The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 08, 2014
Filed:
Nov. 22, 2011
Joseph D. Farley, Warwick, MA (US);
Werner Schuhmann, Munich, DE;
Heinrich Zettler, Munich, DE;
Tyco Fire & Security GmbH, Neuhausen am Rheinfall, CH;
Total Walther GmbH, Feuerschutz und Sicherheit, Cologne, DE;
Abstract
A system and method for providing backup communications using Power over Ethernet (PoE) are disclosed. A backup communication system (BCS) is provided as part of a networked (TCP/IP) hospital communication system. The BCS is coupled to a power line used to provide power to a PoE switch. When TCP/IP communications are interrupted, the BCS receives patient call signals from patient room terminals over a secondary communication mode of the power line, and transmits those call signals to a nurses' station. The call signals can be generated by coupling a pulse-coded AC signal onto the PoE wires, or by sending voltage coded data in one direction and current-coded data in the other direction. Different signals or signal levels can be used to distinguish normal patient calls, patient emergency calls, and code calls. Thus, basic communications can be achieved when TCP/IP are unavailable. Other embodiments are disclosed and claimed.