SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BACKUP COMMUNICATION OVER ETHERNET

摘要

A backup communication system (BCS) is provided as part of a networked (TCP/IP) communication system. The BCS is coupled to an Ethernet cable used for TCP/IP communications. When the TCP/IP communications are interrupted, the BCS is operable to receive patient call signals from a plurality of patient room terminals over a secondary communication mode of the Ethernet cable, and to transmit those call signals to a nurses station. The call signals may be transmitted as voltage coded data such as voltage pulses or static levels. Information can be relayed back to one or more room terminals using the same signaling technique. In this way, basic communications can be achieved when the normal TCP/IP communications mode is unavailable.