SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR EQUIPMENT TRACKING AND COMPLIANCE MONITORING WITHIN A FACILITY

1 . A system comprising:

a plurality of tracking systems, each tracking system linked to an associated piece of equipment and configured to transmit one or more tracking signals including signature information identifying the associated piece of equipment;

a plurality of dispensers positioned at selected locations within the facility, each dispenser comprising:

a dispensing mechanism configured to dispense a fluid or a sheet material;

at least one receiver configured to receive the one or more tracking signals transmitted by the tracking systems; and

a control system in communication with the dispensing mechanism and the at least one receiver and including programming configured to:

control the dispensing mechanism to dispense an amount of the fluid or the sheet material upon detection of a user initiating a dispensing operation; and

transmit an information packet including a location identifier for the dispenser and signature information for at least one piece of equipment detected moving within a prescribed range, area or zone of the dispenser to a facility server, facility control, cloud server, network, mobile application, mobile or other wireless device, or combinations thereof.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each tracking system comprises at least one sensor configured to detect the movement of its associated piece of equipment and activate at least one transmitter to transmit the one or more tracking signals as the associated piece of equipment moves about a facility.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein each tracking system further includes at least one processor configured to receive a movement signal from the at least one sensor indicating movement of the associated piece of equipment and activate the at least one transmitter; wherein when the associated piece of equipment is determined to have stopped or be in a non-moving state, the at least one transmitter is placed in an inactive state.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the facility comprises a medical facility, and wherein the pieces of equipment comprise one or more of patient mobility aids, beds, monitors, portable diagnostic equipment, portable diagnostic equipment, portable treatment and life support equipment, and portable surgical equipment.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each dispenser further comprises at least one activation sensor in communication with the controller and configured to detect an activation gesture by the user and send an activation signal to the control system to initiate the dispensing operation.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein one or more of the dispensers further comprises a power management system including at least one detection sensor configured to detect a presence of one or more individuals within a prescribed detection range, area, or zone thereof, and in response, connect the control system, the at least one receiver, the at least one transmitter, the at least one activation sensor, the dispensing mechanism, or combinations thereof to a power source.

7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a compliance system comprising a plurality of badges carried by a plurality of individuals, each badge being configured to transmit a series of signals including information identifying each badge; wherein the signals are transmitted for a distance, with a selected signal strength, or combinations thereof, to be received by a dispenser when the badge moves within a selected zone, area, proximity or range of the dispenser.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the information packet transmitted by the at least one transmitter of each dispenser further includes information each badge detected within the selected zone, area, proximity, or range of the dispenser during a prescribed period.

9 . A method of tracking and/or locating pieces of equipment within a facility, comprising:

detecting movement of a piece of equipment by a tracking system linked to the piece of equipment;

upon detection of the movement of the piece of equipment, emitting a plurality of tracking signals, the tracking signals including signature information identifying a piece of equipment linked to the tracking system; and

as the piece of equipment moves about the facility, detecting at least one tracking signal emitted by the tracking system at each of a plurality of dispensers; and

at least periodically transmitting one or more information packets including a location identifier for each dispenser and one or more recorded tracking signals associated with one or more pieces of equipment from each dispenser of the plurality of dispensers.

10 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

detecting one or more signals emitted by badges carried by individuals moving about the facility at one or more dispensers of the plurality dispensers; wherein the one or more signals emitted by each badge include information identifying the badge; and upon detection of at least one signal emitted by at least one badge at a dispenser, determining usage of the dispenser by an individual carrying the at least one badge.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein determining usage of the dispenser comprises activating the dispenser to initiate a dispensing operation for dispensing a fluid or sheet material in response to an activation prompt; receiving one or more additional signals from the at least one badge by the dispenser; and determining if the individual carrying the at least one badge used the dispenser sufficient to comply with a protocol for the facility.

12 . The method of claim 9 , wherein:

each dispenser includes a controller, a dispensing mechanism, at least one activation sensor, one or more receivers configured to receive the signals transmitted by the badges, and a power management system including at least one PIR sensor; and

further comprising:

detecting infrared radiation of one or more individuals within a prescribed detection range, area, or zone of the dispenser with the at least one PIR sensor;

placing the at least one activation sensor in a powered-on state;

if the at least one activation sensor detects an individual moving within a selected activation zone of at least one dispenser of a dispensing system:

placing the controller of the dispenser in a powered-on state,

transmitting an activation signal to the controller; and

initiating a dispensing operation to dispense an amount of fluid or sheet material.

13 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising mapping movement of the piece of equipment within the facility based on a location of each dispenser at which the piece of equipment was detected; and determining a location of the piece of equipment based on a last dispenser location at which the piece of equipment was detected.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising discontinuing transmission of the tracking signals when movement of the piece of equipment is not detected by the tracking system linked thereto.

15 . A facility monitoring system comprising:

a plurality of dispensers positioned throughout the facility, each of the dispensers comprising:

a dispensing mechanism operable for dispensing a fluid or sheet material; a control system including a controller in communication with the dispensing mechanism, at least one activation sensor, and at least one transmitter;

a plurality of tracking systems each linked to an associated piece or equipment and each configured to transmit one or more tracking signals;

a series of badges configured to be carried by individuals moving about the facility, each of the badges including one or more transmitters configured transmit a series of signals including information identifying each badge;

wherein as the pieces of equipment and the individuals carrying the badges move about the facility, the tracking signals and the signals from the badges are received by one or more of the dispensers.

16 . The facility monitoring system of claim 15 , wherein at least some of the dispensers further comprise a power management system including the at least one PIR sensor configured detect infrared radiation or at least one radar sensor configured to detect movement; wherein the at least one PIR sensor or at least one radar sensor are configured to connect one or more of the at least one activation sensor, the controller, the transmitter, the dispensing mechanism, or combinations thereof, to power when the at least one PIR sensor captures infrared radiation of one or more individuals within a prescribed detection range, area, or zone, or the at least one radar sensor detects movement of the one or more individuals within a prescribed detection range, area, or zone; and wherein upon connection to power, the at least one transmitter is configured to at least periodically transmit the dispenser status information.

17 . The facility monitoring system of claim 15 , wherein each of the dispensers further comprises at least one receiver configured to receive the tracking signals transmitted by the tracking systems, and at least one receiver configured to receive the signals transmitted by the badges.

18 . The facility monitoring system of claim 15 , wherein the controller of each dispenser includes programming configured to transmit one or more information packets including information identifying a location of the dispenser, and including one or more tracking signals detected by the dispenser, information identifying one or more badges detected by the dispenser, dispenser status information, or combinations thereof.

19 . The facility monitoring system of claim 15 , wherein each tracking system comprises a vibration detector configured to detect movement of the piece of equipment and a transmitter configured to transmit the one or more tracking signals in response to detection of the movement of the piece of equipment is detected.

20 . The facility monitoring system of claim 15 , wherein the control system of each dispenser is configured to monitor and receive a series of signals from at least one badge within a threshold range, zone, area or proximity to the dispenser and determine whether a dispensing operation was initiated while the series of signals were detected, and if a dispensing operation is initiated, monitor and receive signals from the at least one badge at multiple times during a dispensing operation to determine usage of the dispenser by an individual carrying the at least one badge.