Patent ID: 6897780

Claim:
An information distribution system for a hospital, including: a patient bed having a signal generator for generating a first signal indicative of a condition of the bed; an interface device coupled to the signal generator for generating a second signal in response to receipt of the first signal, the second signal being indicative of the condition of the bed; a plurality of transmitters, each transmitter transmitting a third signal indicating an identity of the transmitter; a plurality of patient stations located in a plurality of patient rooms, each patient station including a receiver for receiving the third signals from the transmitters; and a processing station at a location remote from the bed, the precessing station being coupled to the interface device and the plurality of patient stations to receive the second signal and a fourth signal generated by a patient station receiving a third signal from a transmitter, the fourth signal indicating the identity of the transmitter and the location of the patient station corresponding to the location of the transmitter; wherein the processing station processes the second signal to determine the condition of the bed, and the fourth signal to determine the identity and location of the transmitter, the processing station including a display for displaying indications of the condition of the bed and the identity and location of the transmitter for viewing by personnel at a location remote from the bed.