WO2002017271A1

WO2002017271A1 - Method and system for interactively monitoring of remote vehicles and machines

Info

Publication number: WO2002017271A1
Application number: PCT/SE2001/001804
Authority: WO
Inventors: Per Kaijser; Per Borgentun; Arash Tavakoli; Tony Nordstrom
Original assignee: Pilotfish Networks Ab
Priority date: 2000-08-23
Filing date: 2001-08-23
Publication date: 2002-02-28
Also published as: AU2002235548A1; WO2002017271B1

Abstract

The method is for monitoring a remote object and the system has a central platform (62) connected to a remote service unit (12) that has an alarm section (28) and a status section (30). A driver unit (14) has an object server (20) connected to instruments (24, 26) that measure parameters of a remote object to obtain parameter value (38, 40) that are sent to the object server (20) for storage. A subscriber (17) may be connected to the central platform and sends a status request signal (64) via the central platform (62) to the status section (30) to obtain a status of the remote object. The status section (30) sends an information request signal (48) to the object server (20). The object server (20) receives the information request signal (48) and sends back the parameter values (38, 40) to the status section (30) that forwards the parameter values to the subscriber (17).

Description

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR INTERACTIVELY MONITORING OF REMOTE VEHICLES AND MACHINES

Technical Field The present invention relates to a method and system for interactively monitoring remotely positioned vehicles, such as boats and cars, or other types of machines with mobile telephones and computers .

Background and Summary of the Invention

It is often difficult and inconvenient to control the condition of remotely positioned vehicles such as. boats. Dangerous conditions may develop on board a remotely positioned object which may be prevented by changing some parameters of the operation of the object such as lowering the speed or changing the direction of the movement of the object. There is a need for a reliable system to interactively monitor a remotely positioned vehicles that are equipped with telecommunication devices. There is a need both to receive information about the conditions of the vehicle and to be able to manipulate or control such conditions.

The present invention is a method for monitoring a remote vehicle and comprises the steps of providing a central platform connected to a remote service unit that has an alarm section and a status section. A driver unit has an object server connected to instruments that measure parameters of a remote vehicle to obtain parameter values that are sent to the object server for storage. A subscriber is connected to the central platform and sends a status request signal via the platform to the status section to obtain a status of the remote vehicle. The status section sends an information request signal to the object server. The object server receives the information request signal and sends back the parameter values to the status section that forwards the parameter values to the subscriber. Brief Description of the Drawings

Fig. 1 is a schematic flow diagram of the monitoring system of the present invention.

Detailed Description

With reference to Fig. 1, the monitoring system 10 of the present invention has a remote service unit 12 that is connected to a driver unit 14 that, in turn, is connected to a network 16 on the vehicle or machine so that a subscriber 17 may interactively receive and manipulate parameters of the system 10. The subscriber 17 may be one or many persons using a certain implementation of the system. In general, the subscriber 17 may be connected to a central platform 62 via one or many primary telecommunication operators that provide communication services such as the Internet, mobile telecommunication or any other suitable communication media so that the subscriber 17 may fully communicate with the central platform 62.

The central platform 62 may include suitable software, databases and web servers that store all information about the subscribers, the monitoring system 10 and the objects that are being monitored so that the platform 62 can handle all actions between the subscriber 17 and the monitoring system 10. The platform 62 can handle a large number of subscribers and objects/agents to be monitored. Secondary telecommunication operators may provide the necessary communication services, such as the Internet, mobile telecommunication, satellite links or any other suitable communication service, between the central platform 62 and the monitoring system 10.

The monitoring system 10 may be used to connect any suitable electronic equipment and machines to public networks, such as the Internet, for remote monitoring and manipulating certain parameters or settings of the monitored objects. Preferably, the remote object, such as the vehicle, has the system 10, the network 16 and the instruments 24, 26 on the remote object itself so that the system 10, the network 16 and the instruments 24, 26 are remote from the platform 62 and the subscriber 17. The system 10 may include software, telecommunication equipment, such as mobile telecommunication and satellite links, and connected to the monitored objects. For example, the system 10 may be used to connect networks on board boats to the Internet and mobile telephones so that the instruments on the objects may be monitored and interactively manipulated from a sender/receiver such as a telephone or computer. The system 10 may be connected to any suitable network to read a range of digital and analog sensors on the network. The monitored objects may be one or many devices such as vehicles, containers or machines with sensors, actuators and instruments required to monitor the equipment. Fig. 1 shows instruments 24, 26, including the required software, as an illustrative example. The monitoring process may include the monitoring of incoming information sent from the monitored objects such as alarm conditions, object data, such as speed, location, engine temperature, etc., environmental data, such as weather, temperature, wind speed, etc., and outgoing control signals for changing the operating parameters of the object, such as changing the speed of the object.

One important feature of the telematic system of the present invention is that it is a standard system that is suitable for a wide range of applications while maintaining a high system security level and easy adaptation to changes. Conventional telematic systems are often designed for a specific purpose that cannot be easily changed for a new application without requiring considerable resources to rebuild the entire telematic system. The driver unit 14 has a hardware driver 18, a object server 20 and a graphic driver 22. The hardware driver 18 may be responsible for the interface with the hardware of the system through connections such as serial ports and relays. For example, the driver 18 may be adapted to interface with instruments, such as instruments 24, 26, that are connected to and are part of the network 16. The driver 18 provides the interface for monitoring and manipulating instruments connected to the network 16. The information and data readings from the instruments 24, 26 may be stored in the object server 20 and be accessible to all components of the system 10.

The object server 20 provides a place to store and to provide access to information received from the instruments of the network 16. The server 20 also provides the structure and functionality to automatically relay and convey the information to approved subscribers/users that are connected to the system 10. The server 20 may be an event oriented system so that when an event occurs, the new event may be propagated to all the approved users. The server 20 may be set up so that each component of an event is recorded as separate processes so that the system is a multi-process system. The server may also provide means for asynchronically access data stored in the server 20. The server 20 may also continually update the information about the monitored vehicle in question. The object server 20 may update its database of the data of the instruments connected to the network 16 via a connection interface 42 and store the updated information. The interface 42 may be a two way interface between the object server 20 and the network 16.

The graphic driver 22 may be used to graphically illustrate events and data information stored in the object server 20. For example, certain information, such as water depth, is easily displayed by a plotter. The service unit 12 may include several modules, such as an alarm module 28, status module 30 and weather module 32, that are designed for specific functions. It should be understood that the unit 12 may include any type of modules as required. The service unit 12 may be activated by an event on the vehicle that is propagated through the object server 20 back to the subscriber or by an event that is propagated through a COM interface 34 that is connected to the service unit 12. In this way, information may flow interactively between the subscriber and the remotely positioned vehicle.

The COM interface 34 may provide the necessary functionality for routing a message received from a communication program 36, such as WAP or SMS, to the correct service module of the service unit 12. The program 36 is in communication with mobile telephone networks such as GSM, satellite, DAMPS and other operators of telephone networks. The COM interface 34 also provide the API to send a message. Each message received by the COM interface 34 may be identified as belonging to a specific service module. A service event may be triggered by the subscriber 17 and sent to the COM interface 34 to activate the service unit 12. The interface 34 may also be designed to provide a security control of the received messages from the program 36 so that only authorized user gain access to the system 10.

The network 16 may be any suitable network such as NMEA (marine instruments) , CAN (motor vehicles) , USB (computer equipment) and other suitable networks and digital and analog input/output devices. The network 16 is in communication with the instruments 24, 26 receive parameter values 38, 40, respectively.

In operation, the user or subscriber 17 that needs information about a remotely moving object, connected to the network 16, may first communicate with the central platform 62, by for example, using a specific telephone number or Internet address to contact the central platform 62. In the alternative, the subscriber 17 may contact the communication unit 36 instead of going through the platform 62. The platform 62 or unit 36, depending upon which information route is selected, may approve the signal 64, 19, respectively, from the subscriber 17 by knowing the telephone number of the mobile phone from which the subscriber is calling. The subscriber may send a SMS message or command, such as a status command, requesting the required status information from the network 16 of the object. The unit 36 receives the message and sends a request signal 44 to the interface 34 that selects and routes the signal 44 to the correct module in the service unit 12. If the subscriber needs to know the status of the object, the interface 34 sends a request signal 46 to the status module 30. The module 30 sends a request signal 48 to the object server 20 via a communication link 50 to retrieve the status information about the object that are stored in the object server 20. The information stored in the server 20 may include the direction of the object, the position of the object, the speed of the object, temperature, water depth, distance to the closest harbor and any other suitable information. The object server 20 may also be event oriented and trigger a signal when certain parameters of the instruments 24, 26 are satisfied. For example, the server 20 may be set so that the server 20 sends an alarm signal 52 to an asymmetric call unit 54 that receives the signal 52, via a communication link 53, when the water depth is below a predetermined value, such as 2 meters. If the water depth is below a certain value, the unit 54 may send an alarm signal 56 to the alarm unit 28. The unit 28 forwards the information via the interface 34 back to the subscriber 17. This information may be in the form of an e-mail, SMS message, fax message or any other suitable way of alerting the subscriber about the danger of the change of the conditions of the object.

