Patent Publication Number: US-11647904-B2

Title: Method and apparatus for monitoring collection of physiological patient data

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/976,409 filed May 10, 2018 which claims the benefit of provisional application 62/504,891, filed May 11, 2017, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein. 
    
    
     STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENTAL INTEREST 
     This invention was made with government support under Grant No. W81XWH-07-2-0118 awarded by the U.S. Army Medical Research and Material Command, under Grant No. IIS0534646 awarded by the National Science Foundation and under Grant No. FA8650-11-2-6D01 awarded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research. The government has certain rights in the invention. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Automated electronic patient monitoring and data collection systems are used to collect real time physiological data over a plurality of sample times from physiological data monitors associated with units in a facility. Multiple servers receive the physiological data from the physiological data monitors. In the event that one of the servers does not record physiological data at a sample time, the system assesses whether another of the servers recorded physiological data at the sample time. If none of the servers record physiological data at the sample time, the system classifies the sample time as a time gap in the collection of physiological data. Collection performance of these systems is assessed based on a collection rate defined as a percentage of the sample times where physiological data is recorded. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is here recognized that conventional automated electronic patient monitoring and data collection systems are deficient, since they merely assess whether there is a time gap in the collection of physiological data at each sample time and do not take remedial action to diagnose and resolve the time gap. Consequently, the collection rate of conventional systems is limited. Collection rates in conventional systems range between 28% and 40% when using a single server and approximately 79% when multiple servers are connected redundantly, e.g. if one server does not record data, a backup server is relied upon to provide the recorded data. An advantage of the monitoring and data collection system described herein is that, in an experimental embodiment, the collection rate significantly improved to a range between 87% and 95% when using a single server and to 99.88% when multiple servers are connected redundantly. 
     In a first set of embodiments, a method is provided for monitoring collection of subject condition data. The method includes receiving a value of a parameter of subject condition data and a value of a sample time at each of a plurality of sample times from one or more servers. The value of the parameter and the value of the sample time is received on the one or more servers from a plurality of subject condition data monitors associated with a respective plurality of units in a facility. The method further includes storing the subject condition data from each unit in a data structure for a current sample time. The data structure includes a first field for holding data indicating the current sample time. The data structure also includes a second field for holding data indicating a value of the parameter of subject condition data. The method further includes determining a time gap defined by a duration between the current sample time and a most recent sample time. The method further includes determining whether the time gap for each unit exceeds one or more time gap thresholds. The method further includes causing an apparatus to perform a remedial action based on the determining step. 
     In a second set of embodiments, non-transitory computer-readable medium is provided for storing a sequence of instructions and a data structure including two or more records, where each record includes two or more fields. Execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform one or more steps of the above method. 
     In a third set of embodiments, an apparatus is provided for monitoring collection of subject condition data. The apparatus includes a processor, a memory including one or more sequences of instructions and a data structure including two or more records and where each record includes two or more fields. The memory and the sequence of instructions are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to perform one or more steps of the above method. 
     In a fourth set of embodiments, a method is provided for displaying subject condition data relating to monitoring a plurality of subjects in a respective plurality of units of a facility, where the plurality of units are divided into one or more groups of the facility. The method includes receiving a value of a parameter of subject condition data and a value of a sample time at each of a plurality of sample times from a plurality of subject condition data monitors associated with the respective plurality of units. The method further includes presenting a first indicator in each of a first plurality of active areas in a group region of a display, where each active area in the group region corresponds to a respective group of the facility. In response to a selection of a particular active area of the group region, the method further includes presenting a representation based on the value of the parameter of subject condition data in each of a second plurality of active areas in a unit region of the display, where each active area in the unit region corresponds to a respective unit within the group corresponding to the particular active area of the group region. 
     In a fifth set of embodiments, a method is provided for displaying subject condition data relating to monitoring a plurality of subjects in a respective plurality of units. The method includes receiving a value of a parameter of subject condition data and a value of a sample time at each of a plurality of sample times from a plurality of subject condition data monitors associated with the respective plurality of units. The method further includes presenting a first indicator in each of a first plurality of active areas in a thumbnail region of a display, where each active area in the thumbnail region corresponds to a respective unit. The method further includes presenting a trace of the value of the parameter of subject condition data over a time window encompassed by the plurality sample times in each of a second plurality of active areas of a trace region of the display. Each active area in the trace region corresponds to a respective parameter. The method further includes presenting a bar that indicates an occurrence of the value of the parameter over the time window in each of a third plurality of active areas of a bar region of the display. Each active area in the bar region corresponds to a respective parameter. The method further includes presenting points in an index plot over the time window in at least one active area in an index region of the display. Each active area in the index region corresponds to a respective index plot, where the points are based on a value of a first parameter of subject condition data and a value of a second parameter of subject condition data. 
     Still other aspects, features, and advantages are readily apparent from the following detailed description, simply by illustrating a number of particular embodiments and implementations, including the best mode contemplated for carrying out the invention. Other embodiments are also capable of other and different features and advantages, and its several details can be modified in various obvious respects, all without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the drawings and description are to be regarded as illustrative in nature, and not as restrictive. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which: 
         FIG.  1 A  is a block diagram that illustrates an example system for monitoring collection of physiological data, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  1 B  is a block diagram that illustrates an example system for monitoring collection of physiological data, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  1 C  is a block diagram that illustrates an example system for monitoring collection of physiological data, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  2    is a block diagram that illustrates an example data structure used to store physiological patient data, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  3 A  is an image that illustrates an example of a block of active areas on the display of  FIG.  1 A , according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  3 B  is an image that illustrates an example of a region of the block of  FIG.  3 A , according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  3 C  is an image that illustrates an example of a different region of the block of  FIG.  3 A , according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  4 A  is a graph that illustrates a first example collection gap pattern of physiological data at the plurality of servers from the plurality of physiological data monitors of  FIG.  1 B , according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  4 B  is a graph that illustrates a second example collection gap pattern of physiological data at the plurality of servers from the plurality of physiological data monitors of  FIG.  1 B , according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  4 C  is a graph that illustrates a third example collection gap pattern of physiological data at the plurality of servers from the plurality of physiological data monitors of  FIG.  1 B , according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  5 A  is a block diagram that illustrates an example of a group view for displaying physiological patient data, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  5 B  is a block diagram that illustrates an example of a unit view for displaying physiological patient data, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  5 C  is a block diagram that illustrates an example of a trace region of the unit view of  FIG.  5 B , according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  5 D  is a block diagram that illustrates an example of a bar region of the unit view of  FIG.  5 B , according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  5 E  is a block diagram that illustrates an example of an active area of the group view of  FIG.  5 A , according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  6 A  is an image that illustrates an example of a trace of the trace region of  FIG.  5 B , according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  6 B  is an image that illustrates an example of a bar of the bar region of  FIG.  5 B , according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  6 C  is an image that illustrates an example of an index plot of the index region of  FIG.  5 B , according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  6 D  is an image that illustrates an example of a trace of a value of a waveform parameter of physiological patient data, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  7 A  is a flow diagram that illustrates an example of a method for monitoring collection of physiological data, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  7 B  is a flow diagram that illustrates an example of a method for displaying a group view of physiological data collected from a plurality of bed units divided into groups in a medical facility, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  7 C  is a flow diagram that illustrates an example of a method for displaying a unit view of physiological data collected from a plurality of bed units in a medical facility, according to an embodiment; 
         FIG.  8    is a block diagram that illustrates a computer system upon which an embodiment of the invention may be implemented; 
         FIG.  9    is a block diagram that illustrates a chip set upon which an embodiment of the invention may be implemented; and 
         FIG.  10    is a block diagram that illustrates a mobile terminal upon which an embodiment of the invention may be implemented. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A method and apparatus are described for monitoring collection of physiological data. Additionally, a method is described for presenting physiological data on a display. In the following description, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the present invention. 
     Notwithstanding that the numerical ranges and parameters setting forth the broad scope are approximations, the numerical values set forth in specific non-limiting examples are reported as precisely as possible. Any numerical value, however, inherently contains certain errors necessarily resulting from the standard deviation found in their respective testing measurements at the time of this writing. Furthermore, unless otherwise clear from the context, a numerical value presented herein has an implied precision given by the least significant digit. Thus a value 1.1 implies a value from 1.05 to 1.15. The term “about” is used to indicate a broader range centered on the given value, and unless otherwise clear from the context implies a broader range around the least significant digit, such as “about 1.1” implies a range from 1.0 to 1.2. If the least significant digit is unclear, then the term “about” implies a factor of two, e.g., “about X” implies a value in the range from 0.5 X to 2 X, for example, about 100 implies a value in a range from 50 to 200. Moreover, all ranges disclosed herein are to be understood to encompass any and all sub-ranges subsumed therein. For example, a range of “less than 10” can include any and all sub-ranges between (and including) the minimum value of zero and the maximum value of 10, that is, any and all sub-ranges having a minimum value of equal to or greater than zero and a maximum value of equal to or less than 10, e.g., 1 to 4. 
     Some embodiments of the invention are described below in the context of the collection of physiological data from a plurality of physiological data monitors associated with a respective plurality of bed units in a medical facility, such as a hospital with one or more vital signs monitors available for each bed. Other embodiments of the invention are described below in the context of the display of the collected physiological patient data. However, the invention is not limited to these contexts. In various embodiments, the medical facility is a hospital, a mobile medical unit, such as a helicopter, plane, boat, train, or ambulance and the monitoring equipment includes devices for generating electrocardiograms (EKGs), electroencephalograms (EEGs) and other indicators on the state or condition of a patient. In some embodiments, the monitors provide other indicators of the state of other kinds of subjects, such as various equipment. For example, in various embodiments the subject condition data indicates the voltage at multiple power generators, or the central processor unit usage of various processors, or the rotation rate of various engines. As used herein the term “subject condition” refers to the conditions or state or function of a subject, including physiological data, like vital signs, for a patient of a medical facility. Furthermore, the term “unit” refers to a known location where a monitor is connected to a subject, such as a bed in a medical facility. 
     1. Overview for a Medical Facility 
       FIG.  1 A  is a block diagram that illustrates an example system  100  for monitoring collection of physiological data, according to an embodiment. The system  100  includes a plurality of subject condition data monitors  104   a ,  104   b  that are assigned to a respective plurality of units  102   a ,  102   b  in a facility, such as physiological monitors for bed units in a medical facility, as assumed for purposes of illustration in the following. In some embodiments, the system  100  excludes the bed units  102   a ,  102   b . Although  FIG.  1 A  depicts two bed units  102 , in some embodiments the system  100  includes more than two bed units  102  that are divided into more than one group within the medical facility. For example, the groups include a trauma resuscitation unit (TRU), an operating room (OR) and a neural trauma critical care (NTCC), as further discussed below. In some embodiments, the medical facility is a hospital. In other embodiments, the medical facility is any location where healthcare is provided including clinics, doctor&#39;s offices, urgent care centers, residential treatment centers, or geriatric care facilities. 
     At each of a plurality of sample times, the physiological data monitors  104   a ,  104   b  measure a value of a parameter of physiological patient data and transmit the measured value and a value of the sample time to a plurality of servers  105   a ,  105   b . In some embodiments, the physiological data monitors  104   a ,  104   b , the servers  105   a ,  105   b  and a controller are connected through a local network  180 . In some embodiments, the parameter of physiological patient data includes but is not limited to electrocardiographic (EKG), photoplethysmographic (PPG), carbon dioxide (CO2), arterial blood pressure (ABP), intracranial pressure (ICP), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), temperature, oxygen saturation (SP02) and end-tidal CO2 (EtCO2). Although  FIG.  1 A  depicts two severs  105 , in some embodiments the system  100  includes one server  105  or more than two servers  105 . The controller  106  maintains a data structure for each server, such as data structure  120   a  for data reported by server  105   a  and data structure  120   b  for data reported by server  105   b.    
