Trusted monitoring system and method

• US 7,656,286 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2006
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gregory P. Benson
• Original Assignee: Palomar Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Fistonich, Matthew Anthony, Benson, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): La; Anh V
• Application Number:
  US11/418,380
• Publication Number:
  US 20070030143A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,371 Days
• Field of Search: 340/508, 340/531, 340/539.13, 340/539.1, 340/539.26, 340/568.1, 340/545.6, 340/547, 340/540, 340/541, 340/521, 340/529, 340/686.1, 340/825.49, 340/825.69, 340/825.72
• US Class Current: 340/508
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 13/0275 using fuzzy logic only
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/202 where processing functionality is redundant redundant communication control functionality G06F11/2005, redundant storage control functionality G06F11/2089
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/52 during program execution, e.g. stack integrity ; Preventing unwanted data erasure; Buffer overflow
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/034 Test or assess a computer or a system
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 Machine learning
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/048 Fuzzy inferencing
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 7/01 Probabilistic graphical models, e.g. probabilistic networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/26 Government or public services business processes related to the transportation industry G06Q50/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/40 Business processes related to the transportation industry shipping G06Q10/083
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2009/0092 for cargo, freight or shipping containers and applications therefore in general
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0891 Video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/0636 in which the trolleys or carts are kept in a restricted zone such as a coral-like enclosure, or are passing a gate before use is possible
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 1/0036 Checkout procedures
• CPC Class Codes: G07G 3/00 : Alarm indicators, e.g. bells
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/196 : using television cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/22 : Electrical actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2454 : Checking of authorisation of a person accessing tagged items in an EAS system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 : Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 : responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 : Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/04 : Monitoring of the detection circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/16 : Security signalling or alarm systems, e.g. redundant systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04K 3/22 : including jamming detection and monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/805 : Lightweight hardware, e.g. radio-frequency identification [RFID] or sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 : wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 : for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 : Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/025 : for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 : Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3236 : using cryptographic hash functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 : involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 : for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for monitoring remotely located objects with a system comprised of at least one master data collection unit, any number of remote sensor units, and a central data collection server are described. The master unit is configured to monitor any object, mobile or stationary, including monitoring multiple remote sensor units associated with the objects being monitored. The master unit may be in a fixed location, or attached to a mobile object. The master unit is configured for monitoring objects that enter and leave the area where it is located. The master unit may act as a parent controller for one or more child devices, wherein the child devices can be remote sensors or monitors of various measurable conditions including environmental conditions, substance identification, product identification and biometric identification. The master unit is able to discover new remote sensor units as they enter or leave the area where the master unit is located. The master unit can be remotely reprogrammed. The reprogramming can be accomplished with authenticated instructions.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a plurality of sensors; and

an electronic device including at least two redundant processors each configured to receive data from the sensors and determine an alarm condition, and wherein the electronic device confirms determination of the alarm condition by both processors before generating an alarm signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more of the sensors is enclosed within a secure container.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processors are configured to compare at least a portion of the received sensor data to a range of acceptable values, and to determine the alarm condition to be in a state of alarm if the received data lies outside the acceptable range.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is configured to transmit a secure message containing the alarm condition to a remote device over a plurality of redundant communication links.

5. A system comprising:

at least one sensor configured to sample environmental and spatial conditions, and configured to transmit the sampled data over a plurality of redundant communication links to an electronic device; and

the electronic device configured to receive data from the sensors over the plurality of communication links and determine integrity of the received data, and wherein the electronic device determines one of the plurality of communication links to be unreliable based on the integrity of the data received.

6. A redundant surveillance system comprising:

a first monitoring device configured to receive data over a first communication link;

a second monitoring device configured to receive data over a second communication link; and

a plurality of redundant sensors in a secure container configured to sample environmental and spatial conditions, and configured to transmit the sampled data over the first communication link to the first monitoring device, wherein the redundant sensors are configured to receive confirmation of receipt of the data from the first monitoring device over the first communication link, and wherein the redundant sensors are configured to transmit the sampled data to the second monitoring device over the second communication link.