Patent Description:
Wireless communication between patient-support devices, such as hospital beds, and a network of a healthcare facility are known. For example, <CIT> discloses the use of wireless communication circuitry in a plug body of a standard AC power plug and a module that is mounted in a room adjacent a standard AC power receptacle or outlet. Having circuitry included in the plug body increases the weight of the plug body and introduces plug retention issues. That is, the added weight of the circuitry in the plug body has a tendency to cause the plug to fall out of the receptacle. Also, in those embodiments of the '<NUM> patent relying on the use of photodiodes for data transfer, the necessary alignment tolerance requirements present issues of their own. Accordingly, there is a need to improve upon the devices of the '<NUM> patent. <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT> represent further prior art.

An apparatus is provided for providing data communication and power to a device located in a room having a power outlet. The apparatus includes a cable extendable from the device and that has at one end thereof a plug which has a plug body. A plurality of prongs extend from the plug body and are configured to couple to the power outlet to receive power. The apparatus further includes a first near field communication antenna which is carried by the plug body. First circuitry is provided and comprises associated near field communication circuitry, the associated near field communication circuitry is carryable by the device and coupled to the first near field communication antenna via at least one conductor routed along the cable. A communication module is provided and comprises a second near field communication antenna. The communication module is locatable in the room in proximity to the plug. The communication module is operable to transmit to a computer network data received by the communication module from the near field communication circuitry via the first near field communication antenna and the second near field communication antenna. At least one of the first near field communication antenna and the second near field communication antenna communicates data wirelessly to the other of the first near field communication antenna and the second near field communication antenna. The first near field communication antenna is included in a label that sticks to the plug body.

According to this disclosure, near field communication circuitry may be carried by the device and is coupled to the first near field communication antenna via at least one conductor that is routed along the cable. In some not claimed embodiments, near field communication circuitry may be carried by the plug body and is coupled to the first near field communication antenna. The power outlet may comprise, for example, a standard AC power outlet. A DC power outlet is contemplated as an alternative.

In some embodiments, the first near field communication antenna and the second near field communication antenna may be spaced apart by about four centimeters (<NUM>) or less when the first near field communication antenna and the second near field communication antenna communicate wirelessly. It is possible, however, for the first and second near field communication antennae to be spaced apart by a greater distance, such as up to <NUM> inches (<NUM>) apart, as long as the first and second near field communication antennae are able to successfully receive wireless signals from each other. According to this disclosure, the first near field communication antenna is included in a label that may stick to the plug body.

In some embodiments, the first near field communication antenna may serve as a passive target and the second near field communication antenna may be coupled to initiator circuitry that may actively generate a radio frequency field via the second near field communication antenna to power up the passive target for data transfer. Alternatively or additionally, the second near field communication antenna may serve as a passive target and the first near field communication antenna may be coupled to initiator circuitry that actively generates a radio frequency field via the first near field communication antenna to power up the passive target for data transfer.

In some embodiments, a wall plate may carry the second near field communication antenna. The wall plate may have an opening through which the power outlet may be accessible. The wall plate carrying the second near field communication antenna may be configured to cover an existing wall plate associated with the power outlet.

According to this disclosure, first circuitry is coupled to the first near field communication antenna and second circuitry may be coupled to the second near field communication antenna. The first and second circuitry may communicate via the first near field communication antenna and the second near field communication antenna according to a peer-to-peer protocol. In some embodiments, a read/write module may be carried by the plug body and coupled to the first near field communication antenna. Alternatively or additionally, a read/write module may be coupled to the second near field communication antenna.

According to a not claimed aspect of this disclosure, an apparatus for coupling a patient-support device to a power outlet and to a computer network in a healthcare facility may be provided. The apparatus may comprise a cable that may extend from the patient-support device and that may have at one end thereof a plug which may comprise a plug body. A plurality of prongs may extend from the plug body and may be configured to couple to the power outlet to receive power. A first near field communication antenna may be carried by the plug body. The apparatus may also have a communication module that may include a second near field communication antenna. At least one of the first near field communication antenna and the second near field communication antenna may communicate data wirelessly to the other of the first near field communication antenna and the second near field communication antenna.

