Guard tour system incorporating a positioning system

• US 20030040888A1
• Filed: 10/24/2002
• Published: 02/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Timekeeping Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Timekeeping Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Chriss, Dean, Markwitz, Barry J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,027,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/187
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/20 Checking timed patrols, e.g. of watchman

Abstract

A guard tour system comprising a computer running a computer program that enables a variety of electronic hardware components to function as the guard tour system. It is contemplated that the computer program be multi-user and/or network compatible. The electronic hardware includes one or more touch button readers, or one or more positioning system receivers (such as a global or local positioning system receiver), or both; one or more downloaders for use with the touch button readers and global positioning system receivers; and optionally a plurality of touch memory buttons located along a guard tour. Each touch memory button includes preprogrammed information specific to its particular location. As a guard or night watchman progresses through the guard tour he or she either obtains a global positioning system location reading manually or automatically or reads the information stored within each touch memory button or both, using a hand-held, battery operated reader. The Global Positioning System allows for collection of various guard positioning information.

Claims

1. A computerized method of monitoring and evaluating guard patrols of one or more sites, comprising the steps of:

defining at least one checkpoint to identify at least one location to be patrolled;

defining at least one patrol record to structure information related to the at least one location to be patrolled;

providing a positioning system to generate location data to be included at least as part of the information;

detecting the information obtained from at least one location to be patrolled;

storing the information within the at least one patrol record; and

using the information to monitor the guard patrol.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the patrol record defining step comprises programming a computer with information describing records including at least position information.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the location data is stored within the at least one patrol record is displayed in a graphical form to show the route of a guard patrol.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the positioning system comprises a global positioning system receiver.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the positioning system comprises a cellular transmission system.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the positioning system is adapted to be configured within a downloader device.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the positioning system is adapted to be configured within a reader device.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the positioning system comprises a local area positioning system.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein the reader device is carried by a guard on a guard patrol, and provides information selected from the group consisting of guard location information, guard tour information, guard route information or combinations thereof.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the positioning system is mounted in a vehicle used on a guard patrol, and provides information selected from the group consisting of vehicle position location information, vehicle path, vehicle speed, vehicle route information or combinations thereof.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the positioning system provides location data selected from the group consisting of continuous position information, position information acquired at predetermined time or distance intervals, on demand position information and combinations thereof.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the location data is analyzed with reference to a set of predetermined rules.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein violation of a rule causes an exception condition to be generated.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the rules are selected from a group consisting of minimum/maximum time from previous location, maximum permitted deviation from a prescribed route, maximum time for stops, maximum speed limit and combinations thereof.

15. A data processing system for monitoring and evaluating guard patrols of one or more sites comprising:

a central computing device;

a device for gathering information obtained from one or more checkpoints during a guard patrol of one or more sites, the device comprising a positioning system for generating location data relating to the device;

a system for downloading the information into the central computing device.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the positioning system comprises means for automatically generating location data at periodic intervals.

17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the device comprises a reader having a memory device in which the information is stored, and a downloader having a reader port that detects placement of the reader within the reader port, wherein the downloader identifies the specific type of reader detected and the downloader implements the proper communication protocol for the specific type of reader to download the information to the central computing device.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the positioning system is selected from the group consisting of a global positioning system receiver, a cellular communication network, a local positioning system and combinations thereof.

19. The system according to claim 15, wherein the positioning system is adapted to be configured within the downloader.

20. The system according to claim 15, wherein the positioning system is adapted to be configured within the reader.

21. The system according to claim 17, wherein said downloader is coupled to said central computing device by a communication means selected from the group consisting of electrical cables, telephone lines, infrared transmission, cellular transmission, the Internet, radio frequency transmission and satellite transmission.

22. A computer program product for use with a data processing system for monitoring and evaluating guard patrols of one or more sites, said computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in a said medium for gathering information from at least a positioning system during a guard patrol of one or more sites;

the computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied in said medium to selectively download the information into said data processing system.

23. The computer program product according to claim 22, wherein the positioning system is selected from the group consisting of a global positioning system receiver, a cellular communication network, a local positioning system and combinations thereof.

24. The computer program product according to claim 22, further comprising computer readable program code means for defining at least one patrol record on a computer readable medium to structure information from at least said positioning system related to said guard patrol.

25. The computer program product according to claim 22, wherein said patrol detail record is comprised of information selected from the group consisting of officer records, incident records, location records, clients, facilities, groups, locations, times at locations, routes, vehicle position, vehicle speed and combinations thereof.

26. The computer program product according to claim 22 further comprising computer readable program code means for displaying said at least one patrol record and at least a map showing the route of said guard patrol.

27. A method of applying rules for performing a guard patrol of one or more sites, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) acquiring location information relating to the location of at least one guard patrol;

(b) defining rules relating to performing a guard patrol, and

(c) analyzing data from a guard patrol of a site based upon the location information acquired to determine compliance with said rules.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein said rules are selected from the group consisting of the minimum time from a previous location, maximum time from a previous location, maximum permitted deviation from a prescribed route, maximum time for stops, maximum speed limit, and combinations thereof.

29. The method according to claim 27, further including the step of determining at least one time range during which said rule is effective.

30. The method according to claim 27, further including the step of reporting an exception anytime a defined rule is violated.