WO2008146058A1

WO2008146058A1 - Device for automatic control and monitoring via internet

Info

Publication number: WO2008146058A1
Application number: PCT/HR2007/000053
Authority: WO
Inventors: Teo Vuckovic
Original assignee: Teo Vuckovic
Priority date: 2007-05-29
Filing date: 2007-12-24
Publication date: 2008-12-04
Also published as: HRPK20070249B3; HRP20070249A2

Abstract

The device for automatic control and monitoring via Internet is a device provided with its own TCP/IP protocol, using little memory space, and is located in a microcontroller, using no other chips. All microcontroller ports remain free for controlling the peripherals, the device dimensions are considerably decreased and its reliability increased, and the energy consumption is very small. The invention applications are unlimited. An interesting market are equipment manufacturers. Fitting of such devices in compressors, for instance, enables learning the compressor status at any moment, its working hours, condition of particular assemblies, this enabling running of a simple preventive maintenance. The technology could enable the manufacturer to monitor its equipment at any moment and anywhere in the world, thus preventing any major breakdowns.

Description

DEVICE FOR AUTOMATIC CONTROL AND MONITORING VIA INTERNET

INVENTION DESCRIPTION

1. FIELD OF APPLICATION

The invention relates to a device that enables automatic control and monitoring via

Internet.

In the International Patent Classification, it is classified as H - Electricity.

2. TECHNICAL PROBLEM

The Internet and the TCP/IP protocol, as it base, have become the standard of telecommunication between computers of today. The advantages of Internet are:

• mutual communication between various sorts of devices, of various producers, various operative systems;

• approach to an Internet connected computer from any place in the world;

• since devices have web-pages installed, no other software is required for their operation except Explorer or another similar software package.

So far, the Internet connected computers were mostly PC compatible or similar computers of large power and operative memory.

The problem occurs when a specific operation is wanted, e.g. switching a water heater on.

The simplest solution would be to use a PC and add it a relay card to switch the water hater on. This solution, however, causes other problems. The computer is to be turned on

24 hours 365 days a year, without crashing. Energy consumption is to be minimum. In case of black out it should be battery powered for at least 48 hours. An issue is where to place such a computer and not to take precious space. The computer price is another matter not to be neglected.

All these problems would be solved if Internet is made available to a simple eight-bit microcontroller, easily available in any electronic equipment shop. Microcontrollers are designed to operate various devices, work 24 hours 365 days a year, consume little energy and are provided with devices allowing them to return to normal work in case of a crash of the operative system very quickly (a few milliseconds). They are integrated various sorts of memory (ROM, RAM, EEPROM). The only problem is whether it is possible, and how, to integrate all the required functions in a small cheap chip. Devices based upon a single chip can be very small and installed anywhere, from a distribution cupboard with fuses to a microwave oven.

3. STATE OF THE ART

The first solution is using a PC and additional cards designed for measuring and controlling. This is quite impractical solution, expensive, requiring lots of space and consuming lots of power.

These days there are companies producing "hybrid" solutions consisting of a small board with a larger number of elements. Disadvantages of the existing solutions are the following:

• device dimensions (although appearing small, when necessary elements are added the board grows and becomes ungainly and large),

• in and out ports are occupied for the microprocessor bus, wherefore controlling of other devices required adding more electronics, which increases the device dimensions, energy consumption and decreases reliability,

• the device is very slow (because of the installed operative system) and useless with some applications,

• the price of the device, although appearing favourable, is high if used for larger series. The price would be additionally increased by the necessary additional electronics and larger dimensions of the casing in which the device would be placed.

4. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The device for automatic control and monitoring via Internet is a device with its own TCP/IP protocol, taking little memory and placed in a microcontroller, using no additional chips. All microcontroller chips remain free for controlling the peripherals, the device dimensions are significantly decreased and its reliability increased, the power consumption is very low.

5. ILLUSTRATION DESCRIPTIONS

Figure 1. shows diagram of the device for automatic control and monitoring via Internet. Figure 2. shows appearance of the printed board of the device shown in Figure 1. Figure 3. shows appearance of the Internet page for operating the device.

6. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION EMBODIMENT AND FUNCTIONING

Figure 1. shows complete diagram of the device for automatic control and monitoring via Internet.

Figure 2. shows printed board of the device, of very small dimensions, in this case 86 x 35 mm.

Figure 3. shows an example of the Internet page installed in the very device and enabling controlling the relays on the board.

Device embodiment description

The complete system, shown in Figure 1., consists of two chips: microcontroller IC7 and ethernet controller IC1. The microcontroller is one of those available in the market, with minimum 64K ROM and 2K RAM.

Connection between the ethernet controller IC1 and the microcontroller IC7 is established by 3 signal lines. Transmission by these lines is serial (1 Mbit per second). This transmission makes the microcontroller ports free for other functions required for controlling of peripheral devices.

As shown in Figures 1. and 2., the relays RE1 and RE3 switch the appliances on and off, and are connected via the transistors Q3 and Q2 directly to the microcontroller ports.

Of standard protocols, the devices is installed ARP, UDP, IP, ICMP, TCP, HTTP and SMTP. The device is also able to communicate with others using the Socket Technology. This means that it can communicate with several devices or several different applications simultaneously in both directions (can be called and can call itself if required). For communication purposes it is provided with 2 UDP sockets, 4 TCP sockets and 4 HTTP sockets.

Device functioning

To switch an appliance on, the appliance is to be reached by a PC or a mobile phone, the web pages in the very device opened, and the targeted appliance switched on or off by a simple click.

When the user wants to approach the device and check or change the status of an appliance, at his computer he starts Internet Explorer and enters the appliance web address. The web address depends only on the way the network is configured. The address can be, e.g., http://192.168.1.200/info or www.moj urediai.hr/info.

Firstly, a connection with the device is established via Internet, by using the TCP protocol.

When the connection is established, a HTTP request for info page is sent.

When the device receives the info page request, the device creates the web page adding it the current status of the water heater and air-conditioner or any other appliance and sends the information on the status to the user. If the user wants to change the appliance status, he is only to click the wanted button and the new information will be sent to the appliance automatically via the HTTP protocol, and its status will change.

This device requires specially written CGI functions that enable changing the status of the microcontroller port and, thereby, the relay status, by changing the status of a button on the computer screen.

Besides these basic functions, the device can contact a computer at the net by itself and leave it the information required. For example, if an alarm is activated, the device may automatically report this to an alarm centre.

Furthermore, the SMTP protocol, installed in it, enables sending e-mail messages to a selected server. For instance, for this basic application daily reports on switching of appliances on and off could be sent. 7. INVENTION APPLICATION

Possibilities of application of the device for automatic control and monitoring via Internet are unlimited. The Internet has become a communication standard, and this technology enables, practically, "installing the Internet into the toaster".

This way, we can control heating and air-conditioning of houses, switching lights on and off, operating window binds, open doors, etc. The technology may further be used for remote of electricity meters at distance, in alarm centres for connecting of alarms to the

Internet.

The device is also applicable in distribution of electricity, water, gas, and with any other system that requires measuring and control of technological processes at various locations.

The technology enables following up and monitoring of lorries, buses, ships and any other means of transportation.

An interesting market for the device are various equipment producers. For instance, fitting of such devices in compressors enables obtaining at any moment the status of the compressor, its working hours, condition of particular assemblies and, thereby, performing of the compressor maintenance in a simple way. The technology would enable the manufacturer to control its equipment at any moment and at any place in the world, thus preventing major breakdowns.

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Device for automatic control and monitoring via Internet, provided with a microcontroller and ethemet controller, and with ARP, UDP, IP, ICMP, TCP, HTTP and SMTP standard protocols, w h e r e i n it consists of two chips: the microcontroller (IC7) and the ethernet controller (IC1); in the microcontroller memory there is installed the TCP/IP protocol of the required characteristics; the microcontroller (IC7) and the ethernet controller (IC1) are mutually connected with three fact-communication signal lines; switching of appliances on and off is done through the relays (RE1) and (RE3); the relays are connected through transistors (Q3) and (Q2) directly to the microcontroller ports; appliances are connected to free microcontroller ports.

2. The device as claimed in Claim 1., w h e r e i n it can communicate simultaneously with several other devices and several different applications in both directions.

3. The device as claimed in Claims 1. and 2., w h e r e i n firstly a connection with the device is established via Internet, by using the TCP protocol, followed by sending the info page request, where a web page is automatically created showing the current status of the appliance, and the user may control the appliance with a click through the HTTP protocol.

4. The device as claimed above, wh e re i n it enables automatic sending of an information to another computer in the network, for instance, if an alarm is activated.

5. The device as claimed above, wh e re in the said SMTP protocol enables sending of e-mail messages to a selected server.