GB2465849A

GB2465849A - Identification Wristband

Info

Publication number: GB2465849A
Application number: GB0822329A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Anthony Quinn; Victora Campbell
Original assignee: ROTARY WATCHES Ltd
Current assignee: ROTARY WATCHES Ltd
Priority date: 2008-12-08
Filing date: 2008-12-08
Publication date: 2010-06-09
Also published as: GB0822329D0

Abstract

An identification wristband, comprising a digital clock 24 with a flexible display 30, an RFID tag 26 and optionally a flexible circuit board, a tamper resistant single use clip 16, and a battery located in the clip 16. Identification information may be displayed by the display 30. The device is suitable for use in e.g. hospitals, or at resorts, theme parks, etc. Predetermined data may be displayed only according to instructions received via the RFID tag 26. The time of the clock 24 may be synchronised using data received via the RFID tag 26. Cashless payment functionality may be provided. Different modes of information may be displayed in respective different discrete areas 34, 36, 38 of the display 30 or at different times in the same areas, e.g. controlled by data received via the RFID tag 26. Reminder alarm, countdown display and entry/exit security alarm functions may be provided.

Description

WRISTBAND

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to wristbands such as identification wristbands attached to patients in hospital. Such wristbands are also known as hospital tags or patient tags. The present invention is also related to wristbands such as identification wristbands for use in other locations, such as wristbands for use at a holiday resorts, theme parks, music festivals, and so on.

Identification wristbands, also known as hospital tags or patient tags, are attached to patients in hospital. The wristbands are typically made of thin, plastic material.

A conventional identification wristband us illustrated schematically in Figure 1. The conventional identification wristband 1 comprises an information area 2, a strap area 4 at one end of the information area 2, and a clip area 6 at **: the other end of the information area 2. The strap area 4 comprises a plurality of holes 8 arranged along the strap 4. The clip area 6 comprises a first part 10 of the clip area 6 and a second part 12 of the clip area 6, divided by a fold 14. A tamper resistant single use clip 16 is attached to the clip area 6. The clip 16 comprises a first part 18 located on the first part lOaf the clip area 6, and a second part 20 located on the second part 12 of the clip area 6. The wristband I is attached to a patient's wrist (or if appropriate their ankle) by locating the * S. SS * appropriate hole 8 (according to the size of the wrist) over the first part 18 of the clip 16 and then folding the clip area 6 at the fold 14 and pressing the second part 20 of the clip 16 on to the first part 18 of the clip 16 to lock the tamper resistant single use clip 16 closed. The information area 2 has basic identification information related to the patient thereon. In this example the basic information comprises the patient's name ("NAME"), the patient's date of birth ("D.O.B."), and the name of the patient's doctor ("DOCTOR"). This information may be hand written on to the wristband, printed on to the wristband, or on an adhesive label fixed to the wristband.

Such wristbands are also used in other locations or on other occasions.

For example such wristbands may be used at a holiday resort, or at a theme park, or at a music festival. They are then often used to use show entitlement to services or access, and may or may not include a unique identification of a particular person.

Quite separately, radio frequency identification (REID) tags are known.

RFID tags are also referred to as REID chips, RFID cards or contactless smart cards. REID tags comprise circuits that can be read (and sometimes also written on) by RFID reader (and writer) units communicating with the tags at radio frequencies (RF). It is noted that although these items are known as REID "tags", this nomenclature has arisen historically from certain aspects of their use that are not relevant here, and as such should not be confused with or understood to have any correspondence to the terminology hospital "tag" by which hospital identification wristbands are sometimes known. * 20 *** * * * * *** *. S * * S

:; The present inventors have realised that hospital patients often have to remove their watches and store them securely, or leave them at home, and so a *S..

25 patient's watch is not available for use. Similarly, it is often undesirable for a patient to have money or other valuables, e.g. bank debit cards or credit cards with them as they will often not be able to protect these adequately. The present inventors have further realised that similar situations arise at resorts, theme parks, music festivals and so on.

