Method and apparatus for internet-based remote terminal units and flow computers

• US 20020161866A1
• Filed: 03/20/2002
• Published: 10/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daniel Measurement and Control Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: Daniel Measurement and Control Incorporated (Emerson Electric Company)
• Inventors: Day, Leslie, Tozer, Garnet, Vanderah, Richard J.
• Application Number:
  US10/104,292
• Publication Number:
  US 20020161866A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/220
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

An improved system and method for an Internet-accessible RTU system is presented. An embodiment of the present invention comprises at least one field sensor device, a RTU connected locally with one or more field sensor devices and configured to transmit data to and receive data from the field sensor devices. The RTU is also configured to be an Internet web server and an email client. A communication device is used in conjunction with the RTU to enable the RTU to transmit and receive data over an Internet connection. The RTU is programmed to process data received from the field sensor devices and communicate the processed data over the Internet connection. A WWW-enabled device is connected to the RTU via the Internet connection and the WWW-enabled device is programmed to transmit data to and receive data from the RTU via the Internet connection.

Claims

1. An Internet-accessible RTU system, comprising:

at least one field sensor device;

a RTU connected locally with said at least one field sensor device and configured to transmit data to and receive data from said at least one field sensor device;

said RTU is also configured to be an Internet web server and an email client;

a communication device, wherein said communication device enables said RTU to transmit and receive data over an Internet connection;

said RTU is programmed to process said data received from said at least one field sensor device and communicate said processed data over said Internet connection; and

a WWW-enabled device connected to said RTU via said Internet connection, wherein said WWW-enabled device is programmed to transmit data to and receive data from said RTU via said Internet connection.

2. An Internet-accessible RTU system as in claim 1, wherein said WWW-enabled device may be used to remotely configure parameters in said RTU via said Internet connection.

3. An Internet-accessible RTU system as in claim 1, wherein said RTU is identified by a URL address.

4. An Internet-accessible RTU system as in claim 1, wherein said WWW-enabled device receives data from said RTU in a web page format.

5. An Internet-accessible RTU system as in claim 1, wherein said WWW-enabled device receives e-mail from said RTU containing information received by said RTU from said at least one field sensor device.

6. An Internet-accessible RTU system as in claim 1, wherein said WWW-enabled device is a personal computer, laptop computer or PDA running Internet browser software.

7. An Internet-accessible RTU system as in claim 1, wherein said WWW-enabled device is a cellular telephone capable of transmitting and receiving data via said Internet connection.

8. An Internet-accessible RTU system as in claim 1, wherein said processed data includes emails, reports and alerts, wherein said emails, reports and alerts are transmitted by said RTU to said WWW-enabled device over said Internet connection.

9. An Internet-accessible RTU system as in claim 1, wherein said RTU is enclosed in a weatherproof enclosure.

10. An Internet-accessible RTU system as in claim 1, wherein said communication device is any one of the following:

CDPD modem, satellite modem, a microwave modem, a spread spectrum modem, a licensed radio frequency modem, a cellular modem or a land-line modem.

11. An Internet-accessible RTU system as in claim 10, wherein said communication device is an independent communication device from said RTU, but wherein said communication device is locally coupled to said RTU to enable said Internet connection.

12. An Internet-accessible RTU system as in claim 11, wherein said RTU is programmed to provide communication interface between said independent communication device and said RTU.

13. An Internet-accessible RTU system as in claim 10, wherein said communication device is integrated within said RTU.

14. An Internet-accessible RTU system as in claim 1, wherein said communication device provides Internet communication protocols.

15. An Internet-accessible RTU system as in claim 1, wherein said web server provides Internet communication protocols.

16. An Internet-accessible RTU system as in claim 1, wherein said RTU is programmed to provide protocol conversions and field equipment interface between said at least one field sensor device and said RTU.

17. An Internet-accessible RTU system as in claim 1, wherein said RTU is programmed to perform gas flow calculations on said data received from said at least one field sensor device.

18. An Internet-accessible RTU system as in claim 17, wherein said RTU is a flow computer.

19. An Internet-accessible RTU system as in claim 1, wherein said RTU is programmed to perform logging of said data received from said at least one field sensor device.

20. An Internet-accessible RTU system as in claim 1, wherein said RTU is programmed to prepare reports relating to said processed data and send said reports to said WWW-enabled devices via email to one or more pre-defined email addresses via said Internet connection.

21. An Internet-accessible RTU system as in claim 1, wherein said RTU is programmed to send alerts relating to said processed data to said WWW-enabled devices via email to one or more pre-defined email addresses via said Internet connection.

22. An Internet-accessible RTU system as in claim 21, wherein the alarm threshold for sending said alerts is user-configurable.

23. An Internet-accessible RTU system as in claim 1, wherein user of said WWW-enabled device connects to said RTU via said Internet connection by entering into web browser of said WWW-enabled device the URL assigned to said RTU, wherein said user and said RTU transmit and receive information relating to said RTU and said at least one field sensor device.

