System and method for controlling remote sensors

• US 8,044,792 B2
• Filed: 10/21/2008
• Issued: 10/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Orr, David, Brewster, Jon A
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yacob; Sisay
• Application Number:
  US12/254,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20100045453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 725/10, 340/506, 340/3.1, 340/539.13, 340/539.1, 73/10.1
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0428 Safety, monitoring G05B19/0423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/24048 Remote test, monitoring, diagnostic
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/25187 Transmission of signals, medium, ultrasonic, radio
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0235 based on a comparison with predetermined threshold or range, e.g. "classical methods", carried out during normal operation; threshold adaptation or choice; when or how to compare with the threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0291 Switching into safety or degraded mode, e.g. protection and supervision after failure

Abstract

A system and method for controlling one or more remote sensors includes wirelessly communicating with the sensors, monitoring operation of each one of the sensors, and causing any one of the sensors that is operating in an unauthorized manner to be disabled. In one embodiment, the sensors can include micro-mechanical structure supporting electronic circuitry. The electronic circuitry is capable of monitoring at least one performance parameter of the sensor, comparing the monitored parameter to a preset limit, and disabling the sensor if the preset performance limit is exceeded.

Claims

1. A system for controlling one or more remote sensors, said system comprising:

means for wirelessly communicating with said sensors;

means for monitoring operation of each one of said sensors; and

means for, responsive to determining that an one of said sensors'"'"' actual performance exceeds preset performance limits, causing the one of said sensors that is functionally correctly operating but in an unauthorized manner to be disabled,

wherein each sensor'"'"'s preset performance limit is set so that performance of the sensor outside of the performance limit is indicative of the unauthorized manner of operation of the sensor even where the sensor is functionally correctly operating.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for monitoring comprises:

means for receiving operational data from each sensor; and

means for comparing said operational data to preset limits for each sensor.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising means for setting said preset limits.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the preset performance limit of each sensor corresponds to a predetermined acceleration, such that acceleration of the sensor greater than the predetermined acceleration is indicative of the unauthorized manner of operation of the sensor even where the sensor is functionally correctly operating.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein said operational data relates to sensor velocity.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein said operational data relates to sensor altitude.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for causing the any one of said sensors that is operating in the unauthorized manner to be disabled sends a disable command to the any sensor that is operating in the unauthorized manner.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the unauthorized manner comprises the operation of the sensor in a missile guidance system.

9. A method for controlling one or more remote sensors, said method comprising:

monitoring operation of each one of said sensors by monitoring actual performance of each sensor;

determining if any sensor is functionally correctly operating but in an unauthorized manner, by comparing if the actual performance of the any sensor exceeds preset performance limits for said sensors; and

disabling any sensor that is operating in an unauthorized manner,

wherein each sensor'"'"'s preset performance limit is set so that performance of the sensor outside of the performance limit is indicative of the unauthorized manner of operation of the sensor even where the sensor is functionally correctly operating.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the preset performance limit of each sensor corresponds to a predetermined acceleration, such that acceleration of the sensor greater than the predetermined acceleration is indicative of the unauthorized manner of operation of the sensor even where the sensor is functionally correctly operating.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the unauthorized manner comprises the operation of the sensor in a missile guidance system.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein monitoring operation of said sensors includes receiving signals relating to sensor operation from each sensor, and disabling sensors operating in the unauthorized manner includes sending a disable command to such sensors.