System and Method for Patient Management Using Multi-Dimensional Analysis and Computer Vision

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments include a system and method for patient management using multi-dimensional analysis and computer vision. The system includes a base unit having a microprocessor connected to a camera and a beacon detector. The beacon detector scans for advertising beacons with a packet and publishes a packet to the microprocessor. The camera captures an image in a pixel array and publishes image data to the microprocessor. The microprocessor uses at least a Beacon ID from the packet to determine if an object is in a room, and Camera Object Coordinates from the image data to determine the coordinates of the object in the room.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A positioning system, comprising:
 a base unit having a microprocessor connected to a camera and a beacon detector, which scans for advertising beacons and publishes a packet to the microprocessor;   wherein the camera captures an image in a pixel array and publishes image data to the microprocessor;   wherein the microprocessor uses at least a Beacon ID from the packet in a threshold algorithm to determine if an object is in a room, and camera object coordinates from the image data in a camera location algorithm to determine the coordinates of the object in the room.   
     
     
         2 . The positioning system of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more sensors connected to the microprocessor. 
     
     
         3 . The positioning system of  claim 2 , wherein the sensors detect at least one of: sound level, ambient light, temperature, actuation of a pull cord, and actuation of a call bell. 
     
     
         4 . The positioning system of  claim 1 , further comprising a display connected to the microprocessor. 
     
     
         5 . The positioning system of  claim 1 , further comprising a directional antenna connected to the base unit and aimed at a patient bed area. 
     
     
         6 . The positioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the base unit is stadium-shaped. 
     
     
         7 . A method for detecting body position in a confined space, comprising the steps of:
 providing a base unit having a microprocessor connected to a beacon detector and a camera;   receiving, at the beacon detector, an advertisement from a beacon with a packet comprising at least a Beacon ID;   determining, via the microprocessor, if an object is in the confined space with a threshold algorithm with at least the input of the Beacon ID;   capturing, via the camera, a pixel array of the confined space, which is processed into imaging data   receiving, at the microprocessor, the imaging data; and   determining, via the microprocessor, coordinates of the object in the confined space using Camera Object Coordinates from the imaging data in a camera location algorithm.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of classifying, via the microprocessor, an activity based on the Beacon ID from the packet of the beacon and the Camera Object Coordinates determined from the image data. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of publishing, via the microprocessor, a command to a display connected thereto to indicate. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of determining, via the microprocessor, a Camera Object Variance of the object in the confined space from the imaging data. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein a high Camera Object Variance indicates the object is moving and a low Camera Object Variance indicates the object is stationary. 
     
     
         12 . A computer program product detecting body position in two confined spaces, the computer program comprising a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, wherein the computer readable storage medium is not a transitory signal per se, the program instructions are readable by a computer to cause the computer to perform a method comprising the steps of:
 providing a first base unit and a second base unit, each having a microprocessor connected to a beacon detector and a camera;   wherein the first base unit is in a first confined space and the second base unit is in a second confined space;   at the first base unit:
 receiving, at the beacon detector, an advertisement from a beacon with a packet having a Beacon ID; 
 determining, via the microprocessor, if an object is in the first confined space with a threshold algorithm with at least the input of the Beacon ID; 
 capturing, via the camera, a pixel array of the first confined space, which is processed into imaging data; 
 receiving, at the microprocessor, the imaging data; and 
 determining, via the microprocessor, coordinates of the object in the first confined space using Camera Object Coordinates from the imaging data in a camera location algorithm; 
   at the second base unit:
 receiving, at the beacon detector, an advertisement from a beacon with a packet having a Beacon ID; 
 determining, via the microprocessor, if an object is in the second confined space with a threshold algorithm with at least the input of the Beacon ID; 
 capturing, via the camera, a pixel array of the second confined space, which is processed into imaging data; 
 receiving, at the microprocessor, the imaging data; and 
 determining, via the microprocessor, coordinates of the object in the second confined space using Camera Object Coordinates from the imaging data in a camera location algorithm. 
   
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of determining a current state for each Beacon ID of the beacon across the first base unit and the second base unit. 
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 12 , further comprising one or more sensors connected to the microprocessor of both the first base unit and the second base unit. 
     
     
         15 . The computer program product of  claim 14 , wherein the sensors detect at least one of: sound level, ambient light, temperature, actuation of a restroom pull cord, and actuation of a call bell. 
     
     
         16 . A method for automating the measurement and feedback of patient care, comprising:
 providing a system with a base unit having a microprocessor connected to: (i) a camera, which transmits coordinate information to the microprocessor, (ii) a sensor, and (iii) a beacon detector, which scans for advertising beacons and publishes a packet to the microprocessor;   correlating data from the sensor, presence information, and coordinate information to determine a patient care event; and   publishing the patient care event to a web application interface.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of assigning, via the web application, the patient care event to a healthcare provider. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the step of determining a rate of compliance based on the number of patient care events per unit of time. 
     
     
         19 . A method for inferring patient care activity from sensor data, comprising:
 providing a system with a base unit having a microprocessor connected to: (i) a camera, which transmits coordinate information to the microprocessor, (ii) a sensor, and (iii) a beacon detector, which scans for advertising beacons and publishes a packet to the microprocessor;   creating a scene model for the electronic record data via a scene classifier trainer;   receiving a feature comprised of presence information, data from the sensor, and coordinate information; and   classifying the feature through comparison of the feature to the scene model.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of adjusting the scene model based on the frequency of the features associated with the scene model.