Network for portable patient monitoring devices

• US 5,319,363 A
• Filed: 08/20/1992
• Issued: 06/07/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The General Hospital Corporation (Mass General Brigham, Inc.)
• Inventors: Welch, James P., Sims, Nathaniel M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Holloway, III, Edwin C.
• Application Number:
  US07/932,924
• Time in Patent Office: 656 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 340/825.17, 340/825.52, 340/286.13, 340/286.14, 340/286.07, 340/870.11, 340/525, 340/524, 364/413.02, 364/413.03, 370/85.1, 370/85.2, 370/85.3, 379/25
• US Class Current: 340/8.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

Multiple devices that are each suitable for use at a selected one of multiple locations are managed using a network of links that are each assigned to one of the locations. Each link is selectable between a state in which a device is not using the link and a state in which one or more devices are using the link. Links that are in use by the devices are identified and the locations at which the devices are used are determined based on the identities of the links that are in use.

Claims

1. A system for managing multiple devices each of which selectively operates in one of a normal condition and an alarm condition, each one of said devices being portable to allow the device to be operated in any selected one of a plurality of locations, comprising

a network that includes a plurality of links each of which is assigned to a predetermined one of said locations, each link having a first state in which none of said devices is in electrical communication with said link and a second state in which at least one of said devices is in electrical communication with said link,

means for placing at least one of said devices in electrical communication with a selected one of said links that was previously not in electrical communication with any of said devices and changing said selected link from said first state to said second state independently of whether said at least one of said devices that is placed in electrical communication with said one link is in said normal condition or said alarm condition, and

means for identifying the links that are in electrical communication with said devices by detecting the links that are in said second state independently of identities of the devices that are in electrical communication with said links, and determining the locations at which devices are in electrical communication with said links based on said identifying.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said devices send and receive messages to other devices on the network via said links, said means for identifying includes circuitry having a plurality of ports, each of which is associated with at least one of said links, for identifying the ports that are associated with links on which said messages appear and determining the locations of said devices based at least in part on the identification of said ports.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the messages sent by a said device identify said device, said means for identifying associating the identity of said device with the location of said device.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein at least one of said links includes a cable having an end disposed at one of said locations, said end of said cable being unterminated when said link is in said first state,

said means for causing including means for terminating said end of said cable to change said link to said second state, and

said means for identifying including circuitry for detecting that said end of said cable has been terminated as a basis for determining that said link is being used.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said links communicates over a wireless transmission medium with a said device disposed in a predetermined area, said link including circuitry for designating a location of said device within said area, said means for identifying determining said location based at least in part on said designation.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein said at least one link includes a plurality of transceivers each of which communicates with a device located in a regional cell within said area, said means for identifying determining the location of said device based at least in part on the identity of the transceiver that is communicating with said device.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said devices each communicate by sending messages that identify said device, and each transceiver includes circuitry for relaying messages received from a said device located in said transceiver'"'"'s cell and for identifying itself to said means for identifying as part of said relaying.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said means for identifying includes means for determining the location within said area of a said device said based at least in part on the identification of said transceiver that relays messages from said device.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said means for identifying includes circuitry having a plurality of ports, each of which is associated with at least one of said links, said plurality of transceivers communicating with at least one of said ports, said circuitry identifying the ports that are associated with links on which said messages appear and determining the locations of said devices based at least in part on the identification of said ports.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the messages sent by a said device identify said device, said means for identifying associating the identity of said device with the location of said device.

11. The system of claim 3 or 10 wherein said means for identifying includes means for tracking, based on said messages, the identity of each device connected to the network at each location.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said devices include a plurality of categories of devices, and further comprising

a database for storing information that designates, for each device, the category thereof, and

said means for identifying including means for accessing said database to enable said means for identifying to determine the category of each one of said devices.

13. The system of claim 2 or 9 wherein said circuitry comprises a unit for retransmitting messages received from a link to which one of said ports is assigned to the links to which other ones of said ports are assigned.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein said unit ignores signals received at ports assigned to unused links and refrains from retransmitting signals to unused links.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein said unit is a multiport repeater.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein said unit is a terminal server.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for identifying includes a processor for communicating with said devices via said links.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said processor is disposed remotely from at least some of said locations and connected to one of said links.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein said processor includes

means for receiving messages sent by said devices on said links, and

a display device for displaying to a user information about said devices based on said data.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said displayed information includes location information that identifies only those locations at which devices are in use on the network.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein each one of said devices communicates information about the status of said device to said processor via its link, said displayed information including status information that indicates said status.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein said displayed information comprises a plurality of symbols each of which has an appearance on said display that is selected to indicate said location information and said status information to the user.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein at least some of said devices receive input signals from an external source and determine whether said input signals are within a predetermined limit, said status information indicating whether said signals are within said predetermined limit.

24. The system of claim 19 wherein at least some of said devices receive input signals from an external source and include a display for displaying data representative of said input signals,

said processor including means for causing said display device to display an image that represents said device display.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein at least some of said devices further include at least one control adapted to be manipulated by a user to control the operation of said device,

said processor causing said display device to include a symbol in said image that represents said device control.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein said processor includes at least one interface device that is operated by the user to emulate the manipulation of said device control,

said processor sending commands to said device via said network that cause the operation of said device to be controlled.

