Nautic alert apparatus, system and method

• US 8,531,316 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2010
• Issued: 09/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fernando A. Velado, Nicholas F. Velado
• Original Assignee: Fernando A. Velado, Nicholas F. Velado
• Inventors: Velado, Nicholas F., Velado, Fernando A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T
• Assistant Examiner(s): NWUGO, OJIAKO K
• Application Number:
  US12/824,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20110095914A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,170 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/984
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 79/10 using sensors, e.g. pressure sensors, strain gauges or accelerometers
• CPC Class Codes: B63J 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence

Abstract

In at least one exemplary embodiment, an autonomous onboard monitoring and communications system for watercraft is disclosed. The autonomous onboard monitoring and communications system may include a processor, at least one system console, a plurality of sensors configured to monitor operating and environmental conditions aboard the watercraft, a system application including a plurality of software logic service modules configured to facilitate communication between the plurality of sensors and the system console, an analytic engine configured to analyze data so as to determine the existence of an event, and a plurality of communications interfaces for directly communicating with remote targeted recipients.

Claims

1. An autonomous onboard monitoring and communications system for watercraft, comprising:

a processor;

at least one system console;

a plurality of sensors configured to monitor operating and environmental conditions aboard the watercraft;

a processor included in the system console, for hosting a system application;

the system application comprising a plurality of software logic service modules configured to facilitate communication between the plurality of sensors and the system console;

an analytic engine programmed to analyze input data including system messages indicating the status of systems aboard the watercraft, sensor data points and sensor measurements against at least one of a system policy and a user-defined policy so as to determine an existence of an event; and

a plurality of communications interfaces for directly communicating with remote targeted recipients.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the analytic engine is further configured to reduce the likelihood of false positive results.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors comprises one or more of:

a temperature sensor, a DC power sensor, an AC power sensor, a motion sensor, a smoke sensor, a gas fume sensor, a water level sensor, and a GPS sensor.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein one or more of the plurality of sensors comprises a wireless interface.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of devices in communication with the service console.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the system application is further configured to facilitate communication between the plurality of devices and the system console.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the plurality of devices comprises one or more of:

a camera, a touch-screen, a microphone, a speaker, a GSM modem, a CDMA modem, a satellite antenna, a WiFi antenna, a siren, a gas and fume sensor unit, a smoke and motion unit, a water and temperature sensor unit, and a personal emergency unit.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of software logic service modules comprises one or more of:

sensor management logic, communication management logic, event management logic, security management logic, power management logic, video and sound logic, power sensor logic, soft GPS sensor logic, motion sensor logic, smoke sensor logic, vessel tracking logic, gas fume logic, temperature sensor logic, ultrasonic water sensor logic, fuel level sensor logic, map and weather logic, remote application logic, coordinator custom logic, remote coordination logic, application programming interfaces, and device drivers.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the console further comprises a printed circuit board comprising integrated memory and integrated buses.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the console further comprises a power interface.

11. A method for autonomously monitoring operating and environmental conditions aboard a watercraft, comprising:

utilizing a sensor to measure a condition and generate a sensor output;

facilitating communication between the sensor and a system console;

analyzing the sensor output by an analytic engine against at least one of a system policy and a user-defined policy so as to determine an existence of an event; and

communicating the existence of the event directly to a recipient, wherein analyzing the sensor output by an analytic engine so as to determine the existence of an event further comprises analyzing system messages indicating the status of systems aboard the watercraft, sensor data points, and sensor messages.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising reducing the likelihood of false positive results.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor is one or more of:

a temperature sensor, a DC power sensor, an AC power sensor, a motion sensor, a smoke sensor, a gas fume sensor, a water level sensor, and a GPS sensor.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensor is a wireless sensor.