Smart remote monitoring system and method

In a remote monitoring system, a method of measuring conditions of an object at a remote location and providing information relating to said measurements to an end-user, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) measuring said conditions of said remote object via at least one sensor module, wherein said at least one sensor module is configured for attachment to said remote object by said end-user;
• (b) receiving and analyzing said measured conditions and determining the occurrence of events specified by said end-user via a control module local to and in communication with said at least one sensor module;
• and
• (c) facilitating entry of said user-specified events and receiving said measured conditions from said control module and transmitting said received measured conditions to a processing system of said end-user in response to a request for said measured conditions from said end-user via a monitoring system remote from and in communication with said control module;
• wherein step (a) further includes:
• (a.1) informing said remote monitoring system, via said at least one sensor module, of the presence of that sensor module coupled to said remote object, wherein step (a.1) further includes:
• (a.1.1) transmitting a registration message to register said at least one sensor module with said control module;
• (a.1.2) transmitting sensor module information to said control module in response to receiving a reply message within a predetermined quantity of registration message transmissions, wherein said sensor module information includes a sensor module identification and information for processing said measured conditions;
• (a.1.3) indicating to said end-user registration of said at least one sensor module in response to receiving said reply message from said control module indicating reception of said sensor module information;
• (a.1.4) assigning a prior corresponding control module to said at least one sensor module in response to the absence of said reply message to transmission of said registration message;
• and
• (a.1.5) placing said at least one sensor module in a low power sleep mode in response to the absence of said reply message to transmission of said registration message and the absence of a prior corresponding control module.

A remote monitoring kit for measuring conditions of an object at a remote location and providing information relating to said measurements to a remote monitoring system for display to an end-user, wherein said remote monitoring system facilitates entry of user-specified events and receives said measured conditions from said kit and transmits said received measured conditions to a processing system of said end-user, said kit comprising:

• at least one sensor module to measure said conditions of said remote object, wherein each sensor module is configured for attachment to said remote object by said end-user and includes a notification module to inform said remote monitoring system of the presence of that sensor module coupled to said remote object;
• and
• a control module local to and in communication with said at least one sensor module to receive and analyze said measured conditions and determine the occurrence of said user-specified events received from said remote monitoring system, wherein said control module is remote from and in communication with said remote monitoring system;
• wherein said notification module includes:
• a message transmission module to facilitate transmission of a registration message to register said at least one sensor module with said control module;
• an information transmission module to facilitate transmission of sensor module information to said control module in response to receiving a reply message within a predetermined quantity of registration message transmissions, wherein said sensor module information includes a sensor module identification and information for processing said measured conditions;
• an indicator module to indicate to said end-user registration of said at least one sensor module in response to receiving said reply message from said control module indicating reception of said sensor module information;
• an assignment module to assign a prior corresponding control module to said at least one sensor module in response to the absence of said reply message to transmission of said registration message;
• and
• a sleep module to place said at least one sensor module in a low power sleep mode in response to the absence of said reply message to transmission of said registration message and the absence of a prior corresponding control module.

A method of measuring conditions of an object at a remote location via a remote monitoring kit that measures said conditions and provides information relating to said measurements to a remote monitoring system for display to an end-user, wherein said remote monitoring system facilitates entry of user-specified events and receives said measured conditions from said kit and transmits said received measured conditions to a processing system of said end-user, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) connecting at least one sensor module of said kit to said remote object to measure said conditions of said remote object, wherein each sensor module is configured for attachment to said remote object by said end-user;
• (b) informing a control module of said kit of the presence of said at least one sensor module, wherein said control module is local to and in communication with said at least one sensor module to receive notification from said at least one sensor module indicating said presence of said at least one sensor module, and step (b) further includes:
• (b.1) transmitting a registration message to register said at least one sensor module with said control module;
• (b.2) transmitting sensor module information to said control module in response to receiving a reply message within a predetermined quantity of registration message transmissions, wherein said sensor module information includes a sensor module identification and information for processing said measured conditions;
• (b.3) indicating to said end-user registration of said at least one sensor module in response to receiving said reply message from said control module indicating reception of said sensor module information;
• (b.4) assigning a prior corresponding control module to said at least one sensor module in response to the absence of said reply message to transmission of said registration message;
• and
• (b.5) placing said at least one sensor module in a low power sleep mode in response to the absence of said reply message to transmission of said registration message and the absence of a prior corresponding control module;
• (c) entering said user-specified events into said remote monitoring system;
• (d) measuring said conditions of said remote object via said at least one sensor module;
• (e) receiving and analyzing said measured conditions at said control module and determining the occurrence of said user-specified events received from said remote monitoring system, wherein said control module is remote from and in communication with said remote monitoring system;
• and
• (f) accessing said remote monitoring system via said processing system to retrieve said measured conditions.

