Paging transmission system

• US 5,481,255 A
• Filed: 02/10/1993
• Issued: 01/02/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GE Medical Systems Information Technologies Incorporated (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Data Critical Corporation (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: El Idrisi, Aziz, Albert, David E.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US08/015,869
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 340/825.52, 340/825.55, 455/38.1, 379/57
• US Class Current: 340/7.21
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/226 with alphanumeric or graphic display means
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/023 with message or information receiving capability

Abstract

Method and apparatus for sending, receiving, and displaying textual and/or graphic data via an alphanumeric paging system wherein source data in binary form is converted to an alphanumeric code for transmission via the paging system; a paging receiver with storage capability used in combination with a computer then receives the transmitted data and downloads the alphanumeric code data for reconversion to binary data and subsequent display of the text and/or graphic data.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting selected data from a source to a remote position comprising:

generating said selected data as digital binary data at the source;

converting each successive three 8-bit bytes of binary data to four 7-bit bytes of selected alphanumeric code data and dividing all alphanumeric code data into at least one successive sub-files, each sub-file being of pre-selected maximum message size;

transmitting the divided 7-bit alphanumeric code data sequence via a paging switch;

receiving the 7-bit alphanumeric code data via paging receiver at the remote position; and

downloading the 7-bit alphanumeric code data to a selected programmable computer which recombines the at least one sub-files and retranslates from 7-bit alphanumeric code data to digital binary data for subsequent output display.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of transmitting comprises:

applying the 7-bit alphanumeric code data through a standard modem to the paging switch to transmit the 7-bit alphanumeric code data.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein:

said 7-bit alphanumeric code data ia ASCII code data.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of downloading further includes:

recombining the 7-bit alphanumeric code data sub-files in the programmable personal computer thereby to reconstruct the total selected data.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4 wherein said step of transmitting comprises:

applying the 7-bit alphanumeric code data through a standard modem to the paging switch to transmit the 7-bit alphanumeric code data.

6. A method for transmitting selected data from a source to a remote position, comprising:

deriving said selected data at the source as a series of 8-bit bytes of binary data;

converting each three successive 8-bit bytes of binary data to four successive 7-bit bytes of ASCII code data;

transmitting the ASCII code data via an alphanumeric paging system;

receiving the ASCII code data at the remote position; and

downloading the ASCII code data to a programmable computer which translates to the binary data for output indication of the selected data.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said step of receiving includes:

receiving by means of an alphanumeric paging receiver with internal storage and storing the ASCII code data.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7 which is further characterized to include:

dividing the ASCII code data into plural sub-files, each sub-file being no larger than the paging switch internal storage capacity, before transmitting; and

transmitting the respective ASCII code data sub-files in sequential order.

9. A method as set forth in claim 8 which is further characterized to include:

receiving the successive ASCII code data sub-files and downloading each of said sub-files in sequential order to the programmable computer; and

decoding the total ASCII code data to binary data to provide the selected data output indication.

10. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said selected data is alphanumeric textual data.

11. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein:

said selected data is pictorial data.

12. A method as set forth in claim 6 wherein:

said selected data is electrocardiogram data with pertinent patient data.

13. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein:

said selected data is alphanumeric textual data.

14. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein:

said selected data is pictorial data.

15. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein:

said selected data is electrocardiogram data with pertinent patient data.

16. A method of paging transmission for transmitting electrocardiogram (ECG) data to a remote position, comprising:

deriving the ECG data including multi-trace graphic data and pertinent patient data represented in binary code;

converting each successive three 8-bit bytes of binary code data to four 7-bit bytes of ASCII code data;

transmitting the ASCII code data via modem to a paging switch for paging transmission;

receiving the ASCII code data at the remote location via paging receiver;

downloading the succession of ASCII code data to an associated computer;

retranslating from ASCII to binary data; and

reconverting the binary data to the ECG data for viewing at the remote location.

17. A method as set forth in claim 16 which is further characterized in that:

the converted ASCII code data is divided into plural sub-files each of predetermined maximum file size; and

the downloaded ASCII code data sub-files are reconstituted sequentially to form the total ASCII code data.

18. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the step of deriving includes:

scanning pertinent X-ray data for inclusion in binary code.

19. A method as set forth in claim 16 wherein the step of deriving includes:

transducing selected voice data for inclusion in binary code.

20. A method as set forth in claim 17 wherein the step of deriving includes:

scanning pertinent X-ray data for inclusion in binary code.

21. A method as set forth in claim 17 wherein the step of deriving includes:

transducing selected voice data for inclusion in binary code.

22. A method as set forth in claim 17 wherein:

the ASCII code data is 12-lead ECG waveform data with each sub-file limited to data from a single one of the twelve leads.

23. A method as set forth in claim 17 wherein:

multiparameter patient monitoring data is transmitted as the ASCII code data with each sub-file limited to data from a single parameter.

24. A method as set forth in claim 17 wherein:

the ECG data is compressed prior to encoding into ASCII sub-files and subsequently decompressed after downloading of ASCII data at the remote position thereby to maximize message content.

