Remote monitoring system

• US 7,574,320 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2006
• Issued: 08/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: JELD-WEN Incorporated (JELD-WEN Holding, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: JELD-WEN Incorporated (JELD-WEN Holding, Inc.)
• Inventors: Walker, Michael Shayne, Beatty, Budd William, Corwin, Wallace Dale
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn; Drew A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cherry; Stephen J
• Application Number:
  US11/513,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20070093982A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: 702/127, 702/188
• US Class Current: 702/127
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/00 Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link

Abstract

A remote monitoring system is disclosed. In one such embodiment, a system may comprise a first measuring unit disposed within a structure, a first processor disposed in operative communication with the first measuring unit, and a second processor disposed within the structure. The first measuring unit may comprise a first sensor adapted to detect a first parameter. The first measuring unit may be adapted to output a first signal associated with the first parameter. The first processor may be adapted to receive the first signal and to control the first measuring unit. The second processor may be disposed in operative communication with the first measuring unit and the first processor.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first measuring unit disposed within a building structure, the first measuring unit comprising a first sensor disposed within a cavity of an exterior wall of the building structure and adapted to detect a first parameter, the first measuring unit adapted to output a first signal associated with the first parameter;

a first processor disposed remotely from the building structure and in operative communication with the first measuring unit, the first processor adapted to receive the first signal and to control the first measuring unit, wherein the first processor is adapted to assess a potential loss of structural integrity of the building structure resulting from exposure of the building structure to an environmental condition related to the first parameter;

a second processor disposed within the building structure, the second processor disposed in operative communication with the first measuring unit and the first processor; and

a second measuring unit disposed outside of the building structure and in operative communication with the first processor, the second measuring unit comprising a second sensor adapted to detect a second parameter, the second measuring unit adapted to output a second signal associated with the second parameter, wherein the first processor is adapted to compare the first and second signals.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the second processor comprises a gateway adapted to transmit the first signal to the first processor.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the first processor is adapted to receive the second signal from the second measuring unit and to control the second measuring unit.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second sensor is coupled with an exterior surface of the building structure.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first processor is adapted to control sampling of data by the first and second sensors.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is disposed in communication with a window disposed in the exterior wall.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensor is disposed in communication with a door coupled with the exterior wall.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first measuring unit further comprises a third sensor adapted to detect a third parameter, the first measuring unit adapted to output a third signal associated with the third parameter.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first parameter comprises a physical property comprising at least one of a temperature, humidity, relative humidity, moisture, stress, strain, position, deformation, vibration, acceleration, pressure, motion, electrical resistance, and electrical capacitance.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the second parameter comprises a physical property related to that of the first parameter.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the third parameter comprises a physical property different than that of the first parameter.

12. A method comprising:

detecting by a first sensor disposed in a cavity of an exterior wall of a building structure a first parameter prognostic of a potential loss of integrity of the building structure;

generating by a first measuring unit a first signal associated with the first parameter, the first sensor disposed in operative communication with the first measuring unit;

communicating the first signal to a local processor in operative communication with the first measuring unit, wherein the local processor is disposed in an interior of the building structure and is adapted to communicate the first signal to a remote processor,

communicating the signal from the local processor to the remote processor, which is in operative communication with the local processor and first measuring unit, and operable to control the first measuring unit, and wherein the remote processor is disposed remotely from the building structure; and

detecting by a second sensor a second parameter, the second sensor disposed in operative communication with the remote processor;

generating by a second measuring unit a second signal associated with the second parameter, the second sensor disposed in communication with the second measuring unit;

communicating the second signal to the remote processor, the remote processor disposed in operative communication with the second measuring unit;

wherein the local processor is disposed in operative communication with the second measuring unit, the local processor adapted to communicate the second signal to the remote processor, and wherein the remote processor is adapted to compare the first and second signals and to generate an alarm signal if the compared first and second signals trend toward a predetermined set point; and

assessing by the remote processor the potential loss of integrity of the building structure.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the second sensor is disposed outside of the building structure.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the second sensor is coupled with an exterior surface of the building structure.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

detecting by a third sensor a third parameter, the third sensor disposed in communication with the first measuring unit;

generating by the first measuring unit a third signal associated with the third parameter; and

communicating the third signal to the remote processor.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first parameter comprises a physical property comprising at least one of a temperature, humidity, relative humidity, moisture, stress, strain, position, deformation, vibration, acceleration, pressure, and motion.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the second parameter comprises a physical property related to that of the first parameter.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the third parameter comprises a physical property different than that of the first parameter.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the remote processor is adapted to control sampling of data by the first sensor, the second sensor, and the third sensor.

20. A method comprising:

detecting by a first sensor disposed in a cavity of an exterior wall of a building structure a first parameter prognostic of a potential loss of integrity of the building structure;

generating by a first measuring unit a first signal associated with the first parameter, the first sensor disposed in operative communication with the first measuring unit;

communicating the first signal to a remote processor operable to control the first measuring unit, the remote processor disposed remotely from the building structure and in operative communication with the first measuring unit; and

assessing by the remote processor the potential loss of integrity of the building structure;

recording a first value in a database, the first value associated with the first parameter;

updating the database with a second value associated with the first parameter; and

forecasting the potential loss of integrity of the building structure based at least in part on the first and second values associated with the first parameter, wherein the potential loss of integrity of the building structure results from exposure of the building structure to an environmental condition related to the first parameter.

21. A method comprising:

detecting by a first sensor disposed in a cavity of an exterior wall of a building structure a first parameter prognostic of a potential loss of integrity of the building structure;

generating by a first measuring unit a first signal associated with the first parameter, the first sensor disposed in operative communication with the first measuring unit;

communicating the first signal to a remote processor operable to control the first measuring unit, the remote processor disposed remotely from the building structure and in operative communication with the first measuring unit; and

assessing by the remote processor the potential loss of integrity of the building structure;

recording a first value in a database, the first value associated with the first parameter;

updating the database with a second value associated with the first parameter;

forecasting the potential loss of integrity of the building structure based at least in part on the first and second values associated with the first parameter, wherein the potential loss of integrity of the building structure results from exposure of the building structure to an environmental condition related to the first parameter; and

generating an alarm signal when the second value exceeds a predetermined set point.