In some embodiments, the communication module may include a housing that may be in close proximity to the power outlet. The second near field communication antenna may be situated in the housing. Optionally, the housing may have an opening through which the plug may be inserted to couple to the power outlet. According to this disclosure, the communication module may comprise a mounting plate that may mount over a cover plate associated with the power outlet. The housing may, in turn, couple to the mounting plate. In some embodiments, the communication module may comprise a Nurse Call cancel button.

According to this disclosure, near field communication circuitry may be carried by the patient-support device and may be coupled to the first near field communication antenna via at least one conductor that may be routed along the cable. In some embodiments, the near field communication circuitry may be carried by the plug body and may be coupled to the first near field communication antenna. According to this disclosure, the first near field communication antenna optionally may be included in a label that may stick to the plug body.

According to a not claimed aspect of this disclosure, a system may include a bed having an auxiliary power outlet and a medical device that may include a cable which may have at one end thereof a plug comprising a plug body. A plurality of prongs may extend from the plug body and may couple to the auxiliary power outlet to receive power. The system may have a first near field communication antenna carried by the plug body and a communication module which may have a second near field communication antenna. The communication module may be coupled to the bed in proximity to the auxiliary power outlet. At least one of the first near field communication antenna and the second near field communication antenna may communicate data wirelessly to the other of the first near field communication antenna and the second near field communication antenna.

In some embodiments, the bed may receive data from the medical device via the first and second near field communication antennae. The bed may be configured to send at least some of the data received from the medical device to a unit spaced from the bed. For example, the bed may have a third near field communication antenna and the unit spaced from the bed may have a fourth near field communication antenna. The data sent by the bed may be transmitted from the third near field communication antenna to the fourth near field communication antenna.

According to a further not claimed aspect of this disclosure, a system may include a patient support apparatus, a first near field communication module that may be coupled to the patient support apparatus, and a second near field communication module that may be spaced from the patient support apparatus. The first near field communication module may have a first near field communication antenna and the second near field communication module may have a second near field communication antenna. At least one of the first near field communication antenna and the second near field communication antenna may communicate data wirelessly to the other of the first near field communication antenna and the second near field communication antenna. In some embodiments, the first near field communication module retrofits onto the patient support apparatus and the second near field communication module attaches to a surface associated with a room in which the patient support apparatus is located.

A power plug <NUM> at the end of a power cord <NUM> includes a plug body <NUM> as shown diagrammatically in <FIG>. Power plug <NUM> is a standard AC power plug in some embodiments. In other embodiments, plug <NUM> is a DC power plug. In the illustrative example, cord <NUM> extends from a patient support apparatus <NUM>, such as a hospital bed, but the teachings of this disclosure are applicable to all devices that receive power via an AC power plug and that transmit or receive data. Such devices may include computers of all types, home appliances, industrial equipment, laboratory equipment, data acquisition equipment, monitoring equipment, musical equipment, telecommunications devices, audio equipment, and video equipment, just to name a few. Plug <NUM> includes prongs <NUM> that are received in sockets <NUM> of a standard AC power outlet or receptacle. The words "outlet" and "receptacle" are used interchangeably in this disclosure.

According to this disclosure, a first near field communication (NFC) antenna <NUM> is carried by plug body <NUM> and a second NFC antenna <NUM> is included in a communication module <NUM> that is located in proximity to outlet <NUM>. In the illustrative examples of <FIG> and <FIG>, module <NUM> is coupled to a computer network <NUM> with which bed <NUM> communicates. Network <NUM> includes, for example, computer devices such as nurse call computers, electronic medical records (EMR) computers, admission/discharge/transfer (ADT) computers, and the like in those embodiments in which plug <NUM> and module <NUM> is used in the healthcare setting with medical devices such as bed <NUM>. Examples of the type of communication equipment included in various embodiments of a nurse call system (as well as network <NUM>, in general) can be found in <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT> and <CIT> and <CIT>; <CIT>;<CIT>; and <CIT>.

