Equipment tracking and security system for hospital environment using WLAN indoor location tracking system

Abstract

Location tracking systems has brought tremendous benefits, especially to the medical field; one of its benefits is to help keeping track of critical equipment of the hospital which is a challenge in any hospitals. However hospital's equipment often scattered throughout the facility, forcing busy staff to waste precious time tracking down intravenous pumps, wheelchairs or other equipment. Furthermore, hospital also suffers the lost of the equipment due to thefts. Therefore, equipment management system using Wireless Location Area (WLAN) based indoor location tracking system is proposed to alleviate these problems. A simple measurement campaign will be conducted to study the properties of the Ekahau location tracking system and then the equipment management system which include real-time equipment tracking and security system. Ekahau WLAN-based indoor location tracking system will be applied in this project to provide real-time location estimation. Each equipment will equipped with Ekahau WLAN Tag, and its location will be calculated by the Ekahau engine server. The location is predicated through WLAN signal strength finger-printing technique. Requirements of basic equipment tracking and security will be developed and examined in Java platform. A test-bed would then be setup within the confines of the WCC (wireless Communication Centre) using the existing WLAN incorporating the IEEE 802.11g standard AP (Access Point) and adapters. The location of the equipment will be provided by Ekahau positioning engine software readily available at the WCC. At the end of the project, a system which is capable to provide real-time equipment's location to user will be developed. Besides that the system will be capable to give alert to the control centre if the hospital's equipment is brought out from the authorized area.