The invention relates to a dispenser system configured for providing an alert signal when a person is detected within a detection zone of a dispenser.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hand hygiene noncompliance is a serious health concern around the world that plagues hospitals, other health-care environments, schools, food- handling operations, and many others. Hand hygiene noncompliance is the leading cause of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), which affect millions of patients every year. In some studies, HAIs are the majority cause of all infection-based hospital deaths each and every year. Research has shown that easy aces and use of sanitizing equipment is the best way of suppressing HAIs.

It is therefore well known to use fluid dispensers in public and semi-private settings. For example, fluid sanitizer dispensers are strategically located throughout hospitals, nursing homes and other health care facilities. In order to minimize the spread of bacteria and maintain a bacteria-free working environment, institutions may require employees to sanitize/wash their hands a predetermined number of times during a work shift. In order to provide evidence of compliance, each employer may carry an identifying sensor, as to insure they use a compatible dispenser at the appropriate time. The dispenser may provide an alert signal, when an employee enters a particular room, such as a patient room in a hospital, and again when the employer approaches and leaves a particular area of the patient room, such as the patient bed. Such dispenser system is disclosed in WO16004313 A1 . US20150134357 disclose a dispenser system for tracking hand hygiene compliance using personal dispensers attached to the clothing of the user. Depending on the level of performance the system can be configured to notify the user of good performance, average performance, below average performance or require the user to take various actions to help encourage the user to comply with the facility's hand washing requirement.

One drawback of the known dispenser systems are that some employees may overlook, overhear or simply ignore the alert signal and/or the required action to be taken provided by the dispenser system. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

On this background, it is an object of the invention to provide a dispenser system capable of providing an alert signal chosen among a plurality of alert signals which most probably will be perceived by the persons within a facility and make the persons comply with a predetermined hand hygiene protocol. The persons within the facility may be a defined or an undefined group of persons.

A further object of the invention is to provide individual alert signals on each person carrying an identification tag, wherein the provided alert signal is chosen such that the provided alert signal is the one which most probably will be perceived by each person carrying an identification tag and make the person comply with the predetermined hand hygiene protocol. A further object of the invention is to provide an alert signal being continuously adapted with the change of hand hygiene behaviour of the persons within a facility as a group and/or the persons carrying identification tag's as defined groups or as individuals. A further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser system configured for monitoring and influencing compliance according to WHO'S five moments of hand hygiene.

According to the invention a dispenser system is provided general comprising a processing unit and one or more dispensers connected to the processing unit wherein the one or more dispensers are configured for containing a sanitizing material. Each dispenser is configured to;

detect a person within a detection zone;

retrieve alert data representative of at least a first alert signal of one or more alert signals from the processing unit; provide the first or second alert signal;

detect release of the sanitizing material from the dispenser; and transmit sanitary data representative of the release of sanitizing material to the processing unit.

The processing unit is generally configured to;

compile a plurality of historical data sets wherein each historical data set of the historical data sets comprises data, such as alert data and sanitary data, representative of a provided alert signal and release of sanitizing material subsequently the provided alert signal and

determine at least the first alert signal of the one or more alert signals based on the plurality of historical data sets.

The invention also relates to a method for controlling a dispenser system comprising one or more dispensers wherein the one or more dispensers are configured for containing a sanitizing material. The method generally comprising:

detecting a person within a detection zone of a dispenser;

retrieving alert data representative of at least a first and/or a second alert signal of one or more alert signals; providing the first or second alert signal;

detecting release of the sanitizing material from the dispenser; and

transmitting sanitary data representative of the release of sanitizing material.

At least the first and/or second alert signal of the one or more alert signals is based on a plurality of historical data sets, wherein each historical data set of the historical data sets comprises data, such as alert data and sanitary data, representative of a provided alert signal and release of sanitizing material subsequently the provided alert signal.

The one or more dispensers may include a first dispenser configured to;

detect a first person within a first detection zone,

retrieving alert data representative of at least a first alert signal of one or more alert signals;

presenting the first alert signal;

detecting release of sanitizing material from the first dispenser; and

transmitting first sanitary data representative of the release of sanitizing material.

The one or more dispensers may further include a second dispenser configured to;

detect the first person and/or a second person within a second detection zone,

retrieving alert data representative of at least the first and/or a second alert signal of one or more alert signals;

presenting the first or second alert signal;

detecting release of sanitizing material from the second dispenser; and transmitting second sanitary data representative of the release of sanitizing material.

The method may comprise:

- detecting the first and/or second person within a detection zone of the first and/or second dispenser;

retrieving alert data representative of at least a first and/or a second alert signal of one or more alert signals;

presenting the first or second alert signal;

- detecting release of sanitizing material from the first or second dispenser; and

transmitting first or second sanitary data representative of the release of sanitizing material. Sanitary data representative of release of sanitizing material may comprise sanitary data representative of no release of sanitizing material.

Each historical data set of the historical data sets may comprises data, such as alert data and first and/or second sanitary data, representative of a provided alert signal and release of sanitizing material subsequently the provided alert signal.

Each historical data set of the historical data sets may for example comprise alert data and sanitary data wherein the sanitary data is registered within a predefined time interval such as within 3 seconds, 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 15 seconds and the like from the registration of the alert data.

At least one of the historical data sets of the plurality of historical data sets may comprise data representative of the first alert signal. At least one of the historical data sets of the plurality of historical data sets may comprise data representative of the second alert signal.

The above disclosed system and method allow for providing an alert signal based on the hand hygiene behaviour of the persons moving within a area or facility covered by the dispenser system, i.e. based on whether the persons uses an assigned dispenser when and particular alert signal is provided.

The processing unit may be configured to analyse the plurality historical data sets in order to determine which specific alert signal makes a detected person, i.e. a detected user or potential user of the dispenser system, using either each dispenser as an individual or the one or more dispensers as a group. The processing of the historical data sets may comprise cluster analysis and/or machine learning, whereas an algorithm for pattern recognition may be learned through iterative manual grading of user behaviour patterns. The analysis identifies user behaviour patterns showing persons being in a situation where a hand sanitizing action is expected and whether the person sanitizes their hands. These user behaviour patterns may be graded as being more or less desirable. An overall grading may be determined based on the grading of a plurality of user behaviour patterns and the overall grading may be used to determine the alert signal, such as the first and/or second alert signal, the persons should be subjected to at the dispenser onwardly, i.e. the alert data may comprise the overall grading. Over time the algorithm will be capable of recognising typical user behaviour patterns relevant to the sanitizing behaviour of the persons using the dispenser system and to disregard irrelevant user behaviour patterns.

Through machine learning may the effect of the provided alert signals, such as the first and/or second alert signal, continuously be evaluated, such that an alert signal with the most positive effect on the sanitizing behaviour, among the persons using the dispenser system, is used at all time. The determination of the alert signal, such as the first and/or second alert signal, may furthermore be based on the environment the one or more dispensers are placed in, such as the profession of the persons, type of facility the one or more dispenser are installed in, the one or more dispensers placement within the facility, and/or event scenarios such as campaign scenarios.

The processing unit may be a server, such as an external server, a remote server or the processing unit may be integrated in the one or more dispensers.

One or more dispenser, such as the first and/or second dispenser, in the dispenser system may comprise or be connected to a first sensor configured for detecting the presence of a person within the detection zone, such as the first and/or second detection zone. The first sensor may be a passive infrared (PIR) sensor. The detection zone may cover a predefined area within a predefined range of each dispenser such as up to 2 meters from the dispenser.

One or more dispenser, such as the first and/or second dispenser, in the dispenser system may comprise or be connected to a second sensor configured for detecting release of sanitizing material from the one or more dispensers. The second sensor may be a passive infrared (PIR) sensor. The one or more dispensers may be configured to contain any suitable sanitizing material such as soap, alcohol based gel and alcohol-free gel.

One or more dispensers, such as the first and/or second dispenser, in the dispenser system may retrieve alert data representative of at least the first and/or second alert signal from the processing unit at predetermined intervals, such as two times during a day, four times during a day or every five minutes, and store these data in a storing unit integrated in or connected to the one or more dispensers. Alternatively the one or more dispensers in the dispenser system may retrieve alert data representative of at least the first and/or second alert signal from the processing unit each time a person is detected by one of the one or more dispensers. All of the one or more dispensers, such as the first and/or second dispenser, may be connected to the same processing unit. Alternatively the one or more dispensers may be divided into groups of dispensers, wherein each group of dispensers is connected to a separate processing unit. Yet as an alternative each dispenser may be connected to an individual processing unit.

In one embodiment of the invention the historical data sets are configured to be updated to include sanitary data, such as first and/or second sanitary data, for example the processing unit may be configured to update the historical data set with received sanitary data. Each time a person approaches one of the one or more dispensers, such as the first and/or second dispenser, connected to the dispenser system the processing unit may store a historical data set comprising the provided alert signal and whether sanitizing material was released from the dispenser. Hereby is provided a dispenser system where the alert signal, continuously may be changed to comply with the hand hygiene behaviour of the persons being within the coverage of the dispenser system. For example the first and/or second alert signal may be replaced by a third alert signal. In one embodiment of the invention the dispenser system comprises one or more identification tags configured for being carried by persons present within a facility and wherein the dispenser detects the person within the detection zone by detecting the identification tag. For example, a first identification tag of the one or more identification tags is configured to be carried by the first person and wherein the first and/or second dispenser is configured to detect the first person within respectively the first or second detection zone by detecting the first identification tag. And a second identification tag of the one or more identification tags is configured to be carried by the second person and wherein the first and/or second dispenser is configured to detect the second person within respectively the first or second detection zone by detecting the second identification tag.

The persons carrying the one or more identification tags may be selected persons within a facility, such as employees at a hospital, visitors or patients. One or more dispenser, such as the first and/or second dispenser, in the dispenser system may comprise or be connected to a third sensor configured for detecting the presence of identification tags, such as the first and second identification tag, within the predefined detection zone, such as the first and/or second detection zone. The third sensor may be a Bluetooth Low Energy unit (BLE unit) wherein the one or more identification tags may comprise a BLE-unit, i.e. a corresponding BLE-unit.

The one or more dispensers may be configured to link each detected identification tag to an alert signal determined by the processing unit to be provided when the respective identification tag is detected. For example, the first and/or second dispenser may be configured to link the first and/or second identification tag to the first and/or second alert signal determined by the processing unit to be provided when the first and/or second identification tag is detected.

In one embodiment of the invention one or more historical data set of the historical data sets further comprises identification data representative of the identification tag of the one or more identification tags detected within the detection zone of a dispenser of the one or more dispensers. For example, one or more historical data sets may comprise first identification data representative of the first identification tag or second identification data representative of the second identification tag.

Hereby is provided a dispenser system allowing for providing an individual alert signal to each person carrying an identification tag based on their hand hygiene behaviour, i.e. based on whether the person did use an assigned dispenser when and particular alert signal was provided.

In one embodiment of the invention the one or more dispenser is configured to transmit identification data representative of the one or more identification tags to the processing unit. For example, the first and/or second dispenser may be configured to transmit first and/or second identification data representative of respectively the first or second identification tag to the processing unit. The one or more dispenser may link identification data representative of the one or more identification tags with sanitary data, such as the first and/or second sanitary data, representative of release of sanitizing material from the dispenser and transmit the identification data and sanitary data together as a sanitary data set to the processing unit. In one embodiment of the invention the historical data sets may be configured to be updated to include the identification data, such as first and/or second identification data.

