Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08C—TRANSMISSION SYSTEMS FOR MEASURED VALUES, CONTROL OR SIMILAR SIGNALS
  • G08C17/00—Arrangements for transmitting signals characterised by the use of a wireless electrical link

Definitions

• This invention relates to a sensor, system and a method for monitoring an environment and for comparing sensed information with reference data.
• the monitoring allows the detection and possible analysis of one ox- more, typically undesirable, chemical substances in an environment; the monitoring of process parameters; the monitoring of human and/or animal conditions; the detection of explosive and/or flammable materials; and the monitoring of edible products.
• the invention also relates to sensing means, a communication device, a reference database and a web site for performing the method.
• the monitoring of an industrial environment may also be required, for example, to the presence, absence or build up of, for example, simpler compounds such as Oxygen, 0 2 , Carbon Monoxide, CO, Carbon Dioxide (C0 2 ) , Ozone (0 3 ) in manufacturing processes, and the leakage of raw materials, process fluids or gases, from by-products, intermediate products in factories, warehouse and refineries.
• simpler compounds such as Oxygen, 0 2 , Carbon Monoxide, CO, Carbon Dioxide (C0 2 ) , Ozone (0 3 ) in manufacturing processes, and the leakage of raw materials, process fluids or gases, from by-products, intermediate products in factories, warehouse and refineries.
• US-A-5 , 356 , 594 describes a portable volatile organic compound monitoring system in which a gas is drawn into an analysis chamber and then ionized. A sensor responsive to ionized gases produces an output signal, which is then matched in the portable system to characteristic data stored in the device. An output is produced indicative of a volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration measured in the vicinity of the device.
• VOC volatile organic compound
• MOS Metal Oxide Semiconductor
• MOSFET metal- oxide-semiconductor-field-effect-transistors
• Another known sensor is described in WO 99/08105 and comprises a plurality of sensor elements arranged in a sensor array and each comprising different combinations of semiconducting, insulating, capacitive and inductive materials.
• the individual sensor elements of the sensor array react with chemical substances in a gas or liquid sample to produce an electrical signal which may be compared with stored signal samples for detecting and identifying a chemical substance. Differences with respect, for example, to time in signals between other, typically nearby, sensor elements may be used to determine concentration of a detected substance.
• the sensor array output signal may be matched to data stored in a part of the electronic circuit associated with the sensor array circuits .
• This type of technology is sometimes called an electronic nose as it is often compared to mechanisms present in a nose or other olfactory organ.
• sensors may also be used to detect substances that indicate a health problem or other physiological condition of a person.
• an abstract for DE-A-29902593 discloses a semiconductor based gas analysis apparatus, which can be used to detect ammonia in a breath sample for diagnosing an infection with helicobacter pylori.
• the signal pattern is compared with an ammonia pattern in the database to diagnose any infection with helicobacter pylori.
• hydrogen is detected in a breath sample the signal pattern is compared with a stored known pattern for hydrogen in the database so facilitating a diagnosis of an intolerance to lactose.
• US-A-5, 96, 700 discloses an optical sensor in which optical waveguides, typically based on optical fibres, capture a light signal emitted from icrobial substances stained with non-specific dyes . The light signal is primarily assessed dependent on fluorescent light in the signal. Rapid sample analysis times are described.
• US-A-5 , 809 , 185 describes a method of detecting microorganisms in which a waveguide coated with a fluorescent coating contacts a microbial sample. A shift in a light signal transmitted through the waveguide depending on fluorescence due to microbial presence is measured.
• the system is shown in Figure 1 and comprises the gas sensor array
• the notebook computer is used to read out the sensor outputs from the sensor array P2 and train the optimum connection weights among three layers of the artificial neural network.
• the artificial neural network can be implemented as a computer program on the notebook computer as a computer program.
• the optimised connection weights for the neural network are then sent for storage in the EEPROM chip via the RS232 cable P8. Once the optimised weights are stored in the EEPROM, that system can identify up to 26 gases gas species and concentrations, for example from car exhaust gases, without being connected to the computer notebook P9.
• the portable nose arrangement shown in Figure 1 has a limited capacity for the number and scale of patterns for matching that may be stored and or processed in order to match a chemical substance. Moreover, the arrangement only describes how to analyse a small set of chemical substances.
• An application WO 0052444 entitled “Apparatus, systems and methods for detecting and transmitting sensory data over a computer network” discloses a portable gas sensor arranged with an analog- to-digital converter and describes certain means to transmit a digital signal over a computer network, including networks such as the Internet, for analysis at a remote location.
• a handheld apparatus includes a housing, a sensor means, a processing device configured to identify or quantify analytes within a test sample based on a particular response, and a communication interface coupled to the processing device and configured to communicate with a computer network.
• the aim of the present invention is to solve one or more of the above problems . It is also an aim of the invention to enable sensed information of a monitored environment to be compared or matched with reference information at a remote location.
• a sensor means as claimed in the ensuing claim 1, a system according to the ensuing claim 44, a method according to the ensuing claim 59, a computer data signal according to the ensuing claim 92, and a computer program product according to the ensuing claim 94.
• the invention enables sensed information about a monitored environment to be compared with reference data at a remote location, for example, a database.
• the communication means such as a mobile telephone, is able to transmit the sensed information to the remote location for analysis with the reference data.
• a particular advantage provided by the invention is that it provides an easily available and economic system for extensive and sophisticated identification and quantification of aspects of an environment.
• the system provides for processing and matching of signals dependent on locally sensed information with reference information stored at a remote location.
• the reference information may be stored in a database containing a virtually unlimited number of signal patterns and other signal information data.
• the sensor unit may be arranged as a small, simple, lightweight and inexpensive device that may be used in a immense variety of contexts to obtain sophisticated and important results or information.
• the invention may be applied to monitor many different environments.
• the invention may be used to identify chemical substances and to measure the amount of such identified chemical substances present in a particular environment; to identify an occurrence and characteristics of an optical signal; to detect odours in process control or the production, processing or development of products such as foods and cosmetics; to monitor environments hostile to humans and/or animals, for example dogs; and to monitor economically and automatically known or predictable substances in factories, manufacturing process, oil refineries, oil and gas pipelines, and so on.
• the invention can be used, for example, by process technicians, security personnel, firemen or police patrolling or visiting a site, plant, complex or building. Equally the invention enables a member of the public to measure an environmental parameter in a home, in a public place and so on.
• the invention also has medical applications as it may be used to monitor and detect in the atmosphere chemicals such as pollutants, and substances causing sickness or injury. Additionally the human body may be monitored by means for example of breath or other samples, to detect ingestion of harmful substances, drugs and the like.
• Another advantage in use is that use of one or more remote reference databases permits a signal, which may potentially be sent from or come from anywhere in the world, including the atmosphere or in space, to be matched with an almost limitless and expandable "library” of reference information.
• a reference “library” may also be updated over time following development of newer sensor technologies, new substances or sensor measurements of interest and new methods of forming or generating patterns and matching or identifying those patterns, newer programming algorithms, newer computer technologies.
• a plurality of differently located sensor units may use a common database, and that a plurality of sensor units owned and operated by different owners or operators may also use a common database.
• FIGURE 1 is a schematic diagram of a portable electronic nose system according to the Prior Art
• FIGURE 2 is a schematic diagram showing schematically one embodiment of a system according to the invention for monitoring an environment
• FIGURE 3 is a block diagram showing schematically a sensor unit of the system shown in FIGURE 2;
• FIGURE 4 is a block diagram of a reference database for use the system shown in FIGURE 2;
• FIGURE 5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of detecting and identifying a chemical substance using the system of FIGURE 2;
• FIGURE 6 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of a system according to the invention based on the use of a network or intranet for detecting chemical substances;
• FIGURE 7 is a schematic diagram of a further embodiment of a system according to the invention for detection of chemical substances using a short range wireless communication technique
• FIGURE 8 is a schematic diagram of a reference database according to another embodiment of the invention.
• FIGURE 9 is a schematic block diagram of a sensor unit according to a further embodiment of the invention.
• FIGURE 10 is a schematic block diagram of a data structure of a data signal or data file communicated in and/or by a system according to the invention.
• FIGURE 11 is a schematic diagram of a sensor unit connected to a communication device according to an embodiment of the invention.
• FIGURE 12 is a schematic diagram of a sensor unit connected to a communication device according to another embodiment of the inventio .
• FIGURE 13 is a schematic diagram of a sensor unit connected wirelessly to a communication device according to another embodiment of the invention.
• the invention will initially be described in respect of a sensor arranged with a telephone or mobile telephone for communication with a monitoring system for detecting the occurrence and concentration of a chemical substance in an environment.
• a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in Figure 2.
• the system comprises a sensor unit 1 incorporated in a portable device such as a telephone (hereinafter referred to as a "mobile phone") 10.
• the mobile phone is configured for access to a telephone network via a base station 12 and is connectable to a network 15, such as the Internet.
• a data connection means 16 also connects the Internet 15 to a computer 17 which is able to access a reference database 20.
• a sensor means in the sensor unit 1 generates an electrical sensed signal.
• the sensor unit 1 sends the sensed signal to a suitable data input feature of the mobile telephone 10.
• the signal received at the mobile phone may be further processed to associate additional identity information, optionally comprising one or more of -the sensor type,
• the sensor unit 1 includes sensor means such as a sensor array 2 which is connected so as to supply sensed signals to an amplifier and signal processor 3.
• the sensor array 2 has an identifying data, such as a number, character string or combination thereof, which identifies the sensor array. This identity data is stored in a memory means, for example a permanent memory means , such as a ROM chip 4.
• the signal processor 3 is connected to a computer or microprocessor 5 having an interface means such as an Input/Output (I/O) unit 6.
