Trusted monitoring system and method
Methods and apparatus for monitoring remotely located objects with a system comprised of at least one master data collection unit, any number of remote sensor units, and a central data collection server are described. The master unit is configured to monitor any object, mobile or stationary, including monitoring multiple remote sensor units associated with the objects being monitored. The master unit may be in a fixed location, or attached to a mobile object. The master unit is configured for monitoring objects that enter and leave the area where it is located. The master unit may act as a parent controller for one or more child devices, wherein the child devices can be remote sensors or monitors of various measurable conditions including environmental conditions, substance identification, product identification and biometric identification. The master unit is able to discover new remote sensor units as they enter or leave the area where the master unit is located. The master unit can be remotely reprogrammed. The reprogramming can be accomplished with authenticated instructions.
1 . A system comprising:
a plurality of sensors;
a remote device configured to transmit secure instructions; and
an electronic device configured to receive data from the sensors, the electronic device further configured to receive the secure instructions from the remote device;
wherein the secure instructions direct the electronic device to receive data from one or more of the sensors.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic deice is further configured to authenticate the received secure instructions.
3 . A system comprising:
a plurality of sensors;
a remote device configured to transmit encrypted monitoring instructions; and
an electronic device configured to receive data from the sensors, the electronic device further configured to receive and decrypt the monitoring instructions from the remote device via a network, the monitoring instructions including a monitoring schedule for one or more of the plurality of sensors, the electronic device configured to received data from the sensors in accordance with the received monitoring schedule.
4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the monitoring schedule defines the frequency that at least one of the sensors will transmit data to the electronic device.
5 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the monitoring schedule defines a sampling frequency for at least one of the least one of the sensors.
6 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the monitoring instructions defines a plurality of alarm conditions.
7 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the electronic deice is further configured to authenticate the received monitoring instructions.
8 . A system comprising:
a plurality of sensors;
a remote device configured to transmit encrypted monitoring instructions, wherein the encrypted monitoring instructions comprise a tolerance range for at least one of the sensors; and
an electronic device configured to receive sensor data from the sensors, the electronic device further configured to receive, authenticate and decrypt the encrypted monitoring instructions from the remote device, the electronic device configured to compare the sensor data to the received tolerance range.
9 . A system comprising:
a plurality of sensors;
a remote device configured to transmit encrypted monitoring instructions, the encrypted monitoring instructions identifying one or more of the plurality of sensors, a sensing schedule, and one or more alarm thresholds; and
an electronic device configured to receive sensor data from the sensors in accordance with the sensing schedule, the electronic device further configured to receive and decrypt the monitoring instructions, the electronic device being further configured to identify alarm conditions based upon the identified alarm thresholds and sensed data from the sensors.