WO2006011162A1

WO2006011162A1 - Disaster management system using wireless technology and/or internet

Info

Publication number: WO2006011162A1
Application number: PCT/IN2005/000222
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sekhar Padmanabhan
Original assignee: Sekhar Padmanabhan
Priority date: 2004-06-29
Filing date: 2005-06-29
Publication date: 2006-02-02

Abstract

A disaster management system using wireless technology and/or internet comprising a programmed micro-controller based control unit called intelligent communicator, a plurality of sensors for detecting various type of disasters connected to the intelligent communicator through combo, a remote activation system for switching an electronic device on / off remotely, a cellular modem (GSM/CDMA/GPRS) in connection with the said micro-controller configured for communication with the mass communication network, a pre defined short message signal is sent to one or more concerned person once a disaster is detected by the said plurality of sensors and subsequently communicated to the micro controller and necessary action is taken by the micro-controller upon receipt of the appropriate short message from the one or more concerned person, a modem for wired connection to public service telecom network for online and offline communication to the user and appropriate authorities, an Internet interface to communicate with a WEB server to monitor / control of various device through Internet, at least an audio visual alarm for generating audio visual alarms when a disaster occurs and a web cam connected to the intelligent communicator for recording the event of disaster.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

Disaster Management System Using Wireless Technology and/or Internet

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates generally to the field of disaster management, particularly to security systems and to the field of mobile communication systems for security and emergency use. It relates more particularly to premises security using short messaging services (SMS) and/or Internet. It enables in monitoring the safety of the premises from forced intrusion, from fire, from gas leakage and can maintain the humidity and temperature in any place. Arrangement can be made to record images of the intruder, which can be reflected in the web page. Information can be passed to the concerned person and appropriate authority in case of any disaster in the premises by sending SMS, telephone and E-mail

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:

After globalization of business, industry and trade economies of developing countries have improved and opened new opportunities of earning. This has increased the demand in all fields specially the consumables. In this race nucleus families have increased in the metros and forced both husband wife to go out and earn .In daytime large numbers of houses are empty or occupied by elderly people .In this scenario the most crucial point on the mind of the people is the security of the premises and life of the people in their absence. Variety of home security systems has been sold in the consumer market for many years. These home security systems normally include a plurality of different type of sensors, alarm unit, relay system, power supply, along with a microcontroller and driving programs that coordinate monitoring of the

i sensors that analyze data collected through monitoring of sensors to detect uncharacteristic events, and that can effect certain remedial actions in response to detected events. Those remedial actions include intimation to appropriate authority based on the uncharacteristic events. Conventional home security systems transmit the occurrence of the event by wired connection or if transmission. Such conventional wired or rf transmission technique is highly restricted by the geographical environment. So there is a need for better communication without any geographical restriction such as SMS and internet, which is possible both online and offline.

In conventional home security system there is also no facility to remotely activate any gadgets in the user premises.

Thus home security system has left a room for further improvement.

OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION:

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to obviate the afore said drawbacks in the prior art and provide a powerful disaster management system which includes a plurality of sensors or detectors linked to a programmed micro controller, which in turn with the help of cellular modem communicates with the users via a public telecom-network both on line and off line without any geographical restrictions. In accordance with the present invention, if any incident occurred and detected by any of the sensors or detectors, the predefined users and the appropriate authority such as police stations, fire station, neighbors and local administrations can be intimated and some gadgets can be remotely activated using online or offline messages. It is yet another object of the present invention to record the event of disaster which can also be viewed over the web with unique identification. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

The present invention provides better security to premises along with home automation at a reasonable cost. Various sensors are fixed at appropriate places in the premises to sense and activate the DMS to send alert in the form of SMS on mobile to the concern person for further necessary action .It can also send as the voice massage and E-mail. Web camera can also be arranged in premises to record the event for record and action as required. DMS can be used to activate or deactivate any electronic device as per schedule or switch on /off with the use of sensors and can report back the same through SMS/ E-mail /voice massage or on contact number. It can report /record in case of any variation in power supply like tempering of connections, power failure, etc. It is compatible to all mobiles and accepted by global systems to control remotely.

According to present invention there is provided a disaster management system using wireless technology and/or Internet comprising: a) a programmed micro-controller based control unit called intelligent communicator including random access memory, hard disk drive and standard I/O devices such as keyboard, mouse and monitor, communication supports like USB Card, LAN card, line driver PCB and com port card and SMPS for power supply, b) a plurality of sensors for detecting various type of disasters connected to the intelligent communicator through combo, c) a remote activation system for switching an electronic device on / off remotely, d) a cellular modem (GSM/CDMA/GPRS) in connection with the said micro-controller configured for communication with the mass communication network, a pre defined short message signal is sent to one or more concerned person once a disaster is detected by the said plurality of sensors and subsequently communicated to the micro controller and necessary action is taken by the micro-controller upon receipt of the appropriate short message from the one or more concerned person, e) a modem for wired connection to public service telecom network for online and offline communication to the user and appropriate authorities, f) an Internet interface to communicate with a WEB server to monitor / control of various device through Internet, g) at least an audio visual alarm for generating audio visual alarms when a disaster occurs, h) a web cam connected to the intelligent communicator for recording the event of disaster. The system may include an external biometric interface deployed in premises, coupled with the system for various doors.

More details of the invention will be given through drawings and specification

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS:

The invention, as well as its many advantages, may be further understood by the following detailed description and the non limiting drawings in which:

Fig. 1 - shows a block diagram of the DMS including all of its sensors and intelligent communicator.

Fig.2 - shows a diagrammatic view of the DMS including intelligent communicator, modem, cellular modem, audio visual unit, webcam and the database, which communicates with the user both online and off line.

Fig. 3- shows the block diagram of the intelligent communicator.

Fig. 4 to 10- shows the flow diagram of the operation performed by the system DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:

Referring to FIG. 1 there is an intelligent communicator (1) to which 30- combo units (2) can be plugged in, where one combo unit provides 13 connections for sensors. Various sensors such as DAS, FAS, GAS, Temperature and humidity controller, are fixed at appropriate places in the premises. These sensors are connected to the intelligent communicator through combo unit (2). The intelligent communicator comprises of microcontroller, timer, ram, HDD and standard I/O devices such as keyboard, mouse and monitor. There are also USB Card, LAN card, line driver PCB and com port card for communication and SMPS for power supply. These sensors sense various disasters that can occur in premises and these are reported to the micro controller, which is programmed to send the alert to the user and appropriate authority through wired/wireless both online and offline.

DAS (3) is a controller, which is responsible for sensing intrusion occurring on any door, window or any soft entry point. On these entry points small DAS switch is fixed which is a mechanical device and connected to the DAS controller that in turn connected to the intelligent communicator. Opening or closing of any entry point sends signal to the DAS controller which sends signal to microcontroller in the intelligent communicator and appropriate processing is done. Based on the signals received by the microcontroller appropriate massages are sent to the various registered users via SMS, E - mail and telephony. Web cam (4) is provided for capture of Visual images during any intrusion or disaster. These images are stored in the system, which can also be viewed over the web with unique identification The concerned person can have a notification of the same. With Command control facility, intimation can be received by multiple receipient (eg: primary user, action taking personnel). System is very proactive in case the action taking person sends response it intimates to primary user about the same, if at all no response-received system intimates primary users via SMS.

Fire alarm system FAS (5) is a mechanical device fitted in the sensitive area where chances of fire is more prominent, it senses the smoke in its surrounding area; it sends the appropriate signal to the micro controller. The microcontroller then alerts the people concerned, by sending a message using SMS, E-mail and by activating the audio/visual alarm (6).

The LPG gas alarm system GAS (7) is a mechanical device fitted in a location, which senses the leaked gas in the surrounding area; a signal is sent to the micro controller. The user is made aware of the fact by receiving the massage through SMS, E-mail, telephony and sounding an alarm. a remote activation system RAS (8) is provided that can be used to switch an electronic device on / off remotely is connected to the microcontroller. The user can send a command in a prescribed format from his / her mobile phone and the microcontroller in turn interprets the command and activates a relay (not shown in the figure) attached to the electronic device, to either switch it on or off. This facility is an effective and unique solution in which primary user is intimated through SMS or Voice messages and simultaneously through e-mail. The user can thus remotely control electronic devices as per their need, by using his/her mobile phone to switch ON or OFF. He/She can also have a scheduler for controlling electronic devices. This functionality is very much versatile from energy conservation point of view.