The alert signal, such as the first and/or second alert signal, may be determined from a detected identification tag, such as the first and/or second identification tag. This as the processing unit may be configured to determine the alert signal on the basis of historical data sets linked to a specific identification tag. Historical data sets used to determine the alert signal based on an identification tag may also include historical data sets representing the hand hygiene behaviour of persons in general using the dispenser system. In one embodiment of the invention, the dispenser system may comprise one or more region detection units configured to detect a person carrying one of the one or more identification tags within a region detection zone, and configured to transmit region data representative of the detection of the person. For example, the one or more region detection units may be configured to detect the first person carrying the first identification tag and/or the second person carrying the second identification tag. The region detection unit may comprise a BLE-unit.

The detection range of the region detection unit may define a critical zone. The region detection unit may be arranged on a patient bed or on a patient to detect whether the person carrying one of the one or more identification tags is approaching or leaving an area near the patient, whereas approaching or leaving the patient may trigger the need of a sanitizing action. The region detection unit may be arranged on specific hospital equipment to detect whether the person is approaching or leaving an area near the equipment, whereas approaching or leaving the equipment may trigger the need of a sanitizing action.

In one embodiment of the invention the region data is configured to be transmitted to the processing unit, wherein the one or more historical data set of the historical data sets further comprises information representative of the detection of a person, such as the first and/or second person, within the region detection zone.

The alert signal, such as the first and/or second alert signal, may be provided on or through the one or more dispenser. Alternatively, the alert signal may be provided through a separate device. One or more of the dispensers in the dispenser system may comprise or be connected to a display. The first dispenser may comprise or be connected to a first display and the second dispenser may comprise or be connected to a second display. The display, such as first and/or second display, may provide a visual alert signal. The display may be a dot-matrix display.

One or more of the dispensers in the dispenser system may comprise or be connected to a loudspeaker. The first dispenser may comprise or be connected to a first loudspeaker and the second dispenser may comprise or be connected to a second loudspeaker. The loudspeaker, such as first and/or second loudspeaker, may provide an audible alert signal.

The alert signal, such as the first and/or second alert signal, may comprise one or more visual alert signals, one or more audible alert signals or a combination thereof.

In one embodiment of the invention the one or more dispensers each comprises a conventional dispenser already installed in a facility or to be installed in a facility and a separate dispenser unit being connectable and/or attachable to the conventional dispenser.

The first sensor, second sensor, third sensor, processing unit, storing unit, display and/or loudspeaker may be compiled in the separate dispenser unit. Hereby is provided a dispenser system allowing for the use of exiting and conventional dispensers already installed in a facility.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be explained in further details with reference to the drawings showing an embodiment thereof. Fig. 1 shows a dispenser system according to the invention,

Fig. 2 shows an expanded version of a dispenser system according to the invention,

Fig. 3 shows an example of the data flow between the dispensers and the processing unit according to the dispenser system as shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 shows an example of the data processing flow within the processing unit according to the invention including dispenser systems as shown in Fig. 1 and 2,

Fig. 5 shows an example of a yet expanded version of a dispenser system according to the invention, and

Fig. 6 shows a dispenser comprised in the dispenser system according to the invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Fig. 1 , a dispenser system 1 according to the invention is illustrated wherein the dispenser system 1 comprises a processing unit 200 and a dispenser 100, such as a first/and/or second dispenser, connected to the processing unit 200. Alternatively, the processing unit may be integrated in the dispenser.

The dispenser 100 is configured to detect a person, such as a first and/or second person, within a detection zone 130, such as a first and/or second detection zone. The dispenser 100 may either comprise or be connected to a first sensor 105 (see Fig. 6) capable of detecting the presence of a person within the detection zone 130. The first sensor 105 may be a passive infrared (PIR) sensor. The detection zone 130 may be defined as being an area within a predefined distance or radius of the dispenser 100 such as within approximately 2 meters from the dispenser 100. Activation data, such as first and/or second activation data, representative of activation of the first sensor 105 may be registered as an activation data set by the dispenser 100 together with a timestamp and/or a dispenser ID which altogether may be transmitted to the processing unit 200. The dispenser 100 is further configured to provide an alert signal, such as a first and/or second alert signal, this either through one or more displays 104 (see Fig. 6) and/or one or more loudspeakers 103 (see Fig. 6) integrated in or connected to the dispenser 100. The dispenser 100 may be configured to release the alert signal when a person is detected by the first sensor 105.

The dispenser 100 is further configured to detect release of sanitizing material from the dispenser 100. The dispenser 100 may either comprise or be connected to a second sensor 106 (See Fig. 6) capable of detecting the release of sanitizing material from the dispenser 100. The second sensor 106 may be a passive infrared (PIR) sensor. The dispenser 100 is further configured to transmit sanitary data 410, such as first and/or second sanitary data, to the processing unit 200 representative of the release of sanitizing material from the dispenser 100. Sanitary data 410 may be registered as a sanitary data set by the dispenser 100 together with a dispenser ID and/or a timestamp which altogether may be transmitted to the processing unit 200. Alternatively the sanitary data set may include activation data representative of activation of the first sensor 105 optionally including a timestamp of the activation of the first sensor 105 and/or dispenser ID. Each activation and/or sanitary data set registered and collected by the dispenser 100 hereby may comprise; event type, i.e. activation of the first sensor 105 and/or release of sanitizing material, a time stamp and/or dispenser ID.

The dispenser 100 may transmit the activation and/or sanitary data sets to the processing unit 200 within predefined intervals, such as every five minutes. The processing unit 200 may store the received activation and/or sanitary data sets as unfiltered and unstructured data objects in a storing unit (not shown) integrated in or connected to the processing unit 200. The registered dispenser ID may be used to look up more detailed information on the dispenser 100, such as dispenser type, manufacturing information, information representative of the type of facility the dispenser 100 is installed in, placement of the dispenser 100 within the facility, etc. The more detailed information on the dispenser 100, i.e. master data, may be handled by a Master Data Service (MDS). The MDS may be installed on or connected to the processing unit 200.

