Personnel field device for process control and other systems and related method

• US 8,941,740 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2009
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Pham, Hai D., Kaufman, David R., Budampati, Ramakrishna S., Mathur, Anoop K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Topgyal, Gelek W
• Application Number:
  US12/538,762
• Publication Number:
  US 20100061703A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,996 Days
• Field of Search: 386/239, 386/230
• US Class Current: 348/158
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 15/00 Surveying instruments or accessories not provided for in groups G01C1/00 - G01C13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/023 for acceleration measuring devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 in two or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/41 Differential correction, e.g. DGPS [differential GPS]
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0018 Transmission from mobile station to base station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/14 Toxic gas alarms G08B21/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus includes an image recorder configured to record video images. The apparatus also includes a display screen configured to present the video images to a user and to create notations overlying one or more of the video images based on user input. The apparatus further includes a transceiver configured to stream the video images over a wireless mesh network and to transmit data associated with the notations over the wireless mesh network. The apparatus could also include components for providing cryptographic keys to wireless nodes joining the wireless mesh network, a sensor for detecting or measuring one or more characteristics, and/or an asset tracker for transmitting or receive signals for identifying a location of the apparatus. The apparatus could further include at least one voice unit supporting bidirectional voice communications and/or a site survey unit for identifying signal strengths associated with detected wireless nodes.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an image recorder configured to record still and video images;

an audio recorder configured to record audio information;

a display screen configured to present the images to a user, the display screen also configured to create notations overlying one or more of the images based on user input, the user input defined by physical contact with the display screen;

a transceiver configured to stream the video images over a wireless mesh network, the transceiver also configured to transmit data associated with the notations over the wireless mesh network;

a sensor configured to detect one or more characteristics of the apparatus or a surrounding environment, the one or more characteristics comprising an acceleration event, wherein the acceleration event is a rapid acceleration or deceleration of the apparatus;

a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) controller configured to cause voice information captured using the audio recorder to be transmitted over the wireless mesh network via the transceiver;

an asset tracker configured to provide location information of the apparatus for transmission by the transceiver over the wireless mesh network, the asset tracker configured to operate continuously whenever the acceleration event is detected by the sensor and operate intermittently at specified intervals whenever the acceleration event is not detected by the sensor; and

a housing configured to retain the image recorder, the audio recorder, the display screen, the transceiver, the sensor, and the VoIP controller.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is further configured to perform Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) functions including email, calendar or scheduling, and contact information storage.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an infrared port configured to transmit one or more cryptographic keys to one or more wireless nodes that are configured to join the wireless mesh network.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a controller configured to initiate an alarm based on one or more sensor readings from the sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display screen is further configured to present one or more measurements from the sensor.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the VoIP controller supports bidirectional voice communications.

7. A system comprising:

a plurality of wireless nodes forming a wireless mesh network; and

a field device comprising;

an image recorder configured to record still and video images;

an audio recorder configured to record audio information;

a display screen configured to present the images to a user, the display screen also configured to create notations overlying one or more of the images based on user input defined by physical contact with the display screen;

a transceiver configured to stream the video images over the wireless mesh network, the transceiver also configured to transmit data associated with the notations over the wireless mesh network;

a sensor configured to detect one or more characteristics of the field device or a surrounding environment, the one or more characteristics comprising an acceleration event, wherein the acceleration event is a rapid acceleration or deceleration of the field device;

a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) controller configured to cause voice information captured using the audio recorder to be transmitted over the wireless mesh network via the transceiver;

an asset tracker configured to provide location information of the field device for transmission by the transceiver over the wireless mesh network, the asset tracker configured to operate continuously whenever the acceleration event is detected by the sensor and operate intermittently at specified intervals whenever the acceleration event is not detected by the sensor; and

a housing configured to retain the image recorder, the audio recorder, the display screen, the transceiver, the sensor, and the VoIP controller.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the field device is further configured to perform Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) functions including email, calendar or scheduling, and contact information storage.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the field device further comprises:

a controller configured to initiate an alarm based on one or more sensor readings from the sensor.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the display screen is further configured to present one or more measurements from the sensor.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein the VoIP controller supports bidirectional voice communications.

12. A method comprising:

recording still and video images using an image recorder of a field device;

recording audio information using an audio recorder of the field device;

presenting the images to a user on a display screen of the field device;

receiving user input defining one or more notations overlying one or more of the images at the field device, the user input defined by physical contact with the display screen;

streaming the video images and transmitting data associated with the one or more notations over a wireless mesh network using a transceiver of the field device;

detecting one or more characteristics of the field device or a surrounding environment using a sensor of the field device, the one or more characteristics comprising an acceleration event, wherein the acceleration event is a rapid acceleration or deceleration of the field device;

causing voice information captured using the audio recorder to be transmitted over the wireless mesh network using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) communications;

providing, at an asset tracker, location information of the field device for transmission by the transceiver over the wireless mesh network, wherein the providing is performed continuously whenever the acceleration event is detected by the sensor and performed intermittently at specified intervals whenever the acceleration event is not detected by the sensor; and

housing the image recorder, the audio recorder, the display screen, the transceiver, the sensor, and the wireless transmitter in a housing.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

performing Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) functions including email, calendar or scheduling, and contact information storage at the field device.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

transmitting one or more cryptographic keys to one or more wireless nodes that are configured to join the wireless mesh network via an infrared port.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

initiating an alarm based on one or more sensor readings from the sensor.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

presenting one or more measurements from the sensor on the display screen.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

supporting bidirectional voice communications.

18. An apparatus comprising:

an image recorder configured to record still and video images;

an audio recorder configured to record audio information;

a display screen configured to present the images to a user, the display screen also configured to create notations overlying one or more of the images based on user input, the user input defined by physical contact with the display screen;

a transceiver configured to stream the video images over a wireless mesh network, the transceiver also configured to transmit data associated with the notations over the wireless mesh network;

a sensor configured to detect one or more characteristics of the apparatus or a surrounding environment, the one or more characteristics comprising an acceleration event, wherein the acceleration event is a rapid acceleration or deceleration of the apparatus;

a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) controller configured to cause voice information captured using the audio recorder to be transmitted over the wireless mesh network via the transceiver;

an asset tracker configured to provide location information of the apparatus for transmission by the transceiver over the wireless mesh network, the asset tracker configured to operate continuously whenever the acceleration event is detected by the sensor and operate intermittently at specified intervals whenever the acceleration event is not detected by the sensor;

cellular telephone circuitry configured to cause voice information captured using the audio recorder to be transmitted over a mobile telephone network;

a site surveyor configured to detect one or more wireless nodes transmitting wireless signals received by the transceiver and to identify a signal strength associated with each detected wireless node;

a key distributor configured to retrieve and provide cryptographic keys;

a wireless transmitter configured to transmit the cryptographic keys to one or more wireless nodes that are configured to join the wireless mesh network; and

a housing configured to retain the image recorder, the audio recorder, the display screen, the transceiver, the sensor, the VoIP controller, the asset tracker, the cellular telephone circuitry, the site surveyor, the key distributor, and the wireless transmitter;

wherein the housing is shaped to resemble a digital camera.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the apparatus is further configured to perform Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) functions including email, calendar or scheduling, and contact information storage.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the wireless transmitter comprises an infrared port configured to transmit the one or more cryptographic keys.