EP2026291A1 - Radio ID-controlled presence recognition - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has two radio transmitters (S1, S2) for radiating two identification signals (ID1, ID2) on two sides (L1, L2) of a passage (G) between two rooms (1, 2), respectively. A receiver unit (R) is carried along by a movable object (O) e.g. caregiver, for receiving the two identification signals that are radiated by the radio transmitters. The receiver unit has an evaluation unit for detecting places, at which the movable object are held, based on the sequence of the received identification signals. An independent claim is also included for a method for detecting the presence of a free object in a multiple-room building.

Description

The invention relates to a system and method for detecting the presence of freely movable objects in a multi-room building.

Systems which are to transmit information to moving objects in multi-room systems or also call systems need to control the system and to address the signal or message transmission or call forwarding to all rooms of the system in which the freely movable objects or caregiver are located, the information in which rooms the caregivers or the freely movable objects reside respectively. Here, the information about the place in which the person, for example, a caregiver in a hospital or a nursing home or the freely moving objects, such as robots or moving machines are at any time, be centrally present. For example, to relieve the caregiver of the need to be aware of a presence when entering and leaving a room, it is desirable to have information about the presence of a person in a particular room automatically. In addition to the actual recognition that a person is in a room, the information should also indicate which person or which freely movable object is located in a room. It should therefore be possible in addition to a unique identification.

For this purpose, it has hitherto been customary, for example in hospitals or nursing homes, in which caregivers act, to determine the presence in a room environment using a green-marked control key, a so-called "presence key". This is placed appropriately positioned and pressed upon entering the room environment by the caregiver to the central system, for example to inform a call system about the presence of caregivers. The paging system switches the respective call forwarding or the transmission of signals or messages to the current rooms in response to the pressing of the "presence button". However, the following disadvantages are given: The call system or the center is not known, which person are in the room system. There is no automatic identification on an individualized level. For "personalization", ie the identification of the individual, additional actions of the staff are required. For example, codes must be entered which enable personalization or identification. Another possibility is the use of so-called Ident systems. In either case, the presence circuit requires an action, such as pressing the nurse's presence button. If this omission or wrong handling, all based thereon actions or reactions of the paging system or the central office.

As other solutions, the following methods are known: There is an automatic switching of presence. In this case, a recognition of the location at which a person or a freely movable object resides by querying a person entrained by the person or object WLAN device is used with a location recognition system. However, these systems have the disadvantages that the required, short-cyclic tracking significantly burdened the power supply of the receiving and transmitting devices carried by the staff and leads to short operating times and considerable communication load of the WLAN connections. Also, for sufficiently accurate location detection must be carried out a complex measurement of local conditions, or more than normally required base stations must be switched. Nevertheless, the result determined in this case is significantly dependent on fluctuations in the reception field strengths and the different accuracy of the receiving devices and thus not stable. A change in the environment with influence on the high-frequency propagation conditions requires a new measure of location detection.

Furthermore, the establishment of IDENT locks on the doors or passages between the rooms is known. These locks detect the passage of a person with IDENT carrier and switch on the presence. However, these IDENT locks have the disadvantage that they can not know directions of movement in a simple design and therefore need to be duplicated. In the common version with medium frequency technology, they are quite expensive because a coil must be placed around the door. However, the cheaper, high-frequency systems have short ranges and thus require a targeted passage of the person at the locks.

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a system and a method which enables personalized presence detection in a simple manner.

The object is achieved by the features of the independent claims 1 and 7.

The invention is based on the finding that when two different identification signals are received in a sequence, a direction of movement of a person or a freely movable object can be recognized, if the identification signals are different. Due to the detected direction of movement of a person or a freely movable object, a stay of a person or an object can be determined by the succession of a receiving unit, which is carried by the person or the free-moving object, received identification signals are evaluated accordingly. The receiving unit can thus determine its position on the basis of the detected direction of movement by comparing the last received identification signal with a stored location information. This data can then be sent to a receiving unit transmit central call unit, and if the receiving unit has now additionally stored their own identity, a precise indication of the whereabouts of the person or a mobile machine that carries the receiving unit to a central office.

In order to ensure a corresponding sequence of the two identification signals, according to the invention a radio transmitter is mounted on the outside of a passage, for example a door between a corridor and a room or a door between two rooms. The identification signal is radiated by the radio transmitter only in the space in front of the door or the passage. Furthermore, another radio transmitter is mounted on the inside of the door or the passage, which sends its own identification signal in the interior. If a person with a corresponding receiving unit or a machine with a corresponding receiving unit now moves from one side of the passage to the other side of the passage, first the first identification signal and then the second identification signal are received by the receiving unit. On the basis of the two unique identification signals, the direction of the movement and, after comparison with a stored location information, also the exact location of the person can then be determined.

In this case, the radio illumination of the near field transmitter is adjusted by appropriate leveling and antenna alignment in conjunction with suitable radio wave bundling by RF reflector elements so that set to the correct sensitivity presence receiver due to the reception level conditions on the way to the room safely from a transmitter the other transmitter switches and on the way back a corresponding switching takes place. This is supported by a frequency band is used for this application, which propagates in space, but is already significantly attenuated by simple wall versions and a shielding Transmission power through simple shielding measures such as film and antenna attachment is possible.

The receiving unit, which is carried by the person or the mobile machine, then always receives in a particular order when passing through the various areas due to the transmitter level from the outside and inside of the passages mounted transmitters sent identities or identification signals. With a corresponding evaluation circuit in the receiving unit can be clearly recognized due to this order, where the person or the machine resides.

In this case, there is a presence in a certain room or room when the receiving unit receives a switch from a first identity to a second identity. The switching plus the corresponding identity of the respective room in which the person or the freely movable object is located, results in a unique state or presence detection and location detection, in which room or room the object is located.

In this case, the receiving device itself can localize the status change and the location based on less, entrained ID deposits or information. This information can also be reported to a control center via a WLAN communication interface. In a multi-room system, it is advantageous if each room has its own ID. If several rooms are connected to a uniform corridor, the corridor ID can be made uniform or even different. The aisle ID has no influence on the recognition of the respective room. However, if passages between different rooms are realized, each ID should be individually designed.

If the presence is clearly recognized, messages to the corresponding person or the freely movable object can be transmitted from a central office. In a central call system For example, calls can be routed to the PBX in the appropriate room. If, for example, special data are required in a room, the person in need of these data may also be displayed on a screen present in the room.

The advantages of this solution are that the system design and the method used are very simple. A drift-free and stable presence detection of a person or object at a specific location in a room system is ensured. In addition, a simple individual recognition of the persons or objects present in the room is possible if the receiving unit has its own individual ID. Due to the changeover by level change, a single-channel system can be used. The system can be implemented with simple standard elements and, due to the robustness of the function, it can be equipped against local conditions without special expertise. The system can still be expanded without additional measures.

Compared to tracking systems, the solution according to the invention leads to a significant reduction in the communication load and the energy requirement, since only in a presence change signaling to the central paging system. Although only presence changes are transmitted, the current state is always re-synchronized, ie stable, no link errors are possible. By the knowledge and evaluation of the three identities involved, the identity of a first transmitter, the identity of a second transmitter on the other side of the passage and the identity of a receiving unit, which is carried by a person and or an object, any desired evaluation is in advance the receiving unit possible and forwarding to the call center is also possible. The path direction is achieved by evaluating the ID sequence, the ID of the room in which the person resides is evaluated via an information list of the receiving unit and thus can be a Transmission of a location to a central office. The person himself or the freely movable object, which has gone or driven into the respective room, is transmitted by the identity of the receiving unit.

FIG 1

einen schematischen Aufbau des Systems zur Anwesenheitserkennung,

FIG 2

eine schematische Darstellung der Empfangseinheit,

FIG 3

einen schematischen Aufbau des Systems zur Anwesenheitserkennung mit mehreren Räumen.

The invention is described and explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. Show it:

FIG. 1

a schematic structure of the system for presence detection,

FIG. 2

a schematic representation of the receiving unit,

FIG. 3

a schematic structure of the system for presence detection with multiple rooms.

In FIG. 1 a passage G between a corridor 1 and a room 2 or between two rooms 1,2 is shown. On the one side L1 of the passage, a first radio transmitter S1 is mounted. This radio transmitter S1 transmits a first identity or a first identification signal ID1. On the other side of the passage G another radio transmitter S2 is installed. The radio transmitter S2 transmits a second identification signal ID2. Both transmitters thus send a different, but each unique identification signal. The transmitters are set so that they emit their signal in each case in the space area before the passage G. A freely movable object O or a person now places a path W from the first room 1 back into the second room 2 and traverses the passage G along the directional arrow. The person or the freely movable object O leads in this case a receiving unit R with. The receiving unit R is provided for receiving the identification signals ID1, ID2 emitted by the radio transmitters S1, S2. On its way from the first room to the second room, the receiving unit R first receives the identification signal of the first radio transmitter S1 and then the identification signal of the second radio transmitter S2. Here it is not relevant that the transmission ranges are in the immediate Overlap the passage G. The order in which the identification signals ID1, ID2 are received remains the same. The receiving unit can determine the direction in which it was moved by the person or the object O due to the order of the identification signals ID1, ID2. At the same time, it is possible to determine, based on stored information within the receiving unit, in which room the receiving unit R is located.

