GB2508131A

GB2508131A - Remotely monitoring status information

Info

Publication number: GB2508131A
Application number: GB201217530A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Thomas Damian Jordan; Benjamin Thomas Copsey; Thomas Edward Holland
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-09-28
Filing date: 2012-09-28
Publication date: 2014-05-28
Also published as: GB201217530D0

Abstract

The monitoring of status information, such as weather data or parcel tracking, from a remote location is disclosed. A status establishing application is downloaded that is operable to identify a question and specify acceptable responses. The status establishing application also defines at least one originating equipment and establishes at least one receiving device. A status is generated and is viewed at the receiving device. Alternatively, a central database is located at a server, which acts as a single authority, can receive status information periodically generated by originating equipment. A receiving device can be used to query the database for the status of a variable and receive a status of the requested variable. The server may use an API to write status data received from the originating equipment to the database and read status data from the database in response to queries from receiving devices. Also disclosed is a server computer for developing status data platforms comprising storage for downloadable executable files to facilitate status platform development, a database for supporting developed status platforms and an interface for receiving input status data and providing output status data for operational status platforms. This allows used to develop their own status monitoring platforms.

Description

Monitoring Status Data

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application represents the first application for a patent directed towards the invention and the subject matter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a method of monitoring a status datum.

2. Description of the Related Art

It is known to monitor status information and to convey this information to operatives or members of the public. Thus, the status information may relate to a mechanical process and may raise alarms if problems occur. Given the nature of processes of this type, the cost and effort in terms of monitoring and conveying this data can be justified and sophisticated solutions deployed.

In recent years advances in communications and in particular in mobile communications have facilitated the development of platforms for providing status information to casual browsers, that is to say, members of the genera! public. Thus, increasingly, as an alternative to making telephone enquiries etc1 users increasingly expect information to be available via a computer or, increasingly, computer enabled mobile devices, such as smart phones and touch tablets etc. Again, in order for this information to be made available, an infrastructure must be established and measures taken to ensure that the system is maintained and the status information regularly updated.

Consequently, large commercial organisations can again justify the cost of providing systems of this type, However, it has become appreciated that greater use may be made of this approach if users could themselves, with modest technical involvement, develop systems for the deployment of status information.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of monitoring a status datum as set out in claim 1.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a server computer for developing status data platforms, as set out in claim II.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a mobile device configured to perform steps as set out in claim 19.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 shows an environment for monitoring status data; Figure 2 shows a method of monitoring a status datum within the environment of Figure 1; Figure 3 details a process for the creation of a monitoring platform; and Figure 4a and Figure 4b show displays on a mobile device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

Figure 1 An environment for monitoring status data is iflustrated in Figure 1. The environment includes a server computer 101 for developing and implementing status data platfoims. As used herein, a status data platform comprises one or more data creation entities and one or more status display entities, each communicating with the server computer 101.

In the examples shown in Figure 1, a first status platform has a data input source 102, a first data input source 103, a second data input source 104 and a third data input source 105. Data input sources 102 -105 communicate with and provide status information to server computer 101. The first status platform also includes a first data receiving device 106, a second data receiving device 107 and a third data receiving device 108.

Each data input source 102 to 105 generates a specific datum which may be interrogated by any of data receiving devices 106 to 108. The platform is supported by the server computer 101, which also supports other independent status platforms.

Thus, in the example of Figure 1, a second status platform is illustrated consisting of a first data input source 121, a second data input source 122, a third data input source 123 and a fourth data input source 124. Data from data input sources 121 to 124 may be interrogated by any of data receiving devices that comprise a first data receiving device 125, a second data receiving device 126 and a third data receiving device 127.

The server computer 101 is configured for developing and implementing status data platforms. The server computer includes a processing device 128 that communicates with a first storage device 129 and a second storage device 130. The first storage device 129 is for storing downloadable executable files to facilitate status platform development. A second storage device 130 stores a database system for supporting developed status platforms. Furthermore, an interface device 131 receives input status data and provides output status data for operational status platforms.

In an embodiment, the executable files are downloaded to a desktop computer for execution thereon for the development of the status platform.

Alternatively, the executable files may be downloaded to a mobile device for execution on a said mobile device such that the status platform development process may be performed entirely within the mobile device environment.

In the environment shown in Figure 1, there are provided independent development status platforms. Thus, in this example, the platform including devices 102 to 108 is totally independent from the platform that includes devices 121 to 127. However, in alternative platforms, the number of receiving devices may be effectively unrestricted in that the data may be made available to any user wishing to access this information. Thus, in a particular deployment, the data made be made available to selected individuals, the data may be made available to any individual satisfying a certain criterion, such as being a member of a club etc. or the data may be made available to anyone.

