Wireless Tracking System And Method For Analyzing An Interaction Between Objects

Abstract

The present invention provides a solution to determining an interaction between objects through wireless tracking The present invention utilizes communication devices attached to objects that transmit signals for reception by sensors stationed throughout a facility which forward the signals to an information engine for analysis.

1 . A system for determining a business relationship between individuals within a facility, the system comprising:
 a plurality of first tags, each of the plurality of first tags representing a first object;   a plurality of second tags, each of the plurality of second tags representing a first object;   a mesh network comprising a plurality of plug-in sensors located within the facility and utilized for infrastructure-based real-time location tracking of objects in the facility, each plug-in sensor of the plurality of plug-in sensors communicating with other plug-in sensors of the plurality of plug-in sensors utilizing a wireless communication format, the mesh network receiving the wireless signal from each of the plurality of first tags and the mesh network receiving the wireless signal from each of the plurality of second tags; and   an information engine in communication with the mesh network, the information engine determining a business relationship between a first object and a second object having an interaction based on a plurality of factors comprising at least a position location of the interaction and a duration of the interaction.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the first object is fixed or mobile and the second object is mobile. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the first object is a group of objects and the second object is a group of objects. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1  the first object is fixed and the second object is a group of objects. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the first object is mobile and the second object is a group of objects. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the first object is a group of mobile objects and the second object is a group of mobile objects. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the first object is a first person and the second object is a second person and the plurality of factors further comprises a position designation of the first person and a position designation of the second person. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the first object is a first person and the second object is a second person and the plurality of factors further comprises a number of previous interactions between the first person and the second person within a predetermined time period. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein each of the first plurality of tags is mounted on a corresponding identification card or is an identification card. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1  wherein the plurality of factors further comprises a previous location of the first object, a previous location of the second object and the number of other objects located near the interaction. 
     
     
         11 . A method for determining a business relationship between individuals within a facility, the method comprising:
 transmitting a signal from a first tag associated with a first person;   transmitting a signal from a second tag associated with a second person;   receiving the wireless signal from the first tag and the wireless signal from the second tag at a mesh network established within the facility, the mesh network comprising a plurality of sensors located within the facility and utilized for infrastructure-based real-time location tracking of objects and individuals in the facility, each sensor of the plurality of sensors communicating with other sensors of the plurality of plug-in sensors utilizing a wireless communication format;   determining that an interaction is occurring between the first person and the second person based on the signal from the first tag and the signal from the second tag;   determining a business relationship between the first person and the second person based on at least one of a plurality of factors comprising a position location of the interaction, a duration of the interaction, a previous location of the first person prior to the interaction, a previous location of the second person prior to the interaction and the number of other persons at the interaction.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein the plurality of factors further comprises a position designation of the first person, a number of previous interactions between the first person and the second person within a predetermined time period, and a position designation of the second person. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11  further comprising receiving the signal from the first tag and the signal from the second tag at a mesh network established within the facility. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11  further comprising receiving the signal from the first tag at the second tag. 
     
     
         15 . A system for determining a business relationship between individuals within a facility, the system comprising:
 a plurality of peer-to-peer communication devices, each of the plurality of peer-to-peer communication devices associated with an individual person, each of the plurality of peer-to-peer communication devices transmitting a wireless signal;   a plurality of tags, each of the plurality of tags representing a first object;   a mesh network comprising a plurality of plug-in sensors located within the facility and utilized for infrastructure-based real-time location tracking of objects and persons in the facility, each plug-in sensor of the plurality of plug-in sensors communicating with other plug-in sensors of the plurality of plug-in sensors utilizing a wireless communication format, the mesh network receiving the wireless signal from each of the plurality of tags and the mesh network receiving the wireless signal from each of the plurality of peer-to-peer communication devices; and   an information engine in communication with the mesh network, the information engine analyzing an interaction between a first object and a second object based on at least one of a plurality of factors comprising a position location of the interaction, a duration of the interaction, a previous location of the first person prior to the interaction, and information for a mobile object within a predetermined distance of the location of the interaction.   
     
     
         16 . The system according to  claim 15  wherein the information engine analyzes the interaction to determine a billing charge for services of the first person. 
     
     
         17 . The system according to  claim 15  wherein the facility is a hospital and the information engine analyzes the interaction to determine medical services provided to a patient.