BE1025859B1 - ADVANCED MONITORING AND REPORTING SYSTEM FOR PHYSICAL OBJECTS - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention defined herein for an advanced physical object monitoring and reporting system relates to a programmed device that; whether or not in combination with a central or decentralized processing unit, enables users to transfer data to this processing unit. The programmed device itself can also be enabled to process the location, time, and / or environmental factors that the programmed device is confronted with or detects based on user-defined needs. This enables users to make certain decisions based on the processed data, or the processing unit is enabled to send certain reports to predetermined recipients.

Description

Title: Advanced monitoring and reporting system for physical objects

Resume; Technical domain

The invention defined herein relates to a programmed device which, whether or not in combination with a central or decentralized processing unit, enables users to transfer data to this processing unit, enables the programmed device itself to meet user-defined needs process the location, time, and / or environmental factors regarding the programmed device, and allow users to make certain decisions based on the processed data, or enable the processing unit to transfer certain reports to predetermined recipients to make.

State of the art

Companies that work with multiple physical and movable objects (vehicles, tools, machines, etc.) are always looking for ways to improve the efficient use of these objects and to control their use. They are also confronted to a greater extent with theft or unauthorized use of these objects outside the perimeter within which these objects must be located.

On the other hand, these companies are increasingly confronted with an increased reporting requirement and even in certain cases with reporting obligations imposed by various governments on the personnel they employ. For example, companies that carry out certain works in the immovable state serve to

Belgian law to make declarations of the times within which their personnel are active at a certain construction site, which has an impact on the organization of the site itself.

Although there are separate solutions 40 for various of the above challenges (labeling, monitoring addresses identifying objects, such as

MAC addresses, use of badge readers, punch cards, etc.) the invention defined below integrates various (technical) needs of companies into a single solution.

Description

This solution consists of a combination of a small programmed device that is equipped with a number of functionalities and sensors (whether or not 50 integrated into other programmed devices), depending on the needs of the users, with a central or decentralized processing system, which are connected to each other be connected through a wireless communication network. This combination of at least one

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-25 programmed device with the (de) centralized processing unit is referred to below as the system.

These programmed devices themselves have the ability to process data, which enables them to - in addition to certain objective data such as location of the programmed device, the temperature of the environment in which the programmed device is located, and the like. - also to store and transmit more complex data processed by the programmed device.

This has a number of significant advantages, in particular when a permanent connection cannot be made between the programmed device on the one hand and the decentralized processing unit on the other.

As a result, not only is the ease of use considerably increased, but also the merging of different functionalities is made possible without having to purchase additional hardware or software:

1. Location check

The invention allows authorized users to identify the location of the device that is part of the invention, or the physical object into which the device was integrated (such as, but not limited to: a vehicle, a bicycle, a container, a cement mixer, a drilling machine), to process and to visualize.

The system allows, if certain values are registered by the programmed device, whether or not to automatically send certain warnings to one or more authorized users.

For example, the system can be set to send an email to a user by way of example when a vehicle in which the programmed device is integrated moves outside of a radius of x meters outside the pre-programmed perimeter. Or, an SMS may be sent to a user when this vehicle, for example, travels outside of this perimeter for specific hours or days.

The settings of the system have the necessary privacy settings, so that users cannot abuse the data that is processed by the device and / or the processing unit.

2. Automatic access control and reporting

Based on the system, access and security control can be organized in a faster and more efficient way, taking into account one or more of the following (non-exhaustive) functionalities:

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- users can register as drivers or passengers of a certain vehicle that is equipped with the aforementioned programmed device by means of a unique identifier (identity card, access badge, smartphone application); based on this data, reports can be made for recording working hours, mobility allowances, or other purposes;

- upon arrival at a predetermined location (eg a construction site), not only the vehicle, but also all passengers who will be working on the site, are notified via this system on this site;

- the system then allows the persons notified at this site, as well as the time they spend at this site, to be reported to the respective employer (s), interim offices, clients, and, where appropriate, competent governmental institutions on certain works in real estate.

Since these processes are done via a centralized or decentralized processing unit, authorized users can obtain numerous overviews and reports in real time, more easily determine certain routes in advance, provide better inventory management, etc.

3. Checking physical properties of the object with which the programmed device is equipped.

The programmed device in question has the option of not only being mounted on another physical object, but also being integrated with this object. This offers a large number of advantages, in particular when the object in question can itself communicate with the device (by being connected to it physically or wirelessly).

