FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a monitoring system and in particular to a monitoring system for an object and a method of monitoring the object.

The invention has been developed primarily for monitoring cars, trucks, motorcycles and other automotive devices and will be described hereinafter with reference to that application. However, it will be appreciated that it is not limited to that particular field of use and is also applicable to monitoring secure storage containers such as safes, lockers, filing cabinets and the like, ocean or seagoing vessels, dwellings, such as houses and apartments, and heavy plant equipment such as cranes and bulldozers.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION A variety of monitoring systems have been developed for cars to provide an alert in the event that an unauthorised entry is detected. One such system is described in international PCT patent application no. PCT/IL00/00367.

Typically, such systems are easily identified as being associated with the car and, therefore, more easily able to be removed or disabled by unscrupulous individuals.

Any discussion of the prior art throughout the specification should in no way be considered an admission that such prior art is widely known or forms part of common general knowledge in the field.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to overcome or ameliorate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a monitoring system for an object, the system including :

at least one sensor input for receiving an alarm signal from a sensor disposed at or adjacent to the object ; a re-programmable memory unit that contains contact address data that is indicative of a contact address of a predetermined communications device; and a processor that is responsive to the alarm for accessing the contact address data and sending a wireless alert signal to the communications device.

In an embodiment, the processor is responsive to a wireless programming signal from the communications device for changing the contact address data. In other embodiments, the programming signal is provided by a second communications device.

In an embodiment, the processor includes a GSM transmitter for sending the wireless alert signal. Preferably, the communications device is a GSM handset. In other embodiments, the communications device is a cellular handset other than a GSM handset. In some embodiments, one or both of the communications device and the second communications device are other than cellular handsets. For example, in one embodiment, one or both of the communications device and the second communications device are fixed line telephones.

In an embodiment, the communications device is held by a user, and the user has an interest in the object. Preferably, the communications device is a cellular telephone, and the object is a piece of property and/or a store for a piece of property.

For example, in one embodiment, the object is a car or other automobile. In other embodiments, however, the object is a safe, locker or other secure storage compartment. In further embodiments, the object is one of: a motorcycle; a trailer; a crane, a bulldozer, a truck; a bus, a yacht, a house; or other such equipment.

In an embodiment, the alarm signal is provided by one or more sensors located at or about the object. For example, in an embodiment where the object is a car, the alarm signal is provided by motion sensor and/or other sensors that indicate that an unauthorised attempt is being made to move the car or to gain entry to the car. In this embodiment, the sensors are part of a pre-existing car alarm. That is, the triggering of the car alarm, and any consequent audible and/or visual sirens will occur in addition to the transmission of the alert signal.

In an embodiment, the contact address data includes the contact addresses of a plurality of separate predetermined communications devices. Preferably, in the event of an alarm signal, the addresses are sequentially accessed and corresponding alert signals sent. More preferably, the sequence is halted once the respective communications device confirms receipt of the alert signal. For example, if a first

communications device does not answer within a predetermined time, the processor accesses the contact address data to source a second contact address to send an alert signal to a further communications device.

In an embodiment, the system includes an antenna that is responsive to the processor for transmitting the wireless alert signal, wherein the antenna does not protrude beyond the object. That is, the antenna is mounted internally within the object.

In an embodiment, the wireless alert signal is sent to the communications device via a communications network. Preferably if, upon the receipt of the alarm signal, the processor is unable to connect with the network, it subsequently attempts to do so.

More preferably, the attempts are periodic. In other embodiments, however, the timing of the attempts is also determined by the generation of any additional alarm signals.

In an embodiment, the processor is not responsive to the alarm signal until it has persisted for a predetermined period. Preferably, where the object is a car the predetermined period is at least 5 seconds. In other embodiments, however, different predetermined periods are utilised.

In an embodiment, the wireless alert signal is an SMS signal.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a monitoring system for an object in which a user has an interest, the system including : at least one sensor input for receiving an alarm signal from a sensor that is located at or adjacent to the object; a memory unit that contains contact address data that is indicative of a contact address of a predetermined communications device for the user; and a processor that is responsive to the alarm for accessing the contact address data and sending a wireless alert signal to the communications device.

