FI3899898T3 - Device and method for monitoring a situation within a volume - Google Patents

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MONITORING A SITUATION WITHIN A VOLUME

Description

[0001] The present invention has as its object, on the one hand, a device for monitoring, remotely or not, a condition or a situation within a given environment, such as for example the condition of a weakened person maintained at his home, or the control of ambiance, etc., and on the other hand a method for monitoring, remotely or not a situation within a volume.

[0002] At this time, different electronic devices, more or less elaborate, relying on the implementation of data sensors and, if necessary, means for analyzing the data that are read, have been developed for this purpose, are already available on the market and have been the subject of publications. In this regard, documents US 2016/0203692, FR 2 863 396 and

US 2012/0286949 describe different solutions of this type, each dedicated to a particular application.

[0003] However, it has been noted that the different eguipment proposed suffer from a — certain number of disadvantages, and do not always allow responding satisfactorily to the expectations or to the needs of users.

[0004] Thus, instruments integrating only a single type of sensor are by definition limited to the evaluation of a single datum and conseguently maladapted to complex applications reguiring the tracking of a plurality of different parameters. — [0005] On the other hand, instruments which integrate a plurality of sensors are particularly power-hungry and generally have considerable bulk. On balance, their installation has proven to be tedious, in particular in environments reguiring their discretion, and their implementation assumes constant verification of the charge level of the batteries, as well as their freguent replacement in order to avoid any breakdown. — [0006] Moreover, conventional devices rely on a feed, to a possible means of analysis, of raw data directly generated by the sensors, with no particular processing. In order for these raw data to be usable, relevant and rich in meaning, it is necessary to have available, in addition to the measurement device, an expert system remotely located on one or more servers. An architecture of this type involves not only a very high initial cost, due to its complexity, but also a complexity in implementation, due to the necessity of providing a computer server and to the diversity of the dedicated sensors used, assuming the same diversity as regards the communication protocols.

[0007] It has also been noted that the principle of implementation of certain existing installations can prove complex in certain circumstances, and result in delayed reactions resulting in harmful consequences.

[0008] The purpose of the present invention is to mitigate these different disadvantages, by proposing a solution that is both multi-use and economical of energy, which relies on a compact data capture device and a reliable, effective data analysis system with a simplified architecture, this solution also being distinguished from existing solutions by a more intuitive implementation.

[0009] In other words, the object of the invention is to supply a solution having a universal character, which is suited to numerous different applications by means of a simple prior configuration of the multiple sensors that it integrates, the constituting elements of which allow discreet installation, respectful of the operating environment due to a minimalist size, the autonomy of which is strongly improved with respect to conventional solutions to attain up to three years with a battery of the ordinary type, and which includes means of triggering an alarm the implementation mode of which is clearly established.

[0010] To this end, the invention has as its object a device for monitoring a situation within a volume according to claim 1.

[0011] In conformity with one preferred variant embodiment, the sensors are selected from the group including a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an accelerometer, a magnetometer, a vibration sensor, a brightness sensor, an infrared presence sensor.

[0012] Of course, sensors of different natures can also be provided by means of additional variant embodiments specifically adapted to the applications considered.

[0013] In conformity with the invention it is provided, moreover, that the sensors are preferably of a type with very low energy consumption.

[0014] An additional feature of the device according to the invention is shown by the fact that the means of signaling the detection of data representative of a particular event are defined by at least one indicator light, and/or an acoustic warning means.

[0015] Moreover, a remote management unit and means of exchanging data between the electronic unit and the remote management unit complete the device according to [text missing]

[0016] In this case, the remote management unit preferably includes: - a microcontroller for remote management of the electronic unit, comprising memory means,

- a program for remote selection of a particular sensor control profile, stored in the memory means, as well as a program for processing data transmitted by the electronic unit, and - an interface for using the program for remote selection of a particular sensor control profile and/or the program for processing the data transmitted by the electronic unit.

[0017] According to the invention, the means for exchanging data are defined by a radio transmitter/receiver included in the electronic unit and the remote management unit.