The processing unit 200 may be configured for compiling a plurality of historical data sets 400 comprising activation and/or sanitary data sets transmitted to the processing unit 200 from the dispenser 100. Each historical data set 400 comprises at least alert data 420 representative of a provided alert signal and sanitary data 410 representative of release or no release of sanitizing material from the dispenser subsequently the provided alert signal. The processing unit 200 may collect the alert data 420 from the MDS. The processing unit 200 may as explained above receive the sanitary data 410 from the dispenser 100. If sanitary data 410 is included in a sanitary data set comprising dispenser ID, master data linked to the dispenser ID may be added to the historical data set 400. The processing unit 200 is further configured for processing the historical data sets 400 in order to determine the alert signal which, based on the historical data sets 400, will influence a person to use the dispenser 100. The processing of the historical data sets 400 may comprise cluster analysis and/or machine learning, whereas an algorithm for pattern recognition may be learned through iterative manual grading of user behaviour patterns. The analysis identifies user behaviour patterns showing persons being in a situation where a hand sanitizing action is expected and whether the person sanitizes their hands. These user behaviour patterns are graded as being more or less desirable. An overall grading is determined based on the grading of a plurality of user behaviour patterns and the overall grading is used to determine the alert signal the persons should be subjected to at the dispenser 100 onwardly, i.e. the alert data 420 may comprise the overall grading. Over time the algorithm will be capable of recognising typical user behaviour patterns relevant to the sanitizing behaviour of the persons and to disregard irrelevant user behaviour patterns.

Through machine learning may the effect of the provided alert signal continuously be evaluated, such that an alert signal with the most positive effect on the sanitizing behaviour, among the persons using the dispenser system 1 , is used at all time. The determination of alert signal may furthermore be based on the environment the dispenser 100 is placed in, such as the profession of the persons, type of facility the dispenser 100 is installed in, the dispensers 100 placement within the facility, and/or event scenarios such as campaign scenarios. The processing unit 200 may be configured to store the alert data 420 representative of the determined alert signal so that the determined alert signal can be retrieved by the dispenser 100. The alert data 420 may be stored in the MDS. The alert data 420 may be retrieved by the dispenser 100 with predefined intervals such as two, four, six, eight or ten times during a day. The first sensor 105, second sensor 106, processing unit 200, storing unit, one or more displays 104 and/or one or more loudspeakers 103 may be compiled in a separate dispenser unit (not shown) configured for being connectable and/or attachable to an existing and/or conventional dispenser already installed in a facility. The dispenser system may thus comprise a plurality of dispenser units.

The separate dispenser unit may thus configure an existing and/or conventional dispenser to obtain the same functionalities (as described above and below) as the dispenser 100.

Referring to Fig. 2, an expanded version of a dispenser system 1 according to the invention is disclosed wherein the dispenser system 1 comprises a plurality of dispensers 100, such as a first and/or second dispenser, including a master dispenser 1 10 and a slave dispenser 120, arranged within a room 300 within a facility such as a patient room or a hallway in a hospital. The dispenser system 1 further comprises an identification tag 510, such as a first and/or second identification tag, for being carried by person, such as a first and/or second person, and one or more region detection units 500, such as a first and/or second region detection unit, for being attached to for example a patient bed, a patient or hospital equipment. Alternatively the dispenser system 1 comprises a plurality of master dispensers 1 10, wherein one or more of the master dispensers 1 10 may be configured to be a slave dispenser 120.

The master dispenser 1 10 may be placed near the entrance/exit to the room 300. The master dispenser 1 10 may detect whether a person enters or leaves the room 300. The master dispenser 1 10 is connected to the processing unit 200 via a first network 600. The processing unit 200 may be an external server. First network 600 can include different interconnected networks, such as a facility WI-FI network or any other suitable wireless network in communication with the public Internet. The master dispenser 1 10 may comprise or be connected to a WI-FI module 101 (see Fig. 6) allowing it to connect to the WI-FI network, i.e. first network 600. The communication between the master dispenser 1 10 and the processing unit 200 may only work one-way, i.e. from the master dispenser 1 10 to the processing unit 200 wherein the master dispenser 1 10 may transmit and retrieve data to/from the processing unit 200. Thereby will the dispenser system 1 be able to use the first network 600 without the need of any special configuration of the first network 600. Alternatively the communication between the master dispenser 1 10 and the processing unit 200 may work as a two-way communication.

The slave dispenser 120 may be placed near a sink or any other relevant place not being near the entrance/exit to the room 300. The slave dispenser 120 may thereby detect whether a person approaches for example a sink. In case of that the patient room 300 comprises a private bathroom, a slave dispenser 120 may be placed in the bathroom even though the bathroom may be a separate room within or next to the room 300. One or more slave dispensers 120 may be connected to the master dispenser 1 10 via a second network 610. For example two, three or four slave dispensers 120 may be connected to the master dispenser 1 10. Second network 610 can include a Bluetooth Low Energy Personal Area Network (BLE PAN). The second network 610 may be configured by the master dispenser 210. The master dispenser 1 10 and the slave dispenser 120 may comprise or be connected to a Bluetooth Low Energy unit (BLE unit) (not shown) allowing them to communicate with each other. Sanitary data 410, such as first and/or second sanitary data, from the one or more slave dispensers 120 may thereby be transmitted to the processing unit 200 via the master dispenser 1 10.

The master dispenser 1 10 and slave dispenser 120 may be identical in size, shape and/or appearance in general. The master dispenser 1 10 and slave dispenser 120 may continuously scan after beacons by means of a third sensor (not shown), such as iBeacon, Eddystone and the like, within a distance/radius up to approximately 10-20 meters. For example the master and slave dispenser 1 10, 120 may scan for beacons from identification tags 510 approximately within either 0.5 meter, 1 meter, 1 .5 meters or 2 meters form the master or slave dispenser 1 10, 120 and for beacons from region detection units 500 within approximately 20 meters distance from the master or slave dispenser 1 10, 120.

The one or more region detection unit 500 may be arranged on or near a patient bed, on a patient or on or near specific hospital equipment. The region detection unit 500 may detect whether a person carrying the identification tag 510 approaches or leaves a patient. The region detection unit 500 may identify a region within the room 300 being particular critical and requiring a stricter hand hygiene protocol. The region detection unit 500 may comprise a BLE unit and be connected to the master dispenser 1 10 and the slave dispenser via the second network 610. The region detection unit 500 may be a box for example having a size of approximately 3x5x1 cm. The region detection unit 500 may be identified as being within the room 300 if both the master unit 1 10 and/or one or more slave units 120 receives relative strong beacons from the region detection unit 500 showing that the region detection unit 500 is in the room 300 and not in a neighbouring room. When the region detection unit 500 is registered as being within the room 300, the region detection unit 500 will be connected to the second network 610 until the region detection unit 500 leaves the room 300. The region detection unit 500 may comprise a battery capable to hold for several years. For example the region detection unit 500 may scan after beacons, such as iBeacon, Eddystone and the like, within a distance/radius of approximately 0.5 meter, 1 meter, 1 .5 meters or 2 meters from the region detection unit 500. The region detection unit 500 may only scan after beacons from identification tags 510 when the region detection unit 500 is being registered as being within a room such as the room 300. There may be a plurality of region detection units 500 within a room. Each region detection unit 500 may release a unique beacon ID, i.e. region data 453.

The BLE units in respectively the master dispenser 1 10 and the region detection unit 500 may release beacons, such as iBeacon, Eddystone and the like, such that the position of the master dispenser 1 10 and the region detection unit 500 can be tracked via for example a portable device such as a smart phone, a tablet and the like. The identification tag 510 may comprise a BLE-unit configured for being integrated in an ID card holder to be carried by the persons. The identification tag 510 may be powered by a coin cell battery which can power the identification tag 510 in several years. The identification tag 510 may continuously release beacons such as iBeacon, Eddystone and the like, which may be used to identify the person carrying the identification tag 510. The beacons released by the identification tag 510 may be received by dispensers 100 or region detection units 500 up to 10-20 meters from the identification tag 510. Each identification tag 510 may release a unique beacon ID, i.e. identification data 452, such as first and/or second identification data.

Now referring to Fig. 2 and 3, the slave dispenser 1 10 and the master dispenser 120 may each comprise or be connected to a first sensor 105 (see Fig. 6) capable of detecting the presence of a person within the detection zone (not shown), such as a first and/or second detection zone, belonging to the master or slave dispenser 1 10, 120. The first sensor 105 may be a passive infrared (PIR) sensor. The detection zone may be defined as being an area within a predefined distance or radius of the master or slave dispenser 1 10, 120 such as for example within approximately 0.5 meter, 1 meter, 1 .5 meters or 2 meters from the master or slave dispenser 1 10, 120. The master and slave dispenser 1 10, 120 may continuously scan after beacons, for example every two seconds, by means of a third sensor (not shown), wherein each master and slave dispenser 1 10, 120 comprises or is connected to one third sensor. Beacon IDs, i.e. identification data 452, from identification tags 510 within the detection zone of the master or slave dispenser 1 10, 120 may be registered and stored on a local list on the master or slave dispenser 1 10, 120. A Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) number may be registered together with the identification data 452. The RSSI number defines how close the identification tag 510 is to the slave or master dispenser 1 10, 120. Beacon IDs, i.e. region data 453, from the region detection units 500 connected to the second network 610 may be registered and stored on the local list on the master dispenser 1 10. Region data 453 may comprise any registration of beacons from identification tags 510 within a region detection zone (not shown), for example within 0.5 meter, 1 meter, 1 .5 meters or 2 meters of the region detection unit 500.

When a person is detected by the first sensor 105, activation data 440, such as first and/or second activation data, representative of activation of the first sensor 105 comprising event type, i.e. activation of first sensor 105, may be registered as an activation data set 441 by the slave or master dispenser 1 10, 120 together with a timestamp 450 and/or a dispenser ID 451 . As the first sensor 105 is activated the master or slave dispenser 1 10, 120 may check the local list for identification data 452 registered as being within the detection zone, for example within 0.5 meter, 1 meter, 1 .5 meters or 0.5 to 2 meters of the master or slave dispenser 1 10, 120, and add the identification data 452 of the one or more relevant identification tag 500 to the activation data set 441 .

The master and slave dispenser 1 10, 120 may each comprise or be connected to a second sensor 106 (see Fig. 6) capable of detecting the release of sanitizing material from respectively the master or slave dispenser 1 10, 120. The second sensor 106 may be a passive infrared (PIR) sensor.

When a sanitizing action is detected by the second sensor 106, sanitary data 410 representative of the release of sanitizing material comprising event type, i.e. release of sanitizing material, may be registered as a sanitary data set 41 1 by the slave or master dispenser 1 10, 120 together with a timestamp 450 and/or the dispenser ID 451 . As a person activates a sanitizing action, the master or slave dispenser 1 10, 120 may check the local list for identification data 452 registered as being within the detection zone, for example within 0.5 meter, 1 meter, 1 .5 meters or 2 meters, of the master or slave dispenser 1 10, 120 and add the identification data 452 of the one or more relevant identification tags 510 to the sanitary data set 41 1 . Each activation and/or sanitary data set 441 , 41 1 registered and collected by the master or slave dispenser 1 10, 120 hereby may comprise; activation data 440 or sanitary data 410, a time stamp 450, dispenser ID 451 and/or identification data 452. If there are no identification tags 510 within 2 meters of the master or slave dispenser 1 10, 120, when the first or second sensor is activated, the activation and/or sanitary data set 441 , 41 1 may be identified as a guest event activated by a patient or a visitor.

If the activation and/or sanitary data sets 441 , 41 1 are registered by the slave dispenser 120, the slave dispenser may forward the activation and/or sanitary data sets 441 , 41 1 to the master dispenser 1 10 via the second network 610.

The master dispenser 1 10 may be configured to transmit the activation and/or sanitary data sets 441 , 41 1 to the processing unit 200. The master dispenser 1 10 may transmit the collected activation and/or sanitary data sets 441 , 41 1 to the processing unit 200 within predefined intervals, such as every five minutes. The processing unit 200 may store the activation and/or sanitary data sets 441 , 41 1 as unfiltered and unstructured data objects in a storing unit 201 integrated in or connected to the processing unit 200. The registered identification data 452 and region data 453 may be used to look up more detailed information on respectively the relevant identification tag 510 and region detection unit 500, such as beacon type, manufacturing information, the person carrying the identification tag 510, such as information representative of the profession of the person, and/or the place or equipment the region detection unit 500 is placed at/on or near, etc. The registered dispenser ID 451 may be used to look up more detailed information on the relevant master or slave dispenser 1 10, 120, such as dispenser type, manufacturing information, information representative of the type of facility the master or slave dispenser 1 10, 120 is installed in, placement of the master or slave dispenser 1 10, 120 within the facility, etc. The more detailed information linked to the identification tags 510, region detection units 500, and the master and slave dispensers 1 10, 120, i.e. master data 430, may be handled by a Master Data Service (MDS) (not shown). The MDS may be installed on or connected to the processing unit 200.

The processing unit 200 may be configured for compiling a plurality of historical data sets 400 comprising activation and/or sanitary data sets 441 , 41 1 transmitted to the processing unit 200 from the master dispenser 1 10. Each historical data set 400 comprises at least alert data 420 representative of a provided alert signal, such as first and/or second alert signal, and sanitary data 410 representative of release of sanitizing material from the dispenser subsequently the provided alert signal. The processing unit 200 may collect the alert data 430 from the MDS. The processing unit 200 may as explained above receive the sanitary data 410 from the master dispenser 1 10. If sanitary data 410 is included in a sanitary data set 41 1 comprising dispenser ID 451 , identification data 452 and/or region data 453, master data 430 linked to the dispenser ID 451 , identification data 452 and region data 452 may be added to the historical data set 400. The processing unit 200 is further configured for processing the historical data sets 400 in order to determine the alert signal which, based on the historical data sets 400, will influence a person to use the master and/or slave dispenser 1 10, 120. The processing unit 200 may determine a suitable alert signal to be use when detecting a person carrying one of the one or more identification tags 510 individually or belonging to a particular group, for example a profession, and a suitable alert signal to be use when detecting a person identified as a patient or a visitor. The processing of the historical data sets 400 may comprise cluster analysis and/or machine learning, whereas an algorithm for pattern recognition may be learned through iterative manual grading of user behaviour patterns. The analysis may identify user behaviour patterns showing individual persons and/or persons belonging to a defined group being in a situation where a hand sanitizing action is expected and whether the person sanitizes their hands. These user behaviour patterns may be graded as being more or less desirable. An overall grading for all persons detected by the dispenser system 1 may be determined based on the grading of a plurality of user behaviour patterns. An overall grading for a group of identification data 452 linked to a group of identification tags 510 may be determined based on the grading of a plurality of user behaviour patterns linked to the group. An overall grading for each identification data 452 linked to an identification tag 510 may be determined based on the grading of a plurality of user patterns linked to the particular identification tag 510. The overall gradings may individually or compiled be used to determine the alert signal the person detected by the master or slave dispenser 1 10, 120 should be subjected to onwardly, i.e. the alert data 420 may comprise the overall grading(s). The algorithm may distinguish between historical sets 400 comprising and not comprising region data 453 from one of the one or more region detection units 500. A historical data set 400 comprising region data 453 may result in a more intrusive alert signal.

Over time the algorithm will be capable of recognising typical user behaviour patterns relevant to the sanitizing behaviour of the persons using the dispenser system 1 and to disregard irrelevant user behaviour patterns, such as persons detected by the master or slave dispenser 1 10, 120 through a wall, i.e. a person staying in a neighbouring room and persons passing the entrance to the room 300 without entering the room 300.

Through machine learning may the effect of the provided alert signal continuously be evaluated, such that an alert signal with the most positive effect on the sanitizing behaviour, of the persons using the dispenser system 1 , is used at all time. The alert signal may be specific for individual person, a defined group of persons, such as the profession of the persons carrying and identification tag 510, or may be used on all users of the dispenser system 1 . The determination of alert signal may furthermore be based on the environment the one or more dispensers 100, i.e. the master and slave dispensers 1 10, 120, are placed in, type of facility the dispensers 100 are installed in, the placement of the master or slave dispensers 1 10, 120 within the facility, and/or event scenarios such as campaign scenarios.

The processing unit 200 may furthermore be configured to store the alert data 420 representative of the determined alert signal so that the determined alert data 420 can be retrieved by the master dispenser 1 10. The slave dispenser 120 may subsequently retrieve the alert data 420 from the master dispensers 1 10 connected to the same second network 610 as the slave dispenser 120. The alert data 420 may be stored in the MDS. The alert data 420 may be retrieved by the master and/or slave dispenser 1 10, 120 with predefined intervals such as two, four, six, eight or ten times during a day. The alert data 420 may comprise two lists, an active user list and an alert signal list. The active user list may comprise a list of active identification tags 510 in the dispenser system 1 and the grading linked to each identification tag 501 and representing the sanitizing behaviour of the respective person carrying the identification tag 510. The active user list facilitate that the master and slave dispenser 1 10, 120 may provide individual alert signals directed at individual persons carrying an identification tag 510 in order to improve the persons sanitizing behaviour. The alert signal list may comprise a list of different nudging scenarios linked to the gradings listed on the active user list and accustomed to be used with different user behaviour patterns. Each nudging scenario may be defined by different combinations of visual and audible alert signals. Visual alert signal may comprise light, symbols and/or colours. Audible alert signals may comprise different sounds and sound patterns. The alert signal list may furthermore comprise event scenarios such as campaign scenarios and/or holyday scenarios directed at individual persons, persons having a specific profession, a department, etc.

The master and slave dispensers 1 10, 120 are further configured to provide the alert signal, this either through one or more displays 104 (see Fig. 6) or one or more loudspeakers 103 (see Fig. 6) integrated in or connected to respectively each of the master and slave dispensers 1 10, 120. The master and slave dispensers 1 10, 120 may be configured to release the alert signal when a person is detected by the first sensor integrated in or connected to the master or slave dispenser 1 10, 120. The master and slave dispensers 1 10, 120 may be configured to release an alert signal linked to an identification tag 510 carried by a person, when the person is detected by the first sensor 105 integrated in or connected to the master or slave dispenser 1 10, 120. A plurality of master dispensers 1 10 may be connected to the processing unit 200. Each master dispenser 1 10 may be placed in separate room. A plurality of second networks 610 may be establish respectively between one master dispenser 1 10 and one or more slave dispensers 120 within the same room 300 as the master dispenser 1 10. The region detection unit 500 may be identified as being within the room 300 if both the master dispenser 1 10 and one or more slave dispensers 120 receives beacons having relative equally strong signals from the region detection unit 500 showing that the region detection unit 500 is in the room 300 an not in a neighbouring room. When the region detection unit 500 is registered as being within the room 300, the region detection unit 500 will be connected to the second network 610 of that particular room until it leaves the room 300.

The first sensor 105, second sensor 106, third sensor, storing unit 201 , one or more displays 104 and/or one or more loudspeakers 103 may be compiled in a separate dispenser unit (not shown) configured for being connectable and/or attachable to an existing and/or conventional dispenser already installed in a facility. The plurality of separate dispenser units may include master dispenser units and slave dispenser units. The dispenser system may thus comprise a plurality of master and slave dispenser units. Alternatively the dispenser system may comprise a plurality of master dispenser units, wherein one or more of the master dispenser units may be configured to be a slave dispenser unit and/or a region detection unit 500.

The master dispenser units may further comprise the WI-FI module 101 allowing it to connect to the WI-FI network and both the master dispenser units and the slave dispenser units may comprise the BLE unit allowing them to communicate with each other.

The master dispenser unit may thus configure an exiting and/or conventional dispenser to obtain the same functionalities (as described above and below) as a master dispenser 1 10. And the slave dispenser unit may thus configure an exiting and/or conventional dispenser to obtain the same functionalities (as described above and below) as a slave dispenser 120.

Referring to Fig. 4, shown is an example of the data processing 800 within the processing unit 200 in a dispenser system 1 according to the invention, including the dispenser systems 1 illustrated in Fig. 1 and 2, comprising the following steps 801 to 809. Each step 801 to 809 may wait for input from the previous step and may process as soon new input is received. At least sanitary data 410 from one or more dispensers 100 (see Fig. 1 and 3) may be received in step 801 . Furthermore, sanitary and/or activation data sets 441 , 41 1 may be received in step 801 . One or more persons may have approached one or more dispensers 100 within a time interval and activated the first sensor 105 (see Fig. 6) wherein the dispenser 100 has registered and stored a number of activation data 440 (see Fig. 3). If the detected persons subsequently have used the dispenser 100 the second sensor 106 (see Fig. 6) have detected release of sanitizing material wherein the dispenser 100 has registered and stored a number of sanitizing data (see Fig. 1 and 3). The dispenser 100 may have stored the sanitary data 410 and activation data 440 detected by the first and second sensor 105, 106 either as one sanitary data set comprising data from the activation event and the sanitizing event or separately as an activation data set 441 and a sanitary data set 41 1 (see Fig 3). Each data set may comprise a time stamp 450 and/or dispenser ID 451 (see Fig. 3). If the one or more detected persons did carry an identification tag 510 (see Fig. 2) each data set may further comprise identification data 452 (see Fig. 3) representing the identification tag 510. If the persons carrying identification tags 510 has been within a predetermined distance from one or more region detection units 500 each data set may further comprise region data 453 representing the region detection unit 500. This for example when a person carrying an identification tag 510 has entered a room 300 activating a dispenser 100 at the entrance of the room 300 and walked toward a patient bed comprising a region detection unit 500. The sanitary and/or activation data sets 41 1 , 441 registered and stored within the time interval may then be transmitted by the one or more dispensers 100 to the processing unit 200, whereas the processing unit 200 receives the sanitary and/or activation data sets 41 1 , 441 from the one or more dispensers 100.

The sanitary data 410 may be stored in step 802. Furthermore sanitary and/or activation data sets 41 1 , 441 may be stored in step 802. The sanitary and/or activation data sets 41 1 , 441 may be stored as Binary Large Objects (BLOB). The sanitary and/or activation data sets 41 1 , 441 may be stored in a storing unit 201 (see Fig. 3).

Dispensers 100, identification tags 510 and/or region detection units 500 may be identified via master data 430 (see Fig. 3) in step 803. This is if the sanitary and/or activation data set 41 1 , 441 comprises dispenser IDs 451 identification data 452 and/or region data 453.

The sanitary data 410 may be compiled into historical data sets 400 in step 804. Furthermore sanitary and/or activation data sets 41 1 , 441 may be compiled into historical data sets 400 in step 804.The historical data set 400 may comprise a sanitary data set 41 1 . The historical data set 40 may comprise an activation data set 441 and a sanitary data set 41 1 registered within 1 to 10 seconds after the registration of the activation data set 441 . The historical data set 40 may comprise all the registered events in a room 300 connected to a specific identification tag 510, i.e. including sanitary and/or activation data sets 41 1 , 441 , identification data 452 and/or region data 453. User behaviour patterns may be identified via machine learning in step 805. Known user behaviour patterns may be stored in step 806. The known user behaviour patterns may be stored in the MDS.

The effect of the provided alert signal may be analysed in step 807. The alert signal may include the first or second alert signal. The alert signal may include a combination of visual and/or audible alert signals. The analysis may include a comparison of the alert data 420 representative of the provided alert signal with the sanitary data 410 representative of the release of sanitizing material. The analysis may determine whether the user behaviour pattern has changed positively, negatively or is unchanged. Based on the analysis, i.e. the historical effect of the provided alert signals on the user behaviour pattern, the alert data to be provided onwardly may be changed or unchanged. The alert data may be updated with the new data in step 808, i.e. the active user list may be updated with the new data.

Unknown user behaviour patterns may be stored in step 809. The unknown user behaviour patterns may be stored in the MDS.

Unknown user behaviour patterns may be manually analysed in step 810. The unknown user behaviour patterns may following be implemented as a known user behaviour patterns. The unknown user behaviour patterns not being implemented as a known user behaviour pattern may iteratively be included in step 805 to be used retrospectively in order to identify user behaviour patterns onwardly.

Referring to Fig. 5, an analysing service installed on or connected to the processing unit 200 may provide statistical data and statistical models based on the historical data sets 400 and/or alert data 420 (see Fig. 1 and 3) wherein the statistical data and statistical models may be accessible through one or more remote devices 700. The statistical data and statistical models may be real-time statistical data and statistical models. One or more persons may have access to the statistical data and statistical models via a login, whereas the persons may have access to statistical data and statistical models relevant for those persons.

For example a hygiene nurse may have access to detailed statistical data and statistical models showing sanitizing behaviour within her own department, whereas the hygiene nurse may have access to more overall statistical data and statistical models showing sanitizing behaviour within other departments. The statistical data and statistical models may visualise;

- sanitizing behaviour of individual persons and/or within different groups of persons,

- distribution and development over time of overall gradings of individual persons and/or within different groups of persons,

- comparison of sanitizing behaviour between rooms, departments, individual persons and/or groups of persons

- compliance with Key performance indicators (KPIs),

- the alert signals effect on individual persons and/or different groups of persons,

- consumption of sanitizing material in different rooms, departments, for individual persons and/or groups of persons, etc.

The different groups of persons may be different professions. As another example, a system operator may have access to;

- surveillance of the data flow from the master dispensers,

- system performance

- machine learning results and status information

- missing master data, etc. The analysing service may be used together with any possible configuration of the dispenser system 1 including the dispenser systems 1 illustrated in Fig. 1 and in Fig. 2. The dispenser system 1 may communicate via the first network 600 through a Firewall 620.

Referring to Fig. 6, the dispenser 100 may comprise a WI-FI module 101 , a Bluetooth module 102, a loudspeaker 103, a display 104, a first sensor 105, a second sensor 106, a third sensor (not shown), a sanitizing opening 107, a first contact 108 and/or a second contact 109.

The WI-FI module 101 and/or the Bluetooth module 102 may comprise respectively a WI-FI or a Bluetooth transceiver, i.e. transmitter and receiver. If having a dispenser system 1 comprising master and slave dispensers 1 10, 120, only the master dispenser 1 10 may have a WI-FI module 101 . The slave dispenser 120 may not have a WI-FI module 101 (see Fig. 2). The Bluetooth module 102 may comprise a microprocessor for controlling the Bluetooth module 102. The loudspeaker 103 may be a piezoelectric speaker. The display 104 may be a dot-matrix display. The first and/or second sensor 105, 106 may be a PIR sensor. The first sensor 105 may be configured for detecting a person within a detection zone 130. The second sensor 106 may be configured for detecting release of sanitizing material through the jet 107. The third sensor may be a Bluetooth Low Energy unit (BLE unit) configured for detecting the presence of an identification tag (not shown) worn by the person. The first contact 108 may be configured for deactivating the loudspeaker 103 and/or the display 104 so that no alert signal may be provided, for example in case the patient is sensitive to light and/or sounds. The second contact 109 may be configured for activating a special dispenser mode, for example if the dispenser 100 is installed in a patient room having a patient in isolation requiring a specific sanitizing protocol including for example repeatedly sanitizing actions by everyone entering, staying in and leaving the room.

Configuration of the dispenser system 1 may be made via additional buttons under a cover of the one or more dispensers 100 or via data files retrieved by the dispensers 100 from the processing unit 200.

Alternatively the dispenser 100 may include a conventional dispenser already installed in the facility or to be installed in the facility and a separate dispenser unit (not shown) being connectable to the conventional dispenser, wherein the dispenser unit may comprise the WI-FI module 101 , Bluetooth module 102, first sensor 105, second sensor 106, third sensor, displays 104, loudspeakers 103, first contact 108 and/or second contact 109. Although the teaching of this application has been described in detail for purpose of illustration, it is understood that such detail is solely for that purpose, and variations can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the teaching of this application. The terms "comprising" or "including" as used in the claims does not exclude other elements or steps. The term "a" or "an" as used in the claims does not exclude a plurality.

LIST OF REFERENCES

1 Dispenser system 100 Dispenser

101 WI-FI module

102 Bluetooth module

103 Loudspeaker

104 Display

105 First sensor

106 Second sensor

107 Sanitizing opening

108 First contact

109 Second contact 1 10 Master dispenser

120 Slave dispenser

130 Detection zone

200 Processing unit 201 Storing unit

300 Room

400 Historical data set 410 Sanitary data

41 1 Sanitary data set

420 Alert data

430 Master data

440 Activation data 441 Activation data set

450 Timestamp Dispenser ID

Beacon ID

Region detection unit Identification tag

First Network

Second network Firewall

Remote device

Data processing Steps