APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR SAFELY AND SECURELY STORING MATERIALS

• US 20090273472A1
• Filed: 04/30/2008
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Ernst, Larry M., Mitchell, Joan L., Brooks, Bradford O.
• Granted Patent: US 7,978,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00912 for safes, strong-rooms, vaults or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/10 by pressure on floors, floor coverings, stair treads, counters, or tills
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19697 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 323/904 Touch systems

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for safely and securely storing materials. A plurality of smart tiles sense traffic and generate traffic data. A network transmits the traffic data from the smart tiles. A computer determines a plurality of normal traffic patterns from the traffic data. In addition, the computer detects an abnormal traffic pattern from the traffic data. The computer activates a security response in response to the abnormal traffic pattern.

Claims

1. An apparatus for security and safety, the apparatus comprising:

a security module configured to provide a security response;

a plurality of smart tiles configured to sense traffic and generate traffic data;

a network in communication with the smart tiles and a computer and configured to transmit the traffic data from the smart tiles to the computer; and

the computer configured to determine a plurality of normal traffic patterns from the traffic data, detect an abnormal traffic pattern from the traffic data, and activate the security response in response to the abnormal traffic pattern.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the smart tile comprises a sensing device in communication with a smart tile surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the smart tile comprises a strain gauge in communication with a polymer surface.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the smart tile comprises a strain gauge grid in communication with a carpet.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the traffic data comprises data sets each with a position, a rate, and a time.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the data sets each further comprise a weight and an impact.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network is configured as a wireless network and each smart tile further comprises a wireless transmitter.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the network is a wired network and the smart tiles further comprise interconnections.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer employs fractal-based pattern analysis to determine the traffic patterns.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the security module comprises a lock that denies access for the security response.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the security module further comprises an alarm module configured to communicate an alarm message for the security response.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the security module comprises a camera that captures an area of the abnormal traffic for the security response.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to detect a prone individual from the traffic data.

14. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having a computer readable program stored on a tangible storage device, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to:

generate traffic data from a plurality of smart tiles configured to sense traffic;

transmit the traffic data from the smart tiles;

determine a plurality of normal traffic patterns from the traffic data;

detect an abnormal traffic pattern from the traffic data; and

activate a security response in response to the abnormal traffic pattern.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the traffic data comprises data sets of positions, rates, and times.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the data sets each further comprise a weight and an impact.

17. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the computer readable program is further configured to employ fractal-based pattern analysis to determine the traffic patterns.

18. A system for security and safety, the system comprising:

a storage volume;

a security module comprising a lock disposed on the storage volume and configured to provide a security response of locking the storage volume;

a plurality of smart tiles each comprising a strain gauge in communication with a polymer surface and configured to sense traffic and generate traffic data, the traffic data comprising data sets each with a position, a rate, and a time;

a network in communication with the smart tiles and a computer and configured to transmit the traffic data from the smart tiles to the computer; and

the computer configured to determine a plurality of normal traffic patterns from the traffic data, detect an abnormal traffic pattern from the traffic data, and activate the security response in response to the abnormal traffic pattern.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the network is configured as a wireless network and each smart tile further comprises a wireless transmitter.

20. A method for deploying computer infrastructure, comprising integrating a computer readable program stored on a tangible storage device into a computing system, wherein the program in combination with the computing system is capable of:

generating traffic data from a plurality of smart tiles configured to sense traffic, the traffic data comprising sets each with a position, a rate, a time, a weight, and an impact;

transmitting the traffic data from the smart tiles over a wireless network;

determining a plurality of normal traffic patterns from the traffic data using fractal-based pattern analysis;

detecting an abnormal traffic pattern from the traffic data; and

activating a security response at a security module in response to the abnormal traffic pattern.