Method and apparatus for accessing a portable personal database as for a hospital environment
First Claim
1. Apparatus for automating routine communication and location determination, comprising:
- portable database means for holding entity information including identification information about an entity;
portable first communications means, removably coupled to said portable database means and said entity for retrieving the entity information including the identification information from said portable database means and for sending the retrieved information to a first remote location;
second communications means, located at said first remote location, for receiving the retrieved information sent by said first communications means and for sending a message including at least a portion of said retrieved information to a second remote location; and
central processor means, located at the second remote location, for receiving the message sent by said second communications means to maintain a central database and for determining the location of said entity.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A distributed data processing network includes multiple memory card databases at terminal nodes of the network. The network is programmed to automatically perform routine communications operations such as conveying identification information between the terminal nodes and interior nodes. The network is implemented in a hospital environment and the databases include information on patients and hospital personnel. Using the automatic communications facilities of the network patient information from the database is displayed at a nurse station when the patient initiates a nurse-call or automatically when medication, also recorded on the card, is due. In addition, the system may be used to locate hospital personnel and equipment, to audit the use of controlled substances and to automatically assemble emergency response teams.
637 Citations
18 Claims
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1. Apparatus for automating routine communication and location determination, comprising:
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portable database means for holding entity information including identification information about an entity; portable first communications means, removably coupled to said portable database means and said entity for retrieving the entity information including the identification information from said portable database means and for sending the retrieved information to a first remote location; second communications means, located at said first remote location, for receiving the retrieved information sent by said first communications means and for sending a message including at least a portion of said retrieved information to a second remote location; and central processor means, located at the second remote location, for receiving the message sent by said second communications means to maintain a central database and for determining the location of said entity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Apparatus for automating routine communication comprising:
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portable database means for storing entity information including identification information about an entity; first communications means, removably coupled to said portable database means for retrieving the entity information including the identification information from said portable database means and for sending the retrieved information to a first remote location; second communications means, located at said first remote location, for receiving the retrieved information sent by said first communications means and for sending a message including at least a portion of said retrieved information to a second remote location; and central processor means, located at the second remote location, for receiving the message sent by said second communications means to maintain a central database;
whereinthe portable database means is a memory card; the entity information includes medical information pertaining to a patient in a hospital; the first communications means includes a nurse call station having means for requesting assistance from a nurse; and the second communications means includes a central nurse station having means for displaying the identification information and medical information sent from the database in response to the request for assistance from said first communication means. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. Apparatus for automating routine communication and location determination comprising:
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a plurality of portable databases for holding entity information including identification information about a respective plurality of entities; a plurality of portable communicators, each being removably coupled to a respective one of said entities and to a respective one of said plurality of portable databases for retrieving the entity information including the identification information and for sending the retrieved information to a remote location; a plurality of receivers, each located at respective remote locations for receiving the entity information sent by one of said plurality of portable communicators and for sending a message including at least a portion of said received information to a second remote location; and a central processor, located at said second remote location, for receiving said message sent by one of said plurality of receivers to maintain a central database and to determine the location of said respective one of said entities. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification