Environmental Monitoring System with Dynamic Sensor Registration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing environmental monitoring systems face challenges in reconfiguring sensors to meet evolving user needs and are vulnerable to power outages that disrupt Wi-Fi network operations, leading to loss of communication.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows for easy addition, reconfiguration, and removal of sensor units using a user interface and employs short-range communication protocols like RF ID or NFC, and bypasses Wi-Fi networks by using WWAN for communication, ensuring continuous monitoring even during power outages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If existing monitoring systems use preprogramed sensors with fixed configurations, then system stability is maintained, but adaptability to evolving user needs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static preprogramed sensor configurations to dynamic reconfigurable configurations. Users can add, remove, and reconfigure sensor units through a user interface, allowing the monitoring system to adapt to changing needs without requiring complex reprogramming or system redesign.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring system is divided into independent sensor units that can be individually configured, added, or removed. Each sensor unit operates as a discrete module, allowing flexible reconfiguration of the overall system by simply adding or removing individual units rather than reconfiguring the entire system.
2Reliability
If monitoring systems rely solely on Wi-Fi networks for communication, then network infrastructure requirements are reduced, but reliability during power outages deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the communication parameter from Wi-Fi network dependency to multiple communication modalities including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular networks. This allows the system to maintain communication reliability by switching to alternative networks that may remain operational during power outages or Wi-Fi failures.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares for potential Wi-Fi network failures by having alternative communication channels ready in advance. During power outages or network failures, the system can seamlessly switch to pre-configured alternative communication methods, cushioning against the harmful effects of network unavailability.
3Ease of operation
If sensor units require complex registration processes, then system security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Sensor units automatically perform registration with the base unit through proximity detection or tapping actions. The system handles the registration process autonomously without requiring manual configuration or complex user input, making the process simple while maintaining secure identification through automatic identifier exchange and storage.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables flexible and reliable environmental monitoring by allowing users to easily manage sensor configurations and maintains data transmission through alternative communication channels during power outages, ensuring continuous alert notifications.
Implementation Method 1
detecting, from a base unit, at least one sensor unit as being in proximity of the base unit using a short range communication protocol
Implementation Method 2
the identifier is a radiofrequency identity (RF ID) of the at least one sensor, and wherein the base unit has an RF ID reader for reading the identifier
Implementation Method 3
bypasses Wi-Fi networks by using WWAN for communication, ensuring continuous monitoring even during power outages
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for environmental monitoring of a premises. The system includes at least one sensor unit including at least one environmental sensor module for detecting at least one of the environmental variables of the premises. The system includes a base unit located on the premises, which is configured to: detect at least one of the sensor units as being in proximity of the base unit using a short range communication protocol, obtains an identifier of at least one of the sensor units, from that sensor unit, using the short range communication protocol, register, in memory of the base unit, at least one of the sensor units using the identifier of that sensor unit obtained by the base unit from the short range communication protocol, and receive, from at least one of the sensor units, data related to at least one of the environmental variables detected by that sensor unit.