Abstract: An inventory-tracking unit associated with a storage unit holding items to be dispensed includes a card reader to read an access card issued to a user and a recorder to record data from items removed from the storage unit. A processor communicates with a sensor in the storage unit and with the card reader and recorder. The sensor provides item data to the processor that is associated with items removed from the storage unit. The processor compares item data received from the sensor with the data recorded by the recorder to detect coincidence. The processor generates a transaction upon coincidence of item data received from the sensor with the recorded data. A communications interface transmits the transaction to a remote site.

Abstract: A system and method for containing and restricting spread of infectious diseases within hospitals, clinics and other medical facilities by cataloguing and delimiting movement of patients, medical staff, employees, visitors, contractors and other personnel attending or on-site. The system also provides for tracking and cataloguing contaminated medical apparatus, medicine trolleys, food trolleys, medical gas stations, laundry baskets and other mobile or movable medical equipment or facility equipment to prevent spread of the infectious disease or viral entities. According to another aspect, the system includes a poling or supervisory network for auditing the presence or absence of patients, medical staff and other personnel; and medical apparatus, movable equipment or other facility equipment.

Abstract: A product dispensing unit comprises a housing, at least one main balun antenna within the housing and at least one product holder within the housing. The at least one product holder holds RFID tagged product to be dispensed from the housing. At least one supplementary antenna is positioned adjacent the product holder to cause RFID tags on the product to oscillate when excited by the main balun antenna.

Abstract: A communication system (10) comprises at least two communication networks (20, 22) over which communications between physical devices (14) connected to the communication networks are to be carried out. The communication networks (20, 22) implement different protocols for messaging. A communication server (12) acts between the communication networks. Messages between the communication networks pass through the communication server. The communication server includes a knowledge base (286) storing protocol conversion information. The communication server (12) accesses the protocol conversion information in the knowledge base (286) upon receipt of a message and converts the protocol thereof to a protocol compatible with the communication network to which the message is being sent.