# US 2022/0044799 A1 · System and method for identification of remotely accessed patient device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2022/0044799 A1 - Document ID: US20220044799A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/395,515 - Filed: 2021-08-06 - Published: 2022-02-10 - Earliest claimed: 2020-08-10 - Assignees: Hill-Rom Services, Inc. - Applicants: Hill-Rom Services, Inc. - Inventors: Dan R. Tallent; Eric D. Benz; Aziz Ali Bhai; Unnati Ojha; Nicholas Comparone - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20220044799A1 ## CPC - G16H 40/63: for local operation - G16H 40/67: for remote operation - G05B 19/042: using digital processors (G05B19/05 takes precedence) - G16H 40/40: for the management of medical equipment or devices, e.g. scheduling maintenance or upgrades - G05B 2219/2608: Hospital bed - G16H: HEALTHCARE INFORMATICS, i.e. INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE HANDLING OR PROCESSING OF MEDICAL OR HEALTHCARE DATA - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) ## Abstract A patient support apparatus includes a visual indicator in connection with a portion of the patient support apparatus. The visual indicator is configured to output a first indication and a second indication. The support apparatus also includes a communication circuit configured to communicate via a wireless communication interface and a controller configured to communicate with a service unit via the wireless communication interface. The controller is configured to activate the first indication in response to the service unit detected within a detection range, and in response to enabling a remote access to the service unit, the controller is configured to activate the second indicator. The activation of the second indicator identifies the controller of the patient support apparatus in communication with the service unit via the wireless communication interface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A patient support apparatus comprising: a visual indicator in connection with a portion of the patient support apparatus, the visual indicator configured to output a first indication and a second indication; a communication circuit configured to communicate via a wireless communication interface; and a controller configured to communicate with a service unit via the wireless communication interface, the controller configured to: activate the first indication in response to the service unit detected within a detection range; and in response to enabling a remote access to the service unit, activate the second indicator identifying the controller of the patient support apparatus in communication with the service unit via the wireless communication interface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The patient support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to: receive a communication from the service unit identifying a request for remote access of the controller. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The patient support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the visual indicator comprises an indication device comprising at least one light emitter configured to output the first indication as a first light emission and the second indication as a second light emission. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The patient support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the visual indicator comprises a light projector configured to project the first indication and the second indication on a surface proximate the patient support apparatus. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The patient support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the visual indicator comprises a directional adjustment apparatus configured to adjust a projection direction of at least one of the first indication and the second indication. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The patient support apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the patient support apparatus is one of a plurality of patient support apparatuses in a facility and each of the plurality of the patient support apparatuses comprises the indicator device configured to output the first indication and the second indication. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The patient support apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each of the controllers of the plurality of the patient support apparatuses activates the first indication in response to the service unit within the detection range. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The patient support apparatus according to claim 6, wherein one of the controllers of the patient support apparatuses activates the second indication in response to the remote access. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The patient support apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the activation of the second indication distinguishes the remote access of the one of the controllers from each of the remaining controllers of the patient support apparatuses within the detection range. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The patient support apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the controllers of the patient support apparatuses within the detection range without the remote access enabled do not activate the second indication. ### Claim 11 A method for operating a patient support apparatus, the method comprising: monitoring a wireless communication interface for a service unit; detecting the service unit within a detection range; activating a first indication of a visual indicator in response to detecting the service unit within the detection range; receiving an authentication from the remote service unit; enabling a remote access to a controller of the patient support apparatus in response to the authentication; and in response to enabling the remote access to the controller, activating a second indication of the of the visual indicator, wherein the second indication identifies the controller in communication with the service unit via the wireless communication interface. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The patient support apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the patient support apparatus is one of a plurality of patient support apparatuses in a facility and each of the plurality of the patient support apparatuses comprises the indicator device configured to output the first indication and the second indication. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The patient support apparatus according to claim 12, wherein each of the controllers of the plurality of the patient support apparatuses activates the first indication in response to detecting the service unit within the detection range. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The patient support apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising: distinguishing a first support apparatus of the plurality of patient support apparatuses from a remaining group of the plurality of patient support apparatuses by activating the second indication on the first support apparatus in response to the enabling of the remote access. ### Claim 15 A patient support apparatus comprising: a visual indicator in connection with a portion of the patient support apparatus, the visual indicator configured to output a first indication and a second indication from the portion of the patient support apparatus; a communication circuit configured to communicate via a wireless communication interface; and a controller configured to communicate with a service unit via the wireless communication interface, the controller configured to: activate the first indication in response to the service unit detected within a detection range of the wireless communication interface; receive a control instruction from the service unit via the wireless communication interface; and in response to processing the control instruction, activate the second indicator identifying a confirmation of a completion of the control instruction. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The patient support apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the control instruction comprises at least one of a feature activation, a configuration update, and a software or firmware update. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The patient support apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the control instruction is a request for a remote access of the controller from the service unit. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The patient support apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the activation of the second indicator is in response to enabling the remote access of the service unit. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The patient support apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the second indicator identifies the controller of the patient support apparatus in communication with the service unit via the wireless communication interface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The patient support apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the control instruction comprises authentication information authenticating the request for the remote access. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The patient support apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the controller is further configured to: enable the remote access of the controller by the service unit in response to the authentication information corresponding to authorized credentials. ### Claim 22 (depends on 15) The patient support apparatus according to claim 15, further comprising: an actuator configured to control a position of a mattress. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The patient support apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the control instruction comprise a control command that instructs the controller to control the actuator to adjust the position of the mattress.