Patient care devices with on-board network communication
US11303735B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 21, 2020 |
| Grant date | Apr 12, 2022 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 21, 2040 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04L69/18
- WIPO fieldDigital communication
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Patient care devices, such as person support apparatuses and thermal control units, include multiple internal network nodes. A controller is associated with each node and at least one of the controllers is adapted to process a message received from another node, convert the message from a first communication protocol to a different communication protocol, and forward the message to yet another node using the different communication protocol. One or more of the controllers may also or alternatively reformulate a packet received in a first format from a first node and forward the reformulated packet to another node. One or more controllers may also send messages over a common data link layer wherein some of the messages are formatted according to different message protocols. Some controllers may utilize real time operating systems while others may not.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.