Abstract:
A multi-level equipment configuration monitoring system can include a plurality of RFID tags associated with respective user protective elements such as respirators, eye protectors, gloves boots, helmets and hearing protectors. A user communication unit can activate the tags and determine which elements are present. The determined elements can be compared to a pre-stored, approved list of elements to establish the state of a user&#39;s complement of protective equipment. Missing equipment can be immediately identified and brought to the user&#39;s attention. Information can be collected as to duration of use of the elements as well as duration of exposure of those elements to one or more predetermined hazardous conditions to schedule maintenance and replacement.

Description:
FIELD 
       [0001]    The invention pertains to systems and methods of monitoring and keeping track of a first responder&#39;s personal protective equipment. More particularly, the invention pertains to such systems and methods which use various wireless technologies to initially monitor that a first responder is equipped with predetermined personal, protective equipment and to subsequently check the status of that equipment. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    First responders, such as firefighters or hazardous materials handlers usually wear or carry a predetermined complement of personal protective equipment which can include gloves, eye and/or hearing protective devices, helmets, respiratory gear, boots and the like all without limitation. Not only must the complement of equipment be complete to be sure that maximum protection is provided, but at times the gear has predetermined lifetimes which must be respected for the safety of that individual. 
         [0003]    In addition to the above, it would be desirable to be able to monitor and log the environmental conditions to which the individual has been subjected to facilitate maintenance and timely replacement of such equipment. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0005]    While embodiments of this invention can take many different forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention, as well as the best mode of practicing same, and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiment illustrated. 
         [0006]    In one aspect of the invention, monitoring can be implemented to ensure that personnel that need to wear a defined complement of personal protective equipment (PPE) can be sure they actually wearing, or carrying that complement of equipment. In another aspect of the invention, usage time for specific elements, or, pieces of PPE can be measured and tracked, and maintenance or replacement can be planned in accordance therewith. In a further aspect of the invention, the environmental conditions to which the PPE have been exposed can be logged and tracked to assist with planned maintenance/or replacement 
         [0007]    In one system which embodies the invention, radio frequency identification (RFID) would be incorporated into all PPE components. These RFID tags would uniquely identify the part number and serial number of each piece of personal protective equipment. In another embodiment of the invention, a PPE user communication unit could be carried by each user. This unit could be, for example, wrist-worn. 
         [0008]    In one form, the unit could include an RFID reader and an RF link to enable it to communicate with a displaced PPE Control Device. This device could, for example, collect PPE configuration and usage data from each PPE user communication unit. If so equipped, it could also collect environmental data to correlate with the time of use data for each PPE component. All such information could be stored in a computer readable storage memory, such as a semiconductor storage unit or a magnetic or optical mass storage unit such as a disk drive. 
         [0009]    The system could be provided with a defined set of customer applications that would run on the PPE Control Device; examples might include an ability to list each PPE component, time used, time exposed to specific environmental conditions. User violations, for example, equipment removed that should not have been, could be logged and subsequently listed or printed out. Automatic indications can be provided of a need for required maintenance/replacement of PPE components, based on exceeding pre-defined limits of usage or environmental exposure. Such applications could be offered in the context of a pay-per-month-type service. 
         [0010]    In yet another embodiment, communications radios or cellular-type devices can be integrated with the user communication unit, or, device. Global positioning circuitry can be included to be able track user location. 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  illustrates a system  10  which embodies the present invention. System  10  includes at least one user communication unit  12  which could be worn or carried by a respective user such as a firefighter or a hazardous material control person. Those of skill will understand that system  10  would usually include a plurality  12 - 1  of such units, one of which would be associated with each such individual. Members of the plurality  12 - 1  are substantially identical and as a result, a discussion of unit  12  will also apply to other members of the plurality. 
         [0012]    Unit  12  can be implemented with control circuits which could include one or more programmable processors, such as  12   a  and associated control software  12   b . Software  12   b  can be stored for access and execution by processor  12   a  on a local computer readable storage medium such as a semiconductor memory device or a magnetic or optical mass storage device such as a disk drive. 
         [0013]    The unit  12  can also include a display device and associated display software indicated generally at  12   c . The display device can be carried by the unit  12  or on a separate unit, for example a first responder&#39;s visor as a heads up display. The unit  12  could be carried or worn, such as on a wrist, of the associated user or first responder. 
         [0014]    The unit  12  can also carry one or more receivers or transceivers, indicated generally at  12   d , such as one or more RFID signal receivers, RF transceivers of various types which could include cellular-type interfaces all without limitation. The RFID signal receivers can receive information from RFID sensors, or tags, which are associated with various elements  20  of protective gear of a type wearable or usable by the individual carrying the unit  12 . These could include without limitation, respiratory gear  20   a , eye protection devices  20   b , gloves  20   c , boots  20   d , helmet  20   e , and hearing protection devices  20   f . Those of skill will understand that the enumeration of members of the plurality  20  is exemplary only and not a limitation of the invention. Other elements can be added to the plurality  20  without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
         [0015]    A plurality of environmental sensors  24  can also incorporate RFID-type tags and communication with the unit  12 . Such sensors could include smoke, flame or gas sensors all without limitation. Such sensors could be of a type which could be worn or carried by the individual associated with the unit  12 . 
         [0016]    A configuration checkpoint  28  which can include an RFID tag can be used in conjunction with the unit  12  to initiate an automatic configuration check of the user PPE configuration. Unit  12 , upon sensing the RFID tag in the configuration checkpoint  28 , could initiate a check of the user PPE in the same manner as described subsequently in paragraph 0022 without requiring the user to manually press a “check” button. The configuration checkpoint could be placed at a location where it is expected that the user will have all the required PPE on their person, for example at a dressing room exit. 
