Methods, systems, and apparatus for local and remote monitoring and remote control of buildings and similar structures.

Abstract

A system is disclosed for one or a combination of monitoring and managing activities in a stationary or moving environment, including a base station, and including one or a combination of sensors for detecting one or more of the following: ambient temperature, ambient pressure, ambient sound or noise level, ambient carbon dioxide level, radio source beacon ID, vibration, object movement, base station movement, smart tag location, animal location, animal movement, animal physiological state, and the system is adapted to perform one or a combination of: local processing including preliminary analysis of data and / or encryption of data, sending one or more measurements / data elsewhere for processing, returning the results of processing to the base station, and taking action including one or a combination of issuing alerts, messages, prompts, voice, notifications, and displaying measurement levels.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Related Applications This application claims priority to Australian Provisional Patent Application No. 2023900489, filed on February 24, 2023, under the name of Cappsule Holdings Pty Ltd, the specification of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

[0002] The present invention relates to local and remote monitoring of residential and non-residential buildings and the like, and remote control related thereto.

[0003] In one particular aspect, embodiments of the present invention are suitable for use in monitoring activities and situations in buildings such as short-term (residential) rentals, hotels, motels, breakfast facilities, child protection facilities, elderly care facilities, in-home care for the elderly, frail, or ill, educational institutions, military facilities, property management, strata (including shared property) developments, asset management facilities, and warehouses or other distribution facilities. In another aspect, embodiments of the present invention are suitable for use in monitoring activities and situations in mobile environments such as campervans, caravans, and houseboats.

[0004] In yet another aspect, embodiments of the present invention are suitable for use in monitoring the use, condition, or location of articles, the location or movement of valuable items such as artworks or electronic devices and / or apparatuses, the degree of use of household items such as oil or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) used for heating or cooking, or the physical condition of items or objects such as whether a door or window is open or closed.

[0005] In yet another embodiment, embodiments of the present invention are suitable for monitoring the use, state, location, or condition of such devices, apparatus, or everyday items, regardless of whether such devices, apparatus, or everyday items are associated with a stationary or movable habitable environment (such as a building or vehicle).

[0006] In yet another embodiment, embodiments of the present invention are suitable for monitoring vital signs in humans and other mammals. Examples of such use include monitoring conditions that lead to heart attacks (myocardial infarction), strokes, and SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).

[0007] In yet another embodiment, the embodiments of the present invention are suitable for monitoring patient drug intake and monitoring the drug supply status.

[0008] In yet another embodiment, embodiments of the present invention are suitable for monitoring the presence, condition, or activity of animals such as pets, nuisance native animals, wild animals, and pests.

[0009] While it is convenient to describe the present invention in relation to facilities in short-term rental properties below, it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to that use alone. [Background technology]

[0010] In recent years, apartment construction has grown significantly in Australia, particularly in more densely populated areas of cities and in areas popular with tourists. Buying or renting apartments in these areas is attractive to young working-age people looking to enter the housing market or those drawn to housing closer to urban centers or other job opportunities. Such housing is also appealing to the "empty nest" generation who want to realize the appreciation of their family home's value while still remaining in a highly comfortable area close to a densely populated area.

[0011] Buying an apartment is attractive to overseas investors and real estate investors in general for bringing "overseas" assets to Australia.

[0012] As a result, not all apartments are occupied by their owners. The rate of owner occupancy varies greatly, with the majority of apartments being developed to be operated as serviced apartments or as "short-term stay" or "short-term rental" properties. Short-term stay / short-term rental properties in desirable locations are attractive and convenient places for renters planning celebrations such as group parties or the final weekend of a sporting season.

[0013] In recent years, several Australian states have legislated restrictions on activities that can take place in short-term rentals, penalties for apartment owners who repeatedly allow their rental properties to be used for undesirable activities, and the ability for third parties to seek compensation for damages incurred. For example, the Australian state of Victoria has enacted legislation restricting the following activities: - Causing noise without legitimate reason that substantially disrupts the peaceful enjoyment of another resident in the apartment building. - Acting in a manner that substantially disrupts the peaceful enjoyment of another occupant in the apartment building without legitimate reason. • Allowing the use of real estate to substantially harm the health, safety, and security of others. • Substantially interfering with the lawful use of other properties without legitimate reason, and - To substantially damage or alter the apartment or common property. It is prohibited.

[0014] Violations of the aforementioned prohibited actions may give third parties the right to seek compensation, and repeated violations may result in penalties.

[0015] There is evidence that the legislation is encouraging some potential short-term rental apartment tenants to move their activities to larger homes in less densely populated suburbs where they are less likely to be sued by their neighbors.

[0016] Rental organizations like Airbnb have partially addressed this problem from the perspective of their use. For example, Airbnb has implemented a "zero tolerance" policy regarding hosting parties in short-term rental properties.

[0017] Prohibiting undesirable activities through legislation or contractual clauses does not solve the problem. Undesirable activities need to be detected and reported while they are happening, or, if possible, when they begin, so that the problem can be rectified before harm occurs. At the same time, landlords need to comply with legislative standards such as privacy laws, anti-surveillance laws, and anti-stalking laws. It is also desirable for landlords to faithfully uphold the generally accepted privacy expectations of potential customers, regardless of whether those expectations are legally enforceable or not.

[0018] Throughout this specification, the use of the singular term “inventor” may be interpreted as referring to one (singular) inventor or two or more (plural) inventors of the present invention.

[0019] Any description of documents, apparatus, operation, or knowledge in this specification should be understood as being included to illustrate the context of the invention. Furthermore, any description throughout this specification arises from the inventors' knowledge and / or identification of certain prior art problems. Moreover, any description of materials such as documents, apparatus, operation, or knowledge in this specification is included to illustrate the context of the invention from the perspective of the inventors' knowledge and experience, and accordingly, any such description should not be taken as an acknowledgment in Australia or anywhere else, prior to or before the priority date of this disclosure and claims, that any of the materials constitute part of the foundation of the prior art or general knowledge of the related art.

[0020] Previous attempts to determine undesirable or prohibited activities are provided by proprietary systems from Minut®, Noise Aware®, Samsung®, Nest®, and Party Squasher®. One or more of these previous attempts feature the ability and functionality to detect parties, loud noises, air quality, glass breakage, large crowds, movement, and moulds, as well as smart alerts and carbon monoxide alarms for the presence of smoke. The operation of these previous solutions features wizard setup, Google® and Alexa® home compatibility, reservation platforms, and integration with smart locks and PMS. They all offer over-the-air updates, and some eliminate the need for video cameras. However, none of them integrate all of the aforementioned parameters to aggregate detection, or do not provide the following parameters for their operation: • Tenant / resident interface for messaging, house rules and guide information. • Monitoring of individual assets, including GPS tracking. • Detecting whether items have been moved or altered, for example, whether a door / cabinet is open.

[0021] The above description of the background art is intended solely to facilitate understanding of the present invention. This description does not acknowledge or recognize that any of the materials mentioned are, or were, part of the general knowledge as of the priority date of this application. [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0022] The object of the present invention is to provide devices and systems that enable the identification of conditions in environments such as rental properties, child protection facilities, healthcare facilities, elderly care facilities, educational institutions, home care environments, and commercial or business environments that may lead to undesirable consequences.

[0023] A further object of the present invention is to enable the transmission of such potential states to persons at local and / or remote locations and to enable the initiation of early situation adjustment.

[0024] A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and system for enabling post-incident analysis, reporting and measures.

[0025] A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and system for enabling the monitoring of the physiological state of a person or other animal.

[0026] A further object of the present invention is to mitigate at least one drawback associated with the prior art.

[0027] It is an object of the embodiments described herein to overcome or mitigate at least one of the aforementioned drawbacks of prior art systems, or to at least provide a useful alternative to prior art systems.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0028] Generally, the present invention includes a base station and one or more of the following: Ambient temperature, Ambient pressure, Ambient sound or noise level, Ambient carbon dioxide level, Beacon ID of a wireless source, Vibration, Movement of an object, Movement of the base station, Position of a smart tag, Position of an animal, Movement of an animal, Physiological state of an animal A system for monitoring and managing activities in a stationary or mobile environment is provided, which includes one or a combination of sensors for detecting one or a combination of the above, This system: Local processing including preliminary analysis of data and / or encryption of data, Sending one or more measurements / data to another location for processing, The processing results are returned and received at the base station, and Taking action that includes one or a combination of issuing alerts, messages, prompts, voice messages, notifications, and displaying measurement levels, It is adapted to perform one or a combination of the following.

[0029] In the systems of the embodiments disclosed herein, one or more sensors communicate with a base station and are located remotely from the base station. Furthermore, at least one of the sensors may be integrated with the base station. Preferably, the sensors for detecting the movement of an object include at least one pyroelectric infrared (PIR) motion detector.

[0030] Smart tags are: At least one RFID tag, and at least one BLE tag It may include one or a combination of the following.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the process (local, remote, or combined) identifies the spatial location of an object. Using the preferred embodiment, the spatial location is three-dimensional. The object may include an object that has body temperature.

[0032] Preferably, the processing is one or a combination of local and remote processing and is within the detection range of at least one sensor. Person, and Other animals Determine at least one of the numbers.

[0033] According to a preferred embodiment of the disclosed system, the processing is one or a combination of local and remote processing, and detects that a party is taking place. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment of the system, the processing is: The number of wireless devices within the range of the relevant sensor(s), compared to the number of wireless devices within the range of the relevant sensor(s), typically / on average / according to historical data. The number of people within range, Carbon dioxide levels compared to normal, or that normally change, Temperature under normal lighting conditions for the season and time of day, Random but predictable events, Take into consideration one or a combination of the following.

[0034] Random but predictable events are: Buses passing by increase noise levels, and Number of detected wireless devices It could be one or a combination of these.

[0035] According to a preferred embodiment of the disclosed system, the processing (local, remote, or combined) identifies the physiological state of a person or any other animal. It is desirable that the physiological state includes heart rate and / or respiratory rate.

[0036] In general, the present invention also provides a method for detecting activity that exceeds a predetermined threshold for activity within a monitored spatial volume, and this method is Detecting the environmental and / or physical parameters of stationary and moving objects within a monitored spatial volume. The detected environmental and / or physical parameters are transmitted to the base station for processing, and if any, it is determined which parameters exceed the predefined parameter thresholds set for each parameter. Signaling any one or combination of parameters that are judged to exceed those predefined thresholds. This includes the step of performing the following:

[0037] In a preferred embodiment of the disclosed method, the environmental and / or physical parameters are: Air quality, temperature, pressure, humidity, Noise level, Carbon dioxide levels, Movement of the target, Glass breakage, Absence of the subject, Location of smart tag, Animal location, Animal migration, The physiological state of animals, Identification signal of a radio source within the base station's communication range, Location, movement, or connection of base station components Selected from one or a combination of the following.

[0038] In general, the present invention is: A computer-readable medium having computer-readable program code and computer-readable system code embodied on the medium within a data processing system to detect activity that exceeds a predetermined threshold of activity within a monitored spatial volume. We also provide computer program products, including the controller program product, The computer-readable medium for performing the method steps disclosed herein includes computer-readable code.

[0039] In general, the present invention also provides base stations adapted for operational connectivity with the systems disclosed herein.

[0040] In general, the present invention also provides devices for monitoring and managing activities in stationary or moving environments, and these devices include Including base stations, base stations are: Ambient temperature, Ambient pressure, Ambient noise level, Ambient carbon dioxide levels, Beacon ID of the wireless source, vibration, Movement of the target, Movement of base stations, Location of wireless tag, Animal location, Animal migration, Includes sensors for detecting one or more of the following, or is operablely connected to them. The base station is: Receiving data from one or more sensors, below: To perform local processing on at least a portion of the received data, At least a portion of the received data, and / or The result of processing at least a portion of the received data locally. to send it to a remote processing facility that is adapted to perform remote processing on the data it receives. Performing one or a combination of the following: The processing result is returned and received at the base station. Taking action that includes one or a combination of issuing alerts, messages, prompts, voice messages, notifications, and displaying measurement levels, It is adapted to perform this task.

[0041] In one embodiment, one or more sensors communicate with a base station and are located remotely from the base station.

[0042] In other embodiments, at least one of the sensors is integrated with the base station.

[0043] Preferably, using the base station embodiments disclosed herein, the sensor for detecting the movement of an object includes at least one pyroelectric infrared (PIR) motion detector.

[0044] Preferably, using the base embodiments disclosed herein, the processing (local, remote, or combined) identifies the spatial location of an object. The spatial location may be three-dimensional. Furthermore, the object includes an object having body temperature.

[0045] Preferably, using the base embodiments disclosed herein, the processing (local, remote, or combined) is within the detection range of at least one sensor. Person, and Other animals Determine at least one of the numbers.

[0046] Preferably, using the base embodiments disclosed herein, the process (local, remote, or combined) detects that a party is taking place.

[0047] Preferably, using the base embodiments disclosed herein, the process is: The number of wireless devices within the range of the relevant sensor(s), compared to the number of wireless devices within the range of the relevant sensor(s), typically / on average / according to historical data. The number of people within range, Carbon dioxide levels compared to normal, or that normally change, The temperature under normal lighting conditions for the season and time of day, as well as Random but predictable events, Take into consideration one or a combination of the following.

[0048] According to preferred embodiments of the methods, systems, and apparatus disclosed herein, random but predictable events are: Buses passing by increase noise levels, and Number of detected wireless devices It is one or a combination of these.

[0049] According to a preferred embodiment of the disclosed system, the processing (local, remote, or combined) identifies the physiological state of a person or any other animal. It is desirable that the physiological state includes heart rate and / or respiratory rate.

[0050] Other embodiments and preferred forms are disclosed herein and / or defined in the appended claims which form part of the description of the invention. [Effects of the Invention]

[0051] Essentially, embodiments of the present invention are There is a need to provide devices and systems that enable the identification of conditions that may or may be developing into undesirable outcomes in environments such as rental properties, healthcare facilities, elderly care facilities, home care environments, and commercial or business environments. • There is a need to communicate the existence of such potential or actual conditions to people in local and / or remote locations so that early or corrective adjustments can be initiated. This stems from that understanding.