In the illustrative examples of <FIG> and <FIG>, first NFC antenna <NUM> is coupled to first near field communication circuitry <NUM> and second NFC antenna <NUM> is coupled to second near field communication circuitry <NUM>. In the <FIG> embodiment, circuitry <NUM> is carried by bed <NUM>, such as by being mounted to a bed frame of bed <NUM>, and is coupled to antenna <NUM> via one or more conductors <NUM> routed along cable <NUM>. In some embodiments, the power conductors of cable <NUM> (i.e., the conductors that couple to prongs <NUM>) and conductors <NUM> are contained within the same cable jacket. Optionally, shielding is provided so as to reduce or eliminate the AC power from interfering with the data signals transmitted over conductors <NUM>. In the <FIG> embodiment, circuitry <NUM> is carried by plug body <NUM>' and is coupled to circuitry of bed <NUM> via one or more conductors <NUM>' that are routed along cable <NUM>.

Use of NFC antennae <NUM>, <NUM> and associated circuitry <NUM>, <NUM> permits simplified transactions, data exchange, and wireless connections between two devices in close proximity to each other, usually by no more than a few centimeters. In the illustrative embodiments of <FIG> and <FIG>, antennae <NUM>, <NUM> are spaced apart by about <NUM> inch (<NUM>). However, suitable results can be achieved with antennae <NUM>, <NUM> being spaced apart by <NUM> or less. Depending upon the power of circuitry <NUM>, <NUM> and depending upon the size of antennae <NUM>, <NUM>, a working distance of up to <NUM> may be possible, but in the illustrative embodiments, communication over such a distance is not needed. Thus, near field communication (NFC) is a short-range wireless communication technology. It is known that NFC operates at a frequency of about <NUM> megahertz (MHz) on ISO/IEC <NUM>-<NUM> air interface and at data transfer rates from about <NUM> kilobits per second (kbits/s) to about <NUM> kbits/s.

In the illustrative example, circuitry <NUM> and circuitry <NUM> are both powered such that bidirectional, peer-to-peer communication is achieved. In other embodiments, one of antenna <NUM>, <NUM> and the associated circuitry <NUM>, <NUM>, respectively, serves as an initiator circuit and the other of antenna <NUM>, <NUM> and associated circuitry <NUM>, <NUM> serves as a passive target. The initiator actively generates a radio frequency (RF) field that powers the passive target. In such alternative arrangements, the passive targets can be fashioned as tags, stickers, fobs, or cards that do not include batteries or direct connection to external power sources. Thus, according to this disclosure, antenna <NUM> is included in a label that sticks to plug body <NUM> (or plug body <NUM>') in some embodiments. Circuitry <NUM> and/or circuitry <NUM> are sometimes referred to as read/write modules according to this disclosure.

By having NFC antenna <NUM> included on plug body <NUM> (or plug body <NUM>') and by having module <NUM> located in close proximity to outlet <NUM>, the NFC antennae <NUM>, <NUM> automatically establish communications quickly in roughly one tenth of a second after plug <NUM> is plugged into outlet <NUM>. Because plug <NUM> is configured to receive power and is configured to communicate wirelessly with module <NUM>, only one connector (i.e., plug <NUM>) is needed to provide both power and data to device <NUM> and furthermore, only this single connector needs to be unplugged if device <NUM> is to be moved to a new location. Due to the short reception range between antennae <NUM>, <NUM>, the likelihood of unwanted interference from other wireless signals is reduced.

The labels, stickers, or tags that carry the antennae <NUM>, <NUM> are approximately the size of a U. quarter which has a diameter of <NUM> (<NUM> in) or roughly <NUM> inch. Thus, in some embodiments, the labels carrying antenna <NUM> are simply stuck onto plug body <NUM>, <NUM>'. The antenna <NUM>, <NUM> can be placed up to <NUM> feet away from a transceiver chip of the associated circuitry <NUM>, <NUM>. Thus, in the <FIG> example, conductor <NUM> has a maximum length of about ten feet. In some embodiments, circuitry <NUM>, <NUM> includes TRF7970A transceiver boards available from Texas Instruments of Dallas, Texas. By placing the circuitry <NUM> on bed <NUM> as shown in the <FIG> embodiment, plug body <NUM> only has the added weight of antenna <NUM> and a small portion of the length of conductors <NUM>. Thus, plug <NUM> has less of a tendency to fall out of socket <NUM> which is an improvement over the embodiments shown and described in <CIT>. Circuitry <NUM> may be included in an electronics housing mounted on a frame of bed <NUM>, for example. In other embodiments contemplated by this disclosure, however, circuitry <NUM> is carried by the plug body <NUM>' as shown in <FIG>.

