Wireless Nurse Call Software Update via Patient Hub
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional nurse call systems in hospitals require physical intervention for software updates, limiting flexibility and efficiency as they evolve to provide more comprehensive services with modern capabilities like improved audio, video, and internet connectivity.
Innovation Solution
A wireless nurse call system that includes a patient hub with a nurse call interface circuit, hub controller, and patient interaction device (PID) capable of receiving and verifying software updates, with confirmation notifications through audio and display, allowing for remote software updates without direct physical intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical intervention is used for software updates, then system reliability is maintained through verified updates, but productivity decreases due to manual update processes requiring technician intervention for each device
Solution Approach 1:
The pillow speaker system performs self-verification of software updates through cryptographic authentication. The device automatically receives update packages, verifies their authenticity using embedded public keys, and installs verified updates without requiring physical technician intervention, thereby maintaining reliability while dramatically improving update productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical manual update process with an automated wireless communication system. Software updates are transmitted electronically and authenticated through cryptographic algorithms, substituting the physical intervention of technicians with automated digital verification processes that maintain security while enabling rapid fleet-wide updates
2Device complexity
If static software is used in deployed systems, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability decreases as new services and capabilities cannot be added without physical reconfiguration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static software architecture into a dynamic system capable of remote updates. The pillow speaker includes update management software that can receive, verify, and install new software images wirelessly, allowing the device to adapt to new services and capabilities without physical reconfiguration while maintaining a relatively simple base hardware architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal update mechanism that can deliver multiple types of software updates (firmware, applications, configuration) through a single wireless interface. This multi-functional update system allows the same device hardware to support diverse services and capabilities by simply updating software, greatly enhancing adaptability without increasing physical complexity
3Manufacturing precision
If manual reconfiguration is required for system changes, then manufacturing precision is maintained through controlled deployment, but loss of time increases due to sequential update processes across multiple devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary verification through cryptographic authentication of update packages before deployment. The authenticity and integrity of software updates are verified in advance using public key infrastructure, ensuring manufacturing-level precision and control while enabling rapid automated deployment across multiple devices simultaneously, eliminating sequential update bottlenecks
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure may be embodied as a nurse call system. The nurse call system may include a patient hub. The patient hub may include a nurse call interface circuit configured to be in electronic communication with a nurse call patient station. The patient hub may further include a hub controller in electronic communication with the nurse call interface circuit. The nurse call system may further include a patient interaction device (“PID”). The PID may include a hub interconnect configured to be in electronic communication with the hub controller. The PID may further include a wireless communication link for receiving a PID software update. The PID software update may be a PID firmware update. The PID software update may be a PID operating system update.