# US 2019/0377399 A1 · Healthcare asset tracker apparatus and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0377399 A1 - Document ID: US20190377399A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/001,234 - Filed: 2018-06-06 - Published: 2019-12-12 - Earliest claimed: 2018-06-06 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Matthew Cannell; Phillip Crawley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190377399A1 ## CPC - G06F 1/3212: Monitoring battery levels, e.g. power saving mode being initiated when battery voltage goes below a certain level - G06F 1/263: {Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC (G06F1/30 takes precedence)} - H04W 4/021: Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences - H04W 4/029: Location-based management or tracking services - H04W 4/20: Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel - H04W 4/33: for indoor environments, e.g. buildings - H04W 52/0261: {managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level} - H04W 4/80: Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication - Y02D 10/00: Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - 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 Improved fixed receiver devices including both transmit and receive circuitry and operating on battery power are disclosed. An example transmitter/receiver location device includes a network interface to enable transmission and receipt of messages via a first communication medium and transmission and receipt of messages via a second communication medium. The example device includes a battery to provide power to the device, the battery to have a battery level and to be chargeable. The example device includes a memory to store instructions and data. The example device includes a processor to at least: process a beacon message received via the network interface; generate an information message for a location server based on location information from the beacon message and status information based on the battery level for the device; and adjust an operating state of the device based on the battery level. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A transmitter/receiver location device to be affixed to a surface, the device comprising: a network interface to enable transmission and receipt of messages via a first communication medium and transmission and receipt of messages via a second communication medium; a battery to provide power to the device, the battery to have a battery level and to be chargeable; a memory to store instructions and data; and a processor to at least: process a beacon message received via the network interface; generate an information message for a location server based on location information from the beacon message and status information based on the battery level for the device; and adjust an operating state of the device based on the battery level. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further including a directional antenna to detect the beacon message in a coverage area to be formed by the antenna. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, further including a sensor to trigger the device into an operating state from an idle state. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the battery is a first battery and wherein the device further includes a second battery to be activated by the processor to power the device when the battery level of the first battery falls below a threshold. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the device is to form a smart network with at least one of a receiver or a second device, and wherein the information message is to be relayed to at least one of the at least one of a receiver or a second device to be routed to the server. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein, when the battery level is below a battery threshold, the processor is to deactivate the first communication medium in the network interface and to relay the information message to at least one of the at least one of a receiver or a second device to be routed to the server. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The device of claim 6, wherein the first communication medium includes Wi-Fi communication and wherein the second communication medium includes Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The device of claim 5, wherein the processor is to relay the information message to at least one of the at least one of a receiver or a second device when the network interface is unable to communicate with the server. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The device of claim 1, wherein the processor is to adjust the operating state of the device based on the battery level and a maintenance schedule provided by the server. ### Claim 10 A method of real-time location tracking in a healthcare environment, the method comprising: processing, using a controller in a battery-powered fixed transmitter/receiver location device, a beacon message received from a beacon via a network interface, the network interface to enable transmission and receipt of messages via a first communication medium and transmission and receipt of messages via a second communication medium; generating, using the controller, an information message for a location server based on location information from the beacon message and status information based on a battery level for the transmitter/receiver location device; transmitting, via at least one of the first communication medium or the second communication medium, the information message; and adjusting, using the controller, an operating state of the transmitter/receiver location device based on the battery level. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further including triggering the transmitter/receiver location device from an idle state to an operating state based on feedback from a sensor in the transmitter/receiver location device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further including forming a smart network with the transmitter/receiver location device and at least one of a receiver or a second device, wherein the information message is to be relayed to at least one of the at least one of a receiver or a second device to be routed to the server. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further including, when the battery level is below a battery threshold, deactivating the first communication medium in the network interface and relaying the information message to at least one of the at least one of a receiver or a second device to be routed to the server. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the first communication medium includes Wi-Fi communication and wherein the second communication medium includes Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the information message is to be relayed to at least one of the at least one of a receiver or a second device when the network interface is unable to communicate with the server. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, further including adjusting the operating state of the device based on the battery level and a maintenance schedule provided by the server. ### Claim 17 At least one tangible computer-readable storage medium including instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to at least: process an information message received from a battery-powered transmitter/receiver location device to extract battery information for the transmitter/receiver location device from the information message; predict battery life for the transmitter/receiver location device based on the battery information; incorporate a maintenance window in the battery life prediction; generate a maintenance schedule for the transmitter/receiver location device using the battery life prediction; and transmit battery life information to the transmitter/receiver location device. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the at least one processor to at least trigger maintenance of the transmitter/receiver location device based on the maintenance schedule. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the trigger includes a trigger for charging of a replacement battery for the transmitter/receiver location device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The at least one computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the battery life information transmitted to the transmitter/receiver location device triggers a change in state of the transmitter/receiver location device based on the battery life prediction and the maintenance schedule.