Remote data access and system control

• US 6,510,350 B1
• Filed: 04/07/2000
• Issued: 01/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cecil D. Martin Jr, Edward A. Corlew, Henry B. Steen III
• Original Assignee: Cecil D. Martin Jr, Edward A. Corlew, Henry B. Steen III
• Inventors: Corlew, Edward A., Martin, Cecil D. Jr., Steen, Henry B. III
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): GAIN, EDWARD F
• Application Number:
  US09/545,379
• Time in Patent Office: 1,019 Days
• Field of Search: 700/2, 700/19, 700/96, 700/241, 700/244, 700/9, 702/188
• US Class Current: 700/9
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2223/06 Remote monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0216 Human interface functionality, e.g. monitoring system providing help to the user in the selection of tests or in its configuration

Abstract

The disclosed system enables a user to monitor and control a remote equipment site from any remote location, over the Internet, while maintaining the operating software the system provider'"'"'s server. All user data access is through the use of modules, or servlets, that prevent the provider'"'"'s operating software from being directly accessed, thereby eliminating modification or alteration by any user. The system preferably provides several levels of access, through the use of access codes, to prevent unauthorized users from accessing information. The system communicates with remote units that are proximate the remote equipment and have communication capabilities to enable the remote units to have either one or two way communication with the provider software. The remote units have monitoring devices, that receiving status data from at least one piece of equipment for transmission to the provider software for storage and user access through the servlet(s). Each of the remote units is programmed by the user with definable maximums and minimums for data received from said monitoring means. If the values for a piece of equipment fall out of these ranges, the system provider is notified by the remote unit. The system provider can then notify the user through the use of a pager, cell phone, or other notification means. The provider software automatically contacts each of the remote units for each user, on a predetermined schedule, and updates data from each remote unit based. The provider software also enables either the user or the remote unit to request a data update in addition to the predetermined scheduled transmissions.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring of at least one remote equipment using a monitoring system, comprising the steps of:

a. establishing, for at least one user at at least one first location, a customer account in said monitoring system, said monitoring system having software comprising an application program and a database, located at a second location, said customer account having multiple user IDs to enable activation of multiple levels of access servlets;

b. establishing communication from each of said at least one remote equipment at at least one third location to at least one field unit located at at least one third location, each of said at least one field unit having two way communication with said monitoring system;

c. activating multiple servlets within said monitoring system by said at least one user, said multiple servlets being a plurality of preprogrammed independent action modules that interface between said at least one user and software in said monitoring system;

d. activating a first of said plurality of action modules to logon to said user account;

e. activating at least one of said plurality of action modules to communicate with said software to enable a user to perform at least a plurality of the functions of fetching, displaying, defining, redefining and saving data, based upon user access level,

f. limiting said user interaction to said plurality of action modules within said monitoring system and precluding user access to said software in said monitoring system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said user overrides initially preprogrammed defaults in said monitoring system to define and redefine within said at least one field unit, individual data parameters for said at least one remote equipment comprising the steps of:

a. selecting at least one of said plurality of action modules to permit access to said user'"'"'s account at a level to enable said user to define displayed data from said at least one first location for said at least one remote equipment at said at least one third location;

b. selecting at least one of said plurality of action modules to define displayed information for said at least one remote equipment;

c. defining data parameters for said at least one remote equipment including report scheduling;

d. setting operational data for said field unit, said operational data including minimum and maximum base values for said at least one remote equipment;

e. selecting an action that activates at least one of said plurality of action modules to transmit each of said data parameters and said operational data to said monitoring system to be saved in said user'"'"' account,

f. communicating said data parameters and said operational data to a field unit communicating with said at least one remote equipment;

g. storing said operational data and said data parameters at said field unit;

h. monitoring within said field unit the current values of said data parameters within each of said at least one remote equipment connected to said field unit;

i. comparing said current values with stored base values;

j. repeating steps h and i based on a reporting schedule;

k. transmitting from said field unit to said monitoring system said current values based upon said report scheduling.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said operational data includes minimum and maximum base values for said at least one remote equipment.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said user interactively monitors data for said remote equipment comprising the steps of:

b. selecting at least one of said plurality of action modules to permit access to said user'"'"'s account at a level to enable monitoring said displayed information at said at least one first location for said at least one remote equipment at said at least one third location;

c. selecting an action that activates at least one of said plurality of action modules to display current values, data parameters and additional action modules to be activated for a first of said at least one remote equipment;

wherein said user monitors said current values through activation of at least one of said plurality of action modules without direct interaction with said software.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of said field unit transmitting a message to said monitoring system, outside of said reporting schedule, that said current values are outside of base values.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising the step of said monitoring system notifying a user'"'"'s notification device upon receipt of said message.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of selecting at least one of said plurality of action modules to display data on a summary page, said summary page being linked to at least one other of said web pages.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of selecting at least one of said plurality of action modules to list status data for all remote units on said summary page.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of selecting at least one of said plurality of action modules to display data parameters on a detailed data page, said detailed data page being linked to at least one other of said web pages.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of selecting at least one of said plurality of action modules to list predetermined detailed data parameters for one of said at least one remote unit on said detailed data page.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of selecting at least one of said plurality of action modules to display data on an error page, said error page being linked to at least one other of said web pages.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of selecting at least one of said plurality of action modules to display said detailed data page lists from each of said at least remote equipment on said detailed data page.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of selecting at least one of said plurality of action modules to display data on a data configuration page, said data configuration page being linked to at least one of said web pages.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of selecting at least one of said plurality of action modules to define parameters for each of said remote equipment displayed on said data configuration page.

15. The method of claim 1 further providing the step of said monitoring system contacting each of said field units to transmit updated data received from each remote equipment based on a predetermined schedule.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of said field unit initiating a configurable, preprogrammed action regarding said at least one remote equipment operation upon receipt of data from said remote equipment outside of said user definable maximums and minimums.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of activating at least one of said plurality of action modules to access data from said field unit upon demand.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein said monitoring system comprises operating software, said operating software having an application program and a database to perform at least one of the functions of storing, sorting and displaying data and communication capabilities, said communication capabilities being configurable and enabling communication between said at least one user at said at least one first location and said central server and between each of said at least one remote unit at said at least one third location and said central server.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one remote equipment is a sensor.

20. A method of monitoring of at least one remote equipment using a monitoring system, comprising the steps of:

a. establishing, for at least one user at at least one first location, a customer account in said monitoring system located at a second location, said monitoring system having operating software having an application program and a database to perform at least one of the functions of storing, sorting and displaying data and two way, configurable communication capabilities, said customer account having multiple user IDs to enable activation of multiple levels of access servlets;

b. establishing communication between said at least one remote equipment located at at least one third location and at least one field unit at said third location, said field unit having two way communication with said monitoring system,

c. activating multiple servlets within said monitoring system by said at least one user, said multiple servlets being a plurality of preprogrammed independent action modules that interface between said at least one user and software in said monitoring system;

d. activating a first of said plurality of action modules to logon to said user account;

e. activating at least one of said plurality of action modules by said user and communicating with said software in said monitoring system through said action module to enable said user to perform at least a plurality of the functions of fetching, displaying, defining, redefining and saving data, based upon user access level,

f. limiting said user interaction to said plurality of action modules within said monitoring system and precluding user access to said software,

g. selecting at least one of said plurality of action modules to permit access to said user'"'"'s account at a level to enable said user to override initially preprogrammed defaults to define displayed data format at said at least one first location for said at least one remote equipment at said third location;

h. selecting at least one of said plurality of action modules to define information to be displayed for each of said at least one remote equipment;

i. defining parameters for each of said remote equipment including report scheduling;

j. setting operational data for said remote field, including minimum and maximum base values for said remote equipment;

k. setting set points in said field unit;

l. setting a reporting schedule for said at lease one field unit;

