Patent Publication Number: US-2016240076-A1

Title: Mobile control unit, facility management system, mobile unit control system, facility management method and mobile unit control method

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a mobile control unit, a facility management system and facility management method adapted to manage a plurality of premises, e.g. buildings, offices, a mobile unit control system and a mobile unit control method adapted to monitor and control a plurality of mobile control units. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Premises, e.g. office buildings and factories, nowadays are monitored for security purposes and to detect disruption in building services and facilities. 
     Formerly, the premises were mostly monitored by personnel, e.g. security officers and maintenance crew, by patrolling and surveying the premises. 
     With the improvement in technology, nowadays, premises are equipped with monitoring systems to monitor facilities of the premises, e.g. security, building services. The monitoring systems may include security monitoring systems and facility monitoring systems, e.g. fire monitoring system, lift monitoring system. 
     In small premises, e.g. offices, within a large premise, e.g. building, it is more common for premise owners to install only security monitoring systems than facility monitoring systems as the latter may be monitored by the building owners. In the larger premises, e.g. buildings and factories, security officers may be engaged to patrol the premises and maintenance crew may be put on standby to monitor and respond to any disruption of building services. Typically, a control centre may be set up within the premise for the monitoring of the services. 
     A security monitoring system and facility monitoring system usually include a control panel, a detection system linked to the control panel and a transmission unit so as to transmit signals to a control centre to report the status of the facility. For example, a fire monitoring system may include a fire control panel and fire detection system, e.g. sensors, so that in the event of a fire, the sensors can pick up the smoke or heat and transmit a signal to the fire control panel which may then transmit an alarm signal to the control centre, e.g. a fire command centre. Usually, a security monitoring system may include a security control panel, close circuit cameras, card access system, sensors, intercom system, barrier system and motion detection system, all of which may be linked to the security control panel. Similarly, when an event occurs, e.g. breach in security, a security signal may be sent to the security control panel which may then send a security alarm signal to a control command centre, e.g. fire command centre, security command centre. 
     Typically, the engagement of personnel to monitor a premise is still preferred. In most premises, premise owners install only basic facility monitoring systems, e.g. close circuit camera, in addition to the personnel as they are already spending substantial amount of money in engaging the personnel and do not wish to incur any further expenditure in monitoring systems. In premises where immediate attention is required, e.g. security breach, disruption of building services, the premise owners usually prefer having security officers and/or maintenance crew within the premises so that they are able to attend to the situation promptly. Therefore, the premise owners are usually satisfied with this mixed arrangement of personnel and monitoring systems. In some instances, premise owners prefer not to install facility monitoring systems as the owners usually do not want to incur extra cost in installing the monitoring system and choose to accept that the presence of personnel is sufficient. 
     The cost for engaging personnel may be relatively high.  FIG. 1  shows an exemplary map of an area with twelve premises  900  along a road  990 . Security officers may be hired to work on 12 hour shifts at each premise to provide security monitoring services round the clock. Typically, at least one security officer may be deployed during the day and at least one security officer may be deployed during the night. Therefore, a total number of about 24 security officers may be required in the premises. Usually, there are more than one security officer deployed on each shift, therefore the cost, e.g. salary, of the security officers would be relatively much higher. In addition, each premise may have at least one maintenance crew to be physically onsite to attend to any disruption of building services. In certain cases, a maintenance team for a few essential building services may be required. Clearly, the cost of hiring the security officers and maintenance crew would be high. As mentioned earlier, a control centre is usually set up for each premise to hold the personnel. Therefore, in an area with a number of premises like in  FIG. 1 , the same number of control centres has to be set up to monitor each premise. Again, the cost of setting up the control centres would be high. 
