DE19941041B4 - Method for configuring an interface at a workstation - Google Patents

Abstract

A communication interface between a workstation (4) and a terminal (2) is to be specified, with which it is possible to connect different terminals (2) of a system network to the workstation (4). The object is achieved by a first interface on the terminal (2), which has as functional layers a physical contact, an electronic coding, a connection setup, a data transport, a communication control, a data representation and a data processing, and a second interface at the workstation (4 ), which has as physical layers a physical contact, an electronic coding, a connection setup and a data transport and additionally comprises means for initiating an identification process for the terminal (2), by which on the terminal (2) related functional layers for communication control, data representation and data processing be configured on the second interface.

Description

The The invention relates to a method for configuring an interface at a workplace

One System network in the medical field consists of a system of sensors, medical devices and medical workplaces, taking for monitoring a patient's measurement data can be captured by the sensors. The terminal digitized, calibrates and scales signals from the sensors. In the workplace the condition of the patient is evaluated and the measurement data for Display brought. The display includes the visual and audible Alerting the hospital staff in case of a pathological change of state. The type of monitoring depends on the patient's medical history and diagnosis. In acute Diagnosis may change the nature and extent of monitoring. For this purpose must be in usually other devices connected to the medical workstation with other sensors become.

from that The demand for a modular system for patient monitoring is derived from. The medical workstation must be designed according to the sensors be configured. Adjustments of the system to new operating conditions must be made automatically via a Communication interface between the workplace and the respective terminal expire. It should be a decoupling of the medical workplace of terminal-specific System components can be achieved.

Known Communication interfaces are structured to be next to them purely mechanical contacting means for electronic coding, for Connection establishment, for data transport, for communication control, for data representation and data processing. So long known devices connected to one another at a fixed interface normally no problems, because the structural components of the interfaces on the respective devices are symmetrical in each case, that is the electronic coding, connection establishment, data transport, communication control, the data representation and the data processing of the interface of the first device, for example, a terminal, correspond with the associated Structure components of the interface of the second device, for example a workplace. Will now the first device, that is the terminal against exchanged another, because this is necessary for therapeutic reasons is, is the second device, this means the workplace, unable to record the data of the new terminal, because the interface is still configured on the previous terminal is.

In a website of the Department of Computer Science of the University of Mannheim is this IOS / OSI model "for a general Network communication illustrated in the form of a graph. at The communication interface is a division into seven functional layers intended. For details about configuring the interface the website can not be found.

From the US 5,871,439 shows an endoscope system, in which an endoscope is connected to a storage unit for images via a processor unit with a stationary evaluation unit. Within the processor unit there is a bidirectional bus system which interconnects the subcomponents.

The US 5,870,626 refers to a data transmission system between different devices and at least one data processing unit.

Between the devices and the data processing unit is an interface provided via the the data communication is performed becomes. The adaptation to the devices will over the data channels associated processors made with a central control processor are connected. The control processor contains a library of conversion programs, to the exchange of data between the devices and the data processing unit manufacture.

From the DE 43 03 094 A1 is a procedure for configuring removable modules of a network. The modules have standardized configuration logic that includes an identification number associated with the module. The release for the network will not occur until the verification determines that the module can operate on the network with the properties specified by the identification number.

The DE 197 47 353 A1 refers to a system for monitoring the treatment of patients. There are individual patient terminals, which are connected to a central data processing system for data exchange. The patient terminals have an individual initialization code, via which access to the central data processing system can be released.

Of the Invention is based on the object, a method for configuring specify an interface in a workstation to different terminals to be able to connect directly to a system interconnection.

The solution The object is achieved with the features of claim 1.

Of the Workstation and the at least one terminal are via bidirectional communication interfaces connected with each other. For this purpose, a first interface is provided on the terminal, which as physical layers a physical contact, an electronic coding, a connection setup, a data transport, a communication control, a data representation and a data processing and a second interface in the workplace, which as Functional layers a physical contacting, an electronic coding, has a connection establishment and a data transport. Further the second interface has means for initiating an identification process for the terminal on, through which to the terminal belonging Functional layers for Communication control, data representation and data processing be configured on the second interface.

The transmission channel is complete due to the technical characteristics described the individual functional layers, wherein the transmission information between corresponding functional layers of the terminal and the workplace.

