Event indicator system

• US 10,679,480 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2018
• Issued: 06/09/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul L. Eckert
• Original Assignee: Paul L. Eckert
• Inventors: Eckert, Paul L., Hisey, Christopher B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Zhen Y
• Application Number:
  US16/206,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20190295397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 340541
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1672 using sonic detecting means, e.g. a microphone operating in the audio frequency range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/00 Identifying, scaring or incapacitating burglars, thieves or intruders, e.g. by explosives
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/08 Actuation involving the use of explosive means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/188 Data fusion; cooperative systems, e.g. voting among different detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/062 indicating emergency exits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/066 guiding along a path, e.g. evacuation path lighting strip

Abstract

A system is configured to assist occupants of a building in response to an active shooter situation. A plurality of sensor units are arranged in the building to detect a gunshot and generate a signal indicative of the gunshot. A processing system determines an approximate location of the gunshot based on the signal and determines safe areas and unsafe areas in the building based on the approximate location of the gunshot. A plurality of output devices are in the building and in communication with the processing system. The output devices indicate an evacuation path within the safe areas with a first graphic and indicate the unsafe areas with a second graphic that is different from the first graphic. An indicator is arranged in a room and generates a lock down indication to notify occupants to stay in the room in response to the processing system receiving the signal.

Claims

1. A system configured to assist occupants of a venue having a plurality of hallways, in response to an active shooter situation, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensor units configured to be arranged in the hallways to detect a first gunshot and a plurality of subsequent gunshots and respectively generate a first signal and a plurality of subsequent signals, each of the signals respectively indicative of the first gunshot and each of the plurality of subsequent gunshots within the hallways;

a processing system in communication with the plurality of sensors to receive the signals, wherein the processing system is configured to determine which hallways are safe hallways and which hallways are unsafe hallways in the venue based on the first signal received by the processing system;

a plurality of output devices in communication with the processing system and configured to be arranged in the hallways, each of the output devices configured to project a first graphic onto a surface of one of the safe hallways to indicate an evacuation path within the safe hallways and configured to project a second graphic onto a surface of one of the unsafe hallways to indicate the unsafe hallways, the second graphic being different from the first graphic; and

an indicator configured to be arranged in a room of the venue and configured to generate a lock down indication to notify occupants to stay in the room in response to the processing system receiving the signal,

wherein the processing system is configured to, in real time, update the determination of which hallways are safe hallways and which hallways are unsafe hallways in response to each of the subsequent signals received from the sensor units,

wherein the plurality of output devices are configured to update, in real time, their respective projections of the first graphic or the second graphic based on the updated determination of which hallways are safe hallways and which hallways are unsafe hallways, and

wherein the sensor units include a smartphone having an application, the application configured to allow the smartphone to detect the first and subsequent gunshots and communicate the first and subsequent signals to the processing system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator is further configured to generate an exit indication for the occupants to exit the room, the exit indication being different than the lock down indication.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an input control configured to be arranged in the room of the venue, the input control configured to be activatable by an occupant in the room to indicate that the room is secured.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising an interface configured to be arranged in the room of the venue, and wherein the input control and indicator are arranged on the interface.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein in response to the input control being activated, the processing system is configured to notify a responder that the room is secure.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor units are configured to detect at least one of a high decibel audible boom sound, a muzzle flash, or gunpowder smoke.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the venue is one of a building, a concert venue, or a sports arena.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the output devices include light projecting components that are mounted on a first surface and are configured to project light onto a second surface that is different than the first surface.

9. The system of claim 2, wherein the lock down indication is a first color light and the exit indication is a second color light that is different from the first color light.

10. A system configured to assist occupants of a building having a plurality of hallways, in response to an active shooter situation, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensor units configured to be arranged in the hallways to detect a first gunshot and a plurality of subsequent gunshots and respectively generate a first signal and a plurality of subsequent signals, each of the signals respectively indicative of the first gunshot and each of the plurality of subsequent gunshots within the hallways;

a processing system in communication with the plurality of sensors to receive the signals, wherein the processing system is configured to determine which hallways are safe hallways and which hallways are unsafe hallways in the building based on the first signal received by the processing system; and

a plurality of output devices in communication with the processing system and configured to be arranged in the hallways, each of the output devices configured to project a first graphic onto a surface of one of the safe hallways to indicate an evacuation path within the safe hallways and configured to project a second graphic onto a surface of one of the unsafe hallways to indicate the unsafe hallways, the second graphic being different from the first graphic,

wherein the processing system is configured to, in real time, update the determination of which hallways are safe hallways and which hallways are unsafe hallways in response to each of the subsequent signals received from the sensor units,

