Automatic wireless PAN/LAN switching
First Claim
1. A communication system configured to connect a portable patient monitoring device to a plurality of networks via separate communication links, comprising:
- a first patient area network including a first docking station and a first destination;
a second patient area network, different from the first patient area network, including a second docking station and a second destination; and
a portable patient monitoring device including an adaptive communication interface configured to;
establish communication with the first patient area network when the portable patient monitoring device is docked to the first docking station, receive a first unique identifier from the first docking station via a first exclusive communication link between the first docking station and the portable patient monitoring device, and transmit patient parameters to the first destination via the first exclusive communication link, andmaintain communication with the first patient area network when the portable patient monitoring device is undocked from the first docking station and the first exclusive communication link is inoperative, by establishing a first wireless communication link between the portable patient monitoring device and the first patient area network and obtaining the first unique identifier from the first patient area network via the first wireless link, and transmit patient parameters via the first wireless communication link to the first destination,when the portable patient monitoring device is undocked and is in an area where the first and second patient area networks overlap and are within range of the patient monitoring device, the adaptive communication interface is configured to maintain connection with the first patient area network, and is actively inhibited from establishing communication with the second network when the second network provides an identifier that does not match the first unique identifier, andwhen the portable patient monitoring device is docked to the second docking station, the adaptive communication interface is configured to establish a second exclusive communication with the second patient area network, receive a second unique identifier from the second docking station via the second exclusive communication link between the second docking station and the portable patient monitoring device, and transmit patient parameters to the second destination.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system is used by a portable patient monitoring device for connecting to other devices, including a docking station, via one or more networks. The communications system includes an adaptive communication interface which, when the patient monitoring device is docked, establishes communication with a first network, and receives from a first docking station a first unique identifier that identifies the first docking station, allowing the patient monitoring device to communicate patient parameters to the first destination. While the portable patient monitoring device is undocked, the adaptive communication interface is inhibited from establishing communication with a network providing an identifier to the portable patient monitor that does not match the first unique identifier. Upon docking to a second docking station, the patient monitoring device establishes communication with a second network using a new unique identifier received from the second docking station via a second exclusive communication link.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A communication system configured to connect a portable patient monitoring device to a plurality of networks via separate communication links, comprising:
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a first patient area network including a first docking station and a first destination; a second patient area network, different from the first patient area network, including a second docking station and a second destination; and a portable patient monitoring device including an adaptive communication interface configured to; establish communication with the first patient area network when the portable patient monitoring device is docked to the first docking station, receive a first unique identifier from the first docking station via a first exclusive communication link between the first docking station and the portable patient monitoring device, and transmit patient parameters to the first destination via the first exclusive communication link, and maintain communication with the first patient area network when the portable patient monitoring device is undocked from the first docking station and the first exclusive communication link is inoperative, by establishing a first wireless communication link between the portable patient monitoring device and the first patient area network and obtaining the first unique identifier from the first patient area network via the first wireless link, and transmit patient parameters via the first wireless communication link to the first destination, when the portable patient monitoring device is undocked and is in an area where the first and second patient area networks overlap and are within range of the patient monitoring device, the adaptive communication interface is configured to maintain connection with the first patient area network, and is actively inhibited from establishing communication with the second network when the second network provides an identifier that does not match the first unique identifier, and when the portable patient monitoring device is docked to the second docking station, the adaptive communication interface is configured to establish a second exclusive communication with the second patient area network, receive a second unique identifier from the second docking station via the second exclusive communication link between the second docking station and the portable patient monitoring device, and transmit patient parameters to the second destination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for connecting a portable patient monitoring device to a plurality of networks via separate communication links, comprising:
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when the portable patient monitoring device is docked to a first docking station associated with a first network defining a first destination, establishing communication with the first network, receiving from the first docking station via a first exclusive communication link between the first docking station and the portable patient monitoring device a first unique identifier that identifies the first docking station, and transmitting patient parameters to the first destination, when the portable patient monitoring device is undocked from the first docking station and the first exclusive communication link is inoperative, establishing a first wireless communication link between the portable patient monitoring device and the first network, obtaining the first unique identifier from the first network via the first wireless link, maintaining communication with the first network, and transmitting patient parameters via the first wireless communication link to the first destination, when the portable patient monitoring device is docked to a second docking station associated with a second network different from the first network and defining a second destination, establishing a second exclusive communication with a second network, receiving from the second docking station via the second exclusive communication link between the second docking station and the portable patient monitoring device a second unique identifier that identifies the second docking station, and transmitting patient parameters to the second destination, and when the portable patient monitoring device is undocked and is in an area where the first and second patient area networks overlap and are within range of the patient monitoring device, maintaining connection with the first network, and actively inhibiting communication with the second network when the second network provides an identifier to the portable patient monitoring device that does not match the first unique identifier. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A communication system configured to connect a portable patient monitoring device to a plurality of networks via separate communication links, comprising:
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a first patient area network including a first docking station and a first destination; a second patient area network, different from the first patient area network, including a second docking station and a second destination; and a portable patient monitoring device including an adaptive communication interface configured to; establish communication with the first patient area network when the portable patient monitoring device is docked to the first docking station, receive a first unique identifier from the first docking station via a first exclusive communication link between the first docking station and the portable patient monitoring device, and transmit patient parameters to the first destination via the first exclusive communication link, and maintain communication with the first patient area network when the portable patient monitoring device is undocked from the first docking station and the first exclusive communication link is inoperative, by establishing a first wireless communication link between the portable patient monitoring device and the first patient area network and obtaining the first unique identifier from the first patient area network via the first wireless link, and transmit patient parameters via the first wireless communication link to the first destination, when the portable patient monitoring device is undocked and is in an area where the first patient area network is not within range and the second network is within range, the adaptive communication interface is configured to establish connection with a third network different from the first and second networks when the third network provides an identifier that matches the first unique identifier, and is actively inhibited from establishing communication with the second network when the second network provides an identifier that does not match the first unique identifier, and when the portable patient monitoring device is docked to the second docking station, the adaptive communication interface is configured to establish communication with the second patient area network, receive a second unique identifier from the second docking station via a second exclusive communication link between the second docking station and the portable patient monitoring device, and transmit patient parameters to the second destination.
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Specification