Vocera V5000 Release Notes

Version 5.1.3.35

Updated: March 21, 2022

Vocera Smartbadge Overview

The Vocera Smartbadge is a small, lightweight, wearable communication device purpose-built for healthcare. The Smartbadge is powered by the Vocera Platform, enabling interoperability with the majority of clinical and operational systems used in healthcare.

The Smartbadge gives caregivers the agility to respond to the complex and unpredictable patient care environment by enabling real-time situational awareness and allowing them to receive a prioritized alert and alarm notifications, make and answer calls hands-free, and send messages securely.

The salient features of the Smartbadge are:

For detailed documentation on Vocera V-Series Smartbadge, refer to Vocera V-Series Smartbadge.

For the previous versions of the release notes, refer to the Vocera Release Notes Library.

Prerequisites

Perform the following prerequisites before performing the installation instructions for the Vocera version 5.1.3.35 Firmware release.

Configure Vocera Smartbadge Using the Standalone BPE

Configure Vocera Smartbadge using the standalone version of Badge Properties Editor (BPE) 5.4.0 or later, to reflect the 5.1.3 Firmware Release. If you do not have the standalone version of BPE, contact Vocera Customer support or open a case in the Support Portal.

Update Smartbadge Properties

The BPE is installed on both the configuration computer and the Vocera Voice Server computer. If you are performing initial badge configuration, use the BPE on the configuration computer.

To update the Smartbadge properties, perform the following tasks:

  1. Locate and double-click the Vocera BPE Launcher icon on the desktop to log in for the first time. For subsequent logins, access the Vocera BPE Launcher using the URL, http://127.0.0.1:8011/#!/, where 127.0.0.1 is the localhost, and 8011 is the Voice Server IP port for BPE.

    The Badge Properties Editor appears.

  2. Select Badges>V5000.

    The V5000 Smartbadge Properties Editor is displayed.

For specific instructions on how to configure your badge using BPE, refer to Vocera Device Configuration Guide.

Smartbadge Properties

Following are the properties required for the Badge Property Editor:

Mandatory Settings

Wireless Settings

Wireless settings are dependent on the configuration settings of your environment.

Custom Settings

There are settings to control specific functions that can be applied through the Custom Settings fields. For information on the custom setting appropriate for your environment, contact Vocera Technical Support.

Installing an RPM Package

This section includes installation instructions for the Vocera version 5.1.3.35 Firmware release. This release applies to Vocera Smartbadge only.

Vocera provides the core software needed to run the Vocera Platform in a gold image. Additionally, optional pieces of software that can be installed known as RPM packages. Typically, these packages are additional adapters but can include items such as firmware.

  1. SSH into the client VM.

    Log into the virtual machine (VM) using the address of the machine and tpx-admin credentials:

    ssh tpx-admin@<IP of VM>

  2. Update the repository to the latest software versions

    Close any open sessions. Run YUM clean all:

    sudo yum clean all

    Update the list of all available RPM packages for adapters and devices. Run YUM check updates to update the RPM package list:

    sudo yum check-updates

  3. View the list of updated software

    Input the command below to view the available software for a particular adapter or device. Below, we are viewing the RPM package for the Vocera Smartbadge, designated by the "V5000". Update the command to reflect the appropriate adapter or device. Run the YUM list command to show the list of files available:

    sudo yum list available | grep "V5000"

  4. Install the RPM package

    Select the correct file from the list. Update the command to reflect the appropriate file. Run the YUM command to install the software:

    sudo yum install vocera-FW-V5000.x86_64

  5. Reboot the VM.

    sudo reboot

  6. After the reboot completes, verify that Glassfish and the Voice Service are running.

    Input the following command at the ssh prompt. The first command is to verify Glassfish (sudo systemctl status extension-glassfish) and the second command is to verify the Voice Service (sudo systemctl status vocera-voice.service). The remaining text shows either service running.

    sudo systemctl status extension-glassfish
    
    ...
    