A remote monitoring system for measuring conditions of an object at a remote location and providing information relating to said measurements to an end-user, said system comprising:

• a plurality of sensor modules to measure said conditions of said remote object;
• a control module local to and in communication with each said sensor module to receive and analyze said measured conditions and determine the occurrence of events specified by said end-user, wherein said events are based on measurements from at least two different sensor modules;
• and
• a monitoring system remote from and in communication with said control module to facilitate entry of said user-specified events and to receive said measured conditions from said control module and transmit said received measured conditions to a processing system of said end-user in response to a request for said measured conditions from said end-user;
• wherein each sensor module includes a notification module to inform said remote monitoring system of the presence of that sensor module, said notification module including:
• a message transmission module to facilitate transmission of a registration message to register that sensor module with said control module;
• an information transmission module to facilitate transmission of sensor module information to said control module in response to receiving a reply message within a predetermined quantity of registration message transmissions, wherein said sensor module information includes a sensor module identification and information for processing said measured conditions;
• an indicator module to indicate to said end-user registration of that sensor module in response to receiving said reply message from said control module indicating reception of said sensor module information;
• an assignment module to assign a prior corresponding control module to that sensor module in response to the absence of said reply message to transmission of said registration message;
• and
• a sleep module to place that sensor module in a low power sleep mode in response to the absence of said reply message to transmission of said registration message and the absence of a prior corresponding control module.

In a remote monitoring system, a method of measuring conditions of an object at a remote location and providing information relating to said measurements to an end-user, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) measuring said conditions of said remote object via a plurality of sensor modules;
• (b) receiving and analyzing said measured conditions and determining the occurrence of events specified by said end-user via a control module local to and in communication with said sensor modules, wherein said events are based on measurements from at least two different sensor modules;
• and
• (c) facilitating entry of said user-specified events and receiving said measured conditions from said control module and transmitting said received measured conditions to a processing system of said end-user in response to a request for said measured conditions from said end-user via a monitoring system remote from and in communication with said control module;
• wherein step (a) further includes:
• (a.1) informing said remote monitoring system, via each sensor module, of the presence of that sensor module, wherein step (a.1) further includes:
• (a.1.1) transmitting a registration message to register that sensor module with said control module;
• (a.1.2) transmitting sensor module information to said control module in response to receiving a reply message within a predetermined quantity of registration message transmissions, wherein said sensor module information includes a sensor module identification and information for processing said measured conditions;
• (a.1.3) indicating to said end-user registration of that sensor module in response to receiving said reply message from said control module indicating reception of said sensor module information;
• (a.1.4) assigning a prior corresponding control module to that sensor module in response to the absence of said reply message to transmission of said registration message;
• and
• (a.1.5) placing that sensor module in a low power sleep mode in response to the absence of said reply message to transmission of said registration message and the absence of a prior corresponding control module.

