PROCESSING AND PRESENTING INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM A PLURALITY OF REMOTE SENSORS

Abstract: The applications discloses a processing system (20) that includes a processor configured to qualify, based at least in part upon meta information, environmental status information extracted from signals received from a plurality of remote sensors (40), each of the sensor signals being indicative of the condition of a respective environment being monitored by a corresponding one of the sensors (40). The processor preferably is configured to generate a report of the status of a plurality of physically distributed environments based at least in part upon correlation of environmental status information extracted from a plurality sensor signals indicative of the condition or a plurality of respective monitored environments with information relating to the activities of one or more entities authorized to interact with the monitored environments. Methods of processing information received from a plurality of remote sensors (40) also are disclosed.

Description: PROCESSING AND PRESENTING INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM A PLURALITY OF REMOTE SENSORS Background of the Invention The invention relates to apparatus and methods of processing and presenting information received from a plurality of remote sensors. The operation, maintenance, management and security of a system of physically distributed endpoints (e.g., parking meters, vending machines, photocopiers, traffic lights and other distributed devices) often may require the allocation of significant monitoring efforts and the deployment of significant resources. In an effort to reduce the monitoring and resource demands associated with operating, maintaining, managing and securing multiple physically distributed endpoints, sensors which are configured to monitor the status of each endpoint have been proposed. For example, in the case of parking meters, sensors which are configured to wirelessly transmit status information, such as the occurrence of a meter malfunction and the opening of a meter vault without an authorized key, have been proposed in U.S. Patent No. 4,356,903. Further improvements in the collection, processing, distribution and presentation of information received from such remote and physically distributed sensors are possible. Summary of the Invention In one aspect, the invention features a processing system that includes a processor configured to qualify, based at least in part upon meta information, environmental status information extracted from signals received from a plurality of remote sensors, each of the sensor signals being indicative of the condition of a respective environment being monitored by a corresponding one of the sensors. In another aspect, the invention features a processing system that includes the above-identified processor, a plurality of remote sensors each configured to monitor one or more parameters representative of the condition of a respective environment and to transmit signals representative of the one or more monitored parameters, and at least one collector configured to extract environmental status information from signals received from one or more of the plurality of sensors. Another aspect of the invention features a processor configured to generate a report of the status of a plurality of physically distributed environments based at least in part upon correlation of environmental status information extracted from a plurality sensor signals indicative of the condition of a plurality of respective monitored environments with information relating to the activities of one or more entities authorized to interact with the monitored environments. Embodiments may include one or more of the following features. Each of the sensors preferably has a wireless transmitter for transmitting signals representative of the one or more monitored parameters. The processor preferably is configured to receive from a user meta information for qualifying the environmental status information. The processor may be configured to receive meta information in the form of a schedule of planned visits to each of the monitored environments. The processor may be configured to receive in real time meta information from a user in the form of a schedule of one or more planned visits to one or more of the monitored environments. The may be configured to qualify sensor signals representative of an alarm condition based upon the received meta information. The processor also may be configured to qualify sensor signals representative of an alert condition based upon the received meta information. The processor preferably is configured to present the qualified environmental status information on a display. The processor may be configured to present on the display a form prompting a user to enter meta information for qualifying the environmental status information. Each of the sensors preferably is configured to monitor the physical condition of a respective parking meter. Each of the sensors may be configured to monitor opening and closing of the parking meter. Each of the sensors may be configured to monitor the physical condition of a respective vending machine or an article of office equipment. Each of the sensors may be configured to monitor the physical condition of a respective residential home. The environmental status information may correspond to the amount of funds contained in a plurality of remote, physically distributed parking meter systems, and the processor may be configured to qualify the environmental status information to provide an indication when the parking meter systems should be scheduled for collection. In another aspect, the