# US 10,311,352 B2 · Healthcare beacon device configuration systems and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,311,352 B2 - Document ID: US10311352B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/945,424 - Filed: 2018-04-04 - Published: 2018-10-11 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-06 - Assignees: General Electric Company; ZIH Corp. - Applicants: General Electric Company; ZIH Corp. - Inventors: Matthew James Cannell; David Nguyen; Edward Geiger; Mahender Vangati; Richard Woodburn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10311352B2 ## CPC - G06K 19/0723: {the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs} - G16H 40/20: for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms - G16H 40/40: for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades - G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA ## Abstract Beacon devices and associated components, methods, etc., are disclosed. An example beacon device includes a memory, a communication interface, and a processor to execute instructions with respect to configuration information to control the communication interface and operation of the processor based on a mode in which the beacon device is set to operate, the processor to dynamically transition among a plurality of modes based on an operating condition of the beacon device and a communication received from at least one of the receiver or the controller. In certain examples, the plurality of modes includes a configuration mode and a broadcast mode. When in the configuration mode, the operation of the processor is to process the communication received from the controller to adjust the configuration information. When in the broadcast mode, the operation of the processor is to generate a beacon signal to transmit to at least one of the receiver or the controller via the communication interface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A low-power, short-range radio frequency wireless beacon device comprising: a memory to store instructions and configuration information; a communication interface to communicate with at least one of a receiver or a controller; and a processor to execute the instructions with respect to the configuration information to at least: control the communication interface and operation of the processor based on a mode in which the beacon device is set to operate; and transition dynamically among a plurality of modes after the beacon device has determined an operating condition of the beacon device, wherein the operating condition is based on a power status of the beacon device and communication activity of the beacon device with respect to at least one of the receiver or the controller, wherein the plurality of modes includes a configuration mode and a broadcast mode, wherein, when in the configuration mode, the operation of the processor is to process the communication received from the controller to adjust the configuration information, and, when in the broadcast mode, the operation of the processor is to generate a beacon signal to transmit to at least one of the receiver or the controller via the communication interface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The beacon device of claim 1, wherein the communication interface includes at least one of an antenna or a peripheral interface. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The beacon device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of modes further includes at least one of a sleep mode or a shipping mode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The beacon device of claim 3, wherein, when in the at least one of a sleep mode or a shipping mode, the operation of the processor includes reducing functionality to conserve power. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The beacon device of claim 1, wherein the operating condition includes at least one of idle, low power, transmitting, or receiving. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The beacon device of claim 1, wherein the processor is to transition from a first mode to a second mode in response to a first stimulus and is to transition from the first mode or the second mode to a third mode in response to a second stimulus. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The beacon device of claim 6, wherein the first stimulus includes a selection for a first period of time, and wherein the second stimulus includes a selection for a second period of time, the first period of time different from the second period of time. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The beacon device of claim 7, further including an indicator to indicate the mode of the beacon device, the indicator to provide a first indication for the second mode and to provide a second indication for the third mode. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The beacon device of claim 1, wherein the configuration information is to configure at least one of an identifier, a protocol, a power level, a channel usage identification, a transmit frequency, a transmit interval, or a payload for the beacon device. ### Claim 10 At least one non-transitory medium including instructions which, when executed, cause at least one processor in a beacon device to at least execute the instructions with respect to configuration information to at least control a communication interface and operation of the at least one processor based on a mode in which the beacon device is set to operate and transition dynamically among a plurality of modes after the beacon device has determined an operating condition of the beacon device, wherein the operating condition is based on a power status of the beacon device and communication activity of the beacon device with respect to at least one of the receiver or the controller, wherein the plurality of modes includes a configuration mode and a broadcast mode, wherein, when in the configuration mode, the operation of the at least one processor is to process the communication received from the controller to adjust the configuration information, and, when in the broadcast mode, the operation of the at least one processor is to generate a beacon signal to transmit to at least one of the receiver or the controller via the communication interface. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The at least one non-transitory medium of claim 10, wherein the communication interface includes at least one of an antenna or a peripheral interface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The at least one non-transitory medium of claim 10, wherein the plurality of modes further includes at least one of a sleep mode or a shipping mode. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The at least one non-transitory medium of claim 12, wherein, when in the at least one of a sleep mode or a shipping mode, the operation of the processor includes reducing functionality to conserve power. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The at least one non-transitory medium of claim 10, wherein the operating condition includes at least one of idle, low power, transmitting, or receiving. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The at least one non-transitory medium of claim 10, wherein the at least one processor is to transition from a first mode to a second mode in response to a first stimulus and is to transition from the first mode or the second mode to a third mode in response to a second stimulus. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The at least one non-transitory medium of claim 15, wherein the first stimulus includes a selection for a first period of time, and wherein the second stimulus includes a selection for a second period of time, the first period of time different from the second period of time. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The at least one non-transitory medium of claim 16, further including an indicator to indicate the mode of the beacon device, the indicator to provide a first indication for the second mode and to provide a second indication for the third mode. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The at least one non-transitory medium of claim 10, wherein the configuration information is to configure at least one of an identifier, a protocol, a power level, a channel usage identification, a transmit frequency, a transmit interval, or a payload for the beacon device. ### Claim 19 A method of controlling a beacon device including at least one processor and a communication interface, the method comprising: executing, using the at least one processor, instructions with respect to configuration information to at least control the communication interface and operation of the at least one processor based on a mode in which the beacon device is set to operate, and transition dynamically among a plurality of modes after the beacon device has determined an operating condition of the beacon device, wherein the operating condition is based on a power status of the beacon device and communication activity of the beacon device with respect to at least one of the receiver or the controller, wherein the plurality of modes includes a configuration mode and a broadcast mode; when in the configuration mode, processing, using the at least one processor, communication received from the controller to adjust the configuration information; and when in the broadcast mode, generating, using the at least one processor, a beacon signal to transmit to at least one of the receiver or the controller via the communication interface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the processor is to transition from a first mode to a second mode in response to a first stimulus and is to transition from the first mode or the second mode to a third mode in response to a second stimulus.