CAMPUS SAFETY SYSTEM

• US 20150310727A1
• Filed: 04/23/2015
• Published: 10/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2014
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• Original Assignee: Worcester Polytechnic Institute
• Inventors: Beaulieu, James A. Jr., Bonina, Natasha, Lewis, Lauren E., Thinzar, Phyo
• Application Number:
  US14/694,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20150310727A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

A personal protection device carried or worn by a user has a simple actuator button and transmitter operable within a mesh network covering a monitored environment such as a college campus or industrial park transmits an exigent assistance call to a first responder such as security or DPS (Department of Public Safety) personnel for urgent response. The system for deploying and monitoring the personal protection devices distributes or otherwise transfers possession of an actuator device to a user, such that the actuator device is adapted for wearing or disposing on the user in anticipation of a sudden exigent situation. A distribution repository associates the actuator device with the user, in which the association is temporary for subsequent association with a second user to provide efficient reuse as devices are exchanged or no longer needed.

Claims

1. A personal protection device, comprising:

an actuator device having an actuator and adapted to be carried or worn by a user, the actuator adapted for unhindered accessibility for requesting assistance in exigent situations;

a registration identifier in the actuator device, the registration identifier based on a temporary assignment of the actuator device to the user, the registration identifier operable for subsequent association with a second user following the temporary assignment; and

an actuator node responsive to the actuator disposed on the actuator device, the actuator node having a network interface;

the network interface configured to transmit an actuation signal over a network based on the actuator, the network coupled to at least one relay node, the relay node configured for receiving the actuator signal indicative of an identity of the user and a location of the user, and forwarding the actuator signal to a responsive entity for exigent response.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the actuator has an RF interface coupled to a mesh network, the relay node further comprising a plurality of relay nodes coupled via the mesh network to a coordinator node, each relay node responsive to the actuator signal.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the actuator device is adapted to associate a second user with the actuator device based on the first user relinquishing possession and the actuator receiving a registration identifier corresponding to the second user.

4. The device of claim 1 further comprising a registration interface in the actuator device, the registration interface responsive to a change in possession of the actuator device and upon the change in possession, responsive to an identity of the user for associating the user with the actuator device.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein the actuator device is adapted to receive the registration identifier of the user from an exchange of a unique user credential.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the unique user credential is at least one of an RFID (Radio Frequency ID), magnetic strip or optically scanned symbol.

7. The device of claim 4 wherein the registration interface further comprises a device repository accessible to a plurality of users, the device repository responsive to an identity of the user for transferring possession to the user for temporary association with the user in anticipation of an exigent situation risk.

8. In a monitored environment, a method of transmitting an exigent assistance call to a first responder, comprising:

transferring possession of an actuator device to a user, the actuator device adapted for wearing or disposing on the user in anticipation of a sudden exigent situation;

associating the actuator device with the user, the association being temporary for subsequent association with a second user;

receiving an actuation of the actuation device from a user experiencing an exigent situation;

transmitting a wireless signal from the actuator device indicative of the exigent situation;

forwarding the wireless signal to a coordinator node, the coordinator node configured for alerting a first responder of the exigent situation, the identity of the user, and a location of the user.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising transmitting, in response to the received actuation, an actuator signal including an indication of the identity of the user and the location of the user to a relay node in a mesh network, the mesh network providing coverage of the monitored environment for transport of actuation signals from a plurality of deployed actuation devices to the coordinator node.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising

receiving the actuator signal including an identifier of the actuator device and a location of the user;

mapping the identifier of the actuator device to the associated user;

invoking a location service to determine a current position of the user in the monitored environment; and

rendering the identity of the user and the current position within the monitored environment to a first responder.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein associating the actuator device with the user further comprises:

receiving a unique user credential at a device repository, the device repository maintaining possession of the actuator device;

associating an indication of the identity of the user with an identifier of the actuation device; and

transferring possession of the actuator device from the device repository to the user based on the association.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising associating a second user with the actuator device based on the first user relinquishing possession and the actuator receiving a registration identifier corresponding to the second user.

13. The method of claim 8 further comprising

associating a user ID corresponding to the user with an identifier of the actuator device,

transporting the association via a wired network to a server, and

storing the association in a server table responsive to the coordinator node for subsequent retrieval in response to the received actuator signal.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

determining the user ID from an exchange of a unique user credential stored on a token of the user for denoting the user as a member of the monitored environment.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising dispensing the actuator devices to a plurality of users in the monitored environment, dispensing performed by an automated exchange of the unique user credential associated with each user at a device repository generally accessible in the monitored environment.

16. A system for providing a call device for exigent situation response, comprising:

a plurality of relay nodes defining a mesh network substantially covering a monitored environment;

a plurality of actuator devices defining an actuator node in the mesh network, the actuator device having an actuator and adapted to be carried or worn by a user, the actuator adapted for unhindered accessibility for requesting assistance in exigent situations;

a coordinator node coupled to the mesh network for receiving an actuator signal over the mesh network based on the actuator on an actuator device of the plurality of actuator devices, the relay node configured for receiving the actuator signal indicative of an identity of the user and a location of the user, and forwarding the actuator signal to a responsive entity for exigent response.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the coordinator node is operable to redeploy the actuator device in conjunction with a second user upon relinquishing of possession of the first user and exchange of a unique user credential corresponding to the second user.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the actuator device has an RF interface coupled to a mesh network, the relay node further comprising a plurality of relay nodes coupled via the mesh network to a coordinator node, each relay node responsive to the actuator signal.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising a registration interface in the actuator device, the registration interface responsive to a change in possession of the actuator device and upon the change in possession, responsive to an identity of the user for associating the user with the actuator device.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the registration interface further comprises a device repository accessible to a plurality of users, the device repository responsive to an identity of the user for transferring possession to the user for temporary association with the user in anticipation of an exigent situation risk.