AU2007203285A1 - Remote asset monitoring and communication system - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT (Original) APPLICATION NO:

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COMPLETE SPECIFICATION LODGED:

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RELATED ART: NAME OF APPLICANT: ACTUAL INVENTOR: ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: INVENTION TITLE: Sat-Trak24 Corporation Ltd Raymond Keith Kelly LORD AND COMPANY, Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys, of 4 Douro Place, West Perth, Western Australia, 6005, AUSTRALIA.

REMOTE ASSET MONITORING COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

AND

DETAILS OF ASSOCIATED PROVISIONAL APPLICATION NO'S: Australian Provisional Patent Application Number 2006903821 filed on 17 July 2006 The following Statement is a full description of this invention including the best met of performing it known to me/us:

STITLE

SREMOTE ASSET MONITORING AND COMMUNICATION SYSTEM The present invention relates generally to monitoring and communications systems, and 00oO N, in particular to systems for enabling the monitoring of and communication with one or more remote assets from a user station.

There currently exists various systems to enable the monitoring of a number of remote assets, such as a fleet of vehicles or shipping containers, from a remote location. In such systems, the remote assets are typically equipped with a global positioning system (GPS) receiver that captures positional information transmitted from a number of satellites forming part of the GPS satellite network. The positional information captured from the satellite is then processed in order to derive a geographical position of the remote asset.

The geographical position information is then transmitted via a fixed or mobile data network together with information identifying the remote asset to a central monitoring facility, from where all remote assets can be monitored.

However, no facilities are provided in such systems for a remote asset user to send and receive other information to the central monitoring system. If a message needs to be conveyed by the remote asset user to the central monitoring system, another means of communication must be used. For example, the driver of a vehicle forming part of a fleet may use a mobile telephone and a mobile telephony network to send and receive such information. Mobile and fixed network coverage is limited to highly populated areas only. Moreover, the message and overhead data required to be transmitted for such communications is large, and if a significant number of remote assets are required to be managed, communication costs are high.

Some remote asset monitoring systems provide remote asset users with a satellite phone which enables communication with a central monitoring system via a satellite network.

However, existing satellite networks only provide for voice and short message service (SMS) facilities. Moreover, the size of the message and overhead data required to be N transmitted once again results in communication costs being high.

Most remote asset monitoring systems are designed around tracking, data collection and control type applications. Many do not provide for remote personnel communication and do not target personnel and remote asset safety and security.

00 Existing remote asset communication sytems do not provide for cost effective two way communication between the remote asset user and the central monitoring system through N 10 the use of compression and encryption, nor do they provide for exception reporting with the further ability to allow scheduled periodic transmissions and polling of the remote asset from the central monitoring system.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a remote asset monitoring and communication system that facilitates communication with remote assets in a simple and cost effective manner to ensure safety and security of personnel and remote assets.

It would also be desirable to provide a remote asset monitoring and communication system that ameliorates or overcomes one or more disadvantages of known systems.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for monitoring and communicating with a remote asset, the system comprising: an operations centre being in two-way communication with a remote asset communications device via a satellite communications network; the remote asset communications device being arranged to receive positional data from a global navigation satellite system using a GPS unit; the operations centre is arranged to receive at least position tracking information from the remote asset communications device, and to transmit and receive at least message information to and from the remote asset communications device, the operations centre being further arranged to maintain the position tracking information in a database and facilitate remote access to the position tracking information.

U Preferably, the GPS unit is a hypersensitive unit arranged to give precise positional data.

The operations centre may further be in two-way communication with a user station via a second communications network to enable two-way communication between the user Sstation and the remote asset communications device.

00oO The operations centre may further be in two-way communication with a further remote asset communications device via the satellite communications network to enable two-way 10 communication between the remote asset communications device and the further remote asset communications device.

The global navigation satellite system may comprise a plurality of satellites such as the NAVSTAR GPS network.

The satellite network may comprise a plurality of communication satellites such as the Iridium Global Satellite Network.

The second communications network is preferably a data network, such as the Intemrnet or fixed or mobile telephony network.

The remote asset may be a mobile asset or a fixed asset.

The database may contain a plurality of predefined messages such that when the remote asset communication device requires to transmit one of the predefined messages to the operations centre, the remote asset communication device transmits information including a reference to the predefined message so that the operation centre can retrieve the predefined message from the database.

The predefined messages may be configurable remotely from the remote asset communications device.

SThe predefined messages may be configurable remotely via the second communications network.

cPreferably, the database also maintains a record of message information exchanged between the remote asset communications device and the user station and/or operations centre.

00 Preferably, the database also maintains identification information identifying one or more users of each remote asset.

10 The database may also maintain related asset information, such as images, or other video, audio or text content relating to the remote asset and/or remote asset user.

The database may also contain electronic map information.

Information transmitted between the operations centre and the remote asset communications device may include a trigger for causing the operations centre or remote asset communications device to perform a predefined operation. The trigger may be included in a message header.

The information transmitted between the operations centre and the remote asset communications device may be compressed or encrypted or reported by exception to minimise data and air time. The information may also be transmitted according to scheduled periodic transmissions.

The information transmitted between the operations centre and the remote asset communications device may include a data string, wherein the predefined operation performed by the operations centre or the remote asset communications device acts to separate the data string into one or more data string segments, and to use one or more of the data string segments to perform that operation.

The data string may include a text message for transmission to or from the remote asset communications device.

The predefined operation may include writing one or more of the data segments to the one or more data tables maintained in the operations centre database.

SThe remote asset communications device may include display means for displaying 00oO position tracking information and message information to a remote asset user.

The remote asset communications device may also include user data input means, such as 10 one or more user operable switches, a keyboard or the like.

The remote asset communications device may include an automatic data input means operable, for example, by one or more sensors or other automatically activated devices.

The remote asset communications device may further include navigation assistance data, including electronic map data, for display by the display means.

The remote asset communications device may include a base unit and a mobile unit in communication with the base unit.

The operations centre may be arranged to poll the remote communications device.

The operations centre may include a web server for enabling access to the user station via the Internet.

The operations centre may include an interface server for enabling interaction with the web server and a database server, the database server including the database. The interface server may operate according to the ColdFusion markup language.

The operations centre may also include a mapping server for mapping information transmitted between the operations centre and the remote asset communications device to and from the database. The mapping server may use TraxFinder software to perform the Ninformation mapping.

Another aspect of the invention provides a method for monitoring and communicating with a remote asset, the method comprising: providing two-way communications with a remote asset communications device

OO

via a satellite communications network; receiving positional data from a global navigation satellite system using a GPS (Ni unit; N 10 receiving at least position tracking information from the remote asset communications device at the operations centre; transmitting and receiving at least message information to and from the remote asset communications device at the operations centre; maintaining the position tracking information within the operations centre in a database; and facilitating remote access to the position tracking information.

Another aspect of the present invention provides an operations centre for use in a system for monitoring and communicating with a remote asset.

A further aspect of the present invention provides a remote asset communications device for use in a system for monitoring and communicating with a remote asset.

The following description refers in more detail to the various features of the remote asset monitoring and communications system and method of the present invention. To facilitate an understanding of the invention, reference is made in the description to the accompanying drawings where the invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment. It is to be understood however, the invention is not limited to the preferred embodiment as illustrated in the drawings.

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating a remote asset monitoring and communication system in accordance with the present invention; t Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of part of the remote asset monitoring and 00oO communication system of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic diagram and flow chart showing the interaction of various 10 components of an operations centre forming part of the mobile asset monitoring and communications system of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of a remote asset communications device forming part of the remote asset monitoring and communications system of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing the format and contents of message information exchanged between the remote asset communications device and the operations centre of the remote asset monitoring and communications system of Figure 1; Figures 6 to 8 are schematic diagrams illustrating alternative embodiments of the remote asset communications device forming part of remote asset monitoring and communications system of Figure 1; Figure 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating the inter-relationship between various databases maintained within the operations centre forming part of the system of Figure 1; Referring now to Figure 1, there is shown generally a system 100 for monitoring and communicating with a series of remote assets, such as an aeroplane 102, a motor vehicle 104 and a boat 106. In each of the related assets is located a remote asset communications device adapted to send and receive information to an operations centre 108 via a satellite communications network 110. The satellite communications network Scomprises a series of satellites 112 to 134, earth stations 136 to 140 and a backbone network 142. The satellite communications network 110 enables two-way communication between remote asset communications devices located in the remote assets 102 to 106 and the operations centre 108. The satellites 112 to 134 may be s communication satellites, for example, forming part of the Iridium Global Satellite SNetwork. The Iridium Global Satellite Network includes a constellation of low earth 00 orbit satellites designed to extend voice and data communications all over the world.

The operations centre 108 is also arranged for two-way communication with a user station 144 located, for example, at the premises of a home or business user desiring to monitor and communicate with each of the remote assets 102 to 106. The user of the user station 144 may be an owner of the remote assets or may be related to or associated with one or more of the remote asset users, such as a pilot or passenger of any of the vehicles 102 to 106. Communication between the operations centre 108 and the user station 144 is enabled by the Internet 146. However, in other embodiments of the invention another communications network may be used, such as a fixed or mobile telephony network.

The operations centre may also be arranged for two-way communication between two or more of the remote asset communication devices located in the remote assets 102 to 106, via the satellite communications network 110. In this way, the monitoring of and communication with a remote asset can be performed from a further remote asset.

A global navigation satellite system enables position tracking information, such as the geographical location of each remote asset to be established and transmitted to the operations centre 108 via the satellite communications network 110. The two-way communication provided by the satellite communications network 110 enables messages to be both sent to and received from each remote asset 102 to 106. The operations centre maintains the database for maintaining at least the position tracking information provided from the global navigation satellite system, and preferably also maintains a record of message information transmitted to or received from each remote asset communications device. The information maintained in the database is accessible from the user station S144 via the Internet 146, or from a further remote asset communications device via the N satellite communications network 110.

SFigure 2 shows a schematic diagram of a portion of the remote asset monitoring and communications system 100. As previously explained, the user station 144 is connected Sto the operations centre 108 via the Internet 146. The operations centre 108 includes a 00oO hardware server 200 facilitating communication with the user station 144 and with a satellite communication network gateway 202. The hardware server 200 may also be adapted to communicate with one or more remote services servers 204 maintained, for S to10 example, by emergency services and the like. Certain categories of communications to and from the remote asset communications devices may trigger an automated communication from the operations centre 200 to such remote services, for example requesting assistance for the remote asset.

The hardware server 200 includes three server components 300 to 304, as shown in Figure 3. The server component 300 includes a database for maintaining position tracking, message information and other related data required for operation of the remote asset monitoring and communications system. In this example, the database is an SQL server. The server 300 acts to write information received from a remote asset communications device into one of a series of data and other content tables defining a relational database of monitoring and communication information. The database 300 also acts to retrieve information maintained in these data tables and provide that information for transmission to the remote asset communications devices.

The hardware server 200 also includes a web server component 304 for enabling access from the user station 144 to the operation centre 108. An interface server 302 is provided to enable interaction between the web server 304 and the database server 300. In this example, the interface server operates according to the ColdFusion markup language.

The gateway server 202 acts to map information transmitted between the operations centre and the remote asset communications devices to and from the database maintained by the SQL server 300. The mapping server 202 preferably uses TraxFinder software to perform the information mapping.

In operation, position tracking information, message information and other data that may _be transmitted from each remote asset communications device is received by the mapping server 202. Data and other content required to be stored in the database maintained by Sthe SQL server 300 is extracted from the information received by the mapping server 202 00 and mapped into the database. Similarly, when information is required to be sent to each remote asset communications device, the mapping server 202 formats the data extracted from the data tables maintained in the SQL server 300 into messages for transmission on 10 the satellite communications network 110 to each remote asset communications device.

A user of the user station 144 is able to retrieve information maintained by the SQL server 300 and/or communicate with the remote asset communications device in question by accessing the web server 304. For example, information identifying one or more users of the remote asset may be entered via a web browser at the user station 144. The ColdFusion server 302 retrieves the user input and then extracts relevant information for mapping to the data table maintained in the SQL server 300 and for triggering one or more predefined operations, such as message generation for a remote asset communications device or remote server or other entity. The ColdFusion server also acts to convert information retrieved from the SQL server 300 and use that information to create a dynamic web page provided to the user of the user station 144 by the web server 304.

Similarly, a user of a further remote asset communications device is able to retrieve information maintained by the SQL server 300 and/or communicate with the remote asset communications device in question via the mapping server 202.

Figure 4 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary remote asset communications device 400. The communications device 400 includes a satellite signal antenna 402 connected to a processing unit 404 by a serial databus 406. User operable input switches 408 are provided to enable user input to the processing unit 404. The communications device 400 may optionally include one or more peripheral devices 410, such as a personal data assistant (PDA), map and message display device or other peripheral augmenting user interaction with the communications device 400. The peripheral 410 communicates with the processing unit 404 via serial databus 412.

SIn order to minimise transmitted data, and hence reduce the cost of the "air time" required 00 for operation of the remote asset monitoring and communications system 100, information transmitted to and from each remote asset communications device is transmitted in one or more data packets 500, as shown in Figure 5. Each data packet 500 N 10 includes a header 502 and a data string 504. The header 502 includes a trigger 506 used by each remote asset communications device and by the SQL server 300 in the operation centre 200 to identify a predetermined function required to be performed upon receipt of the data packet. The data string 504 includes data segments 508 to 514, but includes no or only minimal overhead data, such as data separators, formatting information or other non essential information. Upon receipt of the data packet 500 either by the remote asset communications device or the operations centre, and upon detection of the trigger 506, a predefined functionality (defined by software encoded in the device receiving the data packets) acts to separate the data string 504 into the data segments 508 to 514 at predefined locations, and then uses each of the data segments to carmy out a portion of the predefined functionality. For example, each of the data segments 508 to 514 may relate to different types of position tracking or message information required to be maintained in the various data tables of the SQL server 300.

Figures 6 to 8 illustrate various representations of a remote asset communications device for use in accordance with the present invention. Figure 6 illustrates a communications device 600 incorporating a display 602 to enable electronic map information stored within the communications device 600 to be displayed to a user, as well as message information 604 transmitted to or from the communications device 600. The geographical positioning information provided by the global navigation satellite system may be used to determine which electronic map information is displayed to the user, so that the communications device 600 acts as a navigation aid to the user of the remote asset. A toggle switch 606, or other user inputs, may be provided to enable the user of the communications device 600 to interact with the operations centre 108 and user station 144. Figure 7 illustrates a simpler version of a communications device 700 including a t simple text display 702 and user input buttons 704.

t Figure 8 illustrates a mobile unit 800 which may be used in conjunction with a base unit 00 802, which together form a remote asset communications device 804. The provision of a Sbase unit 802 and mobile unit 800 in communication with the base unit enables a user of the remote asset to have some limited mobility with respect to the remote asset itself.

S 10 The base unit 802 and the mobile unit 800 may be in communication via radio link 806.

The mobile unit 800 may be used as a personal duress device. This device may enable a user to activate it if under duress by pressing a duress button 808. The mobile unit 800 may also be triggered automatically by sensors inbuilt into the device if the user becomes incapacitated. The mobile unit 800 may provide an LED indication light 810 and an audible device 812.