[0018] Within the scope of the invention, the electronic unit includes means for manually activating the radio transmitter of the electronic unit.

[0019] These manual activation means are defined by a button arranged on a housing dedicated to an infrared presence sensor equipped with its lens, forming a protrusion on the outer face of the unit.

[0020] Moreover, the device according to the invention can also include a central unit and means for transmitting data between said remote management unit and said central unit.

[0021] The invention also relates to a method for monitoring a situation within a volume according to claim 7.

[0022] Also considered has been the possibility of recovering the signal representative of the occurrence of an event within the volume at the electronic unit and/or at the remote management unit.

[0023] Depending on the case, the signal representative of the occurrence of an event can be recovered in the form of a light signal and/or an acoustic signal and/or a time-stamped message contained in a primary computer frame.

[0024] Additionally, the method according to the invention can include a step consisting of periodically recovering, at the remote management unit, all the data read by the sensors and/or all the data processed by the data processing program in the form of a time-stamped message contained in a secondary computer frame.

[0025] The latter can be recovered manually by a step of activation of the button included in the electronic unit.

[0026] Alternatively, the secondary computer frame can be recovered automatically by integrating, during the step of defining profiles, in each of the latter a transmission frequency, from the electronic unit to the remote management unit, for all the data read by the sensors and/or all the data processed by the data processing program.

[0027] The invention will be better understood, and other features and advantages of the invention will appear in the light of the description that follows of two exemplary embodiments of the method according to the invention given without limitation.

[0028] The description must be read in relation to the appended drawings in which: - figure 1 is a schematic of a variant embodiment of the device according to the invention, suited, for example, to tracking the entries/departures of a person from a living room, and - figure 2 is a flowchart of the method of implementation of the device of figure 1, applied to the tracking of entries/departures of a person from a living room.

[0029] In the variant embodiment illustrated in figure 1, the device 1 according to the invention includes a plurality of versatile electronic units 2, intended to be installed within a volume to be monitored, such as for example living quarters, and able to detect there a certain number of physical quantities, by means of the implementation of different sensors.

[0030] In order to contribute to this versatility and allow reliable tracking, each of the electronic units 2 includes as a standard on the same electronic card a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an accelerometer, a vibration sensor, a brightness sensor and an infrared presence sensor.

[0031] Of course, this list of sensors must be interpreted as belonging to the variant embodiment described, and is likely to evolve depending on the applications sought.

[0032] In this case, any datum read by a possible additional sensor integrated into the electronic unit 2 will be processed by the same on-board intelligence as those read by the other sensors. However, as will be described in more detail hereafter, all the on-board sensors in the same unit 2 are not necessarily constantly activated, but only when the application considered reguires it, or when a datum detected by an already active sensor causes their actuation, which has an undeniable advantage in terms of economy of energy. — [0033] Moreover, for the same purpose of limiting as much as possible the consumption of energy of the device according to the invention, the sensors installed on the electronic unit 2 are of the type with very low energy consumption.

[0034] It is also worth noting that the electronic units 2 advantageously have a very compact structure, and very reduced dimensions (on the order of 3cm width I and 5cm length L, in the example illustrated), conferring upon it great discreetness and at the same time facilitating their installation and their integration into a volume, such as the living guarters in which a given situation is to be monitored.

[0035] On the other hand, each electronic unit 2 is equipped with a microcontroller for managing sensors comprising memory means in which are stored at least one program for controlling sensors according to a predefined profile and a program for processing the data read by the sensors, along with indicator lights 3 and an acoustic warning means (not 5 illustrated). The electrical energy supply of the electronic units 2 is, for its part, provided by a conventional battery, of the 3V, 600 mAh type.

[0036] In the variant embodiment illustrated, the device according to the invention also includes a remote management unit 4, provided with a microcontroller for remotely managing the electronic units 2, comprising memory means in which is stored a program for remotely selecting a particular sensor control profile, as well as an interface 5 for using this program.

