Network for portable patient monitoring devices
AssigneeThe General Hospital Corporation
InventorsJames P. Welch, Nathaniel M. Sims
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Multiple devices that are each suitable for use at a selected one of multiple locations are managed using a network of links that are each assigned to one of the locations. Each link is selectable between a state in which a device is not using the link and a state in which one or more devices are using the link. Links that are in use by the devices are identified and the locations at which the devices are used are determined based on the identities of the links that are in use.
Claims52
A system for managing multiple devices each of which selectively operates in one of a normal condition and an alarm condition, each one of said devices being portable to allow the device to be operated in any selected one of a plurality of locations, comprising
- a network that includes a plurality of links each of which is assigned to a predetermined one of said locations, each link having a first state in which none of said devices is in electrical communication with said link and a second state in which at least one of said devices is in electrical communication with said link,
- means for placing at least one of said devices in electrical communication with a selected one of said links that was previously not in electrical communication with any of said devices and changing said selected link from said first state to said second state independently of whether said at least one of said devices that is placed in electrical communication with said one link is in said normal condition or said alarm condition, and
- means for identifying the links that are in electrical communication with said devices by detecting the links that are in said second state independently of identities of the devices that are in electrical communication with said links, and determining the locations at which devices are in electrical communication with said links based on said identifying.
A method for managing multiple devices each of which selectively operates in one of a normal condition and an alarm condition, each one of said devices being portable to allow the device to be operated in any selected one of a plurality of locations, comprising
- providing a network that includes a plurality of links each of which is assigned to a predetermined one of said locations, each link having a first state in which none of said devices is in electrical communication with said link and a second state in which at least one of said devices is in electrical communication with said link,
- placing at least one of said devices in electrical communication with a selected one of said links that was previously not in electrical communication with any of said devices and changing said selected link from said first state to said second state independently of whether said at least one of said devices that is placed in electrical communication with said one link is in said normal condition or said alarm condition, and
- identifying the link that are in electrical communication with said devices by detecting the links that are in said second state independently of identities of the devices that are in electrical communication with said links, and determining the locations at which devices are in electrical communication with said links based on said identifying.
A controller for managing multiple devices on a network that includes a plurality of links, each one of said devices selectively operating in one of a normal condition and an alarm condition and being portable to allow the device to be operated in any selected one of a plurality of locations, each of said links being assigned to a predetermined one of said locations and having a first state in which none of said devices is in electrical communication with said link and a second state in which at least one of said devices is in electrical communication with said link, said controller comprising
- means for identifying the links that are in electrical communication with said devices independently of whether said devices are in said normal condition or said alarm condition, by detecting the links that are in said second state independently of identities of the devices that are in electrical communication with said links, and
- means for determining the locations at which devices are in electrical communication with said links based on said identifying.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.