A physiological measurement system has a sensor, a processor, a
communications link and information elements. The sensor is configured to
transmit light having a plurality of wavelengths into a tissue site and
to generate a sensor signal responsive to the transmitted light after
tissue attenuation. The processor is configured to operate on the sensor
signal so as to derive at least one physiological parameter. The
communications link is adapted to provide communications between the
sensor and the processor. The information elements are distributed across
at least one of the sensor, the processor and the communications link and
provide operational information corresponding to at least one of the
sensor, the processor and the communications link.