Electronic message delivery system utilizable in the monitoring of remote equipment and method of same

• US 6,717,513 B1
• Filed: 08/19/2002
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vivint Incorporated (NRG Energy, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Heat-Timer Corporation
• Inventors: Shprecher, Daniel, Rey, Joseph, Sandelman, David
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US10/224,243
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 340/506, 340/511, 340/539.1, 340/3.1, 340/825.36, 340/825.49, 700/17
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/49 ensuring correct operation, e.g. by trial operation or configuration checks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/57 using telephone networks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0748 in a remote unit communicating with a single-box computer node experiencing an error/fault remote testing G06F11/2294
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0769 Readable error formats, e.g. cross-platform generic formats, human understandable formats
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0784 Routing of error reports, e.g. with a specific transmission path or data flow
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/005 Alarm destination chosen according to a hierarchy of available destinations, e.g. if hospital does not answer send to police station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/007 Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/002 with telemetering systems telemetering in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/007 with remote control systems remote control in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring remote equipment such as HVAC equipment, are provided. A sensor is in communication with a piece of remote equipment. An interface unit, having a message generating mechanism, is capable of receiving signals from the sensors. A central computer server is in communication with the interface unit and is adapted to receive and preferably store messages generated by the interface unit from a variety of different data transports. When a sensor detects an exception condition in a piece of remote equipment, the sensor transmits a signal to the interface unit, and the interface unit generates an incoming exception message and forwards the message to the server. The server forwards at least one outgoing exception message to at least one predetermined user-defined communication device based on the incoming exception message. Multiple outgoing exception messages may be forwarded to multiple communication devices in accordance with a user-defined message profile, or a single outgoing exception message may be forwarded in response to receipt of multiple incoming exception messages. The message profile is remotely configurable by the user.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring and controlling remote equipment, comprising the steps of:

a) determining a state of at least one parameter of at least one piece of the remote equipment;

b) communicating a message indicative of the state from the piece of remote equipment to a computer server as an incoming message;

c) enabling a user to remotely configure or modify a user-defined message profile containing outgoing message routing instructions, the user-defined message profile being storable on the computer server;

d) enabling a user to remotely send command messages to the remote equipment via the computer server to remotely control the remote equipment;

e) determining whether an incoming message is an incoming exception message indicative of improper operation of the piece of remote equipment;

f) if it is determined in step e) that an incoming message is an incoming exception message, forwarding at least one outgoing exception message based on the incoming message to at least one user-defined communication device specifiable in the user-defined message profile, wherein the user can remotely configure or modify the user-defined message profile by remotely accessing the computer server.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein step d) is performed remotely over the Internet.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the user may enter commands at a website.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein the at least one remote communication devices specifiable by the message profile includes at least one of a facsimile machine, an e-mail receiving device, a cellular telephone, a beeper, a pager, a PCS device, and a telephone.

5. A method of monitoring and controlling remote equipment, comprising the steps of:

a) enabling bidirectional communication between at least one piece of remote equipment and a user;

b) communicating a message indicative of a state of the remote equipment from the remote equipment to a computer server as an incoming message;

c) enabling a user to remotely configure or modify a user-defined message profile containing outgoing message routing instructions, the user-defined message profile being storable on the computer server;

d) enabling a user to remotely send command messages to the remote equipment via the computer server to remotely control the remote equipment; and

e) forwarding at least one outgoing message based on the incoming message to at least one user-defined communication device specifiable in the user-defined message profile, wherein the user can remotely configure or modify the user-defined message profile by remotely accessing the computer server.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the at least one remote communication devices specifiable by the message profile includes at least one of a facsimile machine, an e-mail receiving device, a cellular telephone, a beeper, a pager, a PCS device, and a telephone.

7. A method of monitoring and controlling remote equipment, comprising the steps of:

a) enabling bi-directional communication between at least one piece of remote equipment and a user;

b) communicating a message indicative of a state of the remote equipment from the remote equipment to a computer server as an incoming message;

c) enabling a user to remotely configure or modify a user-defined message profile containing outgoing message routing instructions, the user-defined message profile being storable on the computer server; and

d) enabling a user to remotely send command messages to the remote equipment via the computer server to remotely control the remote equipment.

