 |
Claims  |
|
|
I claim:
1. A monitoring and control apparatus including an apparatus connected to
equipment components at a work site, said apparatus comprising:
monitoring means connected to said components for sensing parameters
representing equipment conditions at monitored points in said components
and for producing data signals representing the sensed parameters;
programmable means including a microprocessor means having input and output
ports;
said programmable means having a memory means storing programs which
operate said microprocessor means to receive at said input ports and store
status signals from said monitoring means, to process control commands
derived from a first source when in an operator-controlled mode and from a
second source when in an automatic mode, and to produce at said output
ports control signals of different form to control the monitored equipment
in response to control commands from one of the sources, a first form of
control signal producing a first type of equipment response and a second
form of control signal producing a second type of equipment response to
control equipment conditions;
telephone interface means for transmitting over a public telephone network
a predetermined sequence of dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF) signals, for
transmitting synthesized voice signals to an operator of an off-hook
telephone, and for receiving operator-generated DTMF signals representing
the first source of control commands to control equipment conditions;
voice synthesizer means operated by said microprocessor means to produce
and transmit over the telephone network via said interface means oral
announcements of component conditions based upon the status signals;
said programmable means also having memory means storing programs which
provide the second source of control commands when in the automatic mode
and:
(a) recognize the source of control commands as operator-generated DTMF
signals if the apparatus is in operator-controlled mode or as signals
produced by preprogrammed operation of said programmable means responsive
to a particular condition in said components if the apparatus is in
automatic mode; and
(b) define the response to the control commands represented by the form of
the control signals supplied to at least one of the output ports of said
microprocessor means;
an equipment component including a motor having a rotor connected to a
parameter-adjusting element;
switch means connected to said at least one of said output ports for
receiving the control signals and to said motor for energizing said motor;
wherein a program stored in said memory means defines a response to a
control command in the form of control signals which actuate said switch
to energize said motor to shift said parameter-adjusting element to a
desired state and thereby incrementally adjust the parameter; and
wherein said microprocessor means is operative to produce the control
signals at said at least one of said output ports in accordance with a
control command from one of said sources.
2. Apparatus which monitors and controls equipment at a remote site, said
apparatus comprising:
a condition sensing monitor having a plurality of input and output ports
connected to a plurality of monitored points in equipment at a remote
site, said monitor producing data signals representing sensed conditions;
a programmable microprocessor including programs which direct said
microprocessor to control the operations of said apparatus in either an
operator-controlled mode or an automatic mode for each output port and to
receive and store the data signals of said monitor and to produce alarm
signals representing alarm conditions when the data signals of said
monitor reach predetermined values, said output ports being connected to
circuits for controlling output parameters and carrying out equipment
control functions to correct the alarm conditions;
a transmitter coupled to a public telephone network, said transmitter being
operative to produce and transmit over the public telephone network a
predetermined sequence of dual-tone, multi-frequency (DTMF) signals to
different called devices responsive to receipt of an alarm signal from
said microprocessor;
an input/output signal device operable responsive to the alarm signals and
an off-hook condition of one of the called devices on the public telephone
network, said input/output signal device being operative to produce and
transmit over the public telephone network an announcement of an alarm
condition corresponding to an alarm signal;
a receiver connected to the public telephone network and operative to
receive signals produced at the off-hook one of the called devices, said
apparatus having multiple privilege levels including an operator privilege
level established when signals coupled through said receiver are in the
form of a prescribed operator privilege code and a programmer privilege
level established when signals coupled through said receiver are in the
form of a prescribed programmer privilege code, and said apparatus having
a different response to received signals depending on which privilege
level is established in the apparatus;
said microprocessor being connected to said input/output signal device and
further including programs which direct said microprocessor to communicate
data signals and alarm signals to said input/output signal device, said
input/output signal device producing and transmitting responsive thereto
over the public telephone network to the off-hook one of the called
devices an announcement of the sensed equipment conditions including
status reports of predetermined sensors and alarm conditions;
said microprocessor further including programs operable when said apparatus
is in the operator-controlled mode for one of said output ports and after
the operator privilege level has been established which direct said
microprocessor to receive subsequently transmitted signals from the
off-hook one of the called devices representing desired states of said one
output port and circuits connected thereto, and to set said one output
port and circuits connected thereto in the desired states to control
output parameters and carry out equipment control functions in accordance
with the contents of the subsequently transmitted signals;
a programmable memory connected to said microprocessor, said microprocessor
further including programs directing said microprocessor to store
instructions and parameters in said programmable memory for operation of
said microprocessor to control said output ports in both the
operator-controlled mode and the automatic mode;
instructions stored in said memory comprising programs used by said
microprocessor in both the operator-controlled mode and the automatic mode
of said output ports to monitor the status of equipment at the site, to
detect alarm conditions based upon a comparison of the data signals
produced by said condition sensing monitor with the predetermined values,
the predetermined values comprising input parameters stored in said
memory, and to generate alarm signals if the comparison detects alarm
conditions;
instructions stored in said memory also comprising programs used by said
microprocessor in the operator-controlled mode to set said output ports to
control output parameters and carry out equipment control functions
responsive to signals received from the called device;
instructions stored in said memory also comprising programs used by said
microprocessor in the automatic mode without intervention through the
public telephone network to set said output ports to control output
parameters and carry out equipment control functions responsive to an
alarm condition;
said microprocessor further including programs operable only after a
programmable privilege level is established which direct said
microprocessor to receive subsequently transmitted signals to set said
output ports in either the automatic or operator-controlled modes and,
when representing modifications to or changes in output port settings and
input and output parameters including privilege level codes, to reprogram
said memory in accordance with the contents of the last-mentioned
subsequently transmitted signals.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the equipment control functions
carried out in the operator-controlled and automatic modes include at
least one of the functions of initiating remote testing, switching to
standby equipment, enabling/disabling, setting
operator-controlled/automatic modes, and controlling an output as normally
open/closed. |
|
 |
|
 |
Claims |
|
|
|
Description |
|
|
1. Technical Field
This invention relates to supervisory monitor control apparatus having
particular application to uses in remote locations and which do not
require the use of personnel at that remote location More particularly,
the invention relates to apparatus of the foregoing nature which is
programmable to define the source of control commands and the response to
the control commands depending on whether the apparatus in in an
operator-controlled or automatic mode.
2. Background Art
Supervisory control apparatus of the type here in question generally
electrically monitor various operation parameters at an unmanned operating
site. If a deviation in a desired range of parameters is noted, the
apparatus conventionally generates alarms which are then transmitted to a
central location. At the central location, there is usually a control
center which contains equipment capable of displaying the existence of an
alarm and/or various operating parameter levels on command. This control
center is, as well, generally equipped with a control apparatus which can
be manipulated by an operator to correct defects in or minimize the
effects of malfunctions in the monitored equipment at the remote site.
This form of operation has as its ultimate purpose the improvement of
performance in an unmanned equipment site. In addition, the removal of the
necessity for sending a repair crew or operating personnel to the remote
site provides a major cost savings.
In conventional systems the central location is generally equipped with a
computer having appropriate peripheral equipment and connected to the
remote location, usually through leased telephone lines. Generally
speaking, the equipment at the remote location is specifically programmed
to operate in a given manner in response to various conditions and to
produce corresponding signals In order to effect a change in monitoring
operations, the monitoring equipment at the remote site must be
reprogrammed there, or, perhaps, changes in the programming of the remote
equipment can be effected by means of the computer at the central location
through the aforementioned telephone lines. As might be expected, the
central control center must be manned at all times to ensure the proper
operation of the system.
More recent developments in systems of this nature have permitted such
supervisory monitor and control apparatus to use the telephone dial-up
network and a standard push-button telephone to communicate with the
remote site. The developments include the provision of voice synthesis
equipment at the remote site to communicate information to the user, and
the operator can use push-buttons on his telephone to produce dual tone,
multi-frequency (DTMF) signals to enter various user access codes to set
control switches and the like at the remote site. Again, however,
programming of the monitoring and alarm equipment at the remote site must
still be done at a central location using a computer found at that
location. Consequently, in the prior art systems, despite the fact that
the remote supervisory apparatus is accessible via a push-button
telephone, if errors in operation should be noted, the apparatus cannot be
reprogrammed from the push-button telephone to make the necessary
corrections or changes.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION:
It is an object of this invention to provide an unmanned remote supervisory
monitor and control system which is accessible via the public telephone
network and which can be programmed from a push-button telephone at any
location in a public telephone network.
It is another object of this invention to provide an unmanned remote
supervisory monitor and control apparatus which permits retrieval of
archival data concerning the operation of the equipment being monitored.
Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus meeting the
foregoing objects and which, in addition to providing voice synthesized
outputs concerning existing conditions, provides a voice synthesized
output containing a menu to guide a user through the operation of the
apparatus.
Another object of this invention is to provide means for evaluating alarm
criteria and to prioritize alarm reporting which reduces false alarms and
nuisance alarms.
Another object of this invention is to provide means for reporting alarm
and status information to a plurality of users using synthesized voice
and/or printers using data transmission.
The foregoing and other objects are obtained in an unmanned remote
supervisory control apparatus providing means for responding to a
push-button telephone output for changing operating parameters at the
supervised site. The operator need only access the apparatus of the
invention through the use of a valid password to enter new parameters over
any push-button telephone. The apparatus contains means for responding to
any push-button telephone anywhere to provide complete status of monitor
and control ports plus active alarms in addition to the programming
functions described above.
The apparatus is operable in an operator-controlled or an automatic mode to
control equipment in view of monitored conditions of the equipment
announced to an operator by synthesized voice over the telephone network.
Conventional digital and analog monitoring devices are used at a remote
site to monitor such parameters as signal strengths, temperatures, power,
pressure, switch closures, and the like. These are compared to high/low
thresholds and normal closure positions to determine alarm conditions.
Should there be a measured condition which exceeds one of the thresholds,
the apparatus contains means for dialing in sequence up to six different
telephone numbers to attempt to alert operating personnel of an alarm
condition. When a telephone is answered at one of those locations, the
condition is described by a synthesized voice to the user after the
supervisory control apparatus receives a valid password keyed in by the
user.
The apparatus is programmable to define the source of control commands and
the response to the control commands depending on whether the apparatus is
in an operator-controlled or automatic mode.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a complete system using the remote supervisory
and monitoring apparatus of the invention; ,
FIGS. 2A, 2B, and 2C, taken together, are a detailed schematic diagram of a
preferred embodiment of a remote supervisory apparatus in accordance with
the principles of the invention;
FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a monitoring and control apparatus according
to the invention connected to monitored equipment; and
FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a monitoring and control apparatus according
to the invention integrated into monitored equipment.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 illustrates in diagrammatic form a system arrangement which utilizes
the supervisory monitor and control system of the invention. Remote
operating site 10, at which is located a monitoring and control system 12
which is constructed according to the principles of the invention, may
include any form of equipment which requires monitoring of its operating
parameters. In addition, at the remote site is a conventional push-button
telephone 14 connected to the system 12 and a printer 16a similarly
connected to the system 12.
A push-button telephone 18 which is shown to be in two-way communication
with the system 12 may be any push-button telephone located anywhere in a
public telephone system. As indicated, a user may perform any of four
functions from the push-button telephone. After accessing the system 12
through the use of a password, an inquiry may be made as to the status of
the various operating parameters and alarm conditions. If desired, the
operator, again through the transmission of an appropriate code to the
system 12, can obtain a recent maintenance history of the monitored site.
This history contains a listing of alarm conditions, including alarm port
and alarm description, date and time, alarm duration in days, hours
minutes, and seconds, along with the operator's identity number and site
identification. If it is found that the monitored equipment is operating
improperly or other forms of operation or parameter changes are needed,
the system 12 may be programmed from the push-button telephone to achieve
the desired operation. Finally, should an alarm condition be noted,
certain controls at the remote site can be set, either by communicating
DTMF signals from the push-button telephone to the system 12, which in
turn makes the appropriate switch settings to carry out the control
function, or by automatic mode. In automatic mode, the alarm condition is
programmed to set certain controls without operator intervention.
A plurality of telephones 20 are additionally shown in FIG. 1. Should the
system 12 note an alarm condition, it can be programmed to call in
sequence, in this example, up to six telephones at any six locations to
attempt to reach a user who can take the appropriate steps to correct the
condition. When one of the users is reached, as discussed above, he may
request additional diagnostic information by simply using the telephone
keypad. The user may also direct a control function to initiate remote
testing and to switch to standby equipment.
Every transaction may be logged on the printer 16(a) at the equipment site
and at the same time transmitted to printers 16(b) and 16(c) at any other
locations with a telephone. Logged information includes, for example, time
to the nearest second, site identification, alarm port and activity
description, date, and the individual involved in the operations.
In FIG. 2 is shown a detailed schematic diagram of a preferred form of the
construction of system 12.
The entirety of the operations of the system 12 are monitored and
controlled by means of a conventional microprocessor 20 which in this
example is a NSC800 chip manufactured by National Semiconductor
Corporation. The microprocessor 20, in conjunction with memory and
input/output (I/O) devices, form the hardware of the invention. The
devices are all connected together by the microprocessor bu 41. The
microprocessor executes a program stored in a memory 26 and has
configuration parameters stored in a memory 24. Block 24 is random access
memory (RAM) for storage of various variables and parameters. The
remaining devices connected to the microprocessor bus are I/O devices and
are used in this combination to form the supervisory monitor and control
system.
A real time clock us used to provide time and date status to the software
It also, provides interrupts to the microprocessor to initiate sensor
scanning. The real time clock 22 is implemented in hardware and connected
to the microprocessor bus.
A watchdog timer 32 is used as a safeguard device to ensure that the
microprocessor 20 is properly executing the program. The watchdog timer 32
must be serviced at strict time intervals. If it is not serviced at strict
time intervals, it is indicative of the microprocessor 20 not executing
the stored program properly, and the watchdog timer 32 will reset the
microprocesor 20.
A block of digital I/O ports is shown at 28. These are connected to the
microprocessor 20 via data bus 41. In this embodiment, the block 28 of the
digital I/O ports interfaces through a standard 50-pin connector 30 which,
in this case, contains twelve alarm input ports 31 and four control output
ports 33.
To control the monitored equipment in view of alarm conditions, signals are
supplied to the control output port 33 in the form of digital control
outputs OUT 1 and OUT 2 which drive switches 27 and 29, respectively. The
operating characteristics of the switches 27 and 29 are defined by the
system programmer.
First, in carrying out the invention, the system is programmable to operate
the switches in different modes, for example, in a latched mode or a
momentary mode, or in a sequence of switch state changes. If the switches
are operated in a latched mode, they respond to a system control signal by
switching into a desired setting. They then remain at that setting until
receiving a subsequent system control signal. If the switches are operated
in a momentary mode, they reside in a normal state. In response to a
programmed system operation, they switch to the opposite state for a short
period of time and then return to the normal state. Only one programmed
operation is required to effect the two switch state changes. The system
programmer may program either the open or closed switch state to be the
normal state. In addition, the programmer may program a sequence of state
changes and intermediate time delays to achieve a desired control
function. The switch operating characteristics are programmable on a
per-switch basis.
Another device which might be referred to as an I/O device is a speech
synthesizer 34 which is of conventional construction. In accordance with
known programming principles, the microprocessor 20 commands speed
synthesizer 34 to produce various words and to form them into recognizable
sentences. The vocabulary for speech synthesizer 34 is contained in a
read-only memory (ROM) 36. As is shown, the output of the speech
synthesizer 34 is an analog signal having some energy in a frequency band
which may not be accommodated by the telephone system. Accordingly, a
filter 38 may be provided, as needed, to limit the speech synthesizer 34
analog output to the frequency band width of the telephone system to which
system 12 is connected.
