Distributed telemetry method and system
First Claim
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1. A distributed telemetry method, comprising the steps of:
- (a) coordinating the taking of readings of a parameter over a geographic area by mobile entities or their users;
(b) using the mobile entities to send the readings to a service system via a mobile radio infrastructure;
(c) providing to the service system the location of each mobile entity that sends a reading; and
(d) collating the readings and location information at the service system to provide a representation of the geographic variation of said parameter;
said parameter being measurable substantially wherever a user might be in said geographic area and being unrelated to the operation of said mobile communication infrastructure.
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Abstract
A distributed telemetry method is effected by coordinating the taking of readings of a parameter by mobile phone users, the parameter readings being then sent to a service system together with location information on the users. Collating the readings and location information enables a representation to be generated of the geographic variation of the measured parameter. Incentives can be offered to encourage cell phone users to participate in the telemetry method.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A distributed telemetry method, comprising the steps of:
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(a) coordinating the taking of readings of a parameter over a geographic area by mobile entities or their users;
(b) using the mobile entities to send the readings to a service system via a mobile radio infrastructure;
(c) providing to the service system the location of each mobile entity that sends a reading; and
(d) collating the readings and location information at the service system to provide a representation of the geographic variation of said parameter;
said parameter being measurable substantially wherever a user might be in said geographic area and being unrelated to the operation of said mobile communication infrastructure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10)
the service system informing registered users of a predetermined time when a reading is to be taken; and
registered users taking readings;
the actual time of taking of a reading being returned with each reading in step (b) and step (d) involving only considering a said reading as valid if its actual time of taking in within a set time window encompassing said predetermined time.
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5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of sending a reading to the service system is delayed and effected at a randomly determined time within an overall time window.
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6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the service system is arranged to handle readings sent with associated location data and readings sent without location data, the service system in this latter case contacting a location server of the mobile radio infrastructure for the required location information concerning the sending mobile entity.
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7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the readings relate to one of the following parameters:
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a weather-related parameter being either a measured parameter or a user assessed parameter;
vehicle traffic speed parameter for mobile entities being carried in a vehicle;
a sociological observation parameter.
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10. A method according to claim 2, wherein registration of a said user with the service system involves recording at the service system for what types of parameters the user is capable of providing readings;
- the service system in coordinating the taking of readings in respect of a particular parameter only requesting readings from those of the registered users that are recorded as being capable of providing readings of that parameter.
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8. A distributed telemetry system comprising:
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a mobile radio infrastructure;
a service system connected to the mobile radio infrastructure and comprising a database of registered users, apparatus for receiving data via the mobile radio infrastructure, and data collation apparatus;
a plurality of mobile entities associated with respective registered users, each mobile entity having apparatus for sending reading data to the service system through the mobile radio infrastructure;
an arrangement for causing the coordinated taking of reading data, by the registered users or their mobile entities, about a particular parameter that is measurable substantially wherever a user might be in said geographic area and is unrelated to the operation of said mobile communication infrastructure; and
location-providing apparatus for providing the service system with the location of each mobile entity that sends reading data to the service system;
the data collation apparatus being operative to collate the reading data and location information to provide a representation of the geographic variation of said parameter. - View Dependent Claims (9, 11, 12)
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Specification