A temperature and humidity controller (9) is connected to the microcontroller too. It helps in maintaining a particular range of temperature and humidity in a specified physical geographic area. Device temperature and humidity gauge can monitor the temperature and humidity levels and when a particular threshold mark is crossed in both or either cases, it will send a signal to the microcontroller which, in turn interprets the signal and will send alerts to the concerned persons and also can take evasive actions via other devices. Example, consider a room in a testing laboratory where the temperature has to be maintained between 15 and 23⁰C. If it goes above, the gauge will activate the system which in turn will send signal to the RAS device attached to the Air conditioner thus putting it on and vice versa when the temperature crosses the threshold limits system got a unique feature by activating the telephone by sending voice massage on cell or land lines phone in case of disaster like intrusion, gas leakages, fire and temperature variations

DMS is so proactive that by providing Web camera (4) at a sensitive location during forced opening of the place by intruder images can be taken and stored in the system. The said images can also be reflected on the product web page. The user can use his unique user name and password to view intruder images.

DMS is based on wireless technology; a cellular modem typically a GSM engine (10) is connected to the micro controller, which is responsible for receiving instructions from various devices connected and sending information to the owner. Similarly with command control facility intimation to multiple users via SMS is one of the major tasks allotted to the GSM. A modem (11) is also provided for wired connection to public service telecom network for online and offline communication to the user and appropriate authorities.

The system may include an external biometric interface deployed in premises, coupled with the system for various doors. The biometric sensor can be a thumb impression sensor or iris/retina sensor. In Fig. 2 complete system has been shown in line diagram. DMS comprises an intelligent communicator along with database to operate and control the electronic devices, humidity and temperature, other locking system, etc. Modem used in the system can send voice massage to the registered user about the various events occurring, GSM unit of the system sends massages to the registered user of specific or various events occurring. By using Web camera in the premises and audio visual unit with DMS registered user can view the action taking place at the location, it can be recorded if required. Specific massage can be sent as e-mail to the registered user and with on line interface registered user can check the nature of event with snaps as well as information plotted on map Fig 2 also shows that 7 sensors are fixed at various entry points in the premises and further connected to the DMS through combo units. Similarly two sensors are shown for fire alert. Other sensors are shown for gas leak or humidity and temperature monitoring or various electronic devices Special formats are also available for the user to know the present status of the system. The registered user can also perform all the activities with the help of his mobile or through web interface. A mobile phone is attached to the DMS system permanently for receiving and sending the messages. A web camera is attached to the system for recording the event of disaster. The records will be stored in the file until the user deletes them. The user can view the recordings whenever required; all the controllers are attached in a network fashion. Fig.3 shows the block diagram of the intelligent communicator. The intelligent communicator comprises of micro controller, timer, ram, HDD and standard I/O devices such as keyboard, mouse and monitor. There are also USB Card, LAN card, line driver PCB and com port card for communication and SMPS for power supply.

Fig .4 to fig. 10 shows the flow diagrams of a typical operation carried out by the disaster management system. Sending Messages

1. A Table is maintained to see the occurrences of Intrusion, for every occurrence the Record Status is changed to 'N'.

2. A Request is send to the SMS messenger to create a message specific to the situation. The SMS messenger is like a mediator that is requested to generate a SMS Message and to send it to the user whenever the Tabular entry is found as'N'. Furthermore it also RESETS the Message Status to T So that the next time the Table entry is checked the message is not repeated once more.

3. The SMS messenger then sets up a Timer to ascertain from the table that any more SMS messages are to be sent.

4. An Email or an SMS has the same procedure Repeated again. - Receiving Messages

5. Received Messages from the users are scrutinized as to see the current status of all devices and an event for validity Of the Mobile No is checked onto the database.

6. If Found In the Database Then The Message is considered for the syntax and Semantics Checks (eg. The Message has a prescribed format like DMA no., Admin unit no, Combo unit no, DMS mobile no, User id etc.,). 7. If everything is Fine then the SMS Message is Split and all the Flags are RESET.

8. The Timer is again RESET and the above Operations are Repeated again. 9. These STEPS from 2 to 8 are repeated again for every Sending And Receiving Actions respectively.

The function of the DMS can be summarized by that it Secures your premises using Short Messaging Services and Internet. DMS is a wireless technology with micro controller based system and numerous sensors that allow the owner to remotely monitor and control his premises or office through a SMS and Internet. It performs the following acts:

• Detects any intrusion in the premises with the use of various sensors and reports the same through SMS / E-mail / Voice messages.

• Detects events like Fire, Gas Leakage, Temperature rise / fall in the premises through the sensors and reports for the same through SMS / E-mail / Voice messages on cell or contact number.

• Provides predetermine schedule to Activate / Deactivate any electronic devices connected to the system, simultaneously Switch

ON / OFF various sensors and reports for the same through SMS / E- mail / Voice messages on cell or contact number.

• Intimates the tampering of connections, connection discrepancies, and power failures etc. to the concerned person. • Notifies the concern person whenever any action is taken by concerned official towards any intrusion, fire / gas leakages, rise or fall in temperature through SMS / E-mail / Voice messages on cell or contact number.

• With the help of web interface the primary user can monitor his premises. Has an Internet interface to communicate with WEB server to monitor / control your premises through Internet.

• Maintain a log of various activities in premises and the other vital events. • Works on both GSM as well as CDMA technology and follows the network coverage provided by the service provider.

• Has a multi - user interface with an administrator and other users for controlling the system. • Has an online Internet interface for sequencing the messages and for user defined message settings.

• The user Interface Terminal or UIT makes the DMS user-friendly; UIT allows the registered user to configure the system depending needs activate / deactivate a specific device, multiple or entire system. The system after detecting any event will send an SMS to the primary user. The Internet interface is required when the intrusion is to be reported to many persons through SMS / E-mail, according to the utility of it. For example the Internet interface will ensure that the reporting of the disaster such as fire is done to the appropriate person such as a person in the Fire Department. The system has an administrator, which will have all the rights including registering action-taking personnel.

The system is capable to incorporate many users who will get the intimation of events. These users cannot control or monitor the premises. The GIS interface on the Internet can give the information about the location of the premises. This feature is particularly useful for the premises in a remote area or in a corporate sector.

The invention is fully described by means of the specific embodiment. It is further to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described thereto, but encompasses any and further development within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

I CLAIM:

1.A disaster management system using wireless technology and/or internet comprising: a) a programmed micro-controller based control unit called intelligent communicator including random access memory, hard disk drive and standard I/O devices such as keyboard, mouse and monitor, communication supports like USB Card, LAN card, line driver PCB and com port card and SMPS for power supply, b) a plurality of sensors for detecting various type of disasters connected to the intelligent communicator through combo, c) a remote activation system for switching an electronic device on / off remotely, d) a cellular modem (GSM/CDMA/GPRS) in connection with the said micro¬ controller configured for communication with the mass communication network, a pre defined short message signal is sent to one or more concerned person once a disaster is detected by the said plurality of sensors and subsequently communicated to the micro controller and necessary action is taken by the micro-controller upon receipt of the appropriate short message from the one or more concerned person, e) a modem for wired connection to public service telecom network for online and offline communication to the user and appropriate authorities, f) an Internet interface to communicate with a WEB server to monitor / control of various device through Internet. g) at least an audio visual alarm for generating audio visual alarms when a disaster occurs , h) a web cam connected to the intelligent communicator for recording the event of disaster.

2. A disaster management system using wireless technology and/or internet as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the intelligent communicator includes random access memory, hard disk drive and standard I/O devices such as keyboard, mouse and monitor, communication supports like USB Card, LAN card, line driver PCB and com port card and SMPS for power supply,

3. A disaster management system using wireless technology and/or internet as claimed in claim 1 , optionally comprising an external biometric interface deployed in premises, coupled with the system for various doors.

.

4. A disaster management system using wireless technology and/or internet as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensors are for detecting disasters like intrusion (DAS) ,fire (FAS)₁LPG gas leak (GAS) and temperature and humidity rise and fall of a location .

5. A disaster management system using wireless technology and/or internet as claimed in claim 1.where in event of intrusion can be recorded through the webcam.

6. A disaster management system using wireless technology and/or internet as claimed in claim 1 ,where in the audiovisual alarm unit consists of siren and flasher lights.

7. A disaster management system using wireless technology and/or internet as claimed in claim 1.where in the cellular modem is a gsm modem.

8. A disaster management system using wireless technology and/or internet substantially described as here in with reference to the accompanying drawings.