Apparatus, system and method for monitoring a drying procedure

• US 7,173,538 B2
• Filed: 06/25/2004
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RM2 Incorporated
• Original Assignee: RM2 Incorporated
• Inventors: Pedraza, Mark A., Lubeski, Richard G., O'Connell, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAI, ANNE VIET NGA
• Application Number:
  US10/877,417
• Publication Number:
  US 20050285748A1
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 344/18, 344/91, 344/95, 345/27, 700/276, 705/412, 340/602, 340/605
• US Class Current: 340/604
• CPC Class Codes: E04B 1/70 Drying or keeping dry, e.g. by air vents using damp-proof courses E04B1/644; using sealings, e.g. sealing masses or foils, E04B1/66; during erection E04G21/28
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/0008 for air-humidification F24F11/30 takes precedence
• 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 11/52 Indication arrangements, e.g. displays
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/56 Remote control
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/57 using telephone networks
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/58 using Internet communication
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/20 Humidity
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 3/14 by humidification; by dehumidification
• CPC Class Codes: F26B 25/22 Controlling the drying process in dependence on liquid content of solid materials or objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/14 Calling by using pulses

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method provide drying procedure information through a user interface. A monitoring device transmits drying procedure data measured by sensors within a structure undergoing the drying procedure to a server. In response to requests received through a communication network from a user interface, the server transmits the drying procedure information that is presented through the user interface. A variety of information and services related to the drying procedure may be provided through the user interface.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a drying procedure performed at a structure, the method comprising:

receiving, through a communication network, drying procedure data obtained at a structure undergoing a drying procedure to remove moisture from at least a portion of a building material forming at least a portion of the structure; and

transmitting drying procedure information based on the drying procedure data to a user interface through a communication network.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the drying procedure data comprises moisture data indicating a moisture level of at least a portion of the building material.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the drying procedure data comprises a temperature at the structure.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the drying procedure data comprises a humidity level at the structure.

5. A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein the humidity level is an indoor humidity level.

6. A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein the humidity level is an outdoor humidity level.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the drying procedure data comprises a dissipated power value indicating power dissipated by drying procedure equipment.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the drying procedure data comprises structure configuration data.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the structure configuration data comprises dimensions of the structure.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting the drying procedure information through a packet switched network.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10, wherein the packet switched network is an Internet.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the transmitting comprises transmitting a hypertext message language (HTML) message in response to a request initiated by a user through the user interface.

13. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the drying procedure information comprises an estimated drying time for the structure.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein the estimated drying time is based on moisture data measured by a moisture sensor.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the estimated drying time is at least partially based on a humidity level of air at the structure.

16. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein the estimated drying time is at least partially based on a structure characteristic.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16, wherein the structure characteristic is a volume within the structure.

18. A method in accordance with claim 13, wherein the estimated drying time is at least partially based on a drying equipment characteristic.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the drying equipment characteristic is a specified water removal rate of a dehumidifier.

20. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the drying procedure information comprises an estimated drying procedure cost.

21. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the drying procedure information comprises an estimated labor time to complete the drying procedure.

22. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the drying procedure data comprises a location of the structure.

23. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

receiving location information entered by a technician; and

verifying the location information based on Global Position System (GPS) coordinates received from a GPS receiver, the drying procedure data comprising the location information.

24. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the drying procedure information comprises an accrued labor time for at least one technician.

25. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the building material is selected from the group consisting of wood, plywood, drywall, brick, concrete, pressboard, plaster, carpet, and insulation.

26. A drying procedure monitoring system comprising:

a server adapted to transmit, through a communication network to a user interface, drying procedure information based on drying procedure data acquired at a structure undergoing a drying procedure to remove moisture from at least a portion of a building material forming at least a Dortion of the structure.

27. A drying procedure monitoring system in accordance with claim 26, further comprising:

a monitoring device configured to transmit the drying procedure data from the structure to the server.

28. A drying procedure monitoring system in accordance with claim 27, further comprising:

a plurality of sensors configured to acquire the drying procedure data at the structure.