m. selecting an action that activates at least one of a plurality of action modules to set at least one of said report schedule, said field unit set points, said data parameters and said base values within said monitoring system to be saved in said user'"'"' account;

n. communicating to said field unit in communication with said at least one remote equipment at least one of said report schedule, said field unit set points, said data parameters and base values;

o. storing at least one of said report schedule, said field unit set points, said base values and said data parameters at said field unit;

p. comparing said current values with said stored base values;

q. repeating step ‘

p’

based on a reporting schedule;

r. transmitting from said field unit to said monitoring system said current values, in accordance with said report scheduling when said current values fall within said base values, and outside of said reporting schedule when said current values fall outside of said base values;

s. monitoring data for said remote equipment by said user through accessing said plurality of action modules to access and display multiple pages of information for each of said remote equipment, each of said multiple pages of information being linked to at least one additional page of information and only accessible through said action modules;

wherein said user monitors said current values and data parameters through activation of at least one of said plurality of action modules without accessing said software.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising the step of said at least one user activating servlets to activate a request for data from said at least one field unit outside of said reporting schedule.

22. A method of monitoring of at least one remote equipment using a monitoring system, comprising the steps of:

a. establishing, for at least one user at at least one first location, a customer account in said monitoring system located at a second location, said monitoring system having operating software having an application program and a database to perform at least one of the functions of storing, sorting and displaying data and two way, configurable communication capabilities, said customer account having multiple user IDS to enable activation of multiple levels of access servlets;

b. establishing communication between said at least one remote equipment located at at least one third location and at least one field unit at said third location, said communication including said field unit initiating a configurable, preprogrammed action regarding said at least one remote equipment operation upon receipt of data from said remote equipment outside of said user definable maximums and minimums, said field unit having two way communication with said monitoring system,

c. activating multiple servlets within said monitoring system by said at least one user, said multiple servlets being a plurality of preprogrammed independent action modules that interface between said at least one user and software in said monitoring system;

d. activating a first of said plurality of action modules to logon to said user account;

e. activating at least one of said plurality of action modules by said user and communicating with said software in said monitoring system through said action module to enable said user to perform at least a plurality of the functions of fetching, displaying, defining, redefining and saving data, based upon user access level,

f. limiting said user interaction to said plurality of action modules within said monitoring system and precluding user access to said software;

g. selecting at least one of said plurality of action modules to permit access to said user'"'"'s account at a level to enable said user to override initially preprogrammed defaults to define displayed data format at said at least one first location for said at least one remote equipment at said third location;

h. selecting at least one of said plurality of action modules to define information to be displayed for each of said at least one remote equipment;

i. defining parameters for each of said remote equipment including report scheduling;

j. setting operational data for said remote field, including minimum and maximum base values for said remote equipment;

k. setting set points in said field unit;

l. setting a reporting schedule for said at lease one field unit;

m. selecting an action that activates at least one of a plurality of action modules to set at least one of said report schedule, said field unit set points, said data parameters and said base values within said monitoring system to be saved in said user'"'"' account;

n. communicating to said field unit in communication with said at least one remote equipment at least one of said report schedule, said field unit set points, said data parameters and base values;

o. storing at least one of said report schedule, said field unit set points, said base values and said data parameters at said field unit;

p. comparing said current values with said stored base values;

q. repeating steps ‘

p’

based on a reporting schedule;

r. transmitting from said field unit to said monitoring system said current values, in accordance with said report scheduling when said current values fall within said base values, and outside of said reporting schedule when said current values fall outside of said base values,

s. monitoring data for said remote equipment by said user through accessing said plurality of action modules to access and display multiple pages of information for each of said remote equipment, each of said multiple pages of information being linked to at least one additional page of information and only accessible through said action modules;

wherein said user monitors said current values and data parameters through activation of at least one of said plurality of action modules without accessing said software.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising the step of said at least one user activating servlets to activate a request for data from said at least one field unit outside of said reporting schedule.