Monitoring apparatus and system

Abstract

An individual signal unit; each said individual signal unit including: (i) a transceiver module, (j) a power supply, (k) a logic circuit, (l) at least one of a number of external event sensors, and wherein a signal from a said individual signal unit to a central control facility causes said central control facility to execute one or more predefined steps; at least some of said predefined steps configured or reconfigurable by an owner of said individual signal unit; at least some of the predefined steps provided by one or more independent parties; at least some predetermined steps configured or reconfigurable by said independent parties. Also provided is a monitoring system including an individual signal unit; said individual signal unit communicating with a central control facility when an event sensor activates said individual signal unit; said central control facility executing a number of predefined steps on receipt of a communication from said individual signal unit; at least some of said predefined steps configured or reconfigurable by an owner of, said individual signal unit; at least some of the predefined steps provided by one or more independent parties; at least some predetermined steps configured or reconfigurable by said independent parties.

1 .- 30 . (canceled) 
   
   
       31 . An individual signal unit registered by an owner of said individual signal unit with a central control facility of a monitoring system via a web site accessible over the internet each said individual signal unit including:
 a. a transceiver module;   b. a power supply;   c. a logic circuit;   d. at least one of a number of event sensors;   and wherein a signal from a said individual signal unit to said central control facility causes said central control facility to execute a registered owner-assembled schedule of one or more predefined steps, at least some of said predefined steps configured or reconfigurable by said owner of said individual signal unit from said web site, at least some of the predefined steps provided by one or more independent parties and made available for selection on said web site, at least some of said predefined steps configured or reconfigurable by said independent parties, said predefined steps including notification to recipients nominated by said owner of receipt of a said signal from said individual signal unit.   
   
   
       32 . A monitoring system including an individual signal unit, said individual signal unit registered by an owner of said individual signal unit with a central control facility, said individual signal unit communicating with said central control facility when an event sensor activates said individual signal unit, said central control facility executing a user-assembled schedule of predefined steps on receipt of a communication from said individual signal unit, said predefined steps configured or reconfigurable by an owner of said individual signal unit from a web site, at least some of the predefined steps provided by one or more independent parties and made available for selection on said web site, at least some predefined steps configured or reconfigurable by said independent parties. 
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein said communication between said individual signal unit and said central control facility is by means of any communication network. 
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein said predefined steps include a communication between said central control facility and a said owner or registered user of said individual signal unit. 
   
   
       35 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein said predefined steps may include a first layer and a secondary layer of said predefined steps. 
   
   
       36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein selected steps of said secondary layer of predefined steps may be executed by said central control facility in accordance with a reply to a said communication between said central control facility and a said owner or registered user. 
   
   
       37 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein said individual signal unit is programmable. 
   
   
       38 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein said individual signal unit is configurable to accept signal input from an external sensing device. 
   
   
       39 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein said individual signal unit is configurable to allow output signals to any said communication network. 
   
   
       40 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein said individual signal unit is adapted for integration into products as an original equipment manufacture (OEM) module. 
   
   
       41 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein said central control facility includes a database and a server; said central control facility maintaining said web site on said server. 
   
   
       42 . The system  claim 32 , wherein said system provides a means of asset monitoring; said asset monitoring alerting a said owner or registered user to an incident affecting a said asset. 
   
   
       43 . The system  claim 32 , wherein said predefined steps include activation of an output device connected to a said individual signal unit. 
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein data flow between a tool source and said central control facility is bidirectional. 
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein data flow between said central control facility and an individual signal unit is bidirectional. 
   
   
       46 . An individual signal unit registered by an owner of said individual signal unit with a central control facility of a monitoring system, said central control facility in communication with a web site, said individual signal unit comprising:
 a. a transceiver module;   b. a power supply;   c. a logic circuit;   d. at least one event sensor;   and wherein a signal from said individual signal unit to said central control facility causes said central control facility to execute one or more predefined steps, said steps comprising a registered owner-assembled schedule of steps selected from said web site, at least some of said predefined steps configured or reconfigurable from a first external source, at least some of the predefined steps communicated from a second external source, at least some predetermined steps configured or reconfigurable from said second external source, said predetermined steps including notification to recipients nominated by said registered owner of said individual signal unit, when in receipt of a said signal from said individual signal unit.   
   
   
       47 . A monitoring system comprising: an individual signal unit registered by an owner of said individual signal unit with a central control facility of a monitoring system, said central control facility in communication with a web site, said individual signal unit communicating with said central control facility when an event sensor activates said individual signal unit, said central control facility executing at least one predefined step of a registered owner-assembled schedule of steps on receipt of a communication from said individual signal unit indicating the occurrence of a predefined event, at least some of said predefined steps configured or reconfigurable over a bidirectional link from a first source, at least some of the predefined steps provided over a bidirectional link from a second source. 
   
   
       48 . A method of use and re-use of a programmable sensor device, comprising:
 an individual signal unit registered by an owner of said individual signal unit with a central control facility, said individual signal unit communicating with said central control facility when an event sensor activates said individual signal unit, said central control facility executing a user-assembled schedule of predefined steps on receipt of a communication from said individual signal unit, said predefined steps configured or reconfigurable by an owner of said individual signal unit from a web site, at least some of the predefined steps provided by one or more independent parties and made available for selection on said web site, at least some predefined steps configured or reconfigurable by said independent parties, said method further comprising permitting said independent parties to provide said steps to said central control facility via said website, permitting said owner to register with said central control facility via said web site so as to become a registered owner, permitting said registered owner to select one or more said steps via said web site for execution by said central control facility responsive to communication received from said individual signal unit.