DEVICE FOR WIRELESS DATA EXCHANGE AS WELL AS METHOD FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF A WIRELESS CONNECTION BETWEEN IN PARTICULAR A MEDICAL SENSOR UNIT AND A COMPUTER

• US 20070146130A1
• Filed: 12/27/2006
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare GMBH (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Hannemann, Thilo, Schild, Markus
• Granted Patent: US 8,554,921 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.220
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 1/00016 using wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/4233 using matrix detectors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/512 Intraoral means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/563 involving image data transmission via a network
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 6/566 involving communication between diagnostic systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 21/00 Measuring or testing not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

An apparatus and method to enable a simple installation of a sensor unit (in one example an intra-oral x-ray sensor) on a network. The sensor unit is preferably a sensor in the medical field, and it is provided that the sensor unit is itself fashioned as an access point and establishes its own network on which a computer automatically logs on in order to enable a data transfer between the sensor unit and the computer. Due to this measure no expertise is necessary for the installation of the sensor unit.

Claims

1. An apparatus for wireless data exchange, comprising:

an sensor unit constructed and operable for acquisition of data; and

a computer constructed and operable for receipt and for processing of the data acquired by said sensor unit;

said sensor unit comprising an access point of a network to enable establishing a network connection with the computer.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said sensor unit is a medical sensor unit.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said computer is operable to establish said network connection, said network connection being configured such that said computer automatically logs onto a network established by said sensor unit.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3, wherein a predetermined network identifier is assigned to the network established by the sensor unit, and said network identifier being preset in said computer.

5. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensor unit comprises a module constructed and operable for automatic allocation of an IP address to said computer.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensor unit comprises a module constructed and operable for authentication of said compute to said network.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a software module installed via which said computer communicates with said sensor unit given an established connection.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said computer includes a plurality of computers as well as a decision module, said decision module being constructed and operable such that a selection ensues as to which of said plurality of computers the acquired data is transferred.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said sensor unit is constructed and operable such that the network connection to non-selected computers is terminated.

10. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said computer is permanently associated with said sensor unit via an installation routine, such that the connection establishment ensues only with said computer.

11. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensor unit constructed and operable to dismantle said network after effecting a data transfer to said computer.

12. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensor unit established a wireless network and wherein said sensor unit switches to a different frequency range given an unsatisfactory radio connection quality on the wireless network.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensor unit includes a plurality of sensor units constructed and operable as a respective plurality of access points.

14. An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensor unit is a medical examination apparatus.

15. An apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said sensor unit is an x-ray sensor,

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said sensor unit is an intra-oral sensor for dental medicine.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 16, wherein said sensor is an intra-oral x-ray sensor for dental medicine.

18. A method for establishing a wireless connection between a sensor unit for acquisition of data and a computer for receipt and for processing of the data acquired by the sensor unit, comprising the steps of:

providing the sensor unit as an access point on a network; and

establishing a network connection to the network onto which the computer logs in for data transfer with the access point.