ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING DEVICE

• US 20140277625A1
• Filed: 04/28/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Leeo, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leeo, Incorporated
• Inventors: GETTINGS, Adam M., STEVENS, Andrew G., HOVLAND, Bjorn H.
• Application Number:
  US14/263,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20140277625A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/90
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/113 Details of archiving lifecycle management in storage systems G06F3/0649; backup systems G06F11/1446
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6218 to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/64 Protecting data integrity, e.g. using checksums, certificates or signatures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0635 Risk analysis of enterprise or organisation activities
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 23/00 Alarms responsive to unspecified undesired or abnormal conditions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/007 Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 19/00 Electric signal transmission systems G08C17/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/72 Signcrypting, i.e. digital signing and encrypting simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0861 Generation of secret information including derivation or calculation of cryptographic keys or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/10 using a centralized architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom

Abstract

An environmental monitoring device that monitors the operation of a legacy electronic device is described. In particular, a sensor in the environmental monitoring device provides sensor data that represents an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the environmental monitoring device. This environmental condition is associated with the operation of the legacy electronic device in the external environment. The environmental monitoring device analyzes the sensor data and provides feedback about the operation of the legacy electronic device based on the analyzed sensor data. Moreover, the sensor provides the sensor data without or excluding communication and/or electrical coupling between the environmental monitoring device and the legacy electronic device. In this way, the environmental monitoring device facilitates monitoring, analysis and feedback of the sensor data without directly interacting with the legacy electronic device.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a sensor configured to provide sensor data that represents an environmental condition in an external environment that includes the electronic device, wherein the electronic device is configured to;

receive information specifying a medical condition of an individual;

determine a target value of the environmental condition based on the information specifying the medical condition;

calculate a deviation from the target value based on the sensor data and the target value;

if a magnitude of the deviation exceeds a threshold, modify an operating condition of a regulator device in the external environment that regulates the environmental condition; and

provide the modified operating condition.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device further comprises:

a processor; and

a memory, coupled to the processor, which stores a program module configured to be executed by the processor, the program module including;

instructions for the receiving;

instructions for the determining;

instructions for the calculating; and

instructions for the modifying.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device further comprises:

an antenna; and

an interface circuit, coupled to the antenna, configured to communicate with another electronic device, wherein the electronic device is configured to receive the information specifying the medical condition from the other electronic device.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device further comprises:

an antenna; and

an interface circuit, coupled to the antenna, configured to communicate with another electronic device, wherein the electronic device is further configured to;

receive a forecast for the environmental condition from the other electronic device; and

modify the operating condition based on the forecast.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the medical condition includes one of:

an allergy, a chemical sensitivity, an illness, and a chronic disease that is affected by the environmental condition.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the regulator device includes one of:

a thermostat, a humidifier, an air purifier, a ventilator device, and an access-control device for the external environment.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the target value is further based on one of:

a time of day and a season.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the information specifying the medical condition is one of:

encrypted, and de-identified so that the identity of the individual is protected.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the sensor data includes one of:

a particle count, a particle size, a concentration of a chemical, a composition of the chemical, temperature, humidity, acoustic information, video, thermal information, vibration information, acceleration information, motion information, microanalysis information, mass-spectrometry information, and chemical-analysis information.

10. A computer-program product for use in conjunction with an electronic device, the computer-program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium and a computer-program mechanism embedded therein to modify an operating condition, the computer-program mechanism including:

instructions for receiving information specifying a medical condition of an individual;

instructions for determining a target value of an environmental condition in an external environment of the electronic device based on the information specifying the medical condition;

instructions for calculating a deviation from the target value based on sensor data and the target value, wherein the sensor data is provided by a sensor in the electronic device, and wherein the sensor data represents the environmental condition;

instructions for modifying the operating condition of a regulator device in the external environment if a magnitude of the deviation exceeds a threshold, wherein the regulator device regulates the environmental condition; and

instructions for providing the modified operating condition.

11. The computer-program product of claim 10, wherein the electronic device receives the information specifying the medical condition from another electronic device.

12. The computer-program product of claim 10, wherein the computer-program mechanism further comprises:

instructions for receiving a forecast for the environmental condition from another electronic device; and

instructions for modify the operating condition based on the forecast.

13. The computer-program product of claim 10, wherein the medical condition includes one of:

an allergy, a chemical sensitivity, an illness, and a chronic disease that is affected by the environmental condition.

14. The computer-program product of claim 10, wherein the regulator device includes one of:

a thermostat, a humidifier, an air purifier, a ventilator device, and an access-control device for the external environment.

15. The computer-program product of claim 10, wherein the target value is further based on one of:

a time of day and a season.

16. A processor-implemented method for modifying an operating condition, wherein the method comprises:

receiving information specifying a medical condition of an individual;

determining a target value of an environmental condition in an external environment of the electronic device based on the information specifying the medical condition;

using a processor in an electronic device, calculating a deviation from the target value based on sensor data and the target value, wherein the sensor data is provided by a sensor in the electronic device, and wherein the sensor data represents the environmental condition;

modifying the operating condition of a regulator device in the external environment if a magnitude of the deviation exceeds a threshold, wherein the regulator device regulates the environmental condition; and

providing the modified operating condition.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the information specifying the medical condition is received from another electronic device;

and

wherein the information specifying the medical condition is one of;

encrypted, and de-identified so that the identity of the individual is protected.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a forecast for the environmental condition from another electronic device; and

modify the operating condition based on the forecast.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the medical condition includes one of:

an allergy, a chemical sensitivity, an illness, and a chronic disease that is affected by the environmental condition.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the regulator device includes one of:

a thermostat, a humidifier, an air purifier, a ventilator device, and an access-control device for the external environment.