Remote monitoring

• US 7,728,715 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2005
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: En-Gauge, Inc.
• Original Assignee: En-Gauge, Inc.
• Inventors: McSheffrey, Brendan T., Riedel, Terrance
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US11/071,132
• Publication Number:
  US 20050231354A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,917 Days
• Field of Search: 340/870.02, 340/506, 340/520, 340/521, 340/539.1, 340/539.25, 340/3.1, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 348/160, 705/412
• US Class Current: 340/286.05
• CPC Class Codes: A62C 13/76 Details or accessories
• CPC Class Codes: B61L 23/00 Control, warning or like safety means along the route or between vehicles or trains
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/062 indicating emergency exits
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 25/76 Addressed sensors, e.g. MOS or CMOS sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/183 for receiving images from a single remote source

Abstract

Remote monitoring and inspection of measurement devices, emergency equipment, parking spaces, and other items is accomplished by using a digital image sensor (e.g., a CMOS sensor) to capture a digital image containing information about the monitored item. A signal containing information about the digital image (e.g., data representing the captured digital image or data indicating the state of the captured digital image) is transmitted to a remote central station.

Claims

1. Apparatus for detection of presence of an obstruction blocking access to or viewing of an item, the apparatus comprising:

a digital image sensor positioned to face an access area to the item and configured to capture a digital image of the access area;

an image recognition module configured to recognize at least whether the access area is obstructed, thereby providing an obstructed state; and

communications circuitry configured to transmit to a remote central station a signal including information indicative of the obstructed state of the item provided by the captured digital image.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the digital image sensor is configured to periodically capture a digital image of the access area.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the signal including information about the captured digital image comprises data indicating whether the access area is obstructed.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the item is an exit way.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the item is a piece of emergency equipment.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the item is an automobile in a parking space.