The module <NUM> which carries antenna <NUM> and associated circuitry <NUM> can be fashioned in any number of ways, including the various embodiments shown in <CIT>. For example, module <NUM> may be fashioned as a wall plate that carries antenna <NUM> and that has an opening through which the sockets <NUM> of AC power outlet <NUM> are accessible for receiving prongs <NUM> of plug <NUM>. The wall plate carrying the antenna <NUM> is configured to cover an existing wall plate associated with the AC power outlet <NUM> in some embodiments. Such an embodiment of a wall plate may be fashioned similarly to the embodiment of Figs. <NUM>-<NUM> of <CIT>, for example.

In other embodiments, the wall plate or module <NUM> carrying antenna <NUM> replaces the existing wall plate altogether. In further embodiments, antenna <NUM> is carried in a housing or plate that mounts to a wall or similar structure in close proximity to outlet <NUM> but without covering up any of the existing wall plate of the outlet <NUM>. The term "close proximity" is intended to mean close enough that communications between antenna <NUM> and antenna <NUM> is possible when plug <NUM> is coupled to outlet <NUM>. In still other embodiments, antenna is carried in a housing of an adapter module that plugs into outlet <NUM>. The adapter module may be fashioned similar to any of those shown in Figs. <NUM>-<NUM> of <CIT> for example.

As shown diagrammatically in <FIG> and <FIG>, this disclosure contemplates that circuitry <NUM> is included in the same module <NUM> as antenna <NUM> in some embodiments. In some embodiments, such as the illustrative embodiments, further processor circuitry <NUM> is also included in module <NUM>. In other embodiments, circuitry <NUM> and/or circuitry <NUM> is included in a housing that is separate from the module <NUM> that carries antenna <NUM>. In such embodiments, a communication cable interconnects the module <NUM> carrying antenna <NUM> with the housing or module carrying circuitry <NUM> and/or circuitry <NUM>.

In some embodiments, module <NUM> is not connected to network <NUM> but rather simply serves to provide the circuitry of bed <NUM> with a location identifier (ID) that is transmitted from antenna <NUM> to antenna <NUM>. The circuitry of bed <NUM>, in turn, transmits a bed identifier (ID) and the location identifier such as by wireless communications with a wireless access point, for example. In such an embodiment, the wireless access point is coupled to the network <NUM>. Remote computers of the network <NUM> receive the bed ID and the location ID to associate bed <NUM> with the location in the healthcare facility at which bed <NUM> is located. In some embodiments, bed <NUM> transmits additional data, such as bed status information, patient physiological data, bed diagnostic data, and so forth. In other embodiments, the bed ID and/or the additional data is transmitted via antenna <NUM> to antenna <NUM> and then on to network <NUM> via circuitry <NUM> and/or circuitry <NUM>. The location ID of module <NUM> is also transmitted so that the bed-to-room association can be made by remote computers in those embodiments as well.

Examples of the type of bed data that is transmitted from bed <NUM> via near field communication circuitry <NUM>, <NUM> and antennae <NUM>, <NUM> to network <NUM>, for various embodiments of bed <NUM>, is summarized below in Table <NUM> as follows:
<IMG>.

In the example of Table <NUM>, Bed Type <NUM> is the TOTALCARE® bed, Bed Type <NUM> is the VERSACARE® bed, Bed Type <NUM> is the CAREASSIST® ES bed, Bed Type <NUM> is the ADVANTA™ <NUM> bed, Bed Type <NUM> is the ADVANCE bed, and Bed Type <NUM> is the ADVANTA bed, each of which is, or was, marketed by Hill-Rom Company, Inc. Beds <NUM> of other types which have other types of bed data are, of course, usable. Based on Table <NUM>, it will be appreciated that bed data includes, for example, data pertaining to one or more of the following: a position of one portion of a bed frame relative to another portion of the bed frame (e.g., Brake Status, Bed Low Position, Rail positions, Head Angle), a mattress function (e.g., Wound Surface and Pulmonary Surface information), a status of a bed exit alarm system of the hospital bed (e.g., the patient position monitoring (PPM) information), and patient physiologic data (e.g., patient weight). It is also contemplated by this disclosure that maintenance and/or service data is among the type of bed data that is transmitted from bed <NUM> via near field communication circuitry <NUM>, <NUM> and antennae <NUM>, <NUM> to network <NUM>, for various embodiments of bed <NUM>.