[0037] Moreover, in order to allow an exchange of data between the remote management unit 4 and the electronic units 2, each of them integrates a radio transmitter/receiver. It is moreover specified that all of these exchanges are preferably subjected to encryption guaranteeing their security and the preservation of their confidentiality.

[0038] Moreover, the electronic unit 2 includes a button 6, advantageously arranged on a housing dedicated to an infrared presence sensor provided with its lens forming a protrusion on the outer face, and defining means for manually activating the radio transmitter integrated in it. — [0039] Two central units 7a, 7b, able to communicate with the remote management unit 4 by secured data transmission means 8 relying for example on encryption of the radio- transmitted data, also completing the device 1 according to the invention shown in figure 1. They provide different functions, particularly including the storage of data relating to the management of the electronic units 2 and the remote management unit 4, and the updating — of the programs that this equipment integrates.

[0040] In order to attain the objects stated above, seeking in particular to supply a universally applicable solution very economical of energy, the implementation of the device 1 according to the invention occurs by means of an innovating method which allows both optimizing the operating time of the sensors and limiting data transmissions or data exchanges solely to those which are useful.

[0041] Within the scope of this method, each electronic unit 2 is provided with a library of profiles, previously defined, each grouping together a set of parameters belonging to a given application and allowing dedicating the units 2 to multiple uses by the prior selection of the corresponding profile.

[0042] More precisely, in order to define the plurality of profiles able to be stored in each electronic unit 2, a list of sensors activated automatically is established for each of them, a data reading frequency for each of the sensors activated automatically, and a list of values starting from which a datum read by one of the sensors activated automatically or originating from the processing of data read by the sensors activated automatically corresponds to a “threshold datum.”

[0043] In practice, the step of selecting the profile is preferably carried out after the installation of the electronic unit(s) 2 in the volume to be monitored, for example by a remote management unit 4, and leads to activation only of the sensors required by the application considered.

[0044] In other words, for each application, the program for controlling the sensors that 1s included in the electronic unit(s) 2 will use the profile in question to activate automatically one or more sensors which will operate in conformity with the parameters belonging to the same profile.

[0045] During the monitoring method, the data read by the sensors are analyzed within the electronic unit 2 by the data processing program integrated into it, and are compared to data, called *threshold data,” recorded in the profile. — [0046] In order to limit the consumption of energy of the device according to the invention, a signal representing the occurrence of an event within the monitored volume is only recovered in case of detection of a datum which is revealed, before or after analysis as the case may be, to correspond to a “threshold datum.”

[0047] Thus, depending on the case, the occurrence of an event can be signaled through a signal the transmission of which is activated by the detection of a raw datum, or of a processed datum, each corresponding to a threshold datum.

[0048] Moreover, the invention relies also on dynamic and constant optimization of the intelligence carried on-board the electronic unit 2, which induces interoperability of the sensors integrated into the same electronic unit 2 and a correlation of the data read by each of them.

[0049] In fact, the invention provides that, for certain profiles recorded in the memory means of the electronic unit 2, a list of subsidiary sensors is also established for each of them able to be activated automatically in the event of detection, by at least one automatically activated sensor, of a datum corresponding to a threshold datum, and/or a list of sensors the measurement reading frequency of which is able to be modified automatically in the event of detection, by at least one automatically activated sensor, of a datum corresponding to a threshold datum.

[0050] A feature of this type also allows limiting the need for electrical energy of the device 1 according to the invention, the sensors leaving their standby state only at specific moments, defined by the parameters of the profile, and remaining inactive, and consequently not supplied with energy, the rest of the time.

[0051] The method according to the invention provides, moreover, the possibility of — recovering the signal representing the occurrence of an event within the volume directly at an electronic unit 2, in the form of a light signal and/or an acoustic signal, and/or at a remote management unit 4 in the form of a time-stamped message contained in a primary computer frame.

