The present invention generally pertains to monitoring measurement data and is particularly directed to monitoring measurement data that is processed at a control console at which an alarm is provided when such processing indicates an alarm condition.
A prior art system for processing monitored measurement data and for providing an alarm when an alarm condition is indicated comprises a control console that includes a processor that is adapted for processing measurement data related to a plurality of monitored parameters in relation to predetermined parameter thresholds and for indicating an alarm condition upon the processed measurement data reaching a said parameter threshold; and means for responding to the alarm-condition indication by sounding or otherwise providing an alarm. A person having responsibility for reacting to said alarm often does so by initially observing and analyzing the monitored measurement data in order to determine how the alarm condition might be alleviated. Such responsible person also reacts to the alarm by providing an alarm-acknowledgment signal at the control console; and the control-console processing means responds to receipt of the alarm-acknowledgment signal by discontinuing provision of the alarm.
In some situations, the responsible person is away from the control console when an alarm is indicated and significant time may pass before the responsible person is able to return to the control console and react to the alarm. For example, on board a ship, the control console typically is in the engine room, the control room or the bridge, and the ship""s engineer who is responsible for reacting to alarms frequently is away from the location of the control console to attend to other shipboard duties when an alarm is sounded throughout the ship.
The present invention enables a person to remotely observe the monitored measurement data without having to go to the control console each time he wishes to observe such data.
The present invention provides a remote monitoring system, comprising a control console and a portable monitoring unit; wherein the control console, includes processing means for processing measurement data related to a plurality of monitored parameters and for responding to a request for transmission of measurement data pertaining to a parameter selected from said plurality of monitored parameters by causing a radio coupled to the control-console processing means to transmit said selected-parameter measurement data; and wherein the portable monitoring unit includes a display device; a keypad for selecting a said parameter as to which measurement data is to be displayed by the display device and for enabling said measurement data that is to be displayed to be requested from the control-console processing means; a radio for transmitting a said request to the radio that is coupled to the control console and for receiving said measurement data transmitted by the radio that is coupled to the control console; and a processor coupled to the keypad, the portable-unit radio and the display device, and adapted for responding to an operation of the keypad to select a parameter as to which measurement data requested from the control-console processing means is to be displayed by causing the portable-unit radio to transmit to the radio coupled to the control console a request for transmission of said measurement data selected by operation of the keypad and for causing the display device to display said measurement data that is received by the portable-unit radio.
The present invention also provides a portable monitoring unit for remotely monitoring measurement data provided at a control console that includes processing means for processing measurement data related to a plurality of monitored parameters and for responding to a request for transmission of measurement data pertaining to a parameter selected from said plurality of monitored parameters by causing a radio coupled to the control-console processing means to transmit said selected-parameter measurement data, the portable unit comprising a display device; a keypad for selecting a said parameter as to which measurement data is to be displayed by the display device and for enabling said measurement data that is to be displayed to be requested from the control-console processing means; a radio for transmitting a said request to the radio that is coupled to the control console and for receiving said measurement data transmitted by the radio that i coupled to the control console; and a processor coupled to the keypad, the portable-unit radio and the display device, and adapted for responding to an operation of the keypad to select a parameter as to which measurement data requested from the control-console processing means is to be displayed by causing the portable-unit radio to transmit to the radio coupled to the control console a request for transmission of said measurement data selected by operation of the keypad and for causing the display device to display said measurement data that is received by the portable-unit radio.
In another aspect, the present invention provides a remote monitoring system, comprising a control console and a portable monitoring unit, wherein the control console, includes processing means for processing measurement data related to a monitored parameter in relation to a predetermined parameter threshold, for providing an alarm-condition signal upon said processed measurement data reaching said parameter threshold, and for causing a radio coupled to the control console to transmit said alarm-condition signal; and wherein the portable monitoring unit includes a radio for receiving said alarm-indication signal transmitted by the radio that is coupled to the control console; means for providing an alarm; a display device; a processor coupled to the portable-unit radio, the alarm providing means and the display device, and adapted for responding to receipt of a said alarm-condition signal by the portable-unit radio by causing the alarm providing means to provide an alarm and by causing the display device to display said alarm condition; a keypad for enabling said measurement data to be requested from the control-console processing means; wherein the portable-unit processor is adapted for responding to an operation of the keypad to request said measurement data from the control-console processing means by causing the portable-unit radio to transmit to the radio coupled to the control console a request for transmission of said measurement data; wherein the control-console processing means is adapted for responding to receipt by the radio coupled to the control console of said request for said measurement data by causing the radio coupled to the control-console processing means to transmit said requested measurement data to the portable-unit radio; and wherein the portable-unit processor is adapted for responding to receipt by the portable-unit radio of said requested measurement data by causing the display device to display said requested measurement data that is received by the portable-unit radio in response to said request.
In a preferred embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, the portable-unit keypad is adapted for enabling selection of an alarm-acknowledgment signal for transmission to the control console; the portable-unit processor is adapted for responding to operation of the keypad to select said alarm-acknowledgment signal for transmission by causing the portable-unit radio to transmit said alarm-acknowledgment signal to the radio coupled to the control console; and the control-console processing means is adapted for responding to receipt of said alarm-acknowledgment signal by the radio that is coupled to the control-console processing means by discontinuing provision of said alarm-condition signal.
Additional features of the present invention are described with reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiments.