Healthcare asset tracker apparatus and methods
Improved fixed receiver devices including both transmit and receive circuitry and operating on battery power are disclosed. An example transmitter/receiver location device includes a network interface to enable transmission and receipt of messages via a first communication medium and transmission and receipt of messages via a second communication medium. The example device includes a battery to provide power to the device, the battery to have a battery level and to be chargeable. The example device includes a memory to store instructions and data. The example device includes a processor to at least: process a beacon message received via the network interface; generate an information message for a location server based on location information from the beacon message and status information based on the battery level for the device; and adjust an operating state of the device based on the battery level.
1. A device to be affixed to a surface, the device comprising:
a network interface to enable transmission and receipt of messages via a first communication medium and transmission and receipt of messages via a second communication medium, the network interface to form a smart network with at least one of a receiver or a second device, the smart network to facilitate relay of messages to at least one of a receiver or a second device to be routed to a server; and
a processor to at least:
process a beacon message received via the network interface;
generate an information message for the server based on location information from the beacon message and status information; and
when a battery level of the device is below a battery threshold, deactivate the first communication medium in the network interface and relay the information message via the smart network to at least one of the receiver or the second device to be routed to the server.
2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the smart network includes a mesh network.
3. The device of claim 1 , further including a directional antenna to detect the beacon message in a coverage area to be formed by the antenna.
4. The device of claim 1 , further including a sensor to trigger the device into an operating state from an idle state.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the first communication medium includes Wi-Fi communication and wherein the second communication medium includes Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is to relay the information message to at least one of the receiver or the second device when the network interface is unable to communicate with the server.
7. The device of claim 1 , further including a first battery and a second battery, the second battery to be activated by the processor to power the device when the battery level of the first battery falls below a threshold.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the location information is to be determined using the beacon message and at least one of the receiver or the second device via the smart network.
9. The device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is to adjust an operating state of the device based on the battery level and a maintenance schedule provided by the server.
10. A method of real-time location tracking in a healthcare environment, the method comprising:
processing, using a controller in a battery-powered fixed transmitter/receiver location device, a beacon message received from a beacon via a network interface, the network interface to enable transmission and receipt of messages via a first communication medium and transmission and receipt of messages via a second communication medium, the network interface to form a smart network with at least one of a receiver or a second device, the smart network to facilitate relay of messages to at least one of a receiver or a second device to be routed to a server;
generating, using the controller, an information message for a location server based on location information from the beacon message and status information based on a battery level for the transmitter/receiver location device; and
transmitting, via at least one of the first communication medium or the second communication medium, the information message, wherein transmitting includes, when a battery level of the device is below a battery threshold, deactivating the first communication medium in the network interface and relaying the information message via the smart network to at least one of the receiver or the second device to be routed to the server.
11. The method of claim 10 , further including triggering the transmitter/receiver location device from an idle state to an operating state based on feedback from a sensor in the transmitter/receiver location device.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the smart network includes a mesh network.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first communication medium includes Wi-Fi communication and wherein the second communication medium includes Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the information message is to be relayed to at least one of the at least one of a receiver or a second device when the network interface is unable to communicate with the server.
15. The method of claim 10 , further including adjusting an operating state of the device based on the battery level and a maintenance schedule provided by the server.
16. The method of claim 10 , further including determining the location information using the beacon message and at least one of the receiver or the second device via the smart network.
17. At least one tangible computer-readable storage medium including instructions which, when executed by at least one processor in a battery-powered fixed transmitter/receiver location device, cause the at least one processor to at least:
process a beacon message received from a beacon via a network interface, the network interface to enable transmission and receipt of messages via a first communication medium and transmission and receipt of messages via a second communication medium, the network interface to form a smart network with at least one of a receiver or a second device, the smart network to facilitate relay of messages to at least one of a receiver or a second device to be routed to a server;
generate an information message for a location server based on location information from the beacon message and status information based on a battery level for the transmitter/receiver location device; and
transmit, via at least one of the first communication medium or the second communication medium, the information message, wherein transmitting includes, when a battery level of the device is below a battery threshold, deactivating the first communication medium in the network interface and relaying the information message via the smart network to at least one of the receiver or the second device to be routed to the server.
18. The at least one tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the information message is to be relayed to at least one of the at least one of a receiver or a second device when the network interface is unable to communicate with the server.
19. The at least one tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to adjust an operating state of the device based on the battery level and a maintenance schedule provided by the server.
20. The at least one tangible computer-readable storage medium of claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to determine the location information using the beacon message and at least one of the receiver or the second device via the smart network.