Remote web-based control

• US 6,792,321 B2
• Filed: 03/02/2001
• Issued: 09/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electro Standards Laboratories
• Original Assignee: Electro Standards Laboratories
• Inventors: Sepe, Raymond Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ramesh
• Application Number:
  US09/796,678
• Publication Number:
  US 20010047213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 700/9, 700/3, 700/2, 700/50, 700/65, 700/66, 700/19, 700/20, 702/188, 702/189, 709/217, 709/201
• US Class Current: 700/65
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/60 using electrical actuators
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 15/70 with automatic actuation
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 2015/767 using cameras
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 15/02 electric
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/31457 Factory remote control, monitoring through internet

Abstract

Real-time remote monitoring and controlling of a device is described via a network such as the Internet. A virtual presence is accomplished between geographically distributed remote users and hardware platforms that allow for real-time interactive hardware operation. Using Internet based communications such as e-mail or browser based sessions, a series of remote instructions are sent from a remote computer based device to the device to be monitored and controlled. This operation of includes, but is not limited to, data monitoring, system control, system tuning, distributed learning, distributed monitoring, remote servicing and hardware reconfiguration. Furthermore, monitored data is exchanged between the device being monitored and the remote electronic-based device can be in a spreadsheet format.

Claims

1. A system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a remote device via an electronic-based device, said system comprising:

one or more sensors measuring one or more parameters associated with said remote device and generating a signal based on said measured one or more parameters, said remote device equipped with a unique electronic address;

a microprocessor, operatively linked to said remote device and one or more sensors, said microprocessor;

receiving instructions, via said unique electronic address, from said electronic-based device,

identifying and monitoring one or more parameters based on controlling said sensors from said received instructions,

receiving a generated signal from said controlled sensors and extracting said one or more parameters to be controlled and monitored from said received signal, and

generating an alert signal if said extracted one or more parameters satisfy a set of alarm conditions;

a network interface transmitting said extracted one or more parameters or said alert signal in real-time to said electronic-based device via said unique electronic address, and

wherein said electronic-based device controls and monitors said remote device in real-time over a network by passing said instructions to said microprocessor and receives alerts in real-time when a set of alarm conditions are met.

2. A system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a remote device via an electronic-based device, as per claim 1, wherein said network is any of the following:

HTTP-based networks, local area networks (LANS), wide area networks (WAN), Internet, or wireless networks.

3. A system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a remote device via an electronic-based device, as per claim 1, wherein said electronic address is any of the following:

e-mail address or network address.

4. A system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a remote device via an electronic-based device, as per claim 1, wherein said system further comprises a Java based graphical user interface (GUI) operatively linked to said computer-device, said GUI displaying said monitored and controlled parameter.

5. A system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a remote device via an electronic-based device, as per claim 1, wherein said system further comprises a chat function for real-time messaging between said remote device and said electronic-based device.

6. A system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a remote device via an electronic-based device, as per claim 1, wherein said one or more sensors measure one or more parameters associated with an automatic door.

7. A system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a remote device via an electronic-based device, as per claim 6, wherein said sensors include a combination of any of the following sensors:

proximity sensors, door position sensors, door health sensors, environmental sensors, traffic flow sensors, or video sensors.

8. A system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a remote device via an electronic-based device, as per claim 1, wherein said system further includes a statistical analyzer for computing usage statistics.

9. A system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a remote device via an electronic-based device, as per claim 1, wherein said extracted one or more parameters are transmitted via said unique e-mail address to one or more target e-mail addresses.

10. A system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a remote device via an electronic-based device, as per claim 9, wherein said target e-mail addresses are remotely programmable by said remote electronic-based device.

11. A system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a remote device via an electronic-based device, as per claim 1, wherein said remote device is an automatic door, and upon generating said alert signal, said system further generates an immediate response, said immediate response comprising any of the following:

holding the door open or closed, restricting access via locking doors, alerting system behavior to sensor stimulus, using video and sensor capture to archive door mechanism, environment, operators, or traffic, and sending e-mail alerts and data to service and supervisory personnel or centers.

12. A method for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of an automatic door via an electronic-based device, said method as implemented in the monitored automatic door comprising:

receiving instructions in an electronic messaging format over a network from said electronic-based device via an unique electronic address, said instructions identifying one or more parameters to be controlled and monitored in said automatic door;

measuring and controlling said identified one or more parameters associated with said automatic door;

generating an alert signal if said measured one or more parameters to be monitored satisfy a set of alarm conditions;

transmitting said alert signal to said electronic-based device via said unique electronic address; and

generating an immediate response said immediate response comprising any of the following;

holding door open or closed, restricting access via locking doors, alerting system behavior to sensor stimulus, using video and sensor capture to archive door mechanism, environment, operators, or traffic, and sending e-mail alerts and data to service and supervisory personnel or centers.

13. A method for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of an automatic door via an electronic-based device, as per claim 12, wherein said network is any of the following:

HTTP-based networks, local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WAN), Internet, or wireless networks.

14. A method for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of an automatic door via an electronic-based device, as per claim 12, wherein said received instructions are received via a unique e-mail or network address associated with said remote device.

15. A method for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of an automatic door via an electronic-based device, as per claim 14, wherein said instructions sent in said electronic messaging format are in a markup language format.

16. A system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a programmable device and its associated hardware, said system comprising:

one or more sensors measuring one or more parameters associated with said programmable device and generating a signal based on said measured one or more parameters;

a fuzzy logic controller to automatically determine proper optimum efficiency operation of said programmable device under varying operational conditions;

a digital signal processor, operatively linked to said programmable device, receiving a set of instructions from a remote electronic-based device in a markup language format, said set of instructions received over a network via a network interface, and said digital signal processor identifying one or more parameters to be controlled and monitored, receiving said generated signal and extracting said one or more parameters to be controlled and monitored from said signal;

said network interface transmitting said extracted one or more parameters to said electronic-based device,

an adaptive controller continuously retuning the system to compensate for a time delay, said time delay estimated using a send and response pinging signal and/or monitoring of controller dynamics to detect a change in stability or damping that reflects a varied time delay, and

wherein said remote electronic-based device receives said extracted one or more parameters and displays said one or more parameters in real-time via an interface, and based on one or more inputs, said interface transmits said set of instructions to said digital signal processor to control and monitor said programmable device.

17. A system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a programmable device and its associated hardware, as per claim 16, wherein said programmable device comprises a remotely located motor.

18. A system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a programmable device and its associated hardware, as per claim 17, wherein said interface further provides for manually tuning the torque gain kIdlI associated with said motor.

19. A system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a programmable device and its associated hardware, as per claim 17, wherein said system automatically controls the torque gain kIdIq via said fuzzy logic controller.

20. A system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a programmable device and its associated hardware, as per claim 17, wherein said system is used as a network based collaborative experimentation system wherein hardware experiments on said motor are performed simultaneously from geographically distributed locations.

21. A system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a programmable device and its associated hardware, as per claim 16, wherein said system is used as a part of any of the following systems:

network based equipment servicing, network based diagnostics and repair, remote training, network based equipment servicing, and network based distant learning.

22. A system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a programmable device and its associated hardware, as per claim 16, wherein said system further comprises a chat function for real time message communication.

23. A system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a programmable device and its associated hardware, as per claim 16, wherein said network is any of the following:

HTTP-based networks, local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WAN), Internet, or wireless networks.

24. A system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a programmable device and its associated hardware, as per claim 16, wherein said transmitted one or more parameters automatically invoke one or more application programs on said electronic-based device allowing for activation and utilization of additional software without user intervention in said electronic-based device.

25. A system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a programmable device and its associated hardware, as per claim 16, wherein said system is used as a part of any of the following systems:

automotive diagnostics, remote technician diagnostics/repair.

26. A system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a programmable device and its associated hardware, as per claim 16, wherein said system further comprises a Java based graphical user interface (GUI) operatively linked to said programmable device, said GUI displaying said monitored and controlled parameters.

27. A system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a programmable device and its associated hardware, as per claim 16, further comprising a local fall back controller is running as a switch-in backup in the event that a catastrophic loss of connection occurs with a primary controller.

28. A network-based collaborative experimentation system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a remotely located programmable motor and its associated hardware, said collaborative experimentation system comprising:

one or more sensors measuring one or more parameters associated with said programmable motor and generating a signal based on said measured one or more parameters;

a digital signal processor, operatively linked to said programmable motor, receiving a set of instructions from a plurality of electronic-based devices in a markup language format for performing collaborative experimentation on said programmable motor from geographically distributed locations, said set of instructions received over a network via a network interface, and said digital signal processor identifying and monitoring one or more parameters based on controlling said sensors and said received instructions, receiving a generated signal from said controlled sensors, and extracting said one or more parameters to be controlled and monitored from said signal;

said network interface transmitting said extracted one or more parameters to each of said remote electronic-based devices at said geographically distributed locations, and

wherein each of said remote electronic-based devices is capable of receiving said extracted one or more parameters and displaying said one or more parameters in real-time via an interface, and said interface capable of transmitting, based upon one or more inputs, said set of instructions to said digital signal processor to control and monitor said programmable device.

29. A network-based collaborative experimentation system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a remotely located programmable motor and its associated hardware, as per claim 28, wherein said collaborative experimentation system further comprises a chat function for real time message communication.

30. A network-based collaborative experimentation system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a remotely located programmable motor and its associated hardware, as per claim 28, wherein said network is any of the following:

HTTP-based networks, local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WAN), Internet, or wireless networks.

31. A network-based collaborative experimentation system for providing a real-time network-based controlling and monitoring of a remotely located programmable motor and its associated hardware, as per claim 28, wherein said unique electronic address is any of the following:

e-mail address or network address.

32. A system for providing a real-time network-based controlling, monitoring, and mirroring of a remote device, said system comprising:

one or more sensors measuring one or more parameters associated with a remote device to be mirrored and generating a signal based on said measured one or more parameters, said remote device equipped with a unique electronic address;

a microprocessor operatively linked to said remote device to be mirrored and one or more sensors, said microprocessor;

receiving instructions from an electronic-based device via said unique electronic address;

identifying and monitoring one or more parameters representing operation of said remote device based on controlling said sensors and said received instructions;

receiving generated signal from said controlled sensors and extracting said one or more parameters to be controlled and monitored from said received signal; and

a network interface transmitting, in real-time, said extracted one or more parameters to one or more non-collocated electronic-based devices, wherein each of said non-collocated electronic-based devices receives said transmitted real-time data and mirrors the behavior of said remote device.

33. A system for providing a real-time network-based controlling, monitoring, and mirroring of a remote device, as per claim 32, wherein said network is any of the following:

HTTP-based networks, local area networks (LANs), wide area networks (WAN), Internet, or wireless networks.

34. A system for providing a real-time network-based controlling, monitoring, and mirroring of a remote device, as per claim 32, wherein said remote device is a motor associated with any of the following:

a fitness device or an entertainment device.