         [0017]    System  10  can also include one or more PPE control devices indicated generally at  30 - 1 . Device  30  is representative of the members of the plurality  30 - 1  and as a result a discussion of device  30  will apply to other members of the plurality  30 - 1 . 
         [0018]    Device  30  can include at least one programmable processor  30   a  and associated executable control software  30   b . All such software can be stored on a semiconductor, magnetic or optical computer readable storage device without limitation. Unit  30  also includes a computer readable storage unit  34 , semiconductor, optical or magnetic which provides storage for lists of approved equipment, previously detected violations of approved equipment lists, one or more databases such as a time of use data base for the members of the plurality  20  as well as a time of exposure data base, relative to extreme environments or hazardous conditions of the members of the plurality  20 . 
         [0019]    Device  30  can also include a display device and graphical user interface software, indicated generally at  30   c , to present situation information visually and graphically. One or more RF transceivers  30   d , some of which could be cellular-type interfaces can also be carried by device  30  to provide communication with or among members of the plurality  12 - 1  and  30 - 1 . 
         [0020]    Devices such as device  30  could be carried on vehicles, or located at command posts to provide situation commanders current information as to status of the gear being carried by or worn by respective first responders addressing the current problem or condition. In addition to being able to communication with local data bases  34 , the device  30  can also communicate directly with other members of the plurality  30 - 1  as well as members of the plurality  12 - 1 . 
         [0021]    In using embodiments of the invention, once the individual has finished putting on all PPE equipment, for example from the plurality  12 , the PPE UC  12  could perform a PPE configuration check. This configuration check would compare the equipment on that individual with a pre-stored authorized PPE list. This check could be initiated manually or automatically. 
         [0022]    The PPE configuration manual check could take place once the individual believes they have the correct complement of PPE and they are displaced several feet from other individuals, at which time they could press a “check” button on the user communicator  12 . At this time the PPE UC, unit  12 , would interrogate the equipment and perform the configuration check. 
         [0023]    The user equipment configuration could be automatically checked either: after the individual has passed a defined physical checkpoint that has an RFID tag, for example, a dressing room exit; or within a specified time period after an “out of config” notification—this time period could be defined in the authorized personal protective equipment list. 
         [0024]    If the user communicator  12  detects an unauthorized PPE configuration on an individual, it could notify the individual via either an aural alert and/or display on the device  12 . The Authorized PPE list could also contain the conditions for sending “in config” or “out of config” message to the PPE Control Device. Alert/alarms would vary based on the severity of the unauthorized configuration. 
         [0025]    The unit  12  could include a timer that would record how long each element of the personal protective equipment was in use. This usage time could be sent to the PPE control device, for example device  30 , at the end of usage for data logging. 
         [0026]    The control device  30  could enable the device user, for example a situation commander, to view the configuration state of selected individuals via communication with specific devices from the plurality  12 - 1 . In yet another aspect of the invention, the control device  30  could enable the device user to run reports to assess how much “time of use” each specific protective element, such as  20   a  for example, had incurred. 
         [0027]    In other embodiments, the PPE control device  30  could be pre-programmed to generate maintenance alerts if “time of use” exceeded a pre-established value. It could also enable the device user to run reports to review equipment use history (by PPE type and specific PPE unit), review PPE usage by specific individuals or groups, and keep a history of “out of config” alerts. 
         [0028]    Environmental sensors (e.g. temp, altitude), such as sensors  24 , could be included with RFID interfaces to enable the gathering and transmittal of environmental data. Such data could be useful in establishing the time interval(s) that specific protective elements, from plurality  20 , were exposed to particular environmental conditions. 
         [0029]    Environmental data could be sent from the members of the plurality  12 - 1  to the control device(s)  330 - 1  for data logging. Maintenance alerts could be generated in a manner analogous to the “time of use” alerts described above. These maintenance alerts would indicate that specific protective elements only have a defined amount of useable life left, or had exceeded their useable life. 
         [0030]    Further, the authorized PPE list could also require sensing of multiple individuals to complete the authorized configuration; e.g. when two or more workers are required in a confined space for safety reasons. This could be accomplished by including an RIFD tag in each of the members of the plurality  12 - 1 . In this embodiment, the authorized PPE list would then consist of an individual&#39;s own PPE and the RFID of the co-worker(s). 
         [0031]    In another aspect of the invention, the user communicator(s)  12 - 1  could include a capability, for example, a. pushbutton, for the individual to indicate that he/she was going “out of configuration”; e.g. to remove equipment for a work break. The time of day and duration of the “out of configuration” situation could be recorded by the respective unit from the plurality  12 - 1  and transmitted to one or more control device from the plurality  30 - 1  for data logging. 
         [0032]    In yet another aspect, the configuration checkpoint could contain a User Communicator that was fixed in position. This could be used as a lower cost alternative to each user carrying a User Communicator. 
         [0033]    In accordance with the above embodiment, if a group of first responders always put on and take off PPE in defined locations, a Communicator could be installed at configuration checkpoint, i.e. the entry/exit of this location. Each individual could be configuration checked as they leave the area. Out of configuration alerts would still be generated by the fixed Communicator, and the time of PPE use could be measured by the configuration checkpoint Communicator sensing when users return and measuring the elapsed time since they left the area. The Communicator could still work as described above, including the option for manual operation (users pushes button) and automatic operation (fixed Communicator senses equipment passing by). The Communicator could still communicate with the Control Unit as described above. 
         [0034]    Advantageously, the above described embodiment does not limit users to a single dressing room. Users could dress in one area, then undress in another (e.g. a cleaning area for after PPE use). In this embodiment, all that would be needed would be a Communicator at the entry/exit of each area. 
         [0035]    From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.