27. The system of claim 19 wherein said processor includes means for generating a plurality of formats for displaying said information about said connected devices and responding to commands entered by a user to selectively display one of said formats.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein at least some of said locations are sites on the floor of a building, one of said formats including a map of said floor, said display device including means for generating, at positions on said map that represent said sites, symbols that identify the sites at which devices have been connected to said links.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein at least some of said devices receive input signals from an external source and include a display for displaying data representative of said input signals and at least one control that a user manipulates to control the operation of said device,

said format including a window for displaying an image that represents said device display, said image including a symbol that represents said control.

30. The system of claim 29 wherein said processor includes an interface device responsive to commands entered by the user to enable the user to identify the device for which said image is to be displayed.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein said interface device includes means for allowing said user to identify said device by selecting one of said symbols on said map.

32. The system of claim 17 wherein at least some of said devices receive input signals from an external source, determine whether said input signals are within predetermined limits, and send messages about said input signals to said processor via said links, said system further comprising

at least one alarm device responsive to said processor for producing an alarm when a message received by said processor from at least one of said devices indicates that said input signals are not within said predetermined limits.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein said alarm device includes a display for identifying the location of said at least one device.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein said alarm device includes means for generating an audio signal during said alarm.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein said processor includes an interface device responsive to a command entered by the user for causing said alarm device to terminate said audio signal during said alarm.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein at least some of said locations are sites on the floor of a building, said processor including a display device for displaying a map of said floor and producing, at a positions on said map that represent said sites, symbols that identify the sites at which devices are using said links, said display device including means for indicating that said audio signal has been terminated by altering the appearance of the symbol that corresponds to said at least one device.

37. The system of claim 36 wherein said display device displays a symbol that represents said audio alarm signal, said interface device includes means for enabling the user to select said symbol to cause said alarm to be terminated.

38. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said links includes a cable having an end disposed at one of said locations, said end of said cable being unterminated when said link is in said first state,

said means for causing including means for connecting at least one of said devices to said end of said cable and terminating said cable to change said link to said second state, and

said means for identifying including circuitry for detecting that said end of said cable has been terminated as a basis for determining that said link is being used.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein said means for connecting includes

circuitry associated with said at least one device for determining if said link has already been changed to said second state by another one of said devices that was previously connected to said end of said cable at said location and that terminated said cable, and

circuitry for terminating said end of said cable unless said cable has already been changed to said second state.

40. The system of claim 39 wherein said determining circuitry includes circuitry for testing the impedance of the cable.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein said determining circuitry further comprises

circuitry, responsive to a determination that said end of said cable is already terminated by said another one of said devices at said location, for placing an impedance imbalance on said cable if the termination is improper for said at least one device, said impedance imbalance causing said another one of said device to remove the termination, and

circuitry for detecting the removal of the termination and causing said circuitry for terminating to terminate said cable.

42. The system of claim 38 wherein said means for connecting includes a terminator that is manually connected to said cable and to said device.

43. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said links comprises coaxial cable.

44. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said links comprises twisted pair cable.

45. The system of claim 1 wherein said network is an Ethernet network.

46. A method for managing multiple devices each of which selectively operates in one of a normal condition and an alarm condition, each one of said devices being portable to allow the device to be operated in any selected one of a plurality of locations, comprising

providing a network that includes a plurality of links each of which is assigned to a predetermined one of said locations, each link having a first state in which none of said devices is in electrical communication with said link and a second state in which at least one of said devices is in electrical communication with said link,

placing at least one of said devices in electrical communication with a selected one of said links that was previously not in electrical communication with any of said devices and changing said selected link from said first state to said second state independently of whether said at least one of said devices that is placed in electrical communication with said one link is in said normal condition or said alarm condition, and

identifying the link that are in electrical communication with said devices by detecting the links that are in said second state independently of identities of the devices that are in electrical communication with said links, and determining the locations at which devices are in electrical communication with said links based on said identifying.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein at least one of said links includes a cable having an end disposed at one of said locations,

said step of causing at least one of said devices to use a selected one of said links including terminating said end of said cable to change said link to said second state, and

said identifying including detecting that said end of said cable has been terminated as a basis for determining that said link is being used.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein said step of connecting includes

using circuitry associated with said one device to determine if said link has already been changed to said second state by another one of said devices that was previously connected to said end of said cable at said location and that terminates said cable, and

terminating said end of said cable unless said cable has already been changed to said second state.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein said determining includes testing the impedance of the cable.

50. The method of claim 48 wherein said determining further comprises

responding to a determination that said end of said cable is already terminated by said another one of said devices at said location by placing an impedance imbalance on said cable if the termination is improper for said one device, said impedance imbalance causing said another one of said devices to remove the termination, and

detecting the removal of the termination and causing said circuitry for terminating to terminate said cable.

51. The method of claim 47 wherein said step of connecting includes connecting a terminator to said cable and to said device.

52. A controller for managing multiple devices on a network that includes a plurality of links, each one of said devices selectively operating in one of a normal condition and an alarm condition and being portable to allow the device to be operated in any selected one of a plurality of locations, each of said links being assigned to a predetermined one of said locations and having a first state in which none of said devices is in electrical communication with said link and a second state in which at least one of said devices is in electrical communication with said link, said controller comprising

means for identifying the links that are in electrical communication with said devices independently of whether said devices are in said normal condition or said alarm condition, by detecting the links that are in said second state independently of identities of the devices that are in electrical communication with said links, and

means for determining the locations at which devices are in electrical communication with said links based on said identifying.