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Method and apparatus for a low-power radio broadcast alert for monitoring systems

Method and apparatus for a low-power radio broadcast alert for monitoring systems description/claims

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/951,893, filed Jul. 25, 2007 and entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A LOW-POWER RADIO BROADCAST ALERT FOR MONITORING SYSTEMS” and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/951,921, filed Jul. 25, 2007 and entitled “METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AN ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR MONITORING SYSTEM”, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

Due to advances in electronics and manufacturing, electronic instrumentation is increasingly deployed to monitor equipment and infrastructure. For example, electric utilities monitor transformers, relays, and even individual cables and fuses. Although these monitors are able to measure many parameters and detect failure conditions, the problem remains of getting these indications back to the user.

Existing methods include LED or other visual annunciators, contact closures, modem dial-out, LAN connection, etc. These methods either require very close proximity to the monitor, present an attractive nuisance, or an expensive data connection.

In various embodiments, methods and apparatuses for instrumentation to broadcast an alert or status condition of an electrical device which solves the problems of very close proximity or a hard-wired connection are presented. In one embodiment, the method uses a low-power radio broadcast transmitter (e.g., an AM or FM transmitter) to broadcast a message during an alert or status condition related to the electrical device.

Additional features and advantages are described herein, and will be apparent from the following Detailed Description and the figures.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an underground alert system in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of an above ground alert system in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of one process of broadcasting alerts in accordance with one embodiment.

In one embodiment, a system uses a low-power radio (LPR) transmitter, using the standard U.S. FM broadcast band or the standard U.S. AM broadcast band (e.g., 540 kHz-1610 kHz) to broadcast alerts or status signals. The power is low enough to enable unlicensed operation, i.e. 100 mW or less. In one embodiment, the LPR transmitter can be connected to (e.g., by a physical hardwired connection or a wireless connection), or incorporated inside, a piece of electronic instrumentation (e.g. a general or special purpose computer) for measuring operating characteristics of any suitable device (e.g., an electrical device or non-electrical device). It should also be appreciated that the frequency broadcast used can be selected based on frequencies that are not being used by local radio stations or other entities.

The use of the LPR transmitter has several advantages in various embodiments. The modulation technique is very simple, allowing for low-cost devices. FM and AM receivers are inexpensive, ubiquitous, and available as commercial-off-the-shelf products in a large variety of forms (e.g., consumer products like car stereos, handheld radio receivers, etc.). The US broadcast frequency band has good propagation properties in otherwise inaccessible locations (e.g. in a vault or manhole shaft). FCC regulations for unlicensed transmission are more relaxed compared to other commonly used bands. However, it should be appreciated that other modulation schemes and frequency bands are also possible, and may be more suitable in certain situations.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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