Patent ID: 7994900

Claim:
A method for communicating status information using an illuminating status display device comprising the steps of providing at least one display device, each having a light producing element capable of displaying a plurality of colors and at least one actuator, where each said actuator is electrically connected to the same light producing element; providing a plurality of distinct visual outputs, where each said visual output communicates a different nurse call status message through the light producing element; providing a plurality of distinct electronic status change signals, where each said status change signal represents one status message and is associated with one corresponding visual output on said light producing element such that the transmission of any status change signal to the light producing element causes the display of the that status change signal's corresponding visual output on the light producing element, each actuator being associated with a distinct status change signal such that manual input to the actuator causes the actuator's associated status change signal to be transmitted to the light producing element, and the same light producing element being capable of displaying the associated visual output of any status change signal; electronically connecting each said display device to a controller, said controller being connected to an electronic data transfer network; generating at least one of said status change signal through a web interface associated with a computer connected to said network; causing said status change signal to be transmitted from the computer across said network to a network switch and from said network switch to said controller; and said controller sending said status change signal to the light producing element of at least one of said display devices, causing said light producing element to display the associated visual output.