System For Monitoring cable Interface Connections In A Network

• US 20070059971A1
• Filed: 09/12/2006
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dragerwerk AG & Company KGaA (FPS Vermögensverwaltung GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Draeger Medical Systems Incorporated (Dragerwerk AG)
• Inventors: Risher-Kelly, Clifford, LeMay, Charles, Doering, Martin, Myers, Donald
• Granted Patent: US 7,676,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 439/403
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0811 by checking connectivity

Abstract

A system monitors cable interface connections in a network. An individual cable interface connection includes a connection between a cable and an associated device in the network. The system includes a plurality of individual interface controllers. The plurality of individual interface controllers monitor one or more cable interface connections in a network. This plurality of interface controllers include a first interface controller for automatically acquiring device type identification data from a second interface controller which is monitoring a connection between a cable and an associated device in the network. The device type identification data is acquired via the cable and the first and second cable interface connections at the end of the cable. The device type identification data supports identification of the device associated with the second cable interface connection. The first interface controller supports communication between individual interface controllers in the network on a first communication link. The system further includes a second communication link, different from the first communication link, being conveyed via the plurality of cable interface connections in the network.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring cable interface connections in a network, an individual cable interface connection comprising a connection between a cable and an associated device in the network, comprising:

a plurality of individual interface controllers for,

monitoring one or more cable interface connections in a network and including a first interface controller for automatically acquiring device type identification data from a second interface controller monitoring a connection between a cable and an associated device in the network, said device type identification data being acquired via said cable and first and second cable interface connections at the end of said cable, said device type identification data supporting identification of said device associated with said second cable interface connection, and

supporting communication between individual interface controllers in the network on a first communication link; and

a second communication link, different from said first communication link, being conveyed via said plurality of cable interface connections in the network.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein an individual interface controller of said plurality of individual interface controllers uses said acquired device type identification data in compiling a map comprising data indicating a plurality of individual devices in said network.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said compiled map comprises data identifying individual power consumption of individual devices of said plurality of individual devices from predetermined data associating a device type with a corresponding power consumption.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein said compiled map comprises data identifying physical location of individual devices of said plurality of individual devices from predetermined data associating a device type with an individual cable interface connection and a physical location.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said predetermined data associates a device type with an individual cable interface connection and associated electronic address and physical location.

6. The system according to claim 2, wherein at least one interface controller is identified within a hierarchy of a plurality of interface controllers by means of at least one jumper connection that is configured within the interface controller.

7. The system according to claim 2, wherein at least one interface controller is associated with a particular type of device within a hierarchy of a plurality of interface controllers by means of at least one jumper connection that is configured within the interface controller.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein an individual interface controller of said plurality of individual interface controllers:

uses said acquired device type identification data in compiling a map comprising data indicating a plurality of individual devices in said network, and

uses said map in identifying a particular device in the network fails to respond to communication via said second communication link.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said second communication link is compatible with at least one of, (a) the IEEE Ethernet standard, (b) a Bluetooth standard and (c) an IP protocol standard.

10. The system according to claim 8, further comprising at least one switch operably connected to the second communications link so as to permit diagnosis of individual device status by associating a particular device with the second communications link.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein a patient monitoring signal is communicated to said plurality of individual interface controllers via said first communication link.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said patient monitoring signal is at least one of, (a) an alarm signal, and (b) a patient vital sign representative signal.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said patient monitoring signal is an alarm signal that may be set to an active alarm condition by any interface controller of said plurality of individual interface controllers.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein said patient monitoring signal is an alarm signal that is used to initiate an action by a device in the network.

15. A system for monitoring cable interface connections in a network, an individual cable interface connection comprising a connection between a cable and an associated device in the network, comprising:

a plurality of individual interface controllers including a first interface controller for,

automatically acquiring device type identification data from a second interface controller monitoring a connection between a cable and an associated device in the network, said device type identification data being acquired via said cable and first and second cable interface connections at the end of said cable and supporting identification of said device associated with said second cable interface connection, and

supporting communication between individual interface controllers in the network on a first communication link,

an individual interface controller of said plurality of individual interface controllers, using said acquired device type identification data in compiling a map comprising data identifying a plurality of individual devices in the network, and

using said map in identifying a particular device in the network fails to respond to communication via a second communication link, different to said first communication link, being conveyed via said plurality of cable interface connections in the network.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein a patient monitoring signal is communicated to said plurality of individual interface controllers via said first communication link.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said patient monitoring signal is at least one of, (a) an alarm signal and (b) a patient vital sign representative signal.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein said patient monitoring signal is an alarm signal that may be set to an active alarm condition by any interface controller of said plurality of individual interface controllers.

19. The system according to claim 16, wherein said patient monitoring signal is an alarm signal that is used to initiate an action by a device in the network.

20. A method for monitoring cable interface connections in a network having an individual cable interface connection comprising a connection between a cable and an associated device in the network, comprising the steps of:

monitoring a plurality of cable interface connections in a network by means of a first interface controller;

automatically acquiring device type identification data from a second interface controller monitoring a connection between a cable and an associated device in the network, said device type identification data being acquired via said cable and first and second cable interface connections at the end of said cable and supporting identification of said device associated with said second cable interface connection;

supporting communication between individual interface controllers in the network on a first communication link;

supporting a second communication link, different to said first communication link; and

identifying one interface controller as a master interface controller within a hierarchy of a plurality of interface controllers by means of at least one hardware setting that is configured within the one interface controller.