WO2021133163A1

WO2021133163A1 - Monitoring of attributes in an environment and notifying change in status of attributes to a user device

Info

Publication number: WO2021133163A1
Application number: PCT/MY2020/050168
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bukhary Ikhwan ISMAIL; Mohammad Fairus Khalid; Rajendar KANDAN; Hong Hoe ONG
Original assignee: Mimos Berhad
Priority date: 2019-12-24
Filing date: 2020-11-25
Publication date: 2021-07-01

Abstract

The present invention relates to system [100] and a method [400] for monitoring one or more target attributes. In an embodiment, the system [100] comprises a user device [110] and an IoT device [120]. Further, in an event the IoT device [120] receives a request (comprising one or more target attributes) from the user device [110], the IoT device [120] triggers the one or more target sensors [206A, 206B, 206C] corresponding to each of the one or more target attributes. Thereafter, the one or more target sensors [206A, 206B, 206C] monitors each of the one or more target attributes and generates a positive or negative status report based on comparison of an initial status and a current status of each of the one or more target attributes. The status report is further transmitted to the user device [110] through in a virtualisation manner.

Description

MONITORING OF ATTRIBUTES IN AN ENVIRONMENT AND NOTIFYING CHANGE IN STATUS OF ATTRIBUTES TO A USER DEVICE

FIEUD OF INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to Internet of Things (IoT) computing devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to an edge computing device and a fog computing device comprising target sensor/s to monitor target attribute/s and notify change in status of the attributes to a user device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This section is intended only to provide background information pertaining to the similar field of the present invention, and may be used only to enhance the understanding of the present invention and not as admissions of prior art.

Presently, several government agencies/organisations are introduced with an objective of monitoring and sensing/detecting various aspects/attributes in an environment ranging from weather, pressure, surveillance, computer vision and security. To accomplish said objective, the existing organisations have deployed/installed multiple sensors having same hardware configurations.

Further, it is noted that the sensors deployed in the environment possess different resource requirements in terms of processing, memory and bandwidth (e.g., microphones vs. cameras). In current scenario, there exists various computing platforms and/or IoT devices such as edge device and fog device that comprises sensor/s with similar hardware configurations and characteristics to sense/detect data and subsequently gather the detected information from the sensors via internet connectivity. The IoT devices are further designed to manage the sensors and the data detected thereby.

Further, the existing IoT devices comprises only those sensors that possess similar characteristics and functionalities. Therefore, in cases of sensors with different characteristics, different/multiple IoT devices are required, since single IoT device operates with only single typed sensors and is not adaptive with sensors having different configurations. Also, the existing IoT devices are limited by technical as well as cost limitations. One such limitation possessed by the existing IoT devices is increased hardware cost due to hardware encompassed by each sensor. Another limitation lies in the inability to efficiently monitor detected information. Yet another limitation is the fact that the users are not enabled to select desired attribute/aspect in an environment for controlling/monitoring.

An example of prior art in attempt to resolve the issues discuss above is as disclosed in US 20170060574A1; relating to edge intelligence platform. In this prior art however, the deployment of parameters requires human intervention, in particular a developer to create a programmable virtual sensor to enable the adding of new application. Such necessity may not be favorable in view of expert expenses to be incurred and defeats the purpose of having an intelligence platform if substantial human intervention is required.

Accordingly, in light of the limitations inherent in the existing IoT devices/computer platforms, there arises a need to provide an enhanced IoT device comprising plurality of sensors with same or different hardware configurations to sense/detect a varied range of information in an environment. More particularly, there arises a need of a user-specific/on demand system and method for monitoring various attributes in an environment through a single IoT device and subsequently notifying the same to the user/s.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In light of the limitations of the existing computing devices as discussed above, it is evident that there arises a need for developing an IoT device comprising multiple sensors of similar or different configurations for substantially overcoming said limitations. It is further, an objective of the present invention to monitor one or more user-specific attributes in an environment and notify the same to the user. Another objective of the present invention is to trigger one or more target sensors corresponding to one or more target attributes selected by the user. Another objective of the present invention is to generate a status report of each target attribute based on said monitoring. Yet another objective of the present invention is to reduce the cost of hardware for target sensor/s by deploying all the requisite sensors in a single IoT device.

In view of the above-mentioned objects, one aspect of the present invention relates to a user- specific/on demand method for transmitting a status report to a user device based on monitoring of one or more target attributes in an environment. The method is performed by an IoT device deployed in the environment. The steps for transmitting a status report to a user device comprises receiving a user request from the user device to monitor the one or more target attributes; identifying and triggering one or more target sensors corresponding to each of the one or more target attributes; monitoring each of the one or more target attributes by determining a current status of each of the one or more target attributes; generating a status report based on a comparison of said current status and the initial status; transmitting the status report to the user device, wherein the status report is transmitted in a virtual representation.

Further, the present invention encompasses comprising enabling the user device to compose user request based on scanning of one or more application layers at the IoT device, and subsequently store the user request in a repository present in the user device, wherein said user request is stored in one of a periodic manner and a real time manner.

Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the user request comprises an initial status of each of the one or more target attributes and the user request is at least one of a text, an audio, a video, a GIF and an image. In a preferred embodiment, the status report comprises the initial status and the current status of each of the one or more target attribute. The positive status indicates change in the current status and the initial status and the negative status indicates similarity between the current status and the initial status.

Yet another aspect of the present invention relates to a user-specific system for transmitting a status report to a user device based on monitoring of one or more target attributes in an environment. The system comprises a user device connected with an IoT device.

The user device further comprises a composing unit configured to compose user request based on one or more applications layers of an IoT device and a communication unit configured to transmit the user request to monitor the one or more target attributes.

The IoT device further includes an input unit, a trigger unit, one or more target sensors, a processing unit and a virtualization output unit. Input unit is configured to receive the user request from the user device. The trigger unit is configured to identify and trigger one or more target sensors corresponding to each of the one or more target attribute. The one or more target sensors are configured to monitor each of the one or more target attributes. The processing unit is configured to generate a status report comprising the current status of each of the one or more target attribute. The virtualization output unit is configured to transmit the status report to the user device in a virtual representation. In an embodiment of the present invention, said one or more target sensors are identified among a plurality of sensors available in the IoT device. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the status report comprises the initial status and the current status of each of the one or more target attribute. The positive status indicates change in the current status and the initial status, and the negative status indicates similarity between the current status and the initial status.

The afore-mentioned objectives and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without deviating from the spirit thereof. Therefore, this section is intended only to introduce certain objects and aspects of the present invention, and is therefore, not intended to define key features or scope of the subject matter of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The drawings mentioned in this section disclose exemplary embodiments of the claimed system and method. Detailed description of well-known components and processing techniques are omitted to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. Further, the components/modules and steps of a process are assigned reference numerals that are used throughout the description to indicate the respective components and steps. Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description when read with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 illustrates an overall system architecture [100] for transmitting a status report based on monitoring one or more target attributes, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a block diagram of an IoT device [120] for transmitting a status report based on monitoring one or more target attributes, in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of the IoT device [120], in accordance with the present invention. Figure 4 illustrates a method overview [400] for transmitting a status report based on monitoring one or more target attributes, in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This section is intended to provide explanation and description of various possible embodiments of the present invention. The embodiments used herein, and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to non-limiting embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. The examples used herein are intended only to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable the person skilled in the art to practice the embodiments used herein. Also, the examples/embodiments described herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.

The present invention relates to an IoT device comprising one or more target sensors identified from a plurality of sensors to monitor target attribute/s in an environment. In an embodiment, the present invention comprises a system and a method for transmitting a status report to a user device based on monitoring of one or more target attributes. In an embodiment, the system comprises a user device and an IoT device connected to each other through a network entity, wherein the IoT device monitors current status of target attributes and transmits a status report comprising initial status and current status of each target attribute to the user device.

