Industrial Monitoring System with Haptic Alerts and Smart Data Storage
This patent describes a system for collecting data in industrial settings like oil refineries, detecting unusual conditions, smartly managing how much data is saved, and alerting workers with touch-based feedback on a wearable device.
Original patent title: “Methods and systems for data collection in an industrial refining environment with haptic feedback and data storage control”
This patent describes a system for collecting data in industrial settings like oil refineries, detecting unusual conditions, smartly managing how much data is saved, and alerting workers with touch-based feedback on a wearable device. Granted to Strong Force IoT Portfolio 2016 in 2022 with 21 claims and 5 forward citations, and it is expected to expire in 2038.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
The system collects data from various sensors in an industrial refining environment, following specific data collection routines (ClaimclaimA numbered sentence at the end of a patent that legally defines what the inventor owns. The most important section.Read more → 1). It stores this collected data and the routines used (Claim 1). A specialized circuit then interprets the data to identify any "anomalous conditions," which are unusual or abnormal states (Claim 1). Another circuit evaluates the system's storage limits and adjusts the amount of collected data that gets saved, preventing storage overload (Claim 1). If an anomalous condition is detected, a haptic user device, which can be a wearable like a glove or wristband, generates a touch-based stimulation to alert a worker (Claim 1, Claim 2). For example, if a motor in a refinery starts vibrating unusually, a worker wearing a haptic wristband might feel a specific pattern of vibration, indicating a potential problem.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover systems that alert users only through visual displays or audible alarms without any haptic (touch-based) feedback.
- Does not cover data collection systems that do not dynamically adjust the volume of stored data based on storage capacity limits.
- Does not cover monitoring systems designed for environments other than industrial refining settings.
- Does not cover systems where the haptic user device's location is not broadcast or where the anomaly signal is not wirelessly transmitted.
- Does not cover systems that simply collect data without interpreting it to specifically determine an "anomalous condition."
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → lies in combining real-time anomaly detection in industrial settings with dynamic data storage management and immediate, localized haptic feedback on a wirelessly connected, location-aware user device. This allows for proactive maintenance and enhanced worker safety through a direct, non-visual alert system.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Predictive maintenance systems in chemical plants
Worker safety wearables in oil refineries
Industrial IoT solutions for equipment monitoring
Smart sensor networks in manufacturing facilities
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This technology is important for improving safety and efficiency in hazardous industrial environments. By providing immediate, touch-based alerts, workers can be notified of critical issues even in noisy or visually complex settings where other alarms might be missed. The smart data storage also ensures that valuable information about equipment performance is retained without overwhelming storage capacity, aiding in predictive maintenance and preventing costly downtime.
Filed
December 21, 2018
Granted
July 19, 2022
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies specializing in Industrial IoT (IIoT) and predictive maintenance are actively developing and deploying similar technologies. Major players like Siemens, GE Digital, and Honeywell offer platforms that integrate sensor data with analytics for anomaly detection. Startups focused on worker safety and wearable technology for industrial use also build on these concepts, aiming to provide real-time alerts and improve operational awareness.
Market impact
This patent's subject matter contributes to the growing market for Industrial IoT solutions, enabling more proactive maintenance strategies and enhancing worker safety. By integrating haptic feedback and intelligent data management, it helps reduce equipment downtime and prevent accidents, leading to significant cost savings and improved operational efficiency in heavy industries. It supports the trend towards smarter, more connected industrial environments.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
The system collects data from various sensors in an industrial refining environment, following specific data collection routines (Claim 1). It stores this collected data and the routines used (Claim 1). A specialized circuit then interprets the data to identify any "anomalous conditions," which are unusual or abnormal states (Claim 1). Another circuit evaluates the system's storage limits and adjusts the amount of collected data that gets saved, preventing storage overload (Claim 1). If an anomalous condition is detected, a haptic user device, which can be a wearable like a glove or wristband, generates a touch-based stimulation to alert a worker (Claim 1, Claim 2). For example, if a motor in a refinery starts vibrating unusually, a worker wearing a haptic wristband might feel a specific pattern of vibration, indicating a potential problem.
The clever bit
The novelty lies in combining real-time anomaly detection in industrial settings with dynamic data storage management and immediate, localized haptic feedback on a wirelessly connected, location-aware user device. This allows for proactive maintenance and enhanced worker safety through a direct, non-visual alert system.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover systems that alert users only through visual displays or audible alarms without any haptic (touch-based) feedback.
- Does not cover data collection systems that do not dynamically adjust the volume of stored data based on storage capacity limits.
- Does not cover monitoring systems designed for environments other than industrial refining settings.
- Does not cover systems where the haptic user device's location is not broadcast or where the anomaly signal is not wirelessly transmitted.
- Does not cover systems that simply collect data without interpreting it to specifically determine an "anomalous condition."
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Application published, typically 18 months after filing
Patent officially issued
Patent enters public domain
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Moderate
Citation count
16/40
Early citations
Claim breadth
14/20
Broad claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$88K – $281K
Midpoint $176K · 12.2 yr remaining · industry ×1.5
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
The original legal language
Original claims
21 claims as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
JR., G. W. D., McGuckin, J. P., Cella, C. H., & Desai, M. (2022). Industrial Monitoring System with Haptic Alerts and Smart Data Storage (U.S. Patent No. 11,392,109). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/11392109/methods-and-systems-for-data-collection-in-an-industrial-refining-environment-wi
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Industrial Monitoring System with Haptic Alerts and Smart Data Storage cover?
This patent describes a system for collecting data in industrial settings like oil refineries, detecting unusual conditions, smartly managing how much data is saved, and alerting workers with touch-based feedback on a wearable device.
Who owns patent US 11392109?
Strong Force IoT Portfolio 2016 owns this patent, granted in 2022.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on December 21, 2038, when the invention enters the public domain.
What is patent US 11392109 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 5 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This technology is important for improving safety and efficiency in hazardous industrial environments. By providing immediate, touch-based alerts, workers can be notified of critical issues even in noisy or visually complex settings where other alarms might be missed. The smart data storage also ensures that valuable information about equipment performance is retained without overwhelming storage capacity, aiding in predictive maintenance and preventing costly downtime.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover systems that alert users only through visual displays or audible alarms without any haptic (touch-based) feedback.
Same assignee
More from Strong Force IoT Portfolio 2016
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