An important feature is that the subscriber 17 may change the parameters so that, for example, the alarm signal is only sent if the water depth is less than 3 meter instead of 2 meters. In this way, the subscriber may remotely manipulate the system 10. Preferably, the subscriber 17 may be required to make the changes by using a computer and be connected to the Internet that is connectable to a home page of the central platform 62. In this way, the subscriber 17 may send updated information into the system 10 by sending a signal 64 to the server of the platform 62. The signal 64 may be carried by a suitable telecommunication operator to connect the subscriber 17 and the central platform 62.

The subscriber may also change the address, fax number or email, etc. of the receiver of the alarm signal by modifying the information on the home page. Any change made by the subscriber 17 may be an event that triggers the central platform 62 to send a communication signal 66 to the system 10 to update the system 10 with the new modified information. An important feature is the platform 62 may fully communicate with the system 10 via the communication link 66, such as by the Internet, mobile telecommunication or satellite links.

However, before the subscriber 17 may obtain information from the central platform 62, the central platform may first determine if the subscriber has the authority to obtain the requested information. Preferably, this determination is made automatically depending on which portions of the subscriber profile or parameters that are changed or required by the subscriber 17. For example, if the change only relates to the address change it may not be necessary to alert the system of the monitored object. However, if the change relates to the water depth, it is essential that the system 10 is informed and updated. As indicated above, it may be possible for the subscriber 17 to send updated information directly to the system 10 without going through the platform 62.

Similarly, if the subscriber would like information about the weather where the object is located, the user may send a weather SMS message so that the interface 34 may send a signal 58 to the weather module 32 that forwards a request signal 50 to the object server 20 to retrieve the weather information. The object server 20 may return the requested weather information as a weather signal 60 back to the weather module 32 that in turn forwards the requested information to the subscriber, as indicated above.

While the present invention has been described in accordance with preferred compositions and embodiments, it is to be understood that certain substitutions and alterations may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the following claims.

Claims

We claim :

1. A method of monitoring a remote object, comprising: providing a central platform (62) connected to a remote service unit (12) having an alarm section (28) and a status section (30) , a driver unit (14) having an object server (20) connected to an instrument (24, 26) ; the instrument (24, 26) measuring a parameter of a remote object to obtain a parameter value (38, 40); the instrument (24, 26) sending the parameter value (38, 40) to the object server (20) ; the object server (20) storing the parameter value (38, 40) ; a subscriber (17) , connected to the central platform (62) , sending a status request signal (64) via the central platform (62) to the status section (30) to obtain a status of the remote object; the status section (30) sending an information request signal (48) to the object server (20) ; the object server (20) receiving the information request signal (48) and sending back the parameter value (38, 40) to the status section (30); and the status section (30) forwarding the parameter value to the subscriber (17) via the central platform (62) .

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises the object server (20) sending an alarm signal (60) to the alarm section (28) .

3. The method according to claim 2 wherein the alarm section (28) receives the alarm signal (60) and sends the alarm signal to the subscriber (17) .

4. The method according to claim 3 wherein the method further comprises the interface unit (34) sending a signal (44) to a communication program unit (36) that sends a signal (19) to the subscriber (17) .

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises a network (16) continuously sending update signals (42) to the object server (20) to update the object server (20) with information from the instruments (24, 26) .

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises the subscriber (17) sending an update signal (64) including updated information about the subscriber (17) to the central platform (62) .

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the central platform (62) sends a signal (66) to the service unit (12) to update the service unit (12) with updated information about the subscriber (17) .

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises connecting the instruments (24, 26) to a network (16) .