SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING PROCEDURE COMPLIANCE

Number: 20180301014
Published: 2018-10-18
Filed: 2017-04-12
Assignee: Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Inventors: Worral; John David et al.
CPC: G08B21/245; G08B21/043; G06V40/28
Verdict: Set aside procedure compliance monitoring/business ops
Source: Google Patents · FreePatentsOnline

Abstract

A method of monitoring a user performing a handwashing procedure, including: recognizing a user based upon biometric information obtained at a handwashing station, a user; detecting use of a component of the handwashing station; capturing image data of the user at the handwashing station; capturing data describing components and consumables used at the handwashing station; analyzing, using a processor, the image data; determining compliance with a handwashing procedure based at least in part on the analysis of the image data and the use of the component; and communicating compliance information. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Background

BACKGROUND

Compliance with policies and procedures is often important to ensure health and safety for personnel as well as those many products and services related to the policies and procedures. For example, a company may have lab procedures to be followed when conducting experiments using biohazardous materials. Failure to follow the procedure may result in contamination, health risks to the personnel conducting the experiment and people who may come in contact with the user, compromise results, and other problematic scenarios

In a specific example, in food handling processes in commercial kitchens, as well as in the medical industry, there is an inherent risk of spreading illness if employees do not follow proper procedures for hand sanitation, e.g., during food preparation, between patient visits, etc. There are mandatory requirements that should be followed for proper handwashing, often specific to the industry or context. However, to a large extent the state of the art relies solely upon employee training and hand written policies.

State of the art approaches for monitoring include identifying personnel who are assigned to perform a task together with operation of various tools used in the task performance. An employee badge can be used to determine whether assigned personnel are located in the vicinity of the required tools and serve as an indirect indicator that the assigned personnel used the tools to complete the task such as when a badge is detect

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a user performing a handwashing procedure, comprising: recognizing a user based upon biometric information obtained at a handwashing station; detecting use of a component of the handwashing station; capturing image data of the user at the handwashing station; capturing data describing components and consumables used at the handwashing station; analyzing, using a processor, the image data; determining compliance with a handwashing procedure based at least in part on the analysis of the image data and the use of the component; and communicating compliance information. 11. A system for monitoring a user performing a handwashing procedure, comprising: a handwashing station; a biometric sensor that recognizes a user at the handwashing station; a component of the handwashing station that is required to be used during the handwashing procedure; an image sensor that captures image data of the user at the handwashing station; and a processor that: analyzes the image data; determines compliance with a handwashing procedure based at least in part on the analysis of the image data and use of the component; and thereafter communicates compliance information. 20. A method for monitoring a user performing an operational process, comprising: identifying the user and an operational process being performed by the user; ascertaining a task of the operational process to be performed by the user; and determining whether the user has complied with a compliance step, wherein the compliance step is to be completed prior to the performance of the task; wherein the determining comprises determining whether biometric data from the user has been obtained, wherein the biometric data is obtained using at least one biometric sensor operatively coupled to an object used in completing the compliance step.