FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates system providing for remote monitoring of computer kiosks/machines deployed at public places. It enables the monitoring and control of an unattended computer kiosk/machine from a remote location. The system is capable of monitoring and controlling of unattended computer kiosk/machine either by being connected by communication network such as telephone line or without using said communication network.
The system provides for remote as well as continuous monitoring of various components of the kiosk/machine including but not restricted to the Central Processing Unit (CPU), Monitor, Keyboard and Mouse. The system is capable of monitoring and controlling of a number of parameters including but not restricted to : CPU current consumption, monitor current consumption, use of keyboard, use of mouse, monitor light intensity, temperatures at various points in and around the kiosk/machine, relative humidity, presence of water and audio noise levels and the application active on the kiosk/machine at a particular time.
Besides the monitoring and controlling capabilities the system also allows the central monitoring station to perform a number of functions including but not restricted to:
1. Turn-on the kiosk computer
2. Turn-off the kiosk computer
3. Turn on or off the cooling, heating or dehumidifying devices around the kiosk
4. Launch a particular application on the kiosk computer/machine.
The system provides for central monitoring station, which is capable of monitoring several such kiosks. In case the system finds any exceptions or abnormalities (for example high temperature near CPU) it automatically transmits a report to the Central Monitoring Station using a wireless or wired data communication link. The monitoring system is entirely independent of kiosk computer. Even if the kiosk is not working (out of order) the reports can still be sent or collected.
PRIOR ART
The known and conventional systems focus only on the narrower aspects of Remote Monitoring. The prior known systems address remote monitoring of either application specific systems or computer deployed in controlled environments such as offices etc. The known and conventional systems do not monitor the usage of the kiosk computer/machine as also the environment conditions around the kiosk computer/machine. The known systems do not monitor the electrical quantities.
The scope of Remote Maintenance System under US Patent No.4989176 is limited to monitoring only the telecommunication systems. It does not apply to computers kiosks in public places.
Method and system for identification of software application faults under US Patent No.5673386 is focused only on software faults. Electrical, environmental and usage monitoring is not implemented.
The scope of US Patent No. 5732268 (Extended Bios adapted to establish remote communication for diagnostics and repair) is limited to trapping and communication of operating system related faults only. Faults arising out of hardware failures or environmental factors are not monitored.
Automatic remote computer monitoring system under US Patent No.6023507 collects diagnostics information by slave (monitored) computers themselves. Therefore, in case of any fatal failure of the slave, no diagnostic information can be collected or sent.
Remote Maintenance system and method for computer Peripheral under US Patent No.6041183 focuses only on the monitoring of computer peripherals and not the computer as a whole or of the environmental parameters from the vicinity of the computer.
Dynamic test update in a remote computer monitoring system under US Patent No.6085244 is capable of reading diagnostic information from monitored computers. However, this information is only about the monitored computers' hardware and software, and nothing about environment conditions and usage pattern.
US Patent No.6160873 titled System and method for remotely initializing, operating and monitoring and general purpose computer concerns only remote control of a computer. It does not monitor the environmental or usage related parameters.
Data Processing System Diagnostics under US Patent No.6189114 is capable of keeping diagnostic testing in the non-volatile memory, during the booting-up phase of the computer. However, this does not log any environmental conditions and usage patterns. Also the controlling computer cannot actuate any other action than running of diagnostic code.
Computer Management system under US Patent No.6199180 focuses mainly on remotely controlling the power supply of the computer and monitoring any fault occurring within the said computer system. This invention does not take into measure any environmental parameters or the system usage data.
Monitoring of application specific devices such as utility meters and automated parking facilities only are referred to by WO 01/35190 (System and Method for Monitoring and Controlling Remote Device). This known art does not cater to monitoring of publicly usable, general purpose machines such as a computer.
Thus the known/prior systems in the field of remote monitoring has its limitations which are addressed by the present invention.
The present invention therefore has focused on the broader aspects of Remote Monitoring and has crossed the borders set by the prior known systems for remote monitoring of either application specific systems or computer deployed in controlled environments such as offices etc. The known and conventional systems do not monitor the usage of the kiosk computer/machine as also the environment conditions around the kiosk computer/machine. The known systems do not monitor the electrical quantities.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to remote monitoring of unattended computer kiosks/machines deployed at public locations. With large scale arrival of computers and Internet and deployment of computer kiosks/machines at public places it is vitally important to monitor various parameters from these kiosks. This is to ensure the maximum up time. Also these computers, like any other machine deployed at public places, may require periodic maintenance. This maintenance can be either preventive or breakdown repair. However, in order to ensure that maintenance personnel are intimated in time, especially about incipient problems, it is necessary that certain parameters are periodically measured and sent across. This is even more relevant in case of computer kiosks deployed outdoors.
The success of projects employing computer kiosks/machines at public locations critically depends upon ensuring that these kiosks remain on and working under tough environmental and usage conditions.
The research performed has shown that it is indeed possible to ensure very high uptime even under difficult climatic conditions, such as prevailing in India, provided automatic monitoring and maintenance systems are put in place.
The kiosk monitoring needs to be done at various levels and may categorized as:
LEVEL 1 : Is the computer powered and switched on?
LEVEL 2 : Is the operating system running?
LEVEL 3 : Is it connected to the communication network?
LEVEL 4 : Are the current operating conditions safe?
LEVEL 5 : Is it being used?
LEVEL 6 : What is it being used for?
LEVEL 1 monitoring is implemented by means of a set of electrical sensors.
LEVEL 2 monitoring is implemented by means of a set of application fault sensors. These sensors set the communication between the kiosk computer application and the measurement system.
