Article of personal protection equipment and sensor

Abstract

A personal protection article (PPA) includes at least one sensor configured to sense one or more variables, wherein the PPA is configured with a smart tag to carry smart tag data. The smart tag is configured to be read by at least one smart tag scanner, wherein the computing device: configures at least one predetermined criterion with respect to the at least one PPA that is based at least in part on the one or more variables; receives the smart tag data of the smart tag for the one or more variables; determines whether the smart tag data satisfies the at least one predetermined criterion based at least in part on the smart tag data of the smart tag for the one or more variables; and processes a result relating to the determination of whether the smart tag data satisfies the at least one predetermined criterion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system comprising:
 a plurality of personal protection articles for use within a working environment, wherein each of the personal protection articles comprises a smart tag storing data including identification data for the article, the type of article, historical information relating to the article, and data indicative of usage of the personal protection article within the working environment;   a plurality of sensors configured to sense, from the working environment, one or more variables indicative of particular conditions of the working environment in which the plurality of personal protection articles are used;   an information retrieval system comprising at least one data acquiring device configured with respect to each of the personal protection articles to:
 acquire smart tag data from the smart tag; and 
 acquire, based on the type of the personal protection article, data corresponding to the one or more variables sensed from one or more sensors of the plurality of sensors; and 
   a data processing system including memory, the memory storing data indicating a plurality of predetermined criteria that governs use of the plurality of personal protection articles, wherein the data processing system is configured with respect to each of the personal protection articles to:
 receive the smart tag data and the data corresponding to the one or more variables from the information retrieval system, 
 select at least one predetermined criterion from the plurality of predetermined criteria based on the type of the personal protection article whose condition is being determined and the data corresponding to the one or more variables indicative of the particular conditions of the working environment in which said personal protection article is used, 
 determine, based on the smart tag data indicative of the type of the personal protection article whose condition is being determined and usage of said personal protection article, whether the smart tag data satisfies the selected at least one predetermined criterion, and 
 store, in the memory, data relating to results of the determination of whether the smart tag data satisfies the selected at least one predetermined criterion and smart tag data. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the data processing system is further configured to generate at least one report based on the smart tag data. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the data processing system is further configured to generate at least one report based on the data relating to the results of the determination of whether the smart tag data satisfies the selected at least one predetermined criterion. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the data processing system is further configured to generate at least one report based on the data corresponding to the one or more variables sensed from the one or more sensors. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the selected at least one predetermined criterion includes a maximum exposure time, wherein the smart tag data includes an exposure time, and wherein data processing system is further configured to determine whether the smart tag data satisfies the selected at least one predetermined criterion by at least determining whether the exposure time satisfies the exposure threshold. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the smart tag data includes at least one of exposure time, charge of a battery, or air pressure for the personal protection article. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the selected at least one predetermined criterion is an initial set of criteria, wherein the data processing system is further configured to:
 update, based on the data corresponding to the one or more variables, the at least one predetermined criterion; and   determine, based on the smart tag data, whether the smart tag data satisfies the at least one updated predetermined criterion.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of personal protective articles comprises at least one of respiratory protection equipment, protective eyewear, protective headwear, hearing protection, protective footwear, protective clothing, or protective articles. 
     
     
         9 . A computing device comprising:
 at least one processor;   a memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to:
 receive, from a smart tag of each personal protection article of a plurality of personal protection articles, each personal protection article of said plurality of personal protection articles being provided with a smart tag for use within a working environment, smart tag data including identification data for the article, the type of article, historical information relating to the article, and data indicative of usage of the personal protection article within the working environment; 
 receive from one or more sensors of a plurality of sensors that are configured to sense one or more variables based on the types of personal protection articles being tracked and indicative of particular conditions of the working environment in which the plurality of personal protection articles are used, data corresponding to one or more variables sensed by said one or more sensors; 
 select, based on the type of the personal protection article whose condition is being determined and the data corresponding to the one or more variables indicative of the particular conditions of the working environment in which said personal protection article is used, at least one predetermined criterion from the plurality of predetermined criteria that governs use of the plurality of personal protection articles; 
 determine, based on the smart tag data indicative of the type of the personal protection article whose condition is being determined and usage of said personal protection article, whether the smart tag data satisfies the selected at least one predetermined criterion; and 
 store, in the memory, data relating to results of the determination of whether the smart tag data satisfies the selected at least one predetermined criterion as well as the smart tag data. 
   
     
     
         10 . The computing device of  claim 9 , wherein execution of the instructions further cause the at least one processor to generate at least one report based on the smart tag data. 
     
     
         11 . The computing device of  claim 9 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the at least one processor to generate at least one report based on the data relating to the results of the determination of whether the smart tag data satisfies the selected at least one predetermined criterion. 
     
     
         12 . The computing device of  claim 9 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the at least one processor to generate at least one report based on data corresponding to the one or more variables sensed from the one or more sensors. 
     
     
         13 . The computing device of  claim 9 , wherein the selected at least one predetermined criterion includes a maximum exposure time, wherein the smart tag data includes an exposure time, and wherein execution of the instructions causes the at least one processor to determine whether the smart tag data satisfies the selected at least one predetermined criterion by at least causing the at least one processor to determine whether the exposure time satisfies the exposure threshold. 
     
     
         14 . The computing device of  claim 9 , wherein the smart tag data includes at least one of exposure time, charge of a battery, or air pressure for the personal protection article. 
     
     
         15 . The computing device of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one predetermined criterion is an initial set of criteria, wherein execution of the instructions further causes the at least one processor to:
 determine, based on the data corresponding to the one or more variables, at least one updated criteria; and   determine, based on the smart tag data and the data corresponding to the one or more variables, whether the smart tag data satisfies the at least one updated criterion.   
     
     
         16 . The computing device of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of personal protective articles comprises at least one of respiratory protection equipment, protective eyewear, protective headwear, hearing protection, protective footwear, protective clothing, or protective articles. 
     
     
         17 . A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computing device, cause the at least one processor to:
 receive, from a smart tag of each personal protection article of a plurality of personal protection articles, each personal protection article of said plurality of personal protection articles being provided with a smart tag for use within a working environment, smart tag data including identification data for the article, the type of article, historical information relating to the article, and data indicative of usage of the personal protection article within the working environment;   receive from one or more sensors of a plurality of sensors that are configured to sense one or more variables based on the types of personal protection articles being tracked and indicative of particular conditions of the working environment in which the plurality of personal protection articles are used, data corresponding to one or more variables sensed by the one or more sensors;   select, based on the type of the personal protection article whose condition is being determined and the data corresponding to the one or more variables indicative of the particular conditions of the working environment in which said personal protection article is used, at least one predetermined criterion from the plurality of predetermined criteria that governs use of the plurality of personal protection articles;   determine, based on the smart tag data indicative of the type of the personal protection article whose condition is being determined and usage of said personal protection article, whether the smart tag data satisfies the selected at least one predetermined criterion; and   store, in a memory of the computing device, data relating to results of the determination of whether the smart tag data satisfies the selected at least one predetermined criterion as well as the smart tag data.   
     
     
         18 . The storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein execution of the instructions further causes the at least one processor to generate at least one report based on the smart tag data. 
     
     
         19 . The storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the selected at least one predetermined criterion includes a maximum exposure time, wherein the smart tag data includes an exposure time, and wherein execution of the instructions causes the at least one processor to determine whether the smart tag data satisfies the selected at least one predetermined criterion by at least causing the at least one processor to determine whether the exposure time satisfies the exposure threshold. 
     
     
         20 . The storage medium of  claim 17 , wherein the smart tag data includes at least one of exposure time, charge of a battery, or air pressure for the personal protection article.