Architecture for field upgrade of a health monitoring system

摘要

An architecture allows individual system components to be developed and tested individually, i.e., as distinct modules, and to be subsequently combined through standardized electrical and communication interfaces. Any combination of these modules can be implemented to form different products that provide any number of functions, such as an integrated system for monitoring a health condition and/or delivering a medication. The architecture also provides an approach for dynamically updating the product and offering its users the latest generation of technology even after the users have already purchased the product. In particular, the embodiments employ the communication interfaces to also provide connection to a remote network that can update or upgrade the product's software when the product is out in the field.

主权项

1. A system for managing healthcare data, comprising:
a central circuit including a processor and a central circuit memory area storing a first upgradable software; a module circuit interfacing with the central circuit, the module circuit including a module circuit memory area storing a second upgradable software relating to a healthcare function, the central circuit and the module circuit coupled and combining to provide the healthcare function; a communication interface providing a connection between the central circuit and an external device, the external device including a memory area storing one or more upgraded software components; a download engine configured to receive the one or more upgraded software components from the external device, via the communication interface, to upgrade the first upgradable software, the second upgradable software, or both by replacing:
(i) a first version of the first upgradable software stored in the central circuit memory area with an upgraded second version of the first upgradable software,(ii) a first version of the second upgradable software stored in the module circuit memory area with an upgraded second version of the second upgradable software, or(iii) both (i) and (ii); a security component controlling access by the download engine to the module circuit memory area; a data validation component coupled to the module circuit, the data validation component determining, with a check-sum routine, whether the upgraded second version of the second upgradable software has been completely transferred from the external device by the download engine; and a restore component coupled to the module circuit, the restore component being configured to restore the first version of the second upgradable software when the upgraded second version of the second upgradable software operates incorrectly or has not been downloaded properly, thereby ensuring that the system, including the healthcare function, continues to operates as expected.