Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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ADAPTIVE BANDWIDTH CONSUMPTION IN
REMOTE TEMPERATURE MONITORING APPLICATIONS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the storage of grain and other
organic material in bins, and more particularly relates to the
monitoring of the contents of such particulate material storage
bins for elevated temperatures which may cause spoilage of the
organic material stored therein.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
An issue of concern in agricultural industries, where grains are
stored in storage bins, is the heating of the contents of those
bins. Grain heating in storage bins can cause spoilage of the
grain, resulting in diminished quality or full spoilage of the
grain. Storage and high moisture or high heat environments can
degrade or completely spoil these crops. Many efforts are made
by farmers to minimize this possibility, and to maximize the
price of their grain by enhancing and maintaining its top
quality.
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Storage bins are often located in close proximity to the fields
where the crops are grown. In this way the grain can be stored
until transport is required to a remote handling or dispatch
facility, with minimum cost and time requirements during
harvest.
One of the traditional approaches to monitoring grain bin
temperature conditions has been to travel to each bin and
manually inspect the conditions of its contents. However where
bins are geographically distributed, there are excessive costs
and time commitments involved in traveling to each storage bin
location. As well, given the distance and time involved in such
travel, often the contents of the storage bins may not be
checked as frequently as they should be to guarantee optimal
storage of the product.
The use of remote monitoring solutions that employ in bin
sensors is known. For example, United States Patent No.
4,293,854 to Gookins et al. teaches a system in which in-bin
sensors communicate bin conditions to a remote display device.
However, the systems that have been created in this area to date
have a significant limitation in terms of their ongoing
operating costs insofar as if they use hardwired communications
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infrastructure to communicate with the central monitoring
station this introduces a significant limitation in the
locations that can be used [since hardwired communications
infrastructure such as a telephone line or the like is required
at that location].
While prior art systems are known that employ wireless
technology to transmit grain bin conditions derived from in-bin
sensors, the cost of such systems particularly in more remote
locations can be prohibitive. Prior art systems teach constant
sensing of bin conditions, and constant or at least periodic
transmission of such data to a remote monitoring location. The
result is a requirement for a substantial amount of transmission
bandwidth, which can be very costly for the individual farmer or
a company providing bin monitoring services, which cost can
increase significantly in the case of more remote bin locations.
What is needed, therefore, is a method and system for remote
monitoring of grain bin storage conditions that reduces the
amount of bandwidth required for sensor data transmission when
the bin heating condition exists, so that the farmer can take
appropriate action to deal with the heating issue.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention seeks to provide a method and system for
remote monitoring of storage bin conditions that reduces the
amount of transmission bandwidth that would be required for
central monitoring of bin temperature sensors. By minimizing the
amount of required transmission bandwidth, the economy of the
system and method of the present invention is maximized.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is
provided a method for remotely monitoring internal temperature
of a storage bin, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a
sensor on the storage bin for sensing the internal temperature;
(b) allowing the sensor to transmit the sensed internal
temperature to a transceiver; (c) allowing the transceiver to
compare the sensed internal temperature to a set threshold
level; and (d) if the sensed internal temperature meets or
exceeds the set threshold level, allowing the transceiver to
transmit a signal to a central monitoring system. The method
can be used with multiple bins and sensors, and the transceiver
can receive data from all connected sensors.
The connection
between the sensor and the transceiver can be either wired or
wireless.
The transceiver, upon receiving a sensed internal
temperature from one sensor that meets or exceeds the set
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threshold level, is preferably capable of generating a
transmission packet that combines the sensed temperature data
and a location indicator for the particular sensor, such that
any output could be limited to the particular sensor and enable
5 both a reduced transmission bandwidth use and a more efficient
on-site follow-up to address the adverse bin conditions.
In
preferred embodiments, the method comprises the further step of
enabling access to the transmitted data, through data display at
the central monitoring system, a warning signal indicating a
high temperature level and/or data access at other locations.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is
provided a system for remotely monitoring internal temperature
of a storage bin, the system comprising: at least one sensor for
provision on a bin, the sensor configured to sense the internal
temperature; a transceiver configured to receive a signal from
the at least one sensor indicating the sensed internal
temperature; the transceiver comprising a memory storage for
storing a set threshold level; the transceiver comprising a
processor coupled to the memory storage to enable a comparison
of the sensed internal temperature and the set threshold level;
and the transceiver configured to communicate the sensed
internal temperature through a communication network to a
central monitoring system when the sensed internal temperature
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is determined to be at or above the set threshold level. In
preferred embodiments, the system includes multiple bins and
sensors, and the processor is further capable, when the sensed
internal temperature is determined to be at or above the set
threshold level, of forming a transmission packet comprising the
sensed internal temperature and sensor location information. In
preferred embodiments, the system also comprises means to enable
access to the transmitted data through data display at the
central monitoring system, a warning signal indicating a high
temperature level and/or data access at other locations through
the communication network.
A detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present
invention are given in the following. It is to be understood,
however, that the invention is not to be construed as being
limited to these embodiments.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate exemplary
embodiments of the present invention:
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Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of a first system
in accordance with the present invention; and
Figure 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of a second system
in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 3 is a flowchart illustrating a first exemplary
method in accordance with the present invention;
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to the accompanying drawings, embodiments of a
method and system according to the present invention are
illustrated.
Overview
As outlined above, the general concept of the present invention
is to provide a method, and related apparatus, for remote
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temperature monitoring of organic particulate material storage
bins - grain bins in particular - which can be centrally
monitored, and which method and apparatus optimize the amount of
communications bandwidth required so that the remote sites can
connect to the central monitoring location wirelessly, at a
reasonable economic cost.
At each remote monitoring location, one or more grain bins is
each fitted with a temperature sensor for the purpose of
monitoring and reporting the temperature within that bin. These
temperature sensors are each connected to a transceiver capable
of receiving temperature readings from the grain bin temperature
sensors, and upon detection of a notification condition
communicating with a central monitoring station. The transceiver
will basically monitor periodic temperature reports from the
individual sensors, and upon detection of a change in
temperature which might constitute a threat to the product
stored within the storage bin [being the preprogrammed
notification condition or notification parameters] triggering a
communication to the central monitoring station from the
transceiver, identifying the bin and related temperature
details. The central monitoring station could in turn notify a
user or third party upon receipt of such notification.
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The method of the present invention would be implemented by a
system comprising several components. These components would
include, at each remote monitoring location which was desired to
be equipped or monitored in accordance with the method of the
present invention, a temperature sensor within each storage bin
which was desired to be monitored. The temperature sensors would
in turn be operatively connected to a transceiver located at the
remote monitoring location, which was capable of monitoring the
temperature in the storage bins via the interface with the
temperature sensors. In addition to a communication bus which
would enable communication with the temperature sensors located
within individual storage bins, the transceiver would also be
equipped to communicate with a central monitoring system and
central monitoring location, such that when the transceiver
detected a trigger event in terms of the temperature change
within the bin connected thereto, it could dispatch a
notification to the central monitoring system for subsequent
handling.
The central monitoring system at the central monitoring location
would be capable of receiving notifications from one or more
transceivers each located at remote monitoring locations and
operatively connected to one or more storage bins. The central
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monitoring system would then also be capable of dispatching
outgoing communication to users when a trigger event was
detected and/or a notification was required - the central
monitoring system is contemplated to incorporate a website user
5 interface, although other types of user interaction can be
contemplated, and the user and location database would likely
also be required in the context of the central monitoring system
to store the necessary information to properly receive and
process notifications and to provide whatever reporting was
10 desired or programmed within the system. The following provides
some additional detail with respect to each of the system
components.
Temperature sensors:
Many types of temperature sensors which are capable of detecting
the temperature within a storage bin have been used in the past
in grain bin temperature monitoring applications. It is
contemplated that these pre-existing types of temperature
sensors could be used, or a purpose built sensor could be used -
the key for the temperature sensors of the present invention
would be that they were capable of connection and communication
with the transceiver. In fact it is desired to provide a
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transceiver and the remainder of the present system an invention
in a way that it could be interchangeably used with pre-existing
grain bin temperature sensors - this would simply require that
the transceiver be capable of the proper communications protocol
to read those prior art sensors and perhaps also the provision
of adapters or a communications interface which was physically
capable of connection to those pre-existing temperature
connectors and sensors within the bins.
The temperature sensors would be located within each storage bin
that was desired to be monitored at the remote monitoring
location. The temperature sensors could be connected either
wirelessly or in a hardwired fashion to the transceiver.
Some grain bin temperature sensors have been developed in the
past which actually allow for the detection of temperature
within individual zones within the bin, and it will be
understood that the necessary modifications to the programming
on the transceiver in the central monitoring system could be
made to allow for the use of those types of Raymond temperature
sensors and to allow for the reporting and notification based
upon temperatures within particular zones of a storage bin
rather than using only a single temperature detection zone
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within a single bin. Both such approaches are contemplated
within the scope hereof.
Transceiver:
The transceiver of the present invention would be the remote
site hardware that was responsible for aggregation and
monitoring of the temperature levels within the various storage
bins at that location, for the purpose of detection of trigger
events and otherwise potentially subsequently providing
notification to the central monitoring system. The transceiver
would be any combination of hardware and software capable of
connection and communication with the grain bin temperature
sensors in use at that location, monitoring and detection based
upon the temperature levels within the storage bins and then at
appropriate times initiating communication from the transceiver
to the central monitoring system via a communications interface
as well.
