WO2005006260A1

WO2005006260A1 - Method and system for monitoring or influencing units of deployed forces

Info

Publication number: WO2005006260A1
Application number: PCT/AT2004/000254
Authority: WO
Inventors: Oliver Hrazdera; Alfred BÄCK
Original assignee: Rosenbauer International Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2003-07-14
Filing date: 2004-07-14
Publication date: 2005-01-20
Also published as: WO2005006260A8

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and a system for monitoring or influencing discrete units (1) of deployed forces, such as for example fire-fighting forces, in particular the persons (2) and/or objects (3) of deployed forces. According to said method, a status confirmation is sent from the individual units (1) to a remote station (11) by the transmission of parameters, such as for example, physical data relating to a person, equipment condition data, location co-ordinates etc. via at least one communications device (9) and the parameters are evaluated at the remote station (11). The parameters of different types of units (1), e.g. vehicles (4), respiratory equipment (4) or persons (2) and optionally several units (1) can be recorded by the remote station (11) via a first interface (12) of an interface unit (7) and said parameters are transmitted to the communications device (9) via an additional interface (13) of the interface unit (7).

Description

Procedure and system for monitoring or influencing units of emergency services

The invention relates to a method for monitoring or influencing discrete units, and a system therefor, as described in the preambles of claims 1 and 23.

Methods and systems for diagnosing objects or persons are known in the prior art, in which the parameters and data determined by the detection means or sensors are read in via an interface and these data can either be displayed and viewed on site on a visualization device or the Parameters are stored on a data carrier and can be called up from this if necessary.

Such a method and a device is known for example from DE 101 38 833 A. This describes a device and a method for remote diagnosis of vehicles, in which relevant vehicle data are recorded by means of a mobile unit M, which is to be carried by the service technician, and furthermore data is exchanged with a control center in order to obtain access to information on vehicle repair. In addition to all interfaces for connecting to external components, transmitting and / or receiving devices, visualization devices and input and / or output devices are arranged in the mobile unit M. However, such systems are only suitable for use with vehicles in order to simplify their maintenance or repair.

The object of the invention is to provide a method and a system for monitoring or influencing discrete units of emergency personnel, which can be manufactured or used cost-effectively and has a high degree of flexibility in its use. Part of the object of the invention is also to provide a method and a system with which the coordination of individual units of emergency personnel is improved.

This object is achieved independently by the features set out in the characterizing part of claim 1 and further independently by the features reproduced in the characterizing part of claim 23. The advantages resulting from the characterizing features of claims 1 and 23 lie primarily in the fact that only one interface unit is required for monitoring or influencing discrete units, that is to say for recording parameters that are characteristic of the current state of an object or a person which can be used to read in all the relevant parameters from a wide variety of units and these parameters can be transmitted to a remote station via conventional and largely widespread communication or mobile radio devices via public communication networks. The ability of units to be coordinated can thus be improved, this being particularly advantageous in the case of a large number of emergency services deployed, since more efficient operational planning can be carried out from the remote site, in particular the operational center. Furthermore, a very compact and inexpensive structure of a system for diagnosis or for influencing individuals can be realized, since the signal or data transmission to the remote station can take place via an already existing infrastructure.

An embodiment variant according to the characterizing part of at least one of claims 2 and 24 is advantageous since the components for recording or providing the parameters of discrete units can be connected via one or more of the interfaces or are fixed to the interface. Known from the prior art sensor or Detection elements, bus systems, etc. can thus be connected to the interface unit for signal and / or data exchange.

Embodiment variants according to the characterizing features of at least one of claims 3 and 29 are advantageous since the parameters can be transmitted to the remote station in a simple manner by connecting the communication device to the interface unit for signal and / or data transmission. The structure of the interface unit can thus be simple and inexpensive by dispensing with a communication device.

A procedure according to the characterizing features of claim 4 is advantageous since the communication devices each form network nodes for the interface unit and the remote station and thus a transmission of the parameters via a communication network, in particular via a signal transmission method known from the prior art, such as GSM, GPRS, UMTS, HSCDS, TETRA, etc. or data transmission protocol, such as TCP, is made possible.

A procedure characterized in claims 5 and 6 is advantageous since a detailed remote diagnosis of units by calling up a large number of parameters is only possible in the event of incorrect parameters or an error in a unit, such as e.g. a vehicle, and in the event of a non-fault, only the states of the units need to be monitored, which means that the amount of data in the event of a non-fault can be kept low. To maintain an overview and reduce the amount of data to be transmitted, the data or parameter filter module can only be used to specify the parameters that are currently relevant for evaluation at the remote station.

The characteristic features described in claim 7 achieve the advantage that, by maintaining the communication link after the remote station has been connected to the interface unit, continuous parameter monitoring of the discrete units can be carried out and these parameters can be evaluated in real time at the remote station. The parameters can be stored in databases and / or displayed graphically as virtual representations on visualization devices, which means e.g. the current status of one or more units is immediately apparent to an operator at the remote site. Furthermore, parameter-related regulation of the discrete units can take place by means of permanent parameter monitoring.

The characterizing features of at least one of claims 8 and 30 are advantageous since the flexibility and the ease of use of the system according to the invention are improved by the wireless transmission of parameters between the interface unit and the communication device. Through the use of a radio data transmission method, such as Bluetooth, WLAN, etc., which is preferably standardized or standardized, the considerable advantage is also achieved that different types of communication devices that differ in their used communication methods, data transmission protocols, frequencies, etc., can distinguish, can be used for communication with the remote station, whereby a connection is always made possible via the standardized radio interface between the interface unit and any type of communication device, which essentially is preferably used worldwide for data transmission over short distances. The invention The system is therefore highly flexible and inexpensive, since it can be used essentially anywhere in the world without hardware or software adjustments.

Furthermore, configurations according to the characterizing features of at least one of claims 9 to 11 or 25 and 26 are advantageous, since the connection of the interface unit to a bus system enables the data of the bus system to be read out and this data to be transmitted to the remote station can be transmitted, so that remote monitoring of the unit provided with the bus system is possible from the remote station. This is particularly advantageous when used with motor vehicles, which mostly have CAN or TTP bus systems, since the vehicles are used especially in task groups, e.g. Fire brigades, etc., must be fully operational at all times, and the operational capability of the motor vehicles can be monitored from any location using the system according to the invention. In this case, for example, a status display on a communication device formed as a mobile phone or a separate evaluation or visualization device is possible.

An embodiment variant according to at least one of claims 12 and 28 is advantageous because detection means, which are known as conventional sensors known from the prior art for detecting a wide variety of parameters, such as biometric data or body functions, in particular pulse, temperature, etc., of a person or environmental conditions such as Air temperature, lighting conditions, camera images, etc., or parameters of an object, such as Fill levels, energy reserves, etc., are formed, wherein the parameters can preferably be transmitted to the interface unit via conventional lines for signal and / or data transmission. Body function monitoring is again particularly useful for task groups such as. e.g. Fire brigades are an advantage for risky operations such as fire fighting.

A procedure according to the features of claim 13 is advantageous since, depending on the need or situation, an interface unit for signal and / or data transmission can be activated from the remote station or from the interface unit.

Furthermore, a procedure according to the features of at least one of claims 14 to 16 is advantageous, since by using methods known from the prior art Bilfunkeinrichtung that are capable of signal or data transmission over a communication network using one of the transmission methods mentioned, the system can be kept flexible and inexpensive.

A procedure according to the features of at least one of claims 17 and 18 is advantageous, since the evaluation device can process the parameters at the remote station and, if necessary, can be represented by the visualization device, with the parameters being evaluated or visualized in Real-time immediate reaction or influence on the status, operating conditions, etc. of the units is possible. Furthermore, by evaluating the parameters of a unit, access to an electronic database stored in a memory enables logging, time-related curve shape display, statistical display or evaluation, etc.

The characterizing features of claim 19 are advantageous because the reception or transmission of the data from or to the remote station is made possible in a simple manner by means of the mobile radio device used as a modem or gateway.

The characterizing features according to at least one of claims 20 and 31 are advantageous, since by knowing the location or the position coordinates of the individual units, the coordination of the same from the remote site is considerably simplified and, for example, the coordination of task force groups for task planning can be carried out more easily and efficiently can.

A procedure according to the features of claim 21 is advantageous because the unique identifier enables the parameters to be clearly assigned to the evaluation device and, if necessary, unique and irreversible or changeable parameter processing is possible using identifiers related to the respective discrete units. For example, it is also possible that usage or access rights are assigned via the unique identifier, so that different objects can only be used with defined or definable interface units. The use of a vehicle by a person with an interface unit can, for example, be linked to the identification number of one or more interface units. The con- trolling or evaluation of the usage or access rights can be carried out by the remote station or direct communication between individual interfaces.

The solution characterized by the features of at least one of claims 22 and 35 is advantageous because an excessive amount of transmitted, visualized and / or evaluated parameters can be prevented and only the relevant parameters can be determined for a better overview. An efficient parameter evaluation and a reduction of data volume is possible.

The embodiment variant described in claim 27 is advantageous because the connection quantity is increased and communication of the interface unit with different types of components, in particular detection means, is made possible.

An embodiment according to the features of claim 32 is advantageous because an intelligent control and / or regulation of the signal and / or data transmission via the interfaces is made possible, in particular data transmission can take place with a component formed as a bus system. Processing of software or program logic, for example drivers for interfaces or components, stored in a storage device is also possible by the interface unit.

Furthermore, the characteristic features of at least one of claims 33 and 34 are advantageous, since the operating conditions, system status, etc. can be seen for a user or a person and / or can be defined via the input elements.

