US 9,541,454 B2 · Remote monitoring system

Abstract

A temperature monitoring service in which remote monitoring units are distributed to customers who then set up monitoring as desired at their facilities. The devices may be registered through a web site using the Internet. Monitoring information may be communicated using a publicly available, wireless network, such as a cellular telephone network. The service may be provided with a system, including a server, which can deliver high levels of monitoring functionality. The server may support streaming monitoring information to a customer for analysis or sending a command activating a device connected to a remote unit. Remote units associated with the same location may be in a pool, comprising one active unit and one or more spare units, in which the server automatically identifies the active unit. The server may support analyzing monitoring information according to an expected cycle pattern of a ventilation system at the monitored facility.

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Drawings

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method of operating an environmental monitoring system to monitor one or more environmental parameters of an environment, wherein the environmental monitoring system comprises at least one remote unit disposed in the environment and at least one computing device disposed remote from the environment, wherein each remote unit of the at least one remote unit comprises a sensor to sense an environmental parameter and a transceiver, wherein the method comprises:

adaptively calculating, from analysis of data collected by one or more of the at least one remote unit disposed in the environment, a normal pattern of variation over time in the environment of a first environmental parameter of the environment;
determining whether a state of the first environmental parameter indicates a deviation of the first environmental parameter from the normal pattern of variation over time;
and
in response to determining that the state indicates a deviation, triggering an alert.

1 more element

adaptively calculating, from analysis of data collected by one or more of the at least one remote unit disposed in the environment, a normal change over time in the environment of a first environmental parameter of the environment;
determining whether a state of the first environmental parameter indicates a deviation of the first environmental parameter from the normal change over time;
and
in response to determining that the state indicates a deviation, triggering an alert,
wherein:
the adaptively calculating, the determining, and the triggering are performed by the at least one computing device disposed remote from the environment;
and
the method further comprises receiving, at the at least one computing device over time, a plurality of environmental parameter reports from the at least one remote unit in the environment, each report of the plurality of environmental parameter reports comprising an environmental parameter value detected in the environment at a time;
the adaptively calculating from the analysis of the data comprises adaptively calculating from an analysis of environmental parameter values of the plurality of environmental parameter reports over time;
and
the determining whether the state indicates a deviation comprises determining based on an environmental parameter report of the plurality of environmental parameter report.

8 more elements

adaptively calculating, from analysis of data collected by one or more of the at least one remote unit disposed in the environment, a normal change over time in the environment of a first environmental parameter of the environment;
determining whether a state of the first environmental parameter indicates a deviation of the first environmental parameter from the normal change over time;
and
in response to determining that the state indicates a deviation, triggering an alert,
wherein:
a first device is disposed in the environment;
the method further comprises, in response to determining that the state indicates a deviation, transmitting at least one message to the first device to place the first device into a first state;
a second device is disposed in the environment, the first device and the second device being arranged such that the first device controls operation of the second device;
transmitting the at least one message to the first device to place the first device into the first state comprises transmitting at least one message to which the first device is configured to respond by performing a first control to place the second device into a second state;
the first device controls an actuator coupled between the second device and a power source;
transmitting the at least one message to the first device comprises transmitting at least one message to which the first device is configured to respond by changing a state of the actuator;
the second device is HVAC equipment;
the first environmental parameter is temperature;
the at least one remote unit comprises a temperature sensor;
determining whether a state of the first environmental parameter indicates a deviation of the first environmental parameter from the normal change over time comprises determining whether a temperature in the environment indicates a deviation from a normal change over time of temperature in the environment;
receiving, at the at least one computing device over time, the plurality of environmental parameter reports from the at least one remote unit comprises receiving the plurality of environmental parameter reports via at least one network, the at least one network comprising a Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN), wherein each environmental parameter report of the plurality is formatted according to a best effort communication protocol;
and
the method further comprises responding to a first environmental parameter report of the plurality by transmitting, from the at least one computing device and to a first remote unit of the at least one remote unit that transmitted the first environmental report, an acknowledgement of receipt of the first environmental parameter report, the acknowledge of receipt being included in a message formatted according to the best effort communication protocol.

15 more elements

At least one computer-readable storage medium having encoded thereon executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to carry out a method of operating an environmental monitoring system to monitor one or more environmental parameters of an environment, wherein the environmental monitoring system comprises at least one remote unit disposed in the environment and at least one computing device disposed remote from the environment, wherein each remote unit of the at least one remote unit comprises a sensor to sense an environmental parameter and a transceiver, wherein the method comprises:

adaptively calculating, from analysis of data collected by one or more of the at least one remote unit disposed in the environment, a normal pattern of variation over time in the environment of a first environmental parameter of the environment;
determining whether a state of the first environmental parameter indicates a deviation of the first environmental parameter from the normal pattern of variation over time;
and
in response to determining that the state indicates a deviation, triggering an alert.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description16,305 words

Summary798 words

#Temperature monitoring is used in many industries. For example, restaurants and food processing companies that rely on refrigeration equipment to keep their products fresh frequently use temperature monitoring. If a malfunction of the refrigeration equipment is not detected promptly, food could and gets either too hot or too cold, resulting in damage to the food products. For a business that relies on food, such damage could result in a large monetary loss and potentially a sethous business disruption.

