US 10380873

US patent 10380873, titled "Interactive wireless life safety communications system," was invented by Michael Halverson. The current assignee is Ricmic LLC. The patent has a filing date of April 16, 2019, and an issue date of August 13, 2019.

Abstract:
The patent describes an interactive wireless life safety communications system. It includes a central coordination server connected to a first network, which in turn links to at least one resident life safety device. These devices, associated with a specific location or resident, generate and transmit an alarm signal upon detecting an alarm condition to the central server. A separate second communications network connects the central server to multiple caregiver communications devices. These caregiver devices receive alarm notifications from the central server and accept user input. From this input, a caregiver acceptance response is generated and sent to the central server, indicating that a caregiver is responding to an alarm.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1 (System Claim): This claim describes a physical system designed for assisted care facilities. It involves:

  • Resident life safety devices (like motion detectors or pull cords) connected via a first network to a central server. These devices send an alarm signal when a problem is detected.
  • Caregiver communication devices (e.g., tablets or smartphones) linked to the same central server via a different second network.
  • When an alarm occurs, the central server sends a notification to all caregiver devices.
  • Caregivers can then use their devices to send an "acceptance response," signaling they are responding.
  • Critically, when one caregiver accepts, all other caregiver devices are automatically updated to show who is responding, but the alarm notification itself remains active until the alarm condition is physically cleared at the resident's location.
  • The system also records all these responses for tracking.

• Claim 14 (System Claim): This claim is similar to Claim 1 but focuses on the central coordination server's role in receiving alarm signals from resident safety devices and interacting with caregiver devices over a communications network. Key elements include:

  • A central coordination server that receives alarm signals from resident life safety devices (associated with a location or resident) when an alarm condition is detected.
  • Multiple caregiver communication devices, each linked to a specific caregiver and connected to the central server via a communications network.
  • These caregiver devices receive alarm notifications and accept caregiver input.
  • A "caregiver acceptance response," generated from caregiver input, is transmitted to the central server, indicating a caregiver is responding.
  • Upon receipt of this acceptance response, all caregiver devices are automatically updated to show the responding caregiver, and the alarm notification stays active.
  • Once the alarm condition is cleared at the resident life safety device, the central server updates all caregiver devices to indicate the alarm is cleared.
  • The central server records the acceptance response, the responding caregiver's identity, and the associated alarm notification.

• Claim 15 (Method Claim): This claim outlines a step-by-step process for coordinating caregiver responses to alerts in an assisted care facility, performed by the central coordination server. The method involves:

  • Receiving an alarm signal from a resident life safety device (which detected an alarm condition at a specific location or for a resident).
  • Transmitting an alarm notification to multiple caregiver communication devices in response to the received alarm signal.
  • Receiving a "caregiver acceptance response" from a caregiver's device, which signifies that a particular caregiver is responding to the alarm.
  • Automatically updating all caregiver devices to show that the identified caregiver is responding, while keeping the original alarm notification active.
  • Updating all caregiver devices to indicate that the alarm condition is cleared once it has been addressed at the resident life safety device.
  • Recording the acceptance response, the responding caregiver's identification, and the details of the alarm notification.

CAFC 2026 Dockets Search:
A search of CAFC 2026 dockets for patent number 10380873 did not yield any direct results indicating active litigation specifically within the CAFC dockets for the year 2026 as of the current date. However, Google Patents notes that the patent family has litigation, with multiple US cases filed in various District Courts (Texas Eastern, Florida Middle, California Southern), but these are not specifically CAFC 2026 dockets.

https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/litigation/California%20Southern%20District%20Court/case/3%3A22-cv-00190
https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/litigation/Florida%20Middle%20District%20Court/case/6%3A24-cv-00893
https://portal.unifiedpatents.com/litigation/Texas%20Eastern%20District%20Court/case/2%3A25-cv-00586
https://patents.google.com/patent/[US10380873](/patent/US10380873)/en

Known litigation involving US patent 10380873 includes cases filed in various US District Courts. As of April 26, 2026, no direct results for litigation specifically within CAFC 2026 dockets were found. However, Google Patents notes several district court cases for the patent family, indicating active litigation.

Here's a summary of known litigation based on the provided information, focusing on the specific patent number US10380873 where available and acknowledging that some citations refer to the patent family:

• Jurisdiction: Texas Eastern District Court

  • Case Number: 2:25-cv-00586
  • Status: The current status or outcome is not explicitly detailed in the provided snippets, beyond the fact that a case was filed.

• Jurisdiction: Florida Middle District Court

  • Case Number: 8:25-cv-00426
  • Status: The current status or outcome is not explicitly detailed in the provided snippets, beyond the fact that a case was filed.

• Jurisdiction: Florida Middle District Court

  • Case Number: 6:24-cv-00893
  • Status: The current status or outcome is not explicitly detailed in the provided snippets, beyond the fact that a case was filed.

• Jurisdiction: California Southern District Court

  • Case Number: 3:22-cv-00190
  • Status: The current status or outcome is not explicitly detailed in the provided snippets, beyond the fact that a case was filed.

• Jurisdiction: California Southern District Court

  • Case Number: 3:21-cv-01334
  • Status: The current status or outcome is not explicitly detailed in the provided snippets, beyond the fact that a case was filed.

• Jurisdiction: California Southern District Court

  • Case Number: 3:20-cv-02015
  • Status: The current status or outcome is not explicitly detailed in the provided snippets, beyond the fact that a case was filed.

The provided information indicates that "First worldwide family litigation filed" is linked to this patent family, with details available on darts-ip.com. However, specific plaintiff(s), defendant(s), and filing dates for this "worldwide family litigation" are not detailed in the given snippets.

It's important to note that while Unified Patents provides a portal for searching patent litigations in various courts, including District Courts and CAFC, the detailed results for US10380873 from a direct search on such platforms are not fully presented in the provided snippets. PACER is also noted as a source for federal court records, allowing searches by nationwide index or specific court.

Proceedings overview

As of the current date, there are no AIA trial proceedings on file for US Patent 10380873 in the USPTO Open Data Portal. This means the patent has not been subjected to IPR, PGR, or CBM trials, and all claims currently remain active and unchallenged through these specific post-grant review mechanisms.

Strategic summary

All claims of US Patent 10380873 are currently UNTESTED in AIA trial proceedings. There are no canceled, sustained, or narrowed claims as a result of IPR, PGR, or CBM actions.

Since no AIA trial proceedings have been filed, there is currently no estoppel landscape under § 315(e)(2) for this patent. All prior-art grounds remain available for potential future challenges.

The absence of PTAB activity suggests that this patent, as of now, has not been directly challenged via these mechanisms by third parties. This could indicate several possibilities: the patent may not yet be widely asserted in litigation, potential challengers may have chosen other avenues, or the patent's claims may be perceived as sufficiently robust to deter such challenges.

Recommended next steps

Given the absence of PTAB activity, a potential defendant facing assertion of US Patent 10380873 would find all claims currently intact. If a defendant believes there are strong prior art grounds to challenge the patentability of the claims, initiating an AIA trial proceeding (e.g., an Inter Partes Review) could be a viable defensive strategy. The absence of prior PTAB challenges means that a petitioner would have a clear field to present their best prior art.

Inventors

The sole named inventor for US patent 10380873 is Michael Halverson. At the time of the patent's filing on April 16, 2019, the application was filed by an "Individual," and shortly after, ownership was explicitly assigned to Michael Halverson and Richard E. Knecht before being transferred to Ricmic LLC. There is no determinable employer for Michael Halverson directly associated with the patent's subject matter or the initial filing at that time based on available public records. It appears Michael Halverson was operating as an independent inventor or as part of a small, unnamed entity with Richard E. Knecht.

Original assignee

The entity named on the issued patent is Ricmic LLC. However, the application was initially filed by an "Individual," subsequently assigned to the inventors Michael Halverson and Richard E. Knecht, and then to Ricmic LLC. Therefore, Ricmic LLC is the first formal entity identified in the patent's ownership chain according to the Google Patents legal events.

A search for "Ricmic LLC" products or business did not yield any public-facing information directly related to manufacturing or selling an "Interactive wireless life safety communications system" or similar products. The search results for similarly named entities like "Rithmic, LLC" indicate a business in financial trading software, which is unrelated to the patent's domain. Other "RICMIC CORP." entities found were inactive or unrelated. This suggests Ricmic LLC may not be an operating company that ships products embodying the claims. Its current status is active, as indicated by Google Patents.

