Method and apparatus for wireless transmission of data

1. A communication system, comprising:

means for receiving raw data; and

means for automatically selecting from among a plurality of communication protocols a selected communication protocol according to which said raw data can be formatted to produce formatted data and in which said formatted data can be wirelessly transmitted, wherein said plurality of communication protocols comprise MOBITEX®, cellular and data radio and each of said plurality of communication protocols uses different wireless communication devices to wirelessly transmit said formatted data,

wherein said means for automatically selecting from among a plurality of communication protocol selects said selected communication protocol based on at least one selection criterion selected from the group consisting of:

respective bandwidth detected to be available for each of said communication protocols;

size of said raw data;

identifying said communication protocols available to said communication system;

detected accuracy of data sent to a receiver and returned from said receiver in any one of said communication protocols;

elapsed time without data being received by a receiver; and

detected quantity of dropouts after beginning to attempt to transmit data to a receiving device, and

wherein said communication system has a programmed sequence among said communication protocols, such that said communication system automatically shifts to a next most favorable communication protocol after said communication system identifies a failure to communicate using a currently selected communication protocol.

2. A communication system as recited in claim 1 , wherein said communication system identifies a failure to communicate based on at least one failure criterion selected from the group consisting of:

passage of time without data being received by a receiver; and

detected quantity of dropouts after beginning to attempt to transmit data to a receiving device.

3. A communication system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

means for formatting said raw data according to said selected communication protocol to provide formatted data; and

means for transmitting said formatted data.

4. A communication system as recited in claim 3 , further comprising means for generating patient trend data based on said raw data and wherein said patient trend data is transmitted along with said formatted data.

5. A communication system as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:

means for acquiring raw data and supplying said raw data to said means for receiving raw data;

means for a user to select a portion of said raw data; and

means for formatting only said portion of said raw data according to said selected communication protocol to provide formatted data.

6. A communication system, comprising:

means for receiving raw data;

means for acquiring raw data and supplying said raw data to said means for receiving raw data;

means for formatting said raw data to provide formatted data; and

means for wirelessly transmitting said formatted data;

means for receiving said formatted data;

means for rendering data received by said means for receiving said formatted data to provide rendered data;

means for transmitting said rendered data;

at least one means for receiving said rendered data; and

means for a user to input additional data,

wherein:

said means for transmitting said formatted data also transmits said additional data;

said means for receiving said formatted data also receives said additional data;

said means for transmitting said rendered data also transmits said additional data;

said at least one means for receiving said rendered data also receives said additional data, and

wherein said communication system further comprises a programmed sequence among a plurality of communication protocols, such that said communication system automatically shifts to a next most favorable communication protocol after said communication system identifies a failure to communicate using a currently selected communication protocol.

7. A communication system as recited in claim 6 , further comprising:

means for receiving raw data;

means for acquiring raw data and supplying said raw data to said means for receiving raw data; and

means for formatting said raw data to provide said formatted data.

8. A communication system as recited in claim 7 , further comprising means for generating patient trend data based on said raw data, and wherein said patient trend data is wirelessly transmitted along with said formatted data.

9. A communication system as recited in claim 6 , further comprising:

means for receiving raw data;

means for acquiring raw data and supplying said raw data to said means for receiving raw data;

means for a user to select a portion of said raw data; and

means for formatting said portion of said raw data to provide said formatted data.

10. A communication system as recited in claim 9 , further comprising means for generating patient trend data based on said raw data, and wherein said patient trend data is wirelessly transmitted along with said formatted data.

11. A communication system, comprising:

means for receiving raw data;

means for acquiring raw data and supplying said raw data to said means for receiving raw data;

means for formatting said raw data to provide formatted data;

means for a user to input additional data;

a server for receiving said formatted data;

means for wirelessly transmitting said formatted data to said server;

means for transmitting said formatted data from said server;

at least one means for receiving said formatted data from said server;

wherein:

said means for transmitting said formatted data also transmits said additional data;

said means for receiving said formatted data also receives said additional data, and

said communication system further comprises a programmed sequence among a plurality of communication protocols, such that said communication system automatically shifts to a next most favorable communication protocol after said communication system identifies a failure to communicate using a currently selected communication protocol.

12. A communication system as recited in claim 11 , wherein said server comprises means for notifying at least one intended addressee when said server receives said formatted data.

13. A method of communicating, comprising:

receiving raw data in a data-receiving device;

automatically selecting from among a plurality of communication protocols a selected communication protocol;

formatting said raw data according to said selected communication protocol; and

transmitting said formatted data in said selected communication protocol, wherein said plurality of communication protocols comprise MOBITEX®, cellular and data radio and each of said plurality of communication protocols uses different wireless communication devices to wirelessly transmit said formatted data,

wherein said automatically selecting from among the plurality of communication protocols comprises at least one step selected from the group consisting of:

detecting respective bandwidth available for each of said communication protocols;

detecting a size of said raw data;

identifying said communication protocols available to said communication system;

detecting accuracy of data sent to a receiver and returned from said receiver in any one of said communication protocols;

detecting elapsed time without data being received by a receiver; and

detecting quantity of dropouts after beginning to attempt to transmit data to a receiving device, and

wherein said automatically selecting from among the plurality of communication protocols uses a programmed sequence among said communication protocols to select the communication protocol, and automatically shifts to a next most favorable communication protocol after identifying a failure to communicate using a currently selected communication protocol.

14. A method as recited in claim 13 , further comprising acquiring raw data and supplying said raw data to said data-receiving device.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 , further comprising:

receiving said formatted data in a receiving device;

rendering said formatted data received by said receiving device to provide rendered data; and

transmitting said rendered data.