GB2443021A

GB2443021A - Monitoring System using Multi-Hop Mesh Networks

Info

Publication number: GB2443021A
Application number: GB0620674A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Hinds
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-10-18
Filing date: 2006-10-18
Publication date: 2008-04-23
Also published as: GB0620674D0

Abstract

A monitoring system including a plurality of monitoring devices (102) each configured to communicate with at least one of the other monitoring devices using a first communications network (N1) and a monitor signal processor (104) wherein each monitor device is configured to communicate with the monitor signal processor using the first communication network (N1) and a second communication network (N2). The first and second network may be WiFi mesh networks and messages may be relayed by multi hop. The monitoring devices are configured such that if one monitoring device detects an alert state in another monitoring device then the first monitoring device transfers the alert signal to the monitor signal processor using the first communication network and/or the second communications network. The monitoring device may investigate the alert signal by attempting to communicate with at least one monitoring device.

Description

F 1 2443021 Monitoring System and Methods The present invention relates

to monitoring systems and methods.

Many home or business alarm/monitoring systems are not equipped with remote monitoring facilities that enable a security company to remotely investigate, e.g. by means of cameras, the possible cause of an alert signal generated by a detector. The relative lack of popularity of such systems is thought to be due to the cost, complexity or regulatory procedures associated with them. Therefore, many alarm/monitoring systems simply alert locally by means of bells/horns or flashing lights. Some systems do provide remote monitoring using single path communications (which can itself be monitored or unmonitored) to a remote Alarm Receiving Centre that then has to validate the alert via multiple triggers before alerting local authorities/security personnel.

However, such systems tend to require expensive custom-made detectors and communications routes that can be difficult to install/maintain.

Embodiments of the present invention are intended to address at least some of the problems associated with conventional remotely-monitoring systems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a monitoring system including: a plurality of monitoring devices, and a monitor signal processor, wherein: each said monitoring device is configured to communicate with at least one other of the monitoring devices using a first communications network, the first communications network being a mesh network, and each said monitoring device is configured to communicate with the monitor signal processor using the first communications network and a second communications network, and where the monitoring devices are configured such that, if a first one of the monitoring devices detects an alert state in one of the other monitoring devices with which it is configured to communicate then the first monitoring device transfers an alert signal to the monitor signal processor using the first communications network and/or the second communications network.

The first communications network can comprise a wireless mesh network.

In known mesh networks components can connect to each other via multiple hops. Data packets are transferred around the mesh network from device to device until it reaches its destination, e.g. using dynamic routing capabilities of the network devices. Typically, each device will communicate its routing information with each device with which it is in communication. Each of the communications networks can be implemented using several communications components, which may transmit/receive signals using wire-based and/or wireless methods. Typically, the first communications network will comprise components that are not part of the second communications network, although in some cases at least some components may be common to both of the networks but effectively operate independently of each other, e.g. a single component installed with two WiFi cards, with one card being dedicated to the first network and the other card dedicated to the second network. Further, the monitor signal processor may communicate with at least some of the monitoring devices using at least one further communications network.

The monitor signal processor may be configured, upon receipt of the alert signal, to further investigate the alert state, e.g. by attempting to communicate using the first and/or second communications network with at least one of the monitoring devices. The monitor signal processor may communicate with the first monitoring device and/or the monitoring device for which an alert state was detected in order.

The first monitoring device may be configured to communicate with a group of the other monitoring devices. Each of the monitoring devices may be provided with an (unique) identifier. The group may include a predefined set of said monitoring devices. There may be (up to) a predetermined number of the monitoring devices in the group. The first communication network may be implemented using a WiFi or WiMAX protocol (i.e. 802.11). The monitoring devices in the group may be configured to exchange signals (e.g. polling signals) with each other at intervals. The first monitoring device may detect the alert state when it does not receive the polling signal from one of the other monitoring devices in the group.

The system may be configured to monitor a quality of communications between the monitoring devices over the first communication network. If the system determines that the communications quality is unsatisfactory then the system may be configured to add at least one further monitoring device to the group. A said monitoring device in the group may be responsible for obtaining information used to determine the communications quality (e.g. detect a number of monitoring devices in its group and transfer that information to another processor, e.g. the monitor signal processor, in order for the determination to be made) and the at least one further monitoring device may be added to the group of which the responsible monitoring device is a member.

Actions taken by the monitor signal processor may depend upon a number of the alert signals that it receives relating to a particular said monitoring device. For example, if a number of said alert signals received for a said group is below a predefined threshold (e.g. indicating that only one monitoring device in the group has detected the alert state, whilst the other monitoring devices in the group have not detected the alert state) then the monitor signal processor may communicate with the monitoring device that sent the alert signal (e.g. instruct it to re-try communicating with the monitoring device from which it did not receive the polling signal) before communicating with any other device.

The second communications network may include wireless and/or wire-based components.

The system may further include at least one detector (e.g. an audio and/or visual detector) in communication with the monitor signal processor over the second communications network. The monitor signal processor may be configured to activate and receive signals from the detector upon receipt of the alert signal. The monitor signal processor may include a display device for displaying signals received from the detector to a user so that the user can determine what action to take based on the received signal. The monitor signal processor may transfer a message relating to the alert signal to a further device, e.g. a using SMS message to a mobile device such as a telephone or wireless handheld device; an email to a person associated with the monitoring device detected as being in the alert state and/or a telephone call (possibly playing a pre-recorded/computer-generated message) to a person associated with the monitoring device detected as being in the alert state. The system may further include an audio and/or visual alarm at a location associated with the monitoring devices. The monitor signal processor may activate the alarm upon receipt of the alert signal.

The monitor signal processor may communicate with a wireless device (e.g. a Personal Digital Assistant) associated with an investigator assigned to attend the monitoring device detected as being in the alert state.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a monitoring method including: configuring each of a plurality of monitoring devices to communicate with at least one other of the plurality of monitoring devices using a first communications network, the first communications network being a mesh network, and configuring each said monitoring device to communicate with a monitor signal processor using the first communications network and a second communications network, wherein if a first one of the monitoring devices detects an alert state in one of the other monitoring devices with which it is configured to communicate then the first monitoring device transfers an alert signal to the monitor signal processor using the first communications network and/or the second.

communications network.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium, having thereon computer program code means, when the program code is loaded, to make the computer execute a procedure according to a method substantially as described herein.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is provided a monitoring device configured for use in the monitoring system described herein.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided a monitor signal processor configured for use in the monitoring system described herein.

Whilst the invention has been described above, it extends to any inventive combination of the features set out above or in the following description. Although illustrative embodiments of the invention are described in detail herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to those precise embodiments. As such, many modifications and variations will be apparent to practitioners skilled in this art.

Furthermore, it is contemplated that a particular feature described either individually or as part of an embodiment can be combined with other individually described features, or parts of other embodiments, even if the other features and embodiments make no mention of the particular feature. Thus, the invention extends to such specific combinations not already described.

The invention may be performed in various ways, and, by way of example only, embodiments thereof will now be described, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an example of the monitoring system, including a plurality of monitoring devices and a monitoring station; Figure 2 is a block diagram of one of the monitoring devices; Figure 3 illustrates schematically steps performed when installing one of the monitoring devices, and Figure 4 illustrates schematically steps performed during operation of the system.

Referring to Figure 1, the example monitoring system 100 includes three monitoring devices 102A, 102B, 102C, although it will be appreciated that many more devices could be used. The monitoring devices can take many forms and need not all be identical. Typically, each device will comprise a memory, processor and a communications interface. The monitoring device can use thin-client technology as the functionality required of each device is low compared with, say, a conventional desktop PC. The monitoring device may be in the form of a dedicated single board machine (e.g. net48Ol sold by Soekris Engineering, * F Inc. of Santa Cruz, USA). In some cases the monitoring devices may be connected to existing alarm/environmental devices, e.g. a passive infrared detector. Alternatively, a monitoring device may include an integral detector, or can have an arrangement to allow various types of compatible detectors to be plugged into it. Examples of the types of devices with which the monitoring device can be used (or function as) include fire/intruder alarms, panic switches, health monitors, temperature sensors or computer/network equipment. The monitoring device can also include anti-tamper protection and a battery-backed power supply.

An example of components of one of the monitoring devices is shown in Figure 2. The interface component of a monitoring device in the example is a Mesh WiFi/radio interface 202, although it will be understood that other types of communications could be implemented. The interface component 202 is connected to a processor 204. The processor can be connected to an anti-tamper switch as well as other conventional components such as maintenance/expansion facilities. The processor 204 is connected to an interface component that allows it to exchange data over a second type of communications network, as will be described below. The processor 204 is also connected to an alarm interface 206 that can be connected to one or more detectors as discussed above. Power for the components of the monitoring device is supplied via a power unit 208 that is connected to a mains power supply and a backup battery 210. The device may be configured so that it sends out an alert signal (on all its available channels) if there is a power failure or if its anti-tamper protection is activated.

Returning to Figure 1, the WiFi interface 202 allows each of the monitoring devices 102 to communicate over a first type of communications network, e.g. a WiFi mesh network, with at least some of the other monitoring devices in the system 100. In the example, devices 102B and 102B can directly communicate via this network with compatible communications components located in a monitoring station 104. The station 104 is fitted with interfaces that allows the processing components located within it to receive signals from, and send signals to, monitoring devices in the system 100 over the WiFi network (the links in the WiFi network are illustrated schematically using the label NI). The WiFi protocols used can be 802.11 standard, although additional WiFi discovery routines may be implemented that provide additional security (e.g. based on the known IPSEC protocol for security/encryption and the known IKE technique for key management). The monitoring station 104 includes one or more processors and associated storage configured to control the operating of the monitoring system. These will typically be in the form of two or more rack mounted computers with loadsharing/failover so that if one fails then the system is not compromised. The "Sun Fire" range of servers sold by Sun Microsystems running a Unix operating system, e.g. Solaris and NetBSD, are suitable. The configuration of the server will be chosen according to various factors, e.g. expected capacity of the monitoring system.

In the example, the monitoring device 102C cannot communicate directly with the station 104 by means of its WiFi network link (e.g. it may be installed at a location that is too remote from the station). However, device 102C can communicate over the WiFi network with the other two monitoring devices I 02A, 1 02B, which can relay messages received from device I 02C to the station 104.

It will be understood that in larger versions of the monitoring system 100, this relaying principle can allow data to "hop"/be relayed from one particular monitoring device to the station 104 via several other monitoring devices.

The monitoring station 104 is shown as being in communication with a computer 106 that can be used for external communication and/or as an interface for controlling the monitoring system. The computer 106 may be located within the station 104, or may be remote from it. In other embodiments there can be several computers 106 (which may be at different locations) connected to the station 104. For example, computer 106 may be located in a home office of an agent/employee of the system provider. The monitoring station components communicate with the computer 106 by means of a second type of communications network (links illustrated schematically using the label N2). This second network is also used to communicate with the monitoring devices 102. In the example, the second network can include an Asynchronous or Synchronous DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) or PSTN that is used to connect

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the computer 106 to the internet 108. There can also be a link between the monitoring station 104 and the internet over the second network. The monitoring devices 102 are also connected to the internet via the second communications network, which allows communication between the devices 102 and the computer 106. It will be appreciated that more than two different networks could be used in some cases.

Figure 3 illustrates schematically an example of the steps that may be performed when a monitoring device is installed for use in the monitoring system. At step 302 the appropriate interface, radioIWiMAXIWiFi communications and non-volatile storage components are installed within the device 102. For example, the device may be connected to an appropriate component in an existing alarm system.