Examples and advantages of this include:

- managing a fleet of vehicles from different manufacturers, which themselves have individual software, but which software is not interoperable, let alone compatible with each other;

- remotely checking the battery voltage or quality of an electrical device, which allows operators to charge batteries in time, replace and / or repair them in time, etc .;

- remote monitoring of the temperature in a car or container with a cooling function in which, for example, vegetables, fruit, meat or frozen products are transported;

- linking a car or truck to the on-board computer so that the driver's driving behavior is mapped;

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-4- linking with a GPS system in the vehicle so that data communication is possible between the office staff or dispatching and the drivers without this having to be done via a telephone; this allows messages or orders to be sent digitally;

- etc.

4. Energy-efficient processing and communication of data

Communication via a wireless communication system costs energy. In order to allow for the greatest possible autonomy of the programmed device in question and to limit its maintenance to a minimum, the device has the possibility to report the same voltage of the batteries, but also - considering the use that the user intends to - prioritize, process and communicate the requested functionalities and data using the available means of communication.

In other words, the combination of the programmed device and the (de) centralized processing unit allows the aforementioned device to function as energy-efficiently as possible.

For example, the system will be able to decide whether to use a WiFi signal, an RFID signal, a mobile telecommunications signal, or satellite communication, depending on the availability of these signals and the energy used for this communication (and quantity). data) is required.

State of the art

Connecting two devices where one is responsible for determining and / or measuring certain data and the other processes this data is not new. However, the invention incorporated herein differs from the state of the art in various fields:

For example, patent US 2004/0217864 (US '864) describes an integrated system for tracing objects and personnel that are located on a specific site (construction site). In the invention described in US '864, the objects and staff members have an RFID tag that can be read by a portal, by scanners or by devices that have the ability to scan these tags.

Patent WO 2017/164794 offers a similar application, but also linked to a specific site that is equipped with its own telecommunications network that has a limited range (ie limited to the perimeter of the site).

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Patent WO 2013/063507 (WO '507) describes a similar application that uses the ISM network to transmit data. "

The invention described in the claims is distinguished in the following areas from the cited prior art:

- it is not possible to transmit data via the RFID tag other than the identification number of the tag. The invention included in the claims below, on the other hand, makes it possible to pass on a plurality of data, whether or not processed;

- the objects included in the claims may also have RFID tags, but this is not necessarily the case. The invention included in the claims may use other technologies suitable for determining, processing and transmitting certain data, and in other words is not necessarily bound to a single technology. For example, the invention also uses ISM, WiFi, Bluetooth, GSM, 3G / 4G / 5G and other networks to transmit processed or unprocessed data to the decentralized processing unit;

- RFID tags themselves do not have a processing capacity. These are mainly devices that are activated from a (short) distance with the aid of a radio signal and after activation transmit a simple data, namely the identification number of the RFID tag. This information is then captured and passed on by the RFID scanner or - in the best case - interpreted itself. In other words: after processing, the user can actually only determine that an RFID tag has passed through a certain scanner and, in other words, only gives reliable data about the location of the RFID tag when the scanner is at a certain point determined by the user;

- in order to have reliable data, a user who only uses RFID technology at a certain site must equip this location with a large number of scanners or other devices that can read in the identification number of a particular RFID tag. As a result, the costs of using this technology can be high. Such equipment is not necessary when use is made of the invention described in the claims below, since it uses a plurality of telecommunication means to transmit (data processed or not processed);

- in addition, the present invention also enables the user to trace objects and persons when they are outside the prepared of (RFID) scanners, Bluetooth, NFC, WiFi and other locally available telecommunications networks, since the herein mentioned

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-6 programmed devices that can remain connected to the decentralized processing unit via the mobile telecommunications network [3G, 4G, or others);

- the devices connected to the decentralized processing unit can be programmed by the user to select the means of telecommunication to be used on the basis of the location or other environmental factors that the programmed device is confronted with. For example, the user is able to disable the use of ISM technology if the object is in - for example - a hospital or aircraft, where the use of ISM technology can cause interference with other electronic devices. In such a case, the device will be able to switch automatically to another means of telecommunication, such as RFID or 3G / 4G, depending on the user's settings and the availability of a telecommunication signal and / or scanner;

- in addition, the devices connected to or connected to the centralized or decentralized processing unit have the option of processing data and / or transferring it to other devices that may or may not be connected to the centralized or decentralized processing unit to energy-efficient way to enable data processing and transfers and to avoid conflicts at the level of the centralized or decentralized processing unit.

Claims (10)

5 Conclusions 1. A programmed device that, whether or not connected or switched with one or more other programmed or programmable devices that themselves have data processing and storage capacity 10 have, at certain times and in different ways, the location, properties and / or environmental factors of the programmed or programmable device, the authorized users who have registered with the device or the physical object in which the device was integrated in an encrypted or non-encrypted manner , with 15 using one or more telecommunication means, selected by the device on the basis of the parameters indicated by the user and available at that time, transferred to a centralized or decentralized processing unit, which can be programmed by one or more users and / or 20 consulted to make automatic or semi-automatic decisions based on the parameters specified by the users and the data processed by the programmed device and the aforementioned processing unit; 25 2. The invention mentioned in (1), wherein the times at which the programmed device transmits data can be adjusted by one or more users on the basis of factors determined by them, thereby making it possible for certain authorized users of the stated programmed device 30 or the central or decentralized processing unit to process the location, properties, and / or environmental factors of the programmed device or physical object into which the programmed device was integrated on a continuous basis or on specific determined time periods and to communicate it to the 35 central or decentralized processing unit; 3. The invention mentioned in (1), the properties of which may consist of determining (a) the location at one or more specific (b) times, based on publicly available data, whether or not in combination with the the programmed device self-generated data, (c) the battery voltage of the programmed device and / or - if the physical object into which the programmed device was integrated - the physical object; 45 4. The invention mentioned in (1), whose environmental factors that can be detected, processed and transmitted by the programmed device to the centralized or decentralized processing unit can consist of temperature, humidity, etc. that can be measured by one or more sensors or 50 other other programmed devices that are connected to the programmed device in question; 6fr'6i 6i q®d € 0 BE2017 / 0177 5. The invention mentioned in (1), wherein the method of transmitting the data processed by the programmed device to the centralized or decentralized processing unit is via electromagnetic rays, via one or more local networks, mobile networks, or satellite communication, or a satellite communication. combination thereof, which the device chooses autonomously on the basis of the availability of the available means of communication, whether or not the device has free access to such means of communication, and the energy consumption to transfer this data to the centralized or decentralized processing unit; 6. The invention mentioned in (1), wherein the centralized or decentralized processing unit is a computer connected to the internet, or a cloud-based system that is responsible for processing and interpreting the programmed device mentioned in (1) transferred data, and to which authorized users may have access to consult, further process and, based on this data, decide whether or not to make decisions, or offer the programmed device or the centralized or decentralized processing unit to transfer certain data to recipients determined by one or more authorized users; 7. The invention mentioned in (1), whose functionalities can be adjusted by users in function of the actual needs of the relevant user (s), and which allows the latter to generate detailed or non-detailed reports, which can then be are used in the company's own administration as well as to comply with any reporting requirements required by one or more government agencies; 8. The invention mentioned in [1), wherein certain users are notified by the central or decentralized processing unit using one or more means of communication defined by the users, if (a) the programmed device and / or the physical object in which the programmed device was integrated is (no longer) available, (b) the location (s), properties and / or environmental factors mentioned in claims 1 to 6 no longer meet the (limit) values predefined by the authorized user (s), whether or not in combination with other properties, environmental factors and / or times predefined by the authorized user (s), (c) communication between on the one hand the programmed device and on the other hand the centralized or decentralized processing unit is no longer available on the ) time (s) determined by the authorized user (s), (d) the centralized or decentralized processing unit is no longer available, (e) determined by the programmed device 6'd 6 ^ 61619θζΙ SO BE2017 / 0177 -95 or the centralized or decentralized processing unit processed data or a combination thereof no longer meet the (limit) values predefined by the authorized user (s), whether or not in combination with other pre-authorized user (s) defined properties, 10 environmental factors and / or times, whereby the means of communication can be selected on the basis of the degree of urgency of the intervention (s) notified by the notified user (s); this ensures that the proper functioning of devices or objects is continuously monitored; 9. The invention mentioned in (1), which autonomously determines on the basis of the functionalities requested by the users which of its features and available telecommunication means for transferring the data to the centralized or decentralized processing unit or other connected or 20 switched devices at which times should be switched on or off, with a view to saving energy and ensuring a longer operating time of the programmed device in question; 10. A computer program that, in combination with the devices listed in (1) to (9), controls all or part of the above-mentioned functionalities, visualizes, and generates reports therefrom, as determined by the authorized user of such computer program; 11. The device in which the functionalities listed in (1) to (10) are fully or partially integrated or controlled by the functionalities listed in (1) to (10), this by the direct or indirect by the connected and / or 35 switched data, whether or not originating from the device itself or from other connected and / or connected devices, to be processed, whether or not in combination with the central or decentralized processing unit mentioned above.