invention features a processing method, comprising: based at least in part upon meta information, qualifying environmental status information extracted from signals received from a plura t of remote sensors, each of the sensor signals being indicative of the condition of a respectiv e environment being monitored by a corresponding one of the sensors Environmental status information may be extracted from signals received from one or more sensors One or more parameters representativ e of the condition of a respective environment may be monitored and wirelessly transmitting signals representative of the one or more monitored parameters Meta information for qualifying the environmental status information may be received from a user. The meta information may be received in the form of a schedule of planned visits to each of the monitored environments The meta information may be received in real time from a user in the form of a schedule of one or more planned visits to one or more of the monitored environments Sensor signals representative ot an alarm condition may be qualified based upon the received meta information Sensor signals representative of an alert condition may be qualified based upon the received meta information The qualified environmental status information may be presented on a display A form prompting a user to enter meta information for qualifying the environmental status information mav be presented on the display Another aspect of the invention features a processing method, comprising- with a plurality of sensors monitoring one or more parameters indicative of the condition of a plurality of respective environments, each being monitored by a corresponding one of the sensors, vvirelesslv transmitting signals representative ot the one or more monitored parameters. ing the transmitted signals, extracting environmental status information from the receiv ed signals, and quali ing the extracted env ironmental status information based at least in part upon meta information received from a user In another aspect, the invention features a processing method, comprising receiving environmental status information extracted from a plurality sensor signals indicative of the condition of a plurality of respectiv e, physically distributed env ironments, receiving information relating to the activities of one or more entities authorized to interact with the monitored env ironments, correlating the environmental status information with the authorized interaction information, and generating a report of the status of the plurality of physically distributed environments based at least in part upon the results of the correlation The report may be presented to a superv ising entity Among the advantages of the invention are the following The invention enables end users to optimize the management, collection, maintenance and security monitoring of a plurahtv of phvsically distπbuted end points (e g . parking meters, v ending machines, and other distributed devices) The invention provides implicit communication channels among a v ariety ot separate and distinct entities that may be assigned one or more tasks involving interaction with such endpoints These implicit communication channels are implemented in an efficient, cost effective and centralized way and enable vaπous authorized and supervising entities to efficiently carry out their assigned tasks For example, the invention enables a supervising entity (e g , a police department) to easily distinguish an entity interacting with an endpoint with authorization from an entity interacting with the endpoint without authorization This feature of the invention is enabled without requiring each endpoint to include a system (e g . a password or other verification system) for distinguishing authorized users from unauthorized users Other features and advantages will become apparent from the following description, including the drawings and the claims Bπef Description of the Drawings Fig 1 is a diagrammatic view of two entities which are authorized to interact with multiple physically distributed endpoints. an entity responsible for supervising interactions with the endpoints. and an entitv which is not authorized to interact with the endpoints Fig 2 is a diagrammatic view of a system for collecting and processing information received from a plurality of endpoints and for distributing and presenting that information to a plurality of end users Fig 3 is a diagrammatic view of a system for collecting, processing and presenting information relating to the condition of a plurality of parking meter systems Fig 4 is a diagrammatic v iew of a parking meter system, including a plurality of sensors, a processor and a transmitter Fig 5 is a flow diagram of a method of qualifying meter status information extracted from signals received from the parking meter systems of Fig 3 Fig 6A is a diagrammatic iew of a computer terminal and a computer monitor for displaying qualified status information relating to the condition of the plurality ot parking meter systems of Fig 3 Fig 6B is a diagrammatic v lew of a computer terminal and a computer monitor for displaying a form prompting a user to enter meta information for qualify ing the meter status information receiv ed from the parking meter s> stems of Fig 3 Detailed Descπption Referring to Fig 1. in one embodiment, multiple endpoints 10 (e g , parking meters, vending machines, office equipment such as photocopiers, traffic lights and other distπbuted devices) must be operated, managed, maintained and protected against theft and destruction The physical distribution of endpoints 10 poses a number of efficiency issues that often may be (or inherently must be) addressed by assigning v arious interaction tasks to separate entities The separate entities may be part of the same organization or may be part ot separate and distinct organizations For example, where the endpoints 10 are parking meters, a first entity 12 may be authorized to maintain endpoints 10 and a second entity 14 may be authorized to collect the funds deposited into endpoints 10, each of these tasks involves various interactions between the agents of authorized entities 12 and 14 and multiple endpoints 10 A supervising entity 16 (e g , the police department or a pπvate security firm) may be responsible for the security of multiple endpoints 10 In carrying out this responsibility, supervising entity 16 must monitor interactions with endpoints 10 and must deploy resources when unauthorized interactions (e g , theft or vandalism) have been observed Unless special measures are taken, however, the interactions of authorized entities 12 and 14 (e g , opening the vault portion of a parking meter in order to maintain the meters or to collect funds from the meters) are difficult or impossible to distinguish from the interaction of an unauthorized entity 18 (e.g , breaking into a parking meter vault in order to steal funds) Such special measures might include posting one or more security guards to visually monitor endpoints 10, or requiring authorized entities 12, 14 to enter an access code or other verification information to prevent an alarm from being sent to supervising entity 16 upon interaction with one of the endpoints 10 These measures, however, may be costly and may lead to an inefficient allocation of resources As explained in detail, below, one aspect of the invention enables entities assigned with the task of interacting with physically distributed endpoints 10 to efficiently utilize their resources in carrying out these tasks, at least in part, by providing implicit communication channels between authorized entities 12 and 14 and supervising entity 16 that enable supervising entity 16 to distinguish easily authorized interactions with endpoints 10 from unauthorized interactions with endpoints 10. Referring to Fig. 2. a system 20 is configured to collect and process information received from a plurality of endpoints 10 (1-N) and to distribute and present that information to a plurality of end users 22 (1-M). System 20 includes a private network 24 (e.g., a wireless network available from CellNet Data Systems, Inc. of San Carlos, California), a servicing center 26. and a public network 28 (e.g., the internet or the public telephone network). In operation, each endpoint 1-N transmits signals 30 indicative of its condition. These signals 30 are transmitted through private network 24 to servicing center 26, where status information relating to the condition of endpoints 10 is extracted from signals 30. Servicing center 26 also receives certain meta information (e.g., information relating to the activities of one or more entities authorized to interact with endpoints 10) from end users 22 over public network 28. Servicing center 26 includes a processor configured to generate one or more reports of the status of the plurality of physically distributed endpoints 10 based at least in part upon correlation of environmental status information extracted from endpoint signals 30 with the received meta information. Servicing center 26 transmits the generated repoπs to end users 22 over public network 28. As explained in detail below, end users 22 may use these repoπs to optimize their interactions with end points 10 (e.g., to efficiently allocate resources needed to carry out one or more assigned tasks). The meter information and the report information may be encrypted: alternatively, a password or other verification information may be required in order to transmit information to or receive information from servicing center 26. As shown in Fig. 3. in one implementation, endpoints 10 consist of a plurality of parking meter systems 40 that are physically distributed and organized along a plurality of collection/maintenance routes ( 1-K). Each parking meter system 40 within an assigned route transmits to a coπesponding collector 42 a signal 30 indicative of various aspects of the condition of the meter (e.g.. the status of the doors providing access to the interior of the meter, diagnostic information about the operational status of various components of the meter, and collection information relating to the amount of funds contained in the meter). In general, one collector 42 is assigned to collect signals 30 transmitted by the parking meter systems of a paπicular route: although additional collectors may be needed depending upon the geographic area of the route and the strength of parking meter system transmissions. A collector may be mounted to a utility pole (as shown) or may be placed at any other suitable location within the geographic vicinity of the parking meter systems of the assigned route. Each collector includes a processor for extracting meter status information from signals 30, a memory for storing parking meter system transmissions, and a transmitter for transmitting information contained in the received transmissions to a parking gateway 44 (or servicing center). Parking gateway 44 processes the information into a status repoπ and transmits the status repoπ to a police depaπment 46 which is responsible for preventing theft and vandalism of the parking meter systems 40. Parking gateway may receive meta information (e.g., information, such as collection schedule information and maintenance schedule information, that relates to the activities of one or more entities authorized to interact with parking meter systems 40) from police depaπment 46 or from another entity, such as one of the entities authorized to interact with parking meter systems 40. Details of the construction and operation of collectors 42. as well as details of the form of transmissions 30. are contained in U.S. Application Serial No. 08/597,724, filed February 7. 