The remote asset communications device may allow a time period to be set in which the user must acknowledge all is well within that time frame. If the mobile unit 800 is being used in conjunction with the base unit 802 there may also be a timne period set in which the user must communicate from the mobile unit 800 back to the base unit 802 to acknowledge all is well.

In both situations, if no acknowledgement is received by the remote asset communications device an alert is transmitted to the operations centre 108.

Each remote asset communications device may include display means for displaying position tracking information and message information to a remote asset user. The user data input means for each communications device may include a keyboard or like input device, in addition to or as an alternative to the user operable switches 408. Moreover, automatic data input may be provided, for example, by one or more sensors rather automatically activated devices so that message information is generated and transmitted N, to the operations centre 108 upon the occurrence of certain specified conditions occurring. Navigation assistance data, such as the electronic map data referred to above, may also be displayed by the display means of the remote asset communications device.

SThe database maintained by the SQL server 300 may store a variety of identification oO 00 information identifying one or more users of each remote asset. The information may include asset information categorising the remote asset, and including text information, image, audio or other content enabling the identification or providing information relating 10 to the remote asset. Related asset information may be provided relating to the remote asset user or users. This related asset information may include each user's name, contact details, emergency information and other type of information which may be required to be viewed by a user at the remote station 144 and/or transmitted to an emergency service 204 or other entity with whom the user of the remote asset or a user of the user station may wish to communicate.

The information indicated is stored in a database 900 within the SQL server 300, as shown in Figure 9. The asset information is maintained in the "asset details" data table 902. Similarly, the related asset information is stored in the "traveller details" data table 904 and the "traveller images" data table 906. In addition, position tracking information derived from the global navigation satellite system is maintained in the "GPS" data table 908.

In order to minimise the amount of transmitted data in communications between the remote asset communication device and the operations centre, the remote asset monitoring and communication system allows a plurality of predefined text messages to be created. The predefined messages are stored in the database. The remote asset communication device includes means for the user to select one or more of the predefined messages and the remote asset communication device transmits in the transmitted data packets references to the predefined messages such that the selected message can be retrieved at the operations centre from the database.

U The predefined messages stored may also be modified remotely by the user of the remote asset communications device. Such modification may be via inputting the message information into the remote asset communications device for transmission to the operations centre. Also, the user of the remote asset communications device may Sconfigure the predefined messages for later use via the user stations 144, when they have 00oO Internet access.

A record of message information exchanged between the remote asset communications S 10 device and the user station and/or operations centre is maintained in the "traveller conversation" data table 910. Way points that have been attained by the remote asset are stored in the "way points" data table 912. Date, action and destination information for each remote asset are respectively maintained in the "DD Date" data table 914, "DD Action" data table 916 and "DD Destination" data table 918. Traveller history details are maintained in the "Traveller History" data table 920.

The triggers, such as the trigger 506 shown in Figure 5, as well as the predefined functionality initiated upon detection of each trigger are maintained in the "header triggers" data table 922. Moreover, a list of email addresses to which message information may be sent for certain predefined operations (for example, a request for assistance email message sent to an emergency services server) are maintained in the "email list" data table 924.

As information is received at the SQL server 300 from either the user station 144 or the remote asset communications device in question, the data maintained in the various data tables 900 is updated, and predefined functionality defined by the trigger detected in the received message information is then carried out.

A user may interact with the operations centre 108 via a display terminal. An interface display layout may include a series of predefined fields to enable the generation of message strings for transmission to a remote asset communications device, as well as Senabling data maintained in the various data tables 900 to be updated. In addition, N, electronic map information to enable visualisation of the geographical position of each remote asset may be entered and edited. A further interface display layout may be created from the web server 304 and displayed to a home or business user at the user station 144.