A remote monitoring system for measuring conditions of an object at a remote location and providing information relating to said measurements to an end-user, said system comprising:

• at least one sensor means for measuring said conditions of said remote object, wherein each sensor means is configured for attachment to said remote object by said end-user and includes notification means for informing said remote monitoring system of the presence ofthat sensor means coupled to said remote object;
• control means local to and in communication with said at least one sensor means for receiving and analyzing said measured conditions and determining the occurrence of events specified by said end-user;
• and
• monitoring means remote from and in communication with said control means for facilitating entry of said user-specified events and receiving said measured conditions from said control means and transmitting said received measured conditions to a processing system of said end-user in response to a request for said measured conditions from said end-user;
• wherein said notification means includes:
• message transmission means for facilitating transmission of a registration message to register said at least one sensor means with said control means;
• information transmission means for facilitating transmission of sensor means information to said control means in response to receiving a reply message within a predetermined quantity of registration message transmissions, wherein said sensor means information includes a sensor means identification and information for processing said measured conditions;
• indicator means for indicating to said end-user registration of said at least one sensor means in response to receiving said reply message from said control means indicating reception of said sensor means information;
• assignment means for assigning a prior corresponding control means to said at least one sensor means in response to the absence of said reply message to transmission of said registration message;
• and
• sleep means for placing said at least one sensor means in a low power sleep mode in response to the absence of said reply message to transmission of said registration message and the absence of a prior corresponding control means.

A remote monitoring kit for measuring conditions of an object at a remote location and providing information relating to said measurements to a remote monitoring system for display to an end-user, wherein said remote monitoring system facilitates entry of user-specified events and receives said measured conditions from said kit and transmits said received measured conditions to a processing system of said end-user, said kit comprising:

• at least one sensor means for measuring said conditions of said remote object, wherein each sensor means is configured for attachment to said remote object by said end-user and includes notification means for informing said remote monitoring system of the presence ofthat sensor means coupled to said remote object;
• and
• control means local to and in communication with said at least one sensor means for receiving and analyzing said measured conditions and determining the occurrence of said user-specified events received from said remote monitoring system, wherein said control means is remote from and in communication with said remote monitoring system;
• wherein said notification means includes:
• message transmission means for facilitating transmission of a registration message to register said at least one sensor means with said control means;
• information transmission means for facilitating transmission of sensor means information to said control means in response to receiving a reply message within a predetermined quantity of registration message transmissions, wherein said sensor means information includes a sensor means identification and information for processing said measured conditions;
• indicator means for indicating to said end-user registration of said at least one sensor means in response to receiving said reply message from said control means indicating reception of said sensor means information;
• assignment means for assigning a prior corresponding control means to said at least one sensor means in response to the absence of said reply message to transmission of said registration message;
• and
• sleep means for placing said at least one sensor means in a low power sleep mode in response to the absence of said reply message to transmission of said registration message and the absence of a prior corresponding control means.

A remote monitoring system for measuring conditions of an object at a remote location and providing information relating to said measurements to an end-user, said system comprising:

• a plurality of sensor means for measuring said conditions of said remote object;
• control means local to and in communication with each said sensor means for receiving and analyzing said measured conditions and determining the occurrence of events specified by said end-user, wherein said events are based on measurements from at least two different sensor means;
• and
• monitoring means remote from and in communication with said control means for facilitating entry of said user-specified events and receiving said measured conditions from said control means and transmitting said received measured conditions to a processing system of said end-user in response to a request for said measured conditions from said end-user;
• wherein each sensor means includes notification means for informing said remote monitoring system of the presence of that sensor means, said notification means including:
• message transmission means for facilitating transmission of a registration message to register that sensor means with said control means;
• information transmission means for facilitating transmission of sensor means information to said control means in response to receiving a reply message within a predetermined quantity of registration message transmissions, wherein said sensor means information includes a sensor means identification and information for processing said measured conditions;
• indicator means for indicating to said end-user registration of that sensor means in response to receiving said reply message from said control means indicating reception of said sensor means information;
• assignment means for assigning a prior corresponding control means to that sensor means in response to the absence of said reply message to transmission of said registration message;
• and
• sleep means for placing that sensor means in a low power sleep mode in response to the absence of said reply message to transmission of said registration message and the absence of a prior corresponding control means.