Monitoring system and method
First Claim
1. A monitoring apparatus, comprising:
- a housing;
a sensor unit located within said housing, said sensor unit configured to obtain depth measurements at periodic intervals;
a transceiver located within said housing; and
a processor located within said housing, said processor connected to said transceiver and configured to periodically transmit the depth measurements to a remote monitoring station;
wherein said processor is programmable through remote instructions received from the remote monitoring station via said transceiver; and
wherein said processor is configured to operate according to a plurality of alertness modes distinguished by sampling rate of depth measurements or rate of transmitting to the remote monitoring station or both, and wherein said remote instructions can cause said processor to switch among said alertness modes, thereby altering the sampling rate of depth measurements or rate of transmitting to the remote monitoring station or both.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A monitoring system includes one or more monitoring devices, positioned in sewer manholes, storm drains, etc., and a remote monitoring station that communicates wirelessly therewith. The monitoring device may be an integrated unit, including sensors, a two-way telemetry unit, a power supply, a processor, and supporting hardware, all located in an enclosed, waterproof housing. The monitoring device is placed within a manhole cavity to obtain depth (e.g., water level) measurements and report the measurements back to the remote monitoring station, which analyzes the data and responds to alert messages when a dangerous water level is detected. The sample and reporting rates of the device, as well as the water level threshold values, may be remotely programmable via commands transmitted from the remote monitoring station. An additional sensor may monitor the manhole cover for security purposes. Additional external monitoring instruments may be connected to the device, which relays data therefrom to the remote monitoring station.
146 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A monitoring apparatus, comprising:
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a housing; a sensor unit located within said housing, said sensor unit configured to obtain depth measurements at periodic intervals; a transceiver located within said housing; and a processor located within said housing, said processor connected to said transceiver and configured to periodically transmit the depth measurements to a remote monitoring station; wherein said processor is programmable through remote instructions received from the remote monitoring station via said transceiver; and wherein said processor is configured to operate according to a plurality of alertness modes distinguished by sampling rate of depth measurements or rate of transmitting to the remote monitoring station or both, and wherein said remote instructions can cause said processor to switch among said alertness modes, thereby altering the sampling rate of depth measurements or rate of transmitting to the remote monitoring station or both. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A monitoring system, comprising:
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a plurality of monitoring devices positioned within manhole cavities for measuring depth in the manhole cavities; and a remote monitoring station configured to communicate wirelessly with said monitoring devices, said remote monitoring station receiving depth measurements at periodic intervals from said monitoring devices and durably storing said depth measurements; wherein said monitoring devices measure depth at a programmed sample interval, and transmit the depth measurements at a programmed transmission interval longer than said sample interval; wherein said monitoring devices are configured to compare depth measurements with a programmed alarm value and, if said alarm value is exceeded, to send a warning signal immediately to the remote monitoring station; and wherein said monitoring devices are configured to operate according to a plurality of modes, including at least a standard mode wherein the monitoring device operates to take depth measurements at said programmed sample interval, and an alarm mode wherein the monitoring device operates to take depth measurements at a shorter sample interval. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of monitoring, comprising the steps of:
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placing a monitoring apparatus beneath a manhole, said monitoring apparatus comprising a sensor oriented in a downward direction when installed beneath the manhole; obtaining depth measurements at a sampling interval and storing said depth measurements; wirelessly transmitting, at a transmission interval longer than said sampling interval, one or more of the accumulated depth measurements to a remote monitoring station for processing; and re-programming the monitoring apparatus through commands received wirelessly from the remote monitoring station; wherein said monitoring apparatus is configured to operate according to a plurality of alertness modes distinguished by sampling rate of depth measurements or rate of transmitting to the remote monitoring station or both, and wherein said method further comprises the step of causing the monitoring apparatus to switch among said alertness modes, thereby altering the sampling rate of depth measurements or rate of transmitting to the remote monitoring station or both. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification