Monitoring apparatus and system

Abstract

A monitoring system for response to incidents sensed by at least one sensor of an individual signal unit; said response comprising in a first instance, transmission to a central control facility by a said individual signal unit, of at least a unique identifying code for that individual signal unit, over a communication network; said response comprising in a second instance, transmission of data from said central control facility to one or more recipients nominated by a registered owner of said individual signal unit; and wherein registration of a said individual signal unit and configuration of sensing and of said response is via a web-based interface.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An individual signal unit purchased by an applicant user of a monitoring system; each said individual signal unit including;
 (a) a transceiver module,   (b) a power supply and power control module,   (c) a logic circuit,   (d) at least one event sensor selected by said applicant user from a plurality of standard event sensors,   and wherein an applicant user of said system purchases a said individual signal unit and one or more of said event sensors or output devices selected from a plurality of standard or third party said event sensors or output devices, said individual signal and said event sensors or output devices registered with said central control facility; said registration and structuring by said applicant user of said protocols effected by means of data entry into a web-based interface maintained by said central control facility; events sensed by any one of said event sensors being available for communication to any one of said registered users as effected by data entry into said web based interface by the said applicant user,   and wherein a signal from a said individual signal unit to a central control facility causes said central control facility to execute a number of predefined steps; said predefined steps prior configured by said applicant user by means of a web-based interface.   
     
     
         2 . Apparatus for a monitoring system; said apparatus comprising an individual signal unit and at least one owner selectable event sensor connected to said individual signal unit; and wherein an applicant user of said system selects a said individual signal unit and one or more of said event sensors or output devices selected from a plurality of standard or third party said event sensors or output devices, said individual signal and said event sensors or output devices registered with said central control facility; said registration and structuring by said applicant user of said protocols effected by means of data entry into a web-based interface maintained by said central control facility; events sensed by any one of said event sensors being available for communication to any one of said registered users as effected by data entry into said web based interface by the said applicant user; said individual signal unit and said at least one event sensor registered by said user with a central control facility; wherein said individual signal unit is programmed to transmit a unique individual signal unit identification code to said central control facility when said at least one event sensor detects an incident; said central control facility responding to a transmitted said unique individual signal unit identification code according to protocols established at registration of said individual signal unit and said at least one event sensor by said owner; said protocols established through interaction with pages of a web site maintained by said central control facility. 
     
     
         3 . A monitoring system enabled by the internet and a communication system; said system including a number of individual signal units; each of said individual signal units connected to at least one event sensor selected by an owner of said individual signal unit from a plurality of standard event sensors; and wherein an applicant user of said system purchases a said individual signal unit and one or more of said event sensors or output devices selected from a plurality of standard or third party said event sensors or output devices, said individual signal and said event sensors or output devices registered with said central control facility; said registration and structuring by said applicant user of said protocols effected by means of data entry into a web-based interface maintained by said central control facility; events sensed by any one of said event sensors being available for communication to any one of said registered users as effected by data entry into said web based interface by the said applicant user; said central control facility responding to an incident sensed by a said event sensor according to protocols established at registration by a said owner through interaction with pages of a web site maintained by said central control facility. 
     
     
         4 . A method of monitoring the status of an item of interest; said method including the steps of:
 (a) acquisition by a user of an individual signal unit and at least one event sensor selected from a plurality of standard event sensors for connection to said individual signal unit,   (b) registering said individual signal unit and said at least one event sensor with a central control facility,   (c) configuring a response executable by said central control facility on receipt by said facility of a signal transmitted by said individual signal unit,   wherein said response includes a number of prior defined steps nominated by a said user when registering a said individual signal unit and said at least one event sensor with said central control facility; said registration and configuring of said response effected by interaction with pages of a web site maintained by said central control facility; and wherein said user of said system acquires a said individual signal unit and one or more of said event sensors or output devices selected from a plurality of standard or third party said event sensors or output devices, said individual signal and said event sensors or output devices registered with said central control facility; said registration and structuring by said user of said protocols effected by means of data entry into a web-based interface maintained by said central control facility; events sensed by any one of said event sensors being available for communication to any one of said registered users as effected by data entry into said web based interface by the said user.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said signal includes a unique identifying code of said individual signal unit. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said registering of a said individual signal unit includes the steps of:
 (a) accessing a web site maintained by said central control facility, 
 (b) establishing a user name and password with said central control facility, 
 (c) entering into said web site a registration code of said individual signal unit, 
 (d) entering a user selected identifier name for said individual signal unit, 
 (e) entering details of one or more event sensors to be connected to said individual signal unit, 
 (f) entering details of said response executable by said central control facility. 
 
     
     
         7 . A method for monitoring the status of at least one aspect of geographically disparate items of infrastructure; said method including the steps of:
 (a) installing an individual signal unit at each of said items of infrastructure,   (b) providing said individual signal unit with at least one event sensor and a signal transceiver,   (c) linking said individual signal unit with a central control facility via a communication network,   (d) providing said central control facility with server and data storage devices; said devices adapted to execute pre-programmed responses to a signal received from a said individual signalling device,   and wherein an applicant user of said system purchases a said individual signal unit and one or more of said event sensors or output devices selected from a plurality of standard or third party said event sensors or output devices; said individual signal and said event sensors or output devices registered with said central control facility; said registration and structuring by said applicant user of said protocols effected by means of data entry into a web-based interface maintained by said central control facility; events sensed by any one of said event sensors being available for communication to any one of said registered users as effected by data entry into said web based interface by the said applicant user.   
     
     
         8 . Apparatus of an infrastructure monitoring system; said apparatus including a plurality of geographically disparate individual signalling units purchased by applicant users of said system; and wherein an applicant user of said system purchases a said individual signal unit and one or more of said event sensors or output devices selected from a plurality of standard or third party said event sensors or output devices, said individual signal and said event sensors or output devices registered with said central control facility; said registration and structuring by said applicant user of said protocols effected by means of data entry into a web-based interface maintained by said central control facility; events sensed by any one of said event sensors being available for communication to any one of said registered users as effected by data entry into said web based interface by the said applicant user; said individual signalling units in communication with a central control facility via at least one communication satellite; said individual signalling units adapted to change from a first stand-by state to a second powered up state on the occurrence of a change of status of an item of said infrastructure; each of said individual signal units transmitting a signal to said central control facility during said powered up state; said signal triggering a programmed predefined sequence of responses as defined by a said applicant user through interaction with web pages maintained by said central control facility; each said individual signal unit returning to said stand-by state after transmission of a said signal. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein each of said individual signalling units is provided with a unique signalling unit identification code; said unique identification code comprising said signal transmitted to said central control facility. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein each of said individual signalling units is provided with a signal transceiver module. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein each of said individual signalling units is provided with a rechargeable power supply. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said rechargeable power supply is rechargeable by a solar cell array. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein each of said individual signalling units is provided with at least one event sensor. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said at least one event sensor is adapted to respond to a change in status of a said item of infrastructure. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein a said individual signalling unit receives an input signal from said at least one event sensor at said change of status. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein each said at least one event sensor is associated with a unique sequence of repeat transmissions of said unique identification code; said unique sequence of repeat transmissions comprising said signal transmitted to said central control facility. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said central control facility includes a transceiver module in communication with said at least one satellite. 
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 17  wherein said transceiver module is linked to server and data storage devices; said server and data storage devices adapted to process signals received from any one of said individual signalling units. 
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein said server and data storage devices are adapted to initiate coded data for transmission to said individual signalling units. 
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 19  wherein said coded data transmitted to a said individual signalling unit includes instructions for programmed responses by a said individual signalling unit to inputs received from said one or more event sensors.