Perimeter Monitoring Techniques

• US 20080094212A1
• Filed: 11/29/2007
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Vehicular Sciences LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Intelligent Technologies International, Inc.
• Inventors: Breed, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,961,094 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1663 using seismic sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2491 Intrusion detection systems, i.e. where the body of an intruder causes the interference with the electromagnetic field

Abstract

Method for monitoring borders or peripheries of installations includes arranging sensors periodically along the border at least partially in the ground, the sensors being sensitive to vibrations, infrared radiation, sound or other disturbances, programming the sensors to wake-up upon detection of a predetermined condition and receive a signal, analyzing the signal and transmitting a signal indicative of the analysis with an identification or location of the sensors. The sensors may include a processor embodying a pattern recognition system trained to recognize characteristic signals indicating the passing of a person or vehicle.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a border, which may be a periphery of an installation, comprising:

arranging sensors along the border;

obtaining data about the border via the sensors;

analyzing the data to determine the presence of a reportable condition relating to passage of an object proximate or over the border; and

transmitting the data or a signal indicative of the analysis, optionally with an identification or location of the sensors, to a monitoring facility.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the sensors with a processor embodying a pattern recognition system trained to recognize characteristic signals indicating the passing of a person or vehicle.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensors are spaced apart from one another along the border.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising programming the sensors to wake-up upon detection of a predetermined condition in order to obtain data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein each sensor is arranged to determine its location and provide its location when transmitting data or the signal to the monitoring facility.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising arranging the sensors in the ground along the border.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

coupling the sensors to the processor unit apart from the sensors; and

providing the data obtained by the sensors to the processor unit, the data being transmitted to the monitoring facility and analyzed by the processor unit.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein only a signal indicative of a reportable condition is transmitted to the monitoring facility.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising regulating the time at which the sensors obtain data.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting the presence of one of a number of predetermined conditions which require monitoring of the coastline; and

only when one of the predetermined conditions is detected, directing the sensors to obtain data.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising commanding the sensors to obtain data upon reception of a signal from the monitoring facility.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the sensors is a vibration sensor.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the analysis of the data comprises inputting the data into a pattern recognition system trained to recognize reportable conditions.

14. A system of monitoring borders, comprising

a plurality of sensors arranged along the border;

analysis means coupled to said sensors for analyzing the data to determine the passage of an object proximate or over the border; and

communication means for transmitting the data or a signal indicative of the analysis, optionally with an identification or location of said sensors, to a monitoring facility.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said analysis means comprise a processor unit coupled to said sensors, said communication means being arranged in said processor unit and to transmit a signal indicative of the analysis to the monitoring facility via satellite or the Internet.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said communication means are arranged to transmit only a signal indicative of a reportable condition to the monitoring facility.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein each of said sensors is arranged to wake-up upon detecting one of a predetermined number of conditions which require monitoring of the border and only then obtaining data.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein said communication means are arranged to receive commands from the monitoring facility and direct said sensors to obtain data upon reception of the commands.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein at least one of said sensors is a vibration sensor.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein said analysis means comprises a pattern recognition system trained to recognize the passage of people or a vehicle along the border.