PLEXUS SYSTEM

SOFTWARE

Conexus’s ‘Plexus Vision Information System’ is a secure commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software platform that uniquely enables tracking and management of assets using multiple technologies including radio-frequency identification (RFID), wireless real-time locating systems (RTLS), and barcode. In addition to the unique blend of technologies, Plexus offers the capability of real time asset location across a collection of facilities that make up a Command or Campus, as well as the ability to consolidate tracking data from multiple Campuses into a single Enterprise master view.

Advanced Asset Management

Campus View The Plexus system architecture supports the overall organizational design of todays integrated health network by delivering real time asset location services across a collection of facilities that consists of a Parent Hospital or Military Treatment Facility (MTF) and associated remote locations. This capability is delivered by using a combination of client workstations and Web services that share data through a unique data transfer process using a secure and certified Web service.
Enterprise The Plexus Composite Web service allows Enterprise Stakeholders to see tracking and utilization information on all of the Campus's using the Plexus RFID RTLS solution. Each small, medium, and large campus connects to a secure and encrypted Web service that transmits current tracking information to the Plexus Composite Server. The server displays the data for all of the parent commands in a single consolidated Web interface. Users can select to view tracking information for a specific command, region or the entire enterprise at one time.
Multiple RFID technologies Plexus tracks an items current location, sub-location, and status using a Wi-Fi 802.11 active RTLS tag, a pRFID tag, or a barcode tag. Active Wi-Fi tags are tracked using the facility's existing wireless infrastructure. This can either be done by the tags associating to the wireless network or by the tags beaconing a wireless signal to the WLAN. The Wi-Fi tags beacon their location to the existing 802.11 Wi-Fi networks. Passive RFID tags can be tracked through Plexus when detected by stationary readers and connected antennas or by a user with a handheld pRFID scanner. Conditional event- rules can be set to trigger notifications, alerts, and alarms when an item moves to a specified location. Using best practices to select the right tag based on the type of asset allows accurate asset location and workflow management for the full list of items delivered in a single user interface.
DoD Assessed and Authorized The Plexus System has an Authority to Operate (ATO) and Authority to Connect (ATC) on the Department of Defense Network. The cybersecurity requirements inherent in these authorizations are embedded in the Plexus design and are part of Conexus' ongoing commitment to designing and providing a solution consistent with the DoD's evolving security requirements and guidelines.
Mobile Handheld scanner/reader This application client consists of a user interface that is loaded on the handheld and a light application interface that is loaded on a standard PC. Users scan items that have a pRFID label (or barcode) attached to them using the handheld scanner, and then synchronize the scanner to the PC using a docking cradle.
Plexus Web The Plexus Web application provides an interface to the Plexus data that is stored on the local campus Plexus Servers. Each user has access to grid and map views of tracking data, homepage summary data, item information, location information and summary reports
Plexus Composite Viewer Plexus Composite website allows user to see tracking information and return on investment (ROI) for a network of Plexus campuses at the same time. Each campus connects to a secure and encrypted Web service that sends the most recent tracking information to the Plexus Composite server. The Plexus Composite server then displays the data for all of the parent campuses in one Web user interface. The user can then select to view tracking information for a specific campus, region or the entire enterprise at one time. This information creates informed decisions on inventory replacement, augmentation and retirement.
pRFID Antennas and Reader Plexus interfaces with pRFID readers and attached antennas. Stationary RFID readers create tracking as items are seen by the connected antennas. The reader then communicates the read tracking tag and time to the Plexus application server over the LAN. The Plexus Stream Service, installed on the local Plexus application server, automatically creates Plexus tracking records for these items based on the location of the reader and the associated status assigned by the facility. These tracking records become immediately available to both the Plexus workstation application users as well as the Plexus Web users.
Facility’s 802.11 Wireless Networks The Plexus Information System provides active Wi-Fi RTLS tracking using the approved wireless local area network standard configuration. The Plexus Wi-Fi RTLS tags can function by associating to a wireless SSID and detecting the wireless signal produced by the access points and they can also function in beacon mode using Cisco CCX protocols or Aruba blink protocols.
Patients or Staff tracking Plexus allows for the tracking of both patient and staff throughout facilities by utilizing a RTLS tag, lanyard, or wristband with the capability for two-way messaging. All messaging, alarms, alerts and facility specific protocols can be set by staff to ensure efficient tracking.
Allow a staff member to indicate duress Plexus events can also be configured to notify if a patient or staff tag is in duress and to send alerts to personnel in the area, specified personnel, send an email, show a Plexus pop-up message and produce an XML output file for us by a third party system. The Plexus badge tags have a pull-cord panic or alert switch that is user-programmable and configurable within the Plexus application. In addition, the badge tag offers two programmable buttons. These tags can be programmed to call security or to request accompaniment, all configurable by the local facility. A staff member is able to send an alert if attacked or if immediate help is needed. The alarm reveals the precise location of the badge at the time of the alert. The Plexus safety switch event and button events allow the wearer to trigger alarms or alerts and are programmable to have different meanings when triggered. When one of these events takes place, the Plexus workstation application will show the event information as well as a map of where the event is taking place. Safety switch alarms can be configured to send a message to other badge tags that are in specified vicinity, to a specific tag group, or to all badge tags. All events that can be triggered by the staff Wi-Fi tag can be configured to create a Plexus pop-up message that displays to Plexus workstation users, send an email, or create an XML output file to trigger a response in a third party system. Plexus badge tag events are accurate to within nine feet. The alert notification can take place within 10 seconds of activation if the local facility LAN conditions are robust enough to support this communication speed.
Interface with a phone or other alert system The Plexus system currently includes the capability of triggering notifications, alerts and alarms. In additions to displaying these events on the local Plexus screen, Plexus can be configured to send an email or it can send an XML alert file to a third party system. This function can be used in the future for setting up an interface with a phone or an adjacent alert system. The Plexus system already offers some of the future desired capabilities including displaying a map to indicate where an alert triggers, providing location resolution within 30 feet and an alert notification within 10 seconds of activation.

Plexus Central Servers

The system has been designed to include two central servers at each parent site, an application/Web server and a database server. These are designated as dedicated servers owned and managed by the local facility. The Plexus server software manages the process of creating, analyzing, sharing and storing asset-tracking records captured by the scanners, antennas, WLAN controllers, readers and Plexus workstations.

Workstation

  • Plexus Master Workstation

    The Plexus application is installed on a PC and is configured for users to access through Windows (for Department of Defense (DoD) requires Contractor Authorization Card (CAC) authorization) and Plexus User ID and Password. Plexus workstations on the campus are clients to the server. Therefore, all updates at a workstation may be immediately viewed by all other client workstations.

    The workstation may also be configured as a remote standalone in which the workstation uses an internal database and performs a secure and encrypted data exchange service with the Plexus application/web server located at the main facility.

  • Phone: 801-984-6700
    Fax: 801-984-6704

  • 5250 S Commerce Drive Suite 160, Salt Lake City, UT 84107

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