Method of controlling wireless data transmission by switching between short-range and long-range radio technologies

• US 20070010256A1
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Published: 01/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Klabunde, Karin, Muesch, Guido
• Granted Patent: US 7,411,491 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/452.200
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/14 Reselecting a network or an air interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/30 by measured or perceived connection quality data

Abstract

The invention relates to a device, in particular a patient monitoring system with a mobile terminal unit (1) for acquiring patient data. The measured data is transferred from the terminal unit (1) via a short-range radio technology (2) (e.g. Bluetooth) to a data monitor (3) arranged at the patient'"'"'s bedside when the patient is in the vicinity thereof. If necessary, communication can be switched to a long-range radio technology (7) (e.g. WLAN) to ensure interruption-free data transmission while the patient moves around.

Claims

1. A method of controlling wireless data transmission from a mobile terminal unit to a receiving system, wherein:

a) the terminal unit transmits data via a short-range radio technology in a first mode and switches to a second mode if the quality of the communication link via the short-range radio technology falls below a first predetermined threshold;

b) the terminal unit transmits data via a long-range radio technology and switches to the first mode as soon as the quality of the communication link via the short-range radio technology is above a second predetermined threshold;

c) on switching from one mode to the other, the communication link via the radio technology of the previous mode is maintained until the link is established via the radio technology of the subsequent mode.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the quality of the communication link via the short-range radio technology is determined by the signal strength, the error rate and/or the signal to noise distance of the communication link.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the short-range radio technology is based on the Bluetooth protocol.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the long-range radio technology is based on a WLAN standard.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the terminal unit has sensors for measuring physiological parameters of a patient.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communication via the various radio technologies is carried out using stations of the receiving system that are spatially separated.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein when switching between two radio technologies, the transmitted data streams are synchronized.

8. A patient monitoring system for mobile acquisition of a patient'"'"'s physiological parameters, comprising a mobile terminal unit and a receiving system, which is arranged to carry out a method according to claim 1.

9. A patient monitoring system according to claim 8, wherein the receiving system comprises a first station with which the terminal unit can communicate via a short-range radio technology, and a second station with which the terminal unit can communicate via the long-range radio technology.

10. A patient monitoring system according to claim 9, wherein the first and second stations are networked.