    [tpx-admin@nextgen ~]$ sudo systemctl status extension-glassfish
    ● extension-glassfish.service - Glassfish Appliance Server
      Loaded:  loaded  (/usr/lib/systemd/system/extension-glassfish.service; enabled; vendor preset: disabled)
      Active:  active  (running) since Thu 2019-08-20 14:34:12 EST; 1 months 5 days ago
    sudo systemctl status vocera-voice.service
    ● vocera-voice.service - Voice Server Launcher
       Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/vocera-voice.service; enabled; vendor preset: disabled)
       Active: active (running) since Wed 2019-08-21 11:59:58 EDT; 1h 49min ago
    
    Aug 21 11:59:54 sc-platform656l3 java[5048]: 2019-08-21 11:59:54.899 [I] [39] ServerState changed to 'Server started'.
    Aug 21 11:59:58 sc-platform656l3 java[5048]: 2019-08-21 11:59:58.514 [I] [36] Vocera Server       : Ready.
    Aug 21 11:59:58 sc-platform656l3 java[5048]: 2019-08-21 11:59:58.514 [I] [36] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Aug 21 11:59:58 sc-platform656l3 java[5048]: 2019-08-21 11:59:58.514 [I] [36]                            ** The Vocera system is ready **
    Aug 21 11:59:58 sc-platform656l3 java[5048]: 2019-08-21 11:59:58.514 [I] [36] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Verifying the Firmware Build on the Smartbadge

To verify the firmware build on the Smartbadge, perform the following steps:

  1. Navigate to the Settings screen.

    The default settings screen with the status is displayed.

  2. Tap the chevron to navigate to the Badge Settings > Badge Information > Firmware Build Number.

    The firmware build loaded on your Smartbadge is displayed.

New and Enhanced Features

This section summarizes the new features in the Vocera Platform version 6 releases

The Smartbadge redefines healthcare communication by combining Smartphone usability with hands-free freedom. Smartbadge represents a new category of wearable communication devices that enable clinician agility and accelerate patient care.

New and Enhanced Features in 5.1.3.35

This release does not have any new features.

New and Enhanced Features in 5.1.3

This section summarizes the new features in the Vocera Smartbadge 5.1.3 release.

New and Enhanced Features in 5.1.1.51 [15.3]

This section summarizes the new features in the Vocera Smartbadge 5.1.1.51 [15.3] release.

Placing Direct Calls from Vocera Devices

As part of the Vocera care team connect solution, the new direct call feature enables the communication between the patient and the caregiver in bed locations that lack nurse call. This feature reduces the need to don and doff PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and improve the patient experience.

When the direct call feature is enabled on Vocera Platform and Vocera devices, the user can press the Call button to immediately place a call to a predefined recipient without having to interact with the genie. The direct call recipient can be another user, group, or a contact in the system.

To enable this feature, set the custom badge property V5.DirectCallEnabled true by using the BCU or through the VCB menu only. Do not add this property to the Badge.Properties of the Vocera Platform. The default value of the badge property is false.

Note: When the custom property V5.DirectCallEnabled true is enabled using the BCU, any user that logs into the Vocera device is automatically set to this mode. Ensure that devices intended for this use case are configured with this custom property.

Vocera recommends the following:

For information on Vocera device usage guidelines for the Direct Call feature, refer to the Vocera V-Series Smartbadge User Guide, Vocera B-Series Badge User Guide, and Vocera Device Configuration Guide available on Vocera Documentation Portal.

New and Enhanced Features in 5.1.1 GA

This section summarizes the new features in the Vocera Smartbadge 5.1.1 release.

New and Enhanced Features in 5.1.0 GA

This section summarizes the new features in the Vocera Smartbadge 5.1.0 release.

Fixed Issues

The following list contains fixes and improvements for firmware release and the V5000 product.

Fixed Issues in Release 5.1.3.35

Fixed Issues in Release 5.1.3

Fixed Issues in Release 5.1.1.51 [15.3]

There are no new fixes in this release.

Fixed Issues in Release 5.1.1.51

Fixed Issues in 5.1.0.321

Known Issues

The following section lists the known issues in this firmware release and the V5000 Smartbadge product.

Known Issues in 5.1.3.35

As part of the resistance to dust and water ingress, the removable battery is a snug fit when initially deployed with the Smartbadge. When removing the battery after sliding the latch to the red position, it is recommended to apply a little pressure in the direction of the USB-C socket to ease the removal of the battery.

The following list provides information about known product issues in the 5.1.3.35 firmware and the Vocera Smartbadge: