Sensor monitoring apparatus, monitoring system, sensor monitoring method and program

• US 20050156728A1
• Filed: 11/22/2004
• Published: 07/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Nanba, Katsushi
• Granted Patent: US 7,196,620 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/502
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/014 Alarm signalling to a central station with two-way communication, e.g. with signalling back
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

A sensor monitor comprises a sensor monitoring section for monitoring a sensor, notifying section for notifying a first notifying destination of a predetermined state when sensed by the sensor, notification confirming section for confirming that the notification has been recognized by the first notifying destination, and control section for deciding a second notifying destination in case of the incapability of confirming that the notification has been recognized, and notifying the notifying means of it.

Claims

1. A monitoring apparatus comprising:

a sensor monitoring unit monitoring a sensor;

a notifying unit notifying, when said sensor detects a predetermined state, a first notifying destination of this purport;

a notification confirming unit confirming that the notification has been recognized at said first notifying destination; and

a control unit determining, if unable to confirm that the notification has been recognized, a second notifying destination and making said notifying means give the notification to said second notifying destination.

2. A monitoring apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

a notifying destination recording unit recording a plurality of notifying destinations; and

an operation detecting unit detecting an operation state of said notifying destination,

wherein said control unit determines said second notifying destination on the basis of the operation states of said plurality of notifying destinations.

3. A processing apparatus connected to a monitoring apparatus comprising a sensor monitoring unit monitoring a sensor, a notifying unit notifying, when said sensor detects a predetermined state, a first notifying destination of this purport, a notification confirming unit confirming that the notification has been recognized at said notifying destination, and a control unit determining, if unable to confirm that the notification as been recognized, a second notifying destination and making said notifying means give the notification to the second notifying destination, said processing apparatus being connected to said sensor and receiving the notification from said monitoring apparatus, said processing apparatus comprising:

a communication unit communicating with said monitoring apparatus;

an operation judging unit judging an operation state of said monitoring apparatus; and

a substitute unit functioning, if said monitoring apparatus is not under operation, as said sensor monitoring unit, said notifying unit and said control unit.

4. A monitoring system comprising a monitoring apparatus for monitoring a sensor and a processing apparatus for receiving a notification from said monitoring apparatus, said monitoring apparatus including:

a sensor monitoring unit monitoring a sensor;

a notifying unit notifying, when said sensor detects a predetermined state, a first notifying destination of this purport;

a notification confirming unit confirming that the notification has been recognized at said notifying destination; and

a control unit determining, if unable to confirm that the notification as been recognized, a second notifying destination and making said notifying means give the notification to said second notifying destination,

said processing apparatus including;

a communication unit communicating with said monitoring apparatus;

an operation judging unit judging an operation state of said monitoring apparatus; and

a substitute unit functioning, if said monitoring apparatus is not under operation, as said sensor monitoring unit, said notifying unit and said control unit.

5. A sensor monitoring method comprising steps of:

monitoring a sensor;

notifying, when said sensor detects a predetermined state, a first notifying destination of this purport;

confirming that the notification has been recognized at said first notifying destination; and

determining, if unable to confirm that the notification has been recognized, a second notifying destination and making said notifying means give the notification to said second notifying destination.

6. A sensor monitoring method according to claim 5, further comprising steps of:

referring to a plurality of notifying destinations; and

detecting an operation state of said notifying destination,

wherein said determining step involves determining said second notifying destination on the basis of the operation states of said plurality of notifying destinations.

7. A program for making a computer execute steps of:

monitoring a sensor;

notifying, when said sensor detects a predetermined state, a first notifying destination of this purport;

confirming that the notification has been recognized at said first notifying destination; and

determining, if unable to confirm that the notification has been recognized, a second notifying destination and getting the notification given to said second notifying destination.

8. A program according to claim 7, further making said computer execute steps of:

referring to a plurality of notifying destinations; and

detecting an operation state of said notifying destination,

wherein said determining step involves determining said second notifying destination on the basis of the operation states of said plurality of notifying destinations.

9. A program for making a computer, connected to a monitoring apparatus comprising a sensor monitoring unit monitoring a sensor, a notifying unit notifying, when said sensor detects a predetermined state, a first notifying destination of this purport, a notification confirming unit confirming that the notification has been recognized at said notifying destination, and a control unit determining, if unable to confirm that the notification as been recognized, a second notifying destination and making said notifying means give the notification to said second notifying destination, said computer being connected to said sensor, execute steps of:

communicating with said monitoring apparatus;

judging an operation state of said monitoring apparatus; and

functioning, if said monitoring apparatus is not under operation, as said sensor monitoring unit, said notifying unit and said control unit.

10. A storage medium readable by a machine, tangible embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps comprising:

monitoring a sensor;

notifying, when said sensor detects a predetermined state, a first notifying destination of this purport;

confirming that the notification has been recognized at said first notifying destination; and

determining, if unable to confirm that the notification has been recognized, a second notifying destination and getting the notification given to said second notifying destination.

11. A storage medium readable by the machine according to claim 10, further comprising steps of:

referring to a plurality of notifying destinations; and

detecting an operation state of said notifying destination,

wherein said determining step involves determining said second notifying destination on the basis of the operation states of said plurality of notifying destinations.

12. A storage medium readable by a machine, tangible embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine, connected to a monitoring apparatus comprising a sensor monitoring unit monitoring a sensor, a notifying unit notifying, when said sensor detects a predetermined state, a first notifying destination of this purport, a notification confirming unit confirming that the notification has been recognized at said notifying destination, and a control unit determining, if unable to confirm that the notification as been recognized, a second notifying destination and making said notifying means give the notification to said second notifying destination, said computer being connected to said sensor, to perform method steps including:

communicating with said monitoring apparatus;

judging an operation state of said monitoring apparatus; and

functioning, if said monitoring apparatus is not under operation, as said sensor monitoring unit, said notifying unit and said control unit.