REMOTE MONITORING

• US 20100245570A1
• Filed: 03/03/2010
• Published: 09/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: En-Gauge, Inc.
• Original Assignee: En-Gauge, Inc.
• Inventors: McSheffrey, Brendan T., Riedel, Terrance
• Granted Patent: US 8,009,020 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 13/76 Details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/00 Control, warning or like safety means along the route or between vehicles or trains
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/062 indicating emergency exits
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

Remote monitoring and inspection of measurement devices, emergency equipment, parking spaces, and other items is accomplished by using a digital image sensor (e.g., a CMOS sensor) to capture a digital image containing information about the monitored item. A signal containing information about the digital image (e.g., data representing the captured digital image or data indicating the state of the captured digital image) is transmitted to a remote central station.

Claims

1. Apparatus for remote inspection of a measurement device having a visible display, the apparatus comprising:

a digital image sensor positioned to face the display of the measurement device and configured to capture a digital image of the display of the measurement device; and

communications circuitry configured to transmit to a remote central station a signal including information about the captured digital image of the display.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein information about the captured digital image comprises data representing the captured digital image.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an image recognition module configured to recognize one of a plurality of predetermined states of the measurement device from the captured digital image.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the image recognition module is configured to recognized one of the plurality of predetermined states prior to transmission of the signal to the remote central station.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein information about the captured digital image transmitted to the remote central station comprises data representing the recognized state.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communication circuitry is configured to transmit a wireless signal to the remote central station.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a network linking the communication circuitry with the remote central station.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the network comprises a wireless mesh network.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the network comprises an IEEE 802.15.4-compliant network.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the digital image sensor comprises a CMOS sensor.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the measurement device comprises a pressure gauge on a fire extinguisher.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the digital image sensor is configured to periodically capture a digital image of the display.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the digital image sensor is configured to capture a digital image of the display in response to a command from the remote central station.

14. Apparatus for detection of presence of a portable item in an installed location, the apparatus comprising:

a digital image sensor positioned to face the portable item in its installed location and configured to capture a digital image of the installed location; and

communications circuitry configured to transmit to a remote central station a signal including information about the captured digital image.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the digital image sensor is configured to periodically capture a digital image of the installed position.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:

an image recognition module configured to recognize at least whether the portable item is in its installed position.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the signal including information about the captured digital image comprises data indicating whether the portable item is in its installed position.

18. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the item is a piece of emergency equipment.

19. The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:

a network linking the communication circuitry with the remote central station.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the network comprises a wireless mesh network.

21. Apparatus for detection of presence of an obstruction blocking access to or viewing of an item, the apparatus comprising:

a digital image sensor positioned to face an access area to the item and configured to capture a digital image of the access area; and

communications circuitry configured to transmit to a remote central station a signal including information about the captured digital image.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the digital image sensor is configured to periodically capture a digital image of the access area.

23. The apparatus of claim 21 further comprising:

an image recognition module configured to recognize at least whether the access area is obstructed.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the signal including information about the captured digital image comprises data indicating whether the access area is obstructed.

25. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the item is an exit way.

26. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the item is a piece of emergency equipment.

27. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the item is an automobile in a parking space.

28. An apparatus for remotely monitoring an item, the apparatus comprising:

a digital image sensor positioned to face an access area to the item and configured to capture a digital image of the access area in response to a change in a state of the item; and

communications circuitry configured to transmit to a remote central station a signal data representing the captured digital image.

29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the change in a state of the item comprises a removal of the item from an installed position.

30. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein the item comprises a fire alarm pull station.

31. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein change in a state of an item comprises an activation of the fire alarm pull station.

32. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the item comprises a fire extinguisher.

33. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the item comprises a portable defibrillator.

34. The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising:

a network linking the communication circuitry and the remote central station.

35. The apparatus of claim 34 wherein the network comprises a wireless mesh network.

36. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein the item is a parking space.