System and method for monitoring having an embedded device

• US 20040150519A1
• Filed: 01/31/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dantel, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dantel, Inc.
• Inventors: Husain, Iftikhar, Cromwell, Jeremy
• Application Number:
  US10/356,646
• Publication Number:
  US 20040150519A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19669 Event triggers storage or change of storage policy
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

The present invention provides systems, methods, and computer program products for use in monitoring, and/or surveillance applications. Generally, systems provided include embedded devices with integrated sensors, manager software capable of supporting the particular sensors and embedded devices used, and a hierarchical database structure for storage and retrieval of continuous or event-based data. Preferred embedded devices advantageously include integrated audio, video, and wireless technology to provide an array of sensory detection, analysis, and interactive controls. Preferred database structures advantageously incorporate a secure archiving scheme for retrieval and/or analysis in multiple formats.

Claims

1. A monitoring system comprising:

a plurality of embedded devices, each configured to receive data from at least one sensor, said embedded devices further configured to analyze said data and determine if an event occurred on a device level; and

a software manager configured to communicate with said plurality of embedded devices and determine, on a system level, if an event occurred, said software manager further configured to send a message to at least one of said plurality of embedded devices if said event occurred.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said determination that an event occurred is based on data received from a first embedded device of said plurality of embedded devices, and said message is sent to a second embedded device of said plurality of embedded devices.

3. A system according to claim 1, said system further comprising

a hierarchical database structure in communication with said embedded devices and said manager software, said hierarchical database structure storing data generated by said sensors.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said embedded devices comprises a relay control.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said embedded devices comprises an analog control.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said embedded devices comprises a relay and an analog control.

7. A system according to claim 4, wherein said message sent by said manager software results in said at least one of said embedded devices generating a relay control message.

8. A system according to claim 5, wherein said message sent by said manager software results in said at least one of said embedded devices generating an analog control message.

9. A system according to claim 6, wherein said message sent by said manager software results in said at least one of said embedded devices generating an analog and a relay control message.

10. A system according to claim 1, further comprising

a message server capable of electronic communication with said embedded devices;

and

an application server capable of electronic communication with said message server.

11. A system according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of embedded devices each further comprise an on-board database.

12. A system according to claim 11, wherein said on-board database operates to store continuous data from said sensor.

13. A system according to claim 11, wherein said on-board database operates to store event-based data from said sensor.

14. A system according to claim 11, wherein said on-board database maintains high quality video data.

15. A system according to claim 11, wherein said on-board database maintains high-quality audio data.

16. A system according to claim 3, wherein said hierarchical database structure comprises a local database server capable of electronic communication with said embedded device, said message server, and said application server.

17. A system according to claim 16, wherein said local database server stores archived data from said sensor.

18. A system according to claim 17, wherein said archived data and said manager software are configured to facilitate data analysis.

19. A system according to claim 18, wherein said data analysis comprises trending.

20. A system according to claim 18, wherein said data analysis comprises generating a histogram.

21. A system according to claim 1, wherein said embedded device comprises a plurality of sensors.

22. A system according to claim 21, wherein said plurality of sensors comprise a video sensor and an audio sensor.

23. A system according to claim 10, wherein said messaging server comprises a message broker configured to convert data sent by said embedded device into messages for said application server.

25. A system according to claim 23, wherein said data sent by said embedded device comprises an SNMP trap.

26. A system according to claim 3, wherein said hierarchical database structure comprises a remote database server capable of electronic communication with said application server.

27. A system according to claim 26, wherein said remote database stores event-based data from said sensor.

28. A system according to claim 16, further comprising a video recorder in electronic communication with said local database server.

29. A system according to claim 1, wherein each of said embedded devices further comprise an embedded device database.

30. A system according to claim 29, wherein said embedded device databases store a plurality of records, and wherein each record is associated with a first mode if the record is going to be modified and a second mode if the record is able to be read.

31. A system according to claim 30, wherein said embedded device database further stores a number of readers and a number of writers associated with each record.

32. A monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein each of said embedded devices further comprise an embedded device database for storing configuration information, and wherein an access control scheme governs access to said embedded device database.

33. A monitoring system according to claim 32 wherein said embedded device database stores records, and wherein said access control scheme provides a first designation for records indicating a read mode and a second designation for records indicating a write mode.

34. A method for continuous or event-based monitoring comprising:

receiving data from a sensor associated with a first embedded device;

determining, based at least in part on said data, that an event has occurred;

if said event occurred, electronically determining at least one task to perform; and

automatically performing said task.

35. A method according to claim 34, wherein said at least one task comprises sending an electronic mail message.

36. A method according to claim 35, wherein said at least one task comprises sending a page.

37. A method according to claim 34, wherein said at least one task comprises controlling a device.

38. A method according to claim 37, wherein said event comprises a change in flow rate and said device comprises a valve.

39. A method according to claim 38, wherein said task comprises sending a message to a second embedded device in communication with said valve.

40. A method according to claim 34, said method further comprising

storing said data in an on-board short-term database;

transferring some of said data to a local database server; and

sending event-based data to an offsite long-term database.

41. A method according to claim 34, further comprising:

receiving second data from an analog video recorder in response to an event.

42. A method according to claim 34, further comprising:

receiving data from a plurality of embedded devices.

43. A method according to claim 40, wherein said transferring some of said data to a local database server comprises compressing said data.

44. A method according to claim 43, further comprising analyzing said data stored in said local database server.

45. A method according to claim 44, wherein said analyzing comprises generating a histogram.

46. A computer program product for use in conjunction with a computer system having at least one processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium and a computer program mechanism embedded therein, the computer program mechanism, comprising:

a program module that directs the computer to function in a specified manner, the program module including instructions for;

receiving data from a plurality of embedded devices comprising sensors;

determining if an event has occurred; and

implementing at least one procedure if said event has occurred.

47. A computer program product according to claim 46, wherein said implementing procedures comprises sending an electronic mail message.

48. A computer program product according to claim 46, wherein said implementing procedures comprises initiating a telephone call.

49. A computer program product according to claim 46, wherein said implementing procedures comprises sounding an alarm.

50. A computer program product according to claim 46, wherein said implementing procedures comprises activating a back-up sensor.

51. A computer program product according to claim 46, wherein said implementing procedures comprises transmitting data indicating the occurrence of said event to at least one device.

52. A computer program product according to claim 46, wherein said implementing notification procedures comprises accessing a record in an embedded device database hosted by one of said embedded devices.

53. A computer program product according to claim 52, wherein said program module further includes instructions for:

controlling access to said records in said embedded device database.

54. A computer program product according to claim 53, wherein said controlling access comprises providing a first designation for records indicate a read more and a second designation for records indicating a write mode.

55. A computer program product according to claim 54, wherein said controlling access further comprises receiving a request to write a record and, responsive to said request:

a) attempting to add a writer to said record; and

if said attempt to add a writer is successful; and

b) queuing a change for said record.

56. An embedded device comprising:

an input configured to receive data from at least one external sensor;

a processor receiving said sensor data and performing an analysis based at least in part on said sensor data to determine if an event occurred on a device level; and

an output adapted for communication with an external manager for communicating said event occurrence determination to said external manager.

57. A device according to claim 56, wherein said input and said output are adapted for communication with a hierarchical database structure, said hierarchical database structure storing data generated by said sensor.

58. A device according to claim 56, wherein said embedded device comprises a relay control.

59. A device according to claim 56, wherein said embedded device comprises an analog control.

60. A device according to claim 56, wherein said embedded device comprises a relay control and an analog control.

61. A device according to claim 56, wherein said embedded device comprises an on-board database.

62. A device according to claim 61, wherein said on-board database operates to store continuous data from said sensor.

63. A device according to claim 61, wherein said on-board database operates to store event-based data from said sensor.

64. A device according to claim 56, wherein said data analysis comprises trending.

65. A device according to claim 56, wherein said data analysis comprises generating a histogram.

66. A device according to claim 56, wherein said embedded device comprises a plurality of sensors.

67. A device according to claim 66, wherein said plurality of sensors comprise a video sensor and an audio sensor.

68. A device according to claim 56, wherein said embedded device further comprises an embedded device database.

69. A device according to claim 68, wherein said embedded device database stores a plurality of records, and wherein each record is associated with a first mode if the record is going to be modified and a second mode if the record is able to be read.