Systems and Methods for Secure Alarmed Armored Protective Distribution Systems and Management

• US 20140091929A1
• Filed: 10/01/2012
• Published: 04/03/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Network Integrity Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Network Integrity Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Murphy, Cary, Bridges, Mark K., Giovannini, Joseph, Vokey, David E, Thompson, David J, Murphy, Robert J
• Application Number:
  US13/632,728
• Publication Number:
  US 20140091929A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/186 using light guides, e.g. optical fibres

Abstract

A fiber optic network has alarmed fiber optic lines in the cables connecting a secured junction box to plural user lock boxes. An outgoing alarm line and return alarm line in each cable connect the junction box to each user box. The outgoing alarm line is looped to the return alarm line inside the user lock box. The return alarm line is looped to the outgoing alarm line of a different cable inside the junction box to interconnect a plurality of alarm lines passing through a plurality of user boxes. A detector detects an alarm signal in the connected alarm lines to trigger an intrusion alarm.

Claims

1. A protective distribution system with alarmed, interlocking armored fiber optic cables, comprising:

a distribution panel in a secured location, at least a first interlocking armored fiber optic cable connected to the distribution and carrying a fiber optic outgoing alarm line and fiber optic return alarm line to transmit alarm signals, and least one data line that is transmitting data that may be encrypted;

a secured junction box connected to the first fiber optic cable and having a plurality of interlocking armored, outgoing fiber optic cables each connected to the junction box at one end of each cable and connected to a different secured user lock box at the other end of the each cable so as to transmit data through the outgoing fiber optic cables;

at least a selected group of the plurality of outgoing fiber optic cables each having a fiber optic data transfer line transmitting the potentially encrypted data, and in addition the fiber optic outgoing alarm line and fiber optic return alarm line to transmit alarm signals, the selected group containing at least a first cable with a first outgoing alarm line and a first return alarm line and a last cable having a last outgoing alarm line and a last return alarm line;

a mechanism such as a jumper, mechanical or optical splice, or other loopback device in each user lock box that is connected to the selected group of fiber optic cables, the said loopback device looping the outgoing alarm line to the return alarm line contained within the same cable connected to that user lock box so an alarm signal can pass from the outgoing line to the return line;

at least one loopback device in the secured junction box connecting the return alarm line of the first cable within the selected group to the outgoing alarm line of another cable within the selected group to form a continuous fiber optic path of connected alarm lines through the secured user boxes associated with the first cable and said another cable until the last return alarm line is in fiber optic communication with the first outgoing alarm line;

and a detector in communication with the least the return alarm line which is in fiber optic communication with the return alarm line at the distribution panel, the detector configured to detect an alarm signal in the continuous fiber optic path of connected alarm lines.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the secured user lock box contains at least one of an outgoing alarm line and a return alarm line that encircles a substantial portion of the user lock box.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the secured user lock box is connected to a passive optical network.

4. The system of claim 1, further including a further plurality of cables in the selected group of cables which further plurality of cables pass through a wall of the junction box and also pass through a wall of the user lock box, comprising:

at least one connector adhered to each cable in the further plurality of cables and adhered at the location where each cable passes through the wall of the junction box or the wall of the user lock box and connected to the wall at that location, each connector having a hole through which the cable to which the connector is adhered passes, each connector having two spaced apart and parallel flanges on at least two sides of the connector with a portion of each wall or a restraining portion connected to each wall fitting between the flanges of the connector to restrain movement of the connector along a length of the cable at the location of the connector.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the alarm detector and control panel are in a telecommunications room.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the secure junction box and secure user lock box meet all U.S. Air Force AF133-201V8 mandatory requirements for protective distribution systems.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the distribution panel, junction box and all of the secured user lock boxes are on the same floor of a building.