Apparatus for collecting environmental data and method of monitoring environment in real time

• US 8,150,318 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2008
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Original Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
• Inventors: Moon, Seung Eon, Kim, Eun Kyoung, Lee, Hong Yeol, Park, Jong Hyurk, Park, Kang Ho, Kim, Jong Dae
• Primary Examiner(s): Milord, Marceau
• Application Number:
  US12/195,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20090061772A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/563, 455/569.1, 455/556.1, 455/575.2, 455/414.1, 455/3.06, 455/414.3, 455/414.4, 340/573.2, 340/5.1
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4045 for gases other than oxygen
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/10 Earpieces; Attachments therefor ; Earphones; Monophonic headphones H04R1/28 takes precedence; stereophonic headphones H04R5/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2225/41 Detection or adaptation of hearing aid parameters or programs to listening situation, e.g. pub, forest
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/908 Multimedia

Abstract

Provided are an apparatus for collecting environmental data and a method of monitoring an environment in real time. The apparatus for collecting environmental data includes a receiver for receiving an environmental data collection command from outside, a headset controller for interpreting the environmental data collection command received from the receiver, and distinguishing an audio signal received from outside from the environmental data collection command, the environment sensor unit for collecting environmental data according to the environmental data collection command interpreted from the headset controller, and a transmitter for transmitting the environmental data collected by the environment sensor unit.

Claims

1. An apparatus for collecting environmental data, comprising:

a portable terminal;

a receiver configured to receive an environmental data collection command from the portable terminal;

a headset controller configured to interpret the environmental data collection command received from the portable terminal, and distinguish an audio signal received from the portable terminal from the environmental data collection command;

an environment sensor unit configured to collect environmental data according to the environmental data collection command interpreted from the headset controller; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the environmental data collected by the environment sensor unit to the portable terminal,

wherein the portable terminal is configured to transmit the environmental data collection command, receive the collected environmental data, and display the received environmental data in comparison with previously stored local environmental data according to a type of the environmental data.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the environmental data collection command received by the receiver and the environmental data transmitted from the transmitter are transmitted using Bluetooth.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the environment sensor unit collects at least one of a degree of surrounding noise, a discomfort index, a concentration of fine particles, a concentration of harmful gas, temperature and humidity.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a sound receiver configured to receive the audio signal from the portable terminal; and

a sound processor configured to output the received audio signal through an external speaker.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus functions as a headset of the portable terminal.

6. A method of monitoring an environment in real time, comprising:

receiving a signal from a portable terminal;

determining whether the received signal is an environmental data collection command signal or an audio signal, and requesting an environment sensor unit to collect environmental data when the received signal is an environmental data collection command signal;

receiving an environmental data signal from the environment sensor unit;

transmitting the collected environmental data included in the received environmental data signal to the portable terminal; and

displaying the collected environmental data in comparison with previously stored local environmental data according to a type of the collected environmental data.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the previously stored local environmental data is environmental data collected according to regions by an existing environmental data collection institution.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the environmental data includes at least one of a degree of surrounding noise, a discomfort index, a concentration of fine particles, a concentration of harmful gas, temperature and humidity.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein when data included in the received signal is audio data, the received audio data is output through a speaker.