APPARATUS FOR COLLECTING ENVIRONMENTAL DATA AND METHOD OF MONITORING ENVIRONMENT IN REAL TIME

• US 20090061772A1
• Filed: 08/20/2008
• Published: 03/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Park, Kang Ho, Kim, Jong Dae, Moon, Seung Eon, Lee, Hong Yeol, Kim, Eun Kyoung, Park, Jong Hyurk
• Granted Patent: US 8,150,318 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.200
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4045 for gases other than oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/10 Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones H04R1/28 takes precedence; stereophonic headphones H04R5/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/41 Detection or adaptation of hearing aid parameters or programs to listening situation, e.g. pub, forest
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/908 Multimedia

Abstract

Provided are an apparatus for collecting environmental data and a method of monitoring an environment in real time. The apparatus for collecting environmental data includes a receiver for receiving an environmental data collection command from outside, a headset controller for interpreting the environmental data collection command received from the receiver, and distinguishing an audio signal received from outside from the environmental data collection command, the environment sensor unit for collecting environmental data according to the environmental data collection command interpreted from the headset controller, and a transmitter for transmitting the environmental data collected by the environment sensor unit.

Claims

1. An apparatus for collecting environmental data, comprising:

a receiver for receiving an environmental data collection command from outside;

a headset controller for interpreting the environmental data collection command received from the, and distinguishing an audio signal received from outside from the environmental data collection command;

a environment sensor unit for collecting environmental data according to the environmental data collection command interpreted from the headset controller; and

a transmitter for transmitting the environmental data collected by the environment sensor unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the environmental data collection command received by the receiver and the environmental data transmitted from the transmitter are transmitted using Bluetooth.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the environment sensor unit collects at least one of a degree of surrounding noise, a discomfort index, a concentration of fine particles, a concentration of harmful gas, temperature and humidity.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a sound receiver for receiving the audio signal from outside; and

a sound processor for outputting the received audio signal through an external speaker.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the environmental data collection command and the audio signal are received from a mobile communication terminal.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a portable terminal for transmitting the environmental data collection command, receiving the collected environmental data, and displaying the received environmental data in comparison with previously stored local environmental data according to a type of the environmental data.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus functions as a headset of a portable mobile terminal.

8. A method of monitoring an environment in real time, comprising:

receiving a signal from a portable terminal;

determining whether the received signal is an environmental data collection command signal or a general audio signal, and requesting an environment sensor unit to collect environmental data when the received signal is an environmental data collection command signal;

receiving an environmental data signal from the environment sensor unit; and

transmitting surrounding environmental data included in the received environmental data signal to the portable terminal,

wherein the portable terminal receiving a signal including the surrounding environmental data displays the surrounding environmental data in comparison with previously stored local environmental data according to a type of the surrounding environmental data.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the previously stored local environmental data is environmental data collected according to regions by an existing environmental data collection institution.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the environmental data includes at least one of a degree of surrounding noise, a discomfort index, a concentration of fine particles, a concentration of harmful gas, temperature and humidity.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein when data included in the received signal is audio data, the received audio data is output through a speaker.