• I/O Input/Output
• FIG 4 illustrates in more detail the remotely located part of the monitoring system shown in Figure 2 which incorporates the reference database 20.
• a signal transmitted from the mobile phone 10 is received at the previously described computer 17.
• This received signal contains information representative of the environment being monitored together with, for example, information identifying the sensor unit (which may be one of many different sensor units associated with the system) .
• the computer 17 interfaces with an interface 18 for the reference database.
• a user is identified by matching at least one of the sensor identifiers, identifiers such: as communication unit identity; incoming phone number; incoming address; incoming Internet Protocol (IP) address; with data stored in a database 26 containing user contract details and configured for access by the interface 18.
• IP Internet Protocol
• the signal may be treated in a process according to a Principal Component Analysis or other statistical technique to form patterns representing characteristics of different constituents, concentrations or both, of one or more chemical substances occurring. If the signal does not require such processing it is sent directly to a matching device 19.
• the matching process is performed by comparing the pattern of information in the incoming electrical signal with patterns stored in the reference database 20. The result of the comparison, whether resulting in a positive or negative identification, is sent by device 22 to a pre-determined destination in a predetermined format.
• the pre-determined details are retrieved, for example, from the user contract details in database 26. Formats such as such as WAP, SMS, fax, voice call, pager or beepei" display or signal, e-mail etc may be so pre-determined.
• the data transmission function of computer 17 to transmit an incoming communication to and from the remote reference database may alternatively be carried out by another hardware means such as a network node, a hub, router, network card or the like.
• This alternative arrangement is available in particular when the reference database is arranged with computer means and server means that may carry out the interface, processing, matching etc. functions described.
• the sensor signal processed and associated with sensor identity means is sent via a mobile telephone network to a computer 17 or equivalent network node.
• the computer may be reached via a closed local network such as a Local Area network (LAN) , a closed global network or intranet, or via an open global network such as the Internet 15.
• the signal is received by the computer 17 and processed by a computer program means to express the information contained as a data pattern of one sort or another, further described below, which data pattern is compared to stored samples of data patterns from signals representing chemical substances which are arranged for that purpose in the remote reference database 20.
• the result of the comparison is returned to the computer 17, and the computer then sends the result to a pre-determined destination for reporting. In this way the chemical substance and concentration is identified and reported.
• the result is returned to the originating mobile phone 10 where the result may, for example, be displayed on a graphic display 11 of the phone.
• the result may be returned during the duration of a single telephone call or, as a measurement that is taken and reported in real time if not simultaneously.
• the result may be delivered by sending a message to the originating mobile telephone at a subsequent time.
• the identity of the sensor unit 1 and communications means or mobile phone 10 that has contacted the reference database 20 is recorded in a storage unit, such as the user contract details database 26 shown in Figures 4, 8, associated with the reference database.
• a storage unit such as the user contract details database 26 shown in Figures 4, 8, associated with the reference database.
• the billing information may be very detailed because the incoming signal is accompanied by data identifying the sensor unit .
• PSTN Public Switched Telephone Network
• PLMN public land mobile network
• Examples of cellular radio telecommunications systems includes standards such as Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) , or various GSM based systems such as General Packet Radio Service (GPRS) , American Mobile Phone System (AMPS) , Digital AMPS (DAMPS) , Wideband Code Division Mutliple Access (CDMA) in Univeral Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) , IMT 2000 and so on.
• GSM Global System for Mobile communications
• GPRS General Packet Radio Service
• AMPS American Mobile Phone System
• DAMPS Digital AMPS
• CDMA Wideband Code Division Mutliple Access
• UMTS Univeral Mobile Telecommunications System
• satellite phones such as those used with services provided such as Iridium LLC (Trade Mark) , Inmarsat (Trade Mark) , Inmarsat 1-4, ICO Teledesic and ICO Global Communications, and Loral Space & Communication's system Globalstar (Trade Mark) .
• the details used for billing purposes by the monitoring system according to the invention may include any of:
• a method of monitoring according to the invention is illustrated as a flow chart in Figure 5. To facilitate description the steps 400 to 411 will be described in order.
• an environment is sensed and a decision is made at 401 as to whether the sensed signal has sensed a particular substance.
• This may be a non-automatic, human decision, a semi-automatic decision involving an operator confirmation or similar, or an automatic decision dependent on time, temperature or similar, or a measurement value.
• a sent signal is associated with the identity of the sensor in step 403 by retrieving the sensor unit identity from a memory means such as item 4, shown in Figure 3.
• the associated signal and identity means is sent at step 404 by an interface means to the remote reference database. It is sent via a communication means such as the mobile phone 10, over network means such as Internet 15, Figure 2, to the reference database.
• an interface identified by reference numeral 18 in other figures, receives the incoming signal and directs it further.
• the identity means in the incoming signal is compared to user contract details in a user contract details database 26 (see Figures 4 and 8) .
• the incoming transmission of signal information from the sensor unit may optionally be further processed in signal processing step 407 to convert it to a signal containing a pattern of information for recognition. If the signal does not require such processing it is sent directly to a comparison process in step 408.