wherein the plurality of output devices are configured to update, in real time, their respective projections of the first graphic or the second graphic based on the updated determination of which hallways are safe hallways and which hallways are unsafe hallways, and

wherein at least one of the output devices is configured to project the first graphic down a first hallway and configured to project the second graphic down a second hallway that is perpendicular to the first hallway.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein each of the plurality of sensor units is arranged within one of the plurality of output units.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the at least one of the output devices includes a T-housing.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein one or more of the output devices are mounted on a ceiling of one of the hallways.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein one or more of the output devices are mounted on a first wall of the first hallway of the plurality of hallways.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more output devices mounted on the first wall project the first or second graphic onto a floor of the first hallway.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more output devices mounted on the first wall project the first or second graphic onto a second wall of the first hallway, the second wall being different from the first wall.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the first graphic is a moving green arrow and the second graphic is a red X.

18. A system configured to assist occupants of a building having a plurality of hallways, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensor units configured to be arranged in the hallways to detect a type of emergency situation from a predetermined list of emergency situations, each of the plurality of sensor units configured to generate a signal indicative of which emergency situation has been detected and a severity of that detected emergency situation;

a processing system in communication with the plurality of sensors to receive the signal, wherein in response to receiving the signal, the processing system is configured to determine which emergency situation has been detected out of the predetermined list of emergency situations, and the severity of that detected emergency situation; and

a plurality of output devices in communication with the processing system and configured to be arranged in the hallways, each of the output devices configured to project a graphic onto a surface of one of the hallways,

wherein the projected graphic is different depending on which emergency situation the processing system has determined is occurring, and the severity of that detected emergency situation.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the predetermined list of emergency situations includes a fire event, an active shooter event, and a bomb threat event.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the predetermined list of emergency situations further includes a chemical event, a carbon monoxide event, a hazmat event, a tornado event, a flood event, and a chemical event.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the plurality of sensor units are configured to detect a first gunshot and a plurality of subsequent gunshots and respectively generate a first gunshot signal and a plurality of subsequent gunshot signals, each of the gunshot signals respectively indicative of the first gunshot and each of plurality of subsequent gunshots within the hallways,

wherein the processing system is configured to determine which hallways are safe hallways and which hallways are unsafe hallways in the building based on the first gunshot signal received by the processing system, and

wherein each of the output devices are configured to project a green arrow onto a surface of one of the safe hallways to indicate an evacuation path within the safe hallways and configured to project a red X onto a surface of one of the unsafe hallways to indicate the unsafe hallways.

22. The system of claim 21, the processing system is configured to, in real time, update the determination of which hallways are safe hallways and which hallways are unsafe hallways in response to each of the subsequent gunshot signals received from the sensor units, and

wherein the plurality of output devices are configured to update, in real time, their respective projections of the green arrow or the red X based on the updated determination of which hallways are safe hallways and which hallways are unsafe hallways.

23. A system configured to detect a gunshot, the system comprising:

an application on a smartphone configured to allow the smartphone to detect a gunshot and generate a signal indicative of the gunshot, the signal being a GPS signal indicating an approximate location of the smartphone; and

a processing system in communication with the application to receive the signal, wherein the processing system is configured to determine an approximate location of the gunshot based on the signal,

wherein the processing system is part of an event indicator system arranged in a building, and wherein if the smartphone is in the building and a gunshot is fired proximate the smartphone, the processing system is configured to determine an approximate location of the gunshot within the building based on the signal,

wherein if the smartphone is outside of the building and a gunshot is fired proximate the smartphone, the processing system is configured to determine an approximate location of the gunshot and send a notification indicative of the approximate location to a local law enforcement group,

wherein the building has a plurality of hallways, and the processing system is configured to determine which hallways are safe hallways and which hallways are unsafe hallways in the building based on the determination of the approximate location of the gunshot, and

wherein the event indicator system includes a plurality of output devices in communication with the processing system and configured to be arranged in the building, each of the output devices configured to project a first graphic onto a surface of one of the safe hallways to indicate an evacuation path within the safe hallways and configured to project a second graphic onto a surface of one of the unsafe hallways to indicate the unsafe hallways, the second graphic being different from the first graphic.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the processing system is configured to, in real time, update the determination of which hallways are safe hallways and which hallways are unsafe hallways in response to each gunshot detected by the smartphone, and

wherein the plurality of output devices are configured to update, in real time, their projections with the first graphic or the second graphic based on the updated determination of which hallways are safe hallways and which hallways are unsafe hallways.