System and method for dynamic data management in a wireless network

1. A node configured for transmitting a data packet over a wireless network according to a differentiated services control parameter, the node comprising:

a controller configured to provide individualized control of the differentiated services code parameter and also to provide individualized control over a payload in the data packet, the controller further configured to

receive data to be transmitted over the wireless network;

assign a priority level to the data;

adjust the differentiated services control parameter setting for the node based on the priority level;

determine a signal quality indicator for the wireless network;

adjust the amount of the data included in the payload based on the signal quality indicator; and

determine a classification for the data, and to perform a weighted sum calculation based on the classification in order to assign the priority level to the data.

2. The node of claim 1 , wherein the signal quality indicator is based on one of a received signal strength indicator value, a noise floor value, a signal-to-noise ratio value, a packet retransmission rate, and a missed beacon rate.

3. The node of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust the amount of data included in the payload by removing a subset of data from the received data.

4. The node of claim 3 , wherein the node is a patient monitoring device, and wherein the received data includes physiologic data acquired by the patient monitoring device, and wherein the subset of data includes one of alarm data, waveform data, and vital sign data.

5. The node of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust the amount of data included in the payload by reducing the resolution of the received data.

6. The node of claim 1 , wherein the node is configured for wireless communication with the access point according to IEEE 802.11e protocol and the differentiated services control parameter is a Differentiated Services Code Point.

7. A network comprising:

an access point; and

a node configured for wirelessly transmitting a data packet over the network via the access point according to a differentiated services code parameter;

wherein the node includes a controller configured to provide individualized control of the differentiated services code parameter and also to provide individualized control over a payload in the data packet, the controller further configured to

receive data to be transmitted over the wireless network;

assign a priority level to the data;

adjust the differentiated services control parameter setting for the node based on the priority level;

determine a signal quality indicator for the wireless network;

adjust the amount of the data included in the payload based on the signal quality indicator; and

determine a classification for the data, and to perform a weighted sum calculation based on the classification in order to assign the priority level to the data.

8. The network of claim 7 , wherein the signal quality indicator is based on one of a received signal strength indicator value, a noise floor value, a signal-to-noise ratio value, a packet retransmission rate, and a missed beacon rate.

9. The network of claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust the amount of data included in the payload by removing a subset of data from the received data.

10. The network of claim 9 , wherein the node is a patient monitoring device, and wherein the received data includes physiologic data acquired by the patient monitoring device, and wherein the subset of data includes one of alarm data, waveform data, and vital sign data.

11. The network of claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust the amount of data included in the payload by reducing the resolution of the received data.

12. The network of claim 7 , wherein the node is configured for wireless communication with the access point according to IEEE 802.11e protocol, and the differentiated services control parameter is a Differentiated Services Code Point.

13. A method comprising:

receiving data to be transmitted over a wireless network, wherein the data is acquired by a node configured for wireless transmission of a data packet over the network according to a differentiated services code parameter, the node including a controller to provide individualized control of the differentiated services code parameter and also to provide individualized control over a payload in the data packet;

assigning a priority level to the data;

adjusting the differentiated services control parameter setting for the node based on the priority level;

determining a signal quality indicator for the wireless network;

adjusting the amount of the data included in the payload based on the signal quality indicator;

determining a classification for the data; and

performing a weighted sum calculation based on the classification in order to assign the priority level to the data.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the determining the signal quality indicator includes determining the indicator based on one of a received signal strength indicator value, a noise floor value, a signal-to-noise ratio value, a packet retransmission rate, and a missed beacon rate.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein adjusting the amount of data included in the payload includes removing a subset of data from the received data.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the node is a patient monitoring device, wherein receiving the data includes receiving physiologic data acquired by the patient monitoring device, and wherein the subset of data includes one of alarm data, waveform data, and vital sign data.

17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust the amount of data included in the payload by reducing the resolution of the received data.

18. The method of claim 13 , wherein the node is configured for wireless communication with the access point according to IEEE 802.11e protocol.