Patent ID: 7316648

Claim:
A system for use in a docking station suitable for attaching to a portable patient monitoring device, said portable patient monitoring device being for processing signal parameters acquired from a patient, comprising: a power coupler coupling power to provide electrical power to a portable processing device; and a controller determining whether said portable processing device is attached to a particular docking station and is powered on; a communication interface, in a first mode of operation, communicating a location identifier associated with said particular docking station to said portable processing device, and in a second mode of operation, establishing connection of said portable processing device to a network enabling determination of a geographic location of said particular docking station using said location identifier, transmitting of configuration settings related to the determined geographic location to said particular docking station and transmitting patient data to said network, said first mode of operation being inhibited until said determination is made by said controller preventing changing of configuration settings until said controller determines said portable processing device is attached to said particular docking station and is powered on.