For some platforms, the input data may be available from a single source and this data could be transferred to a single recipient. However, as illustrated in the Figure, the input data may be received from a plurality of data input sources, such as sources 102 to 105. Similarly, the output data may be received by a plurality of restricted or unrestricted data receiving devices, such as devices 106 to 108.

The status platform may include a plurality of data status entities.

Furthermore, each of these entities may have a data type selected from a plurality of possible data types identified during status platform development.

In an embodiment, the database (supported by storage device 103) is capable of storing different types of data and in an embodiment connection is provided by the internet. Different types of devices may communicate with the database via an application program interface and these non-exclusively include desktop computers, laptop computers, mobile tablet computers and mobile cellular telephones. The environment allows users to track events that are happening and to identify current status values. The platform provides systems that are similar to those making enquiries as to the availability of a train for example, However, the environment is configured such that anyone can start building applications to store and track data, particularly in situations that previously would not have been viable.

The provision of the database appears to a user as being in the cloud' and from this a status is identified, along with a possibility of making an update to the status. A status includes questions, such as "What is the temperature in a particular city" How many people are on a specified platform" "How full is a particular restaurant". An update is an answer to a question of this type and it may represent an answer at a particular point in time.

As previously stated, the data stored within the database is of a structural nature and does not merely represent free text. Furthermore, this structural data could be made available to everyone, a community such as a club or a corporation etc. or just to selected individuals.

is During the establishment of the environment, a Developer may identify the data as being public or private. Thus, for example, an educational institution could distribute data identifying the availability of buildings, while restricting who can actually have access to this data; such as a list of people who have access to the buildings being considered. Thus, given the ease with which the platform may be established, the quality of the data may be extremely low and of relatively little value. However, the data may be of significant value to particular users at particular points in time; identifying, for example, the availability of seats within a library.

For more sensitive data types, it may be possible for a platform to allow a user to validate that they are a member of a particular group and then allow a subscription to be accepted. At another extreme, a one to one relationship may exist. Thus, for example, the data may represent a heartbeat status, being a positive affirmation to the effect that a person under card is comfortable, such that this information may be interrogated by a carer who may, temporarily, be outside the vicinity of the person under care.

The above situation may be extended to a compliance requirement.

Thus1 for example, a tele-worker may be required to read a disclaimer to customers. Tele-worker could then confirm that the disclaimer has been given.

Thus, by this simple action, an audit trail would be created.

In an embodiment, a status is considered to be one piece of data, being one data point or datum. When created, a decision is made as to the type of data that will be represented. Thus, the data may be a temperature, an amount in a particular currency, a picture, a GPS location or, in many applications, an indication as to whether the status is positive or negative.

Figure 2 A method of monitoring a status datum is illustrated in Figure 2. At, step 201 a monitoring platform is created, such as the platform comprising input devices 102 to 105 and data receiving devices 106 to 108 for example.

However, at step 201 only the nature or definition of the platform exists and this resides within the server computer 101.

At step 202, appropriate instructions are distributed to the devices within the platform. Thus, devices 102 to 105 receive instructions to the effect that they are data input sources, with devices 106 to 108 receiving instructions to the effect that they are data receiving devices.

At step 203 online operation is initiated and input statuses are received.

Thus, for example, data input source 102 may receive information to the effect that its status is now positive (having previously being negative) and this change of status is conveyed to the database within the server computer 101.

At step 204 output data statuses are transmitted. Thus, at a later point in time, a user using data receiving device 103 may wish to make an enquiry in relation to the environment present at data input source 102. Using locally executing files, an enquiry is made to the database within server computer 101 that in turn returns the positive value for the data element generated by data input source 102.

Figure 3 Process 201 for the creation of the monitoring platform is detailed in Figure 3. At step 301, an application is downloaded from storage device 129 of the server computer 101. The downloaded application is executed and as such it allows the identification of a question, the specification of acceptable responses, defines at least one originating equipment and establishes at least one receiving device. Thus, at step 302 the application is executed and at step 303 question details are received. At step 304 possible responses are received whereafter at step 305 the defined platform is uploaded to the server computer 101.

When operating the status platform, as previously described with respect to steps 203 and 204, a first status datum is generated at least at one originating equipment, such as data input source 102. Furthermore, the first status datum is viewed at the at least one receiving device, such as data receiving device 106.

