# US 12,190,695 B2 · Methods and apparatus for monitoring vessel activity

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- Number: US 12,190,695 B2
- Document ID: US12190695B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/258,139
- Filed: 2019-06-19
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Granted: 2025-01-07
- Earliest claimed: 2018-07-06
- Assignees: Navcast Inc.
- Applicants: Navcast Inc.
- Inventors: William Patrick McGrath; Peter Hunt; Ferenc Vereb
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12190695B2

## CPC

- G01H 3/10: Amplitude; Power
- G08B 17/04: Hydraulic or pneumatic actuation of the alarm, e.g. by change of fluid pressure
- G06Q 50/02: Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining
- G08B 25/00: Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems
- G08B 29/046: {prevention of tampering with detection circuits}
- G01H 1/00: Measuring {characteristics of} vibrations in solids by using direct conduction to the detector (G01H9/00, G01H11/00 take precedence)
- G01H: MEASUREMENT OF MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OR ULTRASONIC, SONIC OR INFRASONIC WAVES
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

Devices and methods are disclosed for monitoring at fishing vessels to detect blast fishing activity. A blast sensor is mountable to a vessel such that it produces a signal in response to pressure waves in water. A controller receives the signal and is operable to analyze the signal to detect blast events based on signal characteristics. A position measurement device measures a position of the vessel. A transmitter is provided to wirelessly transmit status information including a unique identifier of the monitoring unit and indicative of the position of the monitoring unit and to send a wireless alarm signal in response to a detected blast event.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for monitoring fishing vessel activity, comprising:
a blast sensor mountable to an internal surface of a hull of a vessel for providing a signal responsive to pressure waves in a liquid;
a position sensor for measuring a position of the vessel;
a processor operable to detect a blast event based on a characteristic of a signal from said blast sensor; and
a wireless communication module to wirelessly transmit status information including a unique identifier of a monitoring unit and indicative of the position of the monitoring unit and to send a wireless signal in response to said detected blast event.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1 wherein said blast sensor comprises an accelerometer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein said position sensor is a receiver that operates with a satellite positioning system.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein said processor is operable to detect said blast event based on a shape characteristic of said signal from said blast sensor.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The device of claim 4, wherein said shape characteristic includes a slope of said signal.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The device of claim 4, wherein said shape characteristic includes a duration of time said signal is above a threshold value.

### Claim 7 (depends on 4)

The device of claim 4, wherein said monitoring unit is configured to count a number of peaks in said signal from said blast sensor.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The device of claim 1, wherein said device comprises a housing mountable to said vessel with a surface abutting the hull of said vessel, and a seal structure defining a watertight seal around said surface, wherein said housing comprises an edge that directly contacts said hull without said watertight seal interposed between said housing edge and said hull.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The device of claim 8, comprising a tamper detection unit in said housing.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The device of claim 9, wherein said tamper detection unit is configured to send a signal indicative of tampering based on a measurement from said blast sensor.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The device of claim 9, wherein said tamper detection unit is configured to send a signal indicative of tampering based on inductive monitoring of a fastener coupling said device to said hull.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The device of claim 9, wherein said tamper detection unit is configured to send a signal indicative of tampering based on monitoring of a power source.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

A system for monitoring fishing vessel activity, comprising:
a plurality of devices as recited in claim 1 and mounted to a corresponding one of a plurality of vessels; and
a monitoring station, comprising:
a network interface for receiving said status information and said wireless signal;
a monitoring station processor configured to select a set of witnesses from among devices at the plurality of vessels, said witnesses selected based on said status information.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein said monitoring station comprises a data structure containing status information of said plurality of devices.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein said status information comprises positions for respective ones of said vessels.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein said monitoring station processor is configured to select devices at vessels within a threshold distance of said blast event as witnesses.

### Claim 17

A method of monitoring fishing vessel activity, comprising, at a vessel:
from a sensor mounted to an internal surface of a hull of the vessel, producing a sensor signal responsive to pressure waves in a liquid;
measuring a position of the vessel using a receiver for a satellite positioning system;
processing said sensor signal to detect a blast event based on a characteristic of said sensor signal;
wirelessly transmitting status information to a monitoring station, said status information including a unique identifier associated with the vessel and indicative of the position of the vessel; and
wirelessly transmitting a wireless alarm signal to said monitoring station in response to a detected blast event.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein said producing said sensor signal comprises measuring movement of the hull of the vessel with an accelerometer.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein said processing comprises counting a number of peaks in said sensor signal from said sensor.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, comprising sending a tamper signal indicative of tampering based on a measurement from said sensor.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17 comprising sending a tamper signal indicative of tampering based on inductive monitoring of a fastener coupling said sensor to said hull of said vessel.

### Claim 22 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, comprising sending a tamper signal indicative of tampering based on monitoring of a power source.

### Claim 23 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein said processing comprises processing said sensor signal to detect said blast event based on a shape characteristic of said sensor signal.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, wherein said shape characteristic includes a slope of said sensor signal.

### Claim 25 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23, wherein said shape characteristic includes a duration of time said sensor signal is above a threshold value.

### Claim 26 (depends on 17)

The method claim 17, comprising, at said monitoring station:
receiving status information from monitoring devices at a plurality of vessels;
selecting a set of witnesses from among the monitoring devices at the plurality of vessels based on said status information.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The method of claim 26, comprising storing said status information in a data structure at said monitoring station.

### Claim 28 (depends on 26)

The method of claim 26, wherein said status information comprises positions for respective ones of said vessels.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28, wherein said selecting comprises selecting vessels within a threshold distance of said blast event.