Systems and methods for manual tamper reset in a monitoring system

• US 10,068,462 B2
• Filed: 09/29/2016
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: B.I. Incorporated (Geo Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: B.I. Incorporated (Geo Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Buck, Jr., James J.
• Primary Examiner(s): ODOM, CURTIS B
• Application Number:
  US15/280,956
• Publication Number:
  US 20180089989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 705 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/046 prevention of tampering with detection circuits

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention provide systems and method for resetting one or more status indicators in a monitoring system.

Claims

1. A monitoring system, the monitoring system comprising:

a mobile monitoring device including;

a tamper detection circuit operable to set a tamper indicator when an event indicative of a tamper with the mobile monitoring device is detected;

a plurality of tamper reset circuits including at least;

a first tamper reset circuit operable to reset the tamper indicator based upon a first reset condition, and a second tamper reset circuit operable to reset the tamper indicator based upon a second reset condition;

a controller circuit operable to select only one of the plurality of tamper reset circuits to govern a reset of the tamper indicator;

a central monitoring system, wherein the mobile monitoring device is operable to report the tamper indicator to the central monitoring system via a communication link, and wherein the central monitoring system is operable to send a command to the mobile monitoring device via the communication link based at least in part on the tamper indicator; and

wherein the command is operable to cause the controller circuit to select the second tamper reset circuit based upon the command.

2. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the tamper detection circuit includes at least one of:

a strap continuity detector circuit, a proximity sensor circuit, and a shielding sensor circuit.

3. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the tamper detection circuit includes at least two of:

a strap continuity detector circuit, a proximity sensor circuit, and a shielding sensor circuit.

4. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the controller circuit is operable to select the first tamper reset circuit upon initialization of the mobile monitoring device.

5. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the first tamper reset circuit is an auto tamper reset circuit that resets the tamper indicator without intervention from an authorized person;

and wherein the second tamper reset circuit is a manual tamper reset circuit that resets the tamper indicator only after intervention from the authorized person.

6. The monitoring system of claim 5, wherein the manual tamper reset circuit is a remote manual tamper reset circuit that resets the tamper indicator only after the authorized person logs in remotely and approves the reset.

7. The monitoring system of claim 5, wherein the manual tamper reset circuit is a local manual tamper reset circuit that resets the tamper indicator only after a specialized tool is used in proximity to the monitoring device.

8. The monitoring system of claim 7, wherein the specialized tool generates a magnetic field detectable by the local manual tamper reset circuit.

9. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the communication link is a cellular communication link.

10. A method for governing tamper detection in a monitoring system, the method comprising:

providing a monitoring device including a tamper detection circuit operable to set a tamper indicator when an event indicative of a tamper with the monitoring device is detected;

initializing a reset of the tamper indicator of the monitoring device in a first tamper reset mode;

transmitting the tamper indicator to a central monitoring system;

receiving a command from the central monitoring system at least in part based upon the tamper indicator; and

based at least in part on the command, changing the reset of the tamper indicator of the monitoring device to a second tamper reset mode.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the tamper detection circuit includes at least one of:

a strap continuity detector circuit, a proximity sensor circuit, and a shielding sensor circuit.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein transmitting the tamper indicator to the central monitoring system is done using a wireless communication link.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless communication link is a cellular communication link.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the first tamper reset mode is an auto tamper reset mode that resets the tamper indicator without intervention from an authorized person;

and wherein the second tamper reset mode is a manual tamper reset mode that resets the tamper indicator only after intervention from the authorized person.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the manual tamper reset mode is a remote manual tamper reset mode that resets the tamper indicator only after the authorized person logs in remotely and approves the reset.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the manual tamper reset mode is a local manual tamper reset mode that resets the tamper indicator only after a specialized tool is used in proximity to the monitoring device.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the specialized tool generates a magnetic field detectable by the local manual tamper reset circuit.

18. A monitoring system, the monitoring system comprising:

a monitoring device including;

a tamper detection circuit operable to set a tamper indicator when an event indicative of a tamper with the monitoring device is detected;

a processing circuit operable to;

initialize a reset of the tamper indicator of the monitoring device in a first tamper reset mode;

transmit the tamper indicator to a central monitoring system;

receive a command from a central monitoring system at least in part based upon the tamper indicator; and

based at least in part on the command, change the reset of the tamper indicator of the monitoring device to a second tamper reset mode.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first tamper reset mode is an auto tamper reset mode that resets the tamper indicator without intervention from an authorized person;

and wherein the second tamper reset mode is a manual tamper reset mode that resets the tamper indicator only after intervention from the authorized person.

20. A monitoring system, the monitoring system comprising:

a central monitoring system, wherein the central monitoring system is operable to;

receive a tamper indicator from a remote monitoring device via a communication link, wherein the remote monitoring device includes;

at least a first tamper reset circuit configured to reset the tamper indicator based upon a first reset condition, a second tamper reset circuit configured to reset the tamper indicator based upon a second reset condition, and a controller circuit operable to select one of the first tamper reset circuit or the second tamper reset circuit to govern a reset of the tamper indicator; and

send a command to the remote monitoring device via the communication link based at least in part on the tamper indicator; and

wherein the command is operable to cause the controller circuit in the remote monitoring device to select the second tamper reset circuit.

21. The monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the first tamper reset circuit is an auto tamper reset circuit that resets the tamper indicator without intervention from an authorized person;

and wherein the second tamper reset circuit is a manual tamper reset circuit that resets the tamper indicator only after intervention from the authorized person.

22. The monitoring system of claim 21, wherein the manual tamper reset circuit is a remote manual tamper reset circuit that resets the tamper indicator only after the authorized person logs in remotely and approves the reset.

23. The monitoring system of claim 21, wherein the manual tamper reset circuit is a local manual tamper reset circuit that resets the tamper indicator only after a specialized tool is used in proximity to the monitoring device.

24. The monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the monitoring system further includes the remote monitoring device.