The individual functional layers can be realized as electronic assemblies in combination with program modules and have the following properties and functions:
The physical contacting gives the physical characteristics of the data transmission, such as type of signal, material u. Structure of the signal conductor, structure of the connector and level of the signal level, on.

The Functional layer electronic coding sets the coding error-free transmission of Information for sure. For this, the signal levels are in a sequence from binary Information converted and summarized into data packages. The completeness the transmission is monitored by test sequences. In recent publications, this functional layer is also referred to as a backup layer.

By the connection establishment function layer is the communication of two equipment within a system network, e.g. through suitable addressing, Identification of the addressing and determination of a dialing procedure, allows.

In The data transport function layer becomes the data packets intended for transmission characterized, collected and arranged in a predetermined sequence. Missing data packets are requested.

The Functional layer Communication control defines the type and sequence of dialogues going for different states necessary for the compound, e.g. Checking access rights, identification, monitoring and rebuilding the communication channel and terminating a connection.

The Function layer Data representation is used for identification, decompression and decryption of data formats, as well as adaptation of the data formats to peripheral devices.

In The Data Processing functional layer identifies data and assigned to specific applications.

The inventive method for configuring a bidirectional communication interface In the workplace is to have a basic functionality in form of functional layers of a physical contact, a electronic coding, a connection setup and a data structure provide and complete configuration the interface to perform an identification process in the workplace. at This identification process is first a system identifier and a terminal identifier from the terminal transferred to work, and it will be compared to allowed system IDs in the workstation carried out. In the presence of a permissible System ID becomes records to the full Configuration of the communication interface of the workstation under the terminal ID retrieved from a data store of the workstation. For complete configuration the communication interface are considered additional functional layers a communication control, a data representation and a data processing created.

The has corresponding communication interface of the terminal In contrast, always the full functionality, consisting of the functional layers physical contacting, electronic coding, connection establishment, data transport, communication control, Data representation and data processing. At the fully configured Interface of the workplace are respectively corresponding Functional layers at the interfaces of the workplace and of the terminal available.

Especially It is advantageous in the memory of the workplace under the terminal identifier additionally still to store data with linguistic information, with which country-specific Variants can be realized. From the linguistic information let yourself a corresponding functional layer within the communication interface of the workplace.

Of the Workplace may be in working condition with other or additional terminals be connected without affecting the processing of the data from the terminals, who are still connected to the workplace. Thus, the availability remains of information received from those terminals that have no change subject.

The Interface of the terminal always has full functionality while the associated interface of the workplace only by a related to the terminal Identification process is configured in such a way that a complete symmetry between the interface of the terminal and the workstation will be produced.

The Invention is not on a system composite, consisting of a Workstation and a terminal, limited, but she lets herself generally with devices use where bi-directional communication is necessary is. The connection between the devices can either be wireless, via a Connecting cable or over a fiber optic cable done.

One embodiment The invention is illustrated in the figure and explained in more detail below.

It demonstrate:

1 a system network from a workstation with a terminal,

2 schematically the structure of a terminal,

3 schematically the structure of a workplace,

4 schematically the functional layers of a network interface of the terminal,

5a schematically the functional layers of a network interface of the workstation before the configuration,

5b schematically the functional layers of a network interface of the workstation after the configuration.

1 schematically illustrates a system composite 1 that's single, with sensors 3 equipped terminals 2 and a medical workplace 4 consists. The sensors 3 serve for the detection of physiological quantities of a in the 1 not shown patients. Physiological parameters are, for example, vital parameters such as body temperature, pulse, blood pressure and ECG. The analog measured quantities supplied by the sensors are in the terminals 2 converted to digitally processable signals.

The schematic structure of a terminal 2 is in the 2 shown. The terminals 2 contain as function blocks a microprocessor 5 , a permanent memory 6 , a volatile memory 7 , an operating system 118 , an analog-to-digital converter 8th with a sensor interface 9 for the sensors 3 and a network interface 10 with a contact strip 11 as a mechanical contact for a connection cable 12 ,

The Indian 3 shown medical workplace 4 contains as function blocks a microprocessor 13 , a display unit 14 for displaying the measured variables, operating elements 15 , a permanent memory 16 , a volatile memory 17 , an operating system 118 and a network interface 18 with a contact strip 19 as a physical contact for the connection cable 12 , For the sake of clarity are in the 3 just a network interface 18 and a contact strip 19 for a terminal to be connected 2 shown.

