METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR INTEGRATED COMMUNICATION SERVICES PROVISIONING FOR HEALTH CARE COMMUNITY

• US 20080167068A1
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Published: 07/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Stanley, Richard A., Mosleh, Ali
• Granted Patent: US 8,301,191 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/553.1
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/60 for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/303 Terminal profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/14 Multichannel or multilink protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate

Abstract

A method and apparatus is disclosed for providing an integrated communication services (ICS) network that permits wireless and wireline data subscribers to share information on a hospital campus using wireless or wireline local area networks, or to seamlessly tap into the facility'"'"'s central database while in transit away from the hospital. Users interface with the ICS network through the use of a point of care terminal that resembles a clipboard and accepts data entry from a stylus on an touch screen. The central database, referred to as the integrated communications clearinghouse (ICC) is adapted to store a communication profile for every network server on the ICS network. The ICC also maintains a Global Patient Profile (GPP), consisting of a patient profile for every patient ever added to the network. The GPP provides the ICC with the capability of providing aggregated data and demographic information (with or without patient identification), creating “live” public health statistics through a single query to a central server. To access the ICS, a user at a point of care terminal can utilize several paths in order to deliver data to its destination. This may include existing off-the-shelf PCMCIA based peripherals such as: wireless LANS, standard wired Ethernet LAN, a land line Modem, or wireless wide area networks. The wireless wide area networks may also include several data paths such as a circuit switched cellular, or packet based Cellular Digital Packet Data (CDPD). The actual selection of a particular channel will be service-dependent and a function of the user whereabouts, the desired quality of the connection, and the costs of the connection.

Claims

1. An access device for communicating with an information system comprising:

a central processing unit;

video display;

input device;

a portable radiotelephone transceiver for receiving/transmitting over a cellular telecommunications network;

a cordless telephone transceiver for receiving/transmitting over a wireless local area network;

a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) interface for facilitating a wired connection to a PSTN; and

an antenna for transmitting and receiving data over a wireless communication medium.

2. The access device of claim 1 further comprised of a pressure sensitive video display.

3. The access device of claim 1 further comprising a primary memory comprised of:

a software module for configuring the access device to capture data locally or to selectively communicate with cell sites of a cellular radiotelephone network, cordless stations of a local radio network or through a wired PSTN;

a software processing module for creating a patient profile, modifying a patient profile, and searching a secondary memory location for a desired patient profile; and

a software processing module for searching a secondary memory location for a desired communication profile and to transmit a request for said communication profile to a remote database when said communication profile is not stored on said access device.

4. The portable access device of claim 3 wherein said communications profiles are comprised of routing tables, subscriber addresses, and network associations.

5. The access device of claim 3 comprised of a secondary memory device adapted to store a plurality of patient profiles and a plurality of communication profiles.

6. The portable access device of claim 3 wherein said patient profile is a database record comprised of patient identification and historical treatment data.

7. The access device of claim 3 wherein said primary memory is further comprised of a software module for simultaneously interfacing with a plurality of network users via a wireless or wireline communication medium, and for configuring the network server to capture data locally or to selectively communicate with cell sites of a cellular radiotelephone network, cordless stations of a local radio network, or through a wired PSTN.

8. The access device of claim 1 further comprising a primary memory comprised of:

a software processing module for creating a patient profile, modifying a patient profile, and searching a secondary memory location for a desired patient profile;

a software module for simultaneously interfacing with a plurality of other network users via a wireless or wireline communication medium, and for configuring the network server to selectively communicate with cell sites of a cellular radiotelephone network, cordless stations of a local radio network, or through a wired PSTN; and

a software processing module for searching the secondary storage device for a desired communication profile and for transmitting said communication profile to a network server or access device.

9. The portable access device of claim 8 wherein said communications profiles are comprised of routing tables, subscriber addresses, and network associations.

10. The portable access device of claim 8 wherein said patient profile is a database record comprised of patient identification and historical treatment data.

11. The network server of claim 8 wherein said secondary storage device is additionally adapted to store user authentication data.

12. An information system comprised of:

means for identifying a communication protocol associated with a network server;

means for attempting to establish a communication link with said network server using one of a plurality of communication media, in accordance with said communication protocol wherein said one of a plurality of communication media is selected from the group consisting of;

local wireless LAN, remote wireless LAN, wireline LAN, and Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN); and

means for capturing data in a memory in accordance with a failed attempt to establish said communication link.