# US 2014/0153434 A1 · Throughput-Based Active Mode Trigger > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0153434 A1 - Document ID: US20140153434A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/234,432 - Filed: 2011-08-03 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-08-03 - Assignees: Draeger Medical Systems, Inc. - Inventors: Georgios Kokovidis; Kurt Robert Bianculli - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140153434A1 ## CPC - H04W 52/0216: {using a pre-established activity schedule, e.g. traffic indication frame} - A61B 5/0015: {characterised by features of the telemetry system} - H04B 17/318: Received signal strength - H04L 43/0888: Throughput - H04L 43/16: Threshold monitoring - 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 4/70: Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] - H04W 24/02: Arrangements for optimising operational condition - H04W 48/16: Discovering, processing access restriction or access information - H04W 52/0235: {where the received signal is a power saving command} - H04W 52/0238: {where the received signal is an unwanted signal, e.g. interference or idle signal} - A61B 5/0006: {ECG or EEG signals} - A61B 5/0215: by means inserted into the body - A61B 5/14551: {for measuring blood gases} - A61B 2560/0209: adapted for power saving - G16H 40/67: for remote operation - H04W 84/12: WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks] - Y02D 30/70: in wireless communication networks - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - H04B: TRANSMISSION - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - Y02D: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES [ICT], I.E. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGIES AIMING AT THE REDUCTION OF THEIR OWN ENERGY USE ## Abstract A method and apparatus for reducing gaps in data transmission between a device and at least one wireless access point connecting the first device to a central monitoring system. The device includes a radio that enables bidirectional data communication between the device and the at least one wireless access point, the radio being able to operate in a power save mode and an active transmission mode. A control processor selectively monitors a type and amount of data being transmitted between the radio and the at least one wireless access point to predict an occurrence of a gap in data transmission between the device and the at least one access point. The control processor, in response to predicting a gap in data transmission, automatically switches an operational mode of the radio from the power save mode to the active transmission mode for a predetermined amount of time enabling full bidirectional communication between the device and the at least one wireless access point for the predetermined amount of time preventing the gap in data transmission. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus for reducing gaps in data transmission between a device and at least one wireless access point, the apparatus comprising: a radio that enables bidirectional data communication between the device and the at least one wireless access point, the radio being able to operate in a power save mode and an active transmission mode; a control processor that selectively monitors data being transmitted between the radio and the at least one wireless access point to predict an occurrence of a gap in data transmission between the device and the at least one access point, the control processor, in response to predicting a gap in data transmission, automatically switches an operational mode of the radio from the power save mode to the active transmission mode for a predetermined amount of time enabling communication between the device and the at least one wireless access point for the predetermined amount of time. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said radio is an radio frequency (RF) radio able to communicate via at least one of (a) IEEE 802.11a protocol; (b) IEEE 802.11b protocol; (c) IEEE 802.11d protocol; (d) IEEE 802.11g protocol; (e) IEEE 802.11i protocol and (f) IEEE 802.11n protocol. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said type of data is throughput data and said amount of data is measured in bytes per second. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control processor selectively monitors the type and amount of data over at least one a transmission channel and a reception channel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control processor predicts an occurrence of a gap in data transmission by comparing the monitored amount of data to a predefined range of data amounts to determine whether said monitored amount of data is at least one of below a lower limit of the predefined range and above an upper limit of the predefined range. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control processor automatically switches an operational mode of the radio from active transmission mode to power save mode in response to an expiration of the predetermined amount of time. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control processor continually monitors the type and amount of data being transmitted between the radio and the at least one wireless access point during the predetermined time period and automatically switches the operational mode of the radio from active transmission mode to power save mode prior to the expiration of the predetermined time period if the monitored type and amount of data meet a predetermined condition. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control processor compares a signal strength indicator received by the radio from the at least one wireless access point to a threshold signal strength value in response to predicting that a gap in data transmission and automatically initiates a roaming algorithm enabling the device to search for and connect to a different wireless access point if the indicator has a value less than the threshold value, and switches the operational mode of the radio from the power save mode to the active mode if the indicator has a value greater than the threshold value. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control processor automatically identifies an operating mode of the device to selectively determine if the type and amount of data being transmitted between the radio and the at least one access point should be monitored and automatically disabling the monitoring of the type and amount of data in response to the identified operating mode. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said device is a patient monitoring device coupled to a patient that enables patient ambulation around a healthcare facility and selectively monitors at least one patient parameter. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control processor selectively monitors at least one of a type and amount of the data being transmitted between the radio and the at least one wireless access point. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control processor enables bidirectional communication upon automatically switching the operational mode of the radio from the power save mode to the active transmission mode. ### Claim 13 A method of reducing gaps in data transmission between a device and at least one wireless access point, the method comprising the activities of: monitoring, by a control processor, data being transmitted between a radio of the device and the at least one wireless access point; predicting an occurrence of a gap in data transmission between the device and the at least one access point; automatically switching an operational mode of the radio from power save mode to active transmission mode for a predetermined amount of time in response to predicting a gap in data transmission; thereby enabling communication between the device and the at least one wireless access point for the predetermined amount of time. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein the radio is an radio frequency (RF) radio able to communicate via at least one of (a) IEEE 802.11a protocol; (b) IEEE 802.11b protocol; (c) IEEE 802.11d protocol; (d) IEEE 802.11g protocol; (e) IEEE 802.11i protocol and (f) IEEE 802.11n protocol. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein said activity of monitoring includes monitoring throughput data as a function of bytes per second. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein said activity of monitoring further comprises monitoring the type and amount of data over at least one of a transmission channel and a reception channel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein said activity of predicting further comprises comparing the monitored amount of data to a predefined range of data amounts to determine whether said monitored amount of data is at least one of below a lower limit of the predefined range and above an upper limit of the predefined range. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, further comprising the activity of automatically switching an operational mode of the radio from active transmission mode to power save mode in response to an expiration of the predetermined amount of time. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, further comprising the activity of continually monitoring the type and amount of data being transmitted between the radio and the at least one wireless access point during the predetermined time period; and automatically switching the operational mode of the radio from active transmission mode to power save mode prior to the expiration of the predetermined time period if the monitored type and amount of data meet a predetermined condition. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, further comprising the activity of comparing a signal strength indicator received by the radio from the at least one wireless access point to a threshold signal strength value in response to predicting a gap in data transmission and automatically initiating a roaming algorithm enabling the device to search for and connect to a different wireless access point if the indicator has a value less than the threshold value, and switching the operational mode of the radio from power save mode to the active mode if the indicator has a value that is greater than the threshold value. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, further comprising the activity of automatically identifying an operating mode of the device to selectively determine if the type and amount of data being transmitted between the radio and the at least one access point should be monitored and automatically disabling the monitoring of the type and amount of data in response to the identified operating mode. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein said activity of monitoring monitors at least one of a type and amount of the data being transmitted between the radio and the at least one wireless access point. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein said activity of automatically switching enables bidirectional communication between the device and the at least one wireless access point. ### Claim 24 An apparatus for reducing gaps in data transmission between a device and at least one wireless access point, the apparatus comprising: a radio that enables bidirectional data communication between the device and the at least one wireless access point, the radio being able to operate in a power save mode and an active transmission mode; a control processor that selectively monitors data being transmitted between the radio and the at least one wireless access point to detect an occurrence of a gap in data transmission between the device and the at least one access point, the control processor, in response to detecting a gap in data transmission, automatically switches an operational mode of the radio from the power save mode to the active transmission mode for a predetermined amount of time enabling communication between the device and the at least one wireless access point for the predetermined amount of time.