1996. and entitled "A Metering System. " which is incorporated herein by reference. Referring to Fig. 4. in one embodiment, a parking meter system 40 includes a top door 50 which may be opened to access internal components of the meter system, and a vault door 52 which may be opened to access funds (e.g., coins) deposited into the meter system. Parking meter system 40 also includes a top door sensor 54 which monitors the opening and closing of top door 50. a vault door sensor 56 which monitors the opening and closing of vault door 52. and a tilt sensor 58 which monitors the orientation of the meter system relative to a vertical axis. Parking meter system 40 fuπher includes a meter diagnostics sensor system 60 for monitoring various aspects of the operation of the meter system. Signals from sensors 54-60 are transmitted to a processor 62 which processes the information and packages the information for transmission to collector 42 by a transmitter 64. Referring to Fig. 5. in one embodiment, parking gateway 44 processes the information received from collectors 42. as follows. Parking gateway 44 determines whether an alarm signal has been received (step 70). If not. the received meter status information is transmitted to police depaπment 46 (step 72). If an alarm signal has been received, parking gateway 44 determines whether the meter system which transmitted the alarm signal is in service (step 74). If the meter is not in service, parking gateway 44 qualifies the alarm by logging the fact that an alarm signal has been received by an out-of- service meter (step 76): parking gateway 44. however, does not transmit an alarm condition indication to the police depaπment 46. The meter service information may be received from police depaπment 46 or from an entity responsible for taking meters into and out of service. If the meter is in service, parking gateway 44 determines whether the meter currently is scheduled for maintenance (step 78). This information may be received from police depaπment 46 or from the entity responsible for maintaining parking meter systems 40. If the meter currently is scheduled for maintenance, parking gateway 44 qualifies the alarm by logging an indication that a maintenance activity has triggered an alarm (step 80); parking gateway 44, however, does not transmit an alarm condition indication to the police depaπment 46. If the meter currently is not scheduled for maintenance, parking gateway 44 determines whether the meter is scheduled for collection (step 82). This information may be received from police depaπment 46 or from the entity responsible for collecting funds from parking meter systems 40. If the meter currently is scheduled for collection, parking gateway 44 qualifies the alarm by logging an indication that a collection activity has triggered an alarm (step 84); parking gateway 44, however, does not transmit an alarm condition indication to the police depaπment 46. If the meter currently is not scheduled for collection, parking gateway 44 transmits an alarm condition signal to police depaπment 46 (step 86). Among the types of signals transmitted by parking gateway 44 to police department 46 are Alarm signals. Aleπ signals and Other signals. Alarm signals correspond to sensor signals that usually are triggered by an activity (e.g.. theft or vandalism) that would call for immediate action by police depaπment 46. Alert signals correspond to sensor signals that usually are triggered by changes in the operating characteristics of the parking meter system that usually would call for action by maintenance personnel in the near future. Other signals correspond to general operational features of the parking meter system. Examples of such Alarm. Alert and Other signals are presented in Tables 1-3. below. The FLAG indication identifies the qualified meter status information transmitted by parking gateway 44 to police department 46. Table 1: Alarm Signals Alarm signals HA, VA and MA directly correspond to signals sent by top door sensor 54. vault door sensor 56 and tilt sensor 58, respectively. Table 2: Alert Signals Aleπ signals HR, VR and MR are triggered at parking gateway 44 when the duration of the HA. VA and MA alarm signals exceeds a preselected period of time (e.g.. one hour). The HA Aleπ signal indicates that the top door of a meter has been open for a period that exceeds the time needed for a typical collection or maintenance procedure. The VA Alert signal indicates that the vault door of a meter has been open for a period that exceeds the time needed for a typical collection or maintenance procedure. The MR Alert signal indicates that the tilt sensor 58 has been activated for a period that exceeds a preselected period of time (e.g.. the time needed for a typical collection or maintenance procedure). The HT, VT and LB Aleπ signals correspond to signals generated by meter diagnostics sensor system to indicate, for example, that a transmitter cable has been damaged (HT) or that vault door sensor 56 has been damaged (VT) or that the charging level of the battery supplying power to the meter is low (LB). The LC Alert signal is triggered at parking gateway 44 when transmissions from a particular meter have not been received for a period exceeding a preselected period of time (e.g., when a transmission has not been received for more than two consecutive scheduled transmission times). In this way, parking gateway 44 qualifies prior transmissions received from a paπicular meter, by transmitting an Alert signal after a ceπain number of subsequent, scheduled transmissions have not been received. The prior transmissions are qualified based at least in pan upon meta information, including the transmission schedule of the meter and the preselected number of consecutive transmissions that must be missed before the LC Alert signal would be generated. Table 3: Other Signals The DC Other signal is generated at parking gateway 44 the first time a signal from a parking meter system 40 has been received by parking gateway 44. The OS Other signal is generated at parking gateway 44 in response to an indication by an authorized entity that a paπicular meter has been taken out-of-service. After sensor information has been extracted from signals 30 and processed, parking gateway 44 may distribute and present the processed information to one or more entities in a variety of ways. Referring to Fig. 6A. in one embodiment, information transmitted by parking gateway 44 over public network 28 is received at a computer terminal 90 in police depaπment 46. Computer terminal 90 processes the received information and displays the information on a computer monitor 92 in the form of a report 94. Report 94 includes a list of transmission times 96 corresponding to the times at which a signal 30 is transmitted from a paπicular meter, an indication whether any alarms 98 or aleπs 100 were transmitted, and an identification of the pole number 102 and location 104 correspond to the meter which made the transmission. A user (e.g., a police officer or dispatcher) may interaction with parking gateway 44 over public network 28 in order to configure the repoπ in a desired way. For example, a report showing only alarm transmissions or only alert transmissions may be generated by parking gateway 44 and displayed on monitor 92. Referring to Fig. 6B. parking gateway 44 may display on computer monitor 92 a form 1 10 prompting a user (e.g.. a police officer or dispatcher) to enter information relating to planned collection or maintenance schedules. In the example shown, the user may indicate in real time whether a paπicular route currently is scheduled for collection or maintenance or both simply by entering a check mark in the collection and maintenance boxes for a paπicular route. An authorized entity responsible for meter collection and maintenance also may connect to parking gateway 44 and send information relating to collection and maintenance activities to parking gateway 44 over public network 28. Other embodiments are within the scope of the claims. For example, other parking meter system configurations may be used. Certain available parking meter systems are capable of monitoring the total amount of funds that have been deposited into the vault since the last collection. This information may be transmitted to parking gateway 44 for processing. Parking gateway 44 may be configured to analyze the total fund information received from the parking meters systems corresponding to each route to determine when the meters along each route such be collected. This qualified information may be transmitted to the entity responsible for collections to enable this entity to optimize the allocation of resources deployed to collect funds from the meter systems. For example, when the average total meter capacity of a paπicular route is greater than 50% full and more than 5% of the meter systems along this route are greater than 90% full, parking gateway 44 may send a signal to the collection entity indicating that this route should be scheduled for collection in the near future. Still other embodiments are within the scope of the claims.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A processing system, comprising: a processor configured to qualify, based at least in pan upon meta information, environmental status information extracted from signals received from a plurality of remote sensors, each of the sensor signals being indicative of the condition of a respective environment being monitored by a corresponding one of the sensors. 2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising at least one collector configured to extract environmental status information from signals received from one or more sensors. 3. The system of claim 1. further comprising a plurality of remote sensors each configured to monitor one or more parameters representative of the condition of a respective environment and to transmit signals representative of the one or more monitored parameters. 4. The system of claim 3, wherein each of the sensors has a wireless transmitter for transmitting signals representative of the one or more monitored parameters. 5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to receive from a user meta information for qualifying the environmental status information. 6. The system of claim 5. wherein the processor is configured to receive meta information in the form of a schedule of planned visits to each of the monitored environments. 7. The system of claim 5, wherein the processor is configured to receive in real time meta information from a user in the form of a schedule of one or more planned visits to one or more of the monitored environments. 8. The system of claim 5. wherein the processor is configured to qualify sensor signals representative of an alarm condition based upon the received meta information. 9. The system of claim 5. wherein the processor is configured to qualify sensor signals representative of an aleπ condition based upon the received meta information. 10. The system of claim 1. wherein the processor is configured to present the qualified environmental status information on a display. 1 1. The system of claim 10. wherein the processor is configured to present on the display a form prompting a user to enter meta information for qualifying the environmental status information. 12. The system of claim 1. wherein each of the sensors is configured to monitor the physical condition of a respective parking meter. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein each of the sensors is configured to monitor opening and closing of the parking meter. 14. The system of claim 1. wherein each of the sensors is configured to monitor the physical condition of a respective vending machine. 15. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the sensors is configured to monitor the physical condition of a respective piece of office equipment. 16. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the sensors is configured to monitor the physical condition of a respective residential home. 17. The system of claim 1, wherein the environmental status information corresponds to the amount of funds contained in a plurality of remote, physically distributed parking meter systems, and the processor is configured to qualify the environmental status information to provide an indication when the parking meter systems should be scheduled for collection. 18. A processing system, comprising: a plurality of remote sensors each configured to monitor one or more parameters representative of the condition of a respective environment and to transmit signals representative of the one or more monitored parameters; at least one collector configured to extract environmental status information from signals received from one or more of the plurality of sensors; and a processor configured to qualify, based at least in part upon meta information, the extracted environmental status information. 19. The system of claim 1. wherein each of the sensors is configured to monitor the physical condition of a respective parking meter. 20. A processing system, comprising: a processor configured to generate a repoπ of the status of a plurality of physically distributed environments based at least in pan upon correlation of environmental status information extracted from a plurality sensor signals indicative of the condition of a plurality of respective monitored environments with information relating to the activities of one or more entities authorized to interact with the monitored environments. 21. A processing method, comprising: based at least in pan upon meta information, qualifying environmental status information extracted from signals received from a plurality of remote sensors, each of the sensor signals being indicative of the condition of a respective environment being monitored by a corresponding one of the sensors. 22. The method of claim 21. further comprising extracting environmental status information from signals received from one or more sensors. 23. The method of claim 21, further comprising monitoring one or more parameters representative of the condition of a respective environment and wirelessly transmitting signals representative of the one or more monitored parameters. 24. The method of claim 21, further comprising receiving from a user meta information for qualifying the environmental status information. 25. The method of claim 24, wherein meta information is received in the form of a schedule of planned visits to each of the monitored environments. 26. The method of claim 24, wherein meta information is received in real time from a user in the form of a schedule of one or more planned visits to one or more of the monitored environments. 27. The method of claim 24, wherein sensor signals representative of an alarm condition are qualified based upon the received meta information. 28. The method of claim 24. wherein sensor signals representative of an alert condition are qualified based upon the received meta information. 29. The method of claim 21. further comprising presenting the qualified environmental status information on a display. 30. The method of claim 29. further comprising displaying a form prompting a user to enter meta information for qualifying the environmental status information. 31. A processing method, comprising: with a plurality of sensors monitoring one or more parameters indicative of the condition of a plurality of respective environments, each being monitored by a corresponding one of the sensors; wirelessly transmitting signals representative of the one or more monitored parameters; receiving the transmitted signals; extracting environmental status information from the received signals; and qualifying the extracted environmental status information based at least in part upon meta information received from a user. 32. A processing method, comprising: receiving environmental status information extracted from a plurality sensor signals indicative of the condition of a plurality of respective, physically distributed environments; receiving information relating to the activities of one or more entities authorized to interact with the monitored environments; correlating the environmental status information with the authorized interaction information; and generating a report of the status of the plurality of physically distributed environments based at least in part upon the results of the correlation. 33. The processing method of claim 32. further comprising presenting the report to a supervising entity.

Inventors: CLEARY THERESE M, GILBERT BRADLEY L, CLEARY, THERESE, M., GILBERT, BRADLEY, L.
Applicants: CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS INC, CLEARY THERESE M, GILBERT BRADLEY L, CELLNET DATA SYSTEMS, INC., CLEARY, THERESE, M., GILBERT, BRADLEY, L.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: G08B23
IPC codes: G07F17, G08B25