[0052] Of course it is also possible to periodically recover all the raw data read by the — sensorsand/or all the data processed by the data processing program of each electronic unit 2 in a remote management unit 4, in the form of a time-stamped message contained in a secondary computer frame. This step can be carried out manually, by activating the button 6 included in the electronic unit 2. According to another option, it can also be accomplished automatically by integrating into each of the profiles a freguency of transmission, from the electronic unit 2 to the remote management unit 4, of all the raw data read by the sensors and/or all the data processed by the data processing program.

[0053] When the device 1 according to the invention includes a plurality of electronic units 2, it is advantageously provided that the occurrence of an event within the volume can be detected by the remote management unit 4, following computer processing of the data — contained in the primary and/or secondary computer frames originating from each of the units 2. In other words, aggregation and processing of data originating in different units 2 installed in a volume and, 1f necessary, configured for different applications at the remote management unit 4, allows detection there of the occurrence of an event which might have escaped notice by a unit 2 considered in isolation. — [0054] It is clearly revealed by the foregoing that the device 1 according to the invention allows attaining the objects declared in the preamble.

[0055] Due to the implementation of a library of profiles, each representing a different application, the device according to the invention is universal. It can for example be placed in a living room and, as a result of the activation of the corresponding profile, feed environmental data such as temperature, humidity and brightness, as well as the occupation condition of the same room. An installation on a drawer or a closet allows, according to another exemplary embodiment, detecting their openings and closings, there too after selection of the corresponding profile and therefore activation of the required sensors.

Placed in a refrigerator, the device according to the invention allows following at regular intervals the temperature inside it and alerting in the event of departure from a monitoring range, also by selection of the profile provided for this purpose.

[0056] The device according to the invention is also adaptive, given that it can be used — during a certain period for a first application, then for a second application for a second period, etc., by simply reprogramming and selecting a different profile.

[0057] Moreover, due to the compact structure with reduced dimensions of the electronic unit 2, the device 1 according to the invention is discreet and does not alter the general ambiance of the environment in which it is installed. — [0058] Due to the fact that all the sensors are of the type with low energy consumption, are active only when needed and signals are transmitted only in the event of detecting an alarm, it is economical of energy and can attain up to three years of autonomy.

[0059] In that regard, it is moreover appropriate to note that within the scope of the invention, it can be provided to constantly determine the energy consumed by the electronic unit 2 and consequently to deduce from it the remaining charge as well as the duration of operation, in order to be able to anticipate recharging or the replacement of the battery and avoid any untimely breakdown.

[0060] Likewise, the electronic unit 2 is preferably eguipped with a USB (universal serial bus) connector, allowing it to be coupled with a remote management unit 4 which can be — defined by any current computer eguipment provided with a USB jack, such as a personal computer, an Internet box, etc.

[0061] Figure 2 appended as an annex illustrates the logic implemented by the method according to the invention, within the scope of a use of the device 1 to track the entries and the departures of a person from aliving room, and the degree of non-occupation of the same living room after the departure of the person. This figure also illustrates the nature of the information deduced based on the data collected by the sensors and constituting messages representing a situation.

[0062] In an application of this type, the selected profile must allow necessary and sufficient feeding of data on the movements of a door and on presence to be informed of the entries and departures of a person from his home or from a specific room of the latter. It must also allow estimating the time of occupation and of non-occupation of a room, for the purpose of deducing the localization and the movements of a person within his home.

[0063] to this end, the activation of the infrared presence sensor, of the accelerometer (detection of translation) and of the magnetometer (detection of rotation) is necessary.

Moreover, the corresponding profile integrates a certain number of parameters, relating in particular to the nature of the door, to the duration of opening corresponding to a threshold datum, to read data which trigger, after correlation with other data read by other sensors, the transmission of a signal or even to the guantity of movements which must be detected to validate a presence in the room and therefore the transmission of a signal.

[0064] In conformity with the invention, in this application, the autonomy of the device 1 is extended due to a correlation between the information on movement of the door — (translation/rotation) and the presence information. Thus for example, when no presence in the room is detected, the freguency of measurement of the accelerometer and of the magnetometer is automatically reduced. Likewise, the freguency of the reading of measurement provided by the presence detector can be modified depending on the revealed degree of occupation of the room.