Network Device for Targeted Medical System Alerts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical network devices often fail to effectively alert relevant personnel to network problems, leading to interruptions or distractions during patient treatment, as alarm signals may not reach the appropriate individuals in a timely or targeted manner.
Innovation Solution
A network device with a receiving module to collect process data, a monitoring module to detect predetermined events such as failed password attempts or encryption failures, and a transmission module to send detection signals to a designated receiving device, preferably a mobile device, using protocols like SNMP traps, ensuring that network issues are promptly notified to trained personnel without disrupting medical staff.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If alarm signals are issued on medical devices to notify network problems, then network problems are detected, but the alarms distract medical staff during patient treatment and may not reach the right personnel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary notification system that decouples the alarm generation from the alarm delivery. Instead of directly alarming medical staff, the system sends notifications to predetermined recipients (IT specialists, system administrators) who are better positioned to resolve network issues. This intermediary approach maintains reliable problem detection while eliminating the harmful distraction to medical personnel during patient treatment.
2Loss of information
If general alarm signals are sent to all devices in the network, then network problems are communicated, but the information does not reach the target group relevant for repairing the problem
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making notification delivery targeted and specific rather than universal. The system identifies predetermined recipients with relevant expertise (IT specialists, system administrators) and directs notifications specifically to them based on the nature of the network problem. This selective approach ensures that information reaches the appropriate personnel who can actually resolve the issue, rather than broadcasting to all network devices indiscriminately.
3Reliability
If medical staff are notified of network problems through visual or audible outputs, then they are made aware of the issue, but their attention is diverted from patient treatment
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses an intermediary notification mechanism that bypasses medical staff entirely for network problem alerts. Notifications are routed to predetermined recipients such as IT specialists or system administrators who are not directly involved in patient care. This intermediary approach maintains reliable problem awareness while preserving the continuity of patient treatment by keeping medical staff focused on their primary task.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a network device (100) for detecting at least one network problem in a medical system (105), comprising a receiver module (110), a monitoring module (120), and a transmitter module (130). The receiver module is configured to receive current process data (112) of a process executed within the medical system. The monitoring module is configured to detect the presence of a number of predetermined events (124) based on the process data and, upon the presence of at least one predetermined event, to trigger the output of a corresponding detection signal (132). The transmitter module is configured to send the detection signal via a network (140) connected to the network device to a predetermined device address (134).The number of predetermined events includes at least one of the following: a predetermined plurality of password entry attempts has failed within a predetermined prior first time span; encryption under an encryption protocol used in the network has failed; a predetermined plurality of network outputs has been triggered within a predetermined prior second time span; an output of a signal to be executed has failed; a predetermined number of messages as part of a service discovery have been received within a predetermined prior third time span.