25. A paging system for transmitting selected data to a remote location, comprising:

means for deriving the selected data in successive 8-bit binary signal form;

means for translating each three successive 8-bit bytes of binary signals to four bytes of 7-bit ASCII code data;

a paging switch for receiving the ASCII code data and transmitting the data;

a paging receiver for receiving the 7-bit ASCII code data and storing for subsequent download of data;

means receiving the download data and retranslating the 7-bit ASCII code data to binary digital data; and

means for processing the binary digital data to provide indication of the selected data.

26. A paging system as set forth in claim 25 wherein said means for translating comprises:

means for converting the binary data from binary to ASCII code; and

means for dividing the ASCII code data into a plurality of sub-files of predetermined file size for sequential input to said paging switch.

27. A paging system as set forth in claim 25 wherein said means for translating comprises:

means for dividing the binary signals into plural binary message segments; and

means for converting the binary message segments into successive sub-files of ASCII code data for sequential input to said paging switch.

28. A paging system as set forth in claim 26 wherein said means receiving comprises:

means for receiving the successively downloaded sub-files of ASCII code data; and

means for retranslating the successive sub-files of 7-bit ASCII code data to produce the full message binary digital data.

29. A paging system as set forth in claim 25 wherein said means for deriving comprises:

means for generating a first output indicative of selected data; and

means for producing the first output in binary digital signal form.

30. A paging system as set forth in claim 29 wherein said means for translating comprises:

means for converting the binary digital signal from binary to 7-bit ASCII code; and

means for dividing the 7-bit ASCII code data into a plurality of sub-files of predetermined file size for sequential input to said paging switch.

31. A paging system as set forth in claim 30 wherein said means receiving comprises:

means for receiving the successively downloaded sub-files of 7-bit ASCII code data;

means for retranslating the successive sub-files of 7-bit ASCII code data to produce the full message binary digital data; and

means providing output indication of the full message binary digital data.

32. A paging system as set forth in claim 25 which is further characterized to include:

means for transducing voice input relative to said selected data and outputting as binary signal; and

means inputting the voice binary signal to said means for translating to 7-bit ASCII code data.

33. A paging system as set forth in claim 32 wherein said means for translating comprises:

means for converting the binary data from binary to 7-bit ASCII code; and

means for dividing the 7-bit ASCII code data into a plurality of sub-files of predetermined file size for sequential input to said paging switch.

34. A paging system as set forth in claim 33 wherein said means receiving comprises:

means for receiving the successively downloaded sub-files of 7-bit ASCII code data; and

means for retranslating the successive sub-files of 7-bit ASCII code data to produce the full message binary digital data.

35. A paging system as set forth in claim 25 which is further characterized to include:

scanning means for converting visual X-ray data that is relative to the selected data and outputting as binary signal; and

means inputting the X-ray data binary signal to said means for translating to 7-bit ASCII code data.

36. A paging system as set forth in claim 35 wherein said means for translating comprises:

means for converting the binary data from binary to 7-bit ASCII code; and

means for dividing the 7-bit ASCII code data into a plurality of sub-files of predetermined file size for sequential input to said paging switch.

37. A paging system as set forth in claim 36 wherein said means receiving comprises:

means for receiving the successively downloaded sub-files of b 7-bit ASCII code data; and

means for retranslating the successive sub-files of 7-bit ASCII code data to produce the full message binary digital data.

38. A paging system as set forth in claim 25 which is further characterized to include:

means for adding text data to at least one of the 7-bit ASCII sub-files as a header before transmission; and

means for removing the header text data before the at least one sub-files are reconverted into the original binary data.

39. A paging system for transmitting selected data to a remote location, comprising:

means for deriving the selected data in binary signal form;

means for translating each three successive bytes of 8-bit binary signals to four bytes of 7-bit alphanumeric code data;

a paging switch for receiving the 7-bit alphanumeric code data and transmitting the data;

a paging receiver for receiving the 7-bit alphanumeric code data and storing for subsequent download of data;

means receiving the download data and retranslating the 7-bit alphanumeric code data to binary digital data; and

means for processing the binary digital data to provide indication of the selected data.

40. A paging system as set forth in claim 39 wherein:

said 7-bit alphanumeric code data is a selected seven-digit binary code.

41. A paging system as set forth in claim 39 wherein said means for transmitting comprises:

means for dividing the 7-bit alphanumeric code data into a plurality of sub-files of predetermined file size for sequential input to said paging switch.

42. A paging system as set forth in claim 39 wherein said means for translating comprises:

means for dividing the binary signals into plural binary message segments; and

means for converting the binary message segments into successive sub-files of 7-bit alphanumeric code data for sequential input to said paging switch.

43. A paging system as set forth in claim 41 wherein said means receiving comprises:

means for receiving the successively downloaded sub-files of 7-bit alphanumeric code data; and

means for retranslating the successive sub-files of 7-bit alphanumeric code data to produce the full message binary digital data.