• the signal comparison process is then carried out in step 408, comparing the information contained in the incoming signal with data patterns or algorithms stored in reference database 20.
• a positive comparison result is prepared in step 409, and, if so required according to user contract details, a comparison resulting in a negative match result, such as "Radon tested for and not found" may also be prepared for sending.
• information is also be passed to a billing system for recording transactions and generating invoices for those contracts that are billed dependent on each access for a match.
• the match result is sent.
• a confirmation of receipt may be recorded at 411.
• a User History database 25 is additionally arranged configured with the remote reference database.
• a calling and user history is maintained for those environment monitoring systems registered with the database in question that require that information to be sto ⁇ -ed.
• This user history enables subsequent calls to be processed optimally, as the computer programs, computer program products and software in an interface 18 to the reference database routing the signal and setting up the comparison process can optimise a comparison process. This is achieved by, for example, selecting from among positive results found from the calling environment monitoring system's history the same types of pattern and trying those first in a series of comparisons.
• An artificial neural network learning may be typically applied to recognising and matching patterns derived from chemical substances. More successful comparison processes for sensor signals in general and also for signals concerning particular substances in particular may be identified by this method to improve speed of response and accuracy.
• the data is made available for statistical analysis and/or data mining by the reference database owner or operator in order to, for example, provide statistics and trends, improve effectiveness or provide value-added services .
• filtration schemes and matching schemes are available for use in a remote reference database of the system according to the invention.
• a software application based on neural network mechanisms and logic may be used to classify signals representing different substances.
• An example of a method for analysis and neural network training is described in an article "Electronic Noses and their Applications in Environmental Monitoring", S. Hashem, P.E. Keller, L.J. Kangas , pp 74-81 Proceedings of the 1995 Workshop on Environmental and Energy Applications of Neural Networks.
• the article describes the use of artificial neural networks to analyse real-time data from a sensor array based on commercially available Taguchi-type gas sensors.
• Another suitable pattern recognition scheme is described in and article entitled “Picture the Smell", I.
• the reference database 20 is accessible over the Internet 15 or over a network such as a LAN or an intranet.
• a dedicated web site for one or more reference databases may be established according to the known art of providing web sites. In most cases the web site will include access and log-in processes suited to different types of users and to users carrying out different tasks. Log-in procedures and means to provide them are well known to those skilled in the art of providing web sites.
• a first type of log-in is provided so that the system owner or operator can select and specify technical requirements, matching schemes, reporting destinations and requirements, reporting format, reporting media, normal and exception reporting measures, contract type and billing details.
• Subsequent log-ins by the owner or operator may be processed to give access to environment monitoring system access history or summarised or in some other way value-added reports provided by the reference database owner or operator. Additionally subsequent log-ins may also be used by an operator or owner of an environment monitoring system to update or alter configuration aspects such as reporting requirements, dial-up phone number etc..
• a second type of log-in is provided for access by an environment monitoring system to the reference database for submitting a signal from a sensor and starting the process to compare information from the sensed signal and identify a chemical substance or other pax ⁇ ameter measured from the environment.
• the signal information generated by the sensor and the sensor identifying information are sent via a communication means such as a mobile phone in any of a plurality of different formats.
• a Short Message Service (SMS) phone call is one such preferred format for a signal for which a report is not needed in real time and typically has a lesser data content.
• SMS Short Message Service
• Other services are available using for example Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) or WAP 2.0 adapted phones, I-Mode system phones, satellite phones, any of which may equally be used to communicate the sensor signal and monitoring system identifiers in a short message or as a digital file to a remote reference database.
• WAP Wireless Application Protocol
• WAP 2.0 adapted phones I-Mode system phones
• satellite phones any of which may equally be used to communicate the sensor signal and monitoring system identifiers in a short message or as a digital file to a remote reference database.
• I-Mode service which originated in Japan, is designed for access by a wireless packet network, a packet switched network, and as such may be more "Internet friendly" than WAP and may be more suited to the co ing generation, "third" generation or 3G mobile phones and associated services.
• WAP which is becoming widely available in North America and Europe works over circuit- and packet-switched networks — including GSM, code- or time-division multiple access. WAP relies not on Transmission Control
• -and optionally sensor identity data arranged in a format or written to a file that suits a particular communication means .
• Standard Generalised Markup Language SGML
• HTML Hyper Text Markup Language
• XML extended Markup Language
• XSL Extended Stylesheet Language
• DOM Document Object Model
• WML Wireless Markup Language
• WAP telephone is a derivative of XML.
• the reference database is conveniently accessed over the Internet via a web site provided for that purpose.
• An accessing environment monitoring system may be logged- in in a number of alternative ways as described above.
• the web site computer software which comprises a form of interface to the reference database and matching process is implementable at least in part by means of Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) code, Java (Trade Mark) type programming or scripting, using XML enabled pages and the like with open standard web browser and TCP/IP techniques .
