Automatic detection and monitoring of perimeter physical movement

• US 6,816,073 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2002
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation (Northrop Grumman Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
• Inventors: Solina, Rodney Max, Vaccaro, Dennis David
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stone, Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US10/241,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20040046661A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 340/564, 340/541, 340/557, 116/5, 116/6, 116/7
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 17/04 Systems determining the presence of a target
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/124 with the breaking or disturbance being optically detected, e.g. optical fibers in the perimeter fence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/16 Actuation by interference with mechanical vibrations in air or other fluid
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/187 by interference of a radiation field
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19 using infrared-radiation detection systems G08B13/194 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19641 Multiple cameras having overlapping views on a single scene
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19652 Systems using zones in a single scene defined for different treatment, e.g. outer zone gives pre-alarm, inner zone gives alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19695 Arrangements wherein non-video detectors start video recording or forwarding but do not generate an alarm themselves
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2494 by interference with electro-magnetic field distribution combined with other electrical sensor means, e.g. microwave detectors combined with other sensor means

Abstract

Apparatus in one example comprises first and second fence posts that cooperate to represent a subportion of a perimeter to be secured. The first fence post comprises a first motion sensor and a first laser sensor. The second fence post comprises a second motion sensor and a second laser sensor. Upon physical movement in a region outside the subportion of the perimeter, one or more of the first and second motion sensors serve to automatically perform a detection of the physical movement in the region outside the subportion of the perimeter. Upon the detection of the physical movement in the region outside the subportion of the perimeter the one or more of the first and second motion sensors serve to automatically cause the first and second laser sensors to monitor for physical movement at the subportion of the perimeter.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a first fence post that comprises a first motion sensor and a first laser sensor; and

a second fence post that comprises a second motion sensor and a second laser sensor;

wherein the first and second fence posts cooperate to represent a subportion of a perimeter to be secured;

wherein the first and the second laser sensors are inactive until a detection of physical movement by one or more of the first and second motion sensors;

wherein upon physical movement in a region outside the subportion of the perimeter to be secured the one or more of the first and second motion sensors servo to automatically perform a detection of the physical movement in the region outside the subportion of the perimeter to be secured;

wherein upon the detection of the physical movement in the region outside the subportion of the perimeter to be secured the one or more of the first and second motion sensors serve to automatically activate the first and second laser sensors and cause the first and second laser sensors to monitor for physical movement at the subportion of the perimeter to be secured.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second fence posts comprise respective first and second processors;

wherein upon the physical movement in the region outside the subportion of the perimeter to be secured the first motion sensor automatically communicates an alert signal to the first processor, wherein the first processor in response to the alert signal from the first motion sensor automatically causes activation of the first laser sensor to monitor for the physical movement at the subportion of the perimeter to be secured.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first processor in response to the alert signal from the first motion sensor automatically communicates an alert signal to the second processor;

wherein the second processor in response to the alert signal from the first processor automatically causes activation of the second laser sensor to monitor for the physical movement at the subportion of the perimeter to be secured.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein upon a determination by the first processor of security at the subportion of the perimeter to be secured and/or in the region outside the subportion of the perimeter to be secured the first processor automatically causes deactivation of the first laser sensor from monitoring for the physical movement at the subportion of the perimeter to be secured.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein upon a determination by the first processor of security at the subportion of the perimeter to be secured and/or in the region outside the subportion of the perimeter to be secured the first processor automatically communicates a security determination signal to the second processor.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein upon a detection by the first laser sensor of the physical movement at the subportion of the perimeter to be secured the first laser sensor automatically communicates an alert signal to the first processor, wherein the first processor in response to the alert signal from the first laser sensor automatically communicates an alert signal to a central command center.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more cameras located within the perimeter to be secured, at least one camera of the one or more cameras directable toward the subportion of the perimeter to be secured;

wherein upon the physical movement in the region outside the subportion of the perimeter to be secured the first motion sensor automatically causes activation of one or more of the at least one camera of the one or more cameras directable toward the subportion of the perimeter to be secured.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein upon the activation by the first motion sensor the one or more of the at least one camera of the one or more cameras serves to allow one or more human operators to remotely and visually monitor any one or more of the physical movement in the region outside the subportion of the perimeter to be secured and the physical movement at the subportion of the perimeter to be secured.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a central command center, wherein at least one of the one or more human operators is located at the central command center;

