TECHNICAL FIELD

The present inventive concept generally relates to remote monitoring of windows and doors and, more particularly, to a sensor node, an indicator unit and a system for the said type of monitoring.

BACKGROUND

In many types of lock applications, there is a need to easily be able to monitor the position in which the door leaf or the window casement and its lock is found. The terms closed, locked and deadlocked are often used to indicate that the door leaf or the window casement is in a closed position relative to the frame, that the bolt of the lock is in engagement with a striking plate or the like in the frame, or that the engagement of the deadbolt with the striking plate is blocked. The lock is often configured such that the deadlocked position, at least from one side of the door or window, can only be cancelled by the use of a key, a code or some other coded identification means.

In recent times, the need for remote monitoring of doors and windows has increased. In certain cases, for example, it is desirable to quickly and easily be able to gain an overview of the status of the windows and doors without explicitly needing to check each door and window. Document DE 2752089 shows an example of a monitoring system for remote monitoring of doors.

One problem with the remote monitoring system which is presented in DE 2752089 is that it is complicated to install.

SUMMARY

A general object of the present inventive concept is to provide a monitoring system for windows and doors which is easier to install than that which has previously been known.

A second object of the present inventive concept is to provide a monitoring system which allows remote monitoring of the closed and deadlocked status of windows and doors.

A third object of the present inventive concept is to provide a sensor node and an indicator unit for a remote monitoring system for windows and doors, which sensor node and indicator unit can easily be coupled together and can easily be decoupled.

According to a first aspect of the inventive concept, a sensor node for a window or door is therefore provided, which sensor node comprises: a sensor arranged to detect whether the window or door is in a locked position and to generate a signal which comprises lock status data relating to the lock status of the window or door; a receiver unit; a memory; and a transmitter arranged to wirelessly send lock status data and sensor node identification data to one or more indicator units, the transmitter in a first state being arranged to send lock status data and sensor node identification data to indicator units which are not paired with the sensor node and in a second state being arranged to wirelessly send lock status data and sensor node identification data only to an indicator unit which is paired with the sensor node, wherein the receiver unit, when the transmitter is in the first state, is arranged to receive a first instruction, and identification data, from an indicator unit that the transmitter shall send lock status data to this indicator unit, wherein the sensor node is arranged to save the identification data in the memory and to set the transmitter in its second state.

By lock status is herein meant a status relating to the extent to which the lock of a window or door is in a locked position or not. A sensor node of the above kind therefore allows a simple coupling or association of the sensor node with a specific indicator unit. This is advantageous, for example, when a plurality of indicator units are found within range of the transmitter during installation or set-up of a system comprising a sensor node and an indicator unit, since the sensor node can then be programmed to only send lock status data to one or more selected indicator units. An example of when a plurality of indicator units can be found within range of the same sensor node is when two neighbours each respectively install a system comprising one or more sensor nodes and an indicator unit.

The sensor node mentioned above can also easily be mass-produced, since the sensor node does not need to be associated with a specific indicator unit already during production. As has been stated 'above, this can advantageously be done, for example, during installation of the sensor node.

According to one embodiment, the receiver unit, when the transmitter is in the second state, is arranged to receive a second instruction from the said indicator unit, the sensor node being arranged to erase the said identification data in the memory and to set the transmitter in its first state. The sensor node can thus easily be set in the first state, which is a position in which the sensor node can be coupled together or associated with any indicator unit whatsoever.

According to one embodiment, the transmitter is arranged to send lock status data upon a change of the lock status of the window or door and upon start-up of the sensor node. The energy consumption of the sensor node can thus be reduced.

According to one embodiment, the transmitter is further arranged to detect the extent to which the window or the lock is in a closed, deadlocked position, the transmitter being arranged to send deadlock status data relating to the deadlock status of the window or door to one or more indicator units. The transmitter can thus also send deadlock status data relating to the closed, deadlocked status of a window or door, which status can be received by an indicator unit. Remote monitoring of the closed and deadlocked position of windows and doors can thus be monitored via the indicator unit.

According to one embodiment, the sensor is arranged to be mounted in a striking plate in order to be able to detect whether the window or door is in a closed, deadlocked position. The sensor of the sensor node can thus detect whether the window or door is in a closed, deadlocked position, especially if the lock housing comprises a mechanism for mechanically indicating that the window or door is deadlocked.

According to one embodiment, the transmitter is arranged to send lock status data to an indicator unit via a gateway and the receiver unit is arranged to receive the said first instruction and identification data via the gateway. According to a second aspect of the inventive concept, an indicator unit for a window or door monitoring system is provided, which indicator unit comprises: a wireless receiver unit arranged to receive lock status data and sensor node identification data from a plurality of sensor nodes according to the first aspect of the inventive concept, which lock status data relate to the lock status of windows or doors; a wireless transmitter arranged to send a first instruction and identification data relating to the indicator unit to a specific sensor node of the plurality of sensor nodes, which first instruction is intended to instruct the specific sensor node to send lock status data and sensor node identification data only to the indicator unit in order to associate the specific sensor node with the indicator unit; and a processor arranged to determinewhether received lock status data is intended for sole receipt by the indicator unit or whether it is intended for receipt by a plurality of indicator units.

The indicator unit can advantageously be used to easily link one or more sensor nodes together with the indicator unit. As previously stated, the sensor nodes can in a first state send lock status data to more than one indicator unit, for example by broadcasting, in which case the indicator unit, by virtue of the first instruction, can set a selected sensor node in its second state, so that the sensor node is thus linked together with and only sends lock status data to the indicator unit in question. A user can thus easily install a system comprising one or more sensor nodes and an indicator unit for remote monitoring of doors and/or windows.

One embodiment further comprises a memory arranged to store sensor node identification data for the specific sensor node.

According to one embodiment, the processor is arranged, if received lock status data has been deemed to be intended for sole receipt by the indicator unit, to compare received sensor node identification data with sensor node identification data stored in the memory, in order to determine whether received lock status data relate to the specific sensor node. According to one embodiment, the indicator unit is arranged to store the lock status data if the received sensor node identification data corresponds to sensor node identification data stored in the memory. According to one embodiment, the transmitter, when the said received sensor node identification data does not correspond to sensor node identification data stored in the memory, is arranged to send a second instruction to the specific sensor node that this shall send lock status data to a plurality of indicator units.

According to one embodiment, the indicator unit is arranged to be able to be set in a sensor node addition state, wherein the memory is arranged, if received lock status data has been deemed to be intended for receipt by a plurality of indicator units and if the indicator unit is in the sensor node addition state and if the sensor node which sent the lock status data sent a predetermined number of messages containing lock status data to the indicator unit, to save the sensor node identification data of the sensor node, wherein the wireless transmitter is arranged to send a first instruction to the sensor node to send lock status data only to the indicator unit.

One embodiment further comprises an indicator arranged to show the lock status of a window or door based on lock status data received from the specific sensor node.

According to one embodiment, the indicator unit is a portable unit for wireless communication. According to a third aspect of the inventive concept, a system for monitoring of windows and doors is provided, comprising: at least one sensor node according to the first aspect presented herein; and an indicator unit according to the second aspect presented herein. One embodiment comprises a gateway and a server, wherein the at least one sensor node and the indicator unit are arranged to communicate via the gateway and the server.

Installation of a system of the above kind can be carried out easily in comparison with a similar wired system.

EXEMPLARY FIGURES

Exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept will be described in detail below with reference to the figures, of which: Figure l shows a schematic view of a remote monitoring system of windows and/or doors; Figure 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a sensor node for a remote monitoring system according to Figure l;

Figure 3 shows a schematic block diagram of an indicator unit for a remote monitoring system according to Figure l;

Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a system in which a sensor node according to Figure 2 and an indicator unit according to Figure 3 can be used.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of a system la for remote monitoring of windows and/or doors. The system 1 comprises an indicator unit 3 and one or more sensor nodes 5. The indicator unit 3 is arranged to be able to wirelessly communicate with the sensor nodes 5 belonging to the system la.

