System, method, and kit for monitoring an environment
View Patent ↗In embodiments of the present invention, systems and methods for remotely monitoring an environment may include receiving sensor data from a sensor placed in an environment. The sensor data may be processed to obtain monitoring information for the environment. The monitoring information may be transmitted over a network.
1. A monitoring system, comprising:
a first object comprising a sensor, the first object for placement in a first environment to collect activity data from the first environment, the first object comprising:
a processor for processing sensor data from the sensor, the processor configured to:
establish a map of standard activities of the individual through recording a sample of at least one activity in the first environment,
generate monitoring information for the first environment based on the map of standard activities for the first environment; and
a transmitter associated with the processor for transmitting the monitoring information over a network; and
a second object comprising a receiver for receiving the transmitted monitoring information, the second object for placement in a second environment.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first object is operable in each of a plurality of operational modes.
3. The system of claim 2 , wherein one of the plurality of operational modes is a programming mode for programming the first object with the map of standard activities.
4. The system of claim 2 , wherein one of the plurality of operational modes is a calibration mode for collecting a sample of ambient signals in the first environment to establish the map of standard activities.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first object and the second object is configured as a household object.
6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the household object is any of a lamp, a picture frame, a mat, and a home appliance.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is any of a motion-sensor, an infrared motion sensor, a temperature sensor, a thermostat, an audio sensor, and a vibration sensor.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a plurality of sensors.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the network comprises a telecommunications network.
10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the network comprises a wireless network.
11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second object comprises a status indicator configured to display an indication of activity based on the monitoring information.
12. A method of monitoring activity in an environment, comprising:
placing a sensor in a first environment, the sensor coupled to a first object and configured to generate sensor data;
establishing a map of standard activities in the first environment, wherein a sample of at least one activity in the environment is recorded to establish the map of standard activities;
processing the sensor data using the map of standard activities to obtain monitoring information for the activity in the environment; and
transmitting the monitoring information over a network to a second object in a second environment; and
displaying at the second object an indication of activity in the first environment based on the monitoring activity.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the sensor is one of a plurality of sensors.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the sensor is any of a motion-sensor, an infrared motion sensor, a temperature sensor, a thermostat, an audio sensor, and a vibration sensor.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first object and the second object is configured as a household object.
16. The method of claim 12 , wherein transmitting the monitoring information over a network comprises transmitting the monitoring information over a telecommunications network.
17. The method of claim 12 , wherein transmitting the monitoring information over a network comprises transmitting the monitoring information over wireless network.
18. A method of monitoring activity in an environment, comprising:
receiving first sensor data from a sensor placed in an environment;
based on the first sensor data, establishing a map of standard activities in an environment, wherein a sample of at least one activity in the environment is recorded to establish the map of standard activities;
receiving second sensor data from the sensor placed in the environment;
processing the second sensor data using the map of standard activities to obtain monitoring information for the environment; and
transmitting the monitoring information over a network.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the first sensor data is received during a programming mode of operation.
20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the sensor is any of a motion-sensor, an infrared motion sensor, a temperature sensor, a thermostat, an audio sensor, and a vibration sensor.