Remote monitoring system

• US 9,857,234 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2016
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Digi International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Schechter Tech LLC (Digi International Inc.)
• Inventors: Schechter, Harry J., Felichko, Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): BLOUNT, ERIC
• Application Number:
  US15/366,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20170082498A1
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 340584, 340500, 340501, 340506, 34053916, 34053926
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/024 for remote indication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0709 in a distributed system consisting of a plurality of standalone computer nodes, e.g. clusters, client-server systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/182 Level alarms, e.g. alarms responsive to variables exceeding a threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2200/00 Transmission systems for measured values, control or similar signals
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 25/02 by signalling back receiving station to transmitting station
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/065 related to network devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• 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: H05K 7/20836 Thermal management, e.g. server temperature control

Abstract

A temperature monitoring service in which remote monitoring units are distributed to customers who then set up monitoring as desired at their facilities. The devices may be registered through a web site using the Internet. Monitoring information may be communicated using a publicly available, wireless network, such as a cellular telephone network. The service may be provided with a system, including a server, which can deliver high levels of monitoring functionality. The server may support streaming monitoring information to a customer for analysis or sending a command activating a device connected to a remote unit. Remote units associated with the same location may be in a pool, comprising one active unit and one or more spare units, in which the server automatically identifies the active unit. The server may support analyzing monitoring information according to an expected cycle pattern of a ventilation system at the monitored facility.

Claims

1. A method of remote monitoring using a plurality of remote units, each remote unit comprising a sensor and a wireless transceiver, the method comprising:

receiving a registration of a pool comprising at least a portion of the plurality of remote units that are to monitor an environment, the registration of the pool comprising an identification of each remote unit, of the plurality of remote units, that is to be included in the pool;

receiving reports from the plurality of remote units, the reports comprising monitoring reports, indicating a sensor reading for at least one environmental parameter, and status reports, indicating a change in status of the remote units; and

monitoring the at least one environmental parameter for the environment using the pool of remote units, the monitoring comprising;

associating reports received from the portion of the plurality of remote units with the environment; and

designating a remote unit of the pool as an active remote unit based on status reports received from the remote units of the pool; and

identifying a value for the at least one environmental parameter for the environment based on monitoring reports received from the active remote unit.