Communication between a sensor node 5 and an indicator unit 3 can either be realized directly according to the example in Figure 1, via, for example, a wireless LAN, or via a Wide Area Network (WAN), which will be described in more detail with reference to Figure 4. The general principles which are hereinafter described, relating to processes of pairing and removing the sensor node and the indicator unit, apply in both types of system.

Each sensor node 5 is arranged to be associated with a window or door, for example by mounting on a window or door. Each sensor node 5 comprises a sensor 5-1 arranged to detect the extent to which the window or the door with which it is associated is in a locked position. Each sensor 5-1 is arranged to generate a signal which comprises lock status data relating to the lock status of the window or door. In order to enable remote monitoring according to the present inventive concept, each sensor 5-1 is arranged to be mounted in a striking plate in a door frame or window frame, or alternatively in the window casement or the door, in order to be able to detect whether a window or door is in a locked position. Such a sensor can be, for example, of the micro-switch type.

Each sensor node 5 further comprises a transmitter 5-2. Such a transmitter 5-2 is arranged to wirelessly send lock status data and sensor node identification data to the indicator unit 3.

According to one embodiment, the transmitter 5-2 is of a kind such as is suitable for recessed mounting in the frame of a window or door.

The indicator unit 3 is arranged to receive lock status data and sensor node identification data from sensor nodes 5. The indicator unit 3 is arranged to show whether one or more doors and/or windows monitored by the system 1 are not in a locked position, based on received lock status data and sensor node identification data. In this way, a user of the system 1 can easily get an idea of the extent to which all windows and doors are locked. The user thus has no need to check each individual window and door manually, but can quickly form an idea of the status of windows and doors by reading lock statuses on the indicator unit 3.

The sensor node 5 and the indicator unit 3 will be described in greater detail below. More particularly, the pairing process between a sensor node and an indicator unit, and removal of a sensor node from an indicator unit, will be described in detail.

Figure 2 shows a schematic block diagram of a sensor node 5. The sensor node 5 comprises a sensor 5-1, a transmitter 5-2, a receiver unit 5-3, and a memory 5-4. As already stated earlier, the sensor 5-1 is arranged to detect whether the window or the door is in a locked position and to generate a signal which comprises lock status data relating to the lock status of the window or door.

The memory 5-4 is arranged to be able to store sensor identification data which can relate to a unique identification address for the sensor node 5. Sensor identification data can be stored, for example, in the memory 5-4 during the production of the sensor node. The transmitter 5-2 is arranged to wirelessly send lock status data generated by the sensor 5-1 and sensor node identification data from the memory 5-4 to one or more indicator units 3. The transmitter 5-2, in a first state, is hereby arranged to send lock status data and sensor node identification data to a plurality of indicator units. In a wireless LAN, the sensor node can send lock status data and sensor node identification data to all indicator units within range of the transmitter 5-2. Should the system comprise units such as a gateway and a server, exemplified in Figure 4, a sensor node shall be able to send lock status data and sensor node identification data to all gateways with suitable software within range of the sensor node, and thus to all indicator units associated with these gateways. In this non-discriminating transmission state, the sensor node 5 therefore transmits lock status data and sensor node identification data to all indicator units which are found within reach of the transmitter 5-2, alternatively to all gateways within reach of the transmitter and arranged to receive lock status data and sensor node identification data from sensor nodes. The first state is typical of the transmitter 5-2 when the sensor node 5 has not yet been coupled together with a specific indicator unit intended for use together with the sensor node 5. When the transmitter 5-2 is in its first state, the sensor node 5 can therefore be paired with any indicator unit whatsoever in the vicinity of the sensor node 5, alternatively with any indicator unit associated with a gateway in the vicinity of the sensor node 5.