The uploaded status data, in an embodiment, is supplied to and is retained by the database held on storage device 130. Furthermore, in an embodiment, the database is configured to retain historical status data, thereby allowing an audit trial to be conducted or statistical analysis to be performed upon the historical data.

B

In an embodiment, the status datum represents a binary event such as for example, whether a particular venue is open or closed. This may be generalised to specifying whether an attribute is positive or negative. In an embodiment, the binary event may refer to an ability for obtaining human access, to a corporate building, venue or learning facility for example.

It is also possible for the status data to have a timeout period, thereby requiring repeated generation at the originating equipment. In an embodiment, it is possible for an alan-n signal to be generated if the status datum has not been generated. In an embodiment, it is also possible for the status datum to include time stamp data.

Thus, during the creation of the monitoring platform, the type of data that any update to the status may represent will be defined. Furthermore, having collected data at various points of time, it is possible for the data to be analysed. Large organisations often perform analysis of this type but for smaller organisations the provision of the appropriate technology may be difficult to justify. However, given the invention set out herein, a relatively small business could deploy the system in a bottom up fashion such that the data is easily collected, whereafter trends may be considered in order to facilitate and enhance further innovation. Thus, an advantage of this embodiment is that it I not necessary to decide upon any particular objectives, while providing an immediate and relatively easy solution.

Data receiving devices may be fixed devices such as desktop computers, However, it is likely that many of the deployments will use predominantly mobile devices. Mobile devices may also provide data input sources and much of the data may be collected while the data collector is actually doing something else.

Smart phones and other network enabled mobile devices are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Many devices of this type are provided with technology for identifying their actual location. Thus, a courier for example, could initiate a small system which could then grow over a period of time without there being a requirement to build a large system from the onset. The platform itself could be initiated by execution of the application upon a mobile phone and then all couriers could be added to the platform. At a base station, a manager could be provided with a dashboard in which the status of all operatives could be presented, allowing tracking procedures to be implemented. Thus, it would be possible to see where couriers are available and where packages are that require transit.

It is also proposed that third parties could integrate platforms within their own systems. It would be possible, for example, for something to be ordered and then a subscription made to a temporary identification, thereby allowing a user to track the whereabouts of an item, The subscription would then effectively terminate when the item is received, Data relating to travel could be received and use could be made of data feeds provided by organisations. A system could also be used to assist organisations of this type. In known environments it is necessary to write specific applications in order to communicate with application program interfaces. In an embodiment, a standard application program interface is provided, such that there is a standard way to obtain the information required. Thus, a source could maintain its own system but an embodiment of the present invention would be available to provide a further interface for a user.

Figure 4A and Figure 4B A mobile device, such as a mobile cellular telephone 401 is shown in Figure 4A, The mobile cellular device may receive an executable file from a 1O server computer, such as server computer 101. The executable file is executed to present a development system. A status platform environment may be developed, using the development system in response to user input.

The status platform environment is then deployed to a plurality of users. In use1 the mobile device 401 includes an interface to a server based database to facilitate operations performed within a deployed status platform environment.

In use, a first screen 402 presents a plurality of icons, including icon 403 and icon 404. Manual selection of an icon, such as icon 404, configures the mobile cellular telephone to operate as a data receiving device, as shown in Figure 48, Thus, after activation of icon 404, the mobile cellular telephone 401 displays a status report, identified as such, at 404. This identifies a particular datum 405, along with its status, at 406. In the examples shown in Figure 46, the status is identified as being positive".

