movement tracking data, extracting the critical hygiene-related information while filtering out unnecessary data, thus reducing information processing burden while maintaining productivity improvements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different levels of monitoring and data processing to different areas and cleaning tasks. The system tracks movement and determines cleanliness levels for specific areas and surfaces, rather than uniformly monitoring everything with equal detail. This localized approach improves hygiene management quality in critical areas while reducing overall data processing requirements.
3Loss of time
If real-time monitoring of cleaning operations is implemented, then loss of time in identifying areas needing attention is reduced, but use of energy and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic monitoring where the system determines cleanliness levels at scheduled intervals based on tracked movement data, rather than continuously processing all data in real-time. The monitoring module periodically assesses cleanliness status and identifies areas needing attention, which reduces energy consumption while still providing timely information to prevent significant loss of cleaning time.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Improves the efficiency and quality of hygiene services by providing real-time monitoring and management of cleanliness, optimizing resource allocation, and identifying areas needing attention, thus enhancing overall hygiene management.
Implementation Method 1
receiving, by a wireless tag, wireless signals from a plurality of access points and receiving, by each access point, an associated tag distance from the wireless tag. Each associated tag distance represents a strength of each associated access point's wireless signal at the wireless tag.
Data Source
AI summary
A hygiene monitoring and management system including a monitoring module and a display. The management module with an input and that receives data via the input. The received data includes one or more locations of a device in a facility, and the management module further includes one or both of software and hardware configured to generate data representative of cleaning behavior associated with the device based on the received data. The cleaning behavior includes timing and movement of the device in the facility, and a cleanliness level of at least one area in the facility.