The present inventors have further realised it would be advantageous for a patient at a hospital or a customer at a resort, theme park, festival etc. to be provided with a clock or watch that included functionality or settings that were at least in part customised to the person's stay at the hospital, resort, theme park, festival etc. The present inventors have further realised it would be particularly advantageous if such a customised clock or watch additionally did not suffer from the safety and risk of threat disadvantages associated with wearing or having with you a conventional watch whilst at a hospital, resort, theme park, festival etc. The present inventors have further realised it would be desirable if additional motivation could be provided for a person to accept or keep wearing an identification wristband.

In a first aspect, the present invention provides an identification wristband, comprising: a digital clock; and an RFID tag; wherein the digital clock comprises a flexible display.

The identification wristband may further comprise flexible circuit board on which circuitry for the digital clock and/or RFID tag is carried.

The identification wristband may further comprise a tamper resistant single use clip.

The identification wristband may further comprise a battery located in a :.:: 20 part of a/the clip.

S." Identification information may be displayed by the display.

The identification wristband may be for use in a hospital.

Predetermined data may be displayed only according to instructions received via the REID tag.

*... 25 The time setting of the digital clock may be synchronised using time data received via the REID tag.

The identification wristband may further comprise cashless payment functionality processing data received via the REID tag.

Different modes of information may be displayed in respective different discrete areas of the display.

Different modes of information may be displayed at different times of in the same areas of the display. The displaying by the display of the different modes of information may be controlled by data received via the RFID tag.

The identification wristband may provide a reminder alarm function.

The identification wristband may provide a countdown display function.

The identification wristband may provide an entry/exit security alarm function.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a conventional identification wristband; Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of an identification wristband according * ** to a first embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of an identification wristband according * *** * S to another embodiment of the invention; Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of an identification wristband according to another embodiment of the invention; and Figures 5A-C are schematic illustrations of an identification wristband *..S according to another embodiment of the invention In three respective different display modes.

Figure 2 is a schematic illustration of an identification wristband 101 according to a first embodiment of the invention. Those elements that can be the same as in the conventional identification wristband 1 described above are indicated again by the same reference numerals. The identification wristband 101 is made of thin, plastic material.

The identification wristband 101 comprises an information area 2, a strap area 4 at one end of the information area 2, and a clip area 6 at the other end of the information area 2. The strap area 4 comprises a plurality of holes 8 arranged along the strap 4. The clip area 6 comprises a first part 10 of the clip area 6 and a second part 12 of the clip area 6, divided by a fold 14. A tamper resistant single use clip 16 is attached to the clip area 6. The clip 16 comprises a first part 18 located on the first part 10 of the clip area 6, and a second part 20 located on the second part 12 of the clip area 6. The wristband 1 is attached to a patient's wrist (or if appropriate their ankle) by locating the appropriate hole 8 (according to the size of the wrist) over the first part 18 of the clip 16 and then folding the clip area 6 at the fold 14 and pressing the second part 20 of the clip 16 on to the first part 18 of the clip 16 to lock the tamper resistant single use clip 16 closed. The * ** information area 2 has basic identification information related to the patient thereon. In this example the basic information comprises the patient's name ("NAME"), the patient's date of birth ("D.O.B."), and the name of the patient's *:*. doctor (DOCTOR"). This information may be hand written on to the wristband, printed on to the wristband, or on an adhesive label fixed to the wristband. *.

* The identification wristband 101 further comprises a digital clock 24 and S...

* 25 an RFID tag 26.

Also, in this example the second part 20 of the clip 16 incorporates a battery (not shown), and the first part 18 of the clip 16 incorporates a battery con nection (not shown). When the tamper resistant single use clip 16 is locked closed as described above, the battery is connected such as to supply the digital clock 24 with power. In other examples, the battery may be located elsewhere, e.g. within a part of the digital clock 24. In yet further examples, the battery may be omitted, and instead power is supplied from the REID tag 26.

The digital clock 24 comprises digital clock circuitry 28, a display 30, and control buttons 32. In this example, the control buttons 32 are usable to change the display mode between time, date or customised functionality. In other examples another mode can be to display both the date and time together. In this example, the customised functionality is that one or more alarms and/or reminders can be programmed by hospital staff, before or after fitting of the wristband to the patient, to display and/or sound alarms when routine medication is to be taken or in relation other types of activities. For this purpose an alarm sound-providing component, typically called a "beeper", is additionally included in this example in the digital clock circuitry 28. In other examples, other customised functionality may be implemented.

