Location system using retransmission of identifying information

A method of locating an item in a facility, the method comprising:

• positioning a number of room transmitters in multiple areas within a facility;
• configuring each room transmitter to generate a unique, modulated signature;
• wherein configuring each room transmitter includes configuring a first room transmitter to send a time varying signal that varies between a first frequency and a second frequency and configuring a second room transmitter to send a time varying signal that varies between a third frequency and a fourth frequency during the same time that the first transmitter sends its time varying signal;
• fitting one or more items with a location tag, at least one of the items operable to acquire physiologic data;
• distributing the tagged items throughout the facility;
• configuring each location tag to have an identity, to regularly transmit its identity and the physiologic data, and to regularly retransmit the signature or a representation of the signature of any room transmitter within a reception range of the respective tag;
• positioning at least one locating receiver within the facility;
• determining the likely location and identity of at least one of the location tags based on transmissions from that location tag received by the locating receiver;
• and
• wherein determining the likely location includes determining the location of one of the location tags based on the offset of the time varying signal from the first and second room transmitters.

A method of locating an item in a facility, the method comprising:

• positioning a number of room transmitters within a facility;
• synchronizing the room transmitters within an area of the facility so that each room transmitter generates a unique, time dependent signal wherein a first room transmitter is configured to send its unique, time dependent signal which varies between a first frequency and a second frequency and wherein a second room transmitter is configured to send its unique, time dependent signal which varies between a third frequency and a fourth frequency during the same time that the first transmitter sends its time dependent signal;
• fitting one or more items with a location tag;
• distributing the tagged items throughout the facility;
• configuring each location tag to have an identity, to transmit its identity, and to retransmit the unique, time dependent signal of any room transmitter within a reception range of the respective location tag;
• positioning at least one location receiver within the facility, the location receiver operable to receive the unique, time dependent signals from the location tag;
• and
• determining the location and identity of at least one of the location tags based on the offset of the time dependent signals from the first and second room transmitters.

A location system for determining the location of a telemetry device in a facility, the location system comprising:

• a plurality of room transmitters capable of being located throughout the facility, each room transmitter having a unique, modulated signature;
• at least one location receiver;
• at least one telemetry device operable to acquire physiologic data, the telemetry device including
• an identification module operable to store an identity of the telemetry device,
• a receiver operable to receive the signatures of the room transmitters,
• a switch operable to link the physiologic data to the receiver and the identification module,
• a processor operable to combine the physiologic data, the identity, and the signature into a signal, and
• a transmitter to regularly send the signal directly to the location receiver wherein the location receiver is operable to determine the identity of the telemetry device and the likely location of the telemetry device within the facility.

A location system for determining the location of a portable device in a facility, the location system comprising:

• a plurality of room transmitters capable of being located throughout the facility, each room transmitter having a power supply, a control circuit, a transmitter driver, and a transmitter, the control circuit and transmitter driver operable to generate a unique, modulated signature for each room transmitter;
• a portable device operable to acquire physiologic data, the portable device including
• an identification module operable to store an identity of the portable device,
• a receiver operable to receive the signatures of the room transmitters,
• a switch operable to link the physiologic data to the receiver and the identification module,
• a power supply,
• a transmitter operable to send a signal having information related to the signature of a room transmitter within the reception range of the portable device, the physiologic data, and information related to the identity of the portable device, and
• a control circuit coupled to the transmitter;
• and
• at least one locating receiver operable to receive the signal of the portable device, the at least one locating receiver having an identity decoder, and a signature analyzer, the at least one locating receiver operable to determine the identity of the portable device and the likely location of the portable device within the facility.

A method of locating an item in a facility, the method comprising:

• positioning a number of room transmitters in multiple areas within a facility;
• positioning at least one location receiver within the facility;
• configuring each room transmitter to generate a unique, modulated signature;
• fitting one or more items with a location tag, at least one of the items operable to acquire physiologic data from a patient associated with the item, the location tag having an identity;
• linking the physiologic data, the signature, and the identity to a switch;
• combining the physiologic data, the signature, and the identity to generate a signal;
• configuring each location tag to transmit the signal to the location receiver;
• and
• determining the likely location and identity of the location tag based on the signal from the location tag.

A location system for determining the location of a patient in a facility, the location system comprising:

• a plurality of room transmitters capable of being located throughout the facility, each room transmitter having a unique, modulated signature;
• at least one tag operable to be associated with an item, the item operable to acquire patient data, the at least one tag including
• an identification module operable to store an identity of the tag,
• a receiver operable to receive the signatures of the room transmitters,
• a switch operable to link the patient data to the receiver and the identification module, and
• a transmitter to send a signal having information related to the signature of a room transmitter within the reception range of the tag, the patient data, and information related to the identity of the tag;
• and
• at least one location receiver operable to receive the signal of the at least one tag and to determine the identity of the tag and the likely location of the patient within the facility.