The receiver unit 5-3 is arranged to receive a first instruction, and identification data, from an indicator unit 3 that the transmitter 5-2 shall send lock status data only to the indicator unit 3. If the sensor node 5 is in its first state upon reception of the first instruction, the transmitter 5-2 switches from the first state to a second state. The sensor node 5 is arranged to save identification data from the indicator unit 3 in the memory 5-4 and to set the transmitter 5-2 in its second state. In the second state, the transmitter 5-2 is arranged to wirelessly send lock status data and sensor node identification data only to the indicator unit 3 which sent the first instruction. Pairing of a sensor node 5 with a specific indicator unit 3 can therefore be achieved. This is advantageous when a plurality of indicator units or gateways can be found within range of a sensor node, for example if two neighbours each have a separate system la, lb for remote monitoring of windows and/or doors. In the system lb described with reference to Figure 4, a plurality of indicator units associated with the gateway G can be paired with one or more sensor nodes 5. According to this embodiment, the sensor nodes can also in the second state send sensor node identification data via the gateway G to indicator units associated with the gateway G for pairing of one or more sensor nodes with further indicator units 3.

When the transmitter 5-2 is in the second state, the receiver unit 5-3 is arranged to receive a second instruction from the said indicator unit. The second instruction specifies that the sensor node 5 shall switch to its first state and thus send lock status data and sensor node identification data to all indicator units 3 within its range, alternatively to all indicator units associated with gateways within range of the sensor node. In connection with the reception of the second instruction, identification data relating to the indicator unit to which the transmitter 5-2 sent lock status data and sensor node identification data in the second state are erased in the memory 5-4. In addition, the transmitter 5-2 is set in its first state.

According to one embodiment, the sensor node 5 can comprise a processor for setting the sensor node in its first and second states, for example, based on the said first and second instructions received by the receiver unit.

According to one embodiment, the transmitter 5-2 is arranged to send lock status data only upon a change of the lock status of the window or door and upon start-up of the sensor node. According to one embodiment, apart from lock status data as mentioned above, messages are also sent at times separated by a predetermined time interval, for example once an hour. Such messages can contain lock status data, alternatively any predetermined or randomly chosen data sequence. According to this embodiment, during the intervening period no messages are sent from the sensor node. Both of the above-described examples mean that energy is essentially used only when a change of status has occurred. This is advantageous when the transmitter 5-2, according to one embodiment, is battery powered, in which case battery power is principally utilized when the transmitter sends data to one or more indicator units. Should the sensor node 5 not receive any reply at all from an indicator unit upon the transmission of lock status data and sensor node identification data when the sensor node 5 is in its first state, according to one embodiment lock status data and sensor node identification data are resent from the sensor node 5 only once the door or window which the sensor node 5 is arranged to monitor changes state, that is to say switches from being locked to not being locked, or vice versa. According to this embodiment, this process continues until the sensor node receives a first instruction from an indicator unit that the sensor node 5 shall be set in its second state and shall exclusively send lock status data and sensor node identification data to the indicator unit.

Figure 3 shows a schematic block diagram of an indicator unit 3 for a system l for window or door monitoring. The indicator unit is preferably a portable unit for wireless communication, such as a smart phone or a tablet computer. The indicator unit 3 is arranged for use together with one or more sensor nodes 5 and comprises a wireless receiver unit 3-1, a transmitter 3-2, a processor 3-3, an input unit 3-4 and a memory 3-5. The indicator unit 3 can further comprise an indicator such as a display screen. In one embodiment, the input unit 3-4 and the indicator are the same, for example in the form of a touch screen. This indicator can indicate the extent to which any one of the windows and/or doors which the indicator unit 3 is arranged to monitor is not in a locked position, based on received lock status data and sensor node identification data. A user can thus easily see whether any of the windows and/or doors is not locked.

The wireless receiver unit 3-1 is a unit for wireless communication, arranged to receive lock status data and sensor node identification data from one or more sensor nodes 5.

The transmitter 3-2 arranged for wireless communication is arranged to send a first instruction and identification data relating to the indicator unit to a specific sensor node of the sensor nodes 5 which belong to or shall belong to a system la in Figure 1 or system lb in Figure 4 for remote monitoring of windows and/or doors. According to one embodiment, the first instruction is sent in response to receipt of lock status data from a sensor node. The first instruction is intended to instruct the specific sensor node to send lock status data and sensor node identification data only to the indicator unit 3. The specific sensor node is thus associated with the indicator unit 3. The specific sensor node is set in its second state and thereafter sends lock status data and sensor node identification data only to the indicator unit which sent the first instruction and with which the sensor node is linked.

According to one embodiment, the first state for a sensor node means that this sends lock status data and sensor node identification data in a broadcast manner. According to one embodiment, the second state for a sensor node means that this sends lock status data and sensor node identification data in a unicast manner. The processor 3-3 is arranged to determine the extent to which received lock status data are intended for sole receipt by the indicator unit or whether they are intended for receipt by a plurality of indicator units. The processor 3-3 therefore makes an assessment of the extent to which received lock status data has been sent from a sensor node which is in its first state or in its second state. According to one embodiment, this checking by the processor 3-3 takes place continually in order to determine, for each message received from a sensor node, whether received lock status data is intended for sole receipt by the indicator unit, or whether it is intended for receipt by a plurality of indicator units.

According to one embodiment, the indicator unit 3 is paired with a sensor node 5 by the indicator unit 3 being set in a sensor node addition state. According to one embodiment, the input unit 3-4 is arranged to receive an input from a user in order to set the indicator unit 3 in the sensor node addition state. In the sensor node addition state, the indicator unit checks all sensor node identification data which are received from sensor nodes. According to one embodiment, a pairing or association takes place between the indicator unit and a sensor node when the indicator unit has received a predetermined number of messages containing sensor node identification data from the sensor node. This can be realized, for example, by a user manually changing the lock status of a window or door a predetermined number of times within a predetermined time span when the indicator unit is in its sensor node addition state. The particular sensor node thus sends lock status data to the indicator unit for each lock status change, the indicator unit which is in the sensor node addition state being paired with the sensor node in question.

According to another embodiment, the user, after having set the indicator unit 3 in the sensor node addition state, can manually associate a sensor node 5 with the indicator unit 3 in the sensor node addition state, for example by interaction with a sensor node which shall be paired with the indicator unit. Such interaction can entail, for example, the user pressing a button found mounted on the sensor node.

Sensor node identification data for a sensor node 5 linked with the indicator unit 3 are added in the memory 3-5. In the memory 3-5 can be stored a list of sensor nodes 5 associated with the indicator unit 3. According to one embodiment, the memory 3-5 is here arranged, if received lock status data have been deemed by the processor 3-3 to be intended for receipt by a plurality of indicator units 3, and if the indicator unit is in the sensor node supplementary position, and if the sensor node 5 which sent the said lock status data sent a predetermined number of messages containing lock status data to the indicator unit 3, to save the sensor node identification data of the sensor node 5 in the memory 5-3.

The transmitter 3-2 is arranged to, in this position, send a first instruction to the sensor node to send lock status data only to the indicator unit 3. The processor 3-3 is arranged, if received lock status data have been deemed intended for sole receipt by the indicator unit 3, to compare received sensor node identification data with sensor node identification data stored in the memory 3-5, in order to determine whether received lock status data relate to a specific sensor node associated with the indicator unit 3. The indicator unit 3 is arranged to store the said lock status data in the memory 3-5 if received sensor node identification data tally with sensor node identification data stored in the memory 3-5.

According to one embodiment, a user can manually instruct a sensor node to switch from its second position to its first position in order to release the exclusive coupling with the indicator unit 3. In this case, the input unit 3-4 can be arranged to be able to receive an input from a user relating to a second instruction that a specific sensor node associated with the indicator unit 3 shall send lock status data to a plurality of indicator units. Should received lock status data be deemed to be intended for sole receipt by the indicator unit and should received sensor node identification data not correspond to sensor node identification data stored in the memory 3-5, the transmitter 3-2 is arranged to send the second instruction to the specific sensor node that this shall send lock status data to a plurality of indicator units 3. The transmitter 3-2 is arranged to send the second instruction to the specific sensor node in order thus to set this sensor node in its first position. According to one embodiment, the sensor is arranged to also be able to detect the extent to which the window or the lock is in a closed, deadlocked position. In such an embodiment, a sensor node can send deadlock status data relating to the closed, deadlocked status of the window or door. The lock status of a window or door, in the form of lock status data, implicitly accompanies messages sent from a sensor node in this embodiment, since a lock can only be in its deadlocked position when it is locked.

Correspondingly, an indicator panel in an embodiment as mentioned above can receive deadlock status data in order to be able to present the deadlock status of a window or door on its indicator.

An example of a suitable sensor for mounting in a striking plate is a sensor as described in Swedish patent SE530150. In addition, the lock described in SE530150 is suitable for use together with the sensor. The lock is advantageously mounted in a window casement or door intended for remote monitoring according to the present inventive concept, the indicator bolt in the lock housing described in SE530150 being able to interact with the sensor for the detection of the deadlock status when the door or window is in a closed position.

Figure 4 shows an example of a system lb comprising one or more sensor nodes 5 and at least one indicator unit 3, such as a smart phone or a tablet computer. According to the example, the system lb further comprises a gateway G coupled to a Wide Area Network (WAN) 7 and a server S also coupled to WAN 7. One example of WAN 7 is the Internet. Each sensor node 5 is arranged to wirelessly communicate with the gateway G. More particularly, each sensor node 5 is arranged to send lock status data and/ or deadlock status data to the gateway G. For this purpose, the gateway G can be loaded with software which enables communication between sensor nodes 5 and the gateway.

The gateway G is arranged to receive and forward or send lock status data and/ or deadlock status data to the server S via WAN 7. The gateway G is connected to WAN 7 via a link Li, which can be wired, wireless or a combination thereof. The server 7 in turn sends lock status data and/or deadlock status data to an indicator unit 3 associated with the gateway G via WAN 7 and a link L2 which can be wired, wireless or a combination thereof. The link L2 can be, for example, of a type which complies with one or some of the following technologies: Wideband Code Division Multiplex (W-CDMA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), Enhanced GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) and Code Division Multiple Access 2000 (CDMA2000). As described earlier, the sensor nodes 5 can be paired with a specific indicator unit 3, or else this pairing can be removed. Pairing and removal can take place in the same way as described earlier. An indicator unit 3 can therefore send identification data and a first instruction or second instruction to sensor nodes 5 via the server S, WAN 7 and the gateway G. All communication between sensor nodes 5 and an indicator unit 3 thus takes place, according to the example in Figure 4, via WAN 7, the server S and the gateway G.

In the installation of the system lb, according to a variation hereof, one or more indicator units 3 can be associated or paired with the gateway G, for example by using an indicator which shall be associated with the gateway G to read a QR code situated on the gateway, or by otherwise inputting gateway identification data to the indicator unit. After this association or pairing of the gateway G and an indicator unit, pairing of sensor nodes 5 and the indicator unit according to the description above can be commenced.

The system which is described herein is suitable, for example, for monitoring of windows and doors in rooms which have windows and/ or doors, for example homes or commercial properties. The indicator unit can be a central indicator unit or indicator panel, for example for fixed installation in the room in which the system is installed. Alternatively, the indicator unit can be a portable unit for wireless communication, such as a smart phone or a tablet computer. Above, exemplary embodiments of the inventive concept have been described. The inventive concept is not limited to these embodiments but can be freely varied within the scope of the following patent claims. For example, the memory in the indicator unit can be an integral part of the processor; alternatively the memory can be a unit which is physically separated from the processor.