The digital clock circuitry 28 is arranged on a thin flexible printed circuit board (PCB), which in this example is of a thickness of approximately 1mm. The display 30 is a thin flexible display, which in this example of a thickness of approximately 1 mm. Any suitable thin flexible display may be used. Such * .* displays are often known as e-paper. Such displays are available for example from Sipex Corporation (trade mark), of 233 South Hillview Drive, Milpitas, CA 95035, USA. The digital clock circuitry 28 and the display 30 are laminated in the *:*. thin plastic material of the identification wristband 101. In this example the display 30 and the control buttons 32 are located directly above the digital circuitry 28 which provides convenient connections and uses less area of the * 25 wristband. However, in other examples, the display 30 and/or the control buttons 32 may be located alongside the digital clock circuitry 28 to provide overall thickness reduction of the wristband.

The RFID tag 26 (which may also be known as an REID chip, an RFID card or a contactless smart card) is a device that can be read by an REID reader and written by an REID writer communicating with the tag at RF frequencies. The RFID tag 26 comprises an integrated circuit or chip for storing and providing information, and for modulating and demodulating RF signals. The REID tag 26 further comprises an antenna for sending and receiving the RF signals.

The RFID tag 26 is laminated in the thin plastic material of the identification wristband 101. In this example the REID tag 26 is located alongside the information area 2, and the co-located digital clock circuitry 28 and display 30. This provides thickness reduction of the wristband. However, in other examples, in order to conserve area, the RFID tag 26 may be located under the information area 2 and/or under the digital clock circuitry 28 and/or the display 30. When the REID tag 26 is located under the digital clock circuitry 28 and/or the display 30 this may further allow sharing of connections or other aspects between the RFID tag 26 and the digital clock circuitry 28 and/or the display 30.

In this example the REID tag 26 stores identification information and medical information of the patient, for example including treatment history. The identification data can include a repeat of the data presented visually on the information area 2. This is useful for providing verification of that information.

Additional identification information can also be stored on the REID tag 26, which enables a greater amount of identification information to be involved than may be * *S possib!e in written information in a given relatively small area provided by a * * **** . . . . . . . . . . wristband. The stored identification information and identification information is written onto the RFID tag by the medical staff using an REID writer. This can be done before or after the identification wristband 101 is first fitted to the patient.

After fitting, the information is read when required by medical staff using an RFID **.. 25 reader, for example at routine time periods by a nurse, or by a doctor on his or her rounds. Also, optionally, the information may be updated or added to using an RFID writer.

In this example the RFID tag 26 additionally receives time and date synchronisation information from the RFID writer (on initial and/or updating writing of the REID tag 26), and this time synchronisation is used to set and maintain the time and date of the digital clock 24. In other examples, this function of the REID tag 26 can be omitted and instead the time and date of the digital clock 24 is set by the patient or medical staff using the control buttons 32, or is otherwise pre-.programmed into the digital clock 24.

In this example, the above described alarm and/or reminder sounding and displaying customised functionality of the digital clock 24 is controlled by the RFID tag 26.

Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of an identification wristband 102 according to another embodiment of the invention. Except where stated otherwise below, the identification wristband 102 of this embodiment is the same, and is made of the same materials and components (and indicated by the same reference numerals) as the identification wristband 101 described above with reference to Figure 2.

In this embodiment the information area 2 is omitted, and the basic identification information (in this example the patient's name ("NAME"), the patient's date of birth ("D.O.B."), and the name of the patient's doctor ("DOCTOR")) is instead presented on the display 30 in addition to the time and date information (and any other customised functionality information as described * I. above for the first embodiment). In this example the basic identification is input by **.* the patient or medical staff using the control buttons 32. However, in other examples the basic identification is input by other means, for example by pre-programming or via the REID tag 26.