As used herein, the user device refers to any computing device such as a mobile, a smart phone, a laptop, a tablet, a computer and any such device as may be obvious to a person skilled in the art. More particularly, the user comprises a composing unit, a repository unit and a communication unit coupled to each other in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention. In one embodiment, the user device comprises an application and/or a software to receive results/status related to monitor the target attributes, while in another, the user device comprises an application and/or a software to interact with a virtual sensor of the IoT device. Further, the user device may be a server configured to manage access to the IoT device via an internet connection or any such wireless/wired connection as may be obvious to a person skilled in the art.

As used herein, the communication unit refers to a transceiver capable of transmitting a user request to the IoT device for monitoring process. In particular, the communication unit is capable to transmit and receive information/details/request to and from the IoT device. As used herein, the target attributes include, but not limited to, user metadata, geographical location of one or more target sensor, one or more target sensors and the hardware configuration of the user device.

As used herein, the IoT device refers to a single hardware device having one or more target sensors. In an embodiment, the IoT device is an Edge device while in another embodiment, the IoT device is a Fog device, wherein said Edge device and the Fog device are configured to perform the functionalities to be described herein, in accordance with the present invention.

As used herein, the input unit refers to a transceiver unit capable of receiving the user request from the user device.

As used herein, the target sensor refers to the sensors identified/selected among a plurality of sensors available in the IoT device based on the user request.

As used herein the processing unit refers to any digital possessing logic, intelligent and analytical skills for processing any type of information/detail/request as may be obvious to a person skilled in the art. Further, the processing unit may refer to any computing processing unit comprising, but not limited to, a single-core processor, a multi-core processor and any such unit as may be obvious to a person skilled in the art. Furthermore, the processing unit is configured to perform functions such as data processing, generating status report and any such function as may be obvious to a person skilled in the art, to efficiently enable working of the system claimed in the present invention.

As used herein, the virtualization output unit refers to any display unit/interface capable of transmitting the status report to the user device in accordance with the embodiments of the present invention.

As used herein, the repository unit and similar terms such as storage unit, database, cache and similar terms refer to similar interpretation and may be used interchangeably throughout the specification. Further, the repository unit may refer to a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, or a combination thereof. By way of illustration, and not limitation, the non-volatile memory may be read only memory (ROM) or any such memory as may be obvious to a person skilled in the art. By way of illustration, and not limitation, said volatile memory may be a random access memory (RAM) or any such memory as may be obvious to a person skilled in the art. The term ‘communicate’ as used herein may refer to possible cognate terms including, but not limiting to, send, transmit, transport. It is to be further understood that the terms such as communicate, connect, configure, couple and other similar terms include a physical connection (such as a wired/wireless connection), a logical connection or a combination of such connections as may be obvious to a person skilled in the art.

Figure 1 illustrates a system overview of a system [100] for transmitting the status report to the user device [110] based on monitoring of one or more target attributes, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. More particularly, the system [100] comprises the user device [110] and one ormore IoT devices [120A, 120B, 12C....120n] In an embodiment, the user device [110] and the IoT device [120] communicate with each other through a network entity [130], wherein the network entity [130] is one of wired and wireless means, and may correspond to a personal area network, a local area network, a metropolitan area network, a wide area network, Internet or a combination thereof. Further, the user device [110] comprises the composing unit [106], the repository unit [104] and the communication unit [102], wherein said units are communicatively coupled to each other. Furthermore, as illustrated in Figure 1 and Figure 2, the IoT device [120] comprises the input unit [202], the trigger unit [204], the one or more target sensors [206A, 206B, 206C], the processing unit [208] and the virtualization output unit [210]

In an event the user wishes to monitor specific target attributes in an environment, the user using the user device [110] composes a user request. In an embodiment, the composing unit [106] of the user device [110] composes the user request based on scanning of one or more application layers at the IoT device [120] and selection of a base layer for size compression/reduction. The user request comprises an initial status of each of the one or more target attributes (for which the monitoring is requested), wherein said initial status refers to the status before the monitoring of the one or more target attributes. Further, the user request is at least one of the image, text, audio, GIF and video, The target attributes comprises user metadata, geographical location of the one or more target sensor [206A, 206B, 206C] and the hardware configuration of the user device [110] In a preferred embodiment, the user metadata includes model version and date of creation of the user request; the geographical location includes geographical coordinates (including state, building, etc.) where the monitoring is desired. Further, the one or more target sensors include, but not limited to, a camera, an audio sensor, a video sensor, a biometric sensor for face recognition, a weather sensor, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor. Furthermore, the hardware configuration of the user device includes, but not limited to, a minimum CPU cycle, a memory, storage and a network speed for the deployment of the IoT device [120] in said environment.

Further, the repository unit [104] of the user device [110] is configured to store the user request in one of a periodic manner and a real time manner. Said user request is then transmitted to the input unit [202] of the IoT device [120] by the communication unit [102] of the user device [110] In an embodiment, the communication unit [102] is configured to deploy, manage and monitor the IoT device [120] in an environment.

On receiving the user request from the user device [110], the input unit [202] of the IoT device [120] is configured to internally communicate the user request to the trigger unit [204] of the IoT device [ 120] . The trigger unit [204] is configured to trigger the one or more target sensors [206A, 206B, 206C] based on the user request i.e. the trigger unit [204] triggers the one or more target sensors [206A, 206B, 206C] corresponding to each of the one or more target attributes. In an exemplary scenario, if the user request comprises an image of a person, then the trigger unit [204] triggers face recognition sensor from the plurality of sensors available in the IoT device [120]

The one or more target sensors [206A, 206B, 206C] when triggered, are configured to monitor each of the one or more target attributes by determining the current status of each of the one or more target attributes, wherein said current status refers to the status of the one or more target attributes after said monitoring. In an embodiment, the current status is determined in aperiodic manner while in another embodiment, the current status is determined in a real time manner. In another embodiment, the current status is monitored continuously. Further, the one or more target sensors [206A, 206B, 206C] are one of internal sensors and external sensors, wherein the internal sensors are mounted inside the IoT device [120], and the external sensors are connected to the user device [110] via the network entity [130] In an exemplary embodiment, the internal sensors include, but not limited to, GPS, an audio sensor, camera and a biometric sensor; and the external sensors include, but not limited to, a temperature sensor, a pressure sensor, a humidity sensor and any such sensor for sensing environmental parameters.

Pursuant to the determining of the current status, the processing unit [208] is configured to compare the initial status and the current status of the one or more target attributes and accordingly generate the status report. In an embodiment, the status report is a positive report in an event the initial status and the current status are different from each other, thereby indicating change in the status of the one or more target attributes. In another embodiment, the status report is a negative report in an event the initial status and the current status are similar to each other, thereby indicating ‘no change’ in the status of the one or more target attributes. Further, the status report comprises the initial status and the current status of each of the one or more target attributes.

Thereafter, the virtualization output unit [210] is configured to transmit the status report to the user device [ 110] . In a preferred embodiment, the status report is transmitted through the virtual sensor, wherein the virtual sensor is a virtual representation of the internal and the external sensor. In an embodiment, the status report is transmitted periodically even if no change is detected, while in another embodiment, the status report is transmitted in real time manner on detection of any change in said one or more target attributes.

Figure 3 illustrates the IoT device [120] in an exemplary embodiment. The IoT device [120] comprises an initiator module [302], a communication module [304] and a resource manager module [306] The initiator module [302] is configured to install a virtualization platform for the virtual sensor of the IoT device [120] . The initiator module [302] is configured to transmit hardware capabilities of the one or more target sensors [206A, 206B, 206C], internal and external sensor and virtual sensor information to the user device [110] The one or more target sensors [206A, 206B, 206C] communicate with the user device [110] through the communication module [304] which acts as an interface. The communication module [304] is further configured to deactivate at least one of the currently active target sensors [206A, 206B, 206C] . Further, the resource manager module [306] is configured to scan the current status and resource consumption of the one or more target sensors [206A, 206B, 206C] and subsequently transmit a feedback report to the user device [110], wherein the feedback report comprises list of activated target sensors and the hardware capabilities of the one or more target sensors [206A, 206B, 206C]

Figure 4 illustrates a method [400] for transmitting the status report to the user device [110] based on monitoring of one or more target attributes, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The method [400] comprises a series of following operational steps to accomplish the objective encompassed by the present invention: At step 402 when the user wishes to monitor specific target attributes in an environment, the user transmits the user request and received by the input unit [202] to monitor the one or more target attributes. The user request comprises an initial status of each of the one or more target attributes (for which the monitoring is requested). The user request is further communicated internally to the trigger unit [204] of the IoT device [120]

At step 404, the trigger unit [204] triggers one or more target sensors [206A, 206B, 206C] corresponding to each of the one or more target attributes.

At step 406 and pursuant to accomplishment of step 404, the one or more target sensors [206A, 206B, 206C] monitors each of the one or more target attributes by determining the current status of each of the one or more target attributes, wherein said current status refers to the status of the one or more target attributes after said monitoring.

At step 408, the processing unit [208] compares the initial status and the current status of the one or more target attributes. In an event the initial status and the current status are different, the method [400] goes to step 410. Alternatively, in an event the initial status and the current status are similar, the method [400] goes to step 412.

At step 410, the processing unit [208] generates the positive status report indicating difference between the initial status and the current status. The positive status report comprises the initial status and the current status of each of the one or more target attributes.

At step 412, the processing unit [208] generates the negative status report indicating similarity (i.e. no change) between the initial status and the current status. The negative status report comprises the initial status and the current status of each of the one or more target attributes.

At step 414, the virtualization output unit [210] transmits the status report to the user device [110] in a virtualization manner.

Thus, the present invention relates to user-specific system [100] and method [400] for monitoring target attributes in an environment and notifying the changes in the status of said target attributes to the user device [110] Further, the present invention encompasses enabling the user device [110] to compose the user request based on scanning of one or more application layers at the IoT device [120] The term exemplary is used herein to mean serving as an example. Any embodiment or implementation described as exemplary is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or implementations. Further, the use of terms such as including, comprising, having, containing and variations thereof, is meant to encompass the items/components/process listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items/components/process .

It will be apparent that various aspects of the present invention may be implemented as a software and hardware (such as a processing unit) in the implementations illustrated in the figures. Additionally, it should be appreciated that according to one aspect of this embodiment, one or more computer programs that when executed perform methods of the present invention need not reside on a single computer or processor but may be distributed in a modular fashion amongst a number of different computers or processors to implement various aspects of the present invention.

Although the subject matter is described in language specific to structural features and/or acts, it is to be understood that the subject matter defined in the claims is not necessarily limited to the specific features or process as described above. In fact, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed as mere examples of implementing the claims and other equivalent features and processes which are intended to be within the scope of the claims.

Further, the subject matter of example embodiments, as disclosed herein, is described with specificity to meet statutory requirements. However, the description itself is not intended to limit the scope of this patent. Rather, the inventors have contemplated that the claimed subject matter might also be embodied in other ways, to include different features or combinations of features similar to the ones described in this document, in conjunction with other technologies. Generally, the various embodiments including the example embodiments relate to system and method for generating and monitoring the smart contract between two or more users.

As will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art, the present invention may easily be produced in other specific forms without departing from its essential characteristics. The present embodiments should be construed as merely illustrative and non-restrictive and the scope of the present invention being indicated by the claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes which come within therefore intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

1. A method [400] for transmitting a status report to a user device [110] based on monitoring of one or more target attributes in an environment, the method [400] being performed by an IoT device [120] deployed in the environment, characterized in that, the method [400] comprising:

- receiving a request from the user device [110] to monitor the one or more target attributes in the environment, wherein the request comprises an initial status of each of the one or more target attributes;,

- identifying and triggering one or more target sensors [206A, 206B, 206C] corresponding to each of the one or more target attributes, wherein said one or more target sensors [206A, 206B, 206C] are identified among a plurality of sensors available at the IoT device [120];

- monitoring each of the one or more target attributes by determining a current status of each of the one or more target attributes;

- generating a status report based on a comparison of said current status and the initial status, wherein

- the status report comprises the initial status and the current status of each of the one or more target attribute,

- status report is one of a positive status and a negative status,

- the positive status indicates change in the current status and the initial status, and

- the negative status indicates similarity between the current status and the initial status; and

- transmitting the status report to the user device [110], wherein the status report is transmitted in a virtual representation.

2. The method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the request is of a text, a graphic, image, video or audio.

3. The method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the method is a user-specific method.

4. The method [400] as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of composing the user request based on scanning of one or more application layers at the IoT device [120]; and storing the user request in a repository unit [104] of the user device [110], wherein said user request is stored in one of a periodic manner and a real time manner.

5. The method [400] as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more target attributes are at least one of a user metadata, a geographical location of one or more target sensors, [206A, 206B, 206C] and a hardware configuration of the user device [110]

6. The method [400] as claimed in claim 1, wherein the initial status of the one or more target attributes is the status of the one or more target attributes before the monitoring the one or more target attributes.

7. The method [400] as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the current status of the one or more target attributes is the status of the one or more target attributes after the monitoring of the one or more target attributes.

8. The method [400] as claimed in claim 1, wherein the status report is transmitted to the user device [110] in one of a periodic manner and a real time manner.

9. A system [100] for transmitting a status report to a user device [110] based on monitoring of one or more target attributes in an environment, characterized in that, the system [100] comprising: the user device [110] comprising: a composing unit [106] configured to compose a user request based on one or more applications layers of an IoT device [120]; and a communication unit [ 102] configured to transmit the user request to monitor the one or more target attributes in the environment, wherein the user request comprises an initial status of each of the one or more target attributes, the IoT device [120] comprising: an input unit [202] configured to receive the request from the user device [110], a trigger unit [204] configured to identify and trigger one or more target sensors [206A, 206B, 206C] corresponding to each of the one or more target attributes, wherein said one or more target sensors [206A, 206B, 206C] are identified among a plurality of sensors available in the IoT device [120]; the one or more target sensors [206A, 206B, 206C] configured to monitor each of the one or more target attributes by determining a current status of each of the one or more target attributes; a processing unit [208] configured to generate a status report comprising the current status of each of the one or more target attribute, wherein the status report comprises the initial status and the current status of each of the one or more target attribute; the status report is one of a positive status and a negative status, the positive status indicates change in the current status and the initial status

;and the negative status indicates similarity between the current status and the initial status; and a virtualization output unit [210] configured to transmit the status report to the user device [110] in a virtual representation.

10. The system [100] as claimed in claim 9, wherein the user device [110] further comprises a repository unit [ 104] to store user request in at least one of a text, an audio, a video, graphic and an image.

11. The system [100] as claimed in claim 9, wherein the IoT computing device [120] is an edge computing device and a fog computing device.

12. The system [100] as claimed in claim 9, wherein the trigger unit [204] is further configured to one of virtualize, manage and monitor the one or more target sensors [206A, 206B, 206C]

13. The system [100] as claimed in claim 9, wherein the one or more target sensor [206A, 206B, 206C] are one of internal sensor and external sensor.