Environmental monitor

• US 8,786,462 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2007
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC (BT Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: British Telecommunications PLC (BT Group PLC)
• Inventors: Bowman, Paul A
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): INGE, JOSEPH N
• Application Number:
  US12/375,423
• Publication Number:
  US 20090261950A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,561 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/588, 340/870.02
• US Class Current: 340/870.02
• 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

Abstract

A battery powered remote control unit or other ancillary device is shipped in the same packaging as the main product and is subject to similar environmental conditions throughout the supply chain. The remote control unit is fitted with an environmental sensor to detect such conditions during transit, when the main product has no power supply and stores the data. When the main product is first powered up and used, the remote control communicates to the product and relays data captured by the handset. This data, together with data collected by the main device when in use, using its own sensor, is stored to be retrieved subsequently by a reader to identify events that may have caused a fault in the device.

Claims

1. First and second co-operating devices which are configured to be packaged and shipped together as a unit package to a user such that both devices are subjected to the same or similar environmental conditions during shipment, the second device being a detachable or separate auxiliary to a main function of the first device after shipment and delivery to a user, and both having sensors for recording their respective ambient environmental data if enabled to do so,

the first device having a receiver and first data store for receiving and storing environmental data transmitted by the second device and a prompt generator responsive to a user-generated initial activation of the main function of the first device after delivery to the user and indicative that the devices have been detached or separated from each other for use, to generate a prompt signal to the second device,

the second device having a second data store configured for collecting and storing environmental data during shipment, and a transmitter for transmitting the data stored in the second data store to the first device in response to a prompt generated by said user-generated initial activation of the main function of the first device;

wherein the second device also has the capability to function as a battery operated wireless controller for the main function of the first device;

wherein the second device has means for initially disabling the control function, and for subsequently enabling this function; and

means in the first device for storing the second device, such that the second device is not accessible to a user to allow such enablement until the data has been transferred.

2. First and second co-operating devices according to claim 1, the first device having an active state and a dormant state,

the first device being equipped to transmit a signal to the second device when it goes from the dormant state to the active state,

the second device having means for detecting the said signal and, in response to detecting the signal, for transmitting data it has recorded to the first device.

3. First and second co-operating devices according to claim 2, both having means for collecting environmental data, the first device being equipped to collect such data when in the active state but not when in the dormant state.

4. First and second co-operating devices according to claim 1, wherein the second device has manual control means for generating a prompt to transmit data to the first device.

5. First and second co-operating devices according to claim 2, wherein the first device is arranged to be in a dormant state when it is not connected to a power supply and in an active state when it is connected to a power supply.

6. First and second co-operating devices according to claim 1, wherein the second device has means for transmitting an identification code to distinguish data transmitted in an initial data transmission from data transmitted subsequently, and the first device has means for storing the identification codes in association with the received data.

7. First and second co-operating devices as claimed in claim 1, configured to disable the second device from collecting and recording further environmental data after data has been once transferred to the first device, and configured so that such disabling cannot take place before the data has been transferred.

8. First and second co-operating devices as claimed in claim 7, comprising means to prevent such disabling taking place before the data is transferred.

9. First and second co-operating devices, which are configured to be packaged and shipped together as a unit package to a user such that both devices are subjected to the same or similar environmental conditions during shipment, the second device being a detachable or separate auxiliary to a main function of the first device after shipment and delivery to a user, and both having sensors for recording their respective ambient environmental data if enabled to do so,

the first device having a receiver and first data store for receiving and storing environmental data transmitted by the second device and a prompt generator responsive to a user-generated initial activation of the main function of the first device after delivery to the user and indicative that the devices have been detached or separated from each other for use, to generate a prompt signal to the second device,

the second device having a second data store configured for collecting and storing environmental data during shipment, and a transmitter for transmitting the data stored in the second data store to the first device in response to a prompt generated by said user-generated initial activation of the main function of the first device,

and further comprising a detector in the first device for detecting when it is first connected to a power supply and retrieving from the second device data stored in the second device in response to the power connection.

