Sensor interface with mobile terminal satellite modem and global location system

• US 8,700,315 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2011
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc. (Ametek Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: SkyBitz, Inc. (Ametek Incorporated)
• Inventors: Battista, Rich
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Dalena
• Application Number:
  US13/005,879
• Publication Number:
  US 20110116559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 701/412, 340/426.19, 340/540, 340/989, 340/539.26, 340/10.1, 3405721-5724, 340/568.1, 342/457, 342/43, 342/44, 342/46
• US Class Current: 701/412
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/403 with centralised control, e.g. polling
• 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: H04Q 2209/50 using a mobile data collecting device, e.g. walk by or drive by
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A system and method for implementing a low-power local-area network for use with a mobile terminal satellite modem. This low-power local-area network enables sensors on an asset to transmit sensor data to a mobile terminal affixed on the asset. The mobile terminal reports the sensor data along with asset position information to a centralized facility via a communications satellite.

Claims

1. A sensor monitoring system at an asset location, comprising:

a master device that interfaces with a satellite modem for delivery of sensor data to a remote location; and

a slave device that is coupled to a sensor that is designed to measure a physical quantity based on interaction by said sensor with a physical environment in which said sensor is placed, said slave device also being configured to communicate sensor measurement data to said master device via a wired serial interface for delivery to a remote location using said satellite modem, wherein said slave device is configured to awaken from a low power state based on a receipt of a message that is transmitted over said wired serial interface.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said wired serial interface is a RS-485 interface.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said master device transmits configuration information to said slave device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said configuration information originates at a remote location and is received by said master device via said satellite modem.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said master device transmits a status request to said slave device.

6. A sensor system at an asset location, comprising:

a slave device having an associated sensor;

a satellite modem that receives a message from a remote location via a communication satellite, said message including configuration information; and

a master device that interfaces with said satellite modem for delivery of sensor data to said remote location, said master device being configured to communicate said configuration information to said slave device, wherein upon receipt of said configuration information said slave device reconfigures an operation of said associated sensor.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said master device is coupled to said slave device via a serial interface.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said master device is coupled to said slave device via a RS-485 interface.

9. The system of claim 6, further comprising a locating device that is coupled to said satellite modem, said locating device generating information that is used to identify a location of the asset.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein said locating device generates location information that is used, at said remote location, to calculate a location of the asset.

11. The system of claim 6, wherein said master device is integrated in hardware with said satellite modem.

12. The system of claim 6, wherein said master device is on separate hardware from said satellite modem, and communicates with said satellite modem using a hardwired interface.

13. The system of claim 6, wherein said master device transmits a status request to said slave device.

14. A sensor system at an asset location, comprising:

a plurality of slave devices, each of said plurality of slave devices having an associated sensor;

a satellite modem that communicates with a remote location via a communication satellite;

a master device that interfaces with said satellite modem for delivery of sensor data to said remote location, said master device being configured to communicate with said plurality of slave devices via a serial interface to receive data from said associates sensors that are coupled to said plurality of slave devices, wherein said master device is configured to wake each of said plurality of slave devices from a low power state.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a locating device that is coupled to said satellite modem, said locating device generating information that is used to identify a location of the asset.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said locating device generates location information that is used, at a remote location, to calculate a location of the asset.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein said master device transmits configuration information to slave devices.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said configuration information originates at said remote location and is received by said master device via said satellite modem.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein said master device is coupled to said plurality of slave devices via a serial interface.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said master device is coupled to said plurality of slave device via a RS-485 interface.