Hospital TV/monitor display control with hierarchical access control

1. An interactive communications system comprising:

a plurality of in-room video communications systems, each in-room video communication system including a video monitor, a video camera, a microphone, and an audio speaker associated with a patient;

a video selection unit which supplies video entertainment and video communications to each of the in-room systems; and

a hierarchal access control unit which automatically arbitrates among the video entertainment and video communications based on a defined access hierarchy;

wherein the defined access hierarchy is adjusted based on vital signs of a patient measured by a physiological monitor.

2. The interactive communication system according to claim 1 wherein the hierarchal access control unit includes:

a data entry terminal through which the access hierarchy is entered or modified;

a database which stores the entered access hierarchy;

a server which selects among competing video communications and entertainment based on the entered access hierarchy; and

wherein the video selection unit connects the video communication or entertainment with each in-room video communication system.

3. The interactive communication system according to claim 2 , wherein the access hierarchy contains at least one of a primary care physician role, an on-duty physician role, a specialist physician role, a nurse role, a patient role, a guardian role, an attorney role, a friend role, a relative role, and business associate role.

4. The interactive communication system according to claim 1 , wherein the video selection unit is connected with a television or cable source, video telephone feed, and a hospital network.

5. The interactive communication system according to claim 1 , wherein each in-room video communications system includes a patient control unit such as a keyboard or remote.

6. The interactive communication system according to claim 1 , further including:

a hospital database which stores archived images and patient data.

7. The interactive communication system according to claim 6 , further including:

a plurality of terminals for medical professionals connected to the video selection unit,

the video selection unit being controllable to establish a video conference call between one of the medical professionals terminals and a selected one of the in-room video communications systems.

8. The interactive communication system according to claim 7 , further including a video processor which enables the medical professional terminal to send a split screen image with the medical professional in one section, an image, and a pointer controlled via the medical professional terminal.

9. The interactive communication system according to claim 1 , wherein the access hierarchy is dynamically adjustable.

10. The interactive communication system according to claim 9 , wherein the access hierarchy is temporally adjustable in accordance with a clock.

11. The interactive communication system according to claim 9 , wherein the access hierarchy is patient condition adjustable in accordance with vital signs measured by a physiological monitor.

12. An interactive communication method for providing an in-room audio and video communications, the method comprising:

entering data related to a patient admitted to hospital;

establishing an access hierarchy including at least one of a system administrator role, a primary care physician role, and a patient role;

consulting the access hierarchy via a hierarchical access control unit to automatically arbitrate among persons requesting video communications access to the patient and video entertainment;

establishing a video communications link from a requesting person to an in-room video communications system including a camera, a microphone, a television monitor, a patient operated control, and an audio speaker;

wherein the access hierarchy is adjusted based on vital signs of a patient measured by a physiological monitor.

13. The interactive communication method according to claim 12 , further including:

sending a request by a sender to contact a receiver using a computer operable input device;

checking addresses of the sender and the patient against the access hierarchy in the hierarchical access control unit;

if the sender is not authorized to contact the patient, sending denial message to the sender;

if the sender is authorized to contact the patient and if no sender with a higher role in the access hierarchy is competing to reach the patient, establishing a video communication channel between the sender and the patient.

14. The interactive communication method according to claim 12 , further including:

with a patient control device, changing the access hierarchy and selecting among video entertainment and video communications.

15. The interactive communication method according to claim 12 , further including:

from a medical professional terminal, establishing a video communication link including overriding access requests by persons with a lower role in the access hierarchy.

16. The interactive communication method according to claim 15 , further including:

from the medical professional terminal, retrieving images or physiological data from a hospital database;

creating a split screen format in which a video image appears in one section and a video display based on the retrieved images and physiological data appears in another section.

17. The interactive communication method according to claim 16 , further including:

moving a pointer on at least the video display controlled by the medical professional terminal or the patient control.

18. The interactive communication method according to claim 12 , wherein the access hierarchy includes a plurality of roles in a hierarchy including a system administrator role, the primary care physician role, an on duty physician role, a specialist physician role, a nurse role, a patient role, at least one of a friends role a relative role, and a business associates role.

19. An interactive communication method for providing an in-room audio and video communications, the method comprising:

entering data related to a patient admitted to hospital;

establishing a permissions hierarchy including at least one of a system administrator role, a primary care physician role, and a patient role;

consulting the permissions hierarchy via a hierarchical access control unit to automatically arbitrate among persons requesting video communications access to the patient and video entertainment;

establishing a video communications link from a requesting person to an in-room video communications system including a camera, a microphone, a television monitor, a patient operated control, and an audio speaker

adjusting the permissions hierarchy in accordance with vital signs measured by a physiological monitor.