METHOD OF DETECTING AN ABNORMAL ENVIRONMENTAL OPERATING CONDITION OF AN ELEMENT EMBEDDED IN AN APPARATUS AND CORRESPONDING ELEMENT

• US 20130135100A1
• Filed: 04/22/2011
• Published: 05/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thales DIS France SAS (Thales SA)
• Original Assignee: Gemalto SA (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Faure, Frdric
• Granted Patent: US 8,890,687 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 3/00 Registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus, other than vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/187 Machine fault alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/823 where the data is sent when the measured values exceed a threshold, e.g. sending an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/86 Performing a diagnostic of the sensing device
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/02 Automatically-operated arrangements

Abstract

A method of detecting an abnormal environmental operating condition of an element embedded in an apparatus. The element is able to communicate with a telecommunications network. The method includes cyclically measuring at least one environmental operating parameter of the element, detecting that the element is operating for an excessive duration in at least one reference operating span, and transmitting an alert message to the telecommunications network if the element has operated for an excessive duration in the reference operating span.

Claims

1. A method for detecting an abnormal environmental operating condition of an element embedded in an apparatus, said element being configured to communicate with a telecommunications network, comprising:

cyclically measuring at least one environmental operating parameter of said element;

detecting that the element is operating for an excessive duration in at least one reference operating span; and

transmitting an alert message to the telecommunications network if the element has operated for an excessive duration in the reference operating span.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said alert message is transmitted automatically by said element.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said alert message is transmitted at the request of said network.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said element is a security element of said telecommunications network.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein said element is a SIM card.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said element is connected to at least one environmental sensor.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said element includes at least one environmental sensor.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein said environmental sensor is a temperature, pressure, acceleration or hygrometry sensor.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method is implemented in an M2M environment.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one reference operating span, and/or the duration after which it can be considered that said element is operating for an excessive duration, are updated over-the-air in said element.

11. An element capable of detecting an abnormal environmental operating condition of said element, said element being embedded in an apparatus and configured to communicate with a telecommunications network, said element including:

a means for cyclically measuring at least one environmental operating parameter of said element;

a means for detecting that said element is operating for an excessive duration in at least one reference operating span; and

a means for transmitting an alert message to said telecommunications network, said transmission means being activated if said element has operated for an excessive duration in the reference operating span.

12. The element according to claim 11, wherein said element comprises a SIM card.