Automated acquisition and notification system
First Claim
1. A scalable monitoring system for monitoring at least one receptacle array that includes a plurality of receptacles, the system comprising:
- a scalable acquisition platform communicatively coupled with the plurality of receptacles, the acquisition platform having a configurable architecture comprising;
a first processor;
a first primary communication channel having a primary node set of at least one primary node; and
at least one secondary communication channel having a secondary node set set of at least one secondary node, wherein the first primary communication channel is interfaced with the processor, and the at least one secondary communication channel is interfaced with the first primary communication channel via the primary node set;
a plurality of sensors of at least one type, each sensor configured to monitor at least a presence of selectively-definable subject material within a corresponding at least one of the plurality of receptacles, wherein the plurality of sensors communicate with the scalable acquisition platform via the secondary node set;
a system database that maintains database records of information related to each receptacle of the plurality of receptacles including at least state information of the presence of the subject material; and
a dynamic system configuration definition that associates at least one of the plurality of sensors with at least one of the database records, and that associates the primary nodes with selected of the at least one secondary communication channel;
wherein the scalable acquisition platform utilizes the dynamic system configuration definition to enable the scalable monitoring system to be selectively configured to accommodate a variety of receptacle array configurations with addition or removal of sensors, with addition or removal of communication channels, with adjustment of communication channel node associations or sensor-communication node associations, or with adjustment of sensor-database record associations.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A data acquisition and notification system associated with an array of receptacles having sensors adapted to observe at least one condition or event associated with at least one receptacle. A system database is configured to maintain data representing sensor information. Monitoring hardware is communicatively coupled to each sensor of the array of receptacles and controlled by a data acquisition program that causes the monitoring hardware to gather sensor information from the sensors and communicate the data representing the sensor information to the system database. A notification system is communicatively coupled to the system database and adapted to issue notifications that are based on data maintained by the system database.
81 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A scalable monitoring system for monitoring at least one receptacle array that includes a plurality of receptacles, the system comprising:
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a scalable acquisition platform communicatively coupled with the plurality of receptacles, the acquisition platform having a configurable architecture comprising;
a first processor;
a first primary communication channel having a primary node set of at least one primary node; and
at least one secondary communication channel having a secondary node set set of at least one secondary node, wherein the first primary communication channel is interfaced with the processor, and the at least one secondary communication channel is interfaced with the first primary communication channel via the primary node set;
a plurality of sensors of at least one type, each sensor configured to monitor at least a presence of selectively-definable subject material within a corresponding at least one of the plurality of receptacles, wherein the plurality of sensors communicate with the scalable acquisition platform via the secondary node set;
a system database that maintains database records of information related to each receptacle of the plurality of receptacles including at least state information of the presence of the subject material; and
a dynamic system configuration definition that associates at least one of the plurality of sensors with at least one of the database records, and that associates the primary nodes with selected of the at least one secondary communication channel;
wherein the scalable acquisition platform utilizes the dynamic system configuration definition to enable the scalable monitoring system to be selectively configured to accommodate a variety of receptacle array configurations with addition or removal of sensors, with addition or removal of communication channels, with adjustment of communication channel node associations or sensor-communication node associations, or with adjustment of sensor-database record associations. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A data acquisition and notification system adapted to be associated with at least one array of receptacles, the system comprising:
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a sensor group of at least one sensor in each receptacle of the array, the sensor group adapted to detect a presence of a subject material placed in the receptacle, wherein at least one sensor of the sensor group includes an electromagnetic emitter and photovoltaic detector, wherein emitted electromagnetic radiation by the emitter reflects off of any subject material present in the receptacle and any reflection is sensed by the photovoltaic detector;
a system database configured to maintain data representing sensor information;
monitoring hardware communicatively coupled to each sensor of the array of receptacles and controlled by a data acquisition program that causes the monitoring hardware to gather sensor information from the sensors and communicate the data representing the sensor information to the system database; and
a notification system communicatively coupled to the system database and adapted to issue notifications that are based on data maintained by the system database.
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20. A data acquisition and notification system adapted to be associated with at least one array of receptacles, the system comprising:
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a sensor group of at least one sensor in each receptacle of the array, the sensor group adapted to detect a presence of a subject material placed in the receptacle, wherein at least one sensor of the sensor group includes data analysis and storage capability;
a system database configured to maintain data representing sensor information;
monitoring hardware communicatively coupled to each sensor of the array of receptacles and controlled by a data acquisition program that causes the monitoring hardware to gather sensor information from the sensors and communicate the data representing the sensor information to the system database; and
a notification system communicatively coupled to the system database and adapted to issue notifications that are based on data maintained by the system database.
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Specification