Automatic monitoring and remote reporting device

Abstract

A device for direct monitoring of a system with pre-scheduled, request or alarm reports being generated and sent to remote locations via facsimile transmission, with the reports being pre-formatted, as desired, such as in tabular or graphical form. The device interfaces with sensors which continuously directly monitor analog data such as temperature, pH, pressure values, or digital data such as limit switches, etc. of an operating system. Multiple process variable input channels or interfaces permit monitoring of different parameters. Each parameter can be reported in different page format. A conversion element within the device converts analog data from the operating system to digital form for immediate analysis and/or storage and later retrieval and/or analysis of operating conditions and parameters. Upon a pre-determined condition, a report condition is sensed and stored data is retrieved, by the device, into suitable combination with a pre-programmed page format such as tabular or graphical form. The data, integrated with appropriate page format, is then converted by the device to facsimile machine readable form. The device is directly connected with a telephone line for transmission, with proper handshaking controlled by the device, via direct telephone transmission to one or more remote facsimile devices which print out reports in original readily readable, not optically scanned, form.