A patient monitor includes a data connector configured to connect to a corresponding data connector of an approved physiological data acquisition device to provide data transmission to and from the approved physiological data acquisition device, and a power connector configured to connect to a corresponding power connector of the approved physiological data acquisition device to provide power to the approved physiological data acquisition device. The patient monitor further includes a control module configured to detect connection of a corresponding power connector of an unidentified device at the power connection port and/or a corresponding data connector of the unidentified device to the data connector, and provide a limited power amount to the unidentified device through the power connector. The control module performs an authentication process to determine that the unidentified device is the approved physiological data acquisition device, and then provides a full power amount through the power connector to the approved physiological data acquisition device.