     In an attempt to cut down the cost in monitoring the premises, premises owner may contract third party companies to monitor the security and building services in the premises. This is possible with the use of technology. However, the response time by the third party companies to attend to an incident at the premises may be slow. The companies may be located far away from the premises and monitoring is done remotely via communication between the companies and monitoring systems, e.g. control panel, card access system, sensors, close circuit cameras, intercom system, barrier system, motion detection system, installed on the premises. If an incident occurs, e.g. security breach or disruption of a building service, the companies would send relevant personnel, e.g. security officer and/or maintenance crew to the premises, to verify or attend to the incident. The personnel would require time to travel to the premise and would not be able to attend to the incident within a short period of time, e.g. minutes. For security related incidents, e.g. break in, the thief would have time to make an escape with the loot. In other non security related incidents, e.g. lift break down, a terrified passenger trapped in a lift would have to wait for a substantially long period of time at least time for the maintenance crew to travel from the company to the premise. 
     Therefore, a solution to address the above disadvantages would be very useful. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to various embodiments, a mobile control unit adapted to move to a plurality of premises may be provided. The mobile control unit may include a central monitoring system adapted to communicate with a facility system of each of the plurality of premises, wherein the mobile control unit is adapted to move to one of the plurality of premises when alerted by the facility system of the one of the plurality of premises. 
     Accordingly to various embodiments, the mobile control unit may include a vehicular control unit. 
     Accordingly to various embodiments, the vehicular control unit may include a van. 
     Accordingly to various embodiments, the mobile control unit may include a Global Positioning System device adapted to determine the location of the mobile control unit. 
     Accordingly to various embodiments, the central monitoring system may include a security monitoring system adapted to monitor at least one of a security system of the facility system or a building services monitoring system adapted to monitor the building services systems of the facility system. 
     Accordingly to various embodiments, communication between the central monitoring system and facility system may be via at least one of a wide area network or wireless local area network. 
     Accordingly to various embodiments, the mobile control unit may be adapted to patrol at least one of the plurality of premises. 
     Accordingly to various embodiments, a facility management system adapted to manage at least one of the plurality of premises may be provided. The facility management system may include a mobile control unit according to one of the above embodiments; and a plurality of facility systems, each facility system adapted to monitor one of the plurality of premises. 
     Accordingly to various embodiments, the facility system may include a security system, wherein the security system may be adapted to send a security signal to the central monitoring system when required. 
     Accordingly to various embodiments, the facility system may include building services systems, wherein the building services systems may be adapted to send an alert signal to the central monitoring system when required. 
     Accordingly to various embodiments, a facility management method of monitoring a plurality of premises using a mobile control unit may be provided. Each of the plurality of premises may be equipped with a facility system. The method may include monitoring at least one of the facility systems; communicating between the central monitoring system of the mobile control unit and at least one of the facility systems of the plurality of premises; and moving the mobile control unit to the premise of the one of the facility systems when alerted by the one of the facility systems of the one of the plurality of premises. 
     Accordingly to various embodiments, wherein monitoring the facility system may include monitoring a security system of the facility system. 
     Accordingly to various embodiments, wherein monitoring the facility system includes monitoring building services systems of the facility system. 
     Accordingly to various embodiments, wherein the method further includes patrolling around at least one of the plurality of premises. 
     Accordingly to various embodiments, a mobile unit control system may be provided. The mobile unit control system may include a plurality of mobile control units according to the various embodiment mentioned above, a main control unit may be adapted to monitor the location of the plurality of mobile control units, the main control unit may be adapted to be in communication with the plurality of mobile control units and controlling the plurality of mobile control units. 
     Accordingly to various embodiments, a mobile unit control method may be provided. The mobile unit control method may include monitoring the location of a plurality of mobile control units according to any one of the above embodiments from a main control unit; and communicating between the main control unit and the plurality of mobile control units. 