An embodiment according to claim 36 is advantageous because a high degree of mobility and ease of use is achieved when using the system.

The features represented by claims 37 to 39 describe particularly advantageous fields of application for using a system according to the invention.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. Show it:

1 shows a variant of the system according to the invention in a schematic representation;

2 shows a possible sequence of method steps according to the invention;

3 shows a variant of an interface unit with components connected to it in a simplified representation;

4 shows a block diagram for a possible embodiment variant of an interface unit;

5 shows a display device for parameter visualization with an exemplary, visual representation;

6 shows a display device for parameter visualization with a further exemplary visual representation.

In the introduction, it should be noted that in the differently described embodiments, the same parts are provided with the same reference numerals or the same component names, and the disclosures contained in the entire description can be applied analogously to the same parts with the same reference numerals or the same component names. The location information selected in the description, e.g. above, below, laterally, etc. refer to the figure described and illustrated immediately and are to be transferred analogously to the new position in the event of a change in position. Furthermore, individual features or combinations of features from the different exemplary embodiments shown and described can also represent independent, inventive or inventive solutions.

1 shows a system according to the invention for monitoring or influencing discrete units 1, with which coordination, status feedback and remote diagnosis of discrete units 1 can be carried out. Under discrete unit 1 is understood in connection with the present invention a person 2 or an object 3, wherein in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a vehicle 4, an extinguishing device 5 for fire fighting and a breathing apparatus 6 are exemplified as objects 3. Objects 3 relate in particular to components of task forces such as fire departments or other rescue workers, military forces, police or the like, and the invention is intended for use with such task forces.

The system according to the invention comprises at least one interface unit 7, which is connected to at least one component 8 for signal and / or data transmission, whereby component 8 detects one or more parameters or parameters that are specific to the discrete unit 1 or its state and or to be provided. The system further comprises a communication device 9, in particular a mobile radio device 10 for signal and / or data transmission and a remote station 11, so that signal and / or data transmission can take place between the communication device 9 and the interface unit 7 and the communication device 9 and the remote station 11 , The signal and / or data transmission between the remote station 11 and the interface unit 7 via the communication device (s) (9) can be one-way or bidirectional.

At this point, the possibility of an independent solution according to the invention should be noted, in which the communication device 9, which is preferably a transmitting and / or receiving device for wireless signal transmission by means of electromagnetic waves, e.g. by means of radio transmission, is formed, is assigned to the interface unit 7 and is structurally integrated therein.

In a preferred embodiment variant, as shown in FIG. 1, the interface unit 7 has at least one first interface 12, via which a connection of the components 8 to the interface unit 7 for signal and / or data transmission for the transmission one or more for the state of a person 2 or an object 3 characteristic parameters.

The interface unit 7 has at least one further interface 13, which is operatively connected to the communication device 9 for one-way or bidirectional communication, this communication preferably taking place wirelessly. A detailed one Embodiment for an interface unit 7 with the interfaces 12, 13 will be described in more detail later in the course of FIGS. 3 and 4.

The components 8, which communicate with the first interfaces 12 of the interface unit 7, can be designed as detection means 14 for determining parameters specific to the discrete units 1, by using different types of detection means 14 or carrying out different measurement or determination methods any parameters of the units 1 can be removed for parameters by the detection means 14. The detection means 14 can be used, for example, as sensors 15 for detecting a wide variety of different biometric and / or physical data of a person 2, such as body functions, such as Heart rate, breathing, etc., as well as for detecting ambient conditions of a unit 1, such as Ambient temperature, etc., as well as for detecting the condition of an object 3, e.g. the fill levels of an extinguishing device 5, a breathing apparatus 6, etc., are formed. Furthermore, it is possible for the detection means 14 to be formed by, in particular, digital cameras for image or video recording known from the prior art, so that images can be recorded and transmitted, for example from a place of use in the area of the units 1, to the remote station 11 is possible and can thus be viewed from the remote station 11 from the surroundings at the place of use. Such detection means 14 or sensors 15 for determining parameters are already known in the prior art, which is why their structure and mode of operation will not be discussed in more detail here.

The detection means 14 can be specially designed for use with the interface unit 7 and can be connected to it, whereby it is of course also possible to connect the interface unit 7 to conventional detection means or sensors already present in objects 3 via the first interface. When the components 8 are designed as detection means 14 or sensors 15, the signal and / or data transmission with the interface unit 7 takes place, for example, via electrical lines 16 for the analog or digital transmission of the parameters.

