Wireless LAN architecture for integrated time-critical and non-time-critical services within medical facilities
First Claim
1. A system for supporting both realtime and non-realtime wireless access to a hardwired computer network with a medical facility, comprising:
- a plurality of access points connected to the hardwired network to provide wireless access to the hardwired network, the access points distributed throughout regions of the medical facility, wherein at least some of the access points implement a realtime wireless local area network (WLAN) protocol to transfer time-critical data from wireless devices to the hardwired network with a known maximum latency, and wherein some of the access points implement a non-realtime WLAN protocol to provide general purpose wireless access to the hardwired network; and
a plurality of wireless patient transceivers which implement the realtime WLAN protocol to transfer realtime patient data to the hardwired network via the access points which implement the realtime WLAN protocol.
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Abstract
A wireless local area network (WLAN) system comprises multiple access points that are distributed throughout a medical facility to provide wireless access to a hardwired network. The access points implement multiple WLAN protocols, including a realtime protocol for realtime patient monitoring (telemetry) and a standard WLAN protocol (such as IEEE 802.11 within an ISM band) for providing general-purpose wireless access. Some or all of the access points preferably implement both WLAN protocols such that the different WLANs and wireless device types share network access resources. Some or all of the access points may also include RF location-tracking modules which may be used to track locations of patients, hospital personnel, capital equipment, and/or disposable medical supplies. Also disclosed are an antenna design which may be used with the access points to improve-reception (particularly for patient monitoring), and a TDMA timeslot rotation method for avoiding lockstep interference between access points that operate on the same channel.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A system for supporting both realtime and non-realtime wireless access to a hardwired computer network with a medical facility, comprising:
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a plurality of access points connected to the hardwired network to provide wireless access to the hardwired network, the access points distributed throughout regions of the medical facility, wherein at least some of the access points implement a realtime wireless local area network (WLAN) protocol to transfer time-critical data from wireless devices to the hardwired network with a known maximum latency, and wherein some of the access points implement a non-realtime WLAN protocol to provide general purpose wireless access to the hardwired network; and
a plurality of wireless patient transceivers which implement the realtime WLAN protocol to transfer realtime patient data to the hardwired network via the access points which implement the realtime WLAN protocol. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An access point for providing wireless access to a hardwired network of a medical facility, comprising:
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a first transceiver module which implements a realtime wireless local area network (WLAN) protocol to transfer time-critical wireless data to the hardwired network with a known maximum latency; and
a second transceiver module which implements a non-realtime WLAN protocol to provide non-realtime wireless access to the hardwired network. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification