Patient support apparatus having wireless side channel for service tool
AssigneeHill-Rom Services, Inc.
InventorsBryan M. Weidman, Eric D. Benz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A patient support apparatus has a wireless side channel that is used for linking with a service tool, such as a tablet computer or laptop computer, to receive service updates for the patient support apparatus. The wireless side channel communicates wirelessly with the service tool while normal wireless communications between the patient support apparatus and a network of a healthcare facility are maintained. Thus, the patient support apparatus is able to continue to support a patient thereon while service updates are being installed. In one implementation, the wireless side channel uses WiFi Direct communications and while the network communications are WiFi communications.
Claims20
A system for use in a healthcare facility having a network including a plurality of wireless access points, the system comprising
- a patient support apparatus having circuitry including a microcontroller configured to communicate wirelessly via a first communication link with at least one wireless access point of the plurality of wireless access points, the microcontroller being configured to execute operating instructions to control one or more functions of the patient support apparatus, the circuitry of the patient support apparatus including at least one sensor communicatively coupled to the microcontroller and configured to detect at least one patient parameter that is classified as protected health information (PHI), and
- a service tool that is configured to communicate wirelessly with the microcontroller via a second communication link to provide service updates to the circuitry of the patient support apparatus, wherein the circuitry is configured to maintain the first communication link during communications with the service tool via the second communication link thereby permitting a patient to remain supported on the patient support apparatus while the service updates are provided to the circuitry of the patient support apparatus, wherein the microcontroller is configured so that the PHI is wirelessly transmittable from the patient support apparatus via the first communication link but not via the second communication link.
A system for use in a healthcare facility having a network including a plurality of wireless access points, the system comprising
- a patient support apparatus having circuitry including a microcontroller configured to communicate wirelessly via a first communication link with at least one wireless access point of the plurality of wireless access points, the microcontroller being configured to execute operating instructions to control one or more functions of the patient support apparatus, and
- a service tool that is configured to communicate wirelessly with the microcontroller via a second communication link to provide service updates to the circuitry of the patient support apparatus, wherein the circuitry is configured to maintain the first communication link during communications with the service tool via the second communication link thereby permitting a patient to remain supported on the patient support apparatus while the service updates are provided to the circuitry of the patient support apparatus, wherein the service tool is configured to permit a service technician to turn wireless communications of the first communication link on and off based on commands sent from the service tool via the second communication link.
A system for use in a healthcare facility having a network including a plurality of wireless access points, the system comprising
- a patient support apparatus having circuitry including a microcontroller configured to communicate wirelessly via a first communication link with at least one wireless access point of the plurality of wireless access points, the microcontroller being configured to execute operating instructions to control one or more functions of the patient support apparatus, and
- a service tool that is configured to communicate wirelessly with the microcontroller via a second communication link to provide service updates to the circuitry of the patient support apparatus, wherein the circuitry is configured to maintain the first communication link during communications with the service tool via the second communication link thereby permitting a patient to remain supported on the patient support apparatus while the service updates are provided to the circuitry of the patient support apparatus, wherein the circuitry of the patient support apparatus includes an antenna that is used for wireless communications over the first and second communication links according to a time slicing protocol, wherein the circuitry of the patient support apparatus includes a patient presence detector to determine whether the patient is present on the patient support apparatus or absent from the patient support apparats, and wherein if the patient is absent from the patient support apparatus while the service tool is in communication with the microcontroller via the second communication link, the time slicing protocol is turned off such that the antenna is dedicated for wireless communications only with the service tool over the second communication link.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.