At step 304 the device is connected to the second network (e.g. Ethernet), and diagnostic/configuration and power up operations are performed.

At step 306 the processor 204 checks whether it is preconfigu red. If this question is answered in the affirmative then the installation procedure ends at step 308. If the question is answered in the negative then control passes to step 310. At step 310 the monitoring device is configured with identifiers relating to the site/location of the device, the default channel over which application will be made over the first communications network, an encrypted IP address and/or identifiers of the other monitoring devices with which the device being configured is to communicate.

At step 312 the interface component 202 is enabled to allow the monitoring device to communicate over the first communications network. The component that allows the monitoring device to communicate over the second communications network is also enabled at this step. The monitoring device may also monitor its connection status with the other monitoring devices with which it is configured to communicate over the first network. Thus, the monitoring device "learns" which other devices are to be monitored. At this point it is a passive member of the group of monitoring devices that monitor each other, until it is actively enabled on completion of testing as described below.

Whilst in the passive state it is able to generate alert signals, but these are tagged as being non-production and hence are not treated by the signal processor computer 106 in the same way as a signal sent by a fully activated monitoring device. If multiple WiFi cards are installed in a single monitoring device then each card will be configured for different WiFi channels, which could then be associated with a different group of monitoring devices. This means that it is possible to have a wire-free arrangement that relies upon the redundancy of the dual (or more) channels.

At step 314 a check is performed by the monitoring device as to whether the number of other monitoring devices that it can discover over the WiFi network is greater than a predetermined threshold, If this is the case then the new configuration/installation procedure terminates at step 316, otherwise a configuration error 318 is returned and the person performing the installation takes action accordingly, such as attempting to correct the data or save the configuration in order to re-try later, but without immediately activating the device.

An example of the operation of the system 100 is illustrated schematically in Figure 4. At step 402 the monitoring is initialised. At step 404 each of the monitoring devices connects to the monitoring station computer 106. For brevity, only the operation of one of the groups of monitoring devices will be described in detail, but it will be understood that further groups of monitoring devices configured within the system 100 can operate in a similar manner.

Upon connection to the monitoring computer 106 at step 404, checks are performed to see if any software updates are required (if so, the software of the monitoring device is updated). The monitoring computer 106 may also transmit a list defining a group of monitoring devices to each monitoring device. Further data, such as encryption keys for secure communications, may also be distributed to the monitoring devices at this step.

Step 406 designates the start of a loop of instructions executed by the system 100. The first of the these, step 408, involves each of the monitoring devices in the group monitoring for receipt of signals over the WiFi network (Ni) and land line network (N2) to which it is connected. Each monitoring device thus checks the status of the other devices in the group. For example, if the group is configured to transmit polling signals to each other then each device will monitor for the receipt of such signals at the expected interval. If any monitoring device does not receive the expected polling signal then it will detect an alert state and may transmit an alert signal over either or both of the WiFi and land line networks to the monitoring computer 106. The monitoring devices may also monitor the quality of communications over either or both of the networks and transmit a "low quality communications" signal to the monitoring computer 106 if the quality falls below a certain threshold, for example, if a monitoring device is in communications with fewer than four other monitoring devices.

Thus, both land line and WiFi-based networks can be used as multi-active channels, with the Mesh WiFi being the higher polling rate interface and the land line (e.g. ADSL link) being the lower. The Mesh WiFi can be run in IBSS mode, which does not require a central access point for communication but instead has an ad hoc connection between a number of peers in the local area (i.e. monitoring devices that have been grouped together) that are capable of cross-monitoring and relaying through other groups of monitoring devices to the monitoring station 104.