LEVEL 3 monitoring is implemented by sending a test signal from the computer kiosk to a computer with known IP address. This, of course, is meant only for the kiosks intended to be connected to a network.
LEVEL 4 monitoring is implemented by sensing a set of physical quantities such as temperature, humidity etc.
LEVEL 5 monitoring is implemented by putting usage sensors at keyboard, mouse, joystick and touch screen.
LEVEL 6 monitoring is implemented by capturing and transmitting the image that is there on the computer screen.
The Remote Monitoring System for Computer kiosks/machines under the present invention consists of two main functional blocks :
1. Monitoring Unit, consisting of:
i) Measurement Unit,
ii) Transmission Unit and Reception Unit
iii) Control Unit.
2. Central Monitoring Station, consisting of:
i) Monitoring Computer
ii) Transmission and Reception unit.
Each of the monitored kiosks has a monitoring unit. Central Monitoring Station can monitor the status of a plurality of monitored kiosks, by means of the monitoring units installed with kiosks.
(RefFig.1)
Fig.1 shows the block schematic of the remote monitoring system. The Measurement System at point (2) senses and measures parameters pertaining to the Kiosk (1) through set of sensors - Environment Sensors (3), Electrical Sensors (4), Usage Sensors (6), and Application Fault Sensors (11). The Environment Sensors (3) senses environmental parameters pertaining to the Kiosk (1) including but not limited to temperature, humidity, rain and ambient light. The Electrical Sensors (4) sense electrical quantities such as current and voltage and ON/OFF state of the components of the Kiosk(1). The Usage
Sensors (6) monitor usage of the Kiosk (1). The application Fault Sensors sense signals sent by applications running on the Kiosk (1).
The Measurement System (2) checks for any exception that occurs in the values being measured by Environment Sensors (3), Electrical Sensors (4), Usage Sensors (6) and Application Fault Sensors (11), takes corrective/control actions and sends a report carrying the said exception and said corrective/control action taken to the Central Monitoring Station. The Transmission and Reception System (5) of the Measurement System(2) connects to the Transmission and Reception System (10) of the Central Monitoring Station (13) using a Global System for Mobile Telecommunication (GSM) link and sends the said exception and said corrective action. The Monitoring Unit (12) does not depend on the Kiosk (1) being monitored for connectivity to a public line as well as input power. Thus the Measurement System (2) performs the functions described even if the Kiosk (1) is not operational.
The measurement system (2) maintains a log of all the conditions being measured.
In one embodiment of the invention, the corrective action is affected through the Control System (7) to switch ON/OFF an electromechanical apparatus (8).
The Measurement System (2) also accepts, interprets and executes commands including turning ON/OFF the said electromechanical apparatus (8) from the Central Monitoring Station in the same manner.
The Central Monitoring Station (13) receives reports about the kiosk (1) from the Monitoring Unit (12) via the Transmission and Reception System (5) and (10) and displays the same on the Monitoring Computer (9).
The Central Monitoring Station (13) issues commands to the Measurement System (2) via the Transmission and Reception System (6) and (10).
In one embodiment of the present invention, the commands are as listed below:
Turn ON/OFF the said electromechanical apparatus (8)
Initiate shutting down/booting up of the Kiosk (1)
Set exception reporting conditions
Send report now
Send report at periodic intervals
As can be easily seen, the command set need not be restricted to those described above.
The Measurement System (2) also sends reports periodically to the Central Monitoring Station (13) if instructed to do so by the said Central Monitoring Station (13).
The Central Monitoring Station (13) is capable of monitoring several kiosks (1).

WE CLAIM:
1. A Remote Monitoring Device for Computer Kiosks/Machines, which
comprises a measurement unit, transmission unit, reception unit, control
unit.
2. A Remote Monitoring Device for Computer Kiosks/Machines as claimed in
Claim 1, wherein the measurement unit consists of environment sensors
to sense environmental parameters, electrical sensors to sense electrical
qualities, usage sensors to monitor usage of Kiosk, application fault
sensors to sense signals sent by application running on Kiosk.
3. A Remote Monitoring Device for Computer Kiosks/Machines as claimed in
Claim 2, wherein the environmental parameters comprises temperature,
humidity, rain, ambient light.
4. A Remote Monitoring Device for Computer Kiosks/Machines as claimed in
Claim 2, wherein the electrical quantities comprises current, voltage,
ON/OFF state of the components of the Kiosk.
5. A Remote Monitoring Device for Computer Kiosks/Machines, as claimed
in Claim 1, wherein the measurement unit is capable of checking any
exception occurring in the values measures by the different sensors as
claimed in Claim 2 and taking corrective action.
6. A Remote Monitoring Device for Computer Kiosks/Machines as claimed in
Claim 1, wherein the said transmission and reception units are connected
to central monitoring station by a Global System for Mobile
Telecommunication (GSM) Link, Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA),
Public Service Telephone Network (PSTN) or Very Small Aperture
Satellite Terminal (VSAT) and send the said exception and corrective
action.
7. A Remote Monitoring Device for Computer Kiosks/Machines as claimed in
Claim 5, wherein the said corrective action corresponding to said
exception is controlled through the control unit.
8. A Remote Monitoring Device for Computer Kiosks/Machines, as claimed
in Claim 1, wherein the measurement unit accepts, interprets and
executes commands from central monitoring station.
9. A Remote Monitoring Device for Computer Kiosks/Machines, as claimed
in Claim 1 wherein the measurement unit sends the reports about the
Kiosks/Machines to central monitoring station via transmission and
reception unit.
10. A Remote Monitoring Device for Computer Kiosks/Machines substantially
as herein described with reference to the description and as illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.