Dual mode wander management and elopement prevention system

A system for monitoring, tracking and managing movement of an individual assigned to an indoor facility, the system comprising:

• an indoor anchor comprising an ultra-wideband (UWB) transceiver;
• a mobile escort anchor comprising a UWB transceiver;
• and
• a wearable tracking device worn by, and associated with, a particular individual, the wearable tracking device comprising a micro-tracking module, the micro-tracking module comprising a UWB transceiver;
• wherein the indoor anchor is disposed within the indoor facility and configured to:
• (a) communicate with other UWB anchors and other UWB-enabled devices using UWB signals, and optionally one or more other wireless communication protocols;
• (b) receive UWB signals transmitted by the wearable tracking device;
• (c) determine a location or proximity status of the wearable tracking devoice based on received signal strength, time-of-flight measurements, or both;
• and
• (d) transmit at least one of the location or proximity status data to a backend location server or a connected subsystem;
• wherein the escort anchor is adapted for indoor and outdoor use and is configured to:
• (a) communicate with the one or more indoor anchors and other UWB-enabled devices using UWB signals, and optionally one or more other wireless communication protocols;
• (b) receive UWB signals transmitted by the wearable tracking device;
• (c) determine a location or proximity status of the wearable tracking device based on received signal strength, time-of-flight measurements, or both;
• and
• (d) transmit at least one of the location or proximity status data to the backend location server or a connected subsystem;
• wherein the wearable tracking device is configured to exchange UWB signals with the indoor anchor within UWB communication range thereof;
• wherein the wearable tracking device is configured to exchange UWB signals with the escort anchor within UWB communication range thereof;
• wherein signals transmitted by the micro-tracking module are usable by the indoor anchor, the escort anchor, or both, to determine proximity of the wearable tracking device to the respective anchors;
• wherein signals transmitted by the indoor anchor and the escort anchor are usable by the wearable tracking device to determine whether the wearable device is within UWB communication range of either or both of the indoor anchor and the escort anchor;
• and
• wherein at least one indoor anchor is disposed near an exit door and operatively associated with a door locking subsystem configured to control locking of the exit door, the at least one indoor anchor being configured to detect the wearable tracking device within its detection range and to operatively trigger locking of the exit door upon such detection, unless the wearable tracking device is accompanied by the escort anchor.

A method for monitoring, tracking, and managing movement of an individual assigned to an indoor facility, the individual wearing a wearable tracking device, the method comprising:

• receiving, at an indoor anchor disposed within the indoor facility, UWB signals transmitted by a micro-tracking module included in the wearable tracking device, the indoor anchor comprising a UWB transceiver and being configured to communicate using UWB signals;
• determining, by the indoor anchor, a location or proximity status of the wearable tracking device using received signal strength, time-of-flight measurements, or both;
• transmitting, from the indoor anchor to a backend location server, at least one of the location or proximity status of the wearable tracking device;
• detecting, by the indoor anchor positioned near an exit door of the indoor facility, presence of the wearable tracking device within its UWB detection range;
• determining whether the wearable tracking device is accompanied by an escort anchor based on UWB signal exchange, the escort anchor comprising a UWB transceiver;
• triggering, based on said determining, activation of a door locking subsystem to lock the exit door, unless the wearable tracking device is accompanied by the escort anchor.