A dual tone, multi-frequency (DTMF) transceiver 40 of known construction is
provided In this example, it is constructed from a type 20C90 chip, as
manufactured by Silicon Systems Inc. The receiver portion of the element
40 receives dual tone, multi-frequency signals from a push-button
telephone anywhere in the telephone network to receive various commands to
cause the system to perform the various functions described above in
connection with FIG. 1. As will be discussed, the user might be provided
with a command menu which will guide him in providing the appropriate
commands. The transmitter portion of element 40 permits dialing through
the public telephone network. The transceiver 40 also includes a call
progress monitor which is used in the dialing process to detect the
various states during a call, such as a dial tone, busy, ring back, and
the like. If, for example, a busy tone is detected, the microprocessor 20
will detect it, and the call will be placed later. When a dial tone is
detected, element 40 dials and then waits for ring back or a busy signal.
The call progress monitor also detects the absence of ring back, i.e., the
operator answering the telephone.
Another I/O block connected to microprocessor bus 41 is a universal
asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) 42 of conventional construction.
In this example, it is a type NSC858 chip manufactured by National
Semiconductor Corporation. As is known, this device is used for
transmitting serial data. It is a single channel UART with a baud rate
generator on the chip. As shown, element 42 connects to a level converter
44, which converts the signals to a level compatible with a standard
EIA/RS232 signal output at EIA/RS232 interface 46.
UART 42 also is directly connected to a conventional modem 48. This modem
serves to transmit bit serial data from UART 42 through the telephone line
43.
As illustrated, the speech synthesizer 34, the DTMF transceiver 40, and the
modem 48 each have analog outputs and are ultimately coupled to the public
switched telephone network connected to by lines 43. The I/O ports of the
foregoing components are connected, respectively, to a conventional hybrid
circuit block 50. As is shown, a hybrid, such as element 50, is used to
convert a standard two-wire interface from the public telephone network to
a transmit and receive path. In this case, the transmit path is from the
hybrid to the telephone network. This path comprises the output from
speech synthesizer 34 and its filter 38, the output of the modem 48, and
the output from DTMF transceiver 40. The receive output of the hybrid 50
provides the inputs to the modem 48 and the DTMF transceiver 40. These
inputs and outputs are coupled through the hybrid 50, are converted in a
known manner, and are sent to a data access arrangement. This data access
arrangement (DAA) 52 is a known device required in the United States by
the Federal Communications Commission to comply with a rule known as FCC
Part No. 68 for connections to public switched telephone networks. In
essence, this element provides isolation to protect the telephone network
from any electrical eccentricities of system 12.
Control signals to the DAA 52 effect off-hook control, and, with this
control, the microprocessor 20 can connect the system 12 to the DTMF for
dialing or answering call. Control signals from the DAA 52 are the ring
detect and line current signals. The line current detect indicates that
either system 12 or the local telephone set are off-hook. The ring detect
signal indicates that the public network is ringing system 12 by simply
ringing its telephone number.
The DAA 52 can be controlled by a switch identified as a local/normal
control in a switching block 54. This switch performs the function of
switching the local telephone set (not shown) from the switched network.
It can be said that switching block 54 is an interface between system 12
and a human operator. At this point, the operator can interact locally
with system 12. The local and normal indicators in the switching block 54
indicate system 12 is in the local mode in connecting a local telephone
set and system 12. In the normal mode, communications flow between the
remote location which system 12 is monitoring and the public telephone
network The local-normal toggle switch in the switching block 54 is used
to place a system 12 either on the public network or directly connected to
the local telephone. A transfer request to this switch is used when the
local operator picks up the ringing phone to form a system 12 call. The
local operator may push the transfer switch in switching block 24 and
hang-up his phone to put system 12 in contact with the remote caller.
The alarm indicator in the switching block 54 will blink if there is an
unacknowledged alarm. It will be on for an acknowledged alarm and off if
no alarm is present. The alarm indicator is also used to indicate that the
self-check or system check has, as detected by microprocessor 20,
determined the existence of an error or defect in system 12 itself.
The busy indicator in the switching block 54 indicates that system 12 is
off-hook, either communicating locally through an operator or | | |
