COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND PROTOCOL FOR MEDICAL ENVIRONMENT
First Claim
1. A method for maintaining a wireless communications link between a mobile unit gathering patient information and a stationary unit for processing the patient information, the method comprising:
- repeatedly transmitting link status messages between the mobile and stationary units;
monitoring the link status messages for collisions with other communications links; and
shifting subsequent transmissions of the link status messages when a collision is detected.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communications system and protocol are described for wirelessly interconnecting a pair of bed and wall units that communicate the patient information, including bed exit alerts, from the patient supporting equipment to the hospital nurse call system. A linking procedure is provided for establishing a communications link to interconnect the pair of units, wherein the communications link fails upon detection of a third communications device simultaneously undergoing the link attempt mode. In one embodiment, the system provides for advanced collision detection by monitoring corruption of the end-of-packet byte within the periodic check-in message sequences between the linked units to prevent data corruption and future collisions. To ensure prompt interconnection of units, embodiments of the invention provide for a link reminder to alert the health care provider to initiate the steps for linking the bed and wall units whenever two or more unlinked units are in proximity.
24 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for maintaining a wireless communications link between a mobile unit gathering patient information and a stationary unit for processing the patient information, the method comprising:
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repeatedly transmitting link status messages between the mobile and stationary units; monitoring the link status messages for collisions with other communications links; and shifting subsequent transmissions of the link status messages when a collision is detected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for maintaining wireless communications links, each link communicating patient information between a portable device attached to a portable hospital resource and a stationary device, the method comprising:
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repeatedly transmitting link status messages over two or more of the wireless communications links, where the transmissions by each link are periodic; detecting a collision between the two or more wireless communications links transmitting the link status messages, wherein the collision occurs due to a temporal overlap of the link status messages of the two or more wireless communications links; and shifting the repetition of the periodic link status messages in at least one of the wireless communications links when the collision is detected. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system for maintaining a wireless communications link between a mobile hospital bed and a hospital communications network, the system comprising:
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a pair of transceivers supporting a wireless communications link between the mobile hospital bed and the hospital communications network; one of the transceivers including an interface that enables the transceiver to function as a node of the hospital communications network; and the other transceiver including a mechanical connector for fastening the transceiver to the mobile hospital bed and circuitry for (1) repeatedly transmitting to the one transceiver link status messages, (2) detecting a collision of at least one of the link status messages with other communication links and (3) shifting transmissions of the link status messages subsequent to detection of the collision. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A mobile medical communications device for relaying patient information via a wireless communications link to a stationary site, the device comprising:
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a transceiver for establishing a wireless communications link to the stationary site, where the wireless communications link supports a message format for relaying patient information to the stationary site; a controller in communication with the transceiver and a source of patient information for (1) causing the transceiver to repeatedly transmit link status messages to the stationary site, thereby checking an integrity of the wireless communications link, and (2) shifting the repeatedly transmitted link status messages upon detection of corruption of at least one of the link status messages; and a housing for the transceiver and controller that includes a fastener for mechanically attaching the housing to a portable hospital resource. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A stationary medical communications device for receiving patient information from a mobile telecommunications device attached to a portable hospital resource, the stationary medical communications device comprising:
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a transceiver establishing a wireless communications link with the mobile telecommunications device; and a controller in communication with the transceiver for detecting corruption of one or more link status messages repeatedly transmitted by the mobile telecommunications device, and providing an indication that subsequent transmissions of the link status messages should be shifted to avoid future corruption. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification