Trusted monitoring system and method

• US 20070182544A1
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gregory P. Benson
• Original Assignee: Gregory P. Benson
• Inventors: Benson, Greg, Fistonich, Matthew
• Application Number:
  US11/417,910
• Publication Number:
  US 20070182544A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/521
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/0275 using fuzzy logic only
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/202 where processing functionality is redundant redundant communication control functionality G06F11/2005, redundant storage control functionality G06F11/2089
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/52 during program execution, e.g. stack integrity ; Preventing unwanted data erasure; Buffer overflow
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/034 Test or assess a computer or a system
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 Machine learning
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/048 Fuzzy inferencing
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 7/01 Probabilistic graphical models, e.g. probabilistic networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/26 Government or public services business processes related to the transportation industry G06Q50/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/28 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading, distribution or shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/30 Transportation; Communications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0891 Video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0636 : in which the trolleys or carts are kept in a restricted zone such as a coral-like enclosure, or are passing a gate before use is possible
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 : Checkout procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/00 : Alarm indicators, e.g. bells
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/196 : using television cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/22 : Electrical actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2454 : Checking of authorisation of a person accessing tagged items in an EAS system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 : Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 : responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 : Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/04 : Monitoring of the detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/16 : Security signalling or alarm systems, e.g. redundant systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/22 : including jamming detection and monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 : Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 : wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 : Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 : for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 : Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3236 : using cryptographic hash functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 : involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for monitoring remotely located objects with a system comprised of at least one master data collection unit, any number of remote sensor units, and a central data collection server are described. The master unit is configured to monitor any object, mobile or stationary, including monitoring multiple remote sensor units associated with the objects being monitored. The master unit may be in a fixed location, or attached to a mobile object. The master unit is configured for monitoring objects that enter and leave the area where it is located. The master unit may act as a parent controller for one or more child devices, wherein the child devices can be remote sensors or monitors of various measurable conditions including environmental conditions, substance identification, product identification and biometric identification. The master unit is able to discover new remote sensor units as they enter or leave the area where the master unit is located. The master unit can be remotely reprogrammed. The reprogramming can be accomplished with authenticated instructions.

Claims

1. A monitoring system comprising:

an environmental sensor configured to detect environmental information associated with an object;

an identification sensor configured to identify the object;

a timing device configured to provide time information comprising a time of day and a date;

a location sensor configured to receive location information; and

an electronic device configured to receive data from the environmental sensor, the identification sensor, the timing device and the location sensor, and wherein the electronic device is further configured to transmit the received data such that the timing information, object identification information, the location information and the environmental information is synchronized, wherein the synchronized data is transmitted to a remote device in a secure manner.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the object is a person and the identification sensor is a biometric sensor configured to receive biometric information of the person.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the identification sensor is a camera configured to capture images of the object.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the object is located in a room.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the location sensor comprises a GPS sensor.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the timing device is configured to receive a system time.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the environmental sensor comprises a chemical detector.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the environmental sensor comprises a radiological detector.

9. A container monitoring system comprising:

a plurality of sensors configured to detect environmental information about an area inside or outside the container;

a timing device configured to provide time information comprising a time of day;

a location sensor configure to receive location information; and

an electronic device configured to receive data from the plurality of sensors, the timing device and the location sensor, and wherein the electronic device is further configured to transmit the received data such that the timing information, the location information and the environmental information is synchronized, wherein the synchronized data is transmitted to a remote device in a secure manner.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the sensors comprises an image capture device configured to capture images of the inside of the container.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein at least one of the sensors comprises an image capture device configured to capture images of the container.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the location sensor comprises a GPS sensor.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the timing device is configured to receive a system time.

14. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a plurality of antenna; and

wherein the electronic device is further configured to transmit the synchronized data via one of the antenna.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of sensors are further configured to be in a sleep state until a task authorization message is received and authenticated as having been transmitted from the remote device.

16. The system of claim 9, further comprising:

a bus comprising a plurality of similar connectors; and

wherein the plurality of sensors are further configured to plug into the common connectors of the bus and to communicate with the electronic device with a common communications protocol.

17. A portable monitoring system comprising:

a tempest constructed housing to provide shielding for enclosed devices, the housing enclosing;

an environmental sensor configured to detect environmental information;

a timing device configured to provide time information comprising a time of day and a date;

a location sensor configured to receive location information; and

an processor configured to receive data from the environmental sensor, the timing device and the location sensor, and wherein the electronic device is further configured to transmit the received data such that the timing information, object identification information, the location information and the environmental information is synchronized, wherein the synchronized data is transmitted to a remote device in a secure manner.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the sensors comprises an image capture device configured to capture image data.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein at least one of the sensors comprises an audio capture device configured to capture audio information.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the location sensor comprises a GPS sensor.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the timing device is configured to receive a system time.

22. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a plurality of antenna; and

wherein the electronic device is further configured to transmit the synchronized data via one of the antenna.