In this example, for the purpose of additionally displaying the basic identification information, the display 30 is divided into a clock area 34 *S** . . . . . * * corresponding to the whole display of the first embodiment, and an information area 36 for displaying the identification information.

In other examples of the identification wristband 102 shown in Figure 3, the information area 36 of the display 30 can additionally display some or all of the medical information and additional identification information of the patient which, as described earlier above with reference to Figure 2, is stored on the REID tag 26. This information may be of sufficiently limited amount that it can be displayed in the information area 36 of the display 30 at the same time as the S basic identification information. Another possibility is that some or all of the medical information and additional identification information of the patient stored on the RFID tag 26 can be displayed instead of the basic information when specifically required. One possibility is for this to be initiated manually by the patient or the medical staff using the control buttons 32. Another possibility is for this to be initiated in response to a reading or writing operation being performed on the RFID tag 26.

In this example the digital clock circuitry 28 is adapted to include additional circuitry or functionality for controlling and otherwise operating the display of the medical information and additional identification information. However, in other examples, additional separate circuitry can be included in the identification wristband 102 for this purpose.

Figure 4 is a schematic illustration of an identification wristband 103 according to another embodiment of the invention. Except where stated * ** otherwise below, the identification wristband 103 of this embodiment is the same, * . * * *. . 20 and is made of the same materials and components (and indicated by the same reference numerals) as the identification wristbands 101 and 102 described *. above with reference to Figures 2 and 3 respectively. * S.

: In this embodiment, as in the identification wristband 102 described above * . with reference to Figure 3, the information area 2 is again omitted, and the basic *5*5 identification information (in this example the patient's name ("NAME"), the patient's date of birth ("D.O.B."), and the name of the patient's doctor ("DOCTOR")) is again presented on the display 30 in addition to the time and date information (and any other customised functionality information as described above for the first embodiment). However, in this embodiment, an additional function is included, and display data related to this additional function is displayed on the display 30.

In this example, as shown in Figure 4, for the purpose of additionally displaying the additional function, the display 30 of the identification wristband 103 of this embodiment is divided so as to provide a further area, namely an additional function area 38, in addition to a clock area 34 and an information area 36 as already described above for the identification wristband 102 of Figure 3.

In this example the additional function is that the identification wristband 103 additionally serves as a cashless payment card. Allocating balance to the cashless payment card is performed via the RFID tag 26 for example by an RFID writer. Debits can be made for example by an RFID writer/reader. In this example the current balance is displayed in the additional function area 38 of the display 30.

In this example the digital clock circuitry 28 is adapted to include additional circuitry or functionality for controlling and otherwise operating the cashless payment function. However, in other examples, additional separate circuitry can be included in the identification wristband 103 for this purpose.

Figures 5A-C are schematic illustrations of an identification wristband 104 * ** according to another embodiment of the invention in three respective different display modes. Except where stated otherwise below, the identification wristband 103 of this embodiment is the same, and is made of the same materials and components (and indicated by the same reference numerals) as the identification wristbands 101, 102 and 103 described above with reference to Figures 2,3 and 4 respectively (although to assist visual clarity, reference numerals to the majority * 25 of the elements have not been repeated).

In this embodiment, the information area 2 is again omitted, and furthermore the RFID tag is located below the display 30. In this embodiment, as shown in Figures 5A-C, the same functions are performed and the same information is presented by the identification wristband 104 as was described above for the identification wristband 103 of Figure 4.

However, in this embodiment, the display 30 is not divided into separate areas corresponding to each of the information types of clock/identification and medical information/cashless payment. Instead, in this embodiment, each of these aspects is individually displayed at different times to each other using the whole of the display 30 as respective separate display modes. In particular Figure 5A shows the display 30 operating in a first display mode to display the digital clock information; Figure 5B shows the display 30 operating in a second display mode to display the identification and medical information; and Figure 5C shows the display 30 operating in a third display mode to display the additional function e.g. the cashless payment balance.