24. An Internet-accessible RTU system as in claim 23, wherein said information transmitted between said user and said RTU is in web page format, HTML format or XML format.

26. An Internet-accessible RTU system as in claim 25, wherein said remote host computer is a WWW-enabled device.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said WWW-enabled device may be used to remotely configure parameters in said RTU via said Internet connection.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein said RTU is identified by a URL address.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein said WWW-enabled device receives data from said RTU in a web page format.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein said WWW-enabled device receives e-mail from said RTU containing information received by said RTU from said at least one field sensor device.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein said WWW-enabled device is a personal computer, laptop computer or PDA running Internet browser software.

33. The method of claim 27, wherein said WWW-enabled device is a cellular telephone capable of transmitting and receiving data via said Internet connection.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein said processed data includes emails, reports and alerts, wherein said emails, reports and alerts are transmitted by said RTU to said WWW-enabled device over said Internet connection.

35. The method of claim 27, wherein said RTU is enclosed in a weatherproof enclosure.

36. The method of claim 27, wherein said communication device is any one of the following:

CDPD modem, satellite modem, a microwave modem, a spread spectrum modem, a licensed radio frequency modem, a cellular modem or a land-line modem.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said communication device is an independent communication device from said RTU, but wherein said communication device is locally coupled to said RTU to enable said Internet connection.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein said RTU is programmed to provide communication interface between said independent communication device and said RTU.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein said communication device is integrated within said RTU.

40. The method of claim 27, wherein said communication device provides Internet communication protocols.

41. The method of claim 27, wherein said web server provides Internet communication protocols.

42. The method of claim 27, wherein said RTU is programmed to provide protocol conversions and field equipment interface between said at least one field sensor device and said RTU.

43. The method of claim 27, wherein said RTU is programmed to perform gas flow calculations on said data received from said at least one field sensor device.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said RTU is a flow computer.

45. The method of claim 27, wherein said RTU is programmed to perform logging of said data received from said at least one field sensor device.

46. The method of claim 27, wherein said RTU is programmed to prepare reports relating to said processed data and send said reports to said WWW-enabled devices via email to one or more pre-defined email addresses via said Internet connection.

47. The method of claim 27, wherein said RTU is programmed to send alerts relating to said processed data to said WWW-enabled devices via email to one or more pre-defined email addresses via said Internet connection.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein the alarm threshold for sending said alerts is user-configurable.

49. The method of claim 27, wherein user of said WWW-enabled device connects to said RTU via said Internet connection by entering into web browser of said WWW-enabled device the URL assigned to said RTU, wherein said user and said RTU transmit and receive information relating to said RTU and said at least one field sensor device.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein said information transmitted between said user and said RTU is in web page format, HTML format or XML format.

25. An Internet-accessible RTU system, comprising:

at least one field sensor device;

a RTU connected locally with said at least one field sensor device and configured to transmit data to and receive data from said at least one field sensor device;

said RTU is also configured to be an Internet web server and an email client;

a communication device, wherein said communication device enables said RTU to transmit and receive data over an Internet connection;

said RTU is also programmed to process said data received from said at least one field sensor device and communicate said processed data over said Internet connection; and

a remote host computer connected to said RTU via said Internet connection, wherein said remote host computer is programmed to receive periodic data from said RTU via said Internet connection, wherein said host computer is further programmed to analyze said data, parse out various data values, store said parsed data values in a database and manipulate data in said database.

27. A method of use of an Internet-accessible RTU, comprising:

connecting RTU locally with at least one field sensor device;

configuring said RTU to transmit data to and receive data from said at least one field sensor device;

further configuring said RTU to be an Internet web server and an email client;

connecting a communication device to said RTU, wherein said communication device enables said RTU to transmit and receive data over an Internet connection;

programming said RTU to process said data received from said at least one field sensor device and communicating said processed data over said Internet connection; and

connecting a WWW-enabled device to said RTU via said Internet connection, wherein said WWW-enabled device is programmed to transmit data to and receive data from said RTU via said Internet connection.

51. A method of use of an Internet-accessible RTU system, comprising:

connecting a RTU locally with at least one field sensor device and configuring said RTU to transmit data to and receive data from said at least one field sensor device;

configuring said RTU to be an Internet web server and an email client;

connecting a communication device to said RTU, wherein said communication device enables said RTU to transmit and receive data over an Internet connection;

programing said RTU to process said data received from said at least one field sensor device and communicating said processed data over said Internet connection; and

connecting a remote host computer to said RTU via said Internet connection, wherein said remote host computer is programmed to receive periodic data from said RTU via said Internet connection, wherein said host computer is further programmed to analyze said data, parse out various data values, store said parsed data values in a database and manipulate data in said database.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein said remote host computer is a WWW-enabled device.