Healthcare asset tracker apparatus and methods

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, the network interface to form a smart network with at least one of a receiver or a second device, the smart network to facilitate relay of messages to at least one of a receiver or a second device to be routed to a server;
• 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;
• and
• transmitting, via at least one of the first communication medium or the second communication medium, the information message, wherein transmitting includes, when a battery level of the device is below a battery threshold, deactivating the first communication medium in the network interface and relaying the information message via the smart network to at least one of the receiver or the second device to be routed to the server.

At least one tangible computer-readable storage medium including instructions which, when executed by at least one processor in a battery-powered fixed transmitter/receiver location device, cause the at least one processor to at least:

• process 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, the network interface to form a smart network with at least one of a receiver or a second device, the smart network to facilitate relay of messages to at least one of a receiver or a second device to be routed to a server;
• generate 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;
• and
• transmit, via at least one of the first communication medium or the second communication medium, the information message, wherein transmitting includes, when a battery level of the device is below a battery threshold, deactivating the first communication medium in the network interface and relaying the information message via the smart network to at least one of the receiver or the second device to be routed to the server.