Method and apparatus for remotely monitoring a site

• US 20020174367A1
• Filed: 05/08/2002
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David E. Kimmel, Donald R. Jones Jr., James T. Byrne Jr, Ronald Dubois
• Original Assignee: Nettalon Security Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Kimmel, David E., Dubois, Ronald, Jones, Donald R. Jr., Byrne, James T. Jr.
• Granted Patent: US 6,917,288 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/201
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19 using infrared-radiation detection systems G08B13/194 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19608 Tracking movement of a target, e.g. by detecting an object predefined as a target, using target direction and or velocity to predict its new position
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19645 Multiple cameras, each having view on one of a plurality of scenes, e.g. multiple cameras for multi-room surveillance or for tracking an object by view hand-over
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19656 Network used to communicate with a camera, e.g. WAN, LAN, Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19682 Graphic User Interface [GUI] presenting system data to the user, e.g. information on a screen helping a user interacting with an alarm system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19684 Portable terminal, e.g. mobile phone, used for viewing video remotely
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19691 Signalling events for better perception by user, e.g. indicating alarms by making display brighter, adding text, creating a sound
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/22 Electrical actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

The present invention is directed to providing systems and methods for remotely monitoring sites to provide real time information which can readily permit distinguishing false alarms, and which can identify and track the precise location of an alarm. In embodiments, monitoring capabilities such as intrusion/fire detection and tracking capabilities, can be implemented through the use of multistate indicators in a novel interface which permits information to be transmitted using standard network protocols from a remote site to a monitoring station in real-time. In embodiments, communications can be handed from the centrally located host monitoring station to a mobile monitoring station (for example, a laptop computer in a responding vehicle, such as a police or fire vehicle). Additional embodiments include high, low, and rate-of-change alarms; chromagraphic representation of the value of an environmental or other parameter measured in a space; and detection and location of portable interface devices in a space.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a space, comprising:

a security panel located at the space, said security panel in communication with a sensor, wherein the sensor is configured to monitor a parameter;

wherein the security panel is configured to receive information from the sensor regarding a value of the parameter;

wherein the security panel is configured to identify an alarm state from the group consisting of a high alarm state when the value of the parameter exceeds a predetermined high-end threshold, a low alarm state when the value of the parameter is less than a predetermined low-end threshold; and

a rate-of-change alarm state when changes in the value of the parameter exceed a predetermined rate-of-change threshold; and

wherein the security panel is configured to automatically transmit to a monitoring station information responsive to the alarm state.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a graphical user interface configured to display an icon responsive to the alarm state.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a graphical user interface configured to display the value of the parameter.

6. The system of claims 1, 4 or 5, wherein the parameter comprises temperature.

7. The system of claims 1, 4 or 5, wherein the parameter comprises concentration of a chemical.

8. The system of claims 1, 4 or 5, wherein the parameter comprises water pressure.

9. The system of claims 1, 4 or 5, wherein the parameter comprises wind velocity.

10. The system of claims 1, 4, or 5, wherein the parameter comprises magnitude of force.

11. The system of claims 1, 4 or 5, wherein the parameter comprises signal integrity in a communication transmission facility.

12. The system of claims 1, 4 or 5, wherein the parameter comprises bit error rate in a communication transmission facility.

13. The system of claims 1, 4 or 5, wherein the parameter indicates a geometric position of a physical object.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the detection system comprises an RFID reader.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the detection system comprises a first RFID reader located in a first subspace, and a second RFID reader located in a second subspace.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a graphic interface configured to display the location of the portable interface device in response to the notification signal.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising a graphic interface configured to display an icon indicating the location of the portable interface device.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the icon is color coded to indicate a type of portable interface device.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the detection system comprises a radiolocation transceiver.

22. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the portable interface device comprise an RFID card.

23. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the portable interface device comprises a radiolocation transmitter.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the detection system comprises an RFID reader.

26. The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising a graphic interface configured to display the location of the portable interface device in response to the first self initiated notification signal.

27. The apparatus of claim 24 further comprising a graphic interface configured to display an icon indicating the location of the portable interface device.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the icon is color coded to indicate a type of portable interface device.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the detection system comprises a radiolocation transceiver.

30. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the portable interface device comprise an RFID card.

31. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the portable interface device comprises a radiolocation transmitter.

4. A system for monitoring a space having a plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors located at a predetermined monitoring location comprising:

a monitoring system configured to receive a real time self initiated notification signal indicating a change of a value of a parameter measured by one of the plurality of sensors; and

a graphic interface configured to display information in real time responsive to the signal, wherein the graphic interface chromagraphically displays the value of the parameter measured by each of the plurality of sensors.

14. The system of claims 4 or 5, wherein the graphic interface, responsive to the values of the parameter measured by each of the plurality of sensors, chromagraphically displays estimated values of the parameter throughout the space.

5. A system for monitoring a space having a plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors located at a predetermined monitoring location comprising:

a monitoring system configured to receive a real time self initiated notification signal indicating a change of a value of a parameter at one of the plurality of sensors; and

a graphic interface configured to display information in real time responsive to the signal, wherein the graphic interface chromagraphically displays changes in the value of the parameter measured by each of the plurality of sensors.

15. An apparatus for monitoring a space, wherein the space comprises a first subspace and a second subspace, comprising:

a security panel located at the space; and

a detection system, in communication with the security panel, configured to detect the movement of a portable interface device from the first subspace to the second subspace;

wherein the security panel provides a real time self initiated notification signal to a monitoring system responsive to the detection by the detection system of the movement of the portable interface device from the first subspace to the second subspace.

24. An apparatus for monitoring a space comprising:

a security panel located at the space; and

a detection system, in communication with the security panel, configured to detect the movement of a portable interface device from outside the space to inside the space and from inside the space to outside the space;

wherein the security panel provides a first real time self initiated notification signal to a monitoring system responsive to detection by the detection system of the movement of the portable interface device from outside the space to inside the space and a second real time self initiated notification to the monitoring system responsive to the detection by the detection system of the movement of the portable interface device from inside the space to outside the space.