Claims

Claims What we claim is: 1. A method of monitoring a status datum, comprising the steps of: downloading and executing a status establishing application that identifies a question, specifies acceptable responses, defines at least one Qriginating equipment and establishes at least one receiving device; generating a first status datum at said at least one originating equipment; and io viewing said first status datum at said at least one receiving device.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein generated status data is retained in a database.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein said database retains historical status data.
4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of analysing said historical status data.
5. The method of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said status datum represents a binary event.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein said binary event refers to an ability to obtain human access.
7. The method of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said status data has a time-out period, requiring repeated generation at said originating equipment.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein a failure to generate a status datum within said time-out period results in the generation of an alarm signal.
9. The method of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said status datum also includes time-stamp data.
10. The method of any of claims Ito 4, wherein said status data also includes geographical positional data.
I 1. A server computer for developing status data platforms, comprising: a storage device for storing downloadable executable files to facilitate status platform development; a database system for supporting developed status platforms; and an interface device for receiving input status data and providing output status data for operational status platforms.
12. The server computer of claim 11 wherein said executable files are downloaded to a desktop computer for execution thereon for said status platform development.
13. The server computer of claim 11, wherein said executable files are downloaded to a mobile device for execution thereon for said status platform development.
14. The server computer of any of claims 11 to 13, configured to support a plurality of independent development status platforms.
15. The server computer of any of claims 11 to 14, wherein input data is received from a plurality of data input sources.
16. The server computer of any of claims 11 to 15, wherein output data is received by a plurality of restricted or un-restricted mobile devices.
17. The server computer of any of claims 11 to 16, wherein a status platform includes a plurality of data status entities.
18. The server computer of claim 17, wherein each said data status entities has a data type selected from a plurality of possible data types identified during said status platform development.
19. A mobile device configured to perform the steps of: receiving an executable file from a server computer; executing said executable file to present a development system; develop a status platform environment using said devetopment system in response to user input; and deploy said status platform environment to a plurality of users.
20. The mobile device of claim 19, including an interface to a server-based database to facilitate operations performed within a deployed status platform environment.Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims What we claim is: 1. A system specifically adapted to collect status data from originating equipment to allow questions from receiving devices to be responded to by a single authority, the system including a server computer, at least one originating equipment and at least one receiving device, each of which is interconnected by means of a telecommunications network, and in which: the server computer is configured to maintain, in a storage device, a database which is writable via a first API by the at least one originating equipment, and queryable via a second API by the at least one receiving device; the at least one originating equipment is configured to monitor the status of a variable and to periodically generate a status datum representing said status, and to upload and write said status datum to said database via the telecommunications network; the at least one receiving device is configured to, in response to user input, request said status of said variable by querying said database at the sever computer via the telecommunications network, and receive a response specifying said status of said variable to present to a user. 0**e* * .2. The system of claim 1, wherein said database retains historical status data.***... * *3. The system of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein said status datum represents a binary event.4. The system of claim 3, wherein said binary event refers to an ability to obtain human access.5. The system of any of claims 1 to 4, wherein said status datum also includes time-stamp data.6. The system of any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said status data also includes geographical positional data.7. A method of monitoring a status datum, comprising the steps of: downloading and executing a status establishing application that identifies a question, specifies acceptable responses, defines at least one originating equipment and establishes at least one receiving device; generating a first status datum at said at least one originating equipment; and viewing said first status datum at said at least one receiving device.8. The method of claim 7, wherein generated status data is retained in a database. S. * . S * .9. The method of claim 8, wherein said database retains historical status data. ** * * * S * ******.* * 25 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of analysing *:*. said historical status data. * S*11. The method of any of claims 7 to 10, wherein said status datum represents a binary event.12. The method of claim 11, wherein said binary event refers to an ability to obtain human access.13. The method of any of claims 7 to 22, wherein said status data has a time-out period, requiring repeated generation at said originating equipment.14. The method of claim 13, wherein a failure to generate a status datum within said time-out period results in the generation of an alarm signal.15. The method of any of claims 7 to 10, wherein said status datum also includes time-stamp data.16. The method of any of claims 7 to 10, wherein said status data also includes geographical positional data.17. A server computer for developing status data platforms, comprising: * . a storage device for storing downloadable executable files to facilitate status platform development; a database system for supporting developed status platforms; and * 25 an interface device for receiving input status data and providing output status data for operational status platforms. *18. The server computer of claim 17, wherein said executable files are downloaded to a desktop computer for execution thereon for said status platform development.19. The server computer of claim 17, wherein said executable files are downloaded to a mobile device for execution thereon for said status platform development.20. The server computer of any of claims 17 to 19, configured to support a plurality of independent development status platforms.
21. The server computer of any of claims 17 to 20, wherein input data is received from a plurality of data input sources.
22. The server computer of any of claims 17 to 21, wherein output data is received by a plurality of restricted or un-restricted mobile devices.
23. The server computer of any of claims 17 to 22, wherein a status platform includes a plurality of data status entities.
24. The server computer of claim 23, wherein each said data status entities has a data type selected from a plurality of possible data types 0*O identified during said status platform development.* 25
25. A mobile device configured to perform the steps of: receiving an executable file from a server computer; * S. executing said executable file to present a development system; develop a status platform environment using said development system in response to user input; and deploy said status platform environment to a plurality of users.
26. The mobile device of claim 26, including an interface to a server-based database to facilitate operations performed within a deployed status platform environment. I.. * S. * * .S..... * I * S * .. * S.III.... * * *I * * II * S. * IS