Response system and method

• US 10,249,177 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2015
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rapid Response System I/P, LLC
• Original Assignee: Rapid Response System I/P, LLC
• Inventors: Powers, III, Benjamin W., Raciti, Peter L., Thompson, Jeffrey T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tang, Son M
• Application Number:
  US15/314,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20170103643A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,392 Days
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2045/0695 Actuation of a lock triggering an alarm system, e.g. an alarm system of a building
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0067 Monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0084 Key or electric means; Emergency release
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 39/00 Locks giving indication of authorised or unauthorised unlocking with key identification means E05B35/001; alarm locks E05B45/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 45/06 Electric alarm locks E05B45/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 65/0075 for safes, strongrooms, vaults, fire-resisting cabinets or the like safes, closures and fastenings therefor E05G
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/00 Safes or strong-rooms for valuables savings boxes A45C1/12; floatable safes B63C7/30; storage containers without attack or fire-retardant features B65D; bank buildings in general, e.g. modular construction or floor plan, E04H1/06; buildings resistant to earthquakes or war action E04H9/00
• CPC Class Codes: E05G 1/02 Details safe hinges E05D7/14
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 3/00 Pistols, e.g. revolvers specially adapted for underwater use F41C9/06; for slaughtering or stunning animals A22B; for shooting bolts into concrete constructions, metal walls or the like B25C
• CPC Class Codes: F41C 7/00 Shoulder-fired smallarms, e.g. rifles, carbines, shotguns specially adapted for underwater use F41C9/06
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 1/02 Armoured or projectile- or missile-resistant garments; Composite protection fabrics F41H5/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 11/00 Defence installations; Defence devices constructional aspects see Section E, e.g. air-raid shelters E04H9/04; protective arrangements for buildings E04B1/92; extinguishing or preventing the spread of fire from, incendiary bombs A62C3/06; dynamic armour F41H5/007; ballistically deployed systems for restraining persons or animals F41H13/0006; electronic countermeasures G01S
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/0012 Electrical discharge weapons, e.g. for stunning
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 9/10 Hand-held or body-worn self-defence devices using repellant gases or chemicals
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/25 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/08 Actuation involving the use of explosive means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/00 Alarms responsive to two or more different undesired or abnormal conditions, e.g. burglary and fire, abnormal temperature and abnormal rate of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/001 Signalling to an emergency team, e.g. firemen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A system and method for responding to a triggering event occurring on a premises includes accessing a vault compartment of a vault located on the premises to retrieve a responder tool kit including a ballistic vest, a portable communication device, and a defense device for use in responding to the triggering event. A controller located in the vault compartment is in communication with a monitoring station located off the premises and a biometric authentication device located external to the vault including a bioscanner such as an iris scanner for collecting biodata to authenticate a person external to the vault as a qualified rapid responder. The controller at the time of authenticating the qualified and authorized rapid responder outputs an alarm signal to the monitoring station, alerting the monitoring station to contact emergency services, and unlocks the vault to provide access to the responder tool kit located in the cage assembly.

Claims

1. A system for a rapid responder to access a response station in response to a triggering event to retrieve a responder tool kit including a weapon, the response station including a vault containing the responder tool kit, the system comprising:

the response station comprising;

the vault, wherein the vault comprises;

a vault compartment defined by an interior surface of the vault;

a vault door attached to the vault;

a vault latching mechanism in communication with an access mechanism;

wherein the vault latching mechanism is selectively actuable by the access mechanism to lock and unlock the vault door;

wherein the vault compartment is accessible when the vault door is unlocked;

wherein the vault compartment is enclosed and not accessible when the vault door is locked;

the response station further comprising;

a portable cage assembly comprising;

a standalone cage structure;

a controller mounted to the standalone cage structure;

wherein biodata of at least one rapid responder is stored on the controller;

wherein the portable cage assembly is adjustable in size and removably positioned in the vault compartment such that the controller is;

physically accessible within the vault compartment; and

in communication with the vault latching mechanism;

a responder tool kit comprising;

a ballistic vest; and

the weapon;

wherein the responder tool kit is positioned within the vault compartment such that the responder tool kit is removable from the vault compartment when the vault door is unlocked;

the response station further comprising;

the access mechanism;

wherein the access mechanism comprises;

an enclosure attached to an exterior surface of the vault;

a biometric authentication device enclosed within the enclosure such that the biometric authentication device is accessed by opening the enclosure;

a token-based authentication device;

wherein the token-based authentication device is located outside the enclosure and is actuable by presentation of an authorized authentication token to open the enclosure;

wherein the authorized authentication token is associated with at least one rapid responder authorized to access the vault compartment;

wherein the biometric authentication device is actuable by biodata of the at least one rapid responder authorized to access the vault compartment; and

wherein actuation of the biometric authentication device by the biodata of the at least one rapid responder actuates the access mechanism to contemporaneously;

actuate the vault latching mechanism to unlock the vault door such that the responder tool kit is removable from the vault compartment by the at least one rapid responder; and

output an alarm signal to at least one of an emergency services provider and a monitoring station.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the access mechanism is in communication with the controller;

wherein the controller, upon receiving biodata inputted to the biometric authentication device, determines whether the biodata inputted to the biometric authentication device matches the biodata of the at least one rapid responder;

wherein the controller, upon determining a match between the biodata inputted to the biometric authentication device and the biodata of the at least one rapid responder, authenticates to the biometric authentication device that the biodata inputted to the biometric authentication device is that of the at least one rapid responder authorized to access the vault compartment; and

wherein, the access mechanism upon receiving authentication from the controller, contemporaneously;

outputs the alarm signal; and

actuates the vault latching mechanism to unlock the vault such that the vault compartment is accessible by the authorized rapid responder.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the biometric authentication device includes an iris scanner;

and

wherein the biodata inputted to the biometric authentication device includes an iris image scanned by the iris scanner.

4. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a communication module having a communication interface for communication with the authorized rapid responder;

wherein the communication module is positioned within the vault compartment; and

wherein the communication module is configured for verbal communication between the authorized rapid responder and at least one of a monitoring station and an emergency services provider.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the monitoring station is in communication with an emergency services provider;

and

wherein the emergency services provider is in communication with the communication module via monitoring station.

6. The system of claim 2, further comprising an intrusion sensor in communication with the controller;

wherein;

the intrusion sensor outputs an intrusion signal to the controller upon detecting an intrusion condition of the vault; and

the controller, in response to the intrusion signal, outputs an intrusion alarm to at least one of an emergency services provider and a monitoring station.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the responder tool kit further includes a portable communication device.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a shot detector located external to the response station;

wherein the shot detector is configured to output a shot detection signal to at least one of an emergency services provider and a monitoring station upon detecting a shot occurring on a premises including the response station.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the weapon is one or more of:

a firearm;

a long gun;

a handgun; and

a stun weapon.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the ballistic vest further includes a real time location pendant to transmit real time location information;

and

wherein the real time location information is disseminated from the real time location pendant to at least one of an emergency services provider and a monitoring station.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the ballistic vest further includes a body camera to transmit video surveillance information;

and

wherein the video surveillance information is disseminated from the body camera to at least one of an emergency services provider and a monitoring station.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the weapon is a defensive spray.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a duress switch positioned with the enclosure;

wherein the duress switch is actuable to output a duress signal to the access mechanism; and

wherein the access mechanism in response to the duress signal disables the vault latching mechanism from unlocking the vault door for at least a predetermined period of time.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the duress switch is actuable to output an alarm signal to at least one of an emergency services provider and a monitoring station.

15. A method for a rapid responder to access a response station in response to a triggering event, the response station including a vault containing a responder tool kit including a weapon, the method comprising:

providing the response station, wherein the response station comprises;

the vault, wherein the vault comprises;

a vault compartment defined by an interior surface of the vault;

a vault door attached to the vault;

a vault latching mechanism in communication with an access mechanism;

wherein the vault latching mechanism is selectively actuable by the access mechanism to lock and unlock the vault door;

wherein the vault compartment is accessible when the vault door is unlocked;

wherein the vault compartment is enclosed and not accessible when the vault door is locked;

the response station further comprising;

a portable cage assembly comprising;

a standalone cage structure;

a controller mounted to the standalone cage structure;

wherein biodata of at least one rapid responder is stored on the controller;

wherein the portable cage assembly is adjustable in size and removably positioned in the vault compartment such that the controller is;

physically accessible within the vault compartment; and

in communication with the vault latching mechanism;

a responder tool kit comprising;

a ballistic vest; and

the weapon;

wherein the responder tool kit is positioned within the standalone cage structure such that the responder tool kit is removable from the portable cage assembly when the vault door is unlocked;

the response station further comprising;

the access mechanism;

wherein the access mechanism comprises;

an enclosure attached to an exterior surface of the vault;

a biometric authentication device enclosed within the enclosure such that the biometric authentication device is accessed by opening the enclosure;

a token-based authentication device;

wherein the token-based authentication device is located outside the enclosure and is actuable by presentation of an authorized authentication token to open the enclosure;

wherein the authorized authentication token is associated with at least one rapid responder authorized to access the vault compartment;

wherein the biometric authentication device is actuable by biodata of the at least one rapid responder authorized to access the vault compartment; and

wherein actuation of the biometric authentication device by the biodata of the at least one rapid responder actuates the access mechanism to contemporaneously;

actuate the vault latching mechanism to unlock the vault door such that the responder tool kit is removable from the vault compartment by the at least one rapid responder; and

output an alarm signal to at least one of an emergency services provider and a monitoring station;

the method further comprising;

presenting an authentication token to the token-based authentication device;

determining, using the access mechanism, whether the authentication token is the authorized authentication token;

opening the enclosure when the authentication token is determined to be the authorized authentication token, such that when the enclosure is opened, the biometric authentication device is accessible;

receiving, using the biometric authentication device, biodata inputted to the biometric device;

determining, using the access mechanism, whether the biodata inputted to the biometric device is the biodata of the at least one rapid responder authorized to access the vault compartment; and

when the biodata inputted to the biometric device is determined to be the biodata of the at least one rapid responder authorized to access the vault compartment, using the access mechanism to contemporaneously;

actuate the vault latching mechanism to unlock the vault door such that the responder tool kit is removable from the vault compartment by the at least one rapid responder; and

output the alarm signal to at least one of an emergency services provider and a monitoring station.

16. The method of claim 15, the method further comprising:

accessing the vault compartment; and

establishing a verbal communication link, via a communication module positioned in the vault compartment, with at least one of an emergency services provider and a monitoring station.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the responder tool kit includes a portable communication device electrically connected to a tool kit charging module located in the vault compartment;

the method further comprising;

disconnecting the portable communication device from a tool kit charging station; and

removing the responder tool kit from vault compartment.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the portable communication device comprises one or more of:

a two-way radio;

a cellular phone;

a real time location pendant; and

a body worn camera.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

sensing, via an inventory sensor, removal of the responder tool kit from the vault compartment; and

activating a beacon located external to the vault and proximate to the vault when removal of the responder tool kit from the vault compartment is sensed by the inventory sensor.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the cage assembly includes a tool kit holder to position the responder tool kit in the vault compartment.

21. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

enrolling the at least one rapid responder in an enrolled user database;

storing the biodata of the at least one rapid responder in the enrolled user database;

evaluating the at least one rapid responder using predetermined criteria at time of enrollment and periodically thereafter; and

designating the at least one rapid responder as one of authorized and unauthorized in the enrolled user database as determined by the predetermined criteria;

providing the biodata of the at least one rapid responder to the access mechanism only when the at least one rapid responder is designated as an authorized rapid responder; and

removing the biodata of the at least one rapid responder from the access mechanism when the at least one rapid responder is designated as an unauthorized rapid responder.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the weapon is one or more of:

a firearm;

a long gun;

a handgun; and

a stun weapon.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the weapon is a defensive spray.

24. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

accessing the responder tool kit in response to the triggering event;

wherein the triggering event is an active shooter event including an active shooter; and

taking action to at least one of deter, impede, disarm and immobilize the active shooter using the responder kit.

25. The method of claim 15 wherein the responder tool kit further comprises a trauma kit, the method further comprising:

accessing the responder tool kit in response to the triggering event;

wherein the triggering event is an active shooter event;

retrieving a trauma kit from the vault; and

taking action to provide emergency medical treatment to a victim of the active shooter event using the trauma kit.

26. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

accessing the responder tool kit in response to the triggering event;

wherein the triggering event is an active shooter event; and

initiating a defensive response to the active shooter event to reduce damage resulting from the active shooter event.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the defensive response is initiated prior to at least one of:

a notification to emergency response services of the triggering event; and

a response by emergency response services to the triggering event.

28. A system for a rapid responder to access a response station in response to a triggering event to retrieve a responder tool kit including a weapon, the response station including a vault containing the responder tool kit, the system comprising:

the response station comprising;

the vault, wherein the vault comprises;

a vault compartment defined by an interior surface of the vault;

a vault door attached to the vault;

a vault latching mechanism;

wherein the vault latching mechanism is selectively actuable by a controller to lock and unlock the vault door;

wherein the vault compartment is accessible when the vault door is unlocked;

wherein the vault compartment is enclosed and not accessible when the vault door is locked;

the response station further comprising;

a portable cage assembly comprising;

a standalone cage structure;

the controller mounted to the standalone cage structure;

wherein biodata of at least one rapid responder is stored on the controller;

a responder tool kit positioned in the standalone cage structure, the responder tool kit comprising;

a ballistic vest; and

the weapon;

wherein the responder tool kit is positioned in the standalone cage structure such that the responder tool kit is removable from the portable cage assembly when the vault door is unlocked;

wherein the portable cage assembly is adjustable in size and removably positioned in the vault compartment such that the controller is;

physically accessible within the vault compartment; and

in communication with the vault latching mechanism;

the response station further comprising;

an access mechanism mounted to an exterior surface of the vault;

wherein the access mechanism is in communication with controller;

wherein the access mechanism includes a first authentication device and a second authentication device;

wherein the second authentication device is a biometric authentication device contained within an enclosure;

wherein authentication of an authorized authentication token presented to the first authentication device is required to access the enclosure containing the second authentication device;

wherein authentication of biodata received by the second authentication device is performed by the controller by comparison of the biodata received by the second authentication device to the biodata of the at least one rapid responder stored on the controller;

wherein the controller upon matching the biodata received by the second authentication device to the biodata of the at least one rapid responder stored on the controller is actuated to contemporaneously;

actuate the vault latching mechanism to unlock the vault door such that the responder tool kit is removable from the cage assembly by the at least one rapid responder; and

output an alarm signal to at least one of an emergency services provider and a monitoring station.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the portable cage assembly further comprises an uninterruptible power supply attached to the standalone cage structures and electrically connected to the controller;

and

wherein the uninterruptible power supply in an installed condition in the vault compartment is electrically connected to a power source which is external to the vault.

30. The system of claim 29, further comprising:

a tool kit charging module attached to the standalone cage structure and electrically connected to the uninterruptible power supply;

a portable communication device; and

wherein the portable communication device is located on the ballistic vest and is electrically connected to the tool kit charging module.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the access mechanism further includes a duress switch located inside the enclosure and is in communication with the controller;

wherein the duress switch is activated by manual input; and

wherein activating the duress switch initiates at least one of;

the controller communicating a duress call to at least one of an emergency services provider and a monitoring station; and

the controller disabling the vault latching mechanism from unlocking the vault door for a minimum period of time.