The communication between the network interfaces 10 . 18 of the terminal 2 and the workplace 4 is structured in logical functional layers, which in the 4 are illustrated. Basis for the communication between the terminal 2 and the workplace 4 are physical contacts in the form of contact strips 11 . 19 , At the interface 10 of the terminal 2 are as functional layers in addition to the physical contact 11 available in ascending order:
an electronic coding 20 , a connection 21 , a data transport 22 , a communication control 23 , a data representation 24 and a data processing 25 , Through the layers 11 . 20 . 21 . 22 . 23 . 24 . 25 is the network interface 10 of the terminal 2 completely described.

The network interface 18 of the workplace 4 contains in the in the 5a designated basic configuration next to the contact strip 19 as physical contacting as further functional layers an electronic coding 26 , a connection 27 , a data transport 28 and an identification process 29 , The functional layers 19 . 26 . 27 . 28 of the workplace 4 have the same function as the functional layers 11 . 20 . 21 . 22 of the terminal 2 , The identification process 29 serves to ensure complete symmetry between the network interfaces 10 . 18 manufacture. The fully configured network interface 18 of the workplace 4 is in the 5b illustrated. For this fully configured network interface 18 are as more functional layers a communication control 30 , a data representation 31 and a data processing 32 existing, which has the same functionality as the functional layers 23 . 24 . 25 the network interface 10 of the connected terminal 2 have.

The identification process 29 is performed as follows.

First, the workplace 4 as a "server" put into operation and data, work instructions and a system identifier from the permanent memory 16 from the operating system 108 in the volatile memory 17 of the workplace.

After that, the terminal becomes 2 switched on and off the permanent memory 6 of the terminal 2 be from the operating system 108 Data, work instructions and a system identifier and a terminal identifier retrieved and in the volatile memory 7 stored. Then with the connection cable 12 the physical connection between the contact strips 11 . 19 produced. The microprocessor 5 of the terminal 2 then encodes in the functional layer 20 the network interface 10 the system identifier and the terminal identifier from the main memory 7 as a modulated sequence of signals. In the associated functional layer 26 the network interface 18 at work 4 this signal sequence is decoded and sent to the microprocessor 13 read. In the microprocessor 13 Then a comparison of the read system ID with permissible system IDs and terminal IDs takes place. First, it checks whether the system identifiers match. If the result is positive, the workstation sends 4 via the functional layer connection establishment 27 the network interface 18 a control signal to the corresponding functional layer connection establishment 21 the network interface 10 with which the workplace 4 the terminal 2 recognized as a permitted system component. The microprocessor 13 of the workplace 4 then engages in the identification process 29 and with the terminal identifier of the terminal 2 to one in non-volatile memory 16 stored record back, with which the functional layers communication control 30 , Data representation 31 and data processing 32 the network interface 18 of the workplace 4 be configured. After that, the terminal can 2 and the workplace 4 over the network interfaces 10 . 18 build a complete communication channel for data exchange and at the workplace 4 You can use this data via the display unit 14 be issued.

Claims (1)

Method for configuring an interface at a workstation ( 4 ) for data communication with one with the workstation ( 4 ) connected terminal ( 2 ), with a first interface ( 10 ) on the terminal ( 2 ) as functional layers a physical contact ( 11 ), an electronic coding ( 20 ), a connection ( 21 ), a data transport ( 22 ), a communication controller ( 23 ), a data representation ( 24 ) and a data processing ( 25 ), and the interface at work ( 4 ) as a second interface ( 18 ), symmetric to the first interface ( 10 ), as functional layers a physical contact ( 19 ), an electronic coding ( 26 ), a connection ( 27 ) and a data transport ( 28 ), characterized by the steps - at the second interface ( 18 ) Function layers for communication control ( 30 ), Data representation ( 31 ) and data processing ( 32 ) through an identification process ( 29 ) in the workplace ( 4 ) in such a way that a system identifier and a terminal identifier of the terminal ( 2 ) to the workplace ( 4 ) and compared with permissible system identifications and - if a permissible system identifier is present, terminal-specific data records for constructing the functional layers ( 30 . 31 . 32 ) of the workplace ( 4 ) from a data store ( 16 ) of the workplace ( 4 ), so that the functional layers ( 30 . 31 . 32 ) in such a way that symmetry between corresponding functional layers ( 23 . 24 . 25 ) of the terminal ( 2 ) and functional layers ( 30 . 31 . 32 ) of the workplace ( 4 ) consists.