Electronic band tag and method of storing id information therein

Abstract

An electronic band tag includes a plurality of conductive wires supported within a band of material wherein each of the wires provide either an open circuit or a closed circuit to form a coded pattern of open and closed circuits. After an electrical discontinuity has been formed in at least one of the wires, the coded pattern of the wires is converted into a unique tag ID. The band tag utilizes both the radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) parts of the electromagnetic spectrum to enable a system including multiple tags to locate subjects (i.e. objects and persons) within a tracking environment. Each band tag includes a battery-operated, microprocessor-based electronic circuit for each subject to be located. Each band tag automatically transmits digitized infrared light signals to provide a fine determination of its subject's location. Each band tag transmits RF and IR signals upon actuation of a page request/alert push button switch on its electronic circuit. An RF signal is also generated at a timed interval as a 'heartbeat' pulse. This pulse informs a host computer that the band tag is both present and fully functional. The IR and RF signals are modulated or encoded with the unique tag, identification data, page request or alert notification data, and battery condition data. The band tags are particularly useful in hospital systems which determine and monitor the location of patients and/or critical equipment.