Systems and methods for providing secure environments

• US 7,468,666 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2006
• Issued: 12/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Secure Care Products, LLC
• Original Assignee: Secure Care Products, Inc.
• Inventors: McHugh, Michael J., Ciarcia, Daniel J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US11/610,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20070085683A1
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/541, 340/545.1, 340/565, 340/540, 340/542, 340/545.7, 340/545.9
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/28 the pass enabling tracking or indicating presence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2417 having a radio frequency identification chip
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2454 Checking of authorisation of a person accessing tagged items in an EAS system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/248 EAS system combined with another detection technology, e.g. dual EAS and video or other presence detection system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring a facility is provided. Generally, the system comprises monitoring tags wherein each monitoring tag emits an identifier signal unique to each monitoring tag, monitoring sensors wherein the monitoring sensors receive signals from the monitoring tags and relay the signals to one or more monitoring stations, and monitoring stations wherein the monitoring stations log and display information associated with the signals received. The monitoring station identifies possible events based on the signals received from the monitoring sensors. The monitoring station alerts staff members of the events via a graphical user interface, pagers, email, and alarms.

Claims

1. A monitoring system comprising:

one or more monitoring tags wherein each monitoring tag continuously emits an identifier signal unique to each monitoring tag and each monitoring tag is wired to transmit a non-continuous alert signal, wherein the alert signal is more powerful than the identifier signal,

one or more monitoring sensors wherein one or more of the monitoring sensors receive signals from the one or more monitoring tags and relay the signals to one or more monitoring stations, and

one or more monitoring stations wherein the one or more monitoring stations log and display information associated with the signals received from the one or more monitoring sensors.

2. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein at least one monitoring station identifies a situation based on the received signal.

3. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein at least one monitoring station displays a floor plan of a monitored area.

4. The monitoring system of claim 2, wherein at least one monitoring station displays an alert icon on a floor plan based on the situation.

5. The monitoring system of claim 2, wherein at least one monitoring station sounds an audible alert based on the situation.

6. The monitoring system of claim 2, wherein at least one monitoring station sends an email based on the situation.

7. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring tags are attached to people.

8. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring tags are attached to items.

9. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein each monitoring tag has a means for connecting and the alert signal is emitted by the monitoring tag when the means for connecting is broken.

10. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein one or more monitoring sensors are proximity sensors.

11. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the monitoring tag comprises a connecting strap with a closed circuit and emits an the alert signal when the strap is broken and the circuit is opened.

12. The monitoring system of claim 11, wherein the closed circuit encircles an extremity of a person being monitored.

13. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein each monitoring tag has a connecting means and the alert signal is emitted when the connecting means is disconnected.

14. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the one or more monitoring stations uses the identifier signal to search a monitoring tag database for additional information and displays the additional information relating to the specific identifier signal.

15. The monitoring system of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more door locks wherein at least one monitoring station is programmed to lock at least one door in response to the alert signal.

16. The monitoring system of claim 15, wherein at least one monitoring station is programmed to lock at least one door in response to the one or more identifier signals.

17. The monitoring system of claim 15, wherein at least one monitoring station is programmed to use the one or more identifier signals to search a monitoring tag database for additional information and lock at least one of the doors based on the additional information.

18. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein the one or more monitoring stations communicate with each other over an existing local area network.

19. The monitoring system of claim 1, wherein one of the one or more monitoring stations is a monitoring station server that coordinates the monitoring system'"'"'s activities with the other one or more monitoring stations.

20. A monitoring system comprising:

one or more means for identifying wherein each means for identifying emits an identifier signal unique to each means for identifying,

one or more means for alerting, wherein each means for alerting is integral with each means for identifying and wherein each means for alerting emits an alert signal more powerful than the identifier signal,

one or more means for sensing wherein one or more of the means for sensing receives signals from the one or more means for identifying and relays the signals to one or more means for monitoring, and

one or more means for monitoring wherein at least one means for monitoring logs and displays data associated with the signals received from the one or more means for monitoring.

21. The monitoring system of claim 20, wherein at least one means for monitoring displays a floor plan of a monitored area.

22. The monitoring system of claim 20, wherein at least one means for monitoring displays an alert icon on a floor plan.

23. The monitoring system of claim 20, wherein at least one means for monitoring sounds an audible alert.

24. The monitoring system of claim 20, wherein at least one means for monitoring sends an email.

25. The monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the means for identifying are attached to people.

26. The monitoring system of claim 20, wherein the means for identifying are attached to items.

27. The monitoring system of claim 20, wherein each means for identifying has a means for connecting and the alert signal is emitted when the means for connecting is broken.

28. The monitoring system of claim 20, wherein each means for identifying has a means for connecting and the alert signal is emitted when the means for connecting is disconnected.

29. The monitoring system of claim 20, wherein at least one means for monitoring uses the identifier signal to search a monitoring tag database for additional information and displays the additional information relating to the specific identifier signal.

30. The monitoring system of claim 20, further comprising:

one or more means for locking wherein at least one means for monitoring activates at least one means for locking to lock at least one path of egress closed.

31. The monitoring system of claim 30, wherein at least one means for monitoring activates one or more of the means for locking based on the one or more of the means for sensing receiving the one or more identifier signals, and wherein activating one or more of the means for locking locks at least one path of egress closed.

32. The monitoring system of claim 30, wherein the one or more means for monitoring uses the one or more identifier signals to search a monitoring tag information database and activates one or more of the means for locking based on the additional information.

33. A method of monitoring comprising:

receiving a unique identifier signal from each of one or more monitoring tags,

receiving an alert signal from one or more monitoring tags, wherein the alert signal is more powerful than the identifier signal,

identifying a situation based on one of the identifier signals and the alert signal, and

storing and displaying information about the situation.

34. The monitoring method of claim 33, further comprising displaying a floor plan of a monitored area.

35. The monitoring method of claim 34, further comprising displaying an alert icon on a floor plan associated with the situation.

36. The monitoring method of claim 33, further comprising sounding an audible alert associated with the situation.

37. The monitoring method of claim 33, further comprising sending an email associated with the situation.

38. The monitoring method of claim 33, further comprising using the identifier signal to search a monitoring tag database for additional information relating to the specific identifier signal.

39. The monitoring method of claim 38, further comprising activating one or more door locks in response to the additional information retrieved from the monitoring tag database.

40. The monitoring method of claim 33, further comprising activating one or more door locks in response to the situation.