Abstract: A room-level sound-event sensor is used to initiate the location process whenever it is likely that a person has entered or left the room. A room-level sound-event sensor is defined as an electronic sensing device that can determine whether a sound event occurs in one room, independently of what is happening in any adjacent room. In one embodiment of the invention, a room-level sound-event sensor may be a microphone. The sensed room-level sound event is the transition from a room being silent to a room being occupied by people speaking.

Abstract: A room-level event sensor is used to initiate the location process whenever it is likely that a person has entered or left the room. A room-level event sensor is defined as an electronic sensing device that can determine whether an event occurs in one room, independently of what is happening in any adjacent room. In one embodiment of the invention, a room-level event sensor may be a door-position sensor, and the room-level event it senses is the opening or closing of a door. It is very likely that a patient or caregiver can enter or leave a room only when the door-position sensor perceives an open door. In another embodiment, a room-level event sensor may be a microphone. The sensed room-level event is the transition from a room being silent to a room being occupied by people speaking.