Featured Case Study
Communications
TUG® requires wireless network access for communication with the home base computer, the elevators and elevator lobbies, and areas where multiple TUGs may cross one another’s path. Wireless network coverage is strongly recommended along the TUG routes. Aethon offers hospitals two ways to provide wireless coverage.
1. Standard Wireless Access Points
Some hospitals have invested in a wireless access point system to communicate between computers/devices, which can also be used by TUG. Aethon will perform a radio frequency (RF) site survey to ensure coverage in the elevator lobbies and along TUG’s path is adequate. A static IP address is assigned by the hospital for each TUG, home base computer, and elevator computer. Two additional IP addresses are needed during installation for Aethon support laptop PCs. The TUG network uses 128-bit WEP, WPA, WPA2 (wireless encryption protocol) for all wireless communications. Any remote support from Aethon's help desk to the hospital's TUG network uses the secure socket layer protocol as an added security measure. In addition, each host in TUG’s networked infrastructure uses a firewall and only allows specific IP addresses and ports to access the network.
2. Aethon TUGcom
If a hospital does not have a standard wireless infrastructure, or if the infrastructure does not provide complete coverage, Aethon can install TUGcom to ensure the necessary wireless communication protocol for TUG operations in your facility, including the elevator lobbies to ensure the TUG elevator protocol is efficient and always operational. TUGcom is a 900MHz wireless network consisting of radios in the ISM frequency range (902MHz to 928MHz) that uses DSSS (Direct-Sequence Spread Spectrum) technology to minimize any possible interference with other devices that operate in this frequency range.
The TUGcom radios are similar in function to 802.11 access points; each acts as an access point, with a radio in TUG acting as a wireless client adapter. Aethon will perform an RF survey to identify locations for the 900MHz radios, and will provide a diagram to indicate the radio locations and wiring requirements.
For additional information, please contact Aethon.