# US 12,002,574 B2 · Systems, methods and devices for asset tracking

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- Number: US 12,002,574 B2
- Document ID: US12002574B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/409,931
- Filed: 2021-08-24
- Published: 2022-02-24
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2020-08-24
- Assignees: Technology Trace Inc.
- Applicants: Technology Trace Inc.
- Inventors: Daniel Michael Fischer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12002574B2

## CPC

- G16H 40/20: for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
- G01S 19/48: by combining or switching between position solutions derived from the satellite radio beacon positioning system and position solutions derived from a further system
- G06K 7/1413: {1D bar codes}
- G16H 40/40: for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades
- G16H 40/67: for remote operation
- H04W 4/029: Location-based management or tracking services
- A61B 90/96: using barcodes
- A61B 2017/00221: {with wireless transmission of data, e.g. by infrared radiation or radiowaves}
- A61B 2034/2048: {using an accelerometer or inertia sensor}
- G01R 31/382: Arrangements for monitoring battery or accumulator variables, e.g. SoC
- G01S 19/14: specially adapted for specific applications
- G06F 8/65: Updates (security arrangements therefor G06F21/57)
- G06F 9/54: Interprogram communication
- H02J 7/80: including monitoring or indicating arrangements
- H04W 84/042: {Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems}
- Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- G06K: GRAPHICAL DATA READING (image or video recognition or understanding G06V); PRESENTATION OF DATA; RECORD CARRIERS; HANDLING RECORD CARRIERS
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D)
- G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE

## Abstract

Provided are systems, methods and devices for adaptive and exception-based asset tracking by geolocation, while preserving battery life, ensuring patient privacy and maintaining interoperability by preventing interference with the operation of tracked medical devices. To prevent RF interference with medical device operation, provided are methods of detecting medical device operation through detection of magnetic fields or vibrations. For patient privacy, geolocation information received from an asset tracker device is anonymized and not stored. The asset tracker device described herein may be further configured to track elevation of an asset above the ground, movement of the asset, pressure and temperature changes to the environment and accordingly modify tracking behavior. Also provided is a pairing system for physical and electronic pairing of an asset tracker device to multiple medical devices. The asset tracked is mated with a cradle that is specific to the medical device type and attached to the medical device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An asset tracking system for tracking an asset, comprising:
an asset tracker device, configured to:
record one or more readings from one or more sensors;
determine an operational state of the asset based on the one or more sensor readings;
perform a geolocation position scan to obtain a geolocation position fix during a time window when a therapy is not provided by the asset;
communicate the one or more sensor readings and the geolocation position fix to a backend system over a cellular network during the time window;
receive a response from the backend system during the time window; and
optimize battery usage of the asset tracker device according to the response.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a cradle for adhering to the asset, the cradle comprising:
a dock for receiving the asset tracker device; and
a tamper proof fastener for removably attaching the asset tracker device to the cradle.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The system of claim 2, further comprising:
a pairing station comprising:
a USB interface for connecting to the asset tracker device and charging the asset tracker device; and
a scanner for reading a barcode on the asset;
wherein the pairing station is configured to:
receive a first serial number from the asset tracker device via the USB interface;
authenticate the asset tracker device based on the first serial number;
update the asset tracker device firmware upon authentication of the asset tracker device;
complete diagnostic testing of the asset tracker device upon authentication of the asset tracker device;
charge the asset tracker device via the USB interface upon authentication of the asset tracker device;
receive a second serial number from the asset via the scanner;
provide configuration information to the asset tracker device based on an asset type; and
associate the first serial number and the second serial number to a pairing key, wherein the pairing key logically pairs the asset tracker device to the asset.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors may include any one or more of a magnetometer, an inertial measurement unit, a barometric pressure sensor, and a temperature sensor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the geolocation position fix comprises any one or more of a latitude and a longitude, a WiFi access point MAC address, a cellular base station ID, a location area code and RSSI values.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the asset tracker is further configured to adjust the time window based on the one or more sensor readings.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the asset is a medical device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the backend system is configured to:
receive the geolocation position fix and the one or more sensor readings over the cellular network, from the asset tracker device;
store the one or more sensor readings in a database; and
communicate the response to the asset tracker device.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the backend system is configured to:
calculate an estimated battery life for the asset tracker device based on the one or more sensor readings; and
set one or more control parameters based on the estimated battery life, wherein the response includes the one or more control parameters.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the backend system is configured to:
determine the operational state of the asset tracker device based on the one or more sensor readings; and
set one or more control parameters based on the operational state, wherein the response includes the one or more control parameters.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The system of claim 10, wherein the backend system is further configured to:
optimize the one or more control parameters in a feedback control loop having regard to a plurality of reference parameters.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the backend system is configured to:
communicate the geolocation position fix to an API service; and
receive the response from the API service.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the API service is an anonymization service, wherein the response comprises anonymized location data based on the geolocation position fix.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the API service is a weather service, wherein the response comprises local weather conditions including a current temperature and a sea level barometric pressure.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The system of claim 12, wherein the API service calculates an estimated elevation above the ground for the asset tracker device, where the response comprises the estimated elevation above the ground.

### Claim 16

A method for tracking medical assets to maintain interoperability and avoid interference with therapy delivery and maintain patient privacy, the method comprising:
pairing an asset tracker device to a medical device;
recording one or more readings from one or more sensors in the asset tracker device;
sensing an operational state of the medical device by detecting a magnetic field or vibration from the medical device;
performing a geolocation position scan to obtain a geolocation position fix, during a time window when the medical device is not in operation; and
obtaining location data from the geolocation position fix, wherein the geolocation position fix is never stored or at rest.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16 further comprising:
assessing whether the geolocation position scan occurs within the time window; and
adjusting the geolocation position scan to occur within the time window.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16 further comprising:
setting one or more control parameters to optimize battery usage of the asset tracker device, based on the one or more sensor readings.

### Claim 19

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor of an asset tracker device, cause an asset tracker device to:
awake from a low-power state;
record one or more readings from one or more sensors;
determine an operational state of the asset tracker device based on the one or more readings;
assess whether a present time coincides with a time window for performing one or more geolocation positioning scans; and
return to the low-power state when the present time is not within the time window.

### Claim 20 (depends on 19)

The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, further comprising instructions to:
perform the one or more geolocation positioning scans to obtain a geolocation position fix, wherein the one or more geolocation positioning scans comprise:
a global navigation satellite scan;
a WiFi access point scan, wherein the WiFi access point scan is performed when the geolocation fix is not obtained by the global navigation satellite scan; and
a cellular base station triangulation scan, wherein the cellular base station triangulation scan is performed when the geolocation fix is not obtained by the WiFi access point scan;
record a successful scan type; and
perform a subsequent geolocation position scan commencing with the successful scan type.