This may enable a user to be presented with selected information maintained in the data t tables 900, such as electronic map information showing the geographical position of a 00oO selected remote asset, images associated with each remote asset and a record of message information exchanged between the remote asset communications device in question and the user station and/or operations centre. Text messages may be conveniently created N 10 from combining predetermined phrases from a series of drop-down menus. A user of the user station 144 is able to upload new images, submit new text messages and otherwise interact with the operations centre 108 by interacting with the interface display layout.

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims (19)

1. A system for monitoring and communicating with a remote asset, the system _comprising: an operations centre which is in two-way communication with a remote asset communications device via a satellite communications network; 00 the remote asset communications device being arranged to receive positional data from a global navigation satellite system using a GPS unit; the operations centre being arranged to receive at least position tracking information from the remote asset communications device, and to transmit and receive at least message information to and from the remote asset communications device, the operations centre being further arranged to maintain the position tracking information in a database and facilitate remote access to the position tracking information.

2. A system for monitoring and communicating with a remote asset according to claim 1, wherein the operations centre is further in two-way communication with a user station by a second communications network to enable two-way communication between the user station and the remote asset communications device.

3. A system for monitoring and communicating with a remote asset according to claim 2 wherein the second communication network is a data network.

4. A system for monitoring and communicating with a remote asset according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the operations centre is further in two-way communication with a further remote asset communications device via the satellite communications network to enable two-way communication between the remote asset communications device and the further remote asset communications device.

5. A system for monitoring and communicating with a remote asset in accordance with any one of the preceding claims, in which the remote asset is a mobile asset.

6. A system for monitoring and communicating with a remote asset according to any t one of the preceding claims, wherein the database contains a plurality of pre- 00 defined messages such that when the remote asset communications device O requires to transmit one of the pre-defined messages to the operations centre the remote asset communications device transmits information including a reference ~to the pre-defined message so that the operations centre can retrieve the message from the database.

7. A system for monitoring and communicating with a remote asset according to claim 6, wherein the pre-defined messages are configurable remotely from the remote asset communications device.

8. A system for monitoring and communicating with a remote asset according to claim 7, wherein the pre-defined messages are configurable remotely by a second communications network.

9. A system for monitoring and communicating with a remote asset according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein information transmitted from the operations centre and the remote asset communications device includes a trigger for causing the operations centre or the remote asset communications device to perform a pre- defined operation.

A system for monitoring and communicating with a remote asset according to claim 9, wherein the trigger is included in a message header.

11. A system for monitoring and communicating with a remote asset according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the information transmitted between the operations centre Sand a remote asset communications device includes a data string.

S12. A system for monitoring and communicating with a remote asset according to claim 11, wherein the pre-defined operation performed by the operations centre or the remote asset communications device acts to separate the data string into one t or more data string segments and to use one or more of the data string segments to 00 perform that operation.

13. A system for monitoring and communicating with a remote asset according to any N, one of the preceding claims, wherein the remote asset communications device includes a base unit and a mobile unit in communication with the base unit.

14. A system for monitoring and communicating with a remote asset according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the operations centre includes a web-server for use enabling access with the user station via the internet.

A system for monitoring and communicating with a remote asset according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein information transmitted between the operations centre and the remote asset communications device is compressed or encrypted or reported by exception to minimize data and air time.

16. A system for monitoring and communicating with a remote asset according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein information is transmitted according to scheduled periodic transmissions.

17. A system for monitoring and communicating with a remote asset according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the operations centre is arranged to poll the remote communications device.

18. A method for monitoring and communicating with a remote asset, the method comprising: Sproviding two-way communications with a remote asset communications device via a satellite communications network; receiving positional data from a global navigation satellite system using a GPS unit; receiving at least position tracking information from the remote asset Scommunications device at the operations centre; 00oO transmitting and receiving at least message information to and from the remote asset communications device at the operations centre; maintaining the position tracking information within the operations centre in a N, database; and facilitating remote access to the position tracking information.

19. A system for monitoring and communicating with a remote asset substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings