Patent attributes
Access to a medical monitoring system, which includes a patient-portable monitoring device and an associated monitoring service at a central unit, is controlled by inputting a set of identification data elements into a medical monitoring device, which then establishes a communication link with a central unit and communicates the set of identification data elements to the central unit. The medical monitoring device and the central unit cooperatively determine whether the medical monitoring device may be activated for rendering medical monitoring device service, by evaluating the set of identification data elements as to whether they meet a set of basic structural requirements, and obtaining financial or other authorization from a third-party source. In the event that the identification data elements meet the set of basic structural requirements and the authorization is obtained, the central unit issues an activation signal to the medical monitoring device over the communication link.