Overview

Traditionally, remote monitoring has entailed the use of sensor devices at far-flung locations that provide status information to a central control facility via a wireline or wireless connection. Often called telemetry, remote monitoring is routinely used by utility companies for the operation of supervisory control and data acquisition systems and the operation of remote power transmission and distribution systems from central locations.

The military is the largest user of remote monitoring systems. Such systems often called telemetry systems are used to monitor signals from aircraft, missile and satellite subsystems, critical instrumentation, and on-board power supplies. In recent years, remote monitoring systems have enjoyed great commercial success due to the ubiquitous availability of the Internet and wireless technology. Commercial applications include, utility meter reading, load management, environmental monitoring, vending machine monitoring, security alarms, and patient monitoring.

Instead of wasting valuable time with onsite visits to machinery, pipelines, and buildings, for example, these and other assets can be monitored from a central location over the Internet or various wireless networks and services. Status information reported back to a central control facility or handheld monitoring device allows workers to be more productive and mobile, while enhancing their control of remote systems.

In recent years, remote monitoring concepts have been extended to include the monitoring of information. With portable, lightweight devices such as alphanumeric pagers, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and even LCD-equipped cell phones, people can subscribe to a variety of new, innovative services that monitor news, stock quotes, and sports scores and get the...