System and method for backup communication over ethernet

US8711687B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• TYCO FIRE & SECURITY GMBH · CH
• TOTAL WALTHER GMBH, FEUERSCHUTZ UND SICHERHEIT · DE

Inventors

• Joseph D. Farley · Boca Raton, US
• Heinrich Zettler · Munich, DE
• Werner Schuhmann · Munich, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 22, 2011
• Grant date: Apr 29, 2014
• Expiry date: Feb 14, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H04Q1/136
• WIPO field: Telecommunications
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A system and method for providing backup communications over an Ethernet cable are disclosed. A backup communication system (BCS) is provided as part of a networked (TCP/IP) hospital communication system. The BCS is coupled to an Ethernet cable used for normal TCP/IP communications. When TCP/IP communications are interrupted, the BCS receives patient call signals from patient room terminals over a secondary communication mode of the Ethernet cable, and transmits those call signals to a nurses' station. The call signals are transmitted as voltage coded data such as voltage pulses or static levels. The voltage can include call information. 10V can represent a normal patient call, 15V can represent a patient emergency call, and 24V can represent a code call. Information can be relayed back to the room terminals using the same signaling technique. Thus, basic communications can be achieved when TCP/IP communications are unavailable. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.