Design Implementation of A Hybrid VLP/PLC-Based Indoor Tracking System for Smart Hospitals

Modern healthcare systems will necessitate smart hospital operations with system-wide wireless communications and positioning capabilities, which cannot be entirely facilitated by existing radio-frequency (RF) technologies due to interference concerns. We present design and implementation of a novel hybrid wireless tracking system utilizing visible light communication (VLC) and positioning (VLP) technologies, aided by powerline communication (PLC), for smart hospital operations. Utilizing the existing LED lighting infrastructure, this VLC/VLP/PLC positioning system consists of host optical transceivers embedded in light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs and user-end photodetector (PD) optical tags to form a wireless tracking network connecting all people and equipment throughout all hospital buildings. The new indoor optical tracking system was validated via simulation and experiments. Smart hospital operations will lead to more affordable healthcare with improved quality in the near future.