Physiological test credit method

1. 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, the sensor comprising a memory configured to store one or more test credits;

a physiological monitor configured to be coupled to the sensor and comprising one or more signal processors;

wherein, when enabled by one of the one or more test credits stored in the memory of the sensor, 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 one or more test credits stored in the memory of the sensor 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 one or more test credits stored in the memory of the sensor falling below a predetermined threshold by securely connecting to the server, wherein:

upon a pairing between the physiological monitor and/or a user account and a correct manufacturer or distributor having been validated based at least in part on the physiological monitor sending monitor and/or sensor data to the server to be matched to sales records of manufacturers or distributors, the physiological monitor transfers additional test credits received from the server to the memory of the sensor, and

the server updates the user account to reflect that the additional test credits have been downloaded by the physiological monitor from the server.

2. The physiological monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the physiological monitor is configured to initiate communication with the server by:

receiving the additional test credits from the server, and

sending an acknowledgement for receipt of the additional test credits to the server.

3. The physiological monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the physiological monitor performs a hand-shake with the server upon the server receiving the acknowledgement.

4. The physiological monitoring system of claim 2 , wherein the physiological monitor securely connecting to the server comprises the physiological monitor exchanging challenges with the server.

5. The physiological monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the additional test credits comprises a user-predefined download quantum of the one or more test credits.

6. The physiological monitoring system of claim 5 , 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.

7. The physiological monitoring system of claim 1 , 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.

8. The physiological monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the physiological monitor is configured to determine the number of the one or more test credits stored in the memory of the sensor after each physiological measurement.

9. The physiological monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises an optical sensor configured to transmit optical radiation at a plurality of wavelengths.

10. The physiological monitoring system of claim 1 , wherein the physiological monitor is configured to send monitor and/or sensor data to the server to be matched to sales records of manufacturers or distributors to validate the pairing between the physiological monitor and/or the user account and the correct manufacturer or distributor each time the physiological monitor initiates communication with the server or one time prior to initiating a first communication with the server.

11. 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 physiological sensor, 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 of the physiological sensor 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 of the physiological sensor falling below a predetermined threshold, and

wherein, upon the physiological monitor having been securely connected to the server and a pairing between the physiological monitor and/or a user account and a correct manufacturer or distributor having been validated based at least in part on the physiological monitor sending monitor and/or sensor data to the server to be matched to sales records of manufacturers or distributors, the physiological monitor is configured to update the number of the test credits stored in the memory of the physiological sensor and the server is configured to update the user account to reflect that additional test credits have been downloaded by the physiological monitor from the server.

12. The physiological test credit system of claim 11 , 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.

13. The physiological test credit system of claim 12 , wherein the physiological monitor is configured to perform a hand-shake with the server upon the server receiving the acknowledgement.

14. The physiological test credit system of claim 11 , wherein the physiological monitor securely connecting to the server comprises the physiological monitor exchanging challenges with the server.

15. The physiological test credit system of claim 14 , 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.

16. The physiological test credit system of claim 11 , 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.

17. The physiological test credit system of claim 11 , wherein the additional test credits comprise a user-predefined download quantum of test credits.

18. The physiological test credit system of claim 17 , 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.

19. The physiological test credit system of claim 11 , wherein the physiological monitor is configured to determine the number of test credits stored in the memory of the physiological sensor after each physiological measurement.

20. The physiological test credit system of claim 11 , wherein the physiological monitor is configured to send monitor and/or sensor data to the server to be matched to sales records of manufacturers or distributors to validate the pairing between the physiological monitor and/or the user account and the correct manufacturer or distributor each time the physiological monitor initiates communication with the server or one time prior to initiating a first communication with the server.