Abstract: When providing wireless communication capability for patient monitoring devices (PMDs) (12) in a hospital environment, the quality of a newly established wireless link is evaluated to ascertain that it is meeting quality thresholds before dropping a previous wireless link. A plurality of new links iteratively can be established and their quality assessed, if previous new network link quality does not meet required quality thresholds, until a new link is established that has a quality equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold level. Optionally, two or more links may be maintained that have signal qualities above the predetermined threshold in order to provide link redundancy for highly sensitive patient monitoring applications, such as a link between a critical patient's PMD and a nurses station, to ensure communication there between. In this manner, autonomous generation of link quality assessment reports for use by the other communicating entity or entities is facilitated.

Abstract: A system for alterting heathcare practitioners (20) includes a plurality of receiving devices (10), and a sending station (30). Each of the plurality of receiving device is associated with a corresponding healthcare practitioner. The receiving device (10) includes a user alerting device (120), a receiver (110), and circuitry (160). The user alerting device (120) alerts the practitioner to a received message with one of a plurality of types of alerts. The receiver (110) receives the incoming messages. The circuitry (160) causes the user alerting device to alert the practitioner to an incoming message with one of the plurality of types of alerts.

Abstract: The present invention is a system, apparatus, and method for a “Priority” field that is included in the information transmitted by an Access Point (AP) (801i) about its neighbor APs (801i) and the network service providers (SPs) that it supports. A “Priority” field (103i-6 154i.2 203.i.2 233 266) is included in at least one of a Neighbor Report element (100), an AP Channel Report element (150), and a service provider's information element (200 230 260). The service provider priority field (203.i.2 233 266) is contained in any protocol frame transmitted by the AP (801i) that contains information about one or more service providers that it supports. The “Priority” field (103i.6 154-i.2 203.i.2 233 266) contains a numeric value or a symbolic indicating a recommendation from the AP (801i) concerning which AP/APs and service provider(s) SP/SPs for a STA (802j) to scan first or access in an eventual roaming/accessing process.

Abstract: In order to reduce the average wait time, information regarding regulatory domain, a component of channel availability, may be obtained through an apparatus and method for transmitting within available channels in a wireless network. This includes determining available channels in a wireless network by: receiving regulatory domain information within the wireless network; generating a frame with at least one component corresponding to the regulatory domain information; transmitting the frame unsolicited by a beacon; receiving the report at a station; and determining whether a channel is available for transmission based, at least in part, on the component corresponding to the regulatory domain information contained in the frame.

Abstract: A wireless local area network (WLAN) includes at least one hybrid coordinator (HC) and at least one Quality of Service Station (QSTA). The HC transmits a schedule frame element (SEF). The WLAN also includes a clocking mechanism that sets a substantially absolute start time of a service interval. A method of synchronizing the HC and the QSTA includes transmitting a schedule element frame (SEF), and setting a substantially absolute start-time of a service interval, and a first transmitted frame element.

Abstract: A communication method is disclosed, comprising: (i) wirelessly communicating in compliance with an IEEE 802.11 protocol (802.11 QoS) including quality of service extensions between a wireless access point (30) and a station (20) communicating patient data; and (ii) wirelessly communicating in compliance with the 802.11 QoS protocol between a wireless access point (20) and a station (34, 38) communicating content other than patient data. The 802.11 QoS protocol is configured to perform the wireless communicating (i) at a higher priority than the wireless communicating (ii) responsive to an indication (42, 52) that the wireless communicating (i) is communicating patient data, the higher priority providing at least one of faster communication and communication at a lower error rate as compared with the wireless communicating (ii).

Abstract: A patient monitor includes least one monitoring device which collects patient data about a patient. A packet generator generates data packets from the patient data collected from the patient. A communication unit transmits the data packets over an Internet protocol (IP) network. The communication unit includes a first transmitter for transmitting the data packets using a first wireless network and a second transmitter for transmitting the data packets using a second wireless network.

Abstract: A patient monitor includes a plurality of monitoring devices which collect data about a patient. An evaluation unit determines the patient's condition from the collected data and generates an alarm if the patient's condition warrants notifying an appropriate medical responder. A communication unit which transmits the alarm to a access point over a hospital Internet protocol (IP) network, the communication device includes a first transmitter for transmitting the alarm using a primary link and a second transmitter for transmitting the alarm using a secondary link in response to the transmission using the primary link failing.

Abstract: When providing wireless communication capability for patient monitoring devices (PMDs) (12) in a hospital environment, the quality of a newly established wireless link is evaluated to ascertain that it is meeting quality thresholds before dropping a previous wireless link. A plurality of new links iteratively can be established and their quality assessed, if previous new network link quality does not meet required quality thresholds, until a new link is established that has a quality equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold level. Optionally, two or more links may be maintained that have signal qualities above the predetermined threshold in order to provide link redundancy for highly sensitive patient monitoring applications, such as a link between a critical patient's PMD and a nurses station, to ensure communication there between. In this manner, autonomous generation of link quality assessment reports for use by the other communicating entity or entities is facilitated.