The specific hardware configuration of the transceiver of the
present invention could take many formats, so long as the
transceiver was capable of communication with and monitoring of
the grain bin temperature sensors at the remote location, and
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outgoing communication between the transceiver and the central
monitoring system. The hardware and software of the transceiver
would also have programmed or flashable therein, the precise
software or parameters required for monitoring and detection of
a particular trigger event in terms of a temperature change in a
grain bin connected thereto, which would occasion the triggering
of the notification and the remainder of the method of the
present invention.
The transceiver would include at least one sensor interface
capable of connection to at least one temperature sensor located
within a storage bin.
It is specifically contemplated that
either hardwired or wireless temperature sensors could be used
and on that basis it may be necessary for the transceiver to
include multiple sensor interfaces, to read the temperatures of
those sensors as required - incorporation of multiple sensor
interfaces into a transceiver in accordance with the remainder
of the present invention would be understandable to those
skilled in the art of circuit on electronics design in this
field and all such modifications or enhancements are
contemplated within the scope hereof.
As outlined above, it is particularly contemplated that the
grain bin temperature sensors could either be connected to the
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transceiver on a wireless basis or alternatively in a hardwired
fashion - or a combination thereof with respect to a single
transceiver. While perhaps the simplest implementation or
installation of a new system according to the present invention
would be the use of wireless grain bin temperature sensors which
would wirelessly handshake and communicate with a transceiver at
the location, the incorporation of a hardwired interface would
be particularly useful to allow for the operability of the
transceiver and the remainder of the method of the present
invention with previously installed hardwired grain bin
temperature sensors.
In addition to the at least one sensor interface, the
transceiver of the present invention would also include at least
one external network interface. The external network interface
would be any combination of circuitry and software operatively
integrated with the remainder of the transceiver which was
capable of sending and/or receiving communications from a
central monitoring station in accordance with the remainder of
the present invention.
The communications interface from the transceiver to the central
monitoring system would need to at least be one way
communication such that communication could be initiated from
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the transceiver to the central monitoring system. It may also be
the case however that it was desired to have the ability for
two-way communication such that the central monitoring system
could as required query the transceiver for more detailed
5 temperature data from the site, flash the firmware on the
transceiver as may be required, or otherwise download from the
central monitoring system to the transceiver necessary location
parameters and detection data etc.
10 It is most specifically contemplated that the transceiver would
communicate wirelessly and it is the wireless communication
between the transceiver and the central monitoring system which
is desired to be optimized at the heart of the present
invention. It is specifically contemplated that the transceiver
15 would incorporate a cellular modem which was capable of
communication via a wireless IP network such that using that.
It is particularly contemplated that the external network
interface could comprise a wireless modem, such as a cellular
modem or the like, which was capable then of sending and/or in a
two-way communications embodiment receiving IP communications to
and from the central monitoring station for that transceiver.
Various other types of communication interfaces and protocols
between the transceiver and the central monitoring system might
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be understood to those skilled in the art which would not depart
from the scope and intention of the present invention and
insofar as those are available those are also contemplated
within the scope hereof.
It is conceivable that in certain embodiments it may be desired
to provide multiple external network interfaces for an added
level of redundancy in the monitoring application.
Incorporation of multiple external network interfaces for
communication with the central monitoring station of the present
invention, and the necessary modifications to the remainder of
the transceiver software or hardware, will also be understood by
those skilled in the art and are contemplated within the scope
hereof.
Dependent upon the number of channels which the transceiver was
capable of monitoring it may be the case that more than one
transceiver was required in a particular remote monitoring
location.
Central monitoring system:
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The system and method of the present invention relates to or
relies upon communication of temperature change in remotely
located storage bins when an appropriate temperature change is
detected, to a central monitoring system. The central monitoring
system would then be programmed with further conditions or
parameters as to how to action the receipt of a particular
temperature change notification from a remote monitoring site -
a user or third party for example could be notified by way of a
text message, e-mail, telephone message or otherwise.
The central monitoring system of the present invention could
take many specific forms but what is contemplated or required is
that the central monitoring system would generally speaking
comprise a hardware and software combination which was capable
of receiving communication packets from transceivers located at
remote monitoring sites, as well as capable of dispatching
communications to users or third parties to provide
notifications of temperature changes at the appropriate time. In
terms of communications infrastructure the central monitoring
system would require the necessary hardware and software
combination to receive notification messages from the remote
transceivers at the remote monitoring sites - which could likely
be a wireless IP network interface, but dependent upon the type
of modems or other communication hardware used on the
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transceivers could also comprise any number of other different
communication interfaces all of which will be obvious to those
skilled in the art and are contemplated within the scope of the
present invention.
The second communications interface required by the central
monitoring station would be the ability and interface to
communicate on an outgoing basis with users on notifications of
temperature changes, when notification of a trigger event was
received by the central monitoring system from a transceiver
operatively connected for communication therewith. The central
monitoring system might actually include more than one outgoing
communications interface if it was desired to provide maximized
flexibility to users thereof - for example the system might be
capable of dispatching notification messages by SMS text message
and or by e-mail message and the necessary hardware and software
combination to work in conjunction with the remainder of the
infrastructure of the central monitoring system to provide these
outgoing communications abilities will be understood by those
skilled in the art and again are all obviously contemplated
within the scope of the present invention.
User interface and interaction with the central monitoring
system, either for the sake of setting customized user level
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notification parameters were otherwise receiving reporting or
other information could be done in many ways. It is specifically
contemplated that the central monitoring system of the present
invention would comprise or include a website system which would
allow the user to configure any various notification parameters
or conditions of the user level that were enabled to be done on
this basis as well as to potentially capture and/or provide
reporting to the user upon detection of a trigger event or
otherwise. Programming of a database interface which would allow
for the entry or configuration of user level notification
parameters in the remainder of the system of the present
invention, as well as providing reporting of various types, will
all be understood by those skilled in the art of website design
and all necessary adjustments or inclusions to the central
monitoring system of the present invention to accomplish these
objectives are contemplated within the scope of the present
invention.
User and location database:
The central monitoring system of the present invention where
would likely be hosted, could include a user and location
database, which could take a specific format of any particular
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data structure or format which was capable' of being read,
written and interfaced with by the central monitoring system of
the present invention. The key aspects of that database would be
to maintain the necessary information to generate notifications
5 on behalf of the user if a particular bin sensor and transceiver
detected a trigger event occasioning a notification to the user
about a temperature change in that bin. Other data related to
the user or the various remote bins and locations of the user
could also be stored within such a database to allow for more
10 elaborate or customized reporting.
Finally and as outlined elsewhere above, if the system was
configured such that it was desired to allow the user to specify
the notification parameters or the detection parameters around
15 trigger events either for individual bins or at their own "user
account" level, the database of the central monitoring system
could include the necessary structure or components for the user
to indicate and store these settings with relation to their user
account. In a case such as this where the user was allowed to
20 adjust the notification or detection parameters, it would also
be desirable for the central monitoring system of the present
invention to be able to send communication to the transceivers
at specific remote locations, in addition to receiving trigger
notifications therefrom, since adjustments to the detection
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parameters would likely in an optimized fashion be communicated
to and hosted on the transceiver so as to maintain and maximize
the optimization of bandwidth consumption in the dispatch of
trigger notifications from the transceiver(s). All of these
requirements would be understood and met by those skilled in the
art of database design and any data structure or database which
would store this type of information in a fashion that it was
communicably accessible to the remainder of the central
monitoring system of the present invention are contemplated
within the scope hereof.
Trigger event and notification parameters:
As outlined the general concept of the method of the present
invention is to provide a notification of a temperature change
within a storage bin for grain or other organic particulate
material when a temperature change of a magnitude to indicate a
heating issue in the bin is detected. The requisite temperature
delta which would constitute a notification condition and fire a
trigger event, so to speak, resulting in a notification from the
remote site transceiver to the central monitoring station, could
either be hardcoded into the system and the transceiver as a
whole, or on a user by user or remote site by remote site basis
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this notification parameter could be programmed by the user or
for the user. Either approach, namely that of a hardcoded
temperature delta which would occasion a notification, or a user
adjustable set of user notification parameters is contemplated
within the scope of the present invention. Implementation of
either approach would be possible for those skilled in the art
and as such any general modifications required to the
overarching system or protocol of the present invention to
accommodate these different notification approaches are all
contemplated within the scope thereof as well. The threshold
level at which a trigger event would be sensor detected is the
primary parameter which would need to be programmed are
maintained, accessible to the transceiver, with respect to each
bin.
The threshold level could vary between storage bins based upon
the contents thereof. It is specifically contemplated that the
transceiver could be programmed either with the same threshold
level for each grain bin temperature sensor which was being
monitored, or the threshold level or other notification
parameters including the trigger temperature and/or the
necessary delta which would occasion a notification could be
adjusted on the bin by being or sensor by sensor basis and both
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such approaches are contemplated within the scope of the present
invention.
The threshold level which could be used for detection of a
trigger event, could either be a preset temperature level, or
dependent upon the nature of the programming, without departing
from the scope and intention hereof, might also be set as a
certain change in temperature over time - such that the trigger
event might be detecting that the temperature within the BN had
reached a particular level, or alternatively the threshold level
determination and detection of a trigger event rather than
detecting reaching a certain fixed temperature number could be
to seek to detect a particular rate of temperature change within
the bin. Both such approaches are contemplated within the scope
of the present invention.