In some contemplated embodiments, bed <NUM> has a mattress and/or bed frame with sensors to sense patient physiologic data (e.g., heart rate, temperature, respiration rate, blood oxygenation, blood pressure, etc.) and that such data is also among the bed data communicated from bed <NUM> to circuitry <NUM> and antenna <NUM> and then on to network <NUM> via antenna <NUM> and circuitry <NUM>. An example of a mattress with physiologic sensors can be found in <CIT>; <CIT> and <CIT>. Other examples of mattresses and bed frames having physiologic sensors can be found in <CIT>.

Referring now to <FIG>, an embodiment is shown in which bed <NUM> includes an auxiliary power outlet <NUM> which has sockets <NUM> that receive prongs <NUM> of a plug <NUM> provided at the end of a power cord <NUM> extending from a medical device <NUM>. Medical device <NUM> may comprise any type of medical device used for providing care to a patient or used in monitoring a patient physiological condition, for example. Thus, examples of some medical devices <NUM> include IV pumps, blood pressure monitors, electrocardiographs (EKG's), electroencephalographs (EEG's), pulse oximeters, ventilators, respiration monitors, and temperature monitors, just to name a few.

In some embodiments, power is provided to auxiliary outlet <NUM> from power cord <NUM>. In such embodiments, isolation circuitry is included in bed <NUM> so as to isolate bed power from the auxiliary power. In other embodiments, a separate power cord <NUM> extends from bed <NUM> and has a plug <NUM> with prongs <NUM> that are received in sockets of a power outlet. In the illustrative example of <FIG>, power cord <NUM> is shown diagrammatically via a dotted line and prongs <NUM> of plug <NUM> are shown arranged for coupling to sockets <NUM>' of a duplex power outlet <NUM>'. Thus, in this alternative embodiment, power cord <NUM> and auxiliary outlet <NUM> are not electrically coupled in any way to the circuitry of bed <NUM>, but rather bed <NUM> serves as a carrier for auxiliary outlet <NUM>. Bed <NUM> may have more than one auxiliary outlet <NUM>. Thus, the discussion below of near field communication capability associated with one auxiliary outlet <NUM> is equally applicable for each auxiliary outlet of a bed having multiple such outlets.

According to this disclosure, bed <NUM> has an additional near field communication antenna <NUM> and additional near field communication circuitry <NUM> in close proximity to auxiliary outlet <NUM> as shown diagrammatically in <FIG>. Antenna <NUM> communicates wirelessly with a further near field communication antenna <NUM> provided on plug <NUM>. In some embodiments, antenna <NUM> is included as part of a passive circuit carried by a label coupled to plug <NUM>. In such embodiments, after the passive circuitry has been activated by circuitry <NUM> of bed <NUM> via antenna <NUM>, medical device identification (ID) data is transmitted via antenna <NUM> to antenna <NUM> to confirm that a proper device has been plugged into the auxiliary outlet <NUM>.

If it is determined by circuitry of bed <NUM> that an inappropriate or wrong device has been plugged into outlet <NUM>, then bed <NUM> transmits an appropriate alert message to network <NUM> and, in some embodiments, disconnects power from auxiliary outlet <NUM> so as to turn off medical device <NUM>. In some embodiments, bed <NUM> includes a visual indicator of some sort, such as a message on a graphical display screen or an alert light, to indicate locally that an inappropriate device has been connected to auxiliary outlet <NUM>. Thus, according to this disclosure, bed <NUM> is configurable such that its one or more auxiliary outlets <NUM> are designated for specific pieces or equipment or specific types of equipment. The near field communication capability of bed <NUM> associated with the auxiliary outlet(s) <NUM> are used to verify that the designated equipment is coupled to outlet(s) <NUM>. In some embodiments, bed <NUM> interacts with and/or controls device <NUM> via data transmitted via antennae <NUM>, <NUM>. For example, a touch screen display on bed <NUM> is configured to accept user inputs for controlling device <NUM> in some embodiments.

