Medical cabinet communication system and methods
Inventors
Wicks, Nathan John • LEITERMANN, RICHARD EUGENE • Saghbini, Jean-Claude Jacques • Rohrberg, Lars
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-10909498-B2
Publication Date
2021-02-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
Described is an RFID-enabled medical item storage, organization, and/or tracking device, such as a cabinet or shelf, that includes a limited-range wireless network communication capability, such as low-energy Bluetooth or Zigbee, to communicate with nearby cabinets, shelves or mobile devices, any of which may serve as a communication aggregator to coordinate the communication of multiple cabinets, shelves and other devices with an inventory management system or other back-end computer system or other device via back haul wireless or wired networks (e.g., the Internet).
Core Innovation
The disclosed invention relates to a storage cabinet configured to manage items by reading radio-frequency identification ("RFID") tags affixed to items located on a shelf. The storage cabinet includes a communication device that communicates with an inventory management system via a communication channel, and the communication device communicates an inventory signal to the inventory management system comprising information regarding the RFID tag affixed to the item.
In response to the inventory signal, the inventory management system communicates an action signal to the storage cabinet based on the inventory signal. The action signal is generated based on the information included in the inventory signal and is used to cause the storage cabinet to perform actions corresponding to the inventory-related information about the item.
The document also describes inventory status handling using communication channels that maintain inventory tracking and cabinet/shelf status during network outages, and communication aggregators/relays to re-establish communications. The cabinet and shelf status can be indicated using visual indicators and audible alerts for operational states, and nearby cabinets/shelves or a mobile device can act to exchange diagnostic/status messages and RFID-based inventory information with an inventory management system. The document also describes smart shelves that can operate independently.
In addition, the document describes a handheld RFID reader approach that uses beacon signal strength to present filtered selectable stocking locations for inventory counting and proximity-based guidance. The handheld reader can present a selectable list of medical supply locations based on a digital map of stocking locations, enabling inventory-related operations for items located on shelves.
Claims Coverage
The provided independent claims are clm-00001 and clm-00013, which together define an RFID-based cabinet/shelf inventory flow comprising RFID tag reading, communicating an inventory signal with RFID tag information to an inventory management system, and receiving an action signal from the inventory management system based on the inventory signal. Dependent refinements further add determination of inventory level, threshold-based conditional actions, and shelf output such as illuminating LEDs and audible signaling.
Rfid tag reading on shelf items
A shelf configured to read a radio-frequency identification ("RFID") tag affixed to an item located on the shelf; and a communication device configured to communicate with an inventory management system via a communication channel
Inventory signal to inventory management system
The communication device communicates an inventory signal to the inventory management system comprising information regarding the RFID tag affixed to the item
Action signal returned to storage cabinet
The inventory management system communicates an action signal to the storage cabinet based on the inventory signal
Inventory management method using RFID inventory signal and action signal
Reading a radio-frequency identification ("RFID") tag affixed to an item located on a shelf; and communicating with an inventory management system via a communication channel, wherein a communication device communicates an inventory signal to the inventory management system comprising information regarding the RFID tag affixed to the item, and wherein the inventory management system communicates an action signal to the storage cabinet based on the inventory signal
Across both independent claims, the core claim coverage centers on reading RFID tags on shelf items, sending an inventory signal containing RFID tag information to an inventory management system, and receiving an action signal back to the storage cabinet based on that inventory signal. The dependent claim set further narrows operation toward determining inventory level and using a threshold to drive cabinet/shelf outputs.
Stated Advantages
Maintains inventory tracking and cabinet/shelf status during network outages using a limited-range wireless secondary channel and communication aggregators/relays.
Supports re-establishment of communications to an inventory management system for exchanging diagnostic/status messages and transmitting RFID-based inventory information.
Provides visual indicators and audible alerts for operational states such as expired/recalled items and offline status.
Enables independent operation of smart shelves.
Supports inventory counting and proximity-based guidance by using beacon signal strength to present a filtered selectable list of medical supply locations.
Documented Applications
RFID-enabled medical item storage cabinet/shelf inventory management with inventory tracking and cabinet/shelf status monitoring, including offline/network-outage handling via backup/secondary wireless communication and relays.
Operational state indication for inventory-related events and offline status using visual indicators and audible alerts.
Independent operation of smart shelves for inventory-related management.
Handheld RFID reader use to guide inventory counting through a filtered selectable set of stocking locations based on beacon signal strength and a digital map of stocking locations.
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