Monitoring of controlled mobile environments

A remote sensing unit for a telemetry system, the remote sensing unit comprising:

• parameter measurement means to measure a parameter or parameters of interest;
• control means which holds data tolerance information for the or each parameter and when parameter data is provided by the parameter measurement means, the control means examines the parameter data and if it is within tolerance by comparison with the data tolerance information, indicates that the system is operating correctly and all data is in tolerance;
• signal generating means to generate a signal indicating the status of the parameter data, the signal comprising:
• i) if the parameter data is in tolerance, a status code indicating the in tolerance status of the parameters;
• and
• ii) if the parameter data is out of tolerance, the parameter data;
• and
• communication means for transmitting the signal to a relay transceiver, located in close proximity to the communication means, the relay transceiver being in communication with a communication network for further transmission via the communication network.

A control unit arranged to be connectable to a data logging device, the control unit comprising:

• trigger signal generating means to trigger the data logging device to unload data;
• data input means to receive data from the connected data logging device;
• a data storage means to hold data tolerance information whereby when the data is unloaded from the data logging device, the control unit examines the unloaded data and determines if it is in tolerance when compared with the data tolerance information;
• signal generating means to generate a signal indicating the status of the unloaded data, the signal comprising:
• i) if the data is in tolerance, a status code indicating the in tolerance status of the data;
• and
• ii) if the data is out of tolerance, the unloaded data encoded in a format suitable for transmission over a communications network;
• and
• input/output means arranged for connection to a communications device for communicating the signal generated by the signal generating means to the communication device.

A telemetry system for measuring one or more parameters within a transport vehicle or vessel and transmitting a signal indicating the value or values of the one or more measured parameters, or the status of the respective transport vehicle or vessel, over a significant distance via at least one communications network, the system comprising:

• a) a receiving station connected to the communications network;
• b) monitoring means for receiving the signal and indicating the value or any one of the values represented by the signal, or the transport vehicle or vessel status;
• and
• c) a mobile monitoring sub-system mounted on or within the transport vehicle or vessel comprising:
• i) parameter measurement means to measure the respective parameters;
• ii) signal generating means to generate a signal for transmission indicating the value or values of the one or more measured parameters, or a status of the transport vehicle or vessel, wherein the signal generating means holds data tolerance information in relation to the respective transport vehicle or vessel and, when the signal generated by the signal generating means is to be transmitted, the signal generating means examines the value or values of the one or more measured parameters and if they are in tolerance, generates a status signal indicating that the system is operating correctly and all parameters are in tolerance and if they are not in tolerance, the signal generating means generates the signal representing the value or values of the one or more measured parameters;
• and
• iii) local communication means for transmitting the signal via the at least one communications network to the receiving station and the monitoring means.

A control unit arranged to be connectable to a data logging device, the control unit comprising:

• trigger signal generating means to trigger the data logging device to unload data;
• data input means to receive data from the connected data logging device;
• a data storage means to hold data tolerance information whereby when the data is unloaded from the data logging device, the control unit examines the unloaded data and determines if it is in tolerance when compared with the data tolerance information;
• signal generating means to generate a signal indicating the status of the unloaded data, the signal comprising:
• i) if the data is in tolerance, a status code indicating the in tolerance status of the data;
• and
• ii) if the data is out of tolerance, the unloaded data encoded in a format suitable for transmission over a communications network;
• and
• input/output means arranged for connection to a communications device for communicating the signal generated by the signal generating means to the communication device,
• and wherein the monitoring functions of the data logging device include an input for measuring power supply conditions of environmental control equipment supporting or forming part of a consignment, shaft speed of the vessel, water purity in a bilge, pollution levels, status of pollution control equipment, machinery discharge, sewage outflows, discharge of ships' ballast, noise, air quality, water quality, vessel position, surveillance cameras, locking and unlocking of controlled spaces, and entry and exit of controlled spaces.

A telemetry system for measuring one or more parameters within a transport vehicle or vessel and transmitting a signal indicating the value or values of the one or more measured parameters, or the status of the respective transport vehicle or vessel, over a significant distance via at least one communications network, the system comprising:

• a) a receiving station connected to the communications network;
• b) monitoring means for receiving the signal and indicating the value or any one of the values represented by the signal, or the transport vehicle or vessel status;
• and
• c) a mobile monitoring sub-system mounted on or within the transport vehicle or vessel comprising:
• i) parameter measurement means to measure the respective parameters;
• ii) signal generating means to generate a signal for transmission indicating the value or values of the one or more measured parameters, or a status of the transport vehicle or vessel, wherein the signal generating means holds data tolerance information in relation to the respective transport vehicle or vessel and, when the signal generated by the signal generating means is to be transmitted, the signal generating means examines the value or values of the one or more measured parameters and if they are in tolerance, generates a status signal indicating that the system is operating correctly and all parameters are in tolerance and if they are not in tolerance, the signal generating means generates the signal representing the value or values of the one or more measured parameters;
• and
• iii) local communication means for transmitting the signal via the at least one communications network to the receiving station and the monitoring means,
• wherein the parameter measurement means and the signal generating means are located in a fixed location within an equipment space of a ship and the communications means is a low power transmitter which communicates with the transceivers and the parameter measurement means measures ballast water quality and status of ballast dumping valves.

A telemetry system for measuring one or more parameters within a transport vehicle or vessel and transmitting a signal indicating the value or values of the one or more measured parameters, or the status of the respective transport vehicle or vessel, over a significant distance via at least one communications network, the system comprising:

• a) a receiving station connected to the communications network;
• b) monitoring means for receiving the signal and indicating the value or any one of the values represented by the signal, or the transport vehicle or vessel status;
• and
• c) a mobile monitoring sub-system mounted on or within the transport vehicle or vessel comprising:
• i) parameter measurement means to measure the respective parameters;
• ii) signal generating means to generate a signal for transmission indicating the value or values of the one or more measured parameters, or a status of the transport vehicle or vessel, wherein the signal generating means holds data tolerance information in relation to the respective transport vehicle or vessel and, when the signal generated by the signal generating means is to be transmitted, the signal generating means examines the value or values of the one or more measured parameters and if they are in tolerance, generates a status signal indicating that the system is operating correctly and all parameters are in tolerance and if they are not in tolerance, the signal generating means generates the signal representing the value or values of the one or more measured parameters;
• and
• iii) local communication means for transmitting the signal via the at least one communications network to the receiving station and the monitoring means,
• wherein the parameter measurement means and the signal generating means are located in a fixed location in the transport vehicle or vessel and the communications means is a low power transmitter which communicates with the transceivers, and the monitoring functions of the mobile monitoring sub-system include an input for measuring power supply conditions of environmental control equipment or equipment supporting or forming part of a consignment, shaft speed of the vessel, water purity in a bilge, filtration operation, illumination levels, pollution levels, security breaches, surveillance camera operation or motion detection, status of pollution control equipment, machinery discharge, sewage outflows, discharge of ships' ballast, noise, air quality, water quality, vessel position, surveillance cameras, locking and unlocking of controlled spaces, and entry and exit of controlled spaces.