At step 410 the monitoring station 104 monitors for receipt of signals, such as alert or "low quality communications" signals from the monitoring devices 102. At step 412 the monitoring station takes action based on any signals it has received at step 410. For example, if a "low quality communications" signal is received then the action taken by monitoring station 104 may be to re-configure some of the monitoring devices (by using computer 106 to send appropriate instructions over the WiFi and/or land line networks) so that additional and/or alternative monitoring devices are added to the group to which the monitoring device that sent the signal belongs. Alternatively, the monitoring station 104 may attempt to connect directly to a monitoring device that appears to have failed (and identified as such in the "low quality communications" signal) to run diagnostics. If a monitoring device has failed then each other monitoring device in its group should send a signal to the monitoring station 104 and so the system provides multiple sources of alerts over a number of disparate routes. The signals received may be amalgamated by software executing on the processor of the monitoring station 104 (e.g. a JavaSpace environment). The monitoring station 104 may be configured to prioritise the signals, e.g. an alert signal from a monitoring device associated with a fire detector will be given higher priority than a "low quality communications" signal.

The action taken by the monitoring station 104 will depend upon the type of signal received. As discussed above, if a signal indicating that a communications component has failed is received then the monitoring station 104 may, at least initially, perform tests itself without requiring any operator interaction. Where an alert signal such as an intruder detector has been received, the monitoring station 104 may use the computer 106 to alert a human operator of the computer by means of an on-screen message and/or audible alert. That operator may then decide what action to take, e.g. use the computer 106 to send instructions to a remote-controlled camera at the suspect location to visually check for an intruder. Alternatively, the operator may attend the location himself, or dispatch security personnel. In some cases, staff at the monitoring station 104 act as key holders for a location/property. The monitoring station 104 includes a database covering all the monitoring devices and associated information, such as their location, detector type, etc, and this data can be used to identify the correct location.

The security personnel can be equipped with mobile communications devices, e.g. mobile telephone or PDA (labelled 110 in Figure 1), that allows communication with the monitoring computer 106 and/or its operator. Thus, the computer/operator can call or send an SMS message to the security personnel to notify them of the alert and provide associated information such as the location of the event. Further, the mobile device may be enabled to connect to the local Mesh WiFi network and be authenticated. The mobile device can then be used to display the status of the monitoring devices that are communication with it. The display may also include a graphical representation of the location where the monitoring devices are fitted. Further interaction between the mobile device and the monitoring devices may be provided (possibly after permission is granted via the monitoring computer 106/operator). For instance, the mobile * device may be able to transmit control signals to a monitoring device to switch off an alarm device associated with the monitoring device.

In some embodiments, one or more of the monitoring devices may be configured to send an alert signal directly to at least some of the other monitoring devices using as many communications channels as possible for safety. At least some of the monitoring devices receiving such a general alert signal may be configured to activate a local (or integrated) alarm device, e.g. siren or flashing light, that alerts personnel in the vicinity. The monitoring device sending such a general alert signal may first transfer it to the monitoring computer 106 so that it can be verified by that computer/operator before transmitting the signal to other monitoring devices.

The system described herein therefore uses multiple data paths to provide for reliable and redundant communication from monitoring devices to a control centre and also provides communication in the reverse direction, which can allow control and interrogation of the monitoring devices. The system can also provide a cost advantage as it uses existing communications components (which are often already purchased/installed for general use) and system data is transferred over existing networks that do not have to specifically charge for the data transfer. An opportunity is provided for the system providers to charge for use of the systems, but their running costs will tend to be low. Although the example described above shows three monitoring devices that are geographically close to each other, which could be useful, for instance, in monitoring a single building/location, it will be understood that the system can have wider application. For example, the system could be extended to cover multiple sites (with one or more monitoring station), or provide a regional/community-wide monitoring scheme. WiFi mesh networks utilised by the system can be extended by hopping between the monitoring devices so as to form a mesh network of devices that are able to ensure integrity of the link with the monitoring station. In other cases, a particular system may connect with another similar system to allow sharing of resources, e.g. where a regional alarm receiving centre is over-stretched, or to offer distributed monitoring, i.e. monitoring stations may be replicated.

Claims

1. A monitoring system including: a plurality of monitoring devices (102), and a monitor signal processor (104), wherein: each said monitoring device is configured to communicate with at least one other of the monitoring devices using a first communications network (NI), the first communications network being a mesh network, and each said monitoring device is configured to communicate with the monitor signal processor using the first communications network and a second communications network (N2), and where the monitoring devices are configured such that, if a first one of the monitoring devices detects an alert state in one of the other monitoring devices with which it is configured to communicate then the first monitoring device transfers an alert signal to the monitor signal processor using the first communications network and/or the second communications network.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the first communications network (Ni) comprises components that are not part of the second communications network (N2).

3. A system according to claim I or 2, wherein the monitor signal processor (104) communicates with at least some of the monitoring devices (102) using at . least one further communications network. S...

4. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the monitor signal processor (104) is configured, upon receipt of the alert signal, to further investigate the alert state, e.g. by attempting to communicate using the first and/or second communications network with at least one of the monitoring S...

* devices.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the monitor signal processor (104) communicates with the monitoring device for which an alert state was detected in order to perform the further investigation.

6. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a first said monitoring device (1 02A) is configured to communicate with a group of the other monitoring devices (102B, 102C).

7. A system according to claim 6, wherein each of the monitoring devices (102) is provided with a unique identifier and the group of monitoring devices includes a predefined set of said monitoring devices (102B, 102C).

8. A system according to any one of claims 6 to 7, wherein the monitoring devices (102) in the group are configured to exchange signals (e.g. polling signals) with each other at intervals.

9. A system according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the first monitoring device (102A) detects the alert state when it does not receive the polling signal from one of the other monitoring devices in the group.

10. A system according to any one of claims 6 to 9, the system being configured to monitor a quality of communications between the monitoring devices (102) over the first communication network (Ni), wherein if the system determines that the communications quality is unsatisfactory then the system is configured to add at least one further monitoring device to the group.

11. A system according to claim 10, wherein one of the monitoring devices (1 02A) in the group is responsible for obtaining information used to determine the communications quality.

12. A system according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein if a number of said alert signals received for the group is below a predefined threshold then the monitor signal processor (104) communicates with the monitoring device (102A) that sent the alert signal (e.g. instruct it to re-try communicating with the :.:::.25 monitoring device from which it did not receive the polling signal) before communicating with any other device.

13, A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first * communication network (NI) is implemented using a WIFi or W1MAX protocol *** (i.e. 802.11) and the second communications network (N2) includes wireless and/or wire-based components.

14. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, further including at least one detector (e.g. an audio and/or visual detector) in communication with the monitor signal processor (104) over the second communications network (N2).

15. A system according to claim 14, wherein the monitor signal processor (104) is configured to activate and receive signals from the detector upon receipt of the alert signal.

16. A system according to claim 15, wherein the monitor signal processor (104) includes a display device for displaying signals received from the detector to a user so that the user can determine what action to take based on the received signal.

17. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the monitor signal processor (104) transfers a message relating to the alert signal to a further device, e.g. a using SMS message to a mobile device such as a telephone or wireless handheld device; an email to a person associated with the monitoring device detected as being in the alert state and/or a telephone call to a person associated with the monitoring device detected as being in the alert state.

18. A system according to any one of the preceding claims, further including an audio and/or visual alarm at a location associated with the monitoring devices (102), with the monitor signal processor (104) activating the alarm upon receipt of the alert signal.

19. A monitoring method including: configuring each of a plurality of monitoring devices (102) to communicate with at least one other of the plurality of monitoring devices using a first *.S.

communications network (NI), the first communications network being a mesh network, and configuring each said monitoring device to communicate with a monitor signal processor (104) using the first communications network and a second communications network, wherein if a first one of the monitoring devices detects an alert state in one of the other monitoring devices with which it is configured to communicate then the first monitoring device transfers an alert signal to the monitor signal processor using the first communications network and/or the second communications network. U. * U * *.S *.*. * . U... * II * U U U... S.. S...

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