Abstract: A wireless network (100) includes a plurality of wireless stations (QSTAs) (102) and an access point (QAP) (101). The QAP, or one or more of the QSTAs, or both, are adapted to measure delay data, or queue data, or both, per one or more traffic type. A method of wireless communication is also described.

Abstract: The present invention is a system, apparatus, and method for a “Priority” field that is included in the information transmitted by an Access Point (AP) (801i) about its neighbor APs (801i) and the network service providers (SPs) that it supports. A “Priority” field (103i-6 154i.2 203.i.2 233 266) is included in at least one of a Neighbor Report element (100), an AP Channel Report element (150), and a service provider's information element (200 230 260). The service provider priority field (203.i.2 233 266) is contained in any protocol frame transmitted by the AP (801i) that contains information about one or more service providers that it supports. The “Priority” field (103i.6 154-i.2 203.i.2 233 266) contains a numeric value or a symbolic indicating a recommendation from the AP (801i) concerning which AP/APs and service provider(s) SP/SPs for a STA (802j) to scan first or access in an eventual roaming/accessing process.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for announcing to a wireless station in a wireless network that a Quality of Service (QoS) service schedule is pending for the wireless station. The apparatus of the invention comprises a hybrid coordinator that is capable of creating and sending to the wireless station an announcement of a pending Quality of Service (QoS) service schedule. The wireless station delays entering a power save mode of operation until the wireless station receives the QoS service schedule or until a selected timeout period expires.

Abstract: The present invention relates to specification of the start time for taking measurements in wireless local area networks (WLAN), in which the start time of measurements to be taken is included in a Measurement Start Time field of a Measurement Request Frame and the interpretation of the start time for a specific measured element is determined by a Mode field included in each Measurement Request Element field of the Measurement Request Frame. Optionally, the start time of a Measurement Request Frame is specified using a time synchronization function (TSF) timer value or part thereof in order to avoid ambiguities in interpretation of the start time reported.

Abstract: A communication method is disclosed, comprising: (i) wirelessly communicating in compliance with an IEEE 802.11 protocol (802.11 QoS) including quality of service extensions between a wireless access point (30) and a station (20) communicating patient data; and (ii) wirelessly communicating in compliance with the 802.11 QoS protocol between a wireless access point (20) and a station (34, 38) communicating content other than patient data. The 802.11 QoS protocol is configured to perform the wireless communicating (i) at a higher priority than the wireless communicating (ii) responsive to an indication (42, 52) that the wireless communicating (i) is communicating patient data, the higher priority providing at least one of faster communication and communication at a lower error rate as compared with the wireless communicating (ii).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for performing fast channel switching in a wireless local area network (WLAN). The method generally includes the steps of: determining that the wireless medium has been idle during a PCF interframe space (PIFS) period, transmitting a first management frame during a slot time following the PIFS period; wherein the transmission at said slot time substantially guarantees priority access said wireless medium; and performing fast channel switching in the network in accordance with directives contained within the management frame. Fast channel switching as defined herein includes one of quieting the current channel and/or switching from a current channel of operation to a new channel of operation. The method overcomes the latencies associated with contention based services, such as the DCF service.

Abstract: A distributed MAC protocol that includes a super-frame having a slotted Beaconing Period and a data transfer period. The super-frame includes a plurality of medium access slots which are assigned to the slotted Beaconing Period. The Beaconing Period length may be fixed or variable. The Beaconing protocol defines initializing an ad hoc network by means of starting a Beaconing Period, joining an existing Beaconing Period of ad hoc network and resolving collisions during the Beaconing Period.

Abstract: A wireless system (101) includes a plurality of objects (106). The wireless system includes a controller 102 and a radio frequency identification (RFID) read-write (RW) device (103, 104, 105). Each of the objects includes an RFED device (107) and a transceiver (108). An object and methods of tracking objects are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system based on MAC frames for enabling a QAP to seamlessly operate between granting polls for upstream and sidestream traffic while sending downstream frames. The inventive scheduling method uses a minimum set of mandatory TSPEC parameters to generate a schedule, which provides minimum performance requirement in wireless local area networks (WLANs).

Abstract: A plurality of methods, apparatus and computer program for providing warning to a station (STA) associated with an Access Point (AP) in a WLAN that a disassociation the AP is imminent. The steps include (a) selecting a station (STA) for disassociation from a particular Access Point (AP) of a WLAN; (b) by updating a newly created reason code field of a message to indicate to the selected STA that it has become a candidate for disassociation; and (c) transmitting the message to the selected STA. Upon receipt by the STA of a message indicating that the selected STA has become a candidate for disassociation, the selected station scans other Access Points from a list to find another Access Point to associate with before being cut off by the current Access Point.

Abstract: A channel quieting/measurement request element is provided for use in a wireless local area network. The unified element of the invention integrates a dual capability for performing channel quieting and for making measurement requests of one or more stations in the network. According to another aspect of the invention, a conventional channel quieting element is modified to include provisions for defining an offset time and an offset duration interval for performing channel quieting.