8. A system for monitoring and controlling remote equipment, comprising:

a sensor in local communication with a piece of remote equipment, said sensor detecting a state of at least one parameter of the piece of remote equipment;

an interface unit, locally connected to said sensor and in communication with the piece of remote equipment, said interface unit having a message generating means for generating an incoming message corresponding to the detected state of the remote equipment; and

a computer server in remote bi-directional communication with said interface unit, said server adapted to receive said incoming messages generated by said interface unit, said computer server having a user interface, a user being capable of remotely accessing said computer server via said user interface i) to remotely configure a user-defined message profile containing outgoing message routing instructions and ii) to remotely control the remote equipment via said user interface by sending command messages to said server,

wherein when said message generating means generates an incoming message, said interface unit forwards said incoming message to said server,

and wherein said server forwards at least one outgoing message to at least one predetermined user-defined remote communication device based on said incoming message as specified in said user-defined message profile.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein said message generating mechanism of the interface unit forwards said incoming messages to said computer server via at least one of a plurality of communication media, said media comprising at least one of a cellular telephone network, radio transmissions, telephone lines, and the Internet.

10. A system according to claim 9, wherein said interface unit is adapted to receive command messages directly from said user.

11. A system according to claim 8, wherein when a user sends a command message, said message generating means generates an incoming message in response thereto.

12. A system according to claim 9, wherein when a user sends a command message, said message generating means generates an incoming message in response thereto.

13. A system according to claim 8, wherein said remote communication devices include at least one of a facsimile machine, an e-mail receiving device, a cellular telephone, a beeper, a pager, a PCS device, and a land line telephone.

14. A system according to claim 10, wherein said interface unit periodically generates a normal status message if said sensor to which said interface unit is connected detects a normal status condition indicative of proper operation of said respective piece of equipment to which said sensor is connected, said normal status message including an equipment identification code of said respective piece of equipment.

15. A system for monitoring and controlling remote equipment, comprising:

an interface unit in bi-directional communication with a piece of remote equipment and with at least one communication link, said interface unit having a message generating means for generating an incoming message corresponding to a state of the remote equipment; and

a computer server in remote bi-directional communication with said interface unit, said server adapted to receive said incoming messages generated by said interface unit, said computer server having a user interface, a user being capable of remotely accessing said computer server via said user interface to remotely configure a user-defined message profile containing outgoing message routing instructions,

wherein a user may send a command message to the remote piece of equipment via said communication link and said interface unit to thereby control the remote piece of equipment remotely, and

wherein when said message generating means generates an incoming message, said interface unit forwards said incoming message to said server,

and wherein said server forwards at least one outgoing message to at least one predetermined user-defined remote communication device based on said incoming message as specified in said user-defined message profile.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein said computer server is adapted to receive command messages from the user and forward said command messages to the remote piece of equipment.

17. A system according to claim 15, wherein when a user sends a command message, said message generating means generates an incoming message in response thereto.

18. A system according to claim 16, wherein when a user sends a command message, said message generating means generates an incoming message in response thereto.

19. A system for monitoring and controlling remote equipment, comprising:

an interface unit in bi-directional communication with a piece of remote equipment and with at least one communication link, said interface unit having a message generating means for generating an incoming message corresponding to a state of the remote equipment; and

a computer server in remote bi-directional communication with said interface unit, said server adapted to receive said incoming messages generated by said interface unit, said computer server having a user interface, a user being capable of remotely accessing said computer server via said user interface to remotely configure a user-defined message profile containing outgoing message routing instructions,

wherein a user may send a command message to the remote piece of equipment via said wireless communication link and said interface unit to thereby control the remote piece of equipment remotely, and

wherein when said message generating means generates an incoming message, said interface unit forwards said incoming message to said server.

20. A system for monitoring and controlling remote equipment, comprising:

an interface unit in bi-directional communication with a piece of remote equipment, said interface unit having a message generating means for generating an incoming message corresponding to a state of the remote equipment; and

a computer server in remote bi-directional communication with said interface unit, said server adapted to receive said incoming messages generated by said interface unit, said computer server having a user interface, a user being capable of remotely accessing said computer server via said user interface i) to remotely configure a user-defined message profile containing outgoing message routing instructions and ii) to remotely control the remote equipment via said user interface by sending command messages to said server,

wherein when said message generating means generates an incoming message, said interface unit forwards said incoming message to said server,

and wherein said server forwards at least one outgoing message to at least one predetermined user-defined remote communication device based on said incoming message as specified in said user-defined message profile.

21. A system for monitoring and controlling remote equipment, comprising:

an interface unit in bi-directional communication with a piece of remote equipment, said interface unit having a message generating means for generating an incoming message corresponding to a state of the remote equipment; and

a computer server in remote bi-directional communication with said interface unit, said server adapted to receive said incoming messages generated by said interface unit, said computer server having a user interface, a user being capable of remotely accessing said computer server via said user interface i) to remotely configure a user-defined message profile containing outgoing message routing instructions and ii) to remotely control the remote equipment via said user interface by sending command messages to said server,

wherein when said message generating means generates an incoming message, said interface unit forwards said incoming message to said server.