System and method for obtaining equipment status data over a network

• US 20070124427A1
• Filed: 09/08/2006
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Far North Patents, LLC
• Original Assignee: Robelight LLC
• Inventors: Light, Elliott, Roberts, Jon
• Granted Patent: US 7,688,952 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/218
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23178 Display status of currently selected controlled devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2011/02 related to amusement parks
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2818 from a device located outside both the home and the home network access arrangements H04L12/2856; for remote control or remote monitoring of applications H04L67/025; arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless eletrical link G08C17/00; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with remote control systems H04M11/007
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/002 with telemetering systems telemetering in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/105 Financial transactions and auctions, e.g. bidding auctioneering devices in packet switching networks H04L12/1804
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2272 Subscriber line supervision circuits, e.g. call detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/387 using subscriber identification cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42093 Notifying the calling party of information on the called or connected party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42374 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/48 Arrangements for recalling a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5307 : for recording messages comprising any combination of audio and non-audio components
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/537 : Arrangements for indicating the presence of a recorded message , whereby the presence information might include a preview or summary of the message
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 : Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1215 : where a cable TV network is used as an access to the PSTN/ISDN
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 : where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 11/0421 : Circuit arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1307 : Call setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 : Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13152 : Callback
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13173 : Busy signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1318 : Ringing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 : PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13274 : Call rejection, call barring
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 : Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13374 : Paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13375 : Electronic mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13377 : Recorded announcement
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 : LAN, internet

Abstract

A portable status sentry comprises a portable memory device, an interface adapted for connecting the portable memory device to a computing device, and auto-run instructions. The auto-run instructions comprise status instructions and are executed by the computing device when the portable memory device is installed in the computing device. Upon execution of the status instructions the computing device is adapted for accessing a query network, acquiring status data from a status file accessible to the query network and associated with a monitored device, and processing the status data to produce a status measure relating to a status of the monitored device.

Claims

1. A portable status sentry comprising:

a portable memory device;

an interface adapted for connecting the portable memory device to a computing device; and

auto-run instructions, wherein the auto-run instructions are executed by the computing device when the portable memory device is installed in the computing device,

wherein the auto-run instructions comprise status instructions, and wherein upon execution of the status instructions the computing device is adapted for;

accessing a query network;

acquiring status data from a status file accessible to the query network and associated with a monitored device; and

processing the status data to produce a status measure relating to a status of the monitored device.

2. The portable status sentry of claim 1, wherein the computing device is selected from the group consisting of a desktop computer, a laptop computer and a personal digital assistant.

3. The portable status sentry of claim 1, wherein the query network is selected from the group consisting of a public switched telephone network, a packet switched network, a cable network, a wireless network, a wired network, and the Internet.

4. The portable status sentry of claim 1, wherein the status measure comprises a value and wherein upon execution of the status instructions, the computing device is further adapted for sending an alert message if the value of the status measure meets an alert criterion selected from the group consisting of falling within a preset range and falling outside a preset range.

5. The portable status sentry of claim 4, wherein the alert message is sent using a service selected from the group consisting of an email service, a instant messaging service, a text-messaging service, a paging service, and a cell phone service.

6. The portable status sentry of claim 1, wherein upon execution of the status instructions, the computing device is further adapted for sending a control command to the monitored device.

7. The portable status sentry of claim 6, wherein the monitored device is security monitoring equipment adapted to monitor the security of a space, wherein the status measure is indicative of a breach of security, and wherein the control command comprises an instruction for issuing an alert.

8. The portable status sentry of claim 6, wherein the monitored device is security monitoring equipment adapted to monitor the security of a space, wherein the status measure is indicative of a breach of security, and wherein the control command comprises an instruction for illuminating the space.

9. The portable status sentry of claim 6, wherein the monitored device is visual imaging equipment, wherein the status measure is indicative of a current field of view of the imaging device, and wherein the control command comprises an instruction for changing the current field of view.

10. The portable status sentry of claim 9, wherein the instructions for changing the current field of view comprise one or more commands selected from the group consisting of pan left, pan right, pan up, pan down, zoom in, zoom out, and focus.

11. The portable status sentry of claim 6, wherein the monitored device is HVAC equipment, wherein the status measure is indicative of a thermostat setting, and wherein the control command comprises an instruction for adjusting the thermostat setting.

12. The portable status sentry of claim 11, wherein the instruction for adjusting the thermostat setting comprises an instruction for increasing the thermostat setting.

13. The portable status sentry of claim 1, wherein the instruction for adjusting the thermostat setting comprises an instruction for decreasing the thermostat setting.

14. The portable status sentry of claim 6, wherein the monitored device comprises a telephone, and wherein the status measure is indicative of the off-hook state of the telephone.

15. The portable status sentry of claim 1, wherein the monitored device comprises a telephone, and wherein the status measure is indicative of the on-hook state of the telephone.

16. The portable status sentry of claim 6, wherein:

the monitored device comprises a telephone;

the status file is associated with a telephone number assigned to the telephone;

the status measure is indicative of a change in a hook state of the telephone; and

the control command comprises an instruction for dialing the telephone number when the hook state changes from an off-hook state to an on-hook state.

17. The portable status sentry of claim 6, wherein the control command is selected by a user of the computing device.

18. The portable status sentry of claim 6, wherein the control command is selected by a user of the monitored device.

19. The portable status sentry of claim 1, wherein the portable memory device is adapted for storing data and wherein upon execution of the status instructions, the status measure is stored on the portable memory device.

20. The portable status sentry of claim 1, wherein the monitored device is selected from the group consisting of a telephone, a security monitoring device, and a machine having usage and service parameters.

21. The portable status sentry of claim 1, wherein the portable memory device is selected from the group consisting of a flash memory module, a micro hard disk drive storage device, and a compact disk device.

22. The portable status sentry of claim 9, wherein the portable memory device is incorporated into a portable device selected from the group consisting of a cell phone, a device for playing MPEG audio files, a CD player, and a personal digital assistant.

23. The portable status sentry of claim 1, wherein the interface is a USB interface.

24. A system for obtaining equipment status data over a network comprising:

equipment adapted for reporting status data indicative of the status of the equipment;

a first network connected to the equipment for receiving the status data from the equipment;

a status file connected to the first network for receiving the status data from the equipment over the first network;

a second network connected to the status file;

a processor connected to the second network;

a portable status sentry connected to the processor via an interface, wherein the portable status sentry comprises;

a portable memory device;

an interface adapted for connecting the portable memory device to a computing device; and

auto-run instructions, wherein the auto-run instructions are executed by the computing device when the portable memory device is installed in the computing device, wherein the auto-run instructions comprise status instructions, and wherein upon execution of the status instructions the computing device is adapted for;

accessing the second network;

acquiring status data from a status file accessible to the second network and associated with a device; and

processing the status data to produce a status measure relating to a status of the device.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the portable memory device is selected from the group consisting of a flash memory module, a flash memory module, a micro hard disk drive storage device, and a compact disk device.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the portable memory device is incorporated into a portable device selected from the group consisting of a cell phone, a device for playing MPEG audio files, a CD player, and a personal digital assistant.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the equipment is selected from the group consisting of a telephone, a security monitoring device, and a machine having usage and service parameters.

28. The system of claim 24, wherein the interface is a USB interface.

29. The system of claim 24, wherein the first network and the second network are selected from the group consisting of a public switched telephone network, packet switched network a cable network, a wireless network, a wired network, and the Internet.

30. The system of claim 24 wherein, the first network is a local area network and the second network is selected from the group consisting of the PSTN, packet switched network a cable network, a wireless network, and the Internet.

31. The system of claim 24, w wherein the status measure comprises a value and wherein upon execution of the status instructions, the computing device is further adapted for sending an alert message if the value of the status measure meets an alert criterion selected from the group consisting of falling within a preset range and falling outside a preset range.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the alert message is sent using a service selected from the group consisting of an email service, a instant messaging service, a text-messaging service, a paging service, and a cell phone service.

33. The system of claim 24, wherein the portable memory device is adapted for storing data and wherein upon execution of the status instructions, the status measure is stored on the portable memory device.

34. The system of claim 24, wherein when the status instructions are executed by the computing device the computing device is further adapted for sending a control command to the equipment.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the equipment is security monitoring equipment adapted to monitor the security of a space, wherein the status measure is indicative of a breach of security, and wherein the control command comprises an instruction for issuing an alert.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the equipment is security monitoring equipment adapted to monitor the security of a space, wherein the status measure is indicative of a breach of security, and wherein the control command comprises an instruction for illuminating the space.

37. The system of claim 34, wherein the equipment is visual imaging equipment, wherein the status measure is indicative of a current field of view of the imaging device, and wherein the control command comprises an instruction for changing the current field of view.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the instruction for changing the current field of view comprises one or more commands selected from the group consisting of pan left, pan right, pan up, pan down, zoom in, zoom out, and focus.

39. The system of claim 34, wherein the equipment is HVAC equipment, wherein the status measure is indicative of a thermostat setting, and where in the control command comprises an instruction for adjusting the thermostat setting.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the instruction for adjusting the thermostat setting comprises an instruction for increasing the thermostat setting.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein the instruction for adjusting the thermostat setting comprises an instruction for decreasing the thermostat setting.

42. The system of claim 34, wherein the equipment comprises a telephone, and wherein the status measure is indicative of the off-hook state of the telephone.

43. The system of claim 34, wherein the equipment comprises a telephone, and wherein the status measure is indicative of the on-hook state of the telephone.

44. The system of claim 34, wherein:

the equipment comprises a telephone;

the status file is associated with a telephone number assigned to the telephone;

the status measure is indicative of a change in a hook state of the telephone; and

the control command comprises an instruction for dialing the telephone number when the hook state changes from an off-hook state to an on-hook state.

45. The system of claim 34, wherein the control command is selected by a user of the computing device.

46. The system of claim 34, wherein the control command is selected by a user of the equipment.