• HTML Hypertext Markup Language
• Java Trade Mark
• the contents and reporting routines for an attempt to compare and or match a signal information from an environment monitoring system are either included in instructions accompanying the incoming signal or predetermined by a contract between the owner or operator of the parameter measurement system and the owner or operator of the reference database being accessed.
• Such contract details are conveniently stored in the database 26 (see Figure 4) , configured fox" retrieval of individual environment monitoring system contract details such as matching schemes, reporting requirements when a sensor signal is first received at the reference database 20 or interface 18 to the reference database. If no contract has been established then an accessing user may use software means in the web site to register via the web site and to begin a contractual relationship.
• the report for a match result for a chemical substance is sent to the predetermined destination where it may be
• -displayed on the originating phone display -sent as an SMS message to the originating phone, -sent as a voice message to the originating phone, -sent to a beeper or pager number, -displayed on a predetermined computer system, sent to a computer or an apparatus in, or in control of, or in a control system of an industrial process, -sent to a predetermined e-mail address, -sent as a fax to a predetermined number, -sent for data logging to an electronic address or file,
• a combination of one or more of the above reporting destinations may be also be carried out.
• the format for display of the matching result report may be selected to suit the application and industry etc of use. Typically this is in a form such as:
• -HTML display means on a screen of a computer or hand held device
• MSDS Material Safety Data Sheets
• the environment monitoring comparison report may also conform to one or more current standards for electronic documents used for Electronic Data Interchange such as EDIFACT or ASC X12 ,- and/or to similar standards issued by other recognized bodies including commercial or financial organizations such as the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication
• WIFT World Wide Web Committee
• Other current standards capable of use for electronic data interchange include XML and other modern protocols Microsoft's (Trade Mark) MSXML or a standard called XHTML 1.0 provided by World Wide Web Committee (W3C) .
• the environment monitoring result report may be in the form of an electronic document that otherwise corresponds to a traditional EDI electronic document.
• the file transmitted containing the substance matching report comprises necessary details such as any of:
• the result may be stored at the remote reference database or extension thereof.
• the result is then either signaled to the phone, eg as an SMS message to ring and collect, or queued for subsequent repeated attempts to retransmit, or sent to alternative destinations as recorded in the pre-determined reporting requirements.
• the report may be combined with a report from a telephone company indicating the location of the originating telephone or GSM phone at the time of sending the sensor signal.
• FIG. 6 shows a network or intranet based environment monitoring system according to the first embodiment of the invention.
• the system comprises a communication means such as a cordless or mobile phone 10, equipped with a sensor unit 1, and a network, LAN or intranet 30.
• Intranet 30 is equipped with a wireless receiver node 31.
• Intranet 30 also has a node 32 to which a computer 17 is connected via any of the known protocols for a network or intranet.
• the computer is connected in turn via an interface 18 to the reference database 20.
• a signal from a sensor of an environment monitoring system may be connected to the remote reference database by means of an intranet or LAN network or similar.
• the remote reference database may be an in-house database connected directly to that network.
• Such an arrangement for an airport, an industrial plant, an oil refinery, a factory or a commercial building or a complex easily enables a portable device such as a hand held computer, PDA or mobile phone to communicate with a remote reference database from anywhere in the plant or complex using an existing intranet or network equipped with a suitable node for connection to the portable device.
• a mobile device such as a phone is optionally configured to send a phone call direct to an interface of the reference database without using a network link.
• the communication device may access the reference database by means of making a telephone call directly to it.
• the signal may optionally be directed further to an external reference database via the Internet etc as previously described.
• a form of local network is increasingly used by persons in homes and residential buildings.
• a person in a residence may have access to the Internet not only via modems used with telephone lines or ISDN telephone lines to dial up an Internet Service Provider, (ISP) and access the Internet.
• Internet access is also carried out via other means such as a cable tv service and via, for example, a cable modem.
• This service is increasingly available in, for example, North America.
• other means such as specially installed fibre-optic cable links, sometimes referred to as broadband networks, are available.
• broadband networks sometimes referred to as broadband networks
• networks available in residential homes and buildings that may be used in an aspect of the invention include: set-top boxes to send an interactive signal via a tv service provider; internal networks based on data communication superimposed on the household domestic mains AC power supply; and networks internal to a building or complex typically, but not exclusively, wire based networks such as existing systems including functions such as paging, alarms and door entry signals.
• the identity of the sensor unit that has originated a sensor signal is identified according to the invention in one of at least three ways. Firstly, the sensor unit itself optionally combines at least the sensor type, and preferably a sensor identity number, with a sensor signal before transmitting it to a communication device. In this way it is known which of potentially thousands of sensors in an industrial plant has sent the received signal.
• the sensor type and or a sensor identity number is optionally added in the communication device.
• the sensor identity is retrieved and sent with the signal in the same transmission to a remote database 20.
• the identity of a limited number of sensors each using the same communication device such as a mobile phone 10 is known or can be found.
