MONITORING METHOD, SYSTEM AND DEVICE

• US 20130176143A1
• Filed: 03/12/2008
• Published: 07/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Telecom IP Limited (TCNZ Finance Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Telecom IP Limited (TCNZ Finance Ltd.)
• Inventors: Ivanier, Philip Murray
• Application Number:
  US12/530,902
• Publication Number:
  US 20130176143A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/870.03
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/004 Remote reading of utility meters to a fixed location
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

The invention provides a monitoring method. The method includes collecting data using one or more sensors, transmitting the data wirelessly to one or more residential gateways, each residential gateway being a device installed in a premises to at least provide the premises with access to the internet, and transmitting the data from the one or more residential gateways to a central database via the internet. The invention also provides related systems and devices.

Claims

1. A monitoring method comprising:

collecting data using one or more sensors;

transmitting the data wirelessly to two or more residential gateways, each residential gateway being a device installed in a premises to at least provide the premises with access to the internet; and

transmitting the data from the two or more residential gateways to a central database via the internet.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising automatically establishing a wireless connection between the one or more sensors and at least two residential gateways that are within range of wireless communication with the one or more sensors.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the automatic wireless connection is established between the one or more sensors and all of the residential gateways that are within range of wireless communication with the one or more sensors.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the data are transmitted to all available residential gateways.

5. The method of any one of claim 1 wherein the data are transmitted over a WiFi link to the residential gateways.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising comparing copies of the same data received from at least two residential gateways.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising deleting unwanted copies of the same data received from the at least two residential gateways.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising encrypting the data before transmitting it to the residential gateways.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more sensors are configured to sense a condition or parameter relating to a utility.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the data includes information relating to two or more of the following:

date, time, current usage, past usage, current load of the utility, sensor ID and residential gateway ID.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more sensors are configured to sense a condition or parameter relating to an environment.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the data preferably includes information relating to two or more of the following:

date, time, temperature level, wind speed, wind direction, water level, sensor ID and residential gateway ID.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more sensors are configured to sense a condition or parameter relating to a device in or around the same premises as the residential gateways.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the data preferably includes information relating to two or more of the following:

date, time, device status, sensor ID and residential gateway ID.

15. The method of claim 9 comprising collecting data using two sensors.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the two sensors are configured to sense different conditions or parameters relating to a utility.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the two sensors are configured to sense different conditions or parameters relating to an environment.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the two sensors are configured to sense different conditions or parameters relating to a device in or around the same premises as the residential gateway(s).

19. The method of claim 1 wherein a predetermined virtual circuit of the residential gateways is configured to transmit the data to the central database.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising monitoring the data at the central database to determine if there is a change in the reporting pattern of the residential gateway(s).

21. A monitoring system comprising:

one or more reporting devices, each reporting device having at least one sensor, a processor and a transmitting antenna; and

two or more residential gateways that are installed in a premises to at least provide the premises with access to the internet, wherein the two or more residential gateways are configured to wirelessly receive data from the one or more reporting devices and to forward the data to a central database via the internet.

22. The system of claim 21 configured such that, when the one or more reporting devices are installed for use, a wireless connection is automatically established between the reporting devices and at least two residential gateways that are within range of wireless communication with the one or more reporting devices.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the automatic wireless connection is established between the one or more reporting devices and all of the residential gateways that are within range of wireless communication with the one or more reporting devices.

24. The system of claim 21 wherein the reporting devices are configured to transmit the data to all available residential gateways.

25. The system of claim 21 wherein the reporting devices communicate with the residential gateways over a WiFi link.

26. The system of claim 21 wherein the central database is configured to compare copies of the same data received from at least two residential gateways.

27. The system of claim 21 wherein the processor in the reporting device encrypts the data before transmitting it to the residential gateways.

28. The system of claim 21 wherein the reporting devices sense a condition or parameter relating to a utility.

29. The system of claim 28 wherein the data includes information relating to two or more of the following:

date, time, current usage, past usage, current load of the utility, sensor ID and residential gateway ID.

30. The system of claim 21 wherein the reporting devices sense a condition or parameter relating to an environment.

31. The system of claim 30 wherein the data includes information relating to two or more of the following:

date, time, temperature level, wind speed, wind direction, water level, sensor ID and residential gateway ID.

32. The system of claim 21 wherein the reporting devices sense a condition or parameter relating to a device in or around the same premises as one or more of the residential gateways.

33. The system of claim 32 wherein the data includes information relating to two or more of the following:

date, time, device status, sensor ID and residential gateway ID.

34. The system of claim 28 wherein two reporting devices are used, each to collect different data.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the two reporting devices are configured to sense different conditions or parameters relating to a utility.

36. The system of claim 34 wherein the two reporting devices are configured to sense different conditions or parameters relating to an environment.

37. The system of claim 34 wherein the two reporting devices are configured to sense conditions or parameters relate to a device in or around the same premises as one or more of the residential gateways.

38. The system of claim 21 wherein a predetermined virtual circuit of the residential gateways is configured to transmit the data to the central database.

39. The system of claim 21 wherein the central database is configured to monitor the data from the residential gateways to determine if there is a change in the reporting pattern of the residential gateways.

40. A monitoring device comprising:

two or more residential gateways installed or adapted to be installed in a premises to at least provide the premises with access to the internet;

a receiving antenna to wirelessly receive data from one or more sensors; and

a processor configured to forward the data to a central database via the internet.

41. A reporting device comprising:

one or more sensors to obtain data;

a transmitting antenna;

a processor;

wherein the processor is configured to transmit the data wirelessly using the transmitting antenna to two or more residential gateways, with each residential gateway being configured to at least provide a premises with access to the internet.