# US 12,604,173 B2 · Pairable devices and systems and methods for providing assisted pairing of devices to particular locations

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- Number: US 12,604,173 B2
- Document ID: US12604173B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 19/212,076
- Filed: 2025-05-19
- Published: 2025-09-04
- Granted: 2026-04-14
- Earliest claimed: 2020-12-18
- Assignees: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
- Applicants: Hill-Rom Services, Inc.
- Inventors: Jason M. Williams; Richard Schuman
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12604173B2

## CPC

- H04W 8/005: {Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals}
- H04W 12/50: Secure pairing of devices
- A61M 5/142: Pressure infusion, e.g. using pumps
- G16H 40/20: for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
- G16H 40/63: for local operation
- G16H 40/67: for remote operation
- H04L 67/12: specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
- H04W 76/14: Direct-mode setup
- H04W 76/30: Connection release
- A61M 2205/3553: remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
- A61M 2205/3561: local, e.g. within room or hospital
- A61M 2205/3584: using modem, internet or Bluetooth®
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)}
- G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

Systems and methods include a medical device that scans for wireless broadcasts based upon received input or satisfying a scanning criterion. The medical device, based upon the scan, identifies data wirelessly broadcast from a control device. The medical device outputs information to the interface identifying the control device. The medical device receives input from the interface selecting the control device. The medical device receives a command from the control device. The medical device physically interacts with a user based upon the command received from the control device. The medical device sends wireless confirmation of pairing to the control device. The medical device subsequently sends wireless confirmation of unpairing to the control device. The medical device performs a scan for wireless broadcasts in response to the unpairing, based upon received input or satisfying the scanning criterion.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for assisted medical device wireless pairing with a control device, the method comprising:
scanning, at the medical device, for wireless broadcasts based upon received input or satisfying a scanning criterion;
receiving, based upon the scan, identifying data wirelessly broadcast from a plurality of control devices;
outputting, to an interface at the medical device, information identifying the plurality of control devices, wherein:
the identifying data received from the plurality of control devices is presented on the interface according to a filtering criterion and a sorting criterion, and
the sorting criterion comprises location information within the identifying data or respective signal strengths of each wireless broadcast;
receiving input from the interface selecting one of the plurality of control devices;
sending wireless confirmation of pairing to the selected control device;
receiving a command from the control device;
physically interacting with a user based upon the command received from the control device;
subsequently sending wireless confirmation of unpairing to the control device; and
performing an updated scan for wireless broadcasts in response to the unpairing, based upon received input or satisfying the scanning criterion.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the medical device comprises a medical bed, a pump, a rail-mounted lift, or a computer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the scanning criterion is based upon the medical device being plugged in or having brakes engaged.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the filtering criterion comprises a device manufacturer, a device type, or a device model.

### Claim 5

A pairable medical device, comprising:
a communication system configured to communicate via a communication channel;
an interface;
a processor; and
a memory storing program instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
scan for wireless broadcasts based upon received input or satisfying a scanning criterion;
receive, based upon the scan, identifying data wirelessly broadcast from a plurality of control devices;
output, to the interface, information identifying the plurality of control devices, wherein:
the identifying data received from the plurality of control devices is presented on the interface according to a filtering criterion and a sorting criterion, and
the sorting criterion comprises location information within the identifying data or respective signal strengths of each wireless broadcast;
receive input from the interface selecting one of the plurality of control devices;
send wireless confirmation of pairing to the selected control device;
receive a command from the control device;
physically interact with a user based upon the command received from the control device;
subsequently send wireless confirmation of unpairing to the control device; and
perform an updated scan for wireless broadcasts in response to the unpairing, based upon received input or satisfying the scanning criterion.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The pairable medical device of claim 5, wherein the pairable medical device comprises a medical bed, a pump, a rail-mounted lift, or a computer.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The pairable medical device of claim 5, wherein the scanning criterion is based upon the pairable medical device being plugged in or having brakes engaged.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The pairable medical device of claim 5, wherein the filtering criterion comprises a device manufacturer, a device type, or a device model.

### Claim 9

A non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform one or more operations comprising:
scanning, at a medical device, for wireless broadcasts based upon received input or satisfying a scanning criterion;
receiving, based upon the scan, identifying data wirelessly broadcast from a plurality of control devices;
outputting, to an interface at the medical device, information identifying the plurality of control devices;
receiving input from the interface selecting one of the plurality of control devices;
sending a wireless confirmation of pairing to the selected control device;
receiving a command from the control device;
physically interacting with a user based upon the command received from the control device;
subsequently sending wireless confirmation of unpairing to the selected control device; and
performing an updated scan for wireless broadcasts in response to the unpairing, based upon received input or satisfying the scanning criterion, wherein:
the identifying data received from the plurality of control devices is presented on the interface according to a filtering criterion and a sorting criterion, and
the sorting criterion comprises location information within the identifying data or respective signal strengths of each wireless broadcast.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The non-transitory, processor-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the scanning criterion is based upon the medical device being plugged in or having brakes engaged.