10. First and second co-operating devices, the second device being a detachable or separate auxiliary to a main function of the first device, and both having sensors for recording environmental data,

the first device having a receiver and data store for receiving and storing data transmitted by the second device,

the second device having a store for collecting environmental data, and a transmitter for transmitting the data it has collected to the first device in response to a prompt generated by initialization of the main function of the first device,

said first and second co-operating devices being configured to disable the second device from collecting and recording further environmental data after data has been once transferred to the first device, and being configured so that such disabling cannot take place before the data has been transferred,

wherein the disabling means comprises a removable module containing the elements to be disabled.

11. First and second co-operating devices according to claim 10, the first device having an active state and a dormant state,

the first device being equipped to transmit a signal to the second device when it goes from the dormant state to the active state,

the second device having means for detecting the said signal and, in response to detecting the signal, for transmitting data it has recorded to the first device.

12. First and second co-operating devices according to claim 11, both having means for collecting environmental data, the first device being equipped to collect such data when in the active state but not when in the dormant state.

13. First and second co-operating devices according to claim 10, wherein the second device provides a power supply to the first device when coupled thereto.

14. First and second co-operating devices according to claim 10, wherein the second device has manual control means for generating a prompt to transmit data to the first device.

15. First and second co-operating devices according to claim 10, wherein the second device also has the capability to function as a battery-operated wireless controller for a controlled device.

16. First and second co-operating devices according to claim 10, wherein the second device also has the capability to function as a battery operated wireless controller for the main function of the first device.

17. First and second co-operating devices according to claim 12, wherein the first device is arranged to be in a dormant state when it is not connected to a power supply and in an active state when it is connected to a power supply.

18. First and second co-operating devices as claimed in claim 13, comprising a detector in the first device for detecting when it is first connected to a power supply and retrieving from the second device data stored in the second device in response to the power connection.

19. First and second co-operating devices as claimed in claim 16, wherein the second device has means for initially disabling the control function, and for subsequently enabling this function.

20. First and second co-operating devices as claimed in claim 19, comprising means in the first device for storing the second device, such that the second device is not accessible to a user to allow such enablement until the data has been transferred.

21. A method of transferring data to a first device from a second device, the second device being a detachable or separate auxiliary to the main function of the first device,

wherein the second device collects and records environmental data and subsequently, in response to a prompt generated by initialization of the main function of the first device, transmits the data it has recorded to the first device, where it is stored,

wherein the second device has a power supply for supplying power to the first device when coupled thereto,

wherein after data has been transferred to the first device, the second device is disabled from collecting and recording further data, and

wherein the elements to be disabled are contained in a removable module.

22. A method according to claim 21, wherein the first device has an active state in which it collects such data and a dormant state in which it does not collect such data, wherein the first device transmits a signal to the second device when it goes from the dormant state to the active state, the second device detects the said signal and, in response to detecting the signal, transmits the data it has recorded to the first device.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the first device is in the dormant state when it is not connected to a power supply and in the active state when it is connected to a power supply.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein, in response to connection to a power supply, the first device retrieves data from the second device, and stores the data in the first device.

25. A method according to claim 22, wherein the control function is initially disabled, and is subsequently enabled when the data is transferred.

26. A method according to claim 21, wherein removal is prevented until the data is transferred.

27. A method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the second device is stored within a device to be controlled by the second device, such that the second device is not accessible to a user until the data has been transferred.

28. A method, of transferring data to a first device from a second device, said method comprising:

packaging and shipping said first and second devices together as a unit package to a user such that both devices are subject to the same or similar environmental conditions during shipment, the second device being a detachable or separate auxiliary to the main function of the first device after delivery to a user;

collecting and recording ambient environmental data in the second device during said shipment; and

subsequently, in response to a prompt generated by a user-generated initial activation of the main function of the first device after delivery to a user indicating that the devices have been detached or separated from each other, transmitting the environmental data recorded by the second device to the first device and storing the environmental in the first device,

wherein after data has been transferred to the first device, the second device is disabled from collecting and recording further data.