System and method for protecting networked security devices

• US 7,436,297 B1
• Filed: 03/10/2006
• Issued: 10/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Tucker, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US11/372,504
• Time in Patent Office: 949 Days
• Field of Search: 340/545.6, 340/545.1, 340/568.1, 340/539.22, 340/539.26, 340/541, 340/550, 340/506, 340/508, 340/531, 340/533, 726/26, 726/27
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/04 using a single signalling line, e.g. in a closed loop

Abstract

A system for protecting a plurality of networked security devices is disclosed. The system includes a plurality of connectors, a plurality of security containers coupled together by the plurality of connectors, and a plurality of sensors, whereby at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors is disposed in at least one security container of the plurality of security containers, and the plurality of sensors are adapted to detect a threat to each security container of the plurality of security containers. The system also includes a plurality of monitoring devices, whereby each monitoring device of the plurality of monitoring devices is coupled to at least one sensor of the plurality of sensors, and the plurality of monitoring devices are adapted to monitor the plurality of sensors and activate protective measures in response to at least one detected threat.

Claims

1. A networked security device system, comprising:

a plurality of connectors;

a plurality of security containers;

at least one sensor adapted to detect a threat to at least one security container of said plurality of security containers; and

a plurality of monitoring devices disposed in the plurality of security containers and operatively coupled together by said plurality of connectors, at least one of the plurality of monitoring devices further operatively coupled to the at least one sensor and adapted to send a signal to at least a second monitoring device indicating a threat detected by the at least one sensor, wherein each of the plurality of monitoring devices is adapted to activate protective measures in response to a signal indicating a threat detected by the at least one sensor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of connectors comprise at least one of a fiber optic cable, coaxial cable, wireless data link, and a twisted pair of copper wires.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of monitoring devices are operatively coupled together in at least one of a distributed network configuration, a ring network configuration, and an unstructured network configuration.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of connectors comprise at least one decoy connector.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of monitoring devices is adapted to activate at least one local protective measure in response to a threat detected in a different security container.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of monitoring devices is adapted to activate at least one protective measure comprising at least one of overwriting critical data, erasing critical data, and physically destroying components.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said plurality of monitoring devices are coupled together via the plurality of connectors such that the physical movement of the plurality of security containers housing the plurality of monitoring devices is limited due to the length and placement of the plurality of connectors.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one protective device operatively coupled to at least one monitoring device, wherein the at least one monitoring device sends control signals to the at least one protective device to activate protective measures.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the at least one protective device further comprises at least one of a field programmable gate array, and a thermal battery.

10. A networked security device system, comprising:

means for detecting a threat in at least one security container of a plurality of security containers;

means for communicating said threat detected in said at least one security container to at least a second security container of said plurality of security containers; and

means, responsive to the means for communicating, for activating at least one protective measure in each security container of said plurality of security containers if a threat is detected for any security container.

11. A method of manufacturing a networked security device system, the method comprising the steps of:

placing a plurality of components to be protected inside a plurality of security containers;

placing a plurality of monitoring devices inside the plurality of security containers; and

redundantly coupling at least one monitoring device disposed inside at least one security container to at least a second monitoring device disposed inside at least a second security container using a plurality of connectors.

12. The method of manufacturing of claim 11, wherein the step of coupling at least a first monitoring device to at least a second monitoring device further comprises the steps of:

coupling at least one monitoring device disposed inside at least one security container to at least a second monitoring device disposed in at least a second security container; and

forming at least one of a distributed network, a ring network, and an unstructured network.

13. A method of monitoring a networked security device system, the method comprising the steps of:

determining a threat status for at least one of a plurality of security containers;

transmitting the threat status of the at least one security container to at least a second security container of the plurality of security containers; and

activating at least one protective measure in at least one of the plurality of security containers if the transmitted threat status indicates a detected threat.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the activating step further comprises the step of:

activating at least one protective measure locally in each security container of said plurality of security containers if the transmitted threat status indicates a detected threat in any of the plurality of security containers.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the activating step further comprises the step of:

checking for a false indication of a threat prior to activating the at least one protective measure.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the activating step further comprises at least one step of:

overwriting critical data;

erasing critical data; and

physically destroying a plurality of critical components.