Patent ID: 7646298

Claim:
A method for receiving information on measurable conditions and for controlling at least one remote terminal unit using an enterprise server, wherein the method comprises the steps of: a. adapting at least one enterprise server to simultaneously handle multiple types of telemetry and multiple different protocols associated with a remote terminal unit on a vessel over a network; b. using computer instructions stored in a memory and cryptographic modules to selectively encrypt communication between the enterprise server and the remote terminal unit by performing an action selected from the group consisting of: i. encrypting before transmission; ii. passing a transmission through the cryptographic modules and encrypting during transmission through the cryptographic modules; wherein each cryptographic module has a cryptography chip; and iii. combinations thereof, c. using computer instructions on each enterprise server to authenticate an identification of the remote terminal unit; d. using computer instructions on the remote terminal unit to verify an identification of the at least one enterprise server; e. collecting data on the measurable conditions by the remote terminal unit and performing an action selected from the group consisting of: i. storing the collected data and then transmitting the collected data to the enterprise server; ii. storing the collected data and then transmitting the collected data to second remote terminal unit that transmits the collected data to the at least one enterprise server; iii. streaming the collected data to the enterprise server; iv. streaming the collected data to at least one a second remote terminal unit that transmits the collected data to the at least one enterprise server; and v. combinations thereof; f. automatically initiating an alarm by the remote terminal unit when the collected data is outside a preset limit; and g. while communicating using selective encryption between the at least one remote terminal unit and the enterprise server, using computer instructions stored on the enterprise server to: i. online configure the at least one remote terminal unit, while simultaneously operating the at least one remote terminal unit; or ii. online reconfigure the at least one remote terminal unit, while simultaneously operating the at least one remote terminal unit.