29. A drying procedure monitoring system in accordance with claim 28, wherein the monitoring device comprises:

a data interface configured to receive the drying procedure data from the plurality of sensors;

a communication interface connected to the data interface and configured to transmit a drying procedure message comprising the drying procedure data through a wireless communication link.

30. A drying procedure monitoring system in accordance with claim 28, further comprising:

a user interface configured to present the drying procedure information.

31. A drying procedure monitoring system in accordance with claim 30, further comprising a communication network connected between the user interface and the server.

32. A drying procedure monitoring system in accordance with claim 31, wherein the communication network is an Internet.

33. A drying procedure monitoring system in accordance with claim 26, wherein the building material is selected from the group consisting of drywall, brick, concrete, pressboard, plaster, carpet, and insulation.

34. A graphical user interface comprising:

drying procedure information based on drying procedure data obtained from at least one sensor at a structure undergoing a drying procedure to remove moisture from at least a portion of a building material forming at least a portion of the structure.

35. A graphical user interface in accordance with claim 34, wherein the drying procedure information comprises an estimated drying procedure cost.

36. A graphical user interface in accordance with claim 34, wherein the drying procedure information comprises an estimated labor time to complete the drying procedure.

37. A graphical user interface in accordance with claim 34, wherein the drying procedure information comprises an accrued labor time for at least one technician.

38. A graphical user interface in accordance with claim 34, wherein the drying procedure data is transmitted from the structure to a server.

39. A graphical user interface in accordance with claim 34, wherein the drying procedure information comprises a graph.

40. A graphical user interface in accordance with claim 34, wherein the drying procedure information comprises a photograph.

41. A graphical user interface in accordance with claim 34, wherein the drying procedure information comprises a visual presentation of a three dimensional rendition of the structure.

42. A graphical user interface in accordance with claim 34, wherein the drying procedure information comprises text.

43. A graphical user interface in accordance with claim 34, wherein the drying procedure information is based on structure configuration data.

44. A graphical user interface in accordance with claim 43, wherein the structure configuration data comprises dimensions of the structure.

45. A graphical user interface in accordance with claim 34, wherein the drying procedure information is generated by a web browser application running on a computer based on signals transmitted through a packet switched network from a server computer, the server computer receiving the drying procedure data from a monitoring device connected to the at least one sensor.

46. A graphical user interface in accordance with claim 45, wherein a communication link between the monitoring device and the server comprises a wireless communication link.

47. A graphical user interface in accordance with claim 34, wherein the building material is selected from the group consisting of drywall, brick, concrete, pressboard, plaster, carpet, and insulation.

58. A drying procedure monitoring device in accordance with claim 43, wherein the building material is selected from the group consisting of drywall, brick, concrete, pressboard, plaster, carpet, and insulation.

48. A drying procedure monitoring device comprising:

a sensor configured to obtain drying procedure data at a drying procedure structure undergoing a drying procedure to remove moisture from at least a portion of a building material forming at least a portion of the structure; and

a transmitter configured to transmit the drying procedure data to a server.

49. A drying procedure monitoring device in accordance with claim 48 wherein the transmitter is further configured to transmit the drying procedure data through a wireless communication link.

50. A drying procedure monitoring device in accordance with claim 48 wherein the drying procedure data comprises moisture data indicating a moisture level at the structure.

51. A drying procedure monitoring device in accordance with claim 48 wherein the drying procedure data comprises a temperature at the structure.

52. A drying procedure monitoring device in accordance with claim 48 wherein the drying procedure data comprises a humidity level at the structure.

53. A drying procedure monitoring device in accordance with claim 52 wherein the humidity level is an indoor humidity level.

54. A drying procedure monitoring device in accordance with claim 52 wherein the humidity level is an outdoor humidity level.

55. A drying procedure monitoring device in accordance with claim 48 wherein the drying procedure data comprises a dissipated power value indicating power dissipated by drying procedure equipment.

56. A drying procedure monitoring device in accordance with claim 48 wherein the drying procedure data comprises structure configuration data.

57. A drying procedure monitoring device in accordance with claim 56 wherein the structure configuration data comprises dimensions of the structure.