[0052] The advantages provided by embodiments of the present invention are as follows: • Early identification of growing problems, • Providing data-driven insights into the status and recommendations on what actions to take. • Providing resources to protect real estate and assets from actions that damage or harm them. • Providing resources to take measures to protect individuals at risk of harm. • Ability to remotely monitor and access real-time information. As a result, data-driven accountability can reduce the burden of insurance premiums, claims, and general liability. • The possibility of integration with other electronic devices or platforms, and • The ability to maintain individual privacy while simultaneously providing the aforementioned benefits. Includes.

[0053] Specifically, according to the present invention, a combination of a base station, smart tags, and data sensors will form an ecosystem capable of performing advanced data analysis to provide accurate inferences about the physical environment and the state of people within that environment. For example, according to embodiments of the present invention, shape detection may indicate that a person is lying on the ground, while a smart tag may detect that a walker has fallen over, and physiological data may indicate that the patient is unconscious. From these separate data points, it can be confidently inferred that the patient is lying down and unconscious.

[0054] Such an ecosystem can also be seen as interoperable with other devices or data from other devices. For example, an embodiment of the ecosystem of this disclosure can receive data from a doorbell with monitor to confirm that an event is occurring, or to confirm an event that is also inferred by the ecosystem, or to provide evidence of an event.

[0055] Further scope of applications of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given below. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention, are given only as examples, as various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the disclosure herein will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.

[0056] Further disclosures, objectives, advantages and aspects of preferred and other embodiments of the present invention can be better understood by those skilled in the art by referring to the following description of embodiments in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, the accompanying drawings are given only as examples and therefore do not limit the disclosures herein. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0057] [Figure 1] This is a high-level block diagram illustrating an overview of a software architecture according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2]This is a high-level network diagram showing a system according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a high-level network diagram showing hardware according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4-6] This is a plan view showing the installation of an apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] This is a high-level block diagram showing hardware according to another embodiment of the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] This is a set of charts listing the high-level functionality of the resources used in embodiments of the present invention. [Figure 9] This is a set of figures showing the appearance of a tag according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] This is a set of diagrams showing some of the internal components of a tag according to the embodiment in Figure 9. [Figure 10] This is a set of diagrams showing a circuit board, which is one of the internal components of a tag according to the embodiment shown in Figure 9. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0058] Hardware and software As illustrated in the block diagram of Figure 1, the architecture of System 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention includes a backend server 2, a base station 8, and at least one mobile device 11. The base station 8 and the backend server 2 can communicate with each other through a communication channel 13. The communication channel 13 is preferably implemented using the TCP / IP protocol. The mobile device 11 and the backend server can communicate with each other using an API (Application Programming Interface) 14. The API 14 is preferably a FastAPI developed using the Python programming language.

[0059] The backend server 2 includes a metric ingestion worker 3, a web server and API 6, a watchman 7, and a database server 4. The metric ingestion worker 3 retrieves data from client base stations, for example, base station 8, for storage in database 4.

[0060] The base station 8 is provided to run the client application 9, which is preferably written in the Python programming language.

[0061] The mobile device 11 can run client software 12. Preferred forms of the mobile device include tablets and mobile phones running operating systems such as Android or iOS. The client software 9 is preferably a daemon written in Python.

[0062] Preferably, Database 4 is hosted on a cloud platform such as Google Cloud. • Metric ingestion worker 3 is implemented using Google Cloud Edge. • The web server and API 6 are implemented using Google Containers. • Authentication and push notifications are implemented using Firebase, and Cloudflare is used for domain and DNS, firewall, and bot protection.

[0063] As illustrated in the high-level block diagram of Figure 3, the base station 8 is preferably implemented using a system-on-a-chip (SoC) or system-on-a-module (SoM) 16, a power supply, and peripherals including inputs / outputs, environmental sensing (such as microphones for voice pickup), and wireless communication.

[0064] The particularly desirable components of base station 8 are: • Touchscreen interface 17 (not shown in the diagram) for receiving or silencing alerts. • Noise level indicator 18 (not shown in the diagram) • Microphone 19 used to monitor ambient sound levels, used to detect loud noises or glass breakage. • An event, for example, a sound pressure detector 21 (not shown in the figure) for identifying glass breakage, • "Matter", Bluetooth®, Zigbee or other low-power wireless interfaces 22 for listening to Bluetooth or similar beacons and for communicating with tracking tiles. • 24 Wi-Fi interfaces for network connectivity and listening for Bluetooth Service Set Identifiers (SSIDs). • Mobile communication interface 51 for connection to the public telephone network. • An infrared (IR) transmitter 26 (not shown in the figure) for providing functions such as remote control of the device. • Carbon dioxide (CO2) sensor 27 and particulate matter 28 air quality monitor, • Temperature and humidity sensor and pressure sensor 29, • Speakers or other devices 31 for generating audible alerts. • One or more accelerometers 32 for detecting movement, • GPS device 33 (not shown in the figure) for detecting geographical location. • Zigbee controller (not shown in the diagram) • LED glow light 36 or other light-emitting device to visually signal a warning. • PIR (Passive Infrared) motion detection module 37, • Power management module 38, • Lithium polymer battery 39, • Ultrasonic motion detector 52, • Hall effect detector 53, • High-frequency radar module 54, and Tamper switch 56 Includes.

[0065] The client software 9 within the base station 8 is a daemon written in the Python programming language. It preferably runs under the Linux® operating system in a Docker container with automatic updates. It manages the initial setup of the base station 8 and the WiFi connection, registers inputs after polling the sensors connected to the device 8, and communicates with the metric acquisition worker 3 (preferably over the internet). It also preferably sends binary packets back to the acquisition worker 3 over the internet.

[0066] The backend server 2 can handle multiple base stations 8 that are communicating with the mobile device 11.

[0067] Metric acquisition workers 3 receive signals from base station 8. These metric acquisition workers are distributed functions implemented preferably using the TypeScript open-source programming language and preferably using an edge computing architecture. Metric acquisition workers 3 receive information including audio clips, lidar, radar, and ultrasound data, and this information and data may be encrypted locally before being sent to the database server. They perform initial processing of statistical data before storing the data in the database server 4. Metric acquisition workers 3 also receive heart rate signals from base station 8. Embodiments may utilize audio clips for calibration of the system.

[0068] The web server and API 6 are preferably implemented using a REST (Representation State Transfer) software architecture. They preferably run on Amazon Web Services' Lambda compute service.

[0069] Web API services are: • For logging into the mobile client app 11, and for machine-to-machine authentication and authorization between the base station 8 and smart tags 41 and 42 (described below), the client is authenticated (preferably using OpenID or OAuth), • Management of presentations on mobile devices 11 and updating of user information, • Management of push alerts to mobile devices 11 / mobile apps 12 • Acceptance of user feedback from the guest interface screen of base station 8 and from the mobile app 12, and • Managing API documentation for integration It performs the function of carrying out the task.

[0070] Watchman 7 operates partly on base station 8 and mostly on backend server 2. Watchman 7 is preferably implemented using the Python programming language and preferably using TensorFlow or PyTorch software libraries.

