Patent Application
20150115025
The application pertains to monitoring systems and methods which use wireless smart phones to provide information from detectors. More particularly, the application pertains such systems and methods which enable individuals to monitor outputs from fixed detectors wirelessly from locations displaced from the detectors using wireless smart phones.
Both fixed and portable gas detectors are known and are useful in monitoring various conditions in a region of interest. Fixed detectors provide very cost effective, relatively low maintenance monitoring of such regions. Unfortunately, fixed detectors often do not provide real-time feedback as to conditions being monitored to individuals moving into, or through, the region being monitored as can be provided by portable detectors.
Known types of portable detectors can be carried or worn by individuals in the region of interest. They however, tend to be more expensive than fixed detectors, and require different kinds of detector and battery maintenance programs.
While disclosed embodiments can take many different forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and will be described herein in detail with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles thereof as well as the best mode of practicing same, and is not intended to limit the application or claims to the specific embodiment illustrated.
In one aspect, embodiments hereof provide information wirelessly from detectors fixed in one or more regions of interest via an individual's smart phone. Information from all such detectors can be wirelessly coupled to one or more servers. Each detector is associated with a QR-type scannable code.
An individual, seeking information as to a particular detector can scan a QR code, which might be posted at a location displaced from the subject detector, and forward that request to the one or more servers. The inquiry received from the smart phone can be linked to pre-stored information, at a server, received from the respective detector. That information can then be downloaded to the individual's phone.
Information such as gas or smoke levels, location, alarm status or faults can be stored at the respective server. All such information can be updated on real-time. It will be understood that neither the type of detector nor the exact details, other than as described herein, are limitations hereof.
The detectors can be coupled via a wired or wireless medium to a common control panel which can in turn communicate with the servers. Alternately, the detectors could be Internet enabled and communicate directly with the servers in addition to the control panel.
The members of the plurality 12 can communicate via a wired or wireless medium, 12-1 with members of a plurality of servers, such as server 14. A plurality of QR-type code elements illustrated generally at 18 can be associated with members of the plurality 12. The code elements 18 can each include a URL and or associated information pertaining to a respective member of the plurality 12.
A user U1 with a wireless device, such as a smart phone or tablet computer can execute a downloaded app and read a respective one of the code elements 18. The user's inquiry can be transmitted via the smart phone, for example, to the respective server 14. Information pertaining to a respective detector 12i can be downloaded, from server 14, to the smart phone or tablet computer of user U1 providing access to the conditions in a respective zone before the user has entered the respective zone.
Stored data can be associated with a respective code element, as at 106. A user, such as user U1 uses a smart phone or tablet computer to scan the associated code element as at 108 and can review the downloaded information as at 110 before entering the respective zone.
In summary, smartphones or tablet computers can be used instead of portable gas or smoke detectors to safely evaluate conditions in a region. In this regard, fixed detectors can be installed in the region of interest. Sensed information from the various detectors can be forwarded to one or more web servers on a regular basis.
Smoke or gas levels will be updated preferably in real time. QR codes can be used as quick and easy ways to trace a web link. A unique code can be used for each room or a certain area of interest. Users can attach physical copies of respective QR codes adjacent to regions of interest.
The user executes an application to login to the server before they enter the hazardous area. Using the respective QR code, the user can acquire the gas or smoke concentration information for each area before entering the area or zone.
Those of skill will understand that while the exemplary embodiments have been described using QR codes, the claims hereof are not so limited. Other types of codes, including traditional bar codes, and other types of graphical codes without limitation, come within the spirit and scope hereof.
From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope hereof. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.
Further, logic flows depicted in the figures do not require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. Other steps may be provided, or steps may be eliminated, from the described flows, and other components may be add to, or removed from the described embodiments.
