US 9,986,313 B2 · Systems and methods for providing environmental monitoring and response measures in connection with remote sites

Abstract

A monitoring and response system is provided for monitoring and responding to environmental conditions at one or more sites. The monitoring system includes a plurality of base units, each base unit including at least a processor and a plurality of sensors configured to monitor environmental conditions at the site(s). A central controller is in communication with the base processors at the plurality of base units and is configured to receive and process sensor information from the base units. Base units are configured to be modular and contain customizable, swappable combinations of sensors, sensor arrays, and/or other connected peripherals, and are further configured to be mountable and/or attachable to a wide variety of surfaces and objects disposed around a site such as a construction site. The system further comprises a backend, analytic system for making predictions, taking action, and generating reports responsive to the information received from the base units.

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Drawings

Claims80

Dependent claims

A method of predicting, detecting, or responding to one or more events occurring at a remote site being monitored by a local monitoring system, the method comprising:

receiving descriptive information concerning the site being monitored including at least one of a two-dimensional floorplan of at least part of the site, a three-dimensional layout of at least part of the site, and external environmental conditions around the site;
receiving identifying information concerning location, type, and characteristics of a plurality of sensors operating at the site;
determining one or more plausible preliminary events that could occur at the site and that could be detected by the plurality of sensors responsive to analysis of the descriptive information and the identifying information;
determining one or more parameter thresholds associated with each plausible preliminary event;
receiving monitoring information collected from at least one of the plurality of sensors operating at the site, the plurality of sensors disposed in one or more base units, each base unit comprising:
a housing;
and
one or more of the plurality of sensors disposed within the housing, each of the plurality of sensors configured to detect one or more parameters, the one or more of the plurality of sensors including a first sensor configured to measure a first parameter of the one or more parameters;
determining whether at least one of the one or more plausible preliminary events is suspected, is in progress, or has occurred responsive to a determination that a first parameter threshold of the one or more parameter thresholds associated with the plausible preliminary event have been met or exceeded based on the monitoring information received, the first parameter threshold being associated with the first parameter;
controlling a second sensor of the plurality of sensors to determine whether a plausible event associated with the plausible preliminary event is suspected, is in progress, or has occurred responsive to the determination that the plausible preliminary event is suspected, is in progress, or has occurred, the second sensor configured to detect a second parameter of the one or more parameters;
and
controlling an external device communicatively coupled to the one or more base units in response to determining that the plausible event is suspected, is in progress, or has occurred, the external device being located at the site, and the controlling of the second sensor and the external device including at least one of activating, altering an operational state of, or increasing an amount of power consumed by the second sensor and the external device.

9 more elements

A method of predicting, detecting, or responding to one or more events occurring at a remote site being monitored by a monitoring system, the method comprising:

receiving descriptive information concerning the site being monitored including at least one of a two-dimensional floorplan of at least part of the site, a three-dimensional layout of at least part of the site, and external environmental conditions around the site;
receiving identifying information concerning location, type, and characteristics of a plurality of sensors operating at the site, the plurality of sensors including a first sensor configured to detect a first parameter and a second sensor configured to detect a second parameter;
determining one or more plausible events that could occur at the site and that could be detected by the first and second sensors responsive to analysis of the descriptive information and the identifying information;
determining at least two parameter thresholds associated with each of the one or more plausible events, the at least two parameter thresholds including a first parameter threshold associated with the first parameter and a second parameter threshold associated with the second parameter;
receiving monitoring information collected from the first sensor and the second sensor, the first and second sensors disposed within a housing of at least one base unit;
determining whether at least one of the one or more plausible events is suspected, is in progress, or has occurred responsive to a determination that the first and second parameter thresholds associated with the plausible event have been met or exceeded based on the monitoring information received;
wherein determining whether at least one of the one or more plausible events is suspected, is in progress, or has occurred includes controlling the second sensor to detect the second parameter in response to determining that the first threshold associated with the plausible event has been met or exceeded;
and
controlling an external device communicatively coupled to the base unit in response to determining that the plausible event is suspected, is in progress, or has occurred, the external device being located at the site.

6 more elements

A method of predicting, detecting, or responding to one or more events occurring at a remote site being monitored by a monitoring system, the method comprising:

receiving descriptive information concerning the site being monitored including at least one of a two-dimensional floorplan of at least part of the site, a three-dimensional layout of at least part of the site, and external environmental conditions around the site;
receiving identifying information concerning location, type, and characteristics of a plurality of sensors operating at the site, the plurality of sensors including a first sensor configured to detect a first parameter and a second sensor configured to detect a second parameter;
determining one or more plausible events that could occur at the site and that could be detected by the second sensor responsive to analysis of the descriptive information and the identifying information;
determining one or more plausible preliminary events associated with at least one of the one or more plausible events that could occur at the site and that could be detected by the first sensor responsive to analysis of the descriptive information and the identifying information;
determining at least one parameter threshold associated with each plausible preliminary event and each plausible event, the at least one parameter threshold including a first parameter threshold associated with the first parameter and the plausible preliminary event, and including a second parameter threshold associated with the second parameter and the plausible event;
receiving monitoring information collected from the first sensor and the second sensor, the first and second sensors disposed within a housing of at least one base unit;
determining whether at least one of the one or more plausible preliminary event is suspected, is in progress, or has occurred responsive to a determination that the first parameter threshold has been met or exceeded based on the monitoring information received;
updating the second parameter threshold in response to the determination that the plausible preliminary event is suspected, is in progress, or has occurred;
determining whether at least one of the one or more plausible events associated with the plausible preliminary event is suspected, is in progress, or has occurred responsive to a determination that the updated second parameter threshold has been met or exceeded based on the monitoring information received;
and
controlling an external device communicatively coupled to the base unit in response to determining that the plausible event is suspected, is in progress, or has occurred, the external device being located at the site.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Description20,862 words

Summary999 words

#Field of the Invention

#Aspects and embodiments disclosed herein relate generally to environmental monitoring and response systems and methods to be used in remote locations for enhancing operations management capabilities.

#Discussion of Related Art

Brief description of the drawings34 figures

#Various aspects of at least one embodiment are discussed below with reference to the accompanying figures, which are not intended to be drawn to scale. The figures are included to provide illustration and a further understanding of the various aspects and embodiments, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, but are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the figures, 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 figure. In the figures:

#FIG. 1A shows an illustrative diagrammatic view of an embodiment of a system network;

#FIG. 1B shows an illustrative diagrammatic view of an embodiment of a system network including mesh network communication between a base unit and external sensor modules;

Detailed description19,134 words

#In accordance with various aspects and embodiments, there is provided a monitoring solution having an intelligent communication interface. The monitoring solution may provide real-time, continuous measurements of environmental conditions to a nearby or remote location external to the monitoring equipment. A plurality of sensors may measure environmental conditions. Measured data may be converted to digital data and transmitted wirelessly or through a wired connection to a software platform capable of generating quantifiable metrics a user can act upon. Users may use this data to track, trend, and predict potential points of liability at a desired location using the monitoring solution. Locations for use of this system include but are not limited to construction sites, oil rigs or refineries, mining sites, industrial settings, and renovation work sites.

#Aspects and embodiments disclosed herein relate to an environmental monitoring and risk mitigation system for a structure or a location of industrial activity. The system can generate alerts to inform a user of existing conditions, events, and/or damage. The system can generate warnings to assist the user in the prevention of site damage and/or to adhere to assumed or specified requirements. Data from different sensors can be paired together to provide more accurate readings and/or more actionable data than possible by using sensors individually. In some embodiments, groups of data each representing different parameters may be similarly combined to provide more accurate readings and/or more actionable data even if one or more groups of data is collected from the same sensor or sensor group. Analysis performed by a software platform included in the system can recognize trends in sensor data to produce predictions regarding future event occurrences. Analysis performed by the software platform can recognize trends to create suggestions on building performance, maintenance, climate control, air quality, and/or construction techniques. The system can aid the user in making quick, informed decisions and/or reduce liability. Report generation will display sourced data to highlight patterns or trends identified over time with use.

#The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that, throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

Facts

Application

15/349,811Filed 11 Nov 2016 · us provisional application

Priority

16 Dec 2015

Published

US 2017/0180829 A122 Jun 2017

Granted

29 May 2018

Term ends

11 Nov 2036

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.

Classification8 codes

H04Q 9/00
Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from
H04Q 2209/00
Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems
H04Q 2209/10
Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems: using a centralized architecture
H04Q 2209/40
Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems: using a wireless architecture

Timeline

16 Dec 2015Priority claimedParent application 62/268,260
11 Nov 2016Application filedUS 15/349,811
14 Nov 2016Assigned to Pillar Technologies, Inc.assignment of assignor's interest
22 Jun 2017PublishedUS 2017/0180829 A1
29 May 2018GrantedUS 9,986,313 B2
12 Oct 2026TodayWithin its term
11 Nov 2036Term endsEstimated

Systems and methods for providing environmental monitoring and response measures in connection with remote sites

Life of this patent

Systems and methods for providing environmental monitoring and response measures in connection with remote sites

Life of this patent

Life of this patent

Abstract

Drawings

Drawings

Claims80

Description20,862 words

Drawings

Classification8 codes

Life of this patent

Description20,862 words