While operationally the key parameter which needs to be
maintained on the memory store of the transceiver for the
purpose of operation of the detection portion of the method of
the present invention is the threshold level with respect to
each bin, it is also necessary to, again either on a hardcoded
or user adjustable basis, maintain notification parameters
within the system such that when a trigger event is detected
with respect to a certain bin that a certain site or location, a
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notification can be dispatched to the relevant parties.
For
example an e-mail address, and SMS text number or the like,
might be the necessary parameters which needed to be stored,
likely in the user database upon the central monitoring system
rather than at the transceiver level, and which would need to be
used by the system at the central monitoring station to dispatch
the appropriate notifications of the existence of a trigger
event that a particular storage bin at a particular storage
site.
These notification parameters might vary by bin, by transceiver
or by user, and these varying levels of flexibility in the
notification process are all contemplated within the scope of
the present invention as well. It is specifically contemplated
that where the central monitoring system incorporates a website
or other related user interface for reporting purposes, that
website system might also allow the user to access and program
the threshold level settings for particular bins and
transceivers within their implementation of the method as well
as the notification parameters associated either at the user
level with their account or down to more specific transceivers,
sites or bins. Where a website system or similar user interface
was used to allow the user to customize their settings for the
hardware of the present system, and the user entered alternate
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threshold data with respect to particular bins on particular
transceivers associated with their user account on the system,
the central monitoring system could in a two-way communication
environment, flash those threshold level changes back to the
5 necessary transceivers for storage and use thereon.
Operation of the system:
10 Turning to Figures 1 and 2, two exemplary embodiments of systems
according to the present invention are illustrated.
In Figure 1, a system 60 is illustrated that includes a single
bin 62. The bin 62 is provided with a sensor 64 for detecting
15 the temperature within the bin 62. As outlined above, various
temperature sensors that can serve this function are
commercially available, and one skilled in the art would be able
to identify numerous appropriate products. It is believed that
the determination of appropriate specific hardware for
20 implementing the present invention is within the common general
knowledge of one skilled in the art.
The system 60 further comprises a transceiver 66 that is
configured to receive a signal from at least one sensor 64
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indicating the internal temperature of a bin 62.
The
transceiver 66 is further configured to communicate in a wired
or wireless fashion with a communication network 70 such as the
Internet through, for example, a cellular modem, and in turn via
the communications networks 70 with a central monitoring station
or system 72.
The transceiver 66 is provided with both a memory storage and a
processor.
The memory storage will contain notification
parameters, being a customized threshold temperature detection
level, in respect of each sensor 64 connected thereto, for
access by the processor. The processor is coupled to the memory
storage in a manner known to those skilled in the art, and the
processor compares the sensed temperature data against the
threshold temperature detection level for that bin saved in the
memory storage. If the sensed temperature is at or above the
threshold level - a trigger event - then the processor causes
the transceiver to send a transmission packet 68 through the
communication network 70 to the central monitoring system 72.
This discrete transmission packet 68, as described in detail
above, is indicated by the circle symbol on the transmission
line. At the central monitoring system 72, an indication 74 of
the trigger event is displayed.
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Although not shown, the system 60 can also include a means for
enabling third party access to the received data once it has
been sent to the central monitoring system 72. For example the
central monitoring system 72 as outlined elsewhere herein might
include a website system or other similar user interface,
whereby a user or another third party could access the data
through the communication network 70 with the use of a password
or other security mechanism.
Referring now in detail to Figure 2, an exemplary system 80 is
illustrated that incorporates a plurality of bins 82 and sensors
84. Each of the bins 82 is illustrated with a matched sensor
84, e.g. bin 82a and sensor 84a, bin 82b and sensor 84b, etc.
As indicated above, various temperature sensors that can serve
this function are commercially available, and one skilled in the
art would be able to identify numerous appropriate products and
their application without undue effort.
The system 80 further comprises a transceiver 86 for each
grouping of bins 82 and sensors 84. The
transceiver 86a is
configured to receive signals from the sensors 84a, 84b and 84c
with respect to internal temperature conditions in the bins 82a,
82b and 82c, respectively. The transceiver 86b is configured to
receive signals from the sensors 84d, 84e and 84f with respect
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to internal temperature conditions in the bins 82d, 82e and 82f,
respectively.
The transceiver 86c is configured to receive
signals from the sensors 84g, 84h and 84i with respect to
internal temperature conditions in the bins 82g, 82h and 82i,
respectively. It is known in the art to use wired or wireless
communication means between temperature sensors and the
receiving device, and either wired or wireless communication
means are appropriate with the exemplary system 80.
