PHYSIOLOGICAL TEST CREDIT METHOD
A physiological test credit method determines if test credits are available to the monitor and checks if a Wi-Fi connection is available. If test credits are less than a test credit threshold, the monitor connects to a test credit server, processes server commands so as to download test credits and disconnects from the server. In various embodiments, the monitor is challenged to break a server code, the server is challenged to break a monitor code. The server validates monitor serial codes, and saves monitor configuration parameters.
1 . (canceled)
2 . A physiological monitoring system configured to perform parameter spot-checks on a per test credit basis, the physiological monitoring system comprising:
a sensor configured to be placed at a measurement location of a user;
a physiological monitor configured to be coupled to the sensor and comprising one or more signal processors;
a memory configured to store one or more test credits;
wherein, when enabled by one of the one or more test credits stored in the memory, the one or more signal processors of the physiological monitor are configured to receive and process signals that are outputted by the sensor to make a physiological measurement of the user, a number of the test credits stored in the memory decremented after each physiological measurement, and
wherein the physiological monitor is configured to initiate communication with a server in response to the number of the test credits stored in the memory falling below a predetermined threshold, wherein:
the physiological monitor transfers additional test credits received from the server to the memory, and
the server updates a user account to reflect that the additional test credits have been downloaded by the physiological monitor from the server.
3 . The physiological monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the physiological monitor is configured to initiate communication with the server by:
securely connecting to the server,
receiving the additional test credits from the server, and
sending an acknowledgement for receipt of the additional test credits to the server.
4 . The physiological monitoring system of claim 3 , wherein the physiological monitor performs a hand-shake with the server upon the server receiving the acknowledgement.
5 . The physiological monitoring system of claim 3 , wherein the physiological monitor securely connecting to the server comprises the physiological monitor exchanging challenges with the server.
6 . The physiological monitoring system of claim 3 , wherein the physiological monitor securely connecting to the server comprises the physiological monitor sending to the server monitor and/or sensor data to be matched to sales and/or distributors data for validation of the physiological monitor and the user account.
7 . The physiological monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the additional test credits comprises a user-predefined download quantum of the test credits.
8 . The physiological monitoring system of claim 7 , wherein the physiological monitor is configured to automatically adjust the user-predefined download quantum and/or the predetermined threshold according to a frequency of test credit usage or a frequency of test credit downloads.
9 . The physiological monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the server updating the user account comprises the server deducting the additional test credits from the user account and incrementing a test credit downloading index count.
10 . The physiological monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the physiological monitor is configured to determine the number of the test credits stored in the memory after each physiological measurement.
11 . The physiological monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the sensor comprises an optical sensor configured to transmit optical radiation at a plurality of wavelengths.
12 . A physiological test credit system configured to enable a physiological monitor to perform parameter spot-checks, the system comprising:
a physiological monitor configured to be coupled to a physiological sensor, the physiological monitor comprising one or more signal processors,
wherein, when enabled by a test credit stored in a memory of the system, the physiological monitor is configured to receive and process signals outputted by the physiological sensor to make a physiological measurement of a user, the physiological monitor decrementing a number of test credits stored in the memory after each physiological measurement,
wherein the physiological monitor is configured to initiate communication with a server in response to the number of test credits stored in the memory falling below a predetermined threshold, and
wherein, upon the physiological monitor having been securely connected to the server, the physiological monitor is configured to update the number of the test credits stored in the memory and the server is configured to update a user account to reflect that additional test credits have been downloaded by the physiological monitor from the server.
13 . The physiological test credit system of claim 12 , wherein the physiological monitor is configured to securely connect to the server by:
processing server commands instructing the physiological monitor to download the additional test credits from the server,
downloading the additional test credits from the server, and
sending an acknowledgement for receipt of the additional test credits to the server.
14 . The physiological test credit system of claim 13 , wherein the physiological monitor is configured to perform a hand-shake with the server upon the server receiving the acknowledgement.
15 . The physiological test credit system of claim 12 , wherein the physiological monitor securely connecting to the server comprises the physiological monitor exchanging challenges with the server.
16 . The physiological test credit system of claim 15 , wherein the physiological monitor exchanges challenges with the server by:
receiving a server challenge code sent from the server;
breaking the server challenge code; and
sending a monitor challenge code to the server for the server to break the monitor challenge code.
17 . The physiological test credit system of claim 12 , wherein the physiological monitor securely connecting to the server comprises the physiological monitor sending to the server monitor and/or sensor data to be matched to sales and/or distributors data for validation of the physiological monitor and the user account.
18 . The physiological test credit system of claim 12 , wherein the server updating the user account comprises the server deducting the additional test credits from the user account and incrementing a test credit downloading index count.
19 . The physiological test credit system of claim 12 , wherein the additional test credits comprises a user-predefined download quantum of test credits.
20 . The physiological test credit system of claim 19 , wherein the physiological monitor is configured to automatically adjust the user-predefined download quantum and/or the predetermined threshold according to a frequency of test credit usage or to a frequency of test credit downloads.
21 . The physiological test credit system of claim 12 , wherein the physiological monitor is configured to determine the number of the test credits stored in the memory after each physiological measurement.