     At each sample time, the measured value of the parameter of physiological patient data and the value of the sample time is transmitted from each server  105   a ,  105   b  to a controller  106 .  FIG.  2    is a block diagram that illustrates an example of a data structure  200  used to store physiological patient data, according to an embodiment. The data structure  200  resides as one of the data structures  120   a  or  120   b , described above, on a computer-readable medium, such as a memory of the controller  106 . In some embodiments, multiple data structures  200  are provided in the memory of the controller  106 , where a respective data structure  200  is used to store physiological patient data from a respective server  105 . The data structure  200  includes multiple records  202 , where a respective record  202  is used to store the physiological patient data at a respective sample time. In an example embodiment, the physiological patient data at a first sample time is stored in a first record  202   a  and the physiological patient data at a second sample time is stored in a second record  202   b.    
     Each record  202  includes multiple fields including a first field  204  for holding data indicating a value of the sample times for each bed unit  102  when a recorded value of the parameter of physiological patient data was received from the server for the physiological data monitor  104  associated with each bed unit  102 . Each record  202  also includes a second field  206  for holding data indicating the value of the parameter of physiological patient data received from the server for the physiological data monitor  104  associated with each bed unit  102 . In some embodiments, each record  202  also includes a third field  208  for holding data indicating the parameter of physiological patient data received from the server for physiological data monitor  104  associated with each bed unit  102 . 
     Although processes, equipment, and data structures are depicted in  FIG.  1 A  and  FIG.  1 B  and  FIG.  1 C  as integral blocks in a particular arrangement for purposes of illustration, in other embodiments one or more processes or data structures, or portions thereof, are arranged in a different manner, on the same or different hosts, in one or more databases, or are omitted, or one or more different processes or data structures are included on the same or different hosts. 
     Although data structures, messages and fields are depicted in  FIG.  2   , as integral blocks in a particular order for purposes of illustration, in other embodiments, one or more data structures or messages or fields, or portions thereof, are arranged in a different order, in the same or different number of data structures or databases in one or more hosts or messages, or are omitted, or one or more additional fields are included, or the data structures and messages are changed in some combination of ways. 
     In other embodiments, each bed unit  102  has a unique identifier. At each sample time, the physiological data monitor  104  associated with each bed unit  102  transmits the unique identifier to the server  105  which subsequently transmits the unique identifier to the controller  106 . In this embodiment, each record  202  also includes a fourth field  210  for holding data indicating the identifier for each bed unit  102 . 
     In other embodiments, each bed unit  102  has an admission status that indicates whether a patient is admitted (A) or discharged (D) from the bed unit  102 . In some embodiments, the admission status is changed by medical staff (e.g. nurse) using a manual switch when the patient is admitted or discharged. At each sample time, the physiological data monitor  104  associated with each bed unit  102  transmits the admission status to the server  105  which subsequently transmits the admission status to the controller  106 . In this embodiment, each record  202  also includes a fifth field  212  for holding data indicating the admission status for each bed unit  102 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  1 A , the controller  106  is configured to monitor the collection of physiological data and perform remedial action to diagnose and resolve detected gaps in the collection of physiological data and is connected to a display device  108 , or other device, to present some or all the data in the one or more data structures, or otherwise remediate the situation detected. The controller  106  includes a monitor of monitor module  107  to perform one or more steps of a method described below with reference to  FIG.  7 A . In various embodiments, the controller  106  comprises one or more general purpose computer systems, as depicted in  FIG.  8    or one or more chip sets as depicted in  FIG.  9    or one or more mobile terminals as depicted in  FIG.  10   , and instructions to cause the computer or chip set or mobile terminal to perform one or more steps of a method described below with reference to  FIG.  7 A . 
     In some embodiments, for a current sample time, the module  107  determines a time gap defined by a duration between the current sample time and a most recent sample time. In one embodiment, the current sample time and the most recent sample time are retrieved from the first field  204  data of the data structure  202 . In other embodiments, the time gap is stored in one of the fields (e.g. first field  204 ) of the data structure  202 . In these embodiments, for the current sample time, the module  107  determines whether the time gap is greater than one or more time gap thresholds. The module  107  then causes the controller  106  to perform remedial action based on whether the time gap exceeds the one or more time gap thresholds. In some embodiments, the remedial action includes sending a communication to a person responsible for maintenance of the system, e.g., via email or text to a technician. In some embodiments, the remedial action involves transmitting a signal to the display  108  to present a plurality of indicators on the display  108  for each of the plurality of bed units  102 . Each indicator provides a status of the collection of physiological data from the respective bed unit  102 . In some embodiments, the indicator is color-coded based on whether the time gap for each bed unit  102  is greater than the one or more time gap thresholds. In some embodiments, the one or more time gap thresholds include a first time gap threshold (e.g. 5 minutes) and a second time gap threshold (e.g. 4 hours) that is greater than the first time gap threshold. In an embodiment, the color-coded indicator is a first colored indicator (e.g. green), if the time gap for the bed unit  102  is less than the first time gap threshold. In another embodiment, the color-coded indicator is a second colored indicator (e.g. yellow), if the time gap for the bed unit  102  is greater than the first time gap threshold but less than the second time gap threshold. In another embodiment, the color-coded indicator is a third colored indicator (e.g. red), if the time gap for the bed unit  102  is greater than the second time gap threshold. In one embodiment, a value of the first time gap threshold is small enough to achieve a relatively fast response (e.g. presenting the second colored indicator on the display  108 ) to an issue with the collection of physiological data. In another embodiment, the value of the first time gap threshold is large enough to avoid oversensitive response to insignificant network delays. In an example embodiment, the value of the first time gap threshold is in a range from about 2 minutes to about 10 minutes. In another example embodiment, the value of the second time gap threshold is in a range from about 1 hour to about 12 hours. In some embodiments, the values of the first time gap threshold and the second time gap threshold are adjustable. 
       FIG.  3 A  through  FIG.  3 C  and  FIG.  5 A  through  FIG.  5 E  are diagrams of user interfaces utilized in the processes described herein, according to various embodiments. For example,  FIG.  3 A  is an image that illustrates an example of a block  300  of active areas  304  on the display  108  of  FIG.  1 A , according to an embodiment. The screen includes one or more active areas  304  that allow a user to input data to operate on data. As is well known, an active area is a portion of a display to which a user can point using a pointing device (such as a cursor and cursor movement device, or a touch screen) to cause an action to be initiated by the device that includes the display. Well known forms of active areas are stand alone buttons, radio buttons, check lists, pull down menus, scrolling lists, and text boxes, among others. Although areas, active areas, windows and tool bars are depicted in  FIG.  3 A  through  FIG.  3 C  and  FIG.  5 A  through  FIG.  5 E  as integral blocks in a particular arrangement on particular screens for purposes of illustration, in other embodiments, one or more screens, windows or active areas, or portions thereof, are arranged in a different order, are of different types, or one or more are omitted, or additional areas are included or the user interfaces are changed in some combination of ways. 
     As depicted in  FIG.  3 A , in some embodiments, each active area  304  presents a color-coded indicator associated with a respective bed unit  102 . In some embodiments, the block  300  is specific to the physiological data provided by one server  105  and thus multiple blocks  300  can be generated based on the physiological data provided by the multiple servers  105 . In one embodiment, the block  300  is a rectangular array of active areas  304 . In another embodiment, the block  300  includes vertical columns or horizontal rows that are assigned to groups of bed units  102  within the medical facility.  FIG.  3 B  is an image that illustrates an example of a region  302   a  of the block  300  of  FIG.  3 A , according to an embodiment. In an embodiment, a first active area  304   a  presents a green indicator and thus the bed unit  102  associated with the first active area  304   a  has a time gap at the current sample time that is less than the first time gap threshold. In an embodiment, a second active area  304   b  presents a red indicator and thus the bed unit  102  associated with the second active area  304   b  has a time gap at the current sample time that is greater than the second time gap threshold. In other embodiments, the indicators presented in the active areas  304  include the unique identifier of the bed unit  102  (e.g. TORS) indicated by the fourth field  210  data. In an example embodiment, the active areas  304  of the block  300  correspond to bed units  102  in a trauma resuscitation unit (TRU), an operating room (OR), a neurotrauma critical care unit (NTCC) and/or a multi-trauma critical care (MTCC) unit. In still other embodiments, the indicator presented in the active area  304   a  includes the value of the parameter of physiological patient data (e.g.,  88 ) indicated by the second field  206  data. In still other embodiments, the indicator presented in the active area  304   a  includes the admission status (e.g., A) indicated by the fifth field  212  data. In still other embodiments, the indicator presented in the active area  304   b  includes the time gap (e.g., 6 h 51 m) calculated from the first field  204  data. In an example embodiment, the time gap is included in red and yellow indicators and the admission status and value of the parameter of physiological patient data are included in green indicators. In some embodiments, the block  300  only depicts active areas  304  where the time gap exceeds one of the first or second time gap thresholds (e.g. the block  300  only displays active areas  304  corresponding to bed units  102  with abnormal collection status based on yellow or red indicators). An advantage of this embodiment is that the block  300  can effectively monitor a greater number of bed units  102  since only those bed units  102  with abnormal collection statuses are displayed. In other embodiments, where the number of active areas  304  is less than a number of bed units  102  being monitored (e.g. the number of bed units  102  in a medical facility or a group within the medical facility), the display toggles between a first block  300  and a second block  300  (or more than two blocks  300 ) so that all of the bed units  102  are displayed over the two or more blocks  300  and where the toggle time between the blocks  300  is less than an incremental time when the physiological patient data is updated. 
       FIG.  3 C  is an image that illustrates an example of a region  302   b  of the block  300  of  FIG.  3 A , according to an embodiment. In this embodiment, an active area  304   c  within the region  302   b  presents a color-coded indicator based on the parameter of physiological patient data (e.g. intracranial pressure, ICP) indicated by the third field  208  data. In another embodiment, the color-coded indicator is based on the value of the parameter of physiological patient data (e.g., heart rate, HR&gt;120) indicated by the second field  206  data. In some embodiments, the color-coded indicator is other than a green indicator, a yellow indicator or a red indicator (e.g. pink color indicator). 
     In some embodiments, the user can view the values of the parameter of physiological patient data associated with a particular bed unit  102 . By an action of a pointing device the user selects a particular active area  304  associated with the particular bed unit  102 . In one embodiment, the display  108  is a touchscreen and the user touches the particular active area  304 . In response to this user action, the display  108  transmits a signal to the controller  106 , wherein the signal identifies the particular bed unit  102 . In some embodiments, a graphical user interface (GUI) module  109  of the controller  106  then transmits a signal to the display  108  including second field  206  data that indicate values of the parameter of physiological patient data from the particular bed unit  102 . In an example embodiment, a trace plot  600  ( FIG.  6 A ) is presented on the display  108  including the trace  608  of values of the parameter of physiological patient data from the particular bed unit  102 . In another example embodiment, a unit view  550  ( FIG.  5 B ) is presented on the display  108  of the particular bed unit  102 . 
       FIG.  1 B  is a block diagram that illustrates an example system  150  for monitoring collection of physiological data, according to an embodiment. The system  150  of  FIG.  1 B  is similar to the system  100  of  FIG.  1 A , with the exception that the system  150  includes three servers  105   a ,  105   b ,  105   c  and a network  152  of more than two physiological data monitors  104 . In some embodiments, messages from the servers  105   a ,  105   b ,  105   c  to the controller  106 , represented by curved lines in  FIG.  1 B , travel through the same or similar network as the local network  180  of  FIG.  1 A . Additionally, in some embodiments, the system  150  includes multiple screens that can be alternatively presented on a single display, or presented simultaneously on three different displays  108   a ,  108   b ,  108   c , which screens are used to perform distinct functions of the system  150 . In one embodiment, the display  108   a  is used to present a screen comprising the block  300  of active areas  304 . In another embodiment, the display  108   b  is used to present a screen comprising an interactive graphical user interface (GUI) with displayed physiological data. In another embodiment, the display  108   c  is used present a screen configured to diagnose a gap in the collection of physiological data from one or more bed units  102 . In an example embodiment, the display  108   c  screen is used to diagnose an instance when the time gap exceeds the one or more time gap thresholds. In some embodiments, the single display  108  is used and thus the features of each screen described above for display  108   a ,  108   b ,  108   c  are presented on the single display  108 . Additionally, the system  150  includes a workstation  154  that can be located at the medical facility or remote from the medical facility. In one embodiment, the workstation  154  is a medical workstation configured for medical personnel (e.g. nurses) and is located at the medical facility. In another embodiment, the workstation  154  is configured for information technology (IT) personnel that are responsible for maintaining the connectivity of the system  150 . 