     The mobile control unit provides a reduction in the manpower needed by consolidating the resource to monitor the premises and yet a relative faster response time when required. By reducing manpower, cost is reduced, yet, the monitoring of the premises may be more effective and efficient. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a layout of premises along a road; 
         FIG. 2  shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a mobile control unit connected to a plurality of premises; 
         FIG. 3  shows a schematic view of a central monitoring system of the mobile control unit in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  shows schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a facility system of the premise in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4A  shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a remote control system of the mobile control unit in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 5  shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of the mobile control unit in  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 6  shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a facility management system; 
         FIG. 7  shows a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a facility management method of the facility management system in  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of a facility management system; 
         FIG. 9  shows a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of the mobile unit control system; 
         FIG. 10  shows a diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a mobile unit control method; 
         FIG. 11  shows a top front view of an exemplary embodiment of a mobile control unit; and 
         FIG. 12  shows a top hind view of an exemplary embodiment of the mobile control unit in  FIG. 11 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 2  shows an exemplary embodiment of a mobile control unit  100  adapted to move to a plurality of premises  900 . The mobile control unit  100  has a central monitoring system  110  that is adapted to be adapted to communicate with a facility system  920  of each of the plurality of premises  900 . The mobile control unit  100  is adapted to move to one of the plurality of premises  900  when alerted by the facility system  920  of the one of the plurality of premises  900 . 
     The mobile control unit  100  may be a control unit that is able to move from a premise  900  to another and/or around each of the plurality of premises. Mobile control unit  100  may be a vehicular control unit, e.g. a trailer, a van, a car, a motorcycle, buggy. Vehicular control unit may be a vehicle that is modified to be equipped with the central monitoring system  110 . Mobile control unit  100  may even be a person on foot with a portable central monitoring system  110 , e.g. handheld smart phone or tablet. 
       FIG. 3  shows the schematic of a central monitoring system  110 . Central monitoring system  110  may include a security monitoring system  120  adapted to monitor at least one of a security system  930  (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) of the facility system  920  or a building services monitoring system  130  adapted to monitor the building services systems  950  (not shown in  FIG. 3 ) of the facility system  920  of the premises  900 . 
     Building services may include electrical services; escalators and lifts services; fire detection services; Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) services; water, drainage and plumbing services; communication lines, telephones and IT networks services etc. 
     Security monitoring system  120  and/or building service monitoring systems  130  may include at least one of the following: control panel, close circuit cameras, card access system, sensors, intercom system, barrier system, motion detection system, display monitors, servers, routers, signal encryption devices, tele-communication system, modems, DVRs, and building services monitoring systems. 
     Mobile control unit  100  may be manned by at least two personnel or at least three personnel. One of the at least two or at least three personnel may be a technician capable of attending to the building services signals received from the building, systems. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , facility system  920  may include at least one security system  930 . Security system  930  may include a security processing unit  932 , a security detection system  934  and/or a security alarm system  936  connected to the security processing unit  932 . The security processing unit  932  may be adapted to receive and process a security detection signal  938  sent by the security detection system  934 . Security processing unit  932  may transmit a security alarm signal  940  to the central monitoring system  110  via the security alarm system  936 . 
     Security detection system  934  may include security detection devices, e.g. video surveillance cameras, motion sensors. Detection devices may be installed at predetermined locations, e.g. strategic locations, to detect intrusion into the premises  900 . 
     The facility system  920  may further include at least a building services system  950 . The building services systems may include building services processing units  952 , building services detection systems  954  and/or building services alarm systems  956  connected to the building services processing units  952 . The building services processing unit  952  may be adapted to receive and process building services detection signal  958  sent by the building services detection systems  954 . Building services processing unit  952  may transmit the building services alarm signals  960  to the central monitoring system  110  via the building alarm system  956 . 
     Building services processing units  952  may include fire alarm panel, lift control panel, electrical panels etc. 
     Building services detection systems  954  may include building services detection devices, e.g. sensors, pressure gauges, for a building service, e.g. sprinkler system, to detect sudden fall in pressure of water which may be due to a burst pipe. The security detection devices  934  and building services detection devices  954  may be used for the purpose of detecting the respective services, e.g. close circuit camera for the security detection system  954  may be used for detecting building services. 