For this purpose, as in FIG. 2 illustrated the identification signal, which was last received, compared with stored in the receiving unit R in the memory S location information I by means of an evaluation unit A. Based on this evaluation, the receiving unit R can transmit an exact location information to a central office. This can be done for example by means of transmission means (S-WLAN) via a WLAN connection. The receiving unit itself also has a unique identity IDR, which is also transmitted to the central office. Thus, to the headquarters of the transition from L1 to L2, the exact location and the identity of the person or the object that has covered the way to be transmitted. At any time, the head office knows which of the persons or objects involved are in which segment (eg room) within the multi-room system. This allows a targeted transmission of signals or information to the corresponding persons or objects. In addition, a call forwarding in the appropriate room in which the people reside, possible.

The method and system has a high robustness. It is advantageous here that the actual transmitter ranges have no influence on the required location recognition, as long as the levels ensure that the receiver or the receiving unit R, which first receives a specific ID, switches over to this upon reception of a second ID. The absolute levels and also the overlaps therefore have no influence on the system. This robustness against environmental influences allows the use of simple, Single-channel transmitter and receiver systems, as they are used for switching purposes. Since used receivers can work in sleep modes, the battery life is no problem. The WLAN communication system, which reports the evaluation of the receiving unit R via a base station to the call center is only active when a message is present. This minimizes the need for communication and thus also the energy requirement.

FIG. 3 shows an extension of the system to several rooms or rooms. In the illustrated embodiment, several rooms are attached to a corridor. At the corridor side, the system has at each passage or door a radio transmitter SG which emits a first identification signal IDG into the space in front of the door or passage. Inside the rooms, further radio transmitters SZ1, SZ2, SZ3 are mounted on the other sides of the doors or passageways. These transmit a room-specific identification signal IDZ1, IDZ2, IDZ3. If a person or an object with a corresponding reception unit R, which in turn has its own identity IDR, now moves from the corridor into the respective room, the successive reception of the identification signals IDG or IDZ1, IDZ2, IDZ3 results in both Direction of movement as well as the exact location of the person or the freely movable object can be determined and can be transmitted to the control center. It is irrelevant here whether the radio system illuminates the entire room. Only relevant is that the respective area before and behind the passage is sufficiently supplied with radio signals, so that the order of the received radio signals clearly indicates in which direction and where the receiving unit R and the person carrying it is.

Claims (13)

System for detecting the presence of freely movable objects in a multi-room building, - With at least in each case a first radio transmitter (S1) for emitting a first identification signal (ID1) on a first side (L1) of a passage (G) between two rooms (1, 2) and in each case a second radio transmitter (S2) for the emission of a second Identification signal (ID2) on the other side (L2) of the passage (G) and - With at least one of a mobile object (O) entrained receiving unit (R) for receiving the radiated from the radio transmitters (S1, S2) identification signals (ID1, ID2), wherein the receiving unit (R) via an evaluation unit (A) for detecting the Location where the moving objects (O) resides, based on the order of the received identification signals (ID1, ID2) has. A system according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit (R) has its own identity (IDR) and has storage means (S) for storing the identity (IDR). System according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the receiving unit (R) has location information (I) stored in the storage means (S) for the received identification signals (ID1, ID2) of the radio transmitters (S1, S2). System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiving unit has a WLAN communication interface (S-WLAN) for transmitting the determined location information to a central office. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the radio transmitters (S1, S2) are designed as single-channel small transmitters, wherein the radio transmitters (S1, S2) are arranged such that the identification signals (ID1, ID2) cover the respective transmitter-side space of the passage (G) cover. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein persons, freely movable machines or active mobile machines are provided as movable objects. Method for detecting the presence of freely movable objects in a multi-room building, in which - A first identification signal (ID1) on at least one first radio transmitter (S1) on a first side (L1) of a passage (G) between two rooms (1, 2) is emitted and each of a second radio transmitter (S2), a second identification signal (ID2) is broadcast on the other side of the passage and - The identification signals (ID1, ID2) emitted by the radio transmitters (S1, S2) are received by at least one receiving unit (R) carried by a mobile object (O), the receiving unit (R) referring to the location of the mobile object (O) the order of the received identification signals (ID1, ID2) recognizes. Method according to Claim 7, in which the receiving unit (R) has and stores its own identity (IDR). Method according to Claim 7 or 8, in which the receiving unit (R) determines and stores location information (I) from the received identification signals (ID1, ID2). Method according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the receiving unit (R) transmits the determined location information via a WLAN communication interface to a central office. Method according to Claim 7 or 8, in which the receiving unit (R) transmits the received identification signals (ID1, ID2) with its own identity (IDR) via a WLAN communication interface to a center and in which the center calculates the location information and identity therefrom. Method according to one of Claims 7 to 11, in which the radio transmitters (S1, S2) emit their identification signals (ID1, ID2) into the respective transmitter-side room. Method according to one of claims 7 to 12, in which persons, freely movable passive machines or actively moving machines carry the receiving unit (R).

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