[0071] Each Watchman 7 is individually calibrated for each installation to set the appropriate level based on the input.

[0072] The input data for Watchman 7 is preferably: • Ambient temperature, ambient pressure, and ambient humidity from the temperature / pressure / humidity monitor 29. • Ambient noise level from microphone 19, • Audio clips, • Carbon dioxide level from carbon dioxide sensor 27, • Beacon ID of wireless sources within range • Vibrations from an accelerometer or multiple accelerometers 32, ·Humidity, • The location of any smart tag within the range of base station 8, and • Location and / or movement of base station 8 Includes one or more of the following.

[0073] Output and alerts from Watchman 7 are: • Excess noise was detected. • An excess number of people has been detected. • Excessive movement within the area monitored by base station 8, • Broken glass, • The air quality threshold is exceeded. • No items were found within the area monitored by base station 8. • Base station 8 is disconnected, and Base station 8 is moving. Includes any one or more of the following indicators.

[0074] The model is built using the data model and deployed to Watchman component 7, which is running on an EC2 instance.

[0075] Database server 4 is preferably implemented using a Postgres database with a complete schema for metrics (excluding authentication and alerts) and runs time-series tables using TimescaleDB for analysis. The database server is hosted on Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) within Amazon Web Services (AWS).

[0076] Although the foregoing description of the software implementation of embodiments of the present invention refers to specific languages ​​and software packages, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that alternative, suitable languages ​​and software packages are substituted.

[0077] Figures 4 to 6 are plan views showing the installation of an apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

[0078] Figure 4 shows a diagram of such equipment installed within Flat 46. In the form of a base station 8, the base station can communicate with the WiFi router 44. The base station 8 and the smart tag 41 can communicate with each other wirelessly, such as by Bluetooth or Zigbee protocol. The base station 8 and the repeater 43 can communicate with each other wirelessly, and the repeater 43 can communicate wirelessly with other devices such as smart tags 41, smart tags 42, and mobile devices (not shown in the diagram). A preferred form of repeater 43 includes: another base station 8, compatible third-party equipment, and any other equipment that operates to enable the creation of a large mesh network. The smart tag 41 is attached to expensive equipment such as television sets and works of art that are intended to remain within Flat 46. The smart tag 42 is attached to mobile equipment. Examples of such equipment include rental bicycles and personalized drug packages such as "Webster-pac".

[0079] In this example, base station 8 is positioned adjacent to the WiFi router 44 in the living room of flat 46 to monitor this area. Repeater 43 is installed on the balcony to monitor noise on the balcony. Three smart tags 41 are located in different rooms and can communicate wirelessly with either base station 8 or repeater 43.

[0080] Figures 5 and 6 show devices according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention located on the first floor 47 and second floor 48 of a two-story dwelling, respectively. The base station 8, WiFi router 44, smart tag 41, and repeater 43 operate similarly to the components in the example in Figure 4. The examples in Figures 5 and 6 differ from the example in Figure 4 in that they include a go tag 42 which can be attached to, for example, a bicycle that can be rented.

[0081] Figure 7 is a high-level block diagram of a smart tag 41 / 42 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in the figure, the tag 41 / 42 operates under the control of a processor 58. The processor 58 receives input signals from a Hall effect detector 59, temperature sensors 61 and 62, three-axis accelerometers 63 and 64, and a tamper switch 66. The tag 41 / 42 communicates with a base station 8 via a Bluetooth low-energy interface 67 and / or a "matter" interface 68. The human interface of the tag 41 / 42 includes a control button 69, an LED 71 which is preferably an RGB LED, and a speaker 72. The tag 41 / 42 is powered by a lithium polymer battery 74 through a power management module 74.

[0082] Figure 8 is a set of charts listing the high-level capabilities of the sensor arrays used by the aforementioned sensor arrays of base station 8, tags 41 / 42, and the computing cloud in Figure 3, as well as the resources used by the sensor arrays.

[0083] operation During use, the PIR pyroelectric infrared (PIR) motion detector module 37 of base station 8 detects movement within its range and generates three-dimensional position data. This position data is segmented according to multiple horizontal and vertical segments. Segmentation to the location of objects with body temperature determines the individual motion signature of each object. The positioning of objects by segment helps to determine the number of people and / or pets within the monitored spatial volume.

[0084] A party detection algorithm uses data from several sources to infer whether a party is taking place, in which case a party may be defined by determining that the number of people and / or objects within the monitored spatial volume exceeds a threshold, as well as / or that parameters such as noise levels or air quality envelope data exceed a threshold. A preferred example of data input to party detection is: ·Number of people, • Increase exceeding the threshold for voice / noise volume, • Rising carbon dioxide levels, and • Temperature rise Includes one or more of the following.

[0085] The number of people is determined by one or more of the following: data from the PIR motion detector module 37, data from the ultrasonic and / or radar module (not shown in the figure), and an increase in the baseline number of radio devices (Bluetooth and / or Wi-Fi). The determination of the increase in the baseline number of radio devices is as follows: • Base station 8 (listening for Bluetooth or other beacons) Bluetooth, Zigbee or other low-power radio interface 22, and / or • Wi-Fi interfaces 23 and 24 of base station 8 (listening for Bluetooth service set identifier SSID) Use data from here.

[0086] A system according to an embodiment of the present invention creates baseline measurements of the environment and uses machine learning to identify patterns and trends. For example: How many wireless devices are typically located nearby? What is a normal ambient noise level? • Are there any factors that cause these numbers to change on a daily / regular basis, but that are normal (for example, passing buses can increase noise levels and the number of radio devices detected)?

[0087] According to some embodiments of the base station 8, input signals from the high-frequency radar module 54 and the ultrasonic module 52 are processed to infer physiological information about a person, such as information about the patient's heart rate and respiratory rate.

[0088] Tags 41 and 42 both have unique functions and can interoperate with base stations. For example, a tag operating independently can determine whether a door is open or not. When that tag interoperates with a base station and uses information from that base station, it becomes possible to make further inferences. For example, using shape detection, it is possible to infer that a door has been opened by a person. It is also possible to estimate whether that person is, for example, a patient rather than a medical staff member. By using machine learning / AI, it is possible to determine whether a patient opening the door contradicts the patient's usual behavioral patterns.

[0089] The algorithmic processing is preferably divided between the base station 8 and the server 2. For privacy reasons, a portion of the algorithm is executed locally on the base station 8, then divided / encrypted and sent to the server 2 for processing. Other non-confidential data is processed only on the server 2.

[0090] Other non-confidential data is processed solely on the server side.

[0091] While the present invention has been described in relation to its particular embodiments, it will be understood that further modifications are possible. This application is intended to encompass any modified use or adaptation of the present invention, including any deviations from this disclosure that occur in a manner known or customary within the art to which the invention pertains, and that may be applicable to the essential features described above, in accordance with the general principles of the invention.

[0092] Since the present invention can be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit of its essential characteristics, it should be understood that the embodiments described above do not limit the invention unless otherwise specified, but should be interpreted broadly within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The embodiments described should be considered in all respects to be illustrative and not limiting.