Furthermore, it is possible that the components 8 which can be connected or are connected to the interface unit 7 by means of a data transmission or. Acquisition system 17 are formed, the data transmission or acquisition system system 17 is formed, for example, by a bus system 18 for data transmission. Such bus systems 18 are arranged, for example, in motor vehicles for recording vehicle data and / or for controlling the different modules of the vehicle electronics, in particular via control units 19. The vehicle data can thus be read and processed by the interface unit 7 from the in-vehicle bus system 18, which is integrated as standard in modern vehicles 4 such as fire engines, via the first interface 12, which is designed for communication with such a serial fieldbus system , Such bus systems 18 are, for example, CAN or TTP fieldbus systems, or for example also Profibus-S or interbus systems, which connect one or more participants, for example control units 19, to interface unit 7 via one or more bus interfaces 20 , etc., enables. The specifications of the first interfaces 12 for communication with the components 8 are described in more detail below in the course of FIGS. 3 and 4.

A conventional mobile telephone, in particular a cell phone or cellular phone, etc., is preferably used as the mobile radio device 10. The mobile radio device 10 can be used to establish a communication link between the interface unit 7 and the remote station 11 via a public communication network 21, in particular a mobile radio network which has one or more transmitting stations 22, the data exchange being carried out using a signal transmission method known from the prior art, e.g. UMTS; GPRS; GSM; HSCDS; TETRA or comparable, wireless transmission types. It is also possible that the signal and / or data transmission at least over a sub-area by means of further data transmission technology, such as the Internet or web services such as e-mail, or SMS etc., takes place.

It should be noted that as communication devices 9, 23 also other devices known in the prior art, such as FM; AM or PM radio devices, in particular CB (Citizen Band) radio, can be used for data transmission via electromagnetic waves, or modulator / demodulator (modem) devices, in particular for a wired telephone network, satellite telephones, or similar devices.

The remote station 11 has the further communication device 23, which is formed, for example, as a mobile radio device 10 or a modem known from the prior art is so that a connection of the remote station 11 to the communication network 21, via which at least the parameters of the units 1 are transmitted or can be called up, is made possible.

The communication network 21 is preferably an existing infrastructure that can be used by the general public, for example a provider of telecommunications services, which can be accessed with a suitable communication device 9 and a data transmission can be carried out, if necessary, by paying a user fee. Such communication networks 21 are widespread and accessible worldwide in a large number of countries, although these use different transmission frequencies or methods, for example different band frequencies, for wireless data transmission by means of mobile telephones.

Since the system according to the invention can preferably be used worldwide essentially without modification of the interface unit 7, a standardized, wireless interface, such as e.g. Bluetooth ™ or WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) or similar interfaces are used for wireless communication between the communication device 9, in particular the mobile radio device 10, and the interface unit 7, or wired communication takes place, for example via a serial data bus and standardized or standardized interfaces, such as these are known in the prior art.

Thus, the interface unit 7 can set up a connection for signal and / or data transmission via the further interface 13 with a communication device 9, in particular a mobile radio device 10, for this purpose the communication device 9 must have an interface, in particular wireless, corresponding to the interface 13, such as this with modern mobile phones, the radio interfaces such as Bluetooth ™, the case is.

The advantage can thus be achieved that the type or method of signal and / or data transmission between the interface unit 7 and the communication device 9 is not country-specific or manufacturer-dependent, but is the same worldwide when using a suitable communication device 9, whereas the Signal and / or data transmission tion via the communication network 21 is dependent on the type of the communication network 21, different transmission methods being used, for example, in different regions of the world. The communication device 9 for communication with the interface unit 7 and the further communication device 23 of the remote station 11 are thus designed as network nodes, which allow the parameters to be transmitted between the interface unit 7 and the remote station 10 without modification of the interface unit 7 despite different communication networks 21 worldwide.

The first communication device 9 is formed in the manner of a gateway which establishes a connection between two different networks, in particular the interface unit 7 and the components 8 connected to it and the communication network 21. The hardware or software expenditure for the system according to the invention can thus be kept very low, since only the interface unit 7 is required as a novel device and the other elements, such as the communication devices 9, 23 and possibly the components 8, are already known and are widely known are widely used devices.

The establishment of a communication connection between the interface unit 7 and the remote station 11 can be controlled via the communication device 9 by the interface unit 7 or the remote station 11, the data required for establishing a connection, e.g. a number, dialing parameters, subscriber identification, etc., are transmitted from the interface unit 7 or the remote station 11 to the communication devices 9, 23. It is possible that the communication connection between the interface unit 7 and the remote station 11 is established automatically, which e.g. when a connection for signal transmission comes into effect between the interface unit 7 and the communication device 9, or, in particular when monitoring vehicles 4, when a faulty parameter such as e.g. If the charging voltage of a vehicle 4, etc. is too low, the interface unit 7 automatically establishes a connection to the remote station 11.

The remote station 11 comprises, for example, an evaluation device 24 and / or a visualization device 25 and the communication device 23, in particular a mobile radio device 10 as a modem, so that the communication device 9 detects the device Interface unit 7 received signals and / or data evaluated by the evaluation device 24 and can be converted into the parameters detected by the unit 1. These parameters can be, for example, logged, stored in a database and / or called up from it, etc. by the evaluation device 24, the parameters being able to be represented in different ways via the visualization device 25, as is shown in more detail in FIGS. 6 and 7, for example is shown. The evaluation or visualization device 24, 25 is expediently formed by a personal computer 26 as a computing unit, as is known in the prior art. The evaluation or visualization device 24, 25 can also be formed as a server of a computer network, such as an intranet, Internet, etc., so that the parameters can be called up by several evaluation or visualization devices 24, 25 connected to the server and are processable. However, it is also possible for the mobile radio device 10 to be used alone as the remote station 11 and to include this evaluation or visualization means.

The evaluation device 24 of the remote station 11 essentially has means or tools, in particular corresponding software modules, for monitoring and / or diagnosing a device 3, in particular a vehicle 4, which are based on the bus system 18, for example the CAN bus system of the vehicle 4 , based. At the remote station 11, maintenance can be carried out by influencing the vehicle 4 with the same functions and the same user interface on the visualization devices 25 as would be the case with direct maintenance on the vehicle 4, so that, for example, essentially communication from the vehicle's CAN bus system 4 with a CAN system, in particular software-based CAN tools, can be carried out on the evaluation device 24 at the remote station 11.

2 shows a possible sequence of method steps according to the invention.

The acquisition and / or provision of the parameters of the discrete unit 1 by means of the component 8 takes place in step S 1. This is followed in step S2 by the transmission of the parameters to the first interface 12 of the interface unit 7, the signal and / or data transmission for transmission the parameters take place via a data bus interface, which is in particular CAN or TTP capable, or via a conventional digital or analog interface, which is connected to one or more sensors. The transmission of the parameters to the communication device 9 follows in step S3, this taking place via the further interface 13 of the interface unit 7. In step S4, the signal and / or data transmission takes place for the transmission of the parameters to the remote station 11, this being done via one or more communication devices 9, in particular mobile radio devices 10 and a public communication network 21, at least in part via known radio data transmission methods, such as UMTS; GPRS; GSM etc. takes place, and possibly takes place partly by means of the Internet or comparable transmission methods. In step S5, the parameters are evaluated and / or visualized on the evaluation or visualization device 24, 25 of the remote station 11. Step S6 can also be carried out, in which the correctness of the parameters is determined or checked. If these parameters are OK, the entire process can be started or ended again. If the parameters are not OK, a warning signal can be output at the remote station 11 in a step S7, by means of which attention is drawn to the fact that one or more parameters do not meet the defined or definable requirements. Thus, from the remote station 11, a deficiency in a unit 1 can be reacted to. This can be done in such a way that in step S8 the warning signal is actively confirmed by an operator monitoring the remote site, or an automatic correction of the incorrect parameters is initiated in the manner of a control, which is carried out in step S9.

The further measures that may be carried out in method step S9 can be initiated automatically by the remote station 11 via the evaluation device 24, for example by transmitting control signals via the communication devices 9 to the interface unit 7 and starting from the interface unit 7, so that the components 8 are activated the units 1 can be influenced or influenced. For example, it is possible to influence or control the operating states of objects 3 from the remote station 11.

It is advantageous in this procedure that from a remote station 11 all different types of units 1 connected via the system according to the invention can be monitored, diagnosed and / or influenced, with objects 3 reacting to faulty operating states, for example used operating resources can be and / or an indication of the physical condition of persons 2 can be given. Such a method or system is particularly advantageous for use by task forces, such as fire brigades, rescue, military units, police, etc., for use or exercise purposes, since the device in use is monitored via one or more remote stations 11 and of the teams from a distance, for example a center or control center with the remote station 11, which is spatially distant from the place of operation, whereby any kind of operations can be carried out more efficiently and can be coordinated many times better.

After the connection has been established, there is preferably a permanent communication connection, in particular via a data channel of a mobile radio device 10, via the communication devices 9, 23, parameters being transmitted continuously, in particular in a time interval, to the remote station 11. With such an online communication connection, such as e.g. in the case of the GPRS or UMTS signal transmission method, changes in the parameters can be displayed in real time, for example on the ordinate and the time on an abscissa of a diagram, and thus an evaluation can take place in the form of a curve.

Data collection or data logging is therefore possible at the remote station 11, with all the data recorded being able to be stored and evaluated in databases, so that parameters are available for different units at any point in time of the diagnosis made via the remote station 11, as a result of which, for example, incorrect behavior of a person 2 in the event of an assignment, it can be recognized and clarified immediately or after the evaluation has taken place.

3 and 4 a possible embodiment variant of the system according to the invention is shown. The interface unit 7 is designed as a compact and easily portable device, which enables high mobility and flexibility when used with a person 2 or when monitoring an object 3.

The interface unit 7 has a housing 27 on which one or more connecting elements 28, in particular plugs or sockets, are formed, which, if appropriate, form the first or second interface 12, 13 in connection with interface drivers. The interface unit 7 can also have one or more display elements 29, via the operating conditions, such as connection status, energy reserve etc. or parameters of units 1 can be displayed. Furthermore, it is possible for the interface unit 7 to have one or more input devices 30 via which different operating conditions or modes of the system according to the invention or the interface unit 7 can be determined.

The interface unit 7 can furthermore have a receiving unit 31 for a location or navigation system 32, which can be integrated in the interface unit 7 or in the housing 27 or can be designed as an external device (shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3). The location coordinates of the interface unit 7 or of the units 1 connected to it can thus be detected. This can be done via a known location or navigation system 32, in particular a satellite navigation system such as GPS (Global Positioning System), so that the data determined by the receiving unit 31 can be transmitted to the remote station 11 via the further interface 13. In this way, location monitoring of the individual units 1 is also possible from the remote station 11. In this case, for example, the signals sent by the receiving unit 31 of the interface unit 7, the signals sent by the location or navigation system 32, and these signals or the position information calculated therefrom are transmitted to the remote station 11 by the signal and / or data transmission via the communication device 9 transmitted. The functioning of location or navigation systems 32 such as GPS is known in the prior art and it will not be dealt with in more detail here.

A further possibility of detecting the position or location of the units 1 is to determine the transmission station 22 of the wireless radio communication network 21 in which the mobile radio device 10 of the unit 1 to be monitored is located, that is to say the active mobile radio cell is determined. A position order of the units 1 is thus possible with a grid accuracy of the respective transmission range of the mobile radio cell.

4 shows a possible structure of the interface unit 7 in the form of a block diagram. The interface unit 7 has a control device 33, which is designed in particular as a microprocessor control 34. Also preferred is a storage device 35 for data storage, for example of the type one or more writable digital memory, in particular ROM memory, magnetic memory, optical memory etc., assigned to the interface unit 7.

The control and / or regulation of the signals to be acquired and transmitted via the interface unit 7 can be carried out by means of an electronic control device 33, wherein processing of software means or program logics stored in the storage device 35 is possible by the microprocessor control 34.

The first interfaces 12 of the interface unit 7 can be formed as digital inputs 36, analog inputs 37 or bus interfaces 38. The bus interfaces 38 are preferably formed as serial interfaces with corresponding interface drivers 39 and connecting elements 28, in particular interface plugs or sockets, wherein, as already mentioned, preferably CAN, TTP, etc. interfaces are used as the data bus interface 38. The further interface 13 is designed as a transmitting and / or receiving device 40 for preferably wireless signal and / or data transmission, in particular by means of Bluetooth ™, WLAN, etc. The interface unit 7 also has an energy supply device 41, with which the necessary operating voltage of, for example, 12 or 24 V is supplied to the interface unit 7.

Known plug / socket types can be used for the connecting elements 28 of the interface unit 7, so that the connection of any components 8 to the interface unit 7 is made possible via the interfaces 12, 13. Software or program logic can be transferred via one of the interfaces 12, 13 and is stored, for example, in the storage device 35, so that, for example, an update of the interface drivers 39, which may be implemented in software, is possible by means of a software update.

Furthermore, when signals are transmitted via the interfaces 12, 13, the interface unit 7 can also send a unique identifier, for example a digital signature, in particular a value, in addition to the other data, so that at least the partner 11 can uniquely assign the parameters. The identifier or the identification feature may be associated with the components 8 connected to the interface unit 7 and / or the persons 2 to be diagnosed, for example, different units of task forces or objects 3 linked.

Thus, in addition to the diagnosis or influencing of the units 1, the system according to the invention can also be used as an authorization key, for example for access to protected areas, for commissioning objects, etc.

5 and 6 show a visualization device 25 connected to the evaluation device 24, on which the parameters detected by the units 1 can be seen in the form of virtual representations 42 to 44.

The parameters of the units 1 implemented by the evaluation device 24 are visualized, for example, as a curve 45, as can be seen in illustration 42, which can be done in real time, i.e. that the current parameters can be read from the units 1 on the visualization device 25. The parameters supplied to the evaluation device 24 can be shown in any graphical representation, e.g. a bar diagram shown in illustration 43 with the bars 46, for example with percentage or quantity-related fill level, energy or similar display. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 6, it is possible to use individual elements of objects 3, for example in motor vehicle monitoring, as graphic elements 47 with functionality display, depending on the status, e.g. shaded, flashing, screened, etc. Of course, a text, for example name / type, identifier, location, etc., as shown by the text elements 48, of a unit 1 can also be displayed. Furthermore, geographical data or maps, possibly with the position coordinates of units 1 entered, thermal data, etc. can be visualized in high-resolution representations, if necessary.

In addition to the design as a computer unit, the evaluation or visualization device 24, 25 can also be formed as a terminal, which comprises the evaluation device 24 and the visualization device 25 in a unit that is as compact as possible, the terminal as the visualization device 25 having, for example, an LCD display and the terminal can have one or more controls, etc. Such terminals can also be formed as mobile units that enable location-independent diagnosis or to influence units 1. The exemplary embodiments show possible design variants of the system, as well as methods for diagnosing or influencing discrete units, it being noted at this point that the invention is not restricted to the specially illustrated design variants thereof, but rather that various combinations of the individual design variants with one another are also possible and this possibility of variation is due to the teaching of technical action through the subject invention in the ability of the person skilled in this technical field. The scope of protection also includes all conceivable design variants which are possible by combining individual details of the design variant shown and described.

For the sake of order, it should finally be pointed out that, for a better understanding of the structure of the system according to the invention, its components have been partially shown to scale and / or enlarged and / or reduced.

The object on which the independent inventive solutions are based can be found in the description.

Above all, the individual in FIGS. 1, 2; 3, 4; 5, 6 shown form the subject of independent solutions according to the invention. The relevant tasks and solutions according to the invention can be found in the detailed descriptions of these figures.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

discrete unit 36 digital input / output person 37 analog input / output object 38 bus interface vehicle 39 interface driver extinguishing device 40 transmitting and / or receiving device respiratory protection device interface unit 41 energy supply device component 42 representation communication device 43 representation mobile device 44 representation 45 curve remote station first interface 46 bar further interface 47 Graphic element acquisition means 48 text element sensor line data transmission or acquisition 51 step system 52 step bus system 53 step control device 54 step bus interface 55 step communication network 56 step transmitting station 57 step communication device 58 step evaluation device 59 step visualization device computer housing connecting element display element input element receiving unit locating or Navigation system control device microprocessor control memory device

Claims

Patent claims

1. A method for monitoring or influencing discrete units (1) of emergency services such as fire departments, in particular people (2) and / or objects (3) of emergency services, in which a status feedback of the individual units (1) to a remote station ( 11) by transmitting parameters, such as physical personal data, device status data, location coordinates, etc., via at least one communication device (9) and an evaluation of the parameters is carried out at the remote station (11), characterized in that via a first interface (12 ) an interface unit (7) the parameters of different types of units (1), for example vehicles (4), respiratory protective devices (6) or people (2), and possibly several units (1) can be detected by the remote station (11) and the parameters to the communication device (9) via a further interface (13) of the interface unit (7) be averaged.

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that via at least a first electrical interface (12) of the interface unit (7) the signal and / or data transmission with a component (8), in particular a detection means (14) or bus System (18) to provide or capture the parameters.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that via at least one further electrical interface (13) of the interface unit (7), the signal and or data transmission with the first communication device (9).

4. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that between the first communication device (9) and a further communication device (23) of the remote station (11) there is a signal and / or data transmission at least for the transmission of the parameters.

5. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the interface unit (7) monitors or evaluates the parameters of the unit (1), in particular the vehicle (4), and, in the event of unintentional deviation from parameters, remote diagnosis of the unit (1) is carried out by the remote station (11).

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the remote diagnosis is carried out by calling up and transmitting all or a parameter or module of a data or parameter filter, in particular from the remote station (11), definable parameters to an evaluation device (24) of the remote station (11) ,

7. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that there is a permanent communication connection between the remote station (11) and the interface unit (7) after establishing a connection via the communication device (9) and thus an online signal and / or data exchange, in particular Parameter transmission takes place.

8. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signal and / or data transmission between the further interface (13) and the communication device (9) wirelessly, preferably via a standardized radio data transmission method such as e.g. Bluetooth, WLAN, etc. takes place.

9. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signal and / or data transmission between the component (8) and the at least one, first interface (12) via a serial bus.

10. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a serial bus interface (38), in particular of the type of a CAN or TTP fieldbus interface, is used for at least one of the first interfaces (12).

11. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that when the bus interface (38) is connected to a component (8) formed as a serial bus system (18), for example a CAN fieldbus system of a (power) vehicle ( 4), the data available in the bus system (18) can be read out or transmitted to the interface unit (7).

12. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least partially detection means (14) such as sensors (15) are used as components (8), via which the parameters of one or more discrete units (1) are detected and are transmitted via a line (16) or wirelessly to the first interface (12) of the interface unit (7).

13. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communication device (9) for establishing the communication connection between the interface unit (7) and the remote station (11) is controlled by the interface unit (7) or the remote station (11).

14. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a mobile radio device (10), in particular with the ability for radio data transmission, is used as the communication device (9).

15. The method according to claim 14, characterized in that the signal and / or data transmission via the mobile radio device (10) by means of the GSM, GPRS, HSCSD, or UMTS transmission method.

16. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signal and / or data transmission between the mobile radio device (10) and the communication device (23) of the remote station (11) via a preferably public communication network (21), in particular via transmission stations ( 22).

17. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one evaluation device (24), in particular a computer, and optionally a visualization device (25), which is operatively connected to the further communication device (23), is used as the remote station (11).

18. The method according to claim 17, characterized in that the evaluation device (24) stores the parameters in a database or loads them from the database and / or visualizes the parameters on the visualization device (25), for example as representations (42 to 44 ), preferably in real time.

19. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a mobile radio device as the further communication device (23) of the remote station (11) (10), in particular a mobile phone, is used and communication takes place between it and the evaluation device (24) at least for the transmission of the parameters.

20. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the location, in particular the position coordinates, of the interface unit (7) via a location or navigation system (32), in particular the GPS system, by means of a receiving unit (31) of the interface unit (7) can be detected and transmitted to the remote station (11).

21. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that from the interface unit (7) to the remote station (11), preferably continuously during each signal and / or data transmission, a unique identifier for the interface unit (7), in particular an identification feature like a value, etc.

22. The method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that via the data or parameter filter module, which is formed in particular by a program logic or software that can be executed by the microprocessor controller (34) or the evaluation device (24), on the evaluation device ( 24) parameters to be transmitted or processed by them can be determined.

23. System for diagnosing or influencing discrete units (1) for emergency services such as fire departments, in particular people (2) and / or objects (3) of emergency services, with which parameters such as physical personal data, device status data, location data, for status feedback, etc., one or more units (1) can be transmitted to a remote station (11) via a communication device (9), characterized in that the system comprises at least one interface unit (7) which has one or more first interfaces (12), with which different types of units (1), for example vehicles (4), respiratory protective devices (6) or people (2), etc., can be connected at least for parameter transmission and the interface unit (7) has a further interface (13), which at least can be connected to the communication device (9) for the transmission of parameters.

24. System according to claim 23, characterized in that the interface unit (7) Has at least one first interface (12), via which a component (8) designed to provide or record the parameters, in particular a detection means (14) or bus system (18), can be connected to the interface unit (7).

25. System according to claim 23 or 24, characterized in that at least one of the first interfaces (12) as a serial bus interface (38), in particular as a standardized fieldbus interface, for connection to a component (8) formed by a serial bus system (18) ), in particular a CAN or TTP bus, for example of a motor vehicle (4).

26. System according to claim 25, characterized in that the bus interface (38) of the interface unit (7) comprises a software or hardware interface driver (39) for communication with a serial bus system (18).

27. System according to one of claims 23 to 26, characterized in that at least one of the first interfaces (12) of the interface unit (7) is formed by an analog or digital input and / or output (36, 37).

28. System according to one of claims 23 to 27, characterized in that at least one of the first interfaces (12) with a component (8) formed as a detection means (14), in particular sensor (15), optionally via an electrical line (16) is connected or connectable.

29. System according to one of claims 23 to 28, characterized in that the interface unit (7) has at least one further interface (13) with a communication device (9), in particular a GSM, GPRS, UMTS, or for comparable transmission method capable mobile radio device (10), for the signal and / or data transmission is connectable or connected.

30. System according to one of claims 23 to 29, characterized in that the further interface (13) by a transmitting and / or receiving device (40) for wireless signal transmission, in particular as a standardized or standardized interface such as Bluetooth or WLAN Interface, is formed.

31. System according to one of claims 23 to 30, characterized in that the interface unit (7) a receiving unit (31) for receiving signals from a location or navigation system (32), in particular satellite navigation system such as e.g. GPS.

32. System according to one of claims 23 to 31, characterized in that the interface unit (7) has a control device (33), in particular a microprocessor control (34), at least for processing the signals and / or signals transmitted via the interfaces (12, 13). or has data.

33. System according to one of claims 23 to 32, characterized in that the interface unit (7) comprises one or more display elements (29), in particular LEDs, which can be controlled by the control device (33).

34. System according to one of claims 23 to 33, characterized in that the interface unit (7) has one or more input elements (30) for controlling operating states of the system.

35. System according to one of claims 23 to 34, characterized in that the evaluation device (24) and / or the interface unit (7) is assigned a data or parameter filter module at least for determining the parameters to be transmitted to the remote station (11).

36. System according to one of claims 23 to 34, characterized in that the interface unit (7) and / or the receiving unit (31) in or on an object (3), for example an item of equipment such as a helmet, item of clothing, etc., is arranged or can be fixed thereon by means of a fastening means.

37. Use of the system according to claims 23 to 36 for remote monitoring and / or external diagnosis of discrete units (1), in particular objects (3) or people (2), starting from a remote station (11) spatially distanced from the units (1) ).

38. Use of the system according to claims 23 to 37 for remote monitoring and / or external diagnosis of at least the operating states or operability and / or the location, in particular position coordinates, of motor vehicles (4) from a remote station (11) spatially distanced from the motor vehicle (4).

39. Use of the system according to claims 23 to 38 for coordination and / or monitoring or diagnosis of several discrete units (1), in particular emergency vehicles or human, involved in an operation, for example a disaster operation, a fire-fighting operation, a rescue operation, etc. Emergency services, from a remote station (11), in particular an operations center.