CENTRAL MONITORING STATION WARM SPARE

• US 20140068237A1
• Filed: 09/06/2012
• Published: 03/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Welch Allyn Incorporated
• Inventors: Irwin, John Howard, Petersen, Eric G., Wilmington, Robert Paul
• Granted Patent: US 9,361,082 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/61 Installation
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

A method for preparing a computer for use as a central monitoring station includes connecting a computer to a network. An operating system is installed on the computer. Anti-virus software is installed on the computer. Licensing information is installed on the computer. Configuration information is stored on the computer. The configuration information is for the computer and at least one additional computer. A determination is made that the computer is to be activated as a first central monitoring station on the network. When the determination is made that the computer is to be activated as the first central monitoring station, the computer is configured according to a first subset of the configuration information. The computer is activated on the network as the first central monitoring station.

Claims

1. A method for preparing a first computer for use as a first central monitoring station, the method comprising:

connecting the first computer to a network;

installing an operating system on the first computer;

installing anti-virus software on the first computer;

installing licensing information on the first computer;

storing first configuration information on the first computer, the first configuration information being for the first computer and at least one additional computer;

determining that the first computer is to be activated as the first central monitoring station on the network;

when a determination is made that the first computer is to be activated as the first central monitoring station, configuring the first computer according to a first subset of the first configuration information; and

activating the first computer on the network as the first central monitoring station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the first computer is to be activated as the first central monitoring station comprises receiving a selection of the first central monitoring station from a menu of central monitoring stations displayed on a user interface of the first computer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein when the selection of the first central monitoring station is received, the first computer is automatically configured to be the first central monitoring station.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising periodically updating the first computer with operating system updates.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising periodically updating the first computer with anti-virus software updates.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising periodically updating the first computer with configuration information updates.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one additional computer comprises a second computer that stores the first configuration information.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising determining that the second computer is to be activated as a second central monitoring station on the network.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

when a determination is made that the second computer is to be activated as the second central monitoring station, configuring the second computer according to a second subset of the first configuration information, the second subset of the first configuration information being different than the first subset of the first configuration information.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a log-on request to a user interface of the second computer;

displaying a menu of available central monitoring stations on the user interface;

receiving a selection of the second central monitoring station; and

after receiving the selection of the second central monitoring station, automatically configuring the second computer to be the second central monitoring station.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

when a determination is made that the second computer is to be activated as the second central monitoring station, activating licensing information for the second central monitoring station.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one additional computer includes a second computer and a third computer, the second computer and the third computer including the first configuration information.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining that the second computer is to be configured as a second central monitoring station and determining that the third computer is to be configured as a third central monitoring station;

when a determination is made that the second computer is to be configured as the second central monitoring station, configuring the second computer according to a second subset of the first configuration information; and

when a determination is made that the third computer is to be configured as the third central monitoring station, configuring the third computer according to a third subset of the first configuration information,

wherein the first subset of the first configuration information, the second subset of the first configuration information and the third subset of the first configuration information are different.

14. A first electronic computing device comprising:

a processing unit; and

system memory, the system memory including instructions that when executed by the processing unit cause the first electronic computing device to;

connect the first electronic computing device to a network;

install an operating system on the first electronic computing device;

install anti-virus software on the first electronic computing device;

store first configuration information on the first electronic computing device, the first configuration information being for the first electronic computing device and at least one additional computing device;

determine that the first electronic computing device is to be activated as a first central monitoring station on the network;

when a determination is made that the first electronic computing device is to be activated as the first central monitoring station, configure the first electronic computing device according to a first subset of the first configuration information; and

activate the first electronic computing device on the network as the first central monitoring station.

15. The first electronic computing device of claim 14, wherein determine that the first electronic computing device is to be activated as the first central monitoring station comprises:

receive a selection of the first central monitoring station from a menu of available central monitoring stations.

16. The first electronic computing device of claim 15, wherein when the selection of the first central monitoring station is received, the first electronic computing device is automatically configured to be the first central monitoring station.

17. The first electronic computing device of claim 14, further comprising:

determine that a second electronic computing device is to be activated as a second central monitoring station on the network; and

when a determination is made that the second electronic computing device is to be activated as the second central monitoring station, configure the second electronic computing device according to a second subset of the first configuration information, the second subset of the first configuration information being different than the first subset of the first configuration information.

18. The first electronic computing device of claim 14, further comprising:

determine that a second electronic computing device is to be configured as a second central monitoring station and determine that a third electronic computing device is to be configured as a third central monitoring station;

when a determination is made that the second electronic computing device is to be configured as the second central monitoring station, configure the second electronic computing device according to a second subset of the first configuration information; and

when a determination is made that the third electronic computing device is to be configured as the third central monitoring station, configure the third electronic computing device according to a third subset of the first configuration information,

wherein the first subset of the first configuration information, the second subset of the first configuration information and the third subset of the first configuration information are different.

19. The first electronic computing device of claim 14, further comprising:

periodically update the first electronic computing device with operating system updates;

periodically update the first electronic computing device with anti-virus software updates; and

periodically update the first electronic computing device with configuration information updates.

20. A computer-readable data storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processing unit of a first warm-spare computer, cause the first warm-spare computer to:

connect to a network;

install an operating system;

install application software;

install anti-virus software;

store licensing information;

store first configuration information, the first configuration information being for the first warm-spare computer, a second warm-spare computer, a first central monitoring station, and a second central monitoring station;

receive updates to the operating system;

receive updates to the application software;

receive updates to the anti-virus software;

receive updates to the first configuration information;

receive updates to the licensing information;

determine that the first warm-spare computer is to be activated as the first central monitoring station on the network;

when a determination is made that the first warm-spare computer is to be activated as the first central monitoring station;

configure the first warm-spare computer according to a first subset of the first configuration information;

activate licensing information for the first warm-spare computer from the stored licensing information; and

activate the first warm-spare computer on the network as the first central monitoring station;

determine that the second warm-spare computer is to be configured as a second central monitoring station; and

when a determination is made that the second warm-spare computer is to be configured as the second central monitoring station;

configure the second warm-spare computer according to a second subset of the first configuration information;

activate licensing information for the second warm-spare computer from the stored licensing information; and

activate the second warm-spare computer as the second central monitoring station,

wherein the first subset of the first configuration information and the second subset of the first configuration information are different.