Assignment timeline

The following assignment records are sourced from the "Legal status" and "Priority Applications" sections of the US10380873B1 Google Patents page, as direct access to the USPTO Assignment Center was not performed for this analysis. Recording dates, reel/frame numbers, and correspondent information are not available through this source.

• 2019-05-07 (executed) / recorded N/A
  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: Individual (initial applicant)
  • Assignee: KNECHT, RICHARD E., HALVERSON, MICHAEL
  • Correspondent: Not specified
  • Context: Transfer from the original individual applicant(s) to the named inventors as individuals.
• 2019-06-25 (executed) / recorded N/A
  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: HALVERSON, MICHAEL P
  • Assignee: RICMIC LLC
  • Correspondent: Not specified
  • Context: Transfer of interest from one of the inventors to Ricmic LLC.
• 2019-06-27 (executed) / recorded N/A
  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: KNECHT, RICHARD
  • Assignee: RICMIC LLC
  • Correspondent: Not specified
  • Context: Transfer of interest from the other inventor to Ricmic LLC.
• 2024-05-08 (executed) / recorded N/A
  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: HALVERSON, MICHAEL P, MR., KNECHT, RICHARD E, RICHARD E. KNECHT A PROF. CORP.
  • Assignee: RICMIC LLC
  • Correspondent: Not specified
  • Context: Further assignment of assignor's interest to Ricmic LLC, possibly a confirmatory assignment or an update given the mention of "RICHARD E. KNECHT A PROF. CORP.".
• 2024-05-08 (executed) / recorded N/A
  • Conveyance: Assignment of Assignors Interest
  • Assignor: RICMIC LLC
  • Assignee: RICMIC LLC
  • Correspondent: Not specified
  • Context: Internal reassignment within Ricmic LLC, potentially for administrative or restructuring purposes.

Timeline diagram

timeline
    title Ownership of US 10380873
    2019 : Filed by Individual
         : Assigned to Halverson & Knecht
         : Halverson assigned to Ricmic LLC
         : Knecht assigned to Ricmic LLC
    2019 : Patent issued
    2024 : Halverson & Knecht assigned to Ricmic LLC
         : Ricmic LLC assigned to Ricmic LLC

NPE / troll-pattern signals

1. Shell-entity transfer — Present. The original application was filed by an "Individual," and shortly after, the patent was assigned to Ricmic LLC. There is no readily available public information indicating that Ricmic LLC manufactures or sells products related to life safety communication systems. The fact that Google Patents shows ongoing litigation for the patent family, coupled with the lack of apparent products, strongly suggests a licensing or assertion-focused entity. The exact address and corporate structure (e.g., Delaware LLC) could not be verified from the available information, but the lack of an operating business is a key indicator.
2. Known asserter in the chain — Not present. Ricmic LLC is not explicitly listed as a known high-frequency plaintiff or NPE by prominent organizations like RPX Insurance or Unified Patents based on the provided search context.
3. Repeat correspondent across the chain — Unclear. The detailed correspondent information (attorney name, firm, address, reel/frame) is not available from the Google Patents legal events summary. Therefore, it's impossible to identify if the same correspondent recurs.
4. Cascading transfers — Present (weak signal). There were three transfers within a short period in 2019 (May 7, June 25, June 27) that effectively moved the patent from the individual inventor(s) to Ricmic LLC. While not involving multiple different LLCs, the rapid transfer to an entity that does not appear to be an operating company is noteworthy. The subsequent transfers in 2024, including an internal one, also suggest active management of the patent asset by Ricmic LLC.
5. Pre-litigation transfer — Unclear. The "Family has litigation" note on Google Patents indicates multiple US cases filed in District Courts (Texas Eastern, Florida Middle, California Southern) [cite: https://patents.google.com/patent/[US10380873](/patent/US10380873)/en]. However, the exact dates of the first infringement suit naming this patent are not provided, preventing a definitive comparison with the assignment dates.
6. Bankruptcy fire-sale — Not present. There is no indication of the original assignee or inventors filing for bankruptcy and the patent being sold in such proceedings.
7. Privateering — Unclear. There is no public information or SEC filings available to suggest that Ricmic LLC is asserting this patent on behalf of an operating company against competitors.
8. Defensive aggregator (anti-NPE) — Not present. The chain terminates with Ricmic LLC, which does not appear to be a defensive aggregator.

Verdict

NPE — moderate confidence.
This verdict is based on the strong signal that Ricmic LLC appears to be a shell entity, lacking public-facing products or an operating business related to the patented technology. The prompt's authoritative source explicitly states "Family has litigation" with multiple US cases filed, which is a key characteristic of NPE behavior. The rapid initial transfers from individual inventors to Ricmic LLC in 2019 also suggest the establishment of an entity primarily for managing and potentially asserting patent rights.

[USPTO Assignment Center Search for US10380873](https://assignmentcenter.uspto.gov/patent/index.html - search by patent number 10380873)

The USPTO provides tools for searching patents, including prior art citations. To identify the most relevant prior art for US Patent 10380873, I will examine the "Cited By" section of the patent on Google Patents, as this lists prior art that was considered during the examination process. "Prior art" refers to any public information existing before the effective filing date of an invention that might suggest the invention is not new or is obvious.

Here's an analysis of the most relevant prior art cited against US Patent 10380873:

Prior Art Citations:

• US10523689B2 (Icontrol Networks, Inc.)

  • Full Citation: US10523689B2, "Communication protocols over internet protocol (IP) networks"
  • Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: 2007-06-12, Publication Date: 2019-12-31.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes communication protocols for integrated systems over IP networks, which can involve devices communicating within a premises network and with remote servers.
  • Potential Anticipated Claim(s) (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent might potentially anticipate elements of claims 1, 14, and 15 related to the use of communication networks (first and second networks) and a central server for data transmission, given its focus on communication protocols over IP networks for integrated systems. Specifically, the general concept of devices communicating with a central system over a network to manage alerts or events could be relevant.

• US10616075B2 (Icontrol Networks, Inc.)

  • Full Citation: US10616075B2, "Communication protocols in integrated systems"
  • Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: 2007-06-12, Publication Date: 2020-04-07.
  • Brief Description: This patent also focuses on communication protocols within integrated systems, likely for home automation or security, where various devices interact via defined protocols.
  • Potential Anticipated Claim(s) (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US10523689B2, this patent could potentially anticipate aspects of claims 1, 14, and 15 that involve the foundational communication infrastructure, network connectivity, and how different devices (resident life safety and caregiver devices) interact within an integrated system.

• US10616244B2 (Icontrol Networks, Inc.)

  • Full Citation: US10616244B2, "Activation of gateway device"
  • Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: 2006-06-12, Publication Date: 2020-04-07.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes methods and systems for the activation of gateway devices within a network, potentially for connecting local devices to a broader network or server.
  • Potential Anticipated Claim(s) (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent might anticipate elements of claims 1 and 14 concerning how devices (e.g., resident life safety devices or caregiver devices) connect to a central coordination server, especially if a gateway function is implied or used in the "first" or "second" communication networks.

• US10657794B1 (Icontrol Networks, Inc.)

  • Full Citation: US10657794B1, "Security, monitoring and automation controller access and use of legacy security control panel information"
  • Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: 2007-02-28, Publication Date: 2020-05-19.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes a system where a controller can access and use information from legacy security control panels for security, monitoring, and automation purposes.
  • Potential Anticipated Claim(s) (35 U.S.C. § 102): This could potentially anticipate claims 1, 14, and 15 in terms of a central system (controller/server) receiving and processing information from various sensing devices (even "legacy" ones) to trigger actions or notifications, relevant to the alarm signal generation and central coordination server functions.

• US10666523B2 (Icontrol Networks, Inc.)

  • Full Citation: US10666523B2, "Communication protocols in integrated systems"
  • Publication/Filing Date: Priority Date: 2007-06-12, Publication Date: 2020-05-26.
  • Brief Description: This patent describes communication protocols for integrated systems, similar to US10616075B2, and likely covers how different components within a system interact.
  • Potential Anticipated Claim(s) (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent's focus on communication protocols in integrated systems is broadly relevant to the networking aspects of claims 1, 14, and 15, particularly regarding how the resident life safety devices and caregiver communications devices communicate with the central coordination server over their respective networks.

It's important to note that a full anticipation analysis under 35 U.S.C. § 102 would require a detailed claim-by-claim comparison, analyzing whether each and every element of a claim in US10380873 is present in a single piece of prior art. The brief descriptions above indicate areas of potential overlap.

Obviousness Analysis of US10380873 under 35 U.S.C. § 103

This analysis addresses the obviousness of US patent 10380873, titled "Interactive wireless life safety communications system," under 35 U.S.C. § 103. The analysis considers the claims of US10380873 in light of prior art available before its priority date of September 12, 2012, and identifies potential combinations of references that would render the invention obvious to a person having ordinary skill in the art (POSITA).

A POSITA in the field of remote alert and emergency notification systems for assisted care facilities, at the time of the invention, would be familiar with general networking principles, wireless communication technologies, server-client architectures, and user interface design for monitoring and control systems.

Identified Prior Art References (with priority dates before 2012-09-12):

The following examiner-cited prior art patents from Icontrol Networks, Inc. and Comcast Cable Communications, Llc, with priority dates preceding US10380873's priority date, are considered:

1. US10747216B2 (Icontrol Networks, Inc.): "Method and system for communicating with and controlling an alarm system from a remote server." Priority Date: 2007-02-28.
   • Disclosure: This patent describes a remote server communicating with an alarm system via a premises network and a gateway, and further communicating with a user device via a wide area network. The user device can both control the alarm system and receive status information regarding it. This demonstrates a central server, distinct networks, and remote interactive control of an alarm system.
2. US10735249B2 (Icontrol Networks, Inc.): "Management of a security system at a premises." Priority Date: 2004-03-16.
   • Disclosure: This reference discloses receiving security data, including alarm event data, from security system components and generating a graphical user interface (GUI) on a local display. It also teaches performing a security state change responsive to input received at the GUI. This highlights alarm detection, notification, and interactive response through a user interface.
3. US10691295B2 (Icontrol Networks, Inc.): "User interface in a premises network." Priority Date: 2004-03-16.
   • Disclosure: This patent details a system where a gateway device connects to a premises network with multiple devices, and a server communicates with the gateway. The server generates a user interface for display on a user device, enabling the user to control devices and receive status information. This further supports the architecture of a central server, separate networks, and interactive user interfaces on remote devices.
4. US12003387B2 (Comcast Cable Communications, Llc): "Control system user interface." Priority Date: 2012-06-27.
   • Disclosure: This patent describes a control system with a control device, at least one client device, and a server. The server provides GUI data to the client device, which displays it and transmits user input back to the server for control of the control device. The server then sends control signals to the control device based on this input. This reinforces the concept of a central server, client devices with GUIs, user input for control, and feedback.

Obviousness Argument for Claims 1, 14, and 15

The independent claims (1, 14, and 15) of US10380873 would have been obvious to a POSITA by combining the teachings of US10747216B2, US10735249B2, US10691295B2, and US12003387B2.

Motivation for Combination:

The background section of US10380873 itself acknowledges the limitations of existing one-way pagers and two-way voice radios in assisted care facilities, specifically noting the inability to ascertain whether an alert was received or responded to, and the problem of redundant responses by multiple staff members. [cite: Original Patent Text, Background, Paragraphs 0004-0005] A POSITA, facing these known problems, would have been motivated to seek improved, interactive communication systems for caregivers. The cited Icontrol and Comcast patents provide such interactive monitoring and control systems in the context of premises security and automation.

The combination would address the stated shortcomings by providing:

• Enhanced Interactivity: Moving beyond one-way alerts to allow caregivers to directly acknowledge and respond to alarms, and to provide status updates.
• Improved Coordination: Enabling multiple caregivers to see each other's response status in real-time, preventing redundant efforts.
• Accountability and Record-Keeping: Systematically logging all alarm events and caregiver responses.

Mapping Claim Elements to Prior Art:

1. System Architecture (Claims 1 & 14):

• First & Second Communications Networks, Central Coordination Server: US10747216B2 explicitly describes a "premises network" (first network) connecting an alarm system to a gateway, and a "wide area network" (second network) connecting the remote server (central coordination server) to a user device. US10691295B2 further teaches a "gateway device coupled to a premises network" communicating with a "plurality of devices" and a "server configured to communicate with the gateway device" and "generate a user interface for display on a user device." This clearly establishes a central server linked to two different networks for distinct types of devices.
• Resident Life Safety Devices: The "alarm system" in US10747216B2 and "security system components" generating "alarm event data" in US10735249B2 are direct equivalents to resident life safety devices detecting an alarm condition and transmitting an alarm signal. A POSITA would recognize that "life safety devices" (e.g., motion detectors, pull cords, smoke detectors as mentioned in US10380873) are simply specific types of sensors or alarm components routinely integrated into premises security or monitoring systems. The application to an "assisted care facility" is a straightforward domain application of this known technology.
• Caregiver Communications Devices: US10747216B2, US10691295B2, and US12003387B2 all disclose "user devices" or "client devices" that receive status information and allow user input via a graphical user interface for controlling remote systems. In the context of an assisted care facility, these user devices would naturally be assigned to "caregiver identities."

2. Interactive Response and Status Updates (Claims 1, 14 & 15):

• Alarm Notification and User Input: The prior art universally describes the central server sending status information (alarm notifications) to user/client devices and receiving user input for control. For example, US10735249B2 discloses a GUI that enables "security state change" in response to user input following an alarm event. US12003387B2 describes transmitting "user input to the server for control of the control device."
• Caregiver Acceptance Response: While not explicitly named "caregiver acceptance response," the ability for a user device to provide input to "control" an alarm system (US10747216B2) or change its "security state" (US10735249B2) inherently encompasses a selectable response indicating acknowledgement or action. A POSITA, aiming to improve caregiver coordination as motivated above, would find it obvious to implement specific "responding" or "declining" graphical user interface elements (buttons) on a caregiver's device for acknowledging alerts, as these are common GUI design patterns for managing alerts in any multi-user system. The "identification of a responding caregiver" is a straightforward data point to include with such an input, especially when devices are assigned to individuals.
• Automatic Update of Other Caregiver Devices: The Icontrol patents, such as US10691295B2, teach "receiving status information for the plurality of devices" on the user device. In an environment like an assisted care facility with multiple caregivers, it would be an obvious and desirable design choice to automatically propagate a caregiver's response (e.g., "responding") to all other caregiver devices. This is a standard feature in collaborative alert or workflow management systems, preventing redundant efforts and improving team coordination, directly addressing a problem articulated in US10380873's background.
• Alarm Notification Remains Active: The inherent nature of an "alarm system" (US10747216B2, US10735249B2) is that an alarm condition persists until the underlying problem is physically resolved or addressed. Therefore, a POSITA would logically design the system such that an alarm notification remains active on caregiver devices, even after one caregiver acknowledges it, until the actual alarm condition at the resident life safety device is reported as cleared. This distinguishes mere acknowledgment from resolution of the emergency.
• Updating Devices when Alarm is Cleared: This is a natural consequence of the alarm system's functionality (disclosed by Icontrol patents) to monitor conditions and report status. Once the underlying "alarm condition is cleared at the resident life safety device," the central server would logically update all relevant caregiver devices to reflect this cleared status.
• Recording Responses: The management of a "security system" as taught by US10735249B2 would inherently involve logging all events and user interactions, including alarm activations, notifications, and caregiver responses (acceptance/declination), for auditing, compliance, and performance analysis. This is a standard feature in any critical monitoring system.

Conclusion:

Claims 1, 14, and 15 of US10380873 are rendered obvious by the combination of US10747216B2, US10735249B2, US10691295B2, and US12003387B2. These prior art references collectively disclose all the fundamental elements of the claimed interactive wireless life safety communications system, including the dual-network architecture, central server, diverse monitoring devices, and interactive caregiver communication devices. The specific features related to "caregiver acceptance response," automatic updates to other devices while the alarm remains active, and the logging of responses represent either direct disclosures, obvious design choices, or straightforward applications of known system functionalities and user interface principles to address recognized problems in alarm management and caregiver coordination within an assisted care environment.