In many hospitals and other types of healthcare facilities, there are two separate power grids, one being a critical power grid and the other being a non-critical power grid. Outlets associated with the critical power grid are typically indicated by being red or orange in color and outlets associated with non-critical power grid are typically white or off white in color. During a power outage or other emergency in which power to a hospital or healthcare facility is lost, one or more generators are usually operated to provide back-up power to the critical power grid. It is desirable, therefore, that only critical devices, such as ventilators, infusion pumps, and other devices that provide critical care (e.g., life sustaining care) to a patient are connected to outlets associated with the critical power grid so that noncritical devices do not need to be powered by the back-up generators during an emergency or power outage. Thus, according to this disclosure, near field communication components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are used to make sure that only medical devices <NUM> that are deemed critical (i.e., the appropriate or proper medical devices) are used with the one or more auxiliary outlets <NUM> of bed <NUM>.

In some embodiments, medical devices <NUM> include near field communication circuitry <NUM> which is coupled to antenna <NUM> via conductors <NUM> as indicated diagrammatically. Circuitry <NUM> is used for transmitting medical device data to the circuitry of bed <NUM> via antennae <NUM>, <NUM> and circuitry <NUM>. Alternatively or additionally, bed data is transmitted to medical device <NUM> via circuitry <NUM>, <NUM> and antennae <NUM>, <NUM>. For example, if device <NUM> is an infusion pump or drug delivery pump, then bed <NUM> may transmit patient weight data to device <NUM> which, in turn, may use the patient weight data to establish a rate at which a fluid or drug is administered to the associated patient. As another example, if device <NUM> senses that its fluid level is running low, then that information may be communicated to bed <NUM> which, in turn, transmits an alert message to a remote computer device of network <NUM>, including transmission to a portable wireless communication device carried by a caregiver. Alternatively or additionally, a local alert regarding the alert condition of device <NUM> is displayed locally on bed <NUM>, such as being displayed on a display screen. The circuitry <NUM> is carried by medical device <NUM> in <FIG>.

In the illustrative example of <FIG>, data communicated to bed <NUM> from device <NUM> via near field communication components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> is subsequently transmitted to network via near communication components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. In other embodiments, near communication components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are omitted and bed transmits data received from device <NUM> to network <NUM> via some other wireless communication scheme, such as Wi-Fi communication to a wireless access point, for example, or via a wired connection to network <NUM>. Thus, bed <NUM> in each of the <FIG> examples is shown as having optional Wi-Fi circuitry <NUM> and module <NUM> is shown as having Wi-Fi circuitry <NUM>. Further features of Wi-Fi circuitry <NUM>, <NUM> are discussed below.

According to one feature, the near field communication components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may serve as a secondary or back-up communication channel between bed <NUM> and remote computer devices of network <NUM>. Thus, bed <NUM> may couple to network <NUM> via a separate nurse call cable, such as a <NUM>-pin cable typically used to connect Hill-Rom beds to a nurse call system, which serves as the primary communication channel for data to and from bed <NUM>. In such embodiments, the primary nurse call channel operates at faster data transfer rates than the data transfer rate at which near field communication components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> operate. In still other embodiments, near field communication components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> are used for determining bed-to-room location and then bed uses another communications channel, such as a wired connection or wi-fi to wireless access point communication, as the primary communication channel.

According to another embodiment, antenna <NUM> is not mounted on plug <NUM> but instead, is coupled to some other portion of bed <NUM>. For example, antenna <NUM> is mounted on a base frame of bed <NUM> in some embodiments. In such embodiments, antenna <NUM> and its associated circuitry <NUM> need not be placed near any wall outlet. In this embodiment, the near field communication components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> operate as a bed docking system which is used for establishing bed-to-room association. The near filed communication components <NUM>, <NUM> may be included in a module that bolts onto, or otherwise mounts, to bed <NUM> and then components <NUM>, <NUM> are wall mounted and wired to network <NUM>. This allows for retrofitting existing beds with near field communication components <NUM>, <NUM>, again, for bed-to-room association purposes. The term "wall mounted" is intended to encompass mounting onto a room wall or onto a portion of some other piece of architectural equipment (e.g., headwall units, columns, arms, carts, chases, bed locators) found in a patient room, as well as mounting on a floor or ceiling. The term wall outlet is intended to cover power outlets mounted to room walls and power outlets mounted on other architectural equipment, a ceiling, or a floor.