#As another example, companies that operate servers or other computer equipment may also monitor temperature of their equipment. Sometimes, a malfunctioning component of the computer equipment will generate excessive heat. Thus, a temperature increase may indicate a defect that may need to corrected. Also, excessive heat generated by the equipment may cause components to fail because they are operating beyond their proper operating temperature.

#Temperature monitoring systems are known. These systems incorporate temperature sensors attached to or mounted near equipment for which temperature is to be monitored. The system responds if the temperature sensor indicates a temperature outside of a normal operating range. One type of response that has been used is to raise an alarm at facility where the monitored equipment is located. Some systems use bells, flashing lights or other forms of audible or visible indications of an improper operating temperature.

Brief description of the drawings17 figures

#The accompanying drawings are not intended to be drawn to scale. In the drawings, each identical or nearly identical component that is illustrated in various figures is represented by a like numeral. For purposes of clarity, not every component may be labeled in every drawing. In the drawings:

#FIG. 1 is a sketch of a temperature monitoring system according to some embodiments of the invention;

#FIG. 2 is a sketch of a graphical user interface that may be presented by the system of FIG. 1 to a user registering a device;

Detailed description15,077 words

#A temperature monitoring system according to some embodiments of the invention has an architecture that allows operation even with low cost and easy to install remote units. Yet, the system is capable of providing a high level of monitoring functionality and data analysis through the use of a central server. Low cost operation may be further facilitated through the use of a protocol that provides low cost communication between the central server and remote units.

#In some embodiments, the remote units and a central server communicate using a public, cellular network. Using a public, wireless network avoids the need for special wiring or connections between the remote units and the central server, and allows the remote units to be easily installed, even by a user. Such a network also allows the remote units to be installed on mobile platforms, such as refrigerated trucks.

#To enable the server to interact with remote units, even if the remote units are user installed, the server may provide a web site or other suitable interface for users to register remote units. In some embodiments, remote units are distributed with indicia of an identifier for the device. When a user installs a device, the user may register the device to provide the server with the identifier for the device and monitoring parameters associated with the device.

Facts

Application

14/842,109Filed 1 Sep 2015 · continuation

Priority

21 Nov 2008

Published

US 2015/0369671 A124 Dec 2015

Granted

10 Jan 2017

Term ends

21 Nov 2028

Estimated · how

20 years from earliest known nonprovisional domestic filing plus recorded patent term adjustment. Maintenance-fee lapses, terminal disclaimers and statutory extensions have not been checked. The continuity chain may be incomplete; this is not an enforceability determination.

Classification15 codes

G01K 1/024
Means for indicating or recording specially adapted for thermometers: for remote indication
G06F 11/0709
The processing taking place on a specific hardware platform or in a specific software environment: in a distributed system consisting of a…
G08B 21/182
Status alarms: level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
G08C 25/02
Arrangements for preventing or correcting errors; Monitoring arrangements: by signalling back receiving station to transmitting station

Family

Application12/275,971Parent of this continuation · filed 21 Nov 2008

Application13/554,858Parent of this continuation · filed 20 Jul 2012

Application14/041,703Parent of this continuation · filed 30 Sep 2013

US 2015/0369671 A1Pre-grant publication · published 24 Dec 2015

US 8,547,226 B2Parent of this continuation

Application14/041,703Parent of this continuation

US 8,248,252 B2Parent of this continuation

Application13/554,858Parent of this continuation

US 2010/0127881 A1Published application

US 2012/0280834 A1Published application

US 2014/0223230 A1Published application

US 9,541,454 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Timeline

21 Nov 2008Priority claimedParent application 12/275,971
1 Sep 2015Application filedUS 14/842,109
24 Sep 2015Assigned to Schechter Tech, LLCassignment of assignor's interest
24 Dec 2015PublishedUS 2015/0369671 A1
10 Jan 2017GrantedUS 9,541,454 B2
4 Oct 2018Assigned to Digi International Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
19 Dec 2019Assigned to Bmo Harris Bank N.A.security interest
8 Dec 2023Assigned to Digi International Inc.release of security interest
8 Dec 2023Assigned to Bmo Bank N.A., AS Administrative Agentsecurity interest
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
21 Nov 2028Term endsEstimated

Remote monitoring system

Life of this patent

Remote monitoring system

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims20

Description16,305 words

Drawings

Classification15 codes

Life of this patent

Description16,305 words