Automatic wireless PAN/LAN switching

Abstract

A communication system is used by a portable patient monitoring device in connecting to a plurality of other devices, including a docking station suitable for attaching to the portable patient monitoring device. The portable patient monitoring device processes signal parameters acquired from a patient. The communications system includes an adaptive communication interface for automatically operating in a first mode of operation when the portable patient monitoring device is attached to the docking station. In the first mode of operation the portable patient monitor receives an identifier identifying a particular docking station via a first wireless communication link exclusively between the docking station and the portable patient monitoring device, in response to detecting the portable patient monitoring device is attached to the docking station. Patient parameters acquired via the first wireless communication link are communicated to a destination associated with the particular docking station identified by the received identifier. In a second mode of operation when the portable patient monitoring device is unattached to the docking station, the portable patient monitor establishes a second wireless communication link between the portable processing device and a network, in response to detecting the first communication link is non-operational Patient parameters acquired via the second wireless communication link are communicated to a destination.

1 . A communication system used by a portable patient monitoring device in connecting to a plurality of other devices including a docking station suitable for attaching to said portable patient monitoring device, said portable patient monitoring device being for processing signal parameters acquired from a patient, comprising: 
 an adaptive communication interface for automatically: 
 in a first mode of operation when said portable patient monitoring device is attached to said docking station, 
 receiving an identifier identifying a particular docking station via a first wireless communication link exclusively between said docking station and said portable patient monitoring device, in response to detecting said portable patient monitoring device is attached to said docking station, and  
 communicating acquired patient parameters via said first wireless communication link to a destination associated with said particular docking station identified by said received identifier; and  
 
 in a second mode of operation when said portable patient monitoring device is unattached to said docking station, 
 establishing a second wireless communication link of said portable processing device to a network, in response to detecting said first communication link is non-operational and  
 communicating acquired patient parameters via said second wireless communication link to a destination.  
 
   
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said destination is at least one of, (a) an electronic patient record, (b) a patient monitoring system and (c) a patient data repository.  
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said adaptive communication interface operates automatically without human intervention.  
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said detection of said portable patient monitoring device being attached to said docking station is performed by detection of at least one of, (a) a change in charging current being provided by said docking station to said portable patient monitoring device and (b) an active communication link is present between said docking station and said portable processing device.  
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said first wireless communication link exclusively between said docking station and said portable patient monitoring device comprises at least one of, (a) an optical link and (b) a constricted RF link.  
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said adaptive communication interface is inhibited from establishing communication with systems failing to provide said received identifier when said portable patient monitoring device is unattached to said docking station.  
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said first wireless communication link exclusively between said docking station and said portable patient monitoring device comprises magnetically coupled signal modulation.  
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said adaptive communication interface supports communication using wireless technologies including at least one of, (a) WLAN 802.11b standard compatible communication, (b) 802.11a standard compatible communication, (c) 802.11g standard compatible communication, (d) Bluetooth 802.15 standard compatible communication, (e) GSM/GPRS standard compatible communication, (f) UWB standard compatible communication 802.15.3, and (g) RFID sensing.  
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said first and second wireless communication links are the same link used in different first and second communication modes.  
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 9  wherein: 
 said first communication mode employs a first power for transmission; and    said second communication mode employs a second power for transmission substantially higher than said first power.    
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 10  wherein said same link is a Bluetooth compatible communication link  
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 9  wherein 
 said same link is a WiFi compatible communication link;    said first communication mode uses ad-hoc mode; and    said second communication mode uses station mode.    
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein said identifier associated with said particular docking station comprises at least one of, (a) an Ethernet compatible MAC address, (b) an IP address, (c) a port identifier, (d) an Internet compatible address and (e) a LAN address.  
     
     
         14 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein in said second mode of operation when said portable patient monitoring device is unattached to said docking station said portable processing device wirelessly communicates acquired patient parameters via said first wireless communication link to said destination associated with said particular docking station identified by said received identifier prior to detecting said first communication link is non-operational.  
     
     
         15 . A communication system used by a portable patient monitoring device in connecting to a plurality of other devices including a docking station suitable for attaching to said portable patient monitoring device, said portable patient monitoring device being for processing signal parameters acquired from a patient, comprising: 
 an adaptive communication interface for automatically, 
 in a first mode of operation when said portable patient monitoring device is attached to said docking station, 
 receiving an identifier identifying a particular docking station via a first wireless communication link exclusively between said docking station and said portable patient monitoring device, in response to detecting said portable patient monitoring device is attached to said docking station, and  
 communicating acquired patient parameters via said first wireless communication link to a first destination associated with said particular docking station identified by said received identifier, and  
 
 in a second mode of operation when said portable patient monitoring device is unattached to said docking station, 
 establishing a second wireless communication link of said portable processing device to a network, in response to detecting said first communication link is non-operational and  
 communicating acquired patient parameters via said second wireless communication link to a second destination.  
 
   
     
     
         16 . A system according to  claim 15  wherein said first wireless communication link is a relatively short range link comprising at least one of, (a) an optical link, (b) a RF link and (c) a magnetically coupled link.  
     
     
         17 . A system according to  claim 16  wherein said first wireless communication link is via a Personal Area Network (PAN).  
     
     
         18 . A system according to  claim 16  wherein said second wireless communication link is a link of relatively long range compared to said first link and comprises a RF link.  
     
     
         19 . A system according to  claim 18  wherein said second wireless communication link is via a Local Area Network (LAN).  
     
     
         20 . A system according to  claim 16  wherein said first wireless communication link is at least one of: (a) Bluetooth compatible, and (b) UWB compatible; and 
 said second wireless communication link is WiFi compatible.    
     
     
         21 . A system according to  claim 15  wherein said first and second destinations are the same and comprise at least one of, (a) an electronic patient record, (b) a patient monitoring system and (c) a patient data repository.  
     
     
         22 . A system according to  claim 15  wherein 
 said first destination comprises a patient monitoring system and    said second destination comprises a central monitoring station.    
     
     
         23 . A system according to  claim 15  further comprising: 
 a data acquisition processor for receiving and processing patient parameter data comprising physiological data including at least one of, (a) electrocardiograph (ECG) data, (b) blood parameter data, (c) ventilation parameter data, (d) infusion pump related data, (e) blood pressure data, (f) pulse rate data and (g) temperature data, from a plurality of different patient attached sensors to provide processed patient parameter data;    a display device for displaying processed patient parameter data; and    a power coupler in said docking station comprising a power unit for re-charging a battery and supplying power to said portable unit.    
     
     
         24 . A system according to  claim 15  wherein: 
 said identifier associated with said particular docking station enables determination of a geographic location of said particular docking station from a map associating said identifier with a corresponding geographic location; and    said adaptive communication interface couples a data transducer in said portable patient monitoring device to a corresponding transducer in said docking station to support bidirectional exchange of data.    
     
     
         25 . A system according to  claim 15  wherein said adaptive communication interface adaptively switches between first and second wireless communication links.  
     
     
         26 . A system according to  claim 15  further comprising a memory for storing at least one of, (a) an identifier associated with a previous docking station employed by said portable patient monitoring device prior to a subsequent docking station, (b) information derived using said identifier associated with said previous docking station and (c) a time stamp of undocking.