[0093] Various modifications and equivalent configurations are intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention and the appended claims. Therefore, it is understood that particular embodiments may exemplify many ways in which the principles of the present invention may be put into practice. In the following claims, any means-plus-function clause is intended to cover not only structural equivalents but also equivalent structures, as the syntax performs a defined function. For example, nails and screws may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to fasten wooden parts together, while a screw employs a helical surface to fasten wooden parts together; however, in the environment in which wooden parts are fastened, nails and screws are equivalent structures.

[0094] Sections I through VII below provide a guide for interpreting this specification.

[0095] I. Terminology The term “base station” means one or more devices and / or components at one or more physical locations that together serve to process, connect, and transmit / receive (receive or transmit by a base station) data to a network.

[0096] The term "product" means any machine, manufacture and / or composition unless otherwise specified.

[0097] The term "process" means any process, algorithm, method, or similar unless otherwise specified.

[0098] Each process (whether called a method, algorithm, or otherwise) essentially consists of one or more steps, and therefore every reference to a “step” or “multiple steps” of a process has a specific antecedent in a mere enumeration of the term “process” or similar terms. Accordingly, any reference to a “step” or “multiple steps” of a process within a claim has a sufficient antecedent.

[0099] The term “invention” and similar terms mean “one or more inventions disclosed herein” unless otherwise specified.

[0100] The terms “one embodiment,” “embodiment,” “multiple embodiments,” “that embodiment,” “that multiple embodiments,” “one or more embodiments,” “several embodiments,” “a certain embodiment,” “one embodiment,” “another embodiment,” and similar terms mean “one or more (but not all) embodiments of the invention(s) disclosed herein,” unless otherwise specified.

[0101] In the term "modification" in this invention, unless otherwise specified, it means one embodiment of the present invention.

[0102] Unless otherwise specified, a reference to "another embodiment" in the description of one embodiment does not imply that the referred embodiment is mutually exclusive with another embodiment (for example, an embodiment described before the referred embodiment).

[0103] The terms "including," "containing," and their variations mean "including, but not limited to," unless otherwise specified.

[0104] The terms "a," "an," and "the" mean "one or more" unless otherwise specified.

[0105] The term "multiple" means "two or more" unless otherwise specified.

[0106] The term "in this specification" means "in this specification, including anything that may be incorporated by reference," unless otherwise specified.

[0107] The phrase “at least one of” means any combination of one or more of the things (such as an enumerated list of things), unless otherwise specified. For example, the phrase “at least one of a widget, a car, and a wheel” means any of the following: (i) a widget, (ii) a car, (iii) a wheel, (iv) a widget and a car, (v) a widget and a wheel, (vi) a car and a wheel, or (vii) a widget, a car, and a wheel. The phrase “at least one of” does not mean “one of each” of the things when it modifies multiple things.

[0108] Numerical terms such as "one" and "two," when used as a cardinal to indicate a quantity of something (e.g., one widget, two widgets), mean the quantity indicated by that numerical term, but not at least the quantity indicated by that numerical term. For example, the phrase "one widget" does not mean "at least one widget," and therefore the phrase "one widget" does not include, for example, two widgets.

[0109] The phrase "based on" does not mean "based solely on" unless otherwise specified. In other words, the phrase "based on" can express both "based solely on" and "based at least on." The phrase "based at least on" is equivalent to the phrase "based at least in part on."

[0110] The term "represent" and similar terms are not mutually exclusive unless otherwise specified. For example, the term "represent" does not mean "represent only" unless otherwise specified. In other words, the phrase "the data represents a credit card number" can mean both "the data represents only a credit card number" and "the data represents a credit card number, and the data also represents something else."

[0111] The term "whereby" is used herein only to precede any phrase or set of words that express only an intended result, purpose, or consequence of something that has been explicitly enumerated previously. Thus, wherever the term "whereby" is used in a claim, the phrase or other words it modifies do not establish any further specific limitations on the claim, nor do they otherwise restrict the meaning or scope of the claim.

[0112] The term "e.g." and similar terms mean "to give an example" and therefore do not limit the term or phrase they describe. For example, in the sentence "A computer transmits data (e.g., instructions, data structures) over the Internet," the term "e.g." explains that "instructions" are an example of "data" that a computer can transmit over the Internet, and also explains that "data structures" are an example of "data" that a computer can transmit over the Internet. However, both "instructions" and "data structures" are merely examples of "data," and other things besides "instructions" and "data structures" can also be "data."

[0113] The term "i.e., that is" and similar terms mean "in other words" and therefore limit the term or phrase they describe. For example, in the sentence "Computers transmit data (i.e., instructions) over the Internet," the term "i.e." explains that "instructions" are the "data" that computers transmit over the Internet.

[0114] Any given numerical range shall include integers and fractions within that range. For example, the range "1 to 10" shall be interpreted as specifically including integers (e.g., 2, 3, 4, ... 9) and non-integers (e.g., 1.1, 1.2, ... 1.9) between 1 and 10.

[0115] II. Determining The term "decision" and its grammatical variations (e.g., determining a price, determining a value, determining an object that meets a particular criterion) are used in an extremely broad sense. The term "decision" encompasses a wide variety of actions and can therefore include judgment, calculation, processing, derivation, investment, retrieval (e.g., searching within a table, database, or other data structure), confirmation, and similar actions. It can also include reception (e.g., receiving information), access (e.g., accessing data in memory), and similar actions. Furthermore, it can include resolution, selection, selection, establishment, and similar actions.

[0116] The term “decision” does not imply certainty or absolute accuracy; therefore, “decision” may include estimations, extrapolations, predictions, guesses, and similar things.

[0117] The term "decision" does not imply that mathematical processing must be performed, that numerical methods must be used, or that an algorithm or process must be used.

[0118] The term "decision" does not necessarily mean that any particular device must be used. For example, a computer does not necessarily have to make the decision.

[0119] III.Indication The term "indicator" is used in a very broad sense. It can encompass, among other things, a sign, an indication, or a token of something else.

[0120] The term “indicator” may be used to refer to any indicia and / or other information that indicates or is associated with an entity, item, entity, and / or other subject and / or idea.

[0121] In this specification, the phrases “information indicating ~” and “signature” may be used to refer to any information that represents, describes, and / or otherwise associates with a relevant entity, subject, or object.

[0122] The endorsement of information may include, for example, codes, references, links, signals, identifiers, and / or any combination thereof, as well as any other informational representation associated with that information.

[0123] In some embodiments, the mark of information (or indication of information) may be the information itself and / or any part or component of the information, or may include them. In some embodiments, the indicator may include requests, solicitations, broadcasts, and / or any other forms of information gathering and / or dissemination.

[0124] IV. Sentence Forms If the limitation of the first claim includes one feature and two or more features (for example, a limitation such as "at least one widget" includes one widget and two or more widgets), and the second claim, which depends on the first claim, uses the definite article "that" to refer to that limitation (e.g., "that widget"), this does not mean that the first claim includes only one of its features, and this does not mean that the second claim includes only one of its features (e.g., "that widget" includes both one widget and two or more widgets).

[0125] When an ordinal number (e.g., "first," "second," "third," etc.) is used as an adjective before a term, the ordinal number is used (unless otherwise specified) solely to indicate a specific characteristic, for example, to distinguish that particular characteristic from another characteristic described by the same or similar term. For example, "first widget" may be named so solely to distinguish it from, for example, "second widget." Thus, the mere use of the ordinal numbers "first" and "second" before the term "widget" does not indicate any other relationship between the two widgets, nor any other characteristic of one or both widgets. For example, the mere use of the ordinal numbers "first" and "second" before the term "widget" does not (1) indicate that one widget comes before or after the other in order or position, (2) indicate that one widget occurs or operates before or after the other in time, or (3) indicate that one widget ranks above or below the other, for example, in importance or quality. Furthermore, the mere use of ordinal numbers does not define a numerical limit on the features identified by the ordinal numbers. For example, the mere use of the ordinal numbers "first" and "second" before the term "widget" does not indicate that there must be three or more widgets.

[0126] Where a single device or article is described herein, two or more devices / articles (whether they work together or not) may be used as alternatives in place of the single device / article described. Accordingly, functions described as being handled by one device may be handled by two or more devices / articles (whether they work together or not) as alternatives.

[0127] Similarly, where two or more devices or articles are described herein (whether they cooperate or not), a single device / article may be used as an alternative in place of the two or more devices or articles described. For example, multiple computer-based devices may be replaced by a single computer-based device. Accordingly, various functions described as being handled by two or more devices or articles may be handled by a single device / article as an alternative.

[0128] The functions and / or features of a single device described may be embodied by one or more other devices that are described but not explicitly described as having such functions / features. Therefore, other embodiments do not necessarily have to include the device described itself, but in those other embodiments, they may include one or more other devices that may have such functions / features.

[0129] V. Disclosure examples and terminology are not limited. Neither the title nor the abstract in this specification is intended to be construed as limiting in any way the scope of the disclosed invention(s). The titles and headings of the sections provided herein are for convenience only and should not be construed as limiting this disclosure in any way.

[0130] Numerous embodiments are described in this application and presented for illustrative purposes only. The embodiments described are not and are not intended to be limiting in any sense. The inventions(s) disclosed herein are broadly applicable to numerous embodiments, as is readily apparent from this disclosure. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the inventions(s) disclosed herein can be implemented in a variety of modifications and changes, such as structural, logical, software, and electrical modifications. Certain features of the inventions(s) disclosed herein may be described with reference to one or more specific embodiments and / or drawings, but it should be understood that such features are not limited to their use in the one or more specific embodiments or drawings by which they are described, unless otherwise specified.

[0131] This disclosure is not a textual description of all embodiments of the invention. Nor is this disclosure a list of features of the invention that must be present in all embodiments.

[0132] Devices described as communicating with each other do not need to communicate with each other continuously unless otherwise specified. On the contrary, such devices only need to transmit to each other as needed or preferably, and in practice, they can often refrain from exchanging data. For example, a machine communicating with another machine over the internet may not transmit data to the other machine for extended periods (e.g., several weeks at a time). Furthermore, devices communicating with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.

[0133] Descriptions of embodiments having several components or features mean that all or even some of such components / features are not required. Conversely, various optional components are described to illustrate a wide variety of possible embodiments of the invention. Unless otherwise specified, no component / feature is essential or necessary.

[0134] Process steps, operations, algorithms, or the like may be described in a particular order, but such processes may be configured to operate in a different order. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that can be explicitly described does not necessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. The steps of the processes described herein may be performed in any practical order. Furthermore, some steps may be performed concurrently, even though they are described or implied to occur non-concurrently (for example, one step is described after another). Moreover, the illustration of a process in the drawings does not mean that the illustrated process excludes other variations and modifications thereto, that any of the illustrated processes or steps thereto are necessary for the invention, or that the illustrated process is preferred.

[0135] A process may be described as involving multiple steps, but this does not mean that all or some of the steps are preferred, essential, or required. Various other embodiments within the scope of the described invention(s) may include other processes that omit some or all of the described steps. Unless otherwise specified, no step is essential or required.

[0136] A process can be described in isolation or without reference to other products or methods, but in one embodiment, the process may interact with other products or methods. For example, such interaction may include linking one business model to another. Such interaction may be provided to enhance the flexibility or desirability of the process.

[0137] A product may be described as comprising multiple components, aspects, qualities, characteristics, and / or features, but this does not indicate that any or all of them are preferred, essential, or necessary. Various other embodiments within the scope of the described invention(s) may include other products that omit some or all of the described components.

[0138] An enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does not mean, unless otherwise specified, that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive. Similarly, an enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does not mean, unless otherwise specified, that any or all of the items cover any category. For example, the enumerated list "computers, laptops, PDAs" does not mean that any or all of the three items in that list are mutually exclusive, nor does it mean that any or all of the three items in that list cover any category.

[0139] The enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does not imply that some or all of the items are equivalent to or readily interchangeable with one another.

[0140] All embodiments are illustrative and, in some cases, do not imply that the present invention or any of its embodiments have been created or performed.

[0141] VI. Computing It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the various processes described herein can be implemented, for example, by appropriately programmed general-purpose computers, dedicated computers, and computing devices. Typically, a processor (e.g., one or more microprocessors, one or more microcontrollers, one or more digital signal processors) receives instructions (e.g., from memory or similar devices), executes those instructions, and thereby executes one or more processes defined by those instructions.

[0142] "Processor" means one or more microprocessors, central processing units (CPUs), computing devices, microcontrollers, digital signal processors, or similar devices, or any combination thereof.

[0143] Therefore, a description of a process is similarly a description of the apparatus for executing the process. The apparatus for executing the process may include, for example, a processor and input and output devices suitable for executing that process.

[0144] Furthermore, programs (and other types of data) implementing such methods can be stored and transmitted in several ways using various media (e.g., computer-readable media). In some embodiments, hardwired circuits or custom hardware may be used in place of, or in combination with, some or all of the software instructions that can implement the processes of various embodiments. Thus, various combinations of hardware and software may be used instead of software alone.

[0145] The term “computer-readable medium” refers to any medium, multiple of the aforementioned, or combinations of different media that are involved in providing data (e.g., instructions, data structures) that can be read by a computer, processor, or similar device. Such media include, but are not limited to, non-volatile media, volatile media, and transmission media, and can take many forms. Non-volatile media include, for example, optical or magnetic disks and other persistent memory. Volatile media include dynamic random-access memory (DRAM), which typically constitutes main memory. Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wires, and optical fibers, and wires including system buses coupled to processors. Transmission media may include, or can transmit, sound waves, light waves, and electromagnetic radiation, such as those generated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) data communications. Common forms of computer-readable media include, for example, floppy disks, flexible disks, hard disks, magnetic tapes, any other magnetic media, CD-ROMs, DVDs, any other optical media, punch cards, paper tapes, any other physical media with a pattern of holes, RAM, PROMs, EPROMs, FLASH-EEPROMs, any other memory chips or cartridges, carriers as described below, or any other media from which a computer can read.

[0146] Various forms of computer-readable media may be involved in the delivery of data (e.g., a series of instructions) to the processor. For example, data may (i) be delivered from RAM to the processor, (ii) be transmitted via wireless transmission media, (iii) be formatted and / or transmitted according to various formats, standards or protocols such as Ethernet (or IEEE 802.3), SAP, ATP, Bluetooth (commercial code), and TCP / IP, TDMA, CDMA, and 3G, and / or (iv) be encrypted in any of the various methods known in the art to protect privacy or prevent misuse.

[0147] Therefore, a description of a process is similarly a description of a computer-readable medium that stores a program for executing that process. The computer-readable medium can store program elements suitable for executing this method (in any appropriate format).

[0148] Just as a description of the various steps in a process does not indicate that all of the described steps are necessary, an embodiment of the apparatus may include a computer / computing device capable of performing some (but not necessarily all) of the described process.

[0149] Similarly, just as a description of various steps in a process does not indicate that all of the described steps are necessary, embodiments of computer-readable media containing a program or data structure include computer-readable media containing a program that, when executed, causes a processor to perform some (but not necessarily all) of the described process.

[0150] Where a database is described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that (i) alternative database structures may readily be adopted over the one described, and (ii) other memory structures may readily be adopted in addition to the database. Any example or description of any sample database presented herein is an exemplary arrangement of the stored representation of the information. Any number of other arrangements may be adopted in addition to those proposed by tables illustrated, for example, in the figures or elsewhere. Similarly, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that any exemplary items in a database represent exemplary information only, and the number and content of items may differ from those described herein. Furthermore, despite the table representation of a database, other formats (relational databases, object-based models, and / or distributed databases) may be used to store and manipulate the data types described herein. Similarly, object methods or behaviors of a database may be used to implement various processes, such as those described herein. In addition, databases may be stored locally or remotely on devices that access the data in such databases, in known ways.

[0151] Various embodiments can be configured to operate within a network environment that includes a computer communicating with one or more devices (for example, via a communication network). The computer may communicate with the devices directly or indirectly via any wired or wireless medium (e.g., the Internet, LAN, WAN or Ethernet, Token Ring, telephone lines, cable lines, wireless channels, optical communication lines, commercial online service providers, electronic bulletin board systems, satellite communication lines, or any combination thereof). Each of the devices may include itself, a computer, or other computing devices adapted to communicate with the computer. Any number and type of devices may communicate with the computer.

[0152] In one embodiment, a server computer or centralized authority may be optional or undesirable. For example, in one embodiment, the present invention may be implemented on one or more devices without a centralized authority. In such an embodiment, any function described herein as being performed by a server computer, or data described as being stored on a server computer, may instead be performed by or stored on one or more such devices.

[0153] Where a process is described, in one embodiment, the process may operate without user intervention. In another embodiment, the process may involve some human intervention (for example, a step may be performed with or with human assistance).

[0154] Where the terms “server,” “secure server,” or similar terms are used herein, unless otherwise required in context, it should be noted that they describe communication devices that may be used within a communication system, and the invention should not be construed as limiting the invention to any particular type of device. Accordingly, communication devices may, without limitation, include bridges, routers, bridge-routers (routers), switches, nodes, or other communication devices, whether secure or not.

[0155] Where flowcharts are used herein to illustrate various aspects of the present invention, it should be noted that they should not be construed as limiting the invention to any particular logic flow or logical embodiment. The logic described may be divided into different logic blocks (e.g., programs, modules, functions, or subroutines) without altering the overall result or otherwise departing from the true scope of the invention. Often, logic elements may be added, modified, omitted, executed in a different order, or implemented using different logic constructs (e.g., logic gates, loop primitives, conditional logic, and other logic constructs) without altering the overall result or otherwise departing from the true scope of the invention.

[0156] Various embodiments of the present invention can be embodied in many different forms, including computer program logic for use with a processor (e.g., a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor, or general-purpose computer, and moreover, any commercial processor can be used to implement embodiments of the present invention as either a single processor, a serial or parallel set of processors in a system, and therefore examples of commercial processors include, but are not limited to, Merced®, Pentium®, Pentium II®, Xeon®, Celeron®, Pentium Pro®, Efficeon®, Athlon®, AMD®, and similar), programmable logic for use with a programmable logic device (e.g., a field-programmable gate array (FPGA) or other PLD), discrete components, integrated circuits (e.g., application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs)), or any other means including any combination thereof. In exemplary embodiments of the present invention, almost all of the communication between the user and the server is converted into a computer executable format, stored in a computer-readable medium as such, and implemented as a set of computer program instructions executed by a microprocessor under the control of an operating system.

[0157] Computer program logic implementing all or part of the functions described herein can be embodied in a variety of forms, including source code, computer executable, and various intermediate forms (e.g., forms generated by an assembler, compiler, linker, or locator). The source code may include a set of computer program instructions implemented in any of the following programming languages ​​for use with various operating systems or operating environments (e.g., object code, assembly language, Fortran, C, C++, Java®, or high-level languages ​​such as HTML; furthermore, there are hundreds of available computer languages ​​that can be used to implement embodiments of the present invention, among which common ones are Ada, Algol, APL, awk, Basic, C, C++, Conol, Delphi, Eiffel, Euphoria, Forth, Fortran, HTML, Icon, Java, Javascript, Lisp, Logo, Mathematica, MatLab, Miranda, Modula-2, Oberon, Pascal, Perl, PL / I, Prolog, Python, Rexx, SAS, Scheme, sed, Simula, Smalltalk, Snobol, SQL, Visual Basic, Visual C++, Linux, and XML). The source code may define and use various data structures and communication messages. Source code can be in a computer executable format (e.g., via an interpreter), or source code can be converted into a computer executable format (e.g., via a translator, assembler, or compiler).

[0158] Computer programs can be permanently or temporarily fixed in any form (e.g., source code, computer executable, or intermediate) within tangible storage media such as semiconductor memory devices (e.g., RAM, ROM, PROM, EEPROM, or Flash programmable RAM), magnetic memory devices (e.g., diskettes or fixed disks), optical memory devices (e.g., CD-ROM or DVD-ROM), PC cards (e.g., PCMCIA cards), or other memory devices. Computer programs can also be fixed in any form within signals that can be transmitted to a computer using any of various communication technologies, including but not limited to analog, digital, optical, wireless (e.g., Bluetooth), networking, and internetworking technologies. Computer programs can be distributed in any form as removable storage media (e.g., shrink-wrapped software) with accompanying print or electronic documents and pre-loaded into a computer system (e.g., on system ROM or fixed disk), or delivered from a server or electronic bulletin board through a communication system (e.g., the Internet or the World Wide Web).

[0159] Hardware logic (including programmable logic for use with programmable logic devices) implementing all or part of the functions described herein may be designed using conventional manual methods or may be electronically designed, captured, simulated, or documented using various tools such as computer-aided design (CAD), hardware description languages ​​(e.g., VHDL or AHDL), or PLD programming languages ​​(PALASM, ABEL, or CUPL). Hardware logic may also be incorporated into a display screen to implement embodiments of the present invention, which may be a segment display screen, analog display screen, digital display screen, CRT, LED screen, plasma screen, liquid crystal diode screen, and similar.

[0160] Programmable logic can be permanently or temporarily embedded in tangible storage media such as semiconductor memory devices (e.g., RAM, ROM, PROM, EEPROM, or Flash programmable RAM), magnetic memory devices (e.g., diskettes or fixed disks), optical memory devices (e.g., CD-ROMs or DVD-ROMs), or other memory devices. Programmable logic can also be embedded in signals that can be transmitted to a computer using any of various communication technologies, including but not limited to analog, digital, optical, wireless (e.g., Bluetooth), networking, and internetworking technologies. Programmable logic can be distributed as removable storage media (e.g., shrink-wrapped software) with accompanying printed or electronic documents and pre-loaded into a computer system (e.g., on system ROM or fixed disks), or delivered from a server or electronic bulletin board through a communication system (e.g., the Internet or the World Wide Web).

[0161] When used herein, “contains” and “encompassing” are construed to specify the presence of a described feature, integer, step, or component, but not to exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof. Thus, unless the context explicitly requires otherwise, throughout the description and claims, the words “contains,” “contains,” “encompassing,” “encompassing,” and similar words should be construed in a comprehensive sense, that is, in the sense of “encompassing,” and not limited to, an exclusive or exhaustive sense.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring and managing one or more activities in a stationary or mobile environment, including base stations, comprising one or more of the following: Ambient temperature, Ambient pressure, Ambient noise or noise level, Ambient carbon dioxide levels, Beacon ID of the wireless source, vibration, Movement of the target, Movement of the aforementioned base station, Location of smart tag, Animal location, Animal migration, Physiological state of animals Includes one or a combination of sensors for detecting, The aforementioned system: Local processing including preliminary data analysis and / or data encryption, Sending one or more measurements / data to another location for processing, The processing result is returned and received at the base station, and Taking action that includes one or a combination of issuing alerts, messages, prompts, voice messages, notifications, and displaying measurement levels. Suitable for performing one or a combination of the following: system.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the sensors communicate with the base station and are located remotely from the base station.

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the sensors is integrated with the base station.

4. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sensor for detecting the movement of the object includes at least one pyroelectric infrared (PIR) motion detector.

5. The aforementioned smart tag is: At least one RFID tag, and at least one BLE tag A system according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising one or a combination of the above.

6. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing (local, remote, or combined) identifies the spatial location of the object.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the spatial position is three-dimensional.

8. The system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the object includes an object having body temperature.

9. The processing is one or a combination of local and remote processing, and is within the detection range of at least one of the sensors. Person, and Other animals Determine at least one of the numbers, The system according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing is one or a combination of local and remote processing, and detects that a party is taking place.

11. The aforementioned process is: The number of wireless devices within the range of the relevant sensor(s) compared to the number of wireless devices within the range of the relevant sensor(s), typically / on average / according to historical data, The number of people within the aforementioned range, The carbon dioxide levels, compared to normal or normally changing, The temperature as normally observed in relation to the season and time of day, and Random, yet predictable events A system according to any one of the preceding claims, which takes into account one or a combination of the following.

12. Random but predictable events include: Buses passing by increase noise levels, and Number of wireless devices detected The system according to claim 11, which is one or a combination of the above.

13. The system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing (local, remote, or combined) identifies the physiological state of a person or other animal.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the physiological state includes heart rate and / or respiratory rate.

15. A method for detecting activity exceeding a predetermined threshold within a monitored spatial volume, To detect the environmental and / or physical parameters of stationary and moving objects within the monitored spatial volume, The detected environmental and / or physical parameters are transmitted to the base station for processing, and if any, it is determined which parameters exceed the predefined parameter thresholds set for each parameter. Signaling any one or combination of parameters that are judged to exceed those predefined thresholds. A method that includes the steps of performing a certain action.

16. The aforementioned environmental and / or physical parameters are: Air quality, temperature, pressure, humidity, Noise level, Carbon dioxide levels, Movement of the target, Glass breakage, Absence of the subject, Location of smart tag, Animal location, Animal migration, The aforementioned physiological state of the animal, Identification signal of a radio source within the communication range of the base station, Location, movement, or connection of base station components The method according to claim 15, selected from one or a combination thereof.

17. A computer program product, A computer-accessible medium having computer-readable program code and computer-readable system code embodied on the medium in a data processing system for detecting activity exceeding a predetermined threshold of activity within a monitored spatial volume. The controller program product includes, To perform the method step of claim 15 or claim 16, include computer-readable code in the computer-readable medium. Computer program products.

18. A base station adapted for operational connection with the system according to any one of claims 1 to 14.

19. A device for monitoring and managing activities in a stationary or moving environment, wherein the device is Including base stations, the said base stations are: Ambient temperature, Ambient pressure, Ambient noise level, Ambient carbon dioxide levels, The beacon ID of the wireless source, vibration, Movement of the target, Movement of the aforementioned base station, The aforementioned position of the wireless tag, The aforementioned position of the animal, The aforementioned movement of animals Includes a sensor for detecting one or more of the following, or is operablely connected to it. The aforementioned base station is: Receiving data from one or more of the aforementioned sensors, below: To perform local processing on at least a portion of the received data, At least a portion of the received data, and / or The result obtained by processing at least a portion of the received data locally, which is being processed locally. to transmit to a remote processing facility that is adapted to perform remote processing with respect to the data it receives, Performing one or a combination of the following, The result of the processing is returned and received at the base station, Taking measures including issuing alerts, messages, prompts, voice messages, notifications, and displaying measurement levels, or any combination thereof, Adapted to perform, Device.

20. The base station according to claim 19, wherein one or more of the sensors communicate with the base station and are located remotely from the base station.

21. The base station according to claim 19 or 20, wherein at least one of the sensors is integrated with the base station.

22. The base station according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the sensor for detecting the movement of the object includes at least one pyroelectric infrared (PIR) motion detector.

23. The base station according to any one of claims 19 to 22, wherein the processing (local, remote, or combined) identifies the spatial location of the object.

24. The base station according to claim 23, wherein the spatial position is three-dimensional.

25. The base station according to any one of claims 19 to 24, wherein the subject includes a subject having body temperature.

26. The processing (local, remote, or combined) is performed within the detection range of at least one of the sensors. Person, and Other animals A base station according to any one of claims 19 to 25, which determines at least one of the aforementioned numbers.

27. The base station according to any one of claims 19 to 24, wherein the processing (local, remote, or combined) detects that a party is taking place.

28. The aforementioned process is: The number of wireless devices within the range of the relevant sensor(s) compared to the number of wireless devices within the range of the relevant sensor(s), typically / on average / according to historical data, The number of people within the aforementioned range, The carbon dioxide levels, compared to normal or normally changing, The temperature as normally observed in relation to the season and time of day, and Random, yet predictable events A base station according to any one of claims 19 to 27, which takes into consideration one or a combination of the above.

29. Random but predictable events include: Buses passing by increase noise levels, and Number of wireless devices detected The system according to claim 28, which is one or a combination of the above.

30. The system according to any one of claims 19 to 27, wherein the processing (local, remote, or combined) identifies the physiological state of a person or other animal.

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein the physiological state includes heart rate and / or respiratory rate.

32. Methods, processes, or protocols disclosed herein.

33. The equipment and / or apparatus disclosed herein.

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