       FIG.  1 C  is a block diagram that illustrates an example system  150 ′ for monitoring collection of physiological data, according to an embodiment. The system  150 ′ of  FIG.  1 C  is similar to the system  150  of  FIG.  1 B  with the exception that the system  150 ′ includes three waveform generators  156   a ,  156   b ,  156   c  that generate a value of a waveform parameter of physiological patient data including but not limited to electrocardiographic (EKG) or photoplethysmographic (PPG). In some embodiments, the waveform generator  156   a  and data monitor  104   a  are associated with the same bed unit  104   a , the waveform generator  156   b  and data monitor  104   b  are associated with the same bed unit  104   b  and the waveform generator  156   c  and data monitor  104   c  are associated with the same bed unit  104   c . In these embodiments, the data monitors  104  measure a value of a parameter of physiological patient data other than the waveform parameter of physiological patient data. In an embodiment, the system  150 ′ features a triple modular redundancy architecture which permits fast switch over time and high system availability. In one embodiment, one server  105   c  is selected as a principle or “backbone” server. If the selected backbone server  105   c  fails, values from a second server  105   a  or  105   b  will fill in. If the selected backbone server  105   c  and a second server  105   a  fail, values from the third server  105   b  fill in. 
       FIG.  4 A  is a graph that illustrates an example of a collection gap pattern  400   a  of physiological data at the plurality of servers  105   a ,  105   b ,  105   c  from the plurality of physiological data monitors  104  of  FIG.  1 B , according to an embodiment. Such a pattern can be presented on a screen for diagnosing gap patterns. The horizontal axis  402  represents time in arbitrary units. The vertical axis  404  represents distinct bed units  102  using the unique identifier. For each bed unit (e.g. TRU 01 , TRU 02 , etc.), three data streams  406 ,  408 ,  410  represent recorded values of the parameter of physiological patient data received over time at the respective three servers  105   a ,  105   b ,  105   c  and reported to the controller  106 . Grey bands indicate times when data is received from a server  105  but the physiological parameter value is absent, e.g., indicates a null value for the physiological parameter. This can occur when the monitor is in communication with the server  105 , but the subject is not connected to the monitor, e.g., has been taken to a radiology laboratory. The three different shades of grey indicate the three different servers of  FIG.  1 B . A time gap  412  in the data stream  410   a  for a first bed unit  102  (e.g. TRU 04 ) indicates that no records were received by the server  105   c  over the gap  412 . In some embodiments, the time gap  412  exceeds one or more time gap thresholds.  FIG.  4 A  depicts that the time gap  412  is present in the data stream  410  received at the third server  105   c  for every bed unit. In some embodiments, the module  107  automatically determines that the time gap  412 , e.g., indicated by the first field  204  data for every bed unit  102  received from the server  105   c  exceeds the time gap threshold and consequently determines that the server  105   c  is offline. In this embodiment, the module  107  causes the controller  106  to perform a remedial action to resolve the time gap  412  and bring the server  105   c  back online. In one embodiment, the remedial action involves automatically transmitting an alert including an indication that the server  105   c  is offline. In an example embodiment, the alert is a communication message (e.g. email or text or both) to the workstation  154  that communicates to personnel at the workstation  154  that the server  105   c  is offline. In response to receiving the alert, personnel at the workstation  154  respond to the time gap  412 , such as by rebooting the server  105   c . In other embodiments, the remedial action involves automatically transmitting a signal to the server  105   c  to automatically reboot the server  105   c . In other embodiments, a user observing the collection gap pattern  400   a  on the display  108  (or display  108   c ) visually determines that the server  105   c  is offline and subsequently transmits a communication message (e.g. email or text or both) to the workstation  154  to request that personnel at the workstation  154  bring the server  105   c  back online. In other embodiments, the communication message is an auditory alert message delivered to the workstation  154 . 
     In some embodiments, the determination that the server  105   c  is offline gleaned from the collection gap pattern  400   a  of  FIG.  4 A  can be similarly derived from the block  300  of  FIG.  3 A . In some embodiments, when the server  105   c  is offline, every active area  304  of the block  300  includes an indicator that the time gap exceeds the one or more time gap thresholds. In an example embodiment, when the server  105   c  is offline, every active area  304  of the block  300  includes a yellow indicator (e.g. if the time gap &gt;5 minutes but &lt;4 hours) or a red indicator (e.g. if the time gap is &gt;4 hours). 
       FIG.  4 A  depicts non-null values  414  of the parameter of physiological patient data (e.g. HR) within each respective data stream  406 ,  408 ,  410 . In some embodiments, non-null values  414  over a time period indicate a presence of a patient in the bed unit over that time period. Consequently, in some embodiments, the module  107  classifies a risk of loss of data collection for each time gap  412  based on whether the time gap  412  coincides with non-null values  414 . In some embodiments, the time gap  412  in the data stream  410   b  from the TRU 03  bed unit  102  (e.g. patient is present) may be classified as higher risk loss of data collection than the time gap  412  in the data stream  410   a  from TRU 04  bed unit  102  (e.g. patient may not be present). This visual feature of the collection gap pattern  400   a  advantageously provides the user with information regarding potential data collection loss of each time gaps  412 . For example, on unit TRU 01 , no patient is connected to a monitor until the last portion of the time period, while, in unit TRU 02  and TRU 03 , each patient is intermittently connected to a monitor, as agreed by all functioning servers. Similarly, no patient is connected to a monitor at unit TRU 04  during the entire time interval depicted. 
       FIG.  4 B  is a graph that illustrates an example of a collection gap pattern  400   b  of physiological data at the plurality of servers  105   a ,  105   b ,  105   c  from the plurality of physiological data monitors  104  of  FIG.  1 B , according to an embodiment. In some embodiments, the module  107  stores physiological patient data (e.g. data stream  406 ) from the server  105   a  in a first data structure  200 , stores physiological patient data (e.g. data stream  408 ) from the server  105   b  in a second data structure  200 , and stores physiological patient data (e.g. data stream  410 ) from the server  105   c  in a third data structure  200 . The horizontal axis  402  represents time in arbitrary units. The vertical axis  404  represents the distinct bed units  102  using the unique identifier. A time gap  416  in the data stream  406   b  from the server  105   a  associated with a first bed unit  102  (e.g. TRU 03 ) indicates that no record was received by the server  105   a  over the time gap  416  from unit TRU 03  only. In some embodiments, the time gap  416  exceeds the one or more time gap thresholds. 
     As depicted in  FIG.  4 B , no time gap is present in the data stream  406   a  from the server  105   a  associated with a second bed unit  102  (e.g. TRU 04 ). Additionally, as depicted in  FIG.  4 B , no time gap is present in the data stream  408   b  from the server  105   b  associated with the first bed unit  102  (e.g. TRU 03 ). Consequently, the time gap  416  is attributable to a disconnection between the first server  105   a  and the physiological data monitor  104  associated with the first bed unit  102  (e.g. TRU 03 ). 
     In some embodiments, the module  107  automatically determines that the time gap  416 , e.g. calculated from first field  204  data of the first data structure associated with the first bed unit  102  is greater than the at least one time gap threshold. Additionally, the module  107  automatically determines that time gaps calculated from the first field  204  data of the first data structure associated with the second bed unit  102  (e.g. data stream  406   a ) do not include a time gap exceeding the time gap threshold. Additionally, the module  107  automatically determines that time gaps calculated from the first field  204  data of the second data structure associated with the first bed unit  102  (e.g. data stream  408   b ) do not include a time gap exceeding the time gap threshold. Consequently, the module  107  automatically determines that there is a disconnection between the first server  105   a  and the physiological data monitor  104  associated with the first bed unit  102  (e.g. TRU 03 ). 
     The module  107  then causes the controller  106  to perform a remedial action to respond to the time gap  416 . In one embodiment, the remedial action involves automatically transmitting an alert including an indication that there is a disconnection between the first server  105   a  and the physiological data monitor  104  associated with the first bed unit  102 . In an example embodiment, the alert is a communication message (e.g. email or text or both) to personnel at the workstation  154 . In response to receiving the alert, personnel at the workstation  154  respond to the time gap  416 , by reconnecting the first server  105   a  and the physiological data monitor  104  associated with the first bed unit  102 . In other embodiments, a user observing the collection gap pattern  400   b  on the display  108  (or display  108   c ) visually determines that the time gap  416  is attributable to a disconnection between the first server  105   a  and the physiological data monitor  104  associated with the first bed unit  102  (e.g. TRU 03 ). In this embodiment, the user subsequently transmits a communication message (e.g. email or text or both) to personnel at the workstation  154  to respond to the time gap  416  and reconnect the first server  105   a  and physiological data monitor  104 . 
       FIG.  4 B  depicts non-null values  414  of the parameter of physiological patient data (e.g. HR) that can be used to classify the time gap  416  in a similar manner as in the collection gap pattern  400   a.    
     In some embodiments, the determination of a disconnection between the first server  105   a  and the physiological data monitor  104  associated with the first bed unit  102  gleaned from the collection gap pattern  400   b  of  FIG.  4 B  can be similarly derived from the block  300  of  FIG.  3 A . In some embodiments, this disconnection is recognized when the block  300  associated with the server  105   a  includes a first active area  304   b  (e.g. TRU 03  bed unit) indicating that the time gap exceeds the time gap threshold and a second active area  304   a  (e.g. TRU 04 ) that does not indicate that the time gap exceeds the time gap threshold. In an example embodiment, the disconnection is recognized when the first active area  304   b  includes a yellow indicator or red indicator and the second active area  304   a  includes a green indicator. 
       FIG.  4 C  is a graph that illustrates an example of a collection gap pattern  400   c  of physiological data at the plurality of servers  105   a ,  105   b ,  105   c  from the plurality of physiological data monitors  104  of  FIG.  1 B , according to an embodiment. The horizontal axis  402  represents time in arbitrary units. The vertical axis  404  represents the distinct bed units  102  using the unique identifier. A time gap  418  in the data streams  406   c ,  408   c ,  410   c  from the respective servers  105   a ,  105   b ,  105   c  associated with a first bed unit  102  (e.g. TRU 02 ) indicates that no records were received from the first bed unit  102  over the time gap  418 . In some embodiments, the time gap  418  exceeds the one or more time gap thresholds. As depicted in  FIG.  4 C , the time gap  418  is present in the data streams  406   c ,  408   c ,  410   c  of each server  105   a ,  105   b ,  105   c  associated with the first bed unit  102  (e.g. TRU 02 ) and no time gap is present in the data streams  406   b ,  408   b ,  410   b  of each server  105   a ,  105   b ,  105   c  associated with a second bed unit  102  (e.g. TRU 03 ). Consequently, the time gap  418  is attributable to a disconnection between every server  105   a ,  105   b ,  105   c  and the physiological data monitor  104  associated with the first bed unit  102  (e.g. TRU 02 ). 
     In some embodiments, the module  107  automatically determines that the time gap  418 , i.e. calculated from first field  204  data of the first data structure, second data structure and third data structure associated with the first bed unit  102  (e.g. TRU 02 ) is greater than the at least one time gap threshold. Additionally, the module  107  automatically determines that time gaps calculated from the first field  204  data of the first data structure, second data structure and third data structure associated with the second bed unit  102  (e.g. TRU 03 ) do not include a time gap exceeding the time gap threshold. Consequently, the module  107  automatically determines that there is a disconnection between every server  105   a ,  105   b ,  105   c  and the physiological data monitor  104  associated with the first bed unit  102  (e.g. TRU 02 ). The module  107  then causes the controller  106  to perform a remedial action to resolve the time gap  418 . 
     In one embodiment, the remedial action involves automatically transmitting an alert including an indication that there is a disconnection between each server  105   a ,  105   b ,  105   c  and the physiological data monitor  104  associated with the first bed unit  102 . In an example embodiment, the alert is a communication message (e.g. email or text or both) to personnel at the workstation  154 . In response to receiving the alert, the personnel respond to the time gap  418 , by reconnecting the servers  105   a ,  105   b ,  105   c  and the physiological data monitor  104  associated with the first bed unit  102 . In other embodiments, a user observing the collection gap pattern  400   c  on the display  108  (or display  108   c ) visually determines that the time gap  418  is attributable to a disconnection between every server  105   a ,  105   b ,  105   c  and the physiological data monitor  104  associated with the first bed unit  102  (e.g. TRU 02 ). In this embodiment, the user subsequently transmits a communication message (e.g. email or text or both) to personnel at the workstation  154  to respond to the time gap  418  and reconnect each server  105   a ,  105   b ,  105   c  and physiological data monitor  104 .  FIG.  4 C  depicts non-zero values  414  of the parameter of physiological patient data (e.g. HR) that can be used to classify the time gap  418  in a similar manner as in the collection gap pattern  400   a.    
     In some embodiments, the determination of a disconnection between every server  105   a ,  105   b ,  105   c  and the physiological data monitor  104  associated with the first bed unit  102  gleaned from the collection gap pattern  400   c  of  FIG.  4 C  can be similarly derived from the block  300  of  FIG.  3 A . In some embodiments, this disconnection is recognized when the multiple blocks  300  associated with each of the servers  105   a ,  105   b ,  105   c  includes a first common active area  304   b  (e.g. TRU 02  bed unit) indicating that the time gap exceeds the time gap threshold and a second common active area  304   a  (e.g. TRU 03 ) that does not indicate that the time gap exceeds the time gap threshold. In an example embodiment, the first common active area  304   b  includes a yellow indicator or red indicator and the second common active area  304   a  includes a green indicator. 
     In an example embodiment, Table 1 below depicts a diagnosis for various collection gap patterns, including the collection gap patterns of  FIGS.  4 A- 4 C . 
                                 TABLE 1                       Failure type   MoMs indicator                                                BedMaster   1. Individual bed unit   Random cells in yellow/red       software   configuration error           2. BedMaster database error   A block of cells in yellow/red;               BedMaster server is online           3. BedMaster service down   A block of cells in yellow/red;               BedMaster service stopped       BedMaster   1. BedMaster server down   A block of cells in yellow/red;       hardware       BedMaster server is offline       Network   1. BedMaster server   Random cells in yellow/red           connection failure                    
In another example embodiment, the monitor of monitor module  107  features software in a high level programming language (e.g. Matlab® R2014a, Mathworks, Boston Mass.) that preprocesses the physiological parameter data so that it is aligned in the time domain in the collection gap patterns depicted in  FIGS.  4 A- 4 C .
 
     Although steps are depicted in  FIGS.  7 A- 7 C , as integral steps in a particular order for purposes of illustration, in other embodiments, one or more steps, or portions thereof, are performed in a different order, or overlapping in time, in series or in parallel, or are omitted, or one or more additional steps are added, or the method is changed in some combination of ways. 
       FIG.  7 A  is a flow diagram that illustrates an example of a method  700  for monitoring collection of physiological data, according to an embodiment. In step  702 , the value of the parameter of physiological patient data and the value of the sample time is received at the controller  106  from each server  105   a ,  105   b . In one embodiment, step  702  is performed at each sample time. In an example embodiment, the sample times occur every 1 minute. In some embodiments, two servers  105   a ,  105   b  ( FIG.  1 A ) are employed during step  702 . In other embodiments, one server  105  or more than two servers (e.g.  FIG.  1 B ) are employed during step  702 . In some embodiments, at each sample time, the servers  105   a ,  105   b  each receive the value of the parameter of physiological patient data and the value of the sample time from each of the plurality of physiological data monitors  104  associated with the plurality of bed units  102 . 
     In step  704 , data is stored in the first field  204  of the data structure  200  that indicates the value of the sample time when the value of the parameter of physiological patient data is received in step  702 . In some embodiments, step  704  is performed at a current sample time and the value of the current sample time is stored in the first field  204 . Additionally, in step  704 , data is stored in the second field  206  that indicates the value of the parameter of physiological patient data received in step  702 . Where values for more than one parameter of physiological patient data is received in step  702 , second field  206  data is stored that indicates these values in step  704 . In some embodiments, step  704  is performed at the current sample time and the value of the parameter of physiological patient data received at the current sample time is stored in the second field  206 . If no value is reported by the monitor for a particular physiological parameter, a null value is stored in the field. The field is recorded to indicate that a record was received from the server. 
     In step  705  a time gap is defined as the duration between the current sample time and a most recent sample time when a recorded value of the parameter of physiological patient data was received at step  702 . In some embodiments, in step  705 , the current sample time and the most recent sample time are retrieved from the first field  204 . In other embodiments, in step  704  the time gap is stored in one of the fields (e.g. first field  204 ) of the data structure  200  and step  705  is omitted. 
     In step  706 , a determination is made at the current sample time regarding the time gap determined in step  705 . In one embodiment, in step  706 , a determination is made whether the time gap calculated by the first field  204  data exceeds one or more time gap thresholds stored in a memory of the controller  106 . In an example embodiment depicted in  FIG.  3 A , the time gap threshold is the first time gap threshold (e.g. 5 minutes). In another example embodiment, the time gap threshold is the second time gap threshold (e.g. 4 hours) that is longer than the first time gap threshold. In some embodiments, in step  706 , the determination further includes a determination of a cause of the time gap exceeding the one or more time gap thresholds. In an example embodiment, in step  706 , the determination is made whether the time gap exceeding the time gap threshold is attributable to one of the servers  105  being offline ( FIG.  4 A ). In another example embodiment, in step  706 , the determination is made whether the time gap exceeding the time gap threshold is attributable to a disconnection between one of the servers  105  and the physiological data monitor  104  associated with one of the bed units  102  ( FIG.  4 B ). In another example embodiment, in step  706 , the determination is made whether the time gap exceeding the time gap threshold is attributable to a disconnection between every server  105  and the physiological data monitor  104  associated with one of the bed units  102  ( FIG.  4 C ). If the determination in step  706  is negative, then the method  700  proceeds back to step  702 . If the determination in step  706  is positive, then the method  700  proceeds to step  708 . 
     In step  708 , an alert is generated that the time gap exceeds one or more time gap thresholds. In one embodiment, the alert is generated by presenting the block  300  of active areas  304  on the display  108 , where the color-coded indicator within each active area  304  is based on the determination of step  706 . In other embodiments, the alert is generating by transmitting a communication message (e.g. email or text or both) to personnel at the workstation  154  to respond to the time gap. In an example embodiment, the communication message identifies the one or more bed units  102  where the time gap exceeds the time gap threshold. In another example embodiment, where the determination in step  706  includes a determination of the cause of the time gap exceeding the time gap threshold, the communication message identifies the determined cause (e.g. server  105  is offline, physiological data monitor  104  is disconnected from server  105 , etc.). 
     In step  710 , remedial action is initiated based on the generated alert of step  708 . In one embodiment, the remedial action includes responding to the time gap that exceeds the one or more time gap thresholds. In one embodiment, where the communication message from step  708  identifies one or more bed units  102  where the time gap exceeds the time gap threshold, the remedial action involves checking the status of the physiological data monitors  104  associated with the one or more bed units  102  to ensure the physiological data monitors  104  are functional. In other embodiments, the remedial action involves checking that the one or more servers  105  are online and rebooting any servers  105  that are identified as offline. In one embodiment, where the communication message from step  708  identifies that the cause of the time gap exceeding the time gap threshold is that one or more servers  105  is offline, the remedial action involves verifying that the one or more servers  105  are offline and rebooting the one or more servers  105 . In yet another embodiment, where the communication message from step  708  identifies that the cause of the time gap exceeding the time gap threshold is a disconnection between one or more servers  105  and a physiological data monitor  104  of one of the bed units  102 , the remedial action involves checking the connection between the one or more servers  105  and the physiological data monitor  104  and reconnecting the one or more servers  105  with the physiological data monitor  104 . After performing the remedial action in step  710 , the method  700  proceeds back to step  702 . In step  706 , the determination of whether the time gap exceeds the time gap threshold is repeated, in order to verify whether the remedial action in step  710  was effective in eliminating the time gap. 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  1 A , the controller  106  is connected to the display  108 , to present the physiological patient data. In some embodiments, the display  108  is the same as the display  108  used to present the indicators for each bed unit  102  (e.g. the block  300  of active areas  304 ) for monitoring collection of the physiological patient data. In other embodiments, the controller generates a separate screen that is presented on the same or a separate display, e.g., display  108   b  ( FIG.  1 B ) to present the physiological patient data, where the separate screen is configured for viewing by medical professionals to determine the state or care, or both, of a patient in one or more of the bed units. In some embodiments, it is advantageous for the screen to be presented on the display  108   b  that is separate from the display  108   a  used to present the indicators for each bed unit  102  to monitor the collection of physiological patient data. 
     In some embodiments, the controller  106  receives the value of the parameter of physiological patient data and the value of the sample time from the servers  105   a ,  105   b . In other embodiments, the servers  105   a ,  105   b  are omitted and the controller  106  receives the value of the parameter of physiological patient data and the value of the sample time from the physiological data monitors  104 . The controller  106  includes a graphical user interface (GUI) module  109  to perform one or more steps of a method described below with reference to  FIG.  7 B  or a method described below with reference to  FIG.  7 C . In various embodiments, the controller  106  comprises one or more general purpose computer systems, as depicted in  FIG.  8    or one or more chip sets as depicted in  FIG.  9   , and instructions to cause the computer or chip set to perform one or more steps of a method described below with reference to  FIG.  7 B  or  FIG.  7 C . In some embodiments a screen is generated for presentation on a display to present physiological patient data related to monitoring a plurality of patients in a respective plurality of bed units  102  of a medical facility. In some embodiments, the plurality of bed units  102  are divided into one or more groups or clinical divisions of the medical facility. In one embodiment, the groups include a trauma resuscitation unit (TRU), an operating room (OR), and a neural trauma critical care (NTCC). 
       FIG.  5 A  is a block diagram that illustrates an example of a group view  500  for displaying physiological data of patients in a single group of the medical facility, according to an embodiment. In one embodiment, the group view  500  is a screen that includes an indicator in a plurality of active areas  504   a ,  504   b  in a group region  502 . In some embodiments, each active area  504  corresponds to a respective group in the medical facility. In some embodiments, the indicator in each active area  504  is an acronym of the name of the group (e.g. TRU for trauma resuscitation unit). In other embodiments the indicator is a thumbnail image or icon representing the group. In other embodiments, multiple active areas  504  correspond to a respective group in the medical facility. Although  FIG.  5 A  depicts five active areas  504 , the group region  502  is not limited to five active areas  504  and can include more or less active areas  504  in order to match the number of groups in the medical facility. 
     The group view  500  further includes a plurality of active areas  506   a ,  506   b ,  506   c ,  506   d  in a unit region  505 , where each active area  506  corresponds to a respective bed unit  102  in a particular group associated with a particular active area  504   a  in the group region  502 . In one embodiment, in response to a selection by a single or other action of a pointing device within the particular active area  504   a , the value of the parameter of physiological patient data for each bed unit  102  in the particular group is displayed in a respective active area  506 . In some embodiments, in response to the selection of the particular active area  504   a , a representation of the value of the parameter of physiological patient data is presented in the respective active area  506 . In one embodiment, the representation is a trace  608  ( FIG.  6 A ) of the value of the parameter of physiological patient data along a time axis. In another embodiment, the representation is a bar  656  ( FIG.  6 B ) that indicates an occurrence of the value of the parameter of physiological patient data along a time axis. In an example embodiment, a first color (e.g. green) of the trace or bar indicates that the value of the parameter is below a first threshold value and a second color (e.g. yellow, red) of the trace or bar indicates that the value of the parameter is above a second threshold value. In one example embodiment, the first threshold value is the same as the second threshold value. In another example embodiment, the first threshold value is not the same as the second threshold value and a third color (e.g. yellow) of the trace or bar indicates that the value of the parameter is above the first threshold value and below the second threshold value. In an example embodiment, the display  108  is a touchscreen and the single action of selecting the particular active area  504   a  is touching the particular active area  504   a.    
     In some embodiments, the unit region  505  includes a fixed number of active areas  506 . In these embodiments, where the number of bed units  102  in the single group exceeds the fixed number of active areas  506 , multiple active areas  504  in the group region  502  are used to designate a single group. In an example embodiment, the indicator in the multiple areas  504  include an acronym for the group and an alpha or numeric character or other indicator, such as color or hatching, to represent a subgroup within the single group (e.g. TRU-A and TRU-B). Although  FIG.  5 A  depicts that the unit region  505  includes a specific fixed number (e.g., four) active areas  506 , the unit region  505  is not limited to this fixed number of active areas and can feature less or more fixed number of active areas  506 . Additionally, in other embodiments, the unit region  505  includes an automatically or manually adjustable number of active areas  506 , where a size of each active area  506  changes based on the number of active areas  506  (e.g., larger active area  506  for a smaller number of active areas  506  and a smaller active area  506  for a larger number of active areas  506 ). 
       FIG.  5 E  is a block diagram that illustrates an example of the active area  506  of the group view  500  of  FIG.  5 A , according to an embodiment. In one embodiment, the active area  506  includes a trace region  556  where one or more traces of the values of the parameter of physiological patient data is plotted against time.  FIG.  5 C  is a block diagram that illustrates an example of the trace region  556  of  FIG.  5 E , according to an embodiment. In one embodiment, the trace region  556  includes a plurality of active areas  557   a ,  557   b , where each active area  557  corresponds to a respective parameter of physiological patient data. In an example embodiment, where there is a limited number of active areas  557   a ,  557   b , parameters of physiological patient data with higher priority are displayed first and parameters of physiological patient data with lower priority are displayed if active areas  557   a ,  557   b  remain after the higher priority parameters are displayed. In an example embodiment, a trace plot of the values of a first parameter of physiological patient data against time is presented in the first active area  557   a  and a trace plot of the values of a second parameter of physiological patient data against time is presented in the second active area  557   b .  FIG.  6 A  is an image that illustrates an example of a trace plot  600  of the trace region  556  of  FIG.  5 C , according to an embodiment. The horizontal axis  602  indicates time in units of (hour:minutes) spanning a 24 hour range from 12:00 PM to 12:00 PM. In other embodiments, the range of the horizontal axis  602  can be selected. In an example embodiment, the range can be selected from a minimum value of about 1 minute to a maximum value based on the plurality of sample times for the stored physiological patient data. The vertical axis  604  indicates the parameter of physiological patient data in relevant units (e.g., beats per minute for heartrate). The trace plot  600  includes a trace  608  of the values of the parameter of physiological patient data over a time window  606  encompassing at least some of the plurality of sample times that the controller  106  receives the values of the parameter of physiological patient data. In an example embodiment, the time window  606  is about 24 hours. In some embodiments, a color of the trace  608  changes from a first color to a second color when the value of the parameter of physiological patient data exceeds each of one or more threshold values  609 . In an example embodiment, the color of the trace  600  changes from green to yellow at a first threshold value  609   a  and from yellow to red when the value  608  of the parameter exceeds a second threshold value  609   b . That is the trace has one color at values below each threshold value and a different color at values above the threshold value. In an example embodiment, where the parameter of physiological patient data is heart rate, the first threshold value  609   a  is 100 beats per minute and the second threshold value  609   b  is approximately 120 beats per minute. In some embodiments, not only is the trace given and the color appropriate for the value, but areas below the trace and above the first threshold value  609   a  are filled with the corresponding color, as depicted in  FIG.  6 A . 
     One notable advantage of the group view  500  is that a user simultaneously views the traces  600  of each patient in a particular group by viewing the active areas  506   a ,  506   b ,  506   c ,  506   d  and prioritizes which patients require more time and attention. In an example embodiment, if the traces  600  in active areas  506   a ,  506   b  are red colored, whereas the traces  600  in the active areas  506   c ,  506   d  are green colored, the user can decide to spend more time with the patients associated with active areas  506   a ,  506   b . This improves the efficiency of physicians and medical staff in the medical facility and improves the quality of care provided to patients that require more time and attention. Because these are active areas, in some embodiments, by selecting the active area corresponding to one unit with a pointing device, an expanded view of a single unit is presented on the display; and, the presentation of other units are reduced, as described below with reference to  FIG.  5 B . 
     In some embodiments the values plotted in a trace are the values of an “index” which is an indication of a particular condition of the subject that is a function or two or more physiological parameters. In some example embodiments, the index value is a ratio of a value of a first parameter of physiological patient data to a value of a second parameter of physiological patient data. In an example embodiment, the trace  608  indicates an index value that is of a shock index (SI) that is a ratio of a value of heart rate (HR) to a value of systolic blood pressure (SBP). In another example embodiment, the index value is a value of a brain trauma index (BTI) that is a ratio of a value of intracranial blood pressure (ICP) to a value of cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP). 
     In another embodiment, the active area  506  of  FIG.  5 E  includes a bar region  558  where a one dimensional bar plot that indicates a time history of range of the value of the parameter of physiological patient data is displayed as a bar with color that can change along the time axis.  FIG.  5 D  is a block diagram that illustrates an example of the bar region  558  of  FIG.  5 E , according to an embodiment. In one embodiment, the bar region  558  includes a plurality of active areas  559   a ,  559   b , where each active area  559  corresponds to a respective parameter of physiological patient data. In an example embodiment, a bar plot of the value range of a first parameter of physiological patient data is displayed in the first active area  559   a  and a bar plot of the value range of a second parameter of physiological patient data is displayed in the second active area  559   b .  FIG.  6 B  is an image that illustrates an example of a bar plot  650  of the bar region  558  of  FIG.  5 D , according to an embodiment. The horizontal axis  602  is time in units of (hour:minutes) spanning a 24 hour range from 12:00 PM to 12:00 PM. In other embodiments, the range of the horizontal axis  602  can be selected. In an example embodiment, the range can be selected from a minimum value of about 1 minute to a maximum value based on the plurality of sample times for the stored physiological patient data. As a one dimensional plot, there is no vertical axis. The bar plot  650  includes a bar  656  that is colored based on the value range of the parameter of physiological patient data over the time window  606 . In some embodiments, a color of the bar  656  indicates the value range such that a first color indicates that the range of the value of the parameter of physiological patient data is in a first range (e.g. less than a first threshold value), a second color indicates that the range of the value of the parameter of physiological patient data is in a second range (e.g. greater than the first threshold value but less than a second threshold value) and a third color indicates that the range of the value of the parameter of physiological patient data is in a third range (e.g. greater than the second threshold value). In an example embodiment, the first color is green, the second color is yellow and the third color is red and the first and second thresholds correspond to those used in the trace plot  600  of  FIG.  6 A . An advantage of the bar plot is that more different physiological parameters can be presented in the same area of the display device because there is no vertical axis. Thus more parameters can be presented per unit in the group. Only one or a few traces can be plotted or only the one or few traces that exceed a first or second threshold are plotted in the trace plot region. 
     In some embodiments, the value range is a range of a ratio of a value of a first parameter of physiological patient data to a value of a second parameter of physiological patient data. In an example embodiment, the value range is a range of the shock index (SI) or of the brain trauma index (BTI). 
     Returning to  FIG.  5 A , in some embodiments, a plurality of active areas  510   a ,  510   b  are displayed in a time interval region  508  of the group view  500 . In one embodiment, an indicator is displayed in each active area  510 , where the indicator is a time interval value. In some embodiments, upon selecting a particular active area  510   a  by a single action of a pointing device, the interval of the time window  606  of the trace plots  600  in the trace region  556  and the bar plots  650  in the bar region  558  is adjusted based on the time interval value in the particular active area  510   a . In one embodiment, the time interval value of the active areas  510  include one or more of 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours. 
     In some embodiments, the group view  500  includes a particular arrangement where the group region  502  is presented on a left side of the display  108 , the time region  508  is presented in a bottom portion of the display and the unit region  505  is presented to a right side of the group region  502  and above the time region  508 . However, this is merely one example arrangement and other embodiments of the group view  500  can feature different rearrangements of the group region  502 , time region  108  and unit region  505 . 
       FIG.  7 B  is a flow diagram that illustrates an example of a method  720  for displaying the group view  500  of physiological data collected from the plurality of bed units  102  divided into groups in a medical facility, according to an embodiment. In step  722 , the value of the parameter of physiological patient data and the value of the sample time is received at the controller  106 . In some embodiments, the value of the parameter of physiological patient data and the value of the sample time is received at the controller  106  from each server  105 . In other embodiments, the value of the parameter of physiological patient data and the value of the sample time is received from the plurality of physiological data monitors  104  associated with the plurality of bed units  102  divided into the one or more groups of the medical facility without use of the server or the controller. 
     In step  724 , indicators in the active areas  504  of the group region  502  are presented, where each active area  504  corresponds to a respective group within the medical facility. In some embodiments, where a fixed number of active areas  506  are provided in the unit region  505  and the number of bed units  102  within a particular group exceeds the fixed number, multiple active areas  504  correspond to the respective group within the medical facility. 
     In step  726 , data is received based on a selection of a particular active area  504   a  of the group region  502 . In an embodiment, the particular active area  504   a  of the group region  502  is selected by a single or other action of a pointing device. In one embodiment, the display  108  is a touchscreen and the single action of the pointing device involves touching the particular active area  504   a . In an example embodiment, the particular active area  504   a  is selected in order to monitor the values of the parameter of physiological patient data of bed units  102  in the group corresponding to the particular active area  504   a . In an embodiment, in step  726 , the controller  106  receives a signal from the display  108  based on the selection of the particular active area  504   a  of the group region  502 . 
     In step  728 , a representation based on the value of the parameter of physiological patient data is displayed in the active areas  506  of the unit region  505 , where each active area  506  corresponds to a respective bed unit  102  within the group that corresponds to the particular active area  504   a  selected in step  726 . In some embodiments, in step  728 , the trace plot  600  of the trace  608  of the parameter values against time of the physiological patient data is displayed in the trace region  556  of the active area  506 . In an example embodiment, in step  728 , multiple trace plots  600  are displayed in multiple active areas  557   a ,  557   b  of the trace region  556 , where each trace plot  600  in each active area  557  corresponds to a respective parameter of physiological patient data. 
     In some embodiments, in step  728 , the bar plot  650  of the parameter of the physiological patient data is displayed in the bar region  558  of the active area  506 . In an example embodiment, in step  728 , multiple bar plots  650  are displayed in multiple active areas  559   a ,  559   b  of the bar region  558 , where each bar plot  650  in each active area  559  corresponds to a respective parameter of physiological patient data. 
     In one embodiment, in response to a selection by a single or other action of a pointing device within a particular unit active area  506   a  in the group view  500 , the value of the physiological patient data for the bed unit  102  corresponding to the particular active area  506   a  is displayed in a different screen called unit view  550 .  FIG.  5 B  is a block diagram that illustrates an example of the unit view  550  for displaying physiological patient data, according to an embodiment. In one embodiment, the unit view  550  includes an indicator in a plurality of active areas  554   a ,  554   b  in a thumbnail region  552 . In some embodiments, each active area  554  corresponds to a respective bed unit  102  within the group corresponding to the selected active area  504   a  in the group view  500 . In some embodiments, the indicator in each active area  554  is a thumbnail image of the traces and bars presented in the active area  506  of the unit region  505  corresponding to the respective bed unit  102 . 
     The unit view  550  further includes the trace region  556  with the plurality of active areas  557  ( FIG.  5 C ), where each active area  557  corresponds to a respective parameter of physiological patient data. In an embodiment, the trace plot  600  of the trace  608  of the parameter of physiological patient data is displayed in the active area  557  of the trace region  556 , where the physiological patient data corresponds to the bed unit  102  associated with the particular active area  506   a  selected in the group view  500 . 
     Additionally, the unit view  550  includes the bar region  558  with the plurality of active areas  559  ( FIG.  5 D ), where each active area  559  corresponds to a respective parameter of physiological patient data. In an embodiment, the bar plot  650  of the bar of colored or cross-hatched value ranges of the parameter of physiological patient data is displayed in each active area  559  of the bar region  558 , where the physiological patient data corresponds to the bed unit  102  associated with the particular active area  506   a  selected in the group view  500 . 
     In other embodiments, in response to a selection by a single or other action of a pointing device within a particular active area  554   a  in the thumbnail region  552 , the value of the physiological patient data for the bed unit  102  corresponding to the particular active area  554   a  is displayed in the unit view  550 . 
     In one embodiment, the unit view  550  further includes one or more active areas  562   a ,  562   b  in an index region  560 . In one embodiment, a scatter index plot rather than a time series is presented in each active area  562 . In a scatter plot, data points are plotted based on a value of a first parameter of physiological patient data on one axis and a value of a second parameter of physiological patient data on the perpendicular axis. In an example embodiment, the index plot is a shock index (SI) plot where the first parameter of physiological patient data is heart rate (HR) and the second parameter of physiological patient data is systolic blood pressure (SBP). In another example embodiment, the index plot is a brain trauma index (BTI) plot, where the first parameter of physiological patient data is intracranial blood pressure (ICP) and the second parameter of physiological patient data is cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP).  FIG.  6 C  is an image that illustrates an example of an index plot  670  of the index region  560  of  FIG.  5 B , according to an embodiment. The horizontal axis  672  is a first parameter of physiological patient data (e.g. heartrate) in units of the parameter (e.g. beats per minute) in a range from about 80 beats per minute to about 138 beats per minute. The vertical axis  674  is a second parameter of physiological patient data (e.g. systolic blood pressure, SBP) in units of the parameter (e.g. millimeters of Mercury). In some embodiments, a range of the second parameter of physiological patient data is dynamically determined by minimum and maximum values acquired over the time window  606 . In some embodiments, the index plot  670  includes data points  682  that have coordinates (x, y) where x is a value of the first parameter of physiological patient data along the horizontal axis  672  and y is a value of the second parameter of physiological patient data along the vertical axis  674 . In some embodiments, the index plot  670  includes a color coded time axis  676  such that a sample time of each data point  682  can be color coded according to the color coded time axis  676 . The time window  606  defines the range of the coded time axis  676 . In an example embodiment, the time window  606  is about 24 hours. In one embodiment, the coded time axis  676  is a color coded time axis and each data point  682  is color coded based on the respective sample time of each data point  682  and the color coded time axis  676 . In an example embodiment, the color coded time axis  676  is a color spectrum that extends from a red color to designate more recent sample times to a blue color to indicate earlier sample times. In this example embodiment, the data points  682  during recent sample times are color coded red whereas the data points  682  during previous sample times are color coded blue.  FIG.  6 C  depicts lines that correlate color coded portions of the time axis  676  and respective data points  682  of the plot  670 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  6 C , in one embodiment the index plot  670  includes one or more vertical intercept lines  678  that intersect the horizontal axis  672  to indicate one or more respective threshold values of the first parameter of physiological patient data. In another embodiment, the index plot  670  includes one or more horizontal intercept lines  680  that intersect the vertical axis  674  to indicate one or more respective threshold values of the second parameter of physiological patient data. The vertical intercept lines  678  and horizontal intercept lines  680  advantageously allow the user to determine whether data points  682  are within a region of the plot  670  defined by the intercept lines  678 ,  680 . In an example embodiment, where the index plot  670  is a shock index (SI) plot, the intercept lines  678 ,  680  allow the user to determine whether the data points  682  are within a region of concern  673  defined by a vertical intercept line  678  and horizontal intercept line  680 . In another example embodiment, the color coded points  682  based on the time axis  676  advantageously permit the user to determine whether the points  682  are trending toward the region of concern  673 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG.  5 B , in one embodiment the unit view  550  further includes a plurality of active areas  570   a ,  570   b  in an action region  568 . In an embodiment, an action indicator is displayed in each active area  570   a ,  570   b . In one embodiment, in response to selection of the active area  570   a  by a single or other action of a pointing device, an image file of the unit view  550  is generated and stored in a memory of the controller  106 . In one embodiment, the image file of the unit view  550  represents an image of the thumbnail region  552 , the trace region  556 , the bar region  558  and the index region  560  at the time that the active area  570   a  is selected. In an example embodiment, the action indicator in the active area  570   a  is “snapshot”. 
     In one embodiment, in response to selection of the active area  570   b  by a single or other action of a pointing device, the value of a waveform parameter of physiological patient data is displayed over a secondary time window  606 ′ that is less than the time window  606 . In some embodiments, the value of the waveform parameter of physiological patient data is provided to the server  105  by the waveform generators  156   a ,  156   b ,  156   c . This option is useful for traces that are better viewed on a much expanded time axis, such as an EKG.  FIG.  6 D  is an image that illustrates an example trace plot  600 ′ of a trace  608 ′ of values of a waveform parameter of physiological patient data, according to an embodiment. In this embodiment, the parameter of physiological patient data is an EKG waveform parameter of physiological patient data. In an embodiment, the value of the waveform parameter of physiological patient data is displayed in one of the active areas  557  of the trace region  556 . In an example embodiment, the waveform parameter of physiological patient data is an electrocardiographic (EKG) or a photoplethysmographic (PPG). In another example embodiment, the secondary time window  606 ′ is less than 1 hour. In another example embodiment, the secondary time window  606 ′ is less than 10 minutes. 
     In some embodiments, the time window  606  of the traces  600  in the trace region  556 , the bars  650  in the bar region  558  and the index plot  670  in the index region  560  can be adjusted. In one embodiment, the time window  606  is adjusted by selecting an active area  566   a ,  566   b  in a time interval region  564  of the unit view  550 , where each active area  566  includes a time interval value. Upon selecting a particular active area  566   a , the time window  606  is adjusted based on the time interval value within the particular active area  566   a . In one embodiment, the time interval value of the active areas  566  include one or more of 1 hour, 2 hours, 4 hours, 8 hours, 12 hours, 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours. In another embodiment, the time window  606  is adjusted by manually selecting a secondary time window within the time window  606  by a single action of a pointing device. In response to this manual selection of the secondary window within the time window  606 , the trace plots  600  in the trace region  556 , bar plots  650  in the bar region  558  and index plot  670  in the index region  560  are displayed over the secondary time window. 
     In some embodiments, highlighting one or more areas (e.g. moving cursor to one or more areas with the pointing device  816  such as a mouse) along one or more of the trace  600 , the bar plot  650  and/or the index plot  670 , generates an output on the display of a value of the respective trace/bar plot/index plot and/or a value of the time associated with the highlighted trace/bar plot/index plot value. In one embodiment, highlighting the one or more areas further displays a vertical line along the trace/bar plot/index plot at the respective time value. 
     In some embodiments, the unit view  550  further includes a home region  572  with an active area  574 . In one embodiment, an indicator is displayed in the active area  574 . In an example embodiment, the indicator is a home symbol. Upon selecting the active area  574  by a single or other action of a pointing device, the display  108  switches from the unit view  550  of  FIG.  5 B  to the group view  500  of  FIG.  5 A . 
       FIG.  7 C  is a flow diagram that illustrates an example of a method  730  for displaying the unit view  550  of physiological data collected from the plurality of bed units  102  in a medical facility, according to an embodiment. In step  732 , the value of the parameter of physiological patient data and the value of the sample time is received at the controller  106  from the plurality of physiological data monitors  104 . In some embodiments, in step  732 , the value of the parameter of physiological patient data and the value of the sample time is received at the controller  106  from the servers  105 , which in turn received the data from the plurality of physiological data monitors  104 . 
     In step  734 , an indicator is displayed in the active areas  554  of the thumbnail region  552  of the unit view  550 , where each active area  554  corresponds to a respective bed unit  102 . In some embodiments, each active area  554  corresponds to a respective bed unit  102  in the group associated with the selected active area  504  in the group region  502  of the group view  500 . In some embodiments, the indicator in each active area  554  is the active area  506  of the unit region  505  corresponding to the respective bed unit  102 . 
     In step  736 , the trace plot  600  including the trace  608  of the value of the parameter of the physiological patient data is displayed in the active areas  557  of the trace region  556 , where each active area  557  corresponds to a respective parameter of physiological patient data. In some embodiments, in step  736 , the trace  600  is a value of an index parameter based on a function, such as a ratio, of a value of a first parameter of physiological patient data and a value of a second parameter of physiological patient data. 
     In step  738 , the bar plot  650  including that the bar  656  that indicates a range of the value of the parameter of the physiological patient data is displayed in the active areas  559  of the bar region  558 , where each active area  559  corresponds to a respective parameter of physiological patient data. In some embodiments, in step  738 , the bar  656  color indicates a value range of an index parameter based on a ratio of a value of a first parameter of physiological patient data to a value of a second parameter of physiological patient data. 
     In step  740 , one or more scatter index plots  670  are displayed in the active areas  562  of the index region  560 , where each active area  562  corresponds to a respective index plot  670  of a respective index parameter of physiological patient data. In an embodiment, the index parameter is shock index (SI) or brain trauma index (BTI). Data points  682  of the index plot  670  are presented, where each data point  682  is based on a value of a first parameter of physiological patient data and a value of a second parameter of physiological patient data. In some embodiments, the data points  682  of the index plot  670  have (x, y) coordinates, where x is the value of the first parameter of physiological patient data and y is the value of the second parameter of physiological patient data. 
     In some embodiments, based on the physiological patient data received at the controller  106 , any predictive algorithm known in the art could be used to make a prediction regarding future physiological patient data or recommend treatment of the patient. In an example embodiment, such a prediction or recommendation could be presented on the screen view presented on any display  108 . An example of such a predictive algorithm is disclosed in Provisional Application No. 62/334,750 filed on May 11, 2016 and with a common assignee with the present invention. 
     2. Example Embodiments 
     In one embodiment, the system  100 ,  150  is utilized and/or the method  700 ,  720 ,  730  is practiced in a military medical transport facility, such as a military medical transport vehicle. Conventional military medical transport vehicles routinely feature limited medical staff and thus involve limited access to patients and equipment instability (e.g. data monitors  104  and severs  105 ) in a noisy and moving environment. Additionally, conventional military medical transport vehicles do not feature remote monitoring of current values of the parameter of physiological patient data from the data monitors  104 . The implementation of the system  100 ,  150  and/or the method  700 ,  720 ,  730  in military medical transport vehicles addresses these issues by permitting the limited medical staff to monitor more patients in a shorter amount of time and/or to quickly detect and remedy any equipment instability. 
     In one embodiment, the controller  106  of the system  100 ,  150  is an Intel i5 1.9 GHz CPU with 16 GB memory and running on Windows 7 operating system. In an example embodiment, 16 units  102  are provided at the medical facility and 16 data monitors  104  are provided at each unit  102  to provide values for 16 parameters of physiological patient data. In this example embodiment, where the data monitors  104  provide parameter values at each minute, the controller  106  receives about 0.37 million data points over a 24 hour period. In an embodiment, such daily amounts of data can be displayed in real-time or near real-time (e.g. &lt;1 second or &lt;0.5 seconds or &lt;250 milliseconds) in the block  300  and/or the gap collection pattern  400  and/or the group view  500  and/or the unit view  550 . Table 2 below depicts that the update time of the block  300  and/or pattern  400  and/or group view  500  and/or unit view  550  is on the order of hundreds of milliseconds (e.g. &lt;500 milliseconds) for physiological patient data that is updated each minute. 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Self 
                   
                 Total 
                   
                 Function 
               
               
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 15319.5 
                 ms 
                   
                 15319.5 
                 ms 
                   
                 (idle) 
                   
               
               
                 196.4 
                 ms 
                 34.57% 
                 196.4 
                 ms 
                 34.57% 
                 (program) 
               
               
                 118.3 
                 ms 
                 20.82% 
                 229.2 
                 ms 
                 40.33 
                 drawUnitData 
                 10.14.1.23/:269 
               
               
                 30.6 
                 ms 
                 5.39% 
                 70.8 
                 ms 
                 12.45% 
                 drawOneData 
                 10.14.1.23/:1029 
               
               
                 29.6 
                 ms 
                 5.20% 
                 107.7 
                 ms 
                 18.96% 
                 $.ajax.success 
                 10.14.1.23/:1553 
               
               
                 26.4 
                 ms 
                 4.65% 
                 193.3 
                 ms 
                 34.01% 
                 $.ajax.success 
                 10.14.1.23/:1573 
               
               
                 23.2 
                 ms 
                 4.09% 
                 23.2 
                 ms 
                 4.09% 
                 lineTo 
               
               
                 15.8 
                 ms 
                 2.79% 
                 15.8 
                 ms 
                 2.79% 
                 (anonymous function) 
               
               
                 14.8 
                 ms 
                 2.60% 
                 166.9 
                 ms 
                 29.37% 
                 drawSideGroupData 
                 10.14.1.23/:1424 
               
               
                 14.8 
                 ms 
                 2.60% 
                 14.8 
                 ms 
                 2.60% 
                 (garbage collector) 
               
               
                 11.6 
                 ms 
                 2.04% 
                 11.6 
                 ms 
                 2.04% 
                 parseDataTime 
                 10.14.1.23/:224 
               
               
                 6.3 
                 ms 
                 1.12% 
                 6.3 
                 ms 
                 1.12% 
                 fillText 
               
               
                 5.3 
                 ms 
                 0.93% 
                 19.0 
                 ms 
                 3.35% 
                 drawDataOverView 
                 10.14.1.23/:729 
               
               
                 5.3 
                 ms 
                 0.93% 
                 5.3 
                 ms 
                 0.93% 
                 fillRect 
               
               
                 4.2 
                 ms 
                 0.74% 
                 4.2 
                 ms 
                 0.74% 
                 measureText 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     In an embodiment, the system and method discussed herein has the capacity to deliver a remote patient monitoring platform refined and customized for use in the medical transport setting. In one embodiment, the system and method discussed herein provides both remote and on-board clinicians with the capability to simultaneously monitor dynamic physiologic changes in multiple patients. This offers the ability to identify critically worsening patients quickly and more effectively as both current and trend data can be clearly displayed. This technology allows for integration with clinical decision support tailored to the individual patient, providing unprecedented help in the austere battlefield environment. Traumatic brain injuries are common in the military population and reliable remote monitoring allows specialists to aid in the critical early hours of treatment of these complex injuries. 
     In an embodiment, the system and method discussed herein is practiced in a medical facility including 94 bed units  102  with 94 data monitors  104  (e.g. GE-Marquette Solar 7000/8000®, General Electric, Fairfield Conn.). In one embodiment, the  94  data monitors  104  are networked to provide collection of real time physiological patient data including 13 data monitors  104  in a trauma resuscitation unit (TRU); 9 data monitors  104  in an operating room (OR); 12 data monitors  104  in a post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) and 60 data monitors  104  in an intensive care unit (ICU). In an example embodiment, each data monitor  104  collects real-time 240 Hz waveforms (e.g. ECG, PPG, CO2, ABP, ICP) and 0.5 Hz trend data (e.g. HR, RR, SpO2, CO2, ICP) which are broadcasted via UDP (User Datagram Protocol) through secure intranet to a dedicated server  105   c  (e.g. Bedmaster® with Excel Medical Electronics, Jupiter Fla.). In the example embodiment, about 20 million data points per unit  102  are generated each day or roughly 30 terabits per year of data. During a twelve month study from February 2013 to January 2014, a total of 8719 adult patients stayed in the medical facility for an average stay of 3.8 days. In an example embodiment, collection rates from each individual server  105  were in a range from between 27.79% and 40.49% prior to implementing the system  100 ,  150 . In an example embodiment, after implementation of the triple redundant server system (e.g. servers  105  connected in the triple redundant arrangement) but before the implementation of the system  100 ,  150  the data collection rate improved to about 79.13%. In an example embodiment, the missing collection rate (gap) was about 20.87% and was mostly due to collection gaps of greater than 4 hours (e.g. 18.02% or 1.62 times per bed per month) and collection gaps of between 5 minutes and 4 hours (e.g. 0.13% or 0.6 times per bed per month). In an example embodiment, reasons for collection gaps included individual collection server failure, software instability, individual bed setting consistency and/or clinical engineering servicing of patient monitors. In an example embodiment, in a 6 month period after implementation of the system  100 ,  150 , the single server collection rate improved to a range between 87.05% and 95.54% and the triple redundant system achieved 99.88% total collection rate. Table 3 below depicts the server collection rates for the individual and combined server arrangements before and after implementation of the system  100 ,  150  (“pre-MoMs”, “post-MoMs”). 
     
       
         
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
                   
                 TABLE 3 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Server 1 collected 
                 Server 2 collected 
                 Server 3 collected 
                 Server 3 contributed 
                 Server 1 contributed 
                 Combined 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
            
               
                   
               
            
           
           
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
            
               
                 Pre-MoMs 
                 40.5% 
                 27.8% 
                 36.3% 
                 25.4% 
                 26.0% 
                 79.1% 
               
               
                 Post-MoMs 
                 95.4% 
                 95.5% 
                 87.1% 
                 4.2% 
                 0.2% 
                 99.9% 
               
               
                   
               
            
           
         
       
     
     3. Hardware Overview 
       FIG.  8    is a block diagram that illustrates a computer system  800  upon which an embodiment of the invention may be implemented. Computer system  800  includes a communication mechanism such as a bus  810  for passing information between other internal and external components of the computer system  800 . Information is represented as physical signals of a measurable phenomenon, typically electric voltages, but including, in other embodiments, such phenomena as magnetic, electromagnetic, pressure, chemical, molecular atomic and quantum interactions. For example, north and south magnetic fields, or a zero and non-zero electric voltage, represent two states (0, 1) of a binary digit (bit).). Other phenomena can represent digits of a higher base. A superposition of multiple simultaneous quantum states before measurement represents a quantum bit (qubit). A sequence of one or more digits constitutes digital data that is used to represent a number or code for a character. In some embodiments, information called analog data is represented by a near continuum of measurable values within a particular range. Computer system  800 , or a portion thereof, constitutes a means for performing one or more steps of one or more methods described herein. 
     A sequence of binary digits constitutes digital data that is used to represent a number or code for a character. A bus  810  includes many parallel conductors of information so that information is transferred quickly among devices coupled to the bus  810 . One or more processors  802  for processing information are coupled with the bus  810 . A processor  802  performs a set of operations on information. The set of operations include bringing information in from the bus  810  and placing information on the bus  810 . The set of operations also typically include comparing two or more units of information, shifting positions of units of information, and combining two or more units of information, such as by addition or multiplication. A sequence of operations to be executed by the processor  802  constitutes computer instructions. 
     Computer system  800  also includes a memory  804  coupled to bus  810 . The memory  804 , such as a random access memory (RAM) or other dynamic storage device, stores information including computer instructions. Dynamic memory allows information stored therein to be changed by the computer system  800 . RAM allows a unit of information stored at a location called a memory address to be stored and retrieved independently of information at neighboring addresses. The memory  804  is also used by the processor  802  to store temporary values during execution of computer instructions. The computer system  800  also includes a read only memory (ROM)  806  or other static storage device coupled to the bus  810  for storing static information, including instructions, that is not changed by the computer system  800 . Also coupled to bus  810  is a non-volatile (persistent) storage device  808 , such as a magnetic disk or optical disk, for storing information, including instructions, that persists even when the computer system  800  is turned off or otherwise loses power. 
     Information, including instructions, is provided to the bus  810  for use by the processor from an external input device  812 , such as a keyboard containing alphanumeric keys operated by a human user, or a sensor. A sensor detects conditions in its vicinity and transforms those detections into signals compatible with the signals used to represent information in computer system  800 . Other external devices coupled to bus  810 , used primarily for interacting with humans, include a display device  814 , such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a liquid crystal display (LCD), for presenting images, and a pointing device  816 , such as a mouse or a trackball or cursor direction keys, for controlling a position of a small cursor image presented on the display  814  and issuing commands associated with graphical elements presented on the display  814 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, special purpose hardware, such as an application specific integrated circuit (IC)  820 , is coupled to bus  810 . The special purpose hardware is configured to perform operations not performed by processor  802  quickly enough for special purposes. Examples of application specific ICs include graphics accelerator cards for generating images for display  814 , cryptographic boards for encrypting and decrypting messages sent over a network, speech recognition, and interfaces to special external devices, such as robotic arms and medical scanning equipment that repeatedly perform some complex sequence of operations that are more efficiently implemented in hardware. 
     Computer system  800  also includes one or more instances of a communications interface  870  coupled to bus  810 . Communication interface  870  provides a two-way communication coupling to a variety of external devices that operate with their own processors, such as printers, scanners and external disks. In general the coupling is with a network link  878  that is connected to a local network  880  to which a variety of external devices with their own processors are connected. For example, communication interface  870  may be a parallel port or a serial port or a universal serial bus (USB) port on a personal computer. In some embodiments, communications interface  870  is an integrated services digital network (ISDN) card or a digital subscriber line (DSL) card or a telephone modem that provides an information communication connection to a corresponding type of telephone line. In some embodiments, a communication interface  870  is a cable modem that converts signals on bus  810  into signals for a communication connection over a coaxial cable or into optical signals for a communication connection over a fiber optic cable. As another example, communications interface  870  may be a local area network (LAN) card to provide a data communication connection to a compatible LAN, such as Ethernet. Wireless links may also be implemented. Carrier waves, such as acoustic waves and electromagnetic waves, including radio, optical and infrared waves travel through space without wires or cables. Signals include man-made variations in amplitude, frequency, phase, polarization or other physical properties of carrier waves. For wireless links, the communications interface  870  sends and receives electrical, acoustic or electromagnetic signals, including infrared and optical signals, that carry information streams, such as digital data. 
     The term computer-readable medium is used herein to refer to any medium that participates in providing information to processor  802 , including instructions for execution. Such a medium may take many forms, including, but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks, such as storage device  808 . Volatile media include, for example, dynamic memory  804 . Transmission media include, for example, coaxial cables, copper wire, fiber optic cables, and waves that travel through space without wires or cables, such as acoustic waves and electromagnetic waves, including radio, optical and infrared waves. The term computer-readable storage medium is used herein to refer to any medium that participates in providing information to processor  802 , except for transmission media. 
     Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, a hard disk, a magnetic tape, or any other magnetic medium, a compact disk ROM (CD-ROM), a digital video disk (DVD) or any other optical medium, punch cards, paper tape, or any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, a programmable ROM (PROM), an erasable PROM (EPROM), a FLASH-EPROM, or any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave, or any other medium from which a computer can read. The term non-transitory computer-readable storage medium is used herein to refer to any medium that participates in providing information to processor  802 , except for carrier waves and other signals. 
     Logic encoded in one or more tangible media includes one or both of processor instructions on a computer-readable storage media and special purpose hardware, such as ASIC *820. 
     Network link  878  typically provides information communication through one or more networks to other devices that use or process the information. For example, network link  878  may provide a connection through local network  880  to a host computer  882  or to equipment  884  operated by an Internet Service Provider (ISP). ISP equipment  884  in turn provides data communication services through the public, world-wide packet-switching communication network of networks now commonly referred to as the Internet  890 . A computer called a server  892  connected to the Internet provides a service in response to information received over the Internet. For example, server  892  provides information representing video data for presentation at display  814 . 
     The invention is related to the use of computer system  800  for implementing the techniques described herein. According to one embodiment of the invention, those techniques are performed by computer system  800  in response to processor  802  executing one or more sequences of one or more instructions contained in memory  804 . Such instructions, also called software and program code, may be read into memory  804  from another computer-readable medium such as storage device  808 . Execution of the sequences of instructions contained in memory  804  causes processor  802  to perform the method steps described herein. In alternative embodiments, hardware, such as application specific integrated circuit  820 , may be used in place of or in combination with software to implement the invention. Thus, embodiments of the invention are not limited to any specific combination of hardware and software. 
     The signals transmitted over network link  878  and other networks through communications interface  870 , carry information to and from computer system  800 . Computer system  800  can send and receive information, including program code, through the networks  880 ,  890  among others, through network link  878  and communications interface  870 . In an example using the Internet  890 , a server  892  transmits program code for a particular application, requested by a message sent from computer  800 , through Internet  890 , ISP equipment  884 , local network  880  and communications interface  870 . The received code may be executed by processor  802  as it is received, or may be stored in storage device  808  or other non-volatile storage for later execution, or both. In this manner, computer system  800  may obtain application program code in the form of a signal on a carrier wave. 
     Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carrying one or more sequence of instructions or data or both to processor  802  for execution. For example, instructions and data may initially be carried on a magnetic disk of a remote computer such as host  882 . The remote computer loads the instructions and data into its dynamic memory and sends the instructions and data over a telephone line using a modem. A modem local to the computer system  800  receives the instructions and data on a telephone line and uses an infra-red transmitter to convert the instructions and data to a signal on an infra-red a carrier wave serving as the network link  878 . An infrared detector serving as communications interface  870  receives the instructions and data carried in the infrared signal and places information representing the instructions and data onto bus  810 . Bus  810  carries the information to memory  804  from which processor  802  retrieves and executes the instructions using some of the data sent with the instructions. The instructions and data received in memory  804  may optionally be stored on storage device  808 , either before or after execution by the processor  802 . 
       FIG.  9    illustrates a chip set  900  upon which an embodiment of the invention may be implemented. Chip set  900  is programmed to perform one or more steps of a method described herein and includes, for instance, the processor and memory components described with respect to FIG. * 8  incorporated in one or more physical packages (e.g., chips). By way of example, a physical package includes an arrangement of one or more materials, components, and/or wires on a structural assembly (e.g., a baseboard) to provide one or more characteristics such as physical strength, conservation of size, and/or limitation of electrical interaction. It is contemplated that in certain embodiments the chip set can be implemented in a single chip. Chip set  900 , or a portion thereof, constitutes a means for performing one or more steps of a method described herein. 
     In one embodiment, the chip set  900  includes a communication mechanism such as a bus  901  for passing information among the components of the chip set  900 . A processor  903  has connectivity to the bus  901  to execute instructions and process information stored in, for example, a memory  905 . The processor  903  may include one or more processing cores with each core configured to perform independently. A multi-core processor enables multiprocessing within a single physical package. Examples of a multi-core processor include two, four, eight, or greater numbers of processing cores. Alternatively or in addition, the processor  903  may include one or more microprocessors configured in tandem via the bus  901  to enable independent execution of instructions, pipelining, and multithreading. The processor  903  may also be accompanied with one or more specialized components to perform certain processing functions and tasks such as one or more digital signal processors (DSP)  907 , or one or more application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC)  909 . A DSP  907  typically is configured to process real-world signals (e.g., sound) in real time independently of the processor  903 . Similarly, an ASIC  909  can be configured to performed specialized functions not easily performed by a general purposed processor. Other specialized components to aid in performing the inventive functions described herein include one or more field programmable gate arrays (FPGA) (not shown), one or more controllers (not shown), or one or more other special-purpose computer chips. 
     The processor  903  and accompanying components have connectivity to the memory  905  via the bus  901 . The memory  905  includes both dynamic memory (e.g., RAM, magnetic disk, writable optical disk, etc.) and static memory (e.g., ROM, CD-ROM, etc.) for storing executable instructions that when executed perform one or more steps of a method described herein. The memory  905  also stores the data associated with or generated by the execution of one or more steps of the methods described herein. 
       FIG.  10    is a diagram of exemplary components of a mobile terminal  1000  (e.g., cell phone handset) for communications, which is capable of operating in the system of  FIG.  2 C , according to one embodiment. In some embodiments, mobile terminal  1001 , or a portion thereof, constitutes a means for performing one or more steps described herein. Generally, a radio receiver is often defined in terms of front-end and back-end characteristics. The front-end of the receiver encompasses all of the Radio Frequency (RF) circuitry whereas the back-end encompasses all of the base-band processing circuitry. As used in this application, the term “circuitry” refers to both: (1) hardware-only implementations (such as implementations in only analog and/or digital circuitry), and (2) to combinations of circuitry and software (and/or firmware) (such as, if applicable to the particular context, to a combination of processor(s), including digital signal processor(s), software, and memory(ies) that work together to cause an apparatus, such as a mobile phone or server, to perform various functions). This definition of “circuitry” applies to all uses of this term in this application, including in any claims. As a further example, as used in this application and if applicable to the particular context, the term “circuitry” would also cover an implementation of merely a processor (or multiple processors) and its (or their) accompanying software/or firmware. The term “circuitry” would also cover if applicable to the particular context, for example, a baseband integrated circuit or applications processor integrated circuit in a mobile phone or a similar integrated circuit in a cellular network device or other network devices. 
     Pertinent internal components of the telephone include a Main Control Unit (MCU)  1003 , a Digital Signal Processor (DSP)  1005 , and a receiver/transmitter unit including a microphone gain control unit and a speaker gain control unit. A main display unit  1007  provides a display to the user in support of various applications and mobile terminal functions that perform or support the steps as described herein. The display  1007  includes display circuitry configured to display at least a portion of a user interface of the mobile terminal (e.g., mobile telephone). Additionally, the display  1007  and display circuitry are configured to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile terminal. An audio function circuitry  1009  includes a microphone  1011  and microphone amplifier that amplifies the speech signal output from the microphone  1011 . The amplified speech signal output from the microphone  1011  is fed to a coder/decoder (CODEC)  1013 . 
     A radio section  1015  amplifies power and converts frequency in order to communicate with a base station, which is included in a mobile communication system, via antenna  1017 . The power amplifier (PA)  1019  and the transmitter/modulation circuitry are operationally responsive to the MCU  1003 , with an output from the PA  1019  coupled to the duplexer  1021  or circulator or antenna switch, as known in the art. The PA  1019  also couples to a battery interface and power control unit  1020 . 
     In use, a user of mobile terminal  1001  speaks into the microphone  1011  and his or her voice along with any detected background noise is converted into an analog voltage. The analog voltage is then converted into a digital signal through the Analog to Digital Converter (ADC)  1023 . The control unit  1003  routes the digital signal into the DSP  1005  for processing therein, such as speech encoding, channel encoding, encrypting, and interleaving. In one embodiment, the processed voice signals are encoded, by units not separately shown, using a cellular transmission protocol such as enhanced data rates for global evolution (EDGE), general packet radio service (GPRS), global system for mobile communications (GSM), Internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS), universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS), etc., as well as any other suitable wireless medium, e.g., microwave access (WiMAX), Long Term Evolution (LTE) networks, code division multiple access (CDMA), wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), wireless fidelity (WiFi), satellite, and the like, or any combination thereof. 
     The encoded signals are then routed to an equalizer  1025  for compensation of any frequency-dependent impairments that occur during transmission though the air such as phase and amplitude distortion. After equalizing the bit stream, the modulator  1027  combines the signal with a RF signal generated in the RF interface  1029 . The modulator  1027  generates a sine wave by way of frequency or phase modulation. In order to prepare the signal for transmission, an up-converter  1031  combines the sine wave output from the modulator  1027  with another sine wave generated by a synthesizer  1033  to achieve the desired frequency of transmission. The signal is then sent through a PA  1019  to increase the signal to an appropriate power level. In practical systems, the PA  1019  acts as a variable gain amplifier whose gain is controlled by the DSP  1005  from information received from a network base station. The signal is then filtered within the duplexer  1021  and optionally sent to an antenna coupler  1035  to match impedances to provide maximum power transfer. Finally, the signal is transmitted via antenna  1017  to a local base station. An automatic gain control (AGC) can be supplied to control the gain of the final stages of the receiver. The signals may be forwarded from there to a remote telephone which may be another cellular telephone, any other mobile phone or a land-line connected to a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), or other telephony networks. 
     Voice signals transmitted to the mobile terminal  1001  are received via antenna  1017  and immediately amplified by a low noise amplifier (LNA)  1037 . A down-converter  1039  lowers the carrier frequency while the demodulator  1041  strips away the RF leaving only a digital bit stream. The signal then goes through the equalizer  1025  and is processed by the DSP  1005 . A Digital to Analog Converter (DAC)  1043  converts the signal and the resulting output is transmitted to the user through the speaker  1045 , all under control of a Main Control Unit (MCU)  1003  which can be implemented as a Central Processing Unit (CPU) (not shown). 
     The MCU  1003  receives various signals including input signals from the keyboard  1047 . The keyboard  1047  and/or the MCU  1003  in combination with other user input components (e.g., the microphone  1011 ) comprise a user interface circuitry for managing user input. The MCU  1003  runs a user interface software to facilitate user control of at least some functions of the mobile terminal  1001  as described herein. The MCU  1003  also delivers a display command and a switch command to the display  1007  and to the speech output switching controller, respectively. Further, the MCU  1003  exchanges information with the DSP  1005  and can access an optionally incorporated SIM card  1049  and a memory  1051 . In addition, the MCU  1003  executes various control functions required of the terminal. The DSP  1005  may, depending upon the implementation, perform any of a variety of conventional digital processing functions on the voice signals. Additionally, DSP  1005  determines the background noise level of the local environment from the signals detected by microphone  1011  and sets the gain of microphone  1011  to a level selected to compensate for the natural tendency of the user of the mobile terminal  1001 . 
     The CODEC  1013  includes the ADC  1023  and DAC  1043 . The memory  1051  stores various data including call incoming tone data and is capable of storing other data including music data received via, e.g., the global Internet. The software module could reside in RAM memory, flash memory, registers, or any other form of writable storage medium known in the art. The memory device  1051  may be, but not limited to, a single memory, CD, DVD, ROM, RAM, EEPROM, optical storage, magnetic disk storage, flash memory storage, or any other non-volatile storage medium capable of storing digital data. 
     An optionally incorporated SIM card  1049  carries, for instance, important information, such as the cellular phone number, the carrier supplying service, subscription details, and security information. The SIM card  1049  serves primarily to identify the mobile terminal  1001  on a radio network. The card  1049  also contains a memory for storing a personal telephone number registry, text messages, and user specific mobile terminal settings. 
     In some embodiments, the mobile terminal  1001  includes a digital camera comprising an array of optical detectors, such as charge coupled device (CCD) array  1065 . The output of the array is image data that is transferred to the MCU for further processing or storage in the memory  1051  or both. In the illustrated embodiment, the light impinges on the optical array through a lens  1063 , such as a pin-hole lens or a material lens made of an optical grade glass or plastic material. In the illustrated embodiment, the mobile terminal  1001  includes a light source  1061 , such as a LED to illuminate a subject for capture by the optical array, e.g., CCD  1065 . The light source is powered by the battery interface and power control module  1020  and controlled by the MCU  1003  based on instructions stored or loaded into the MCU  1003 . 
     In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments thereof. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense. Throughout this specification and the claims, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” and its variations, such as “comprises” and “comprising,” will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated item, element or step or group of items, elements or steps but not the exclusion of any other item, element or step or group of items, elements or steps. Furthermore, the indefinite article “a” or “an” is meant to indicate one or more of the item, element or step modified by the article. As used herein, unless otherwise clear from the context, a value is “about” another value if it is within a factor of two (twice or half) of the other value. While example ranges are given, unless otherwise clear from the context, any contained ranges are also intended in various embodiments. Thus, a range from 0 to 10 includes the range 1 to 4 in some embodiments.