Address space partitioning and filtering for discretionary wireless connection response

• US 8,897,217 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2010
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Ho, Jin-Meng, Roh, JuneChul
• Primary Examiner(s): Chu, Wutchung
• Application Number:
  US12/963,942
• Publication Number:
  US 20110134842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,447 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432.1, 455/433, 370/384, 370/252, 370/350, 370/461, 370/431, 370/456, 370/450, 370/459, 370/310, 370/328, 340501-502
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/37254 Pacemaker or defibrillator security, e.g. to prevent or inhibit programming alterations by hackers or unauthorised individuals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/04 Wireless resource allocation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

A system and method for providing wireless communications between a medical controller hub and an implant node are disclosed. The hub transmits signals to facilitate communication connections with the node. The signals include connection invitation polls with identification parameters. A node monitors the hub'"'"'s transmissions for the connection invitation polls. When a poll is detected, the node compares the identification parameters to a list of preferred identification values. If the received identification parameter is on the preferred list, and the node and hub are not already connected, then the node responds to the connection invitation poll. If the received identification parameter is not on the preferred list, then the node continues to monitor hub transmissions for other connection invitation polls that include identification parameters that are on the preferred list.

Claims

1. A method of communicating between a node and a hub, comprising:

tuning a node transceiver to one or more channels designated for initial communications with hub, wherein the node transceives over a Body Area Network (BAN);

receiving a transmission from a hub that is a BAN-enabled hub that includes a connection invitation poll message;

identifying one or more received identification parameters within the connection invitation poll message; and

determining whether the received identification parameters match one or more parameters on a list of preferred identification parameters,

wherein, the list of preferred identification parameters includes one or more emergency hub identifiers, medical facility identifiers, or home hub identifiers, over the BAN;

extracting information from a sender identification field and from a BAN field in the connection invitation poll message, wherein the information comprises the received identification parameters,

wherein if the received identification parameters match a home hub identifier in the list of preferred identification parameters of BAN-enabled hubs;

determining whether the node is currently in communication with a home hub; and

transmitting a message to the hub in response to the connection invitation poll message, if the node is not currently in communication with the home hub, and wherein the node is further configured to continue to monitoring for a BAN-enabled hub on its list of;

i) designated medical facilities,

ii) a home hub, or

iii) an emergency hub,

if the BAN-enabled hub is not listed in its preferred parameters.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a message to the hub in response to the connection invitation poll message, if the received identification parameters match one or more parameters on the preferred identification parameter list.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

monitoring the one or more channels designated for initial communications with hubs for a second connection invitation poll message, if the received identification parameters do not match one or more parameters on the preferred identification parameter list.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

extracting information from a sender identification field in the connection invitation poll message, wherein the information comprises the received identification parameters.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

extracting information from a body area network identification field in the connection invitation poll message, wherein the information comprises the received identification parameters.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a communication link between the node and a trusted hub; and

providing the list of preferred identification parameters to the node from the trusted hub.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the trusted hub is a home hub.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a communication link between the node and a trusted hub; and

updating the list of preferred identification parameters on the node by sending updated preferred identifiers comprising at least one new emergency hub identifier, at least new one medical facility identifier, or at least one new home hub identifier from the trusted hub.

9. A network node, comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting and receiving signals;

a memory maintaining a list of preferred identification parameters; and

a processor adapted to control an operating channel of the transceiver, to perform operations on received signals, and to construct signals for transmission, the processor operating to;

identify a transmission received from a body area network (BAN)-enabled hub that includes a connection invitation poll message;

identify one or more received identification parameters within the connection invitation poll message; and

determine whether the received identification parameters match one or more parameters on the list of preferred identification parameters,

wherein the list of preferred identification parameters includes one or more emergency hub identifiers, medical facility identifiers, or home hub identifiers, over the BAN;

extract information from a sender identification field and from a BAN field in the connection invitation poll message, wherein the information comprises the received identification parameters,

wherein if the received identification parameters match a home hub identifier in the list of preferred identification parameters of BAN-enabled hubs, the processor further is configured to;

determine whether the node is currently in communication with a home hub; and

transmit a message to the hub in response to the connection invitation poll message, if the node is not currently in communication with the home hub, and wherein the node is further configured to continue to monitoring for a BAN-enabled hub on its list of;

i) designated medical facilities,

ii) a home hub, or

iii) an emergency hub,

if the BAN-enabled hub is not listed in its preferred parameters.

10. The network node of claim 9, the processor further operating to:

generate a message to be sent to the hub in response to the connection invitation poll message, if the received identification parameters match one or more parameters on the preferred identification parameter list.

11. The network node of claim 9, the processor further operating to:

identify one or more additional connection invitation poll messages from hubs, if the received identification parameters do not match one or more parameters on the preferred identification parameter list.

12. The network node of claim 9, the processor further operating to:

extract information from a sender identification field or from a body area network field or both fields in the connection invitation poll message, wherein the information comprises the received identification parameters.

13. The network node of claim 9, the processor further operating to:

determine that the received identification parameters match a home hub identifier in the list of preferred identification parameters;

determine whether the node is currently in communication with a home hub; and

generate a message to be sent to the hub in response to the connection invitation poll message, if the node is not currently in communication with the home hub.

14. The network node of claim 9, the processor further operating to:

establish a communication link between the node and a trusted hub; and

receive the list of preferred identification parameters from the trusted hub.

15. The network node of claim 9, the processor further operating to:

establish a communication link between the node and a trusted hub; and

receive updates to the list of preferred identification parameters on the node, the updates comprising at least one new emergency hub identifier, at least new one medical facility identifier, or at least one new home hub identifier from the trusted hub.

16. A network hub, comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting and receiving signals;

a memory maintaining a list of preferred identification parameters; and

a processor adapted to control an operating channel of the transceiver, to perform operations on received signals, and to construct signals for transmission, the processor operating to;

establish a communication link between the network hub and a node;

identify the network hub as a trusted hub to the node; and

provide a list of preferred identification parameters to the node of preferred body area network (BAN)-enabled hubs that includes a connection invitation poll message;

wherein, the list of preferred identification parameters includes one or more emergency hub identifiers, medical facility identifiers, or home hub identifiers, over the BAN;

insert information into a sender identification field and into a BAN field in the connection invitation poll message,

wherein if the received identification parameters match a home hub identifier in the list of preferred identification parameters of BAN-enabled hubs, the processor is further configured to;

determine whether the home hub is currently in communication with the node; and

receive a message from the node in response to the connection invitation poll message, if the node is not currently in communication with the home hub, and

wherein the hub is further configured to continue to broadcast as a BAN-enabled hub on its list of;

i) designated medical facilities,

ii) a home hub, or

iii) an emergency hub,

if the BAN-enabled hub is not listed in the preferred parameters of the node.

17. The network hub of claim 16, the processor further operating to:

provide an update to the list of preferred identification parameters by generating a message comprising at least one new emergency hub identifier, at least new one medical facility identifier, or at least one new home hub identifier from the trusted hub.

18. The network hub of claim 16, the processor further operating to:

generate a poll or wakeup message to be transmitted to one or more nodes, the message comprising a header with a sender identification field and a body area network identification field, the network hub configuring the sender identification field or the body area network field or both fields to correspond to an emergency hub identifier, a medical facility identifier, or a home hub identifier.

19. The network hub of claim 16, the processor further operating to:

generate a poll or wakeup message to be transmitted to one or more nodes, the message comprising a header with a sender identification field and a body area network identification field, the network hub configuring the sender identification field or the body area network field or both fields to correspond to an entry in the list of preferred identification parameters.