Sanitation method and system

Abstract

A sanitation system may include a sink, a sanitation material dispenser for dispensing material such as soap, and a dryer for either dispensing dryer material such as paper towels or providing heated air. An electronic device may be in communication with one or more of these items, and a sanitation module may operate on the sanitation system. The sanitation module may time a sanitation activity for the sanitation system, such as hand washing. Content may be displayed on the electronic device, and the content may serve to engage or distract the user. The electronic device may be able to identify the individual user and customize the content. The sanitation module may time the sanitation procedure and may accordingly promote a minimum time spent on the sanitation activity. The sanitation system may also be used for monitoring either the sanitation material or the dryer material and automatically order new material when the material is low.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A sanitation system for conducting a sanitation activity, the system comprising:
 a sink;   a dispenser for dispensing a sanitation material;   a sensor in communication with either the sink or the dispenser, the sensor operable to detect activation of either the sink or the dispenser; and   an electronic multifunction device in electronic communication with the sensor, the electronic multifunction device including an output device, a processor, and memory,   wherein the sensor signals the electronic multifunction device of activation of either the dispenser or the sink thereby initiating a sanitation module operating on the electronic multifunction device, and   wherein the output device includes an output, and wherein the output outputs media content after the multifunction device is signaled of the activation.   
     
     
         2 . The sanitation system of  claim 1 , wherein the media content further includes a countdown timer that is initiated by the initiation of sanitation activity. 
     
     
         3 . The sanitation system of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic multifunction device further comprising an input device, the sanitation module being configured to identify a user of the sanitation system from user data provided through the input device, and the sanitation module is configured to individually tailor the media content based on the identification of the user. 
     
     
         4 . The sanitation system of  claim 3 , wherein the multifunction device is in further communication with a remote processor, the remote processor having access to a database of user data. 
     
     
         5 . The sanitation system of  claim 2 , wherein the media content is customizable by the individual user. 
     
     
         6 . The sanitation system of  claim 4 , wherein the database of user data includes electronic medical records. 
     
     
         7 . The sanitation system of  claim 1 , wherein the sanitation module is configured to monitor the length of time of the sanitation activity, the sanitation activity beginning with the activation of either the dispenser or the sink and ending with an ending event. 
     
     
         8 . The sanitation system of  claim 7 , further comprising a dryer operable to either dispense dryer material or heated air, the dryer including a dryer sensor operable to monitor the activation of the dryer, and
 wherein the ending event occurs by the activation of the dryer.   
     
     
         9 . The sanitation system of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor is operable to determine when water no longer flows from the sink, and
 wherein the ending event occurs by the cessation of water flowing from the sink.   
     
     
         10 . The sanitation system of  claim 3 , wherein the input device and the output device are both a display. 
     
     
         11 . The sanitation system of  claim 1 , wherein the output device includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a display and a speaker. 
     
     
         12 . The sanitation system of  claim 10 , wherein the media content is individually tailored based at least in part on a user's onsite interaction with the sanitation system. 
     
     
         13 . The sanitation system of  claim 1 , wherein the sanitation module adjusts the functionality of either the dispenser or the sink in response to the identification of the user. 
     
     
         14 . The sanitation system of  claim 6 , wherein the output device alerts a user of the sanitation system if the time between the activation event and the ending event is less than a predetermined amount of time. 
     
     
         15 . The sanitation system of  claim 14 , wherein the predetermined amount of time is determined, at least in part, based on a user's medical condition gleaned from the user's received medical condition. 
     
     
         16 . The sanitation system of  claim 1 , wherein the sensor further monitors and transmits data regarding either the use of water by the sink or the use of sanitation material dispensed by the dispenser. 
     
     
         17 . A sanitation system comprising:
 a sink;   a dispenser for dispensing a sanitation material, the dispenser including a dispenser sensor operable to detect activation of the dispenser and to control operation of the dispenser;   a dryer for either dispensing dryer material or for blowing hot air, the dryer including a dryer sensor operable to detect activation of the dryer and to control operation of the dryer; and   an electronic multifunction device in electronic communication with the dispenser sensor and the dryer sensor, and the electronic multifunction device including an output device, a processor, and memory,   wherein a sanitation module is operating on the electronic multifunction device and is in communication with the dispenser sensor and the dryer sensor, and   wherein the sanitation module is operable to monitor the length of time of a sanitation activity, the sanitation activity beginning with an activation event and ending with an ending event,   alert a user of the sanitation system when the user has not conducted the sanitation activity for a predetermined amount of time, and   identify the user and store user data regarding the user's use of the sanitation system, and   wherein the activation event is either the dispensing of sanitation material or the activation of the sink, and   wherein the output device includes an output, and wherein the output outputs media content after the multifunction device is signaled of the activation.   
     
     
         18 . The sanitation system of  claim 17 , wherein the ending event occurs from the activation of the dryer. 
     
     
         19 . The sanitation system of  claim 17 , wherein the electronic multifunction device is in further communication with a remote computer, and the user data includes electronic medical records. 
     
     
         20 . The sanitation system of  claim 17 , wherein the predetermined amount of time is determined, at least in part, based on a user's medical condition gleaned from the user's received medical condition. 
     
     
         21 . The sanitation system of  claim 17 , wherein the media content is customizable by the individual user. 
     
     
         22 . The sanitation system of  claim 17 , wherein the sanitation module is operable to identify the user as a particular person from a user database. 
     
     
         23 . The sanitation system of  claim 22 , wherein the sanitation module adjusts the operation of at least one of the sink, the dispenser, or the dryer in response to the identification of the particular person. 
     
     
         24 . The sanitation system of  claim 17 , wherein the media content further includes a countdown timer that is initiated by the initiation of sanitation activity. 
     
     
         25 . The sanitation system of  claim 17 , wherein the electronic multifunction device further comprising an input device, the sanitation module being configured to identify a user of the sanitation system from user data provided through the input device, and the sanitation module is configured to individually tailor the media content based on the identification of the user. 
     
     
         26 . The sanitation system of  claim 25 , wherein the multifunction device is in further communication with a remote processor, the remote processor having access to a database of user data. 
     
     
         27 . The sanitation system of  claim 24 , wherein the media content is customizable by the individual user. 
     
     
         28 . The sanitation system of  claim 17 , wherein the output device includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a display and a speaker. 
     
     
         29 . A method of conducting a sanitation procedure, the method comprising:
 providing an electronic multifunction device in a sanitation environment, the sanitation environment including a sink and a dispenser for dispensing a sanitation material, the electronic multifunction device operable to monitor the dispenser, the electronic multifunction device including an output, a processor, and memory;   activating the dispenser thereby defining an activation event;   monitoring for an ending event of the sanitation procedure;   determining the length of time between the activation event and the ending event;   alerting the user of a premature finish to the sanitation procedure if the length of time between the activation event and the ending event is less than a predetermined length of time;   providing media content on the output upon the activation event.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising:
 identifying a user of the sanitation procedure from user data access by the electronic multifunction device from a user database, the user database including electronic medical records; and   adjusting the predetermined length of time based on the medical records.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising
 providing a dryer operable to either produce heated air or dispense drying material, the electronic multifunction device further operable to monitor activation of the dryer, and   wherein the ending event is defined by activation of the dryer.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the output includes at least one selected from the group consisting of a display and a speaker.