wherein upon a detection by the first laser sensor of the physical movement at the subportion of the perimeter to be secured the first laser sensor automatically causes communication of an alert signal to the central command center.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein upon the physical movement in the region outside the subportion of the perimeter to be secured the first motion sensor automatically causes the one or more of the at least one camera of the one or more cameras to be directed toward the subportion of the perimeter to be secured and automatically causes the activation of the one or more of the at least one camera of the one or more cameras.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a distributed network that comprises at least one processor located at a command center and a plurality of processors located about the perimeter to be secured, wherein a subset of the plurality of processors comprise first and second processors located in the first and second fence posts, respectively;

wherein upon the physical movement in the region outside the subportion of the perimeter to be secured the first motion sensor automatically performs the detection of the physical movement in the region outside the subportion of the perimeter to be secured and automatically communicates an alert signal to the first processor, wherein the first processor in response to the alert signal from the first motion sensor automatically causes communication of an alert signal among the plurality of processors.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 in combination with a plurality of laser sensors that are distributed about the perimeter to allow continuous and complete coverage of the perimeter to be secured, wherein any one or more of the plurality of laser sensors are contemporaneously activatable, wherein a subset of the any one or more of the plurality of laser sensors are located near the subportion of the perimeter to be secured, wherein the subset of the any one or more of the plurality of laser sensors comprise the first and second laser sensors;

wherein automatic communication among the plurality of processors in response to the alert signal from the first processor automatically causes activation of at least a majority of the subset of the any one or more of the plurality of laser sensors.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein automatic communication among the plurality of processors in response to the alert signal from the first processor automatically causes activation of all the subset of the any one or more of the plurality of laser sensors.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a determination, by one or more of the plurality of processors, of security at the subportion of the perimeter and/or in the region outside the subportion of the perimeter automatically causes deactivation of the at least the majority of the subset of the any one or more of the plurality of laser sensors.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein a determination, by one or more of a human operator and one or more of the plurality of processors, of security at the subportion of the perimeter to be secured and/or in the region outside the subportion of the perimeter to be secured causes deactivation of the at least the majority of the subset of the any one or more of the plurality of laser sensors.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the physical movement in the region outside the subportion of the perimeter to be secured comprises first physical movement in the region outside the subportion of the perimeter to be secured, wherein the physical movement at the subportion of the perimeter to be secured comprises first physical movement at the subportion of the perimeter to be secured;

wherein upon second physical movement in the region outside the subportion of the perimeter to be secured one or more of the first and second motion sensors serve to automatically perform a detection of the second physical movement in the region outside the subportion of the perimeter to be secured;

wherein upon the detection of the second physical movement in the region outside the subportion of the perimeter to be secured the one or more of the first and second motion sensors serve to automatically cause the first and second laser sensors to monitor for second physical movement at the subportion of the perimeter to be secured.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the subportion of the perimeter to be secured comprises a first subportion of the perimeter to be secured, wherein the first fence post comprises a third laser sensor, the apparatus further comprising:

a third fence post that comprises a third motion sensor and a fourth laser sensor;

wherein the first and third fence posts cooperate to represent a second subportion of the perimeter to be secured;

wherein upon physical movement in a region outside the second subportion of the perimeter to be secured one or more of the first and third motion sensors serve to automatically perform a detection of the physical movement in the region outside the second subportion of the perimeter to be secured;

wherein upon the detection of the physical movement in the region outside the second subportion of the perimeter to be secured the one or more of the first and third motion sensors serve to automatically cause the third and fourth laser sensors to monitor for physical movement at the second subportion of the perimeter to be secured.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, upon the physical movement in the region outside the subportion of the perimeter to be secured, the first and second motion sensors send an initial warning of a potential intruder to the first and second laser sensors before the potential intruder crosses into the perimeter to be secured;

wherein the first and second laser sensors activate upon receipt of the initial warning of the potential intruder to monitor for physical movement at the subportion of the perimeter to be secured.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the region outside the subportion of the perimeter to be secured comprises a region that extends a few hundred meters outward from the subportion of the perimeter to be secured.

23. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the first processor in response to the alert signal from the first motion sensor automatically causes communication of the alert signal among the plurality of processors and one or more of the at least one processor.

24. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein automatic communication among the plurality of processors and one or more of the at least one processor in response to the alert signal from the first processor automatically causes the activation of the at least the majority of the subset of the any one or more of the plurality of laser sensors.

25. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein automatic communication among the plurality of processors and one or more of the at least one processor in response to the alert signal from the first processor automatically causes the activation of all the subset of the any one or more of the plurality of laser sensors.

26. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the plurality of processors and one or more of the at least one processor make the determination of security at the subportion of the perimeter and/or in the region outside the subportion of the perimeter.

27. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the one or more of the human operator, the one or more of the plurality of processors, and one or more of the at least one processor make the determination of security at the subportion of the perimeter to be secured and/or in the region outside the subportion of the perimeter to be secured.

18. A method, comprising the steps of:

distributing at least one processor at a command center and a plurality of processors about a perimeter to be secured, wherein a subset of the plurality of processors comprise first and second processors located in respective first and second fence posts that represent a subportion of the perimeter to be secured, wherein the first and second fence posts comprise respective first and second motion sensors and respective first and second laser sensors;

automatically performing, by the first motion sensor, a detection of physical movement in a region outside the subportion of the perimeter to be secured;

automatically communicating an alert signal from the first motion sensor to the first processor;

automatically causing, by the first processor and in response to the alert signal from the first motion sensor, the first and second laser sensors to change from an inactive state to an active state and monitor for physical movement at the subportion of the perimeter; and

automatically causing, in response to the alert signal from the first motion sensor, an alert signal from the first processor to be communicated among the plurality of processors.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

distributing a plurality of laser sensors about the perimeter to allow continuous and complete coverage of the perimeter to be secured, wherein any one or more of the plurality of laser sensors are contemporaneously activatable, wherein a subset of the any one or more of the plurality of laser sensors are located relatively near the subportion of the perimeter to be secured, wherein the subset of the any one or more of the plurality of laser sensors comprise the first and second laser sensors; and

automatically communicating, in response to the alert signal from the first processor, among the plurality of processors to cause automatic activation of at least a majority of the subset of the any one or mare of the plurality of laser sensors.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of:

distributing a plurality of laser sensors about the perimeter to allow continuous and complete coverage of the perimeter to be secured, wherein any one or more of the plurality of laser sensors are contemporaneously activatable, wherein a subset of the any one or more of the plurality of laser sensors are located relatively near the subportion of the perimeter to be secured, wherein the subset of the any one or more of the plurality of laser sensors comprise the first and second laser sensors; and

automatically communicating, in response to the alert signal from the first processor, among the plurality of processors to cause automatic activation of all the subset of the any one or more of the plurality of laser sensors.

28. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of automatically causing, in response to the alert signal from the first motion sensor, the alert signal from the first processor to be communicated among the plurality of processors comprises the step of:

automatically causing, in response to the alert signal from the first motion sensor, the alert signal from the first processor to be communicated among the plurality of processors and one or more of the at least one processor.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of automatically communicating, in response to the alert signal from the first processor, among the plurality of processors to cause automatic activation of at least a majority of the subset of the any one or more of the plurality of laser sensors comprises the step of:

automatically communicating, in response to the alert signal from the first processor, among the plurality of processors and one or more of the at least one processor to cause automatic activation of the at least the majority of the subset of the any one or more of the plurality of laser sensors.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of automatically communicating, in response to the alert signal from the first processor, among the plurality of processors to cause the automatic activation of all the subset of the any one or more of the plurality of laser sensors comprises the step of:

automatically communicating, in response to the alert signal from the first processor, among the plurality of processors and one or more of the at least one processor to cause automatic activation of all the subset of the any one or more of the plurality of laser sensors.