     Building services detection systems  954  may detect facilities, e.g. fire alarm systems, lifts, switch rooms, sprinkler and ejector pump rooms, water tank compartments, generator rooms, sump pumps, booster pumps, car park barrier systems, intercom systems, pressurization and exhaust fan control panel, hose reel tank, cooling towers, Air-con units/AHU, supply fans, etc. 
     Mobile control unit  100  may include a remote control system  112 . Remote control system  112  may be adapted to control the facility system  920 . Remote control system  112  may be adapted to control the security system  930  and/or the building services system  950 . 
     Remote control system  112  may include a security remote control system  122  adapted to control the security system  930  and/or a building services remote control system  132  to control the building services system  950 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4A , security remote control system  122  may be in communication with the security processing unit  932  such that security remote control system  122  may be adapted to send a control signal to the security processing unit  932  to control relevant systems, e.g. card access system. 
     Building services remote control system  132  may be in communication with the building services processing unit  952  such that building services remote control system  132  may be adapted to send a control signal to the building services processing unit  952  to control relevant systems, e.g. fire alarm. 
     For example, in the event of a false fire alarm in a premise  900 , building processing unit  952  may send a building alarm signal  960 , e.g. fire alarm signal, to the building service monitoring system  130 . Duty personnel may investigate the cause of the alarm, and upon identifying a false alarm, remote control system  132  may send a control signal to the building processing unit  952  to turn off the fire alarm at the premise  900 . In another example, a visitor may request entry to a premise  900  and upon authentication, the mobile control unit  100  may unlock a door remotely to let the visitor enter without moving to the premise  900 . In another example, the mobile control unit  100  may monitor and detect lights in a premise  900  being left turned on. Mobile control unit  100  may remotely switch off the lights in the premise  900 . In this way, the mobile control unit  100  need not be moved to the premise  900  thereby saving time and resources. Similar examples may be applicable to the security remote control system  122  and the security processing unit  932 . 
     Mobile control unit  100  may include a Global Positioning System (GPS) device  140  adapted to determine the location of the mobile control unit  100  as shown in  FIG. 5 . GPS  140  allows the tracking of the movement of the mobile control unit  100  and even a fleet of mobile control units  100 . The tracking also provides information to the patrolling routes taken by the mobile control units  100  or personnel. Mobile control unit  100  may include a database adapted to back up the data gathered by the central monitoring system  110 . 
     The central monitoring system  110  of the mobile control unit  100  may be powered by a power source  150 , e.g. generator, battery pack. Battery pack may be rechargeable. For a vehicular control unit, the central monitoring system  110  may be powered by the power source, e.g. battery, of the vehicle. The mobile control unit  100  may include an Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS)  160  connected to the central monitoring system  110  to provide uninterrupted power supply to the central monitoring system so that power supply would not be interrupted in the event of a power failure. The UPS would also provide some time to allow another mobile control unit  100  to be despatched so as to replace the faulty mobile control unit  100  or allow repair or replacement of the power supply. Mobile control unit  100  may return to a charging station (not shown) after a shift to recharge the battery pack. 
     The central monitoring system  110  and facility systems may communicate wirelessly. The central monitoring system  110  and facility systems may communicate via at least one of a wide area network (WAN) or wireless local area network (WLAN). Other forms of wireless communication may include radio network, cellular network. 
       FIG. 6  shows a schematic diagram of the facility management system  200 . Premise  900  may include a facility system  920 . Facility system  920  may include security system  930  and building services systems  950 . Premise  900  may include a premise network  942 . Similarly, the same setup may be found in the other premises. The premise network  942  may be linked up to an Internet Service Provider (ISP) network  944  for communication purposes. The mobile control unit  100  may include a security monitoring system  120  and building services monitoring system  130 . Mobile control unit  100  may include a mobile network  946  connected to the ISP network  944  so that communication between the premise  900  and the mobile control unit  100  may be established. 
     The mobile control unit  100  may be adapted to patrol around each of the plurality of premises  900 . While the mobile control unit  100  is monitoring the premises  900 , the mobile control unit  100  may patrol around at least one of the premises as it has the mobility to move between the premises, from one premise to another. The mobile control unit  100  may patrol around the plurality of premises. 
       FIG. 7  shows a facility management method  1000  of monitoring a plurality of premises  900  using the mobile control unit  100 , each of the plurality of premises  900  being equipped with a facility system  920 . Method  1000  includes step  1100  where the facility system  920  is being monitored. In step  1200 , the central monitoring system  110  of the mobile control unit  100  communicates with at least one of the facility systems  920  of at least one of the plurality of premises  900 . In step  1300 , mobile control unit  100  is moved to the premise of the one of the facility systems when alerted by the one of the facility systems of the one of the plurality of premises  900 . 
     Facility systems  920  of each of the plurality of premises  900 , via the security detection system  934  and/or building services detection system  954 , are used to detect any incidents in or requests from the plurality of premises. Central monitoring system  110  monitors the facility systems  920  by communicating with the facility systems  920 , e.g. security monitoring system may send signals to check the status in the security processing unit  932 , security monitoring system  120  may receive a security alarm signal  940  sent from the security alarm system  936 . Upon receiving an alarm signal, the mobile control unit  100  may be moved to the premise  900  from which the security alarm signal  940  was sent so as to investigate or attend to a request. The same steps may be taken by the building services detection system  954 . 
     Monitoring the facility system  920  in step  1100  may include the step of monitoring the security system  930 . When required, the security processing unit  932  may receive and process a security detection signal  938  sent by the security detection system  934 . The security processing unit  932  may transmit a security alarm signal  940  to the central monitoring system  110 . Security system  930  of the central monitoring system  110  may receive the security alarm signal  940  and alert the security officer on duty. The mobile control unit  100  may be moved, e.g. driven, to the premise from which the security alarm signal  940  was sent. Method  1000  may include patrolling around the plurality of premises  900 . 
     Step  1100  may include monitoring the building services systems  950 . When required, the building services processing unit  952  may receive and process building services detection signal  958  sent by the building services detection system  954 . The building services processing unit  952  may transmit a building services alarm signal  960  to the central monitoring system  110 . Building services system  950  of the central monitoring system  110  may receive the building services alarm signal  960  and alert the maintenance crew on duty. The mobile control unit  100  may be moved, e.g. driven, to the premise from which the building services alarm signal  960  was sent. 
       FIG. 8  shows a facility management system  200  adapted to manage at least one of the plurality of premises  900 . The facility management system  200  includes the mobile control unit  100  and a facility system  920  adapted to monitor a premise  900 . The facility management system  200  may include at least one facility system  920  adapted to monitor at least one of the plurality of premises  900 . 
     The facility system  920  may include a security system  930  as mentioned earlier. Security system  930  may be adapted to send a security signal  940  to the central monitoring system  110  when required. The facility system may include building services systems  950  as mentioned earlier. Building services systems  950  may be adapted to send building services alarm signal  960  to the central monitoring system  110  when required. 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , mobile unit control system  300  may includes a plurality of mobile control units  100 , and a main control unit  302  being adapted to monitor the location of the plurality of mobile control units  100 . The main control unit  100  may be adapted to be in communication with the plurality of mobile control units  100 . 
     Mobile unit control system  300  may be managed by a main control unit  302 , e.g. a head office. A main monitoring system  310 , similar to the central monitoring system  110 , may be set up in the main control unit  302 . The main control unit  302  may include a database adapted to back up the data gathered by the central monitoring system  110 . In addition, the main control unit  302  may include a GPS monitoring system  320  adapted to monitor the movement of the mobile control unit  100 . The GPS monitoring system  320  may be adapted to monitor the location of security officers and/or maintenance crew. Premise  900  may include a database to back up the data from the facility system  920 . 
       FIG. 10  shows a mobile unit control method  3000 . Facility monitoring method  3000  includes monitoring the location of a plurality of mobile control units  100  from the main control unit  302  as shown in step  3100 . Step  3200  includes communicating between the main control unit  302  and the plurality of mobile control units  100 . 
       FIG. 11  shows an exemplary embodiment of the mobile control unit  100 . 
       FIG. 12  shows another view of the exemplary embodiment of the mobile control unit  100 . 
     There may be more than one mobile control unit  100  being put into operation at one time. When there are more than one mobile control units  100 , the mobile control units  100  may be in communication with each other. The mobile control units  100  may know each other&#39;s position via GPS. Therefore, the movement and location of each mobile control unit  100  may be made available to each other. Similarly, the movement and location of all mobile control units  100  may be seen by the main control unit  302 . It may also be possible that the movement of any personnel in the mobile control unit  100  may be monitored by main control unit  302 , e.g. via a position detection system like GPS. For example, in the event that a security officer is required to leave the mobile control unit  100  to attend to any incidents or perform a patrol, the location of the security officer may be monitored for safety purposes. 
     Facility management system  200  may generate regular reports on all the various aspects of the services. A vehicle hotline may also be provided within mobile control unit  100  to receive any calls for assistance. 
     Facility management system  200  and facility management method  1000  described above may provide an efficient and cost effective systems and methods of monitoring facilities of premises  900 . The facility management system  200  and facility management method  1000  help to reduce manpower needed to monitor a plurality of premises  900  as the number of personnel required to monitor the premises may be reduced to a core number, e.g. two security officers and a maintenance crew. Especially in countries where manpower cost is relatively high, facility management system  200  and facility management method  1000  would enable substantial human resource reduction and financial savings. 
     In addition, facility management system  200  and facility management method  1000  provide better monitoring of security and building services in the premises  900  to achieve a more secured and efficient way of monitoring of building services. The decentralized but localized nature of the facility management system  200  and facility management method  1000  allow lower manpower resource and yet a fast response time to any alert received from the facility systems  920 . Specifically, a physical presence, mobile control unit  100 , at the premises  900  provide fast response, unlike remote monitoring systems used by remote monitoring companies as mentioned earlier where a response team has to be dispatched to the premises and thus takes more times than the present facility management system  200  and facility management method  1000 . Even if the remote monitoring companies were to request for help from government department, e.g. police, fire department, they would require time to arrive at the premises from time of activation. 
     For premises that do not require the continuous presence of security officers at the premises during the day, the employment of facility management system  200  and facility management method  1000  allow prompt response by security officers when their attention are required, e.g. request for entry into a premise  900  by a visitor, while maintaining only the core number of personnel, two security officers and a maintenance crew. During the night, where human traffic and activity are lower, facility management system  200  and facility management method  1000  may provide continuous monitoring of the premises and the benefit of having a patrol team around the premises  900 . 
     Facility management system  200  and facility management method  1000  may also provide prompt and effective backup of the central monitoring system  110  should the central monitoring system  110  is down thereby minimising downtime in monitoring the premises. In the event that a typical control centre in a premise is down, e.g. due to power failure or attacks, it would be almost impossible for the control centre to resume monitoring of the facilities quickly, e.g. within hours. If a mobile control unit  100  is down due to any reason, another mobile control unit  100  in the vicinity or a backup mobile control unit  100  may be despatched to replace the mobile control unit  100  that was down and monitoring operation can resume almost immediately, e.g. within minutes, thereby minimising the downtime in monitoring the facilities of the premises  900 . 
     Although to set up the mobile control unit facility management system  200  may require an initial setup cost, e.g. installation of control panel, close circuit cameras, card access systems, sensors, intercom systems, barrier systems and or motion detection systems, the cost savings from the monthly manpower cost would enable a return of investment in the long run. 
     With the facility management system  200 , once the monitoring systems are in place, it may even be possible that a premise  900  be monitored without the presence of security officers and/or maintenance crew within the premise′ of the building. In this way, the cost for maintaining security and/or maintenance personnel can be drastically reduced and the cost in setting up the facility management system  200  may be recovered quickly, e.g. within a few months.