According to another feature, the Wi-Fi circuitry <NUM>, <NUM> is used to support secondary radio communications, such as voice communications or entertainment (e.g., television or radio) audio signal communications, to and from bed <NUM>. In some embodiments, Wi-Fi circuitry <NUM>, <NUM> operates according to the Bluetooth protocol, although any suitable wireless technology is usable. In some embodiments, the Wi-Fi circuitry <NUM>, <NUM> uses bed ID and location ID transmitted via antennae <NUM>, <NUM> to automatically pair up for the secondary radio communications. However, this need not be the case if circuitry <NUM>, <NUM> is operable to perform the automatic pairing functions themselves. Thus, to give an example, a patient on bed <NUM> communicates with a caregiver at a remote nurse's station by pressing a nurse call button or switch as is known in the art. The patient's voice is picked up by a microphone on bed <NUM> and transmitted to the remote nurse's station via circuitry <NUM>, <NUM> and the caregiver's voice is heard by the patient through a speaker on bed <NUM> that receives the caregiver's voice audio via circuitry <NUM>, <NUM>. Of course, other circuitry and components, such as network <NUM> and processor <NUM> are included in the audio data link between the bed <NUM> and remote nurse's station in some embodiments.

Also according to this disclosure, bed <NUM> configures itself differently based on location ID data transmitted via antenna <NUM> from module <NUM> and received by antenna <NUM>. For example, if the location ID indicates that the bed <NUM> is located in a med/surg room (e.g., a typical patient room) the bed <NUM> configures its settings in one way and if the location ID indicates that the bed is located in the intensive care unit (ICU), the bed <NUM> configures its setting in another way. Some screens that are shown on the graphical user interface of bed <NUM> for control of various features of bed <NUM> may be enabled or disabled depending upon the location of bed <NUM>. Further according to this disclosure, patient ID data is transmitted from a remote computer of network <NUM> to bed <NUM> via antennae <NUM>, <NUM> and bed <NUM> configures itself based on patient ID. For example, certain therapies such as continuous lateral rotation therapy (CLRT), alternating pressure therapy, low air loss therapy, and the like may be indicated for the particular patient and bed <NUM> will enable the appropriate therapy based on the patient ID. Therapies that may be contraindicated, such as, CLRT for a spinal surgery patient, are disabled by bed <NUM> based on patient ID.

In some embodiments, the location ID is used by the bed <NUM> to configure room lighting or to determine the type of television in the room and so forth. It is further contemplated that in some embodiments, the location ID is used by bed <NUM> to enable features such as permitting a patient to order and pay for video on demand or to turn on features of a rental bed or to gain access to remote servers or websites for looking up medical information. Data communicated between antenna <NUM> of bed <NUM> and antenna <NUM> of module <NUM> is used, in some embodiments, to synchronize display of data from devices <NUM> on a display of bed <NUM>, or vice versa, and even to provide display information to mobile devices carried by caregivers.

Claim 1:
An apparatus for providing data communication and power to a device located in a room, the room having a power outlet, the apparatus comprising a cable (<NUM>, <NUM>) extendable from the device (<NUM>, <NUM>) and having at one end thereof a plug (<NUM>, <NUM>) comprising a plug body, a plurality of prongs (<NUM>, <NUM>) extending from the plug body and configured to couple to the power outlet to receive power, a first near field communication antenna (<NUM>, <NUM>) carried by the plug body, first circuitry comprising associated near field communication circuitry (<NUM>,<NUM>), the associated near field communication circuitry (<NUM>, <NUM>) being carryable by the device (<NUM>, <NUM>) and coupled to the first near field communication antenna (<NUM>, <NUM>) via at least one conductor (<NUM>, <NUM>) routed along the cable (<NUM>, <NUM>), and a communication module comprising a second near field communication antenna (<NUM>, <NUM>), the communication module being locatable in the room in proximity to the plug and being operable to transmit to a computer network (<NUM>) data received by the communication module (<NUM>) from the near field communication circuitry (<NUM>, <NUM>) via the first near field communication antenna (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the second near field communication antenna (<NUM>, <NUM>), at least one of the first near field communication antenna (<NUM>, <NUM>) and the second near field communication antenna (<NUM>, <NUM>) communicating data wirelessly to the other of the first near field communication antenna and the second near field communication antenna, wherein the first near field communication antenna (<NUM>, <NUM>) is included in a label that sticks to the plug body.