• the sensor type and preferably sensor unit identity is stored in the remote database and retrieved to match a transmission from a known incoming phone number or IP address, URL etc..
• the sensor identity may also be "added" to the signal by the remote database when the sensor signal reaches the remote database.
• the preferred method of identifying the sensor and the sensor unit is established in the basic contract between the owner or operator of the sensor unit and the owner or operator of the database. A copy of the selected method for recognising and or assigning identity information to incoming transmissions is 5 included with the predetermined reporting requirements for each user contract .
• LO built in to a communication device such as a mobile phone.
• the senor is not physically attached to the communication device but is connected either by an electrical connection or by a wireless means .
• a sensor is optionally connected by means of an electrical wire or cable suitable for transmission of a measurement signal.
• the connection may take the form of a plug-in unit, which using a plug-and-socket arrangement allows a sensor unit to be plugged
• FIG. 11 an expanded view is shown of a schematic plug-in sensor 1 ' ' for attachment to a phone or mobile phone 10 as shown in Figures 2, 6. Sensor 1 ' ' is shown arranged
• FIG. 30 shown of a plug-in sensor 1' ' ' attached by a wire or cable 122 to a phone 10 or mobile phone as shown in Figures 2, 6.
• the cordless or mobile phone is arranged to receive a signal from a sensor, of which sensor or sensor unit the 35 sensor probe is placed in contact with a gas, liquid or other material for test.
• a sensor of which sensor or sensor unit the 35 sensor probe is placed in contact with a gas, liquid or other material for test.
• a gas, liquid or other material for test any of: water ; raw materials, process fluids, product fluids; oil and petroleum samples; drug samples, as well as; biological samples from soil, plants or animals, including a breath test, may be checked for the presence and concentration of a chemical substance by an environment monitoring system according to the invention.
• the invention may be carried out by connecting a sensor means to any electronic device that is equipped or equippable as a communication means.
• any electronic device that is equipped or equippable as a communication means.
• many of the electronic devices for playing computer games, consoles, or stations are manufactured by companies such as Sega, Nintendo,
• Sony and others are connectable to a network such as the Internet to download software or to play games interactively.
• a sensor means via plug and socket, RS 232 cable or other connection means to, for example, -a Sony PlayStation (Trade Mark) or Play Station 2 (Trade Mark) or Gscube (Trade Mark) ;
• a set-top box that is an electronic device for use in conjunction with a television receiver (tv) , commonly embodied as a cable tv signal or satellite broadcast transmission signal decoder, may also be adapted for data communication.
• tv television receiver
• Palm Pilot (Trade Mark) PDAs are available equipped with both a RS232 cable input and a connection for a modem, and may thus be used in a system according to the present invention virtually out of the box.
• Hand held electronic devices used for accessing the Internet in order to use e-mail facilities or even surf the Internet, such as a Sony Airboard (Trade Mark) likewise may be used to send a sensor signal to the remote database 20.
• the sensor unit may also advantageously be connected to a communication device or a network by a cordless means.
• IR Infra Red
• IrDA Infrared Data Association
• IrCOMM Infrared Data Association
• IrCOMM International Mobile Communications Standard
• any of the IEEE 802.11 standards published by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. or even proprietary standards such as Sony (Trade Mark) SIRCS or Denon (Trade Mark) format.
• There are standards and formats facilitating access to via protocols including Ethernet, Token Ring, Apple talk etc. to Wide Area Networks (WAN), Local Area Networks (LAN) etc..
• Certain models of mobile telephone such as an Ericsson R380s model GSM phone, and of PDAs such as Palm Pilot Palm IIIx (trade mark) and Palm V (Trade Mark) or Palm ml00 (Trade Mark) are typically available equipped with an IR port for data transmission with another device.
• PDAs such as Palm Pilot Palm IIIx (trade mark) and Palm V (Trade Mark) or Palm ml00 (Trade Mark) are typically available equipped with an IR port for data transmission with another device.
• a sound or an ultrasound transmission may be used to transfer measurement signals between a sensor and a communication device.
• Measurements such as pressure, salinity and presence of substances in water or oil, such as certain hydrocarbons or oil/water/sand mixtures, are examples of measurements that may be taken for assessment in this way.
• FIG. 7 shows a system for detection of a chemical substance in which a wireless link is used to transmit a sensor signal to a communication device.
• a preferred wireless standard such as the Bluetooth (Trade Mark) standard offer a well developed series of methods and means for wireless transmission of data.
• the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) has developed a series of standards for short range radio links between mobile stations, mobile personal computers and other portable devices, such as hand held Personal Data Assistants (PDA) and mobile telephones. Full details and technical details may be found in information published by the Bluetooth SIG including at their web site etc, however a summary description is included here to facilitate understanding of an embodiment of the invention.
• the Bluetooth protocol defines a universal unlicensed Industrial-Scientific-Medical (ISM) band at 2.4 GHz.
• ISM Industrial-Scientific-Medical
• Bluetooth wireless link is believed to be compatible world-wide for local wireless communication.
• the range of each radio service area can be, for example, about 10 metres, and the range is optionally extendable to around 100 metres, for example, by use of an appropriate amplifier.
• the network topology of a Bluetooth system may support both point-to-point and point-to-multipoint connections, thereby enabling communication between several devices at the same time.
• FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of a portable or mobile phone 10' equipped with a radio transmitter/receiver unit 35 according to the Bluetooth standard.
• a number of sensors 101, 102, 103 etc . located in different positions around an area for monitoring such as an airport, a factory, hospital, oil refinery etc. are each equipped with a Bluetooth unit similar to unit 35. Bluetooth units within range of each other may automatically set up a radio network called a piconet .
• the dashed arrows 36 between some of the sensor units arranged with Bluetooth sensors are intended to indicate that those units communicate with each other, and are able to pass data to each other when required.
• the transmission from sensor 102 may be a signal measured by 102, or may alternatively be a signal from another, nearby sensor that has forwarded a data signal that should be transmitted for assessment .
• a Bluetooth wireless unit 35 may be constructed as a single "chip" with very low power consumption connected into any type of measuring instrument or sensor.
• a Bluetooth chip may generate a standardised WAP packet for sending, in the example shown in Figure 7, via a base station 12 of a cellular telephone network, for communication via a suitable gateway, typically a telephone network-to-internet interface in the line of communication to the reference database, at which gateway the WAP message may optionally be converted into TCP/IP packets for sending on via a network, such as the Internet.
• the Bluetooth chip may alternatively provide suitable protocol or information to forward data as an SMS message.
• sensors equipped with a Bluetooth wireless chip may communicate and exchange data with other Bluetooth enabled devices.
• one or more Bluetooth enabled sensors may send data, by a short range Bluetooth radio link to another Bluetooth enabled device such as a mobile phone 10', which sends the sensor signal with its sensor identity to a remote reference database for comparison with stored sensor patterns.
• the comparison process result is then sent to a predetermined destination such as a portable mobile device which may be the originating phone, or may be any other device including a desktop computer, notebook computer or portable computer, for display.
• Figure 13 shows diagrammatically a sensor unit 1 and a communication device such as a phone 10 equipped with wireless communication means to illustrate embodiments described above.
• Figure 13 shows a phone 10 equipped with a wireless receiver/ transmitter 133 and a sensor unit ⁇ > > ' • equipped with a wireless receiver/transmitter 132.
• Wireless communications 135 are shown between the phone 10 and the sensor unit 1' ' ' ' .
• the wireless communication means may be any RF means such as to Bluetooth standard, IEEE-802.11 or equivalent.
• Wireless communication 135 may also be carried out Infra Red (IR) means such as IrDA, IrCOMM or equivalent.
• IR Infra Red
• Wireless communication 135 may also be carried out using sound or ultrasound transducers.
• the sensor means in sensor unit 1 may comprise a sensor array 2 or a gas sensor array as the sensor means.
• the present invention is not limited to sensor arrays but may comprise other types of sensor for measurement during monitoring of an environment, such as a sensor arranged to respond to :
• -ionizing radiation such as a geiger-type sensor
• -a graphic pattern such as a scan of a finger print, a hand print, a skin pattern, a retina scan, or other biometric sensor application
• -a light signal including a fluorescent component or wavelength indicative of substances of bacterial or other microorganism origin
• IR light or radiation as a measure of temperature or fire etc
• IR light transmissions such as for monitoring, surveillance at night
• -a sound - such as a gunshot, breaking glass, a voice, ringing telephone, an alarm bell, buzzer, or siren, -an ultrasound transmission,
• a signal from a sensor means such as those listed above may be processed to extract information, associated with an identifying data means, communicated to a remote database and compared to stored patterns of information or information data according to the third embodiment of the invention.
• the signal from the sensor means is preferably arranged as a computer data signal.
• US 5,850,449 describes a secure network protocol system and method. In the description a packet of data is described embodied in a data signal. It is shown that data means may be included in each data packet to identify a given data protocol in addition to a so-called data payload (ie the message) and a packet header and a packet "trailer" or footer.
• the information from the sensor means embodied as a data signal for communication in a computerised system is dependent on a measured value of a monitored environment, for example an environmental parameter or chemical substance such as previously described.
• the data signal shown schematically as 501 ordinarily comprises identifying data means 502 to identify at least the originating sensor type and optionally the unique sensor means in one first data part of the signal 502.
• the sensed measured value 505 from the sensor means is stored in one second part 504 of the data signal 501.
• identifying means 503 comprised in the signal 501 begins with a marker in the first character blocks to the left of 503 in the diagram.
• the measured value 505 comprised in the second part 504 of the data signal 501 also begins with a marker in the first character blocks to the left to declare that the measured value begins there.
• the data signal is transmitted further to the communication means 10, 10' and then to a remote reference database 20.
• the remote reference database the information included in the data signal is compared to stored information in the reference database according to the present invention.
• the first preferred embodiment of the present invention includes in the sensor unit 1, 1', containing or associated with a sensor means an activation means to activate a sensor unit to make a measurement of a parameter in an environment.
• the activation means is optionally based on a predetermined time or time interval.
• the activation means is optionally further combined with a comparison between a presently, measured value upon activation and a predetermined, stored, measurement value. This value may be, for example, a stored threshold concentration for a given gas, or a pH value.
• a decision to activate the sensor means and sensor unit and make a measurement is thus optionally based on a combination of either time alone or a predetermined measurement value and a time- based factor.
• a decision to activate based on a time or time interval is equivalent to detection step 400 of Figure 5.
• a decision to activate based on both a time factor and a measurement value is equivalent to step 401 of Figure 5, the decision to send step .
• the comparison for activation is carried out in the processor 5 and predetermined value/s for a measurement or of a time interval etc. are stored in the ROM memory means 4.
• the comparison for activation is also carried out in processor 5, but stored predetermined values for the activation decision may be stored in part in additional and re-programmable memory means 7 as well as memory means 4.
• Such pre-determined values for activation stored in a re-programmable memory means such as means 7 may optionally be changed subsequently or optimised by downloading new or refined values from the reference database 20.
• a number of measurements ax ⁇ e made by a sensor means and stored locally before transmitting them in one single transmission to the remote data reference for comparison.
• the communication device may be a telephone that is substantially permanently connected to a fixed network, such as a PSTN.
• a PSTN a fixed network
• FIG. 9 shows a sensor unit 1' according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
• the sensor unit 1' comprises a sensor means 2, an amplifier and signal processor 3, and an identity of the sensor type of the sensor means stored in a memory means 4.
• An additional memory means 7, preferably re-writable is included.
• a pre-determined number of measurements are made of an environmental parameter which are then and stored in the additional memory means 7.
• the stored results are then sent to the remote database in one single communication at another time.
• an additional memory storage program or software function is included to store a local copy 9 of selected pattern data downloaded or copied from the reference database 20 already described in previous embodiments.
• a local and modified version of the evaluation means, a software or a computer program product for carrying out a local equivalent of matching process 19, is also stored in the sensor unit or otherwise arranged capable of executing locally.
• the local data copy 9 is updated on a predetermined basis based on any of -number of new measurements for a given parameter received at the remote reference,
• a memory means including a add on memory, plug in memory device or the like is arranged with the communication device and used to store the local copy (9) downloaded from the reference database.
• the communication device may optionally comprise processor means such that part or all of an evaluation process is carried out within the communication device circuits instead of by processor 5 of the sensor means .
• Processor 5 has computer program means to carry out local signal matching between a signal and pattern from the sensor means 2 and patterns stored in the local copy 9 of reference data.
• the local copy 9 of reference data is optionally a set of patterns for the chemical substance (s) or parameter (s) monitored which have been identified by statistical means from analysis of successful comparison results for those parameters and downloaded to the sensor unit.
• the local copy 9 is optionally stored in the communication device, as described previously.
• Re-programmable memory means 7, an EPROM, flash memory or the like advantageously already contains on delivery of the parameter measurement system an address that the parameter measurement system should call to and send signals and or set up a matching service.
• an address may comprise any of: a telephone number, a network address, an e-mail address, an
• IP Internet Protocol
• URL Universal Resource Locator
• SIP Session Initiation Protocol
• the address information may later be up-dated or reprogrammed according to instructions delivered or downloaded from the reference database or other sources . This may be carried out by the owner or operator of the parameter measurement system by means of a log-in to a web site for instance, when reporting requirements stored in memory means 7 may be updated by downloading suitable code means or instructions to it.
• reprogrammable memory means 7 may also include:
• Such details are also optionally updated subsequently by the owner or operator independently or in relation to communicating sensor signals to remote reference databases operated by different owners or operators.
• a local copy of reference data one or more patterns containing information derived from monitoring a parameter in an environment for comparison purposes, such as that data compared in a local database 9, is communicated to another system for monitoring an environment in order to carry out a local comparison with a measured parameter.
• a billing transaction is instead registered for the other environment monitoring system for receiving the local copy of patterns containing information derived from an environmental parameter stored in the remote reference.
• a further added-value service is included in the preferred embodiment of the invention.
• a link is offered to the owner or operator of the sensor unit to a person or company providing a relevant service.
• the builder may have agreed in advance in his/her contract that on report of a positive identfication of Radon over a predetermined threshold, that he/she wishes :

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• 2000
  • 2000-10-25 SE SE0003864A patent/SE0003864D0/sv unknown
• 2001
  • 2001-10-24 WO PCT/SE2001/002328 patent/WO2002035494A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2001-10-24 WO PCT/SE2001/002329 patent/WO2002035495A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2001-10-24 AU AU2002211146A patent/AU2002211146A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-10-24 AU AU2002211145A patent/AU2002211145A1/en not_active Abandoned

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