The displaying of the different modes can be controlled in any appropriate manner. For example, one possibility for changing of the display mode is that the display changes mode automatically over time according to a predetermined cycle. Another possibility is for changing of the display mode to be initiated manually by the patient or the medical staff using the control buttons 32. Another possibility is for this to be initiated in response to a reading or writing operation being performed on the RFID tag 26. Any of these or other possibilities may be * * *...20 applied in combination. *** *

In this example the digital clock circuitry 28 is adapted to include additional circuitry or functionality for controlling and otherwise operating the different display modes. However, in other examp)es, additional separate circuitry can be included in the identification wristband 104 for this purpose.

The above embodiments have been described in terms of use of the identification wristband in the context of a hospital. It will be appreciated however that in other embodiments the identification wristbands may be used, and the data therein matched to, other applications such as other medical environments, other places where a patient resides permanently or temporarily such as care homes, hotels etc, and activities or locations such as resorts, theme parks, music festivals, and so on. It is noted that many of these applications involve the need or wish of a user to leave his or her normal watch, and other items such as cash, at home or in a secure storage facility.

In the above embodiments those parts of the identification wristbands that are the same as conventional wristbands have been described in the form of the particular example of a conventional identification wristband as shown in Figure 1 (e.g. in terms of the strap, holes, tamper resistant single use clip, plastic material of the wristband, and so on). However, in other embodiments these items can be varied as required, in particular along the lines of existing variations in conventional identification wristbands, and additionally in terms of other changes that may arise in view of the additional functionality or routine fabrication changes arising with respect to the identification wristbands of the present invention. For example, a material other than plastic may be used for the identification wristband. Another example is that, in view of the additional functionality and complexity of the identification wristbands of the present invention over conventional ones, a re-usable clip may be used instead of the tamper resistant single use clip, thereby enabling re-use of the identification wristband. The re- *.. usable clip may be one that can only be unlocked using a special tool, thereby * *, *...20 preventing unauthorised re-use. In this context, a further advantage would be provided by fabricating the identification wristband to be waterproofed i.e. such that water ingress into the digital clock and RFID tag is prevented, thereby *:** facilitating sterilisation of the wristband before re-use.

In the above embodiments elements such as the digital clock circuitry, the a...

*.25 display, and the RFID tag are contained in the identification wristband by being laminated within the plastic material of the identification wristband. However, in other embodiments other approaches may be used. One possibility is that these elements may be attached to or between one or more layers of thin plastic forming the remainder of the wristband by any appropriate means, such as by the use of adhesives and/or fasteners such as screws, rivets etc. In the above embodiments the digital clock circuitry (and where appropriate circuitry for the REID tag or for processing data from the REID tag) is arranged or carried on a thin flexible PCB. However, this need not be the case, and in other embodiments a rigid PCB may be used provided its area is small enough that its rigidity does not produce any substantial effect of stopping the wristband generally conforming to the shape of a user's wrist. Similarly, the thickness of the PCB (whether flexible or rigid as just mentioned) and the thickness of the flexible display may be different to the thicknesses in the above embodiments, provided only that the thicknesses do not produce any substantial effect of stopping the wristband generally conforming to the shape of a user's wrist. In those of the above embodiments where an additional function is provided, the additional function is cashless payment. However, in other embodiments, other additional functions may be provided instead of, or in addition to, cashless payment. More generally, in other embodiments the identification wristband comprises flexible circuit board on which circuitry for the digital clock and/or REID tag is carried.

Another functionality that can be incorporated is authorisation for specific items or services, possibly pre-paid, such as meals, drinks. Other items or services that may be particularly applicable at resorts etc. are for example : entitlement to childcare, sports lessons, and so on. S...

In all of the above embodiments, another functionality that can be incorporated is the provision of a security alarm function to prevent unauthorised :.25 entry into non-authorised rooms or areas, e.g. operating theatres. Another possibility is for such a security alarm function to prevent unauthorised departure from a room or hospital, for example in the case of a baby or a child. For these security alarm functions, the REID tag can for example be written with security permissions data that is interrogated by an RFID reader at the entrance/exit to the relevant rooms or buildings.

Another security/authorisation aspect that can incorporated is that activation or de-activation of the various functions and display information of the identification wristband can be implemented by authorised operators, e.g. the medical staff, thereby ensuring that access to confidential information on the identification wristband is not possible after de-activation.

