System and method for backup communication over ethernet
First Claim
1. A method for providing backup communication, comprising:
- determining whether Ethernet communication using an Ethernet gateway coupled to an Ethernet switch and a patient call device is non-functional, the Ethernet gateway, the Ethernet switch, and the patient call device interconnected through a hospital local area network;
receiving, at a backup communication system (BCS) processor coupled to the patient call device, a first call signal from the patient call device; and
transmitting, from the BCS processor, a second call signal to a monitoring device, said second call signal representative of said first call signal;
wherein the first call signal is transmitted on a secondary communication mode of an Ethernet cable, the secondary communication mode being different from a primary communication mode of said Ethernet cable.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for providing backup communications over an Ethernet cable are disclosed. A backup communication system (BCS) is provided as part of a networked (TCP/IP) hospital communication system. The BCS is coupled to an Ethernet cable used for normal TCP/IP communications. When TCP/IP communications are interrupted, the BCS receives patient call signals from patient room terminals over a secondary communication mode of the Ethernet cable, and transmits those call signals to a nurses'"'"' station. The call signals are transmitted as voltage coded data such as voltage pulses or static levels. The voltage can include call information. 10V can represent a normal patient call, 15V can represent a patient emergency call, and 24V can represent a code call. Information can be relayed back to the room terminals using the same signaling technique. Thus, basic communications can be achieved when TCP/IP communications are unavailable. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for providing backup communication, comprising:
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determining whether Ethernet communication using an Ethernet gateway coupled to an Ethernet switch and a patient call device is non-functional, the Ethernet gateway, the Ethernet switch, and the patient call device interconnected through a hospital local area network; receiving, at a backup communication system (BCS) processor coupled to the patient call device, a first call signal from the patient call device; and transmitting, from the BCS processor, a second call signal to a monitoring device, said second call signal representative of said first call signal; wherein the first call signal is transmitted on a secondary communication mode of an Ethernet cable, the secondary communication mode being different from a primary communication mode of said Ethernet cable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for providing backup communication over an Ethernet cable, comprising:
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a backup communication system (BCS) processor for receiving a first call signal from a patient room terminal; the BCS processor configured to determine whether Ethernet communication using an Ethernet gateway coupled between an Ethernet switch and the patient room terminal is non-functional, the Ethernet gateway, the Ethernet switch, and the patient room terminal interconnected through a hospital local area network; the BSC processor further configured to transmit a second call signal to a monitoring device, said second call signal representative of the first call signal; wherein said first call signal is transmitted on a secondary communication mode of an Ethernet cable, the secondary communication mode being different from a primary communication mode of said Ethernet cable. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification