Monitoring system and method for connecting a monitoring device to a service server

Abstract

A method for connecting a monitoring device to a service server includes retrieving an address relating to a control server from a memory of the monitoring device and, sending a connection message from the monitoring device to the address relating to a control server in response to a connecting event. At the control server, an identifier is extracted from the communication between the monitoring device and the control server, a service server associated with the extracted identifier is identified and an address relating to the identified service server is sent from the control server to the monitoring device. A connection message from the monitoring device is sent to the identified service server in response to the receipt of the address related to the identified service server. A service connection is established between the monitoring device and the identified server.

1 . A method for connecting a monitoring device to a service server, said method comprising:
 retrieving an address relating to a control server from a memory of the monitoring device,   sending a connection message from the monitoring device to the address relating to a control server in response to a connecting event occurring at the monitoring device,   establishing a connection between the monitoring device and the control server,   retrieving an identifier uniquely identifying the monitoring device from a memory of the monitoring device,   sending the identifier from the monitoring device to the control server,   extracting, at the control server, the identifier uniquely identifying the monitoring device from the communication between the monitoring device and the control server, and   performing handover of the monitoring device from the control server to the service server, wherein said handover includes:   identifying, at the control server, a service server associated with the extracted identifier uniquely identifying the monitoring device by matching the extracted identifier to the service server, the matching is performed by matching the identifier of the monitoring device to the service server by accessing a database of identifiers in which each identifier is associated with a service server,   retrieving an address to the identified service server being associated with the extracted identifier uniquely identifying the monitoring device,   sending, from the control server to the monitoring device, the retrieved address of the identified service server being associated with the extracted identifier uniquely identifying the monitoring device as well as an authentication code,   sending a connection message from the monitoring device to the identified service server being associated with the extracted identifier uniquely identifying the monitoring device in response to the receipt of the address related to the identified service server being associated with the extracted identifier uniquely identifying the monitoring device,   authenticating the monitoring device at the identified service server using said authentication code, and   establishing a service connection between the monitoring device and the identified service server being associated with the extracted identifier uniquely identifying the monitoring device.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the authentication code is generated at the control server. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein further an initial retrieval of an address relating to a control server from a memory of the monitoring device returns a preconfigured address relating to a control server and wherein an initial sending of a connection message from the monitoring device to the preconfigured address is performed in response to an initiation event at the monitoring device. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said extracting of an identifier further includes extracting a network address relating to the monitoring device from the communication between the monitoring device and the control server, and wherein said identifying of a service server further includes matching the extracted network address to a service server. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the act of sending a connection message from the monitoring device to a preconfigured address relating to a control server is performed in response to the monitoring device detecting a network connection. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the act of sending a connection message from the monitoring device to a preconfigured address relating to a control server is performed in response to a manual actuation of an initiator arranged at the monitoring device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the act of sending the address relating to the identified service server includes sending the address relating to the identified service server in a reconfiguration message to the monitoring device, and wherein the method further includes setting, in the monitoring device, an address used in response to the initiation event to the address relating to the identified service server. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending of monitoring information from the monitoring device to the service server over the established service connection. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the sending of monitoring information includes sending video data from the monitoring device to the service server via the established service connection. 
     
     
         10 . A monitoring system comprising:
 a monitoring device, a control server, a plurality of service servers and a network connecting the servers and the monitoring device,   wherein the monitoring device includes:   a first memory including a connection address,   an initiator arranged to send a connection message over the network to the connection address in response to an initiation event,   a second memory including an identifier, said identifier being an identifier uniquely identifying the monitoring device, the monitoring device being arranged to send this identifier to the address to which the connection message is sent, and   a first processor arranged to send a new connection message to an address received in a message via said network,   wherein the control server includes:   an identity extractor arranged to extract an identifier uniquely identifying the monitoring device from a communication between the monitoring device and the control server,   a second processor arranged to execute a matching function to identify a service server associated with the extracted identifier uniquely identifying the monitoring device by matching the extracted identifier to the service server by accessing a database of identifiers and associated service servers, and to retrieve an address to the identified service server, and   means for sending, an authentication code for authenticating the monitoring device at the identified service server and the retrieved address to the identified service server associated with the extracted identifier uniquely identifying the monitoring device, to the monitoring device, whereby the control server initiates a handover of the monitoring device from the control server to the identified service server according to the retrieved address, and   wherein each service server includes:   an authenticator for authenticating the monitoring device using said authentication code, and   a third processor arranged to receive and process monitoring data from a monitoring device.   
     
     
         11 . The monitoring system of  claim 10 , wherein the control server further includes an authentication code generator arranged to generate said authentication code. 
     
     
         12 . The monitoring system of  claim 10 , wherein the monitoring system includes a plurality of control servers, the plurality of control servers includes at least one initial control server, which is a high level control server in an hierarchy of control servers, arranged to access address information enabling at least indirect connection to any control server and service server in the system. 
     
     
         13 . The monitoring system of  claim 12 , wherein the monitoring system includes at least two initial control servers. 
     
     
         14 . The monitoring system of  claim 10 , wherein the identifier is an IP-address. 
     
     
         15 . The monitoring system of  claim 10 , wherein the identifier is an identification code stored in the monitoring device. 
     
     
         16 . The monitoring system of  claim 10 , wherein the initiator of the monitoring device is a network connection detector. 
     
     
         17 . The monitoring system of  claim 10 , wherein the initiator of the monitoring device is an actuator for manual actuation. 
     
     
         18 . A control server for a monitoring system comprising:
 an interface connecting the server to a network;   an identity extractor arranged to extract an identifier from a message received from a monitoring device, the identifier being an identity code that uniquely identifies the monitoring device;   a processor arranged to execute a matching function to identify a service server associated with the extracted identifier uniquely identifying the monitoring device by matching the extracted identifier to the service server by accessing a database of identifiers and associated service servers, and to retrieve an address to the identified service server, and   means for sending, an authentication code for authenticating the monitoring device at the identified service server and the retrieved address to the identified service server associated with the extracted identifier uniquely identifying the monitoring device, to the monitoring device.   
     
     
         19 . The control server for a monitoring system of  claim 18 , wherein the identifier is an IP-address. 
     
     
         20 . The control server for a monitoring system of  claim 18 , wherein the identity code is a serial number.