In relation to security/authorisation, it is noted that a further advantage of at least some of the above described identification wristbands is that by virtue of control by the REID tag of personal information, confidentiality is provided, in that the RFID tag and REID readers may be arranged such that only authorised REID readers, i.e. in effect only authorised persons, can access the information held by the REID tag. Another possibility, that can be included in addition to or instead of the such RFID reader security, is that the circuitry in the identification wristband can be adapted such that a PIN number or the like must be entered before the display will display certain or all of the patient information, or cashless payment information, etc. One possibility is for the PIN number to be entered using the earlier described control buttons.

In the above embodiments, the battery is located in the clip of the identification wristband. This provides an advantage that even for a relatively * *. thick battery, there is only one part of the identification wristband that needs to have a protrusion thicker than the remainder of the wristband, and this is the *S.* . . . . same as with conventional identification wristbands. The battery can be located *:*. on either part of the clip, and need not necessarily only be connected when the :! clip is closed, although this does provide a power saving advantage. More generally, the clip is not the only possible location for the battery, which may **** instead be located elsewhere, for example as part of the digital clock circuitry.

Another possibility is for the battery to be omitted, and instead power be provided by other means, for example from the REID tag when connected to a reader or writer, with the power then stored, or for example, by a small solar cell.

Another advantage of the above described identification wristbands is that they may provide motivation for a user to start to wear, or to continue wearing, the wristband. Eor example, the user may be wearing the wristband because he or she wants to use the clock application, yet at the same time the issuer of the wristband can benefit from use of the RFID tag information. This may be particularly advantageous in applications such as resorts, theme parks, festivals, and so on.

In certain of the above described embodiments a countdown feature may be provided, i.e. the digital clock can be used to display the time remaining until a certain event is due to occur, possibly under control of data acquired via the REID tag. This may be particularly advantageous for applications such as resorts, theme parks, festivals, and so on, where the countdown is to an event of particular interest or excitement, such as a headline performer at a music festival, or the start of a holiday, trip or event, with the additional possibility for example of the wristband being sent to the user in advance. This may also provide an advantage of providing time synchronisation and confirmation between the user and the provider. * ** * * * * ** **** * * S... *. . * . . * I.

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Claims

CLAIMS1. An identification wristband, comprising: a digital clock (24); and an RFID tag (26); wherein the digital clock comprises a flexible display (30).
2. An identification wristband according to claim 1, further comprising flexible circuit board on which circuitry for the digital clock (24) and/or RFID tag (26) is carried.
3. An identification wristband according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a tamper resistant single use clip (16).
4. An identification wristband according to any of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a battery located in a part of a/the clip (16).
5. An identification wristband according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein identification information is displayed by the display (30).

*.,..,
6. An identification wristband according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the identification wristband is for use in a hospital. **..
7. An identification wristband according to any of claims 1 to 6 wherein predetermined data is only displayed according to instructions received via the RFID tag (26). * *

* ***** * *
8. An identification wristband according to any of claims 1 to 7 wherein the time setting of the digital clock (24) is synchronised using time data received via the REID tag (26).
9. An identification wristband according to any of claims 1 to 8, further comprising cashless payment functionality for processing data received via the REID tag (26).
10. An identification wristband according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein different modes of information are displayed in respective different discrete areas (34, 36, 38) of the display (30).
11. An identification wristband according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein different modes of information are displayed at different times in the same areas of the display (30).
12. An identification wristband according to claim 11, wherein the displaying by the display (30) of the different modes of information is controlled by data received via the RFID tag (26).
13. An identification wristband according to any of claims Ito 12, wherein the identification wristband provides a reminder alarm function. * S..
14. An identification wristband according to any of claims Ito 13, wherein the :525 identification wristband provides a countdown display function. **.
15. An identification wristband according to any of claims ito 14, wherein the * .. S** * identification wristband provides an entry/exit security alarm function.
16. An identification wristband substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. * ** * * . * *. *** * * S S... *5 S * S S * S.S * S *S.S * S *SSS*.*S.. I *