The
transceivers 86a, 86b and 86c are further configured to
communicate in a wired or wireless fashion with a communication
network 90 such as the Internet through, for example, a cellular
modem.
Each of the transceivers 86 is provided with both a memory
storage and a processor. A
customized threshold level (as
discussed above) is saved in the memory storage for access by
the processor. The processor is coupled to the memory storage
in a manner known to those skilled in the art, and the processor
compares the sensed temperature data against the threshold level
saved in the memory storage. The processor is further capable,
when the sensed internal temperature is determined to be at or
above the set threshold level, of forming a transmission packet
comprising the sensed internal temperature and sensor location
information.
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If the sensed temperature is at or above the threshold level - a
trigger event - then the processor causes the transceiver 86 to
send a transmission packet 88 through the communication network
90 to the central monitoring system 92, in the same manner as
described with regard to the embodiment of Figure 3. As can be
seen in Figure 4, not every sensor 84 detects an elevated
internal bin temperature, and accordingly the number of
transmission packets 88 is reduced.
In the illustrated
embodiment, of the nine bins being monitored, only the bins 82e,
82g and 82i manifest elevated internal temperatures, which
temperatures are sensed by the sensors 84e, 84g and 84i,
respectively. Whereas the transceiver 86a receives no signal
requiring the formation and transmission of a transmission
packet, the transceiver 86b receives one elevated temperature
indication (indicated by a circle symbol) and the transceiver
86c receives two elevated temperature indications (indicated by
the square and triangle symbols).
The transceiver 86b
accordingly transmits a transmission packet 88a through the
communication network 90 to the central monitoring system 92,
and the transceiver 86c transmits transmission packets 88b and
88c through the communication network 90 to the central
monitoring system 92. While separate transmission packets 88b
and 88c are sent, it may be desirable and more cost-effective to
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transmit both packets together in a single transmission. At the
central monitoring system 92, indications 94 of the trigger
events are displayed (shown as circle, square and triangle
symbols).
In this way, sensor activity on nine bins only
5 requires bandwidth use for three (or possibly two) transmissions
to the central monitoring system.
Method
Having now outlined the transceiver hardware of the present
invention as well as the system of the present invention which
includes at least one transceiver connectable to at least one
temperature sensor in a storage bin, and at least one central
monitoring system in communication therewith, it is now desired
to in some detail discuss the actual monitoring method of the
present invention.
Figure 3 demonstrates a first embodiment of the method of the
present invention. In
this method, at least one storage bin
this provided for the storage of grain or other organic material
and is fitted with a temperature sensor configured to
communicate with the transceiver in accordance with the present
invention.
The transceiver, as outlined in further detail
CA 02783045 2012-07-16
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elsewhere herein is adapted to be connectable to at least one
temperature sensor fitted to a storage bin, and has an external
network interface allowing them to communicate at the
appropriate time with a central monitoring system.
Although with the within description specifically discusses
temperature sensors due to the impact of elevated temperatures
in grain spoilage, it will be obvious to those skilled in the
art that other types of sensors for other types of environmental
readings could also be employed with the present invention and
such are intended to be included within the scope of the present
invention.
The flow chart of Figure 3 demonstrates a first embodiment of
the method of the present invention. Shown at step 3A is the
initialization of the bin temperature sensor and transceiver
system. What is contemplated in this particular embodiment is
the periodic monitoring of the temperature readings in the
storage bins, by periodically polling the temperature sensors in
the bins from the transceiver. A periodic monitoring loop for a
polling frequency is shown at 3B. At Step 3C, the transceiver
would poll or read the value of the at least one temperature
sensor operatively connected thereto, and compare the reading
from the at least one temperature sensor to the threshold values
CA 02783045 2012-07-16
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stored within the memory of the transceiver with respect to that
particular bins sensor or sensors. The threshold comparison of
the acquired temperature values is shown at 3D.
If a temperature delta or reading exceeding the threshold value
with respect to its particular related in and sensor was not
detected, the detection decision step being shown in the flow
chart at 3E, the method would loop back to the commencement of
another periodic polling interval.
Alternatively, if the
readings acquired from one or more of the attached bin
temperature sensors exceeded the respective threshold values
therefore stored within the memory of the transceiver, this
would constitute the detection of a trigger event. If a trigger
event was detected, the transceiver would form and transmit a
transmission packet containing the sensor temperature data and
also data identifying the particular sensor and its location,
via the external network interface of the transceiver, to the
central monitoring system, shown at 3F. the transmission packet
only includes information on the sensed temperature level and
the sensor identifier/location and hence is of relatively modest
size.
The central monitoring system, upon receipt of a transmission
packet from a transceiver, would parse that packet to determine
CA 02783045 2012-07-16
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the appropriate user notification parameters from the user
database or other information stored or accessible thereto, and
the necessary notifications to the users would be dispatched
(3G).
In the method of Figure 3, while there is a periodic
monitoring frequency assigned, within which the transceiver
would poll or otherwise read the values from the various
temperature sensors associated their with, it can be seen that a
data transmission from the transceiver to the central monitoring
system would only take place if a trigger event, meaning in
these particular embodiments an unacceptable temperature delta
in a storage bin, was detected.
By limiting the transmission from the transceiver to the central
monitoring system to the discrete transmission packet,
transmission bandwidth use is reduced and the cost is
accordingly reduced.
Also, the discrete transmission packet
includes an identification of the sensor and its location, which
enables a more efficient on-site follow-up to address the
adverse bin conditions.
In addition, a user can disable the
monitoring once a trigger event has occurred and only reinitiate
monitoring once the issue has been corrected on-site, to further
reduce transmission costs.
CA 02783045 2012-07-16
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The remote temperature monitoring method demonstrated in Figure
3 can also be further modified if ongoing basic temperature
reporting is required from the remote monitoring site by
combining the trigger event monitoring method of the present
invention with the occasional periodic transmissions from the
transceiver of a complete set of temperature readings from the
temperature sensors connected thereto. It may be desirable for
an ongoing reporting or monitoring method to occasionally poll
or report the temperature readings from all of the bins
operatively connected to the transceivers at a particular remote
monitoring site, but given the incorporation of occasional
periodic reporting with the exception detection method of the
remainder of the present invention, the periodic time frame for
acquiring all of the temperatures of all of the bins connected
at the remote monitoring site can be significantly reduced - for
example rather than needing to poll the temperature sensors
within all of the bins for monitoring purposes and transmit all
of that information to the central monitoring system each time
it is pulled, for example every hour, it may not be the case
that an hourly periodic monitoring frequency is used on site by
the transceiver, with transmissions of exception or trigger
event packets to the central monitoring system only when
required, and then for example it may be the case that the
transceiver of the present invention was programmed to still
CA 02783045 2012-07-16
send a complete set of bin temperature sensor data every 48
hours to the central monitoring system for capture and reporting
purposes, or something along those lines.
Such periodic
reporting may be useful, for example, where a user wishes to
5 access information on temperature fluctuations that fall short
of the threshold level.
Optimizing packet contents:
As will be understood from the remainder of the narrative in
this document there are a number of different approaches that
can be taken to optimize the contents of communication packets
from the transceiver of the present invention to the central
monitoring site or location and system. Any optimize nation
which can be done in terms of the contents and size of
communications to be sent from the remote locations to the
central monitoring site will result in decreased or optimized
bandwidth usage in the communication between the remote sites
and the central monitoring station and all of these different
approaches to optimizing the contents of these communication
packets are contemplated within the scope hereof. The key to the
method of the present invention is that the transceiver will
only communicate with the central monitoring station when
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necessary, and will only send the necessary information when
communicating.
The first means of optimizing the communications between the
remote sites and the central monitoring location, as outlined in
detail throughout, is the concept of only triggering a
communication from the remote site transceiver to the central
monitoring location when a notification condition in terms of
the temperature change is detected. Prior art approaches in this
area included the dispatch of communications on a periodic time
frequency basis and, while those periodic communications would
provide an electronic "heartbeat" of sorts in terms of the
operability at the remote sites, the periodic communications
which reported the temperature status of all of the bins at that
location would consume unnecessary communications bandwidth
annotation unnecessary communications costs insofar as the only
time that notification is really required is when there is an
unacceptable temperature delta in the bin.
In terms of an electronic "heartbeat" to indicate or notify to
the central monitoring station the operability of the
transceiver and the remote site, it may still be desired to do
this within the scope of the present invention and insofar as
the system would by and large only location a detailed
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communication from a transceiver to the central monitoring
station when a trigger event was detected, it is contemplated
that a second layer of communications could be added into the
programming such that in the case that no communication has
otherwise been dispatched from a transceiver to its central
monitoring station in a predetermined period of time,
communications packet of some type simply indicating the
operability, battery level or otherwise of the transceiver and
that the site could be dispatched, such that if that type of a
periodic communication was not received another type of a
notification to the user could be generated indicating the
potential of a problem with the equipment on-site. Even in the
case however of a "heartbeat" packet being dispatch from time to
time as may be required, the contents of that packet might only
include the briefest of communication to indicate the good
standing of the equipment and may not include a detailed listing
of the temperature settings in the individual bins on-site, so
as again to minimize the amount of communications bandwidth
consumed in the dispatch of such a communication.
Transmitting on demand, rather than periodic:
The following two figures demonstrate the decreased
communications bandwidth which would be required in the dispatch
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of a communications packet from the transceiver only when a
trigger event was detected, versus on a periodic basis. The
first figure demonstrates the periodic transmission approach,
where a communication would be dispatched from a prior art
transceiver every certain number of minutes for example, whereas
in the second figure, a communication is shown as only being
dispatched upon the detection of a trigger event, after four
hours:
PRIOR ART [Periodic reportingl
Comm
00 Comm I 00 Comm ---41P Comm 1 Or Comm 1
INVENTION [Reporting only on detection of condition]
= 0i Comm
The significant decrease in communication requirements and the
second approach outlined above, with the communication packet
only being dispatched to the central monitoring system upon
detection of a notification condition or a trigger event, rather
CA 02783045 2012-07-16
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than on a periodic basis, can be seen in this visible
comparison.
Only transmitting exception temperatures:
Another approach to optimizing the length and size of
communications from the transceivers to the central monitoring
station would be to in addition to only dispatching a detailed
communication packet from the transceiver to the central
monitoring location when a trigger event was detected, the data
which could be sent from the transceiver to the central
monitoring location when a trigger event was detected could be
limited to providing the temperature reading or details for the
particular bin in which a notifiable temperature change was
detected, rather than at the time of dispatching a communication
providing a temperature update with respect to all of the bins.
This would limit the size of the communication insofar as the
only information in this type of the communication packet would
likely be the identification or address of the transceiver, the
specific bin, and the temperature reading for the specific bin,
within which the temperature change has been detected.
CA 02783045 2012-07-16
The following sample data will be used to demonstrate this
second approach to optimizing the length of a data transmission
in the method of the present invention, at a remote monitoring
site with a single transceiver and seven bins connected thereto.
5 The temperature sensor data, for sample purposes, would be as
follows [with the third bin being the only bin with a detected
heating condition to be reported]:
Site: 101
Bin 1 30C
Bin 2 29C
Bin 3 41C
Bin 4 28C
Bin 5 30C
Bin 6 30C
Bin 7 29C
10 In a first conventional data transmission which identified and
provided the temperature readings from all of the storage bins
at the remote site, the data packet might look something like
the following - presented visibly for the purpose of outlining
the relative size of a data transmission in the two approaches
15 [the actual appearance or contents of the transmission packet
might include additional envelope information or the like but
these two visual presentations are provided simply for the
purpose of demonstrating the shorter length or burst that would
be required where transmitting only a detected temperature
20 change or exception on detection of a trigger event, rather than
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the transmission of all of the bin temperatures for bins
connected to the transceiver each time that a communication was
sent from the transceiver to the central monitoring system]:
TRANSMIT ALL BIN TEMPERATURES:
101 1 1 1 30 1 2 29 1 3 1 41 1 4 1 28 1 5 1 30 1 6 1 30 1 7 1 29
TRANSMIT ONLY DETECTED TEMPERATURE CHANGE:
101 1 3 1 41
It will be understood by those skilled in the art of programming
and communications that there may be other means of further
reducing our optimizing the size or frequency of data
transmissions from the transceiver of the present invention to
the central monitoring system.
All such changes which
accomplish the objective of minimizing the required bandwidth
and economic or system cost of communication between the
transceiver in the central monitoring system are contemplated
within the scope of the present invention.
Various other modifications or enhancements to the formatting
for preparation of a communication packet from the transceiver
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to the central monitoring station incoming communication
interface can be contemplated by those skilled in the art of
wireless or electronic communication and all such modifications,
which accomplish the goal of maximizing the effectiveness and
efficiency of and/or minimizing the bandwidth consumption by,
the dispatch of such communications between those components of
the system of the present invention are contemplated within the
scope thereof. This may even include the incorporation of
various encryption or compression technologies on either the
central monitoring and or the remote transceiver end and again
those are contemplated within the scope of the method as well.
Additional sensors for other environmental conditions within the
storage bins at a remote location could also be added and
operatively connected to the transceiver such that they could
similarly be contemplated and reflected within the method of the
present invention.
As can be readily seen, then, the method and system of the
present invention present significant advantages over the prior
art.
For example, the present invention provides for
customizable triggers and remote access, while enabling simpler
and more focused on-site action to address adverse temperature
CA 02783045 2012-07-16
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conditions.
The use of selected and packetized data
transmissions reduces the amount of bandwidth used, and optional
periodic reporting can be spread over longer intervals.
The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Thus, while certain aspects and
embodiments of the invention have been described, these have
been presented by way of example only and are not intended to
limit the scope of the invention, which could for example extend
beyond temperature sensors to other types of sensors. Indeed,
the invention described herein may be embodied in a variety of
other forms without departing from the spirit of the invention,
which invention is defined solely by the claims below.
