System and method for providing managed remote monitoring services

• US 8,125,328 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2009
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Sartini, Robert A., Schultz, Paul T., MCKEE, Martin W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tweel, Jr., John A
• Application Number:
  US12/389,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20100214090A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 340/517, 340/870.01, 340/426.18, 370/466, 709/203, 709/217, 379/201.02
• US Class Current: 340/517
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/125 involving control of end-device applications over a network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services

Abstract

An approach is provided for a managed heterogeneous sensor service. A plurality of signals are received over a communication network from, respectively, a plurality of heterogeneous sensors. A plurality of instant communication sessions are established over the communication network corresponding to each of the sensors. Presence of each of the sensors is indicated over the instant communication sessions. Sensor data is generated in response to the received signals. The sensor data is transmitted over the corresponding instant communication sessions.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a plurality of signals over a communications network from, respectively, a plurality of heterogeneous sensors, and generating sensor data for each of the respective sensors in response to the received signals;

establishing a plurality of instant communication sessions, each corresponding to a respective one of the plurality of heterogeneous sensors; and

communicating, over each of the instant communication sessions, a presence of the respective sensor, wherein the presence indicates the respective sensor data.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing the sensor data in a repository that is accessible via the communications network.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the sensor data is transmitted to an end-user device that includes either a multimedia device, a wireless terminal, a mobile terminal, a personal computer, or a portable computer.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a report request, from an end user device, to generate a report based on the sensor data; and

generating the report for transmission to the end user device in response to the report request.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein the sensor data includes real-time data, historical data, or a combination thereof.

6. A method according to claim 4, wherein the report request includes a criterion for the report generation.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating a notification for alerting an end user about the sensor data.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

correlating the sensor data based on a criteria specified by an end user.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the communicated presence of each of the sensors comprises rich presence data.

10. An apparatus comprising:

a communication interface configured to establish a plurality of instant communication sessions, each corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of heterogeneous sensors, and to receive a plurality of signals from, respectively, the plurality of sensors; and

a processor configured to generate sensor data for each of the respective sensors in response to the received signals, and to communicate, over each of the instant communication sessions, a presence of the respective sensor, wherein the presence indicates the respective sensor data.

11. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the sensor data is stored in a repository.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the sensor data is transmitted to an end user device that includes a multimedia device, a wireless terminal, a mobile terminal, a personal computer, or a portable computer.

13. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the communication interface is further configured to receive a report request from an end user device, and the processor is further configured to, in response to the report request, generate a report based on the sensor data for transmission to the end user device.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the sensor data includes real-time data, historical data, or a combination thereof.

15. An apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the report includes a criterion for the report generation.

16. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to generate a notification for alerting an end user about the sensor data.

17. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the processor is further configured to correlate the sensor data based on a criteria specified by an end user.

18. An apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the communicated presence of each of the sensors comprises rich presence data.

19. A method comprising:

establishing a plurality of instant communication sessions, each corresponding with a respective one of a plurality of heterogeneous sensors; and

receiving, via each of the instant communication sessions, a presence communication for the respective sensor,

wherein each presence communication indicates sensor data associated the respective heterogeneous sensor.

20. A method according to claim 19, further comprising:

receiving a notification for alerting an end user about the sensor data,

wherein the notification is generated based on criteria stored to a user profile associated with the end user.

21. A method according to claim 19, wherein an online interface is provided over the communications network to enable the end user to interact with the particular heterogeneous sensor.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the online interface is provided by the particular heterogeneous sensor or a networked application.

23. A method according to claim 19, wherein presence of each of the heterogeneous sensors includes rich presence.