Preferably, the wireless alert signal is a GSM signal, and the communications device is a cellular telephone.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a monitoring system for an object, the system including: at least one sensor input for receiving an alarm signal from a sensor that is located at or adjacent to the object; a memory unit that contains contact address data that is indicative of a contact address of a predetermined communications device for the user; a processor that is responsive to the alarm for accessing the contact address data and generating an alert signal ; and

an antenna that is mounted to and which does not protrude beyond the object that is responsive to the alert signal for wirelessly transmitting to the communications device.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a monitoring system for an object, the system including : at least one sensor input for receiving an alarm signal from a sensor that is located at or adjacent to the object; a memory unit that contains contact address data that is indicative of a contact address of a predetermined communications device for the user; a processor that is responsive to the alarm for accessing the contact address data and generating an alert signal ; and an antenna that is mounted internally within the object and which is responsive to the alert signal for wirelessly transmitting to the communications device.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention there is provided a monitoring system for an object, the system including: at least one sensor input for receiving an alarm signal from a sensor disposed at or adjacent to the object; a re-programmable memory unit that contains contact address data that is indicative of a contact address of a predetermined handheld communications device; and a processor that is responsive to the alarm for accessing the contact address data and sending a GSM alert signal to the communications device.

In an embodiment, the system includes a housing that is mounted to the object, wherein the housing contains the memory unit and the processor. More preferably, the housing contains an antenna that is responsive to the processor for transmitting the alert signal. In other embodiments, the antenna extends outwardly from the housing.

Preferably, the antenna is disposed internally within the object. Even more preferably, the housing is disposed internally within the object.

According to a sixth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of monitoring an object, the method including: receiving an alarm signal from a sensor disposed at or adjacent to the object; containing contact address data in a re-programmable memory unit, the data being indicative of a contact address of a predetermined communications device; and being responsive to the alarm for accessing the contact address data and sending a wireless alert signal to the communications device.

According to a seventh aspect of the invention there is provided a method of monitoring an object in which a user has an interest, the method including : receiving an alarm signal from a sensor that is located at or adjacent to the object; containing contact address data in a memory unit, the data being indicative of a contact address of a predetermined communications device for the user; and being responsive to the alarm for accessing the contact address data and sending a wireless alert signal to the communications device.

According to an eighth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of monitoring an object, the method including: receiving an alarm signal from a sensor that is located at or adjacent to the object; containing contact address data in a memory unit, the data being is indicative of a contact address of a predetermined communications device for the user; being responsive to the alarm for accessing the contact address data and generating an alert signal; and mounting an antenna to the object so as not to protrude beyond the object, wherein the antenna is responsive to the alert signal for wirelessly transmitting to the communications device.

According to a ninth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of monitoring an object, the method including: receiving an alarm signal from a sensor that is located at or adjacent to the object; containing contact address data in a memory unit, the data being indicative of a contact address of a predetermined communications device for the user; being responsive to the alarm for accessing the contact address data and generating an alert signal ; and mounting an antenna internally within the object, the antenna being responsive to the alert signal for wirelessly transmitting to the communications device.

According to a tenth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of monitoring an object, the method including: receiving an alarm signal from a sensor disposed at or adjacent to the object; containing contact address data in a re-programmable memory unit, the data being indicative of a contact address of a predetermined handheld communications device; and

being responsive to the alarm for accessing the contact address data and sending a GSM alert signal to the communications device.

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words'comprise','comprising','include','including', and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in the sense of"including, but not limited to".

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a monitoring system according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is an internal view of an embodiment of a monitoring system according to the invention; Figure 3 is a front view of the system of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a timing diagram representing the duration of an alarm signal prior to an alert signal being generated; Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the system of Figure 2; Figure 6 is a continuation of the flowchart of Figure 5; Figure 7 is a continuation of the flow chart of Figure 6; Figure 8 is a circuit diagram for some of the system of Figure 2; Figure 9 is a circuit diagram for the remainder of the system of Figure 2; and Figure 510 is a table summarising the test points available for the PCB included in the system of Figure 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to Figure 1 there is illustrated, not to scale, an electronic monitoring system 1 for an object in the form of a car 2. System 1 includes three sensor inputs 3 for receiving respective alarm signals from spaced apart sensors 4 that are disposed about the car. A re-programmable memory unit in the form of an EEPROM 5 contains contact address data that is indicative of a contact address of a predetermined communications device in the form of a remote cellular telephone 6. A processor 7 is

responsive to one or more of the alarm signals for accessing the contact address data and sending a GSM wireless alert signal (schematically illustrated by symbol 8) to telephone 6 via a cellular telephone network (schematically illustrated by symbol 9).

While in this embodiment sensors 4 are one or more of infrared sensors, ultrasonic sensors, door lock switches or other sensors commonly used in automotive alarm systems, in other embodiments alternative sensors are used. Moreover, it will be appreciated that other embodiments utilise more or less than three sensors.

Processor 7 is responsive to a wireless programming signal, in the form of an SMS signal, from telephone 6 for changing the contact address data. In other embodiments, the programming signal is provided by a second communications device such as an IP telephone 10.

Processor 7 includes a GSM transmitter (not shown) for sending the wireless alert signal. While in this embodiment the communications device is a GSM cellular telephone 6, in other embodiments, the communications device is a cellular handset other than a GSM handset. In the present embodiment, telephone 10 is, in some instances, used as the communication device. In some embodiments, one or both of the communications device and the second communications device are other than cellular handsets. For example, in one embodiment, one or both of the communications device and the second communications device are fixed line telephones notwithstanding that the alert signal is initially sent wirelessly to network 9.

In the Figure 1 embodiment the communications device, in the form of telephone 6, is held by a user on their person, and the user has an interest in car 2. Typically, the user is the owner or custodian of the car. In other embodiments, however, the user is the lessee or renter of the car.

In other embodiments, the object is a store for a piece of property such as a safe, locker or other secure storage compartment.

In the Figure 1 embodiment, the sensors are part of a pre-existing car alarm (not shown). That is, the triggering of the car alarm, and any consequent audible and/or visual sirens will occur in addition to the transmission of the alert signal to telephone 6.

The contact address data includes the contact addresses of a plurality of separate predetermined communications devices. In particular, the contact address date includes the contact addresses for both telephone 6 and telephone 10. In the event of an alarm signal, the addresses are sequentially accessed and corresponding alert signals sent to the respective telephones. The sequence is halted once the respective telephone confirms receipt of the alert signal. For example, if telephone 6

does not answer or confirm receipt of the alert signal within a predetermined time-for example, if telephone 6 is switched off or not within the range of the network-processor 7 accesses the contact address data to source a second contact address to send an alert signal to telephone 10. If telephone 10 does not respond in a desired manner within a predetermined timeframe, processor 7 once again seeks to send the alert signal to telephone 6. In other embodiments processor 7 makes use of more than two contact addresses contained within the contact address data.

System 1 includes an antenna 11 that is responsive to processor 7 for transmitting the wireless alert signal, wherein antenna 11 does not protrude beyond the car. That is, the antenna is mounted internally within the car to conceal its presence.

In circumstances where the object is mobile-such as the car that is being monitored by the Figure 1 embodiment-and use is made of a wireless alert signal 8, there will on occasion be periods where processor 7 is unable to connect and communicate with network 9. This occurs, for example, where the car has travelled outside the area serviced by the network. In such circumstances, if an alarm signal is received by processor 7, it subsequently attempts to do so on a periodic basis. In other embodiments, however, the timing of the attempts is other than periodic. In still further embodiments, the timing of the attempts is also dependent upon the generation of any additional alarm signals.

In other embodiments, processor 7 automatically sends alert signals to all contact addresses contained within the contact address data. In some embodiments this occurs sequentially, while in alternative embodiments it occurs randomly.

Processor 7 is not responsive to the alarm signal until it has persisted for a predetermined period. For the example of a car that is being monitored, the predetermined period is at least 5 seconds. In other embodiments, however, different predetermined periods are utilised.

System 1 includes a GSM transmitter and receiver 12 that is disposed electrically between antenna 11 and processor 7, and a battery 13 that provides electrical power to system 1 and its components in the absence of such power being supplied from the car's electrical system. It will also be appreciated that processor 7 is responsive to battery 13 being relied upon to generate an alert signal.

In this embodiment, the alert signal contains a generic text message for the user to bring the alert condition to their attention. However, in other embodiments, system 1 is responsive to the nature of the alarm signal for providing a more detailed text message to the user. In further embodiments, a separate text message is sent to the

user for each alarm signal. This provides the user with an independently verifiable record of the signals and the timing of their respective generation.

System 1 includes a prismatic rigid plastics housing 14 for containing substantially all of the components of the system. In this embodiment antenna 11 extends external to housing 14. However, in other embodiments antenna 11 is contained whole within the housing. Housing 14 is mounted to car 2 In other embodiments, the alert signal provides the user with an audible communication. Preferably, the EEPROM stores message data that is indicative of one or more of such messages, and which processor is responsive to that message data when generating the alert signal.

Housing 14 is mounted to car 2, but in a cavity that is difficult to manually access. This is able to occur due to the compact nature of the housing, and the ability of receiver 12 to operate without an antenna that is external to the car.

System 1 is able to communicate directly with the user, and does not have to occur via an intermediary. In some embodiments such an intermediary is used.

Receiver 12 also allows processor 7 to be communicated to via network 9. In this way the user, via telephone 6, telephone 10 or another telephone or communication device such as a PDA, desktop computer, laptop computer, or the like, is able to re- program the contact data contained within EEPROM 5. In some embodiments, the user is also able to re-program other aspects of the operation of system 1, such as the alert messages, the predetermined periods for sending alert signals in the absence of a network signal, and others. It will be appreciated that this re-programming occurs remotely.

Reference is now made to Figure 2 and Figure 3 that illustrate images of a monitoring system according to the invention. The system, with the exception of the antenna 40, is mounted within a black plastics prismatic housing that is, in turn, fixedly and securely mounted to a vehicle in a discrete and hard to access location. The major hardware components used within the system are mounted to a PCB that is, in use, entirely enclosed within the housing. The housing includes a removable lid 80 to allow placement of the components within the housing or subsequent selective physical access to the components. In some embodiments the lid 80 is fixedly and securely fastened to the remainder of the housing and is not intended to be removed during the operational lifetime of the system. In such embodiments it is typically to have an alarm sensor that is responsive to tampering with or removal of the lid 80 from the housing for providing an alarm signal to the processor.

The housing illustrated in the system of Figure 2 includes a removable lid 80 for allowing a user, or a service technician, or other authorised individual, to place a registered SIM card 21 into the corresponding SIM card socket 20. In this embodiment, where use is made of the SMS message functionality of a GSM cellular network, it is important to ensure that the SIM card 21 supports that functionality. Once in the socket, use is made of a pre-existing cellular telephone (or other telephone) to establish contact with the SIM card 21. Typically, use is made of a pre-existing cellular telephone, and the contact is in the form of an SMS test message containing a predetermined sequence of characters that are recognised by and responded to by the processor.

The system of Figure 2 includes a connector 70 for electrically connecting with the leads of alarm sensors so as to link those sensors to the processor. In Figure 2, this connector is referred to as an alarm trigger signals connector. In this embodiment, there is provision for two sensors that, when providing an alarm signal, maintain a 12 Volt signal at the connector and, hence, at the relevant input to the controller. In other embodiments a different number of sensors are used, as too are different alarm signal voltages. The 12 Volt signal is sustained, in the first instance, by the car's electrical system. That is, connector 30 is connected to, not only the sensors, but also to the +12 Volts supply provided by the car.

The connector 30 is the main power supply terminal for the monitoring system, and is connected to the negative earth and the +12 Volts supply in the car. This connector allows power to be fed into the system.

There is an additional connector 30 that connects a backup battery-in this embodiment NiMH rechargeable battery 31-to the electrical components of system 1.

With the above steps performed, both the system power indicator 50 and the car battery power indicator 33 are illuminated to indicate, on the one hand, that the power is applied and the system is active and, on the other hand, that the +12 Volt input is detected. If the backup battery 31 is detected as being undercharged, the system will, at this point, commence a charging operation. In this embodiment, the operation is a fast charging operation, while in other embodiments a slower charging operation is used. In still further embodiments, a combination of slow charging and fast charging is used. A third indicator shown in Figure 2 is the network connection status indicator 60, which will light up when a GSM network connection is being detected.

All the wires extending from the housing are preferably all of the same colour to make it more difficult for an unauthorised person to attempt to thwart or disable the system. However, in other embodiments, use is made of colour-coded wires.

In this embodiment, the system is configured to dial, once an alarm signal is received, two separate telephone numbers. These numbers are defined by the user sending a predefined SMS text message to the system via the cellular network. This message is referred to as the"PHONE_SET"SMS message. The format of this message is: XXXXXXXXXX*YYYYYYYYYY# where XXXXXXXXXX represents the ten sequential digits of the first telephone number and YYYYYYYYY represents the ten sequential digits of the second telephone number. In other embodiments, where cellular telephones within a given cellular network are identified by other than ten digits, the format for the"PHONESET"SMS message is varied accordingly.

When this message is sent, and received, the processor will store the two numbers in the EEPROM as part of the contact address data. In the event that the contact address data does not contain a user defined number it will not call any number in the event of any alarm signal. However, in other embodiments, the system includes a default number that contacts a third party such as a system administrator, a law enforcement agency, or security agency.

Once the contact address data is initially set, or changed, the processor will send a confirmatory SMS message to the instructing party confirming the change. That is, the telephone to which that message is directed will have to support SMS messaging functionality. In other embodiments use is made of paths other than SMS messaging to provide the desired confirmation. In this way, the user will be provided with an assurance that the system is operative, and that it is configured to contact the correct telephone.

Figure 4 illustrates schematically the timing of an alarm signal and the requirement that that alarm signal persist for a predetermined time-in this embodiment five seconds-before the processor will respond by generating an alert signal in the form of an SMS message sent to the designated telephone numbers stored in the EEPROM. As described above, the sensors in this embodiment, when triggered, provide a 12 Volt DC alarm signal. The point in time that this signal is initiated is referred to in Figure 5 as condition (a). The point in time that this signal has persisted for five seconds is referred to as condition (b). In other embodiments alternative predetermined times are used.

The predetermined time is used to minimise the risk of false alarms resulting in alert signals being sent to the user. Accordingly, if an alarm signal last for only three

seconds it will be deemed a false alarm. For example, there will be instances where, say, the user inadvertently activated the car alarm when still in the car, which causes one of the sensors to go"high". This triggers the car alarm and the system, the former resulting in sirens and/or other indicators alerting the user to the situation, while the former causes condition (a) to be established. As the user will be made aware of the false alarm due to the car alarm, there will be some time-the predetermined time- available for the user to reset the alarm and thereby cancel the alarm signal prior to the system reaching condition (b).

When condition (b) is reached, both indicators 33 and 50 flash to indicate an alarm condition. The processor accesses the relevant telephone number or numbers from the EEPROM and, within one minute, dials the first number and attempts to send an SMS message to the first telephone. In the event that an acknowledgement is not received within a predetermined time-in this embodiment, that time is 1 minute-the processor will dial the second number in an attempt to contact the second telephone.

This process repeats until such time as an acknowledgement (ALARM ACK SMS message) is received. The format of the ALARMACK SMS message is *#. In other embodiments alternative formats are used. Moreover, in some embodiments, the format is able to be set, and adjusted, by the user.

Once the ALARM-ACK SMS message is received by the system it automatically discontinues being responsive to further alarm signals and the processor generates and sends a further SMS message to the telephone that provided the confirmation. The text of this message, in this embodiment, is"Monitor disarmed". In other embodiments alternative messages are sent. The system is not reset until the, or all of the, alarm signals that persisted for the predetermined time have returned to zero volts.

In this embodiment, the processor is not responsive to the disconnection of the system from the 12 Volt power supply of the car. However, if a condition (b) is current prior to that disconnection, the internal NiMH backup battery will allow the system to continue to function. When that battery is fully charged it typically allows the system to send more than 70 messages, should that be required.

The SIM card used by the system includes electronic storage (in the form of an integrated memory chip on the card-in which is temporarily stored incoming SMS messages. A designated location within the memory is dedicated for this buffering function, and is accessed by the processor to extract the messages for subsequent coding, verification and other processing. Once this processing has occurred, the designated location is cleared to allow subsequent messages to be buffered similarly.

In this embodiment, the designated location is not cleared immediately after power up of the system, although in other embodiments it is. Accordingly, for this embodiment, users are encouraged to ensure the SIM card includes only the appropriate SMS messages prior to installation within the system.

The PCB included in the system (referred to in the figures as PCBA) includes a number of test points, which are summarised in Figure 510.

Also included are Figure 8 and Figure 9 that provide detailed circuit diagrams for the components mounted to PCBA.

The preferred embodiments of the invention allow a user to gain an alert signal that is sent typically to a cellular telephone. This is advantageous as the user is able to receive the alert at any time, and respond to that alert as desired. There is no need for a third party service provider to be involved, and the system is able to be easily configured by the user via the cellular telephone. Accordingly, the use of the embodiments, while particularly advantageously suited to cars and car alarms, is also suitable for other uses. This includes a locker for storing property, and in particular valuable property.

The use of SMS messaging allows the running costs of the embodiments to be kept low, while the ability of the user to configure the system from any telephone having SMS messaging capability, offers considerable flexibility. For example, the user is able, in some embodiments, to specify for which actions alerts are provided, the text that will accompany that alert, the extent and frequency of the alert, and the confirmation that is required, which one or more of a number of telephones should be alerted in respect of which alarm signals, and the like.

In embodiments where the invention is fitted to a mobile object, such as a car, truck, motorbike, shipping container, or other transportable plant and equipment, the use of the inbuilt GSM transmitter included within the system allows for tracking and/or location information to be provided. The user is able to request this information, or specify the events that require the information to be sent to the user. For example, in one embodiment, when a predetermined alert signal is provided, the text of the SMS message includes the cell name in which the car is located. In some embodiments, the system also includes a GPS module for providing more accurate positional information.

Typically, this information is included in the SMS message as eight or more digit global positional coordinates.

Other advantages of the preferred embodiment include : * The use of the GSM cellular telephone network.

No need for an external antenna.

Ability to be retrofitted to existing alarm systems for cars, storage systems, houses and the like.

* The ability to alert more than one party, should that be required.

Although the invention has been described with reference to specific examples, it will be appreciated that it may be embodied in many other forms.