Voice Communication Badge Integration for Real-Time Location Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Caregivers in healthcare facilities wear multiple devices for voice communication, locating, and tracking, leading to clutter and excess weight, and there is a need for coordinated handling of nurse call and alert messages across these devices.
Innovation Solution
A wireless communication device integrated with a real-time locating system and a mobile phone application, enabling voice-activated commands for device control, broadcast messaging, and location tracking, with features like UWB signals and Bluetooth pairing for seamless interaction with medical devices and nurse call systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If caregivers wear separate devices for voice communication and locating, then each device can perform its specific function, but device clutter and excess weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines voice communication functionality and locating functionality into a single wearable device. The device includes both a voice communication module for two-way communication and a locating module with UWB transceiver for real-time location tracking, eliminating the need for separate devices and reducing overall weight and clutter.
Solution Approach 2:
The wearable device is designed as a multi-functional unit that simultaneously provides voice communication, locating, and identification capabilities. The single device serves multiple purposes: it acts as a communication badge for nurse calls, a locating tag for real-time tracking, and an identification device, thereby reducing the total number of devices caregivers must wear.
2Adaptability or versatility
If caregivers wear multiple types of badges and tags, then various functions are available, but device clutter and excess weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple device types (voice communication badge, locating tag, identification device) into a single integrated wearable. The device incorporates a voice communication module, a locating module with RTLS compatibility, and identification features, thereby reducing the number of separate devices from three to one.
Solution Approach 2:
The single wearable device is designed with universal functionality to replace multiple specialized devices. It provides voice communication for nurse calls, real-time locating through UWB technology, and identification capabilities, making it a universal replacement for various separate badges and tags.
3Loss of information
If nurse calls and alerts are displayed on both voice communication badges and mobile phones, then information is available on multiple devices, but coordination between devices becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the voice communication badge and mobile phone continuously sync their alert and nurse call status. When an alert is received on one device, the system automatically updates the other device, ensuring both displays show coordinated information without requiring manual synchronization or creating conflicting states.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a coordinating system that acts as an intermediary between the voice communication badge and mobile phone. This intermediary manages the synchronization of nurse calls and alerts between the two devices, handling the coordination complexity centrally while keeping the user experience simple and ensuring information consistency across both devices.
4Adaptability or versatility
If inputs from caregivers are required on two different devices, then comprehensive control is achieved, but operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control interfaces of the voice communication badge and mobile phone into a unified control system. The wearable device integrates both voice command processing and touchscreen interaction, allowing caregivers to control functions through a single device rather than requiring inputs on two separate devices, thereby improving operational efficiency while maintaining comprehensive control capabilities.
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
Reduces device clutter and weight by integrating voice communication and locating functions into a single wearable, enhances coordination of nurse calls and alerts, and allows for efficient control of medical devices through voice commands.
Implementation Method 1
a wireless fidelity (WiFi) module that may be configured to (i) send and receive long range wireless signals to and from, respectively, one or more of the WAP's, and (ii) send and receive short range wireless signals
Implementation Method 2
a location module that may be configured to emit beacon signals that may be received by at least one of the receivers of the RTLS
Data Source
AI summary
A healthcare communication system includes a voice communication badge to be worn or otherwise transported by a caregiver. The voice communication badge has a display, a microphone, buttons that are used to select or alter first information appearing on the display, and circuitry including a wireless fidelity (WiFi) module configured to (i) send and receive long range wireless signals to and from one or more of the wireless access points, and (ii) send and receive short range wireless signals. The circuitry also includes a location module to emit beacon signals that are received by at least one receiver of a real-time locating system which includes a locating computer that determines a location of the voice communication badge based on the beacon signals.