Initialization of a sensor for minitoring the structural integrity of a building

• US 20070093991A1
• Filed: 10/20/2005
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher Hoogenboom
• Original Assignee: Christopher Hoogenboom
• Inventors: Hoogenboom, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 7,312,703 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/20 responsive to moisture
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/003 Address allocation methods and details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/22 Provisions facilitating manual calibration, e.g. input or output provisions for testing; Holding of intermittent values to permit measurement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

Initialization of a sensor for monitoring the structural integrity of a building involves the sensor, a gateway and an installer device. An automated initialization brings the sensor online and enables the sensor for remote monitoring without requiring on-site manual configuration. Through the automated initialization, the sensor joins a logical communication group and a GPS location associated with the sensor becomes remotely accessible by a human network administrator.

Claims

1. An initialization method for a monitoring sensor, comprising:

communicating to the sensor from an installer device first configuration information;

communicating to a gateway from the sensor the first configuration information;

communicating to the installer device from the sensor first success information indicative of a successful communication between the sensor and the gateway; and

outputting by the installer device second success information indicative of a successful initialization of the sensor.

2. The initialization method of claim 1, wherein the second success information is an audible sound.

3. The initialization method of claim 1, wherein the first configuration information includes a network identifier associating the sensor with a logical group of devices.

4. The initialization method of claim 1, wherein the first configuration information includes GPS coordinates identifying an approximate geographic location of the sensor.

5. The initialization method of claim 1, wherein the gateway communicates to a Web server the first configuration information.

6. The initialization method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting and receiving steps are performed over digital communication links.

7. The initialization method of claim 6, wherein the digital communication links are wireless links.

8. The initialization method of claim 1, wherein the first success information includes an identifier of the sensor.

9. An initialization method for a monitoring sensor, comprising:

writing by an installer device to the sensor first configuration information;

reading by a gateway from the sensor the first configuration information;

reading by the installer device from the sensor first success information indicative of a successful communication between the sensor and the gateway; and

outputting by the installer device second success information indicative of a successful initialization of the sensor.

10. The initialization method of claim 9, wherein the second success information is an audible sound.

11. The initialization method of claim 9, wherein the first configuration information includes a network identifier associating the sensor with a logical group of devices.

12. The initialization method of claim 9, wherein the first configuration information includes GPS coordinates identifying an approximate geographic location of the sensor.

13. The initialization method of claim 9, wherein the gateway communicates to a Web server the first configuration information.

14. The initialization method of claim 9, wherein the writing step is performed using a direct memory access (DMA) write command.

15. The initialization method of claim 9, wherein the first and second reading steps are performed using DMA read commands.

16. The initialization method of claim 9, wherein the first success information includes an identifier of the sensor.

17. An installer device for facilitating initialization of a sensor, the installer device having instructions executable by a processor for performing steps comprising:

transmitting first configuration information to the sensor for further transmission to a gateway;

receiving first success information from the sensor indicative of a successful communication between the sensor and the gateway; and

outputting second success information indicative of a successful initialization of the sensor.

18. The installer device of claim 17, wherein the second success information is an audible sound.

19. The installer device of claim 17, wherein the first configuration information includes a network identifier associating the sensor with logical group of devices.

20. The installer device of claim 17, wherein the first configuration information includes GPS coordinates identifying an approximate geographic location of the sensor.

21. The installer device of claim 17, wherein the gateway communicates to a Web server the first configuration information.

22. The installer device of claim 17, wherein the transmitting and receiving steps are performed over digital communication links.

23. The installer device of claim 22, wherein the digital communication links are wireless links.

24. The installer device of claim 17, wherein the first success information includes an identifier of the sensor.

25. An installer device for facilitating initialization of a sensor, the installer device having instructions executable by a processor for performing steps comprising:

transmitting a network identifier to a sensor; and

receiving first success information from the sensor indicative of a successful communication between the sensor and a gateway using the network identifier.

26. The installer device of claim 25, further comprising outputting second success information indicative of a successful initialization of the sensor.

27. The installer device of claim 26, wherein the successful initialization comprises joining a logical communication group associated with the network identifier.

28. The installer device of claim 25, wherein the network identifier is associated with a logical group of devices comprising one or more sensors and one or more gateways.

29. The installer device of claim 25, further comprising associating GPS coordinates with the sensor.

30. The installer device of claim 25, wherein the installer device is a mobile handheld device.

31. The installer device of claim 25, wherein the transmitting and receiving steps are performed over digital communication links.

32. The installer device of claim 31, wherein the digital communication links are wireless links.

33. A method for facilitating initialization of a sensor, comprising the steps of:

transmitting a network identifier to a sensor; and

receiving first success information from the sensor indicative of a successful communication between the sensor and a gateway using the network identifier.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising outputting second success information indicative of a successful initialization of the sensor.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the successful initialization comprises joining a logical communication group associated with the network identifier.

36. The method of claim 33, further comprising associating GPS coordinates with the sensor.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the transmitting and receiving steps are performed over digital communication links.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the digital communication links are wireless links.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein the sensor is adapted to monitor structural integrity of a building.