Systems and methods for event monitoring using aerial drones

• US 9,373,014 B1
• Filed: 12/10/2015
• Issued: 06/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parachute Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Parachute Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Mehranfar, Robert R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jiang, Yong Hang
• Application Number:
  US14/965,788
• Time in Patent Office: 194 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/104 involving a plurality of aircrafts, e.g. formation flying traffic control systems for aircraft G08G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A radio frequency identification (RFID) network and methods for even monitoring in a closed environment includes distributing RFID readers across the environment. Readers have unique reader identifiers and communicate with a computer system. These identifiers and reader locations are stored. The location of subjects bearing passive RFID tags is acquired by reading the unique subject identifiers off the tags and associating these RFID tags with the reader identifiers of the readers making the readings. A subject data store includes the location data of the subjects obtained by the RFID readers and electronic addresses of the subjects. An instruction set data store comprising sets, each set corresponding to one of a plurality of events, is also maintained. In accordance with the instruction set data store, in response to an event, different event messages are sent to different subjects and an aerial drone is dispatched.

Claims

1. A radio frequency identification (RFID) network for monitoring events in a closed environment, the network comprising a plurality of RFID readers distributed across the environment and a response computer system, wherein

each respective RFID reader in the plurality of RFID readers includes a unique reader identifier and is in communication with the response computer system;

and

the response computer system comprises;

a memory;

one or more processors;

a sensor data store, stored in the memory or addressable by the response computer system, the sensor data store including, for each respective RFID reader in the plurality of RFID readers, a location in the closed environment of the respective RFID reader and the unique reader identifier of the respective RFID reader; and

instructions, stored in the memory and configured for execution by the one or more processors, that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the response computer system to;

receive indication data, the indication data encompassing the detection of the proximity of a respective subject in a plurality of subjects bearing a passive RFID tag to a respective RFID reader in the plurality of readers, including (i) a unique subject identifier read off a passive RFID tag in the possession of the respective subject by the respective RFID reader and (ii) the reader identifier of the respective RFID reader;

maintain a subject data store, the subject data store comprising a record for each respective subject in the plurality of subjects that includes (i) a location of the respective subject in the closed environment or an indication that the respective subject is not in the closed environment, (ii) an electronic address associated with the respective subject, and (iii) a unique subject identifier associated with the respective subject, and (iv) a class label in a plurality of class labels; and

maintain an event instruction set data store, each respective event instruction set in the event instruction set data store corresponding to an event in a plurality of events, wherein

a first event instruction set in the instruction event set data store corresponds to a first event and includes a first message that is sent to a first subset of subjects in the plurality of subjects responsive to the first event, wherein the first subset of subjects are selected from the plurality of subjects on the basis that they are (a) localized to a first portion of the closed environment or (b) associated with a first class label in the plurality of class labels corresponding to the first message, and

the instructions further cause the response computer system to, in response to receiving an indication that the first event has occurred, execute a method comprising;

obtaining an identity of each respective subject in the first subset of subjects in accordance with the first event instruction set;

obtaining, for each respective subject in the first subset of subjects, the electronic address associated with the respective subject from the subject data store;

communicating the first message to the respective electronic address of each subject in the first subset of subjects; and

dispatching one or more aerial drones to execute a surveillance protocol, a containment protocol, or a rescue protocol within the closed environment.

2. The RFID network of claim 1, wherein the first event instruction set further includes:

a second message that is to be sent to a second subset of subjects in the plurality of subjects responsive to the first event, wherein the second subset of subjects are selected on the basis that they are (a) localized to a second portion of the closed environment different from the first portion of the closed environment, or (b) associated with a second class label in the plurality of class labels corresponding to the second message; and

the method responsive to receiving the indication that the first event has occurred further comprises;

obtaining an identity of each respective subject in the second subset of subjects in accordance with the first event instruction set;

obtaining, for each respective subject in the second subset of subjects, the electronic address associated with the respective subject from the subject data store; and

communicating the second message to the respective electronic address of each subject in the second subset of subjects.

3. The RFID network of claim 1, wherein a first drone in the one or more drones includes a video camera in electronic communication with the response computer system and wherein the first drone performs the surveillance protocol, wherein the surveillance protocol comprises:

instructing the drone to fly to a portion in the closed environment associated with the first event; and

obtaining, through the drone, video surveillance data from the portion of the closed environment.

4. The RFID network of claim 1, wherein the one or more aerial drones are stored at one or more storage locations in the closed environment or proximate to the closed environment.

5. The RFID network of claim 4, wherein a first storage location in the one or more storage locations is a first charging pad that a first aerial drone in the one or more aerial drones lands on autonomously without human intervention and is recharged by the first charging pad autonomously without human intervention.

6. The RFID network of claim 5, wherein

the first aerial drone comprises a rechargeable battery in electrical communication with at least two counter contacts at the bottom of the drone;

and

the first charging pad comprises a plurality of area-wise distributed charging contacts which are insulated against each other or against neighboring primary contacts and are connectable with the at least two counter contacts when the first aerial drone lands on the first charging pad.

7. The RFID network of claim 6, wherein the plurality of area-wise distributed charging contacts is connected with a control unit and one or more electrical switches for wiring into a right polarity for recharging the rechargeable battery.

8. The RFID network of claim 6, wherein each charging contact in the plurality of area-wise distributed charging contacts is in the form of a rectangle, triangle, square or hexagonal shape.

9. The RFID network of claim 5, wherein the first charging pad is housed in a hanger that has a retractable entryway.

10. The RFID network of claim 1, wherein a first drone in the one or more drones includes a loudspeaker and a microphone in electronic communication with the response computer system, the first drone is instructed to perform the surveillance protocol, and the surveillance protocol comprises:

instructing the first drone to fly to a portion in the closed environment associated with the first event;

communicating, through the loudspeaker, instructions to subjects in the plurality of subjects in accordance with the first event instruction set; and

obtaining, through the microphone, audio surveillance data from the portion of the closed environment.

11. The RFID network of claim 1, wherein a first drone in the one or more drones includes an RFID reader in electronic communication with the response computer system and wherein the first drone is instructed to perform the surveillance protocol, wherein the surveillance protocol comprises:

instructing the first drone to fly to a portion in the closed environment associated with the first event; and

obtaining, through the RFID reader, confirmation of an identity of each subject in the portion of the closed environment.

12. The RFID network of claim 1, wherein a first drone in the one or more drones includes a video camera and a debilitating device in electronic communication with the response computer system, the first drone is instructed to perform the containment protocol, and the containment protocol comprises:

instructing the first drone to fly to a portion in the closed environment associated with the first event;

obtaining, through the video camera, confirmation of a nefarious subject activity occurring in the portion of the closed environment;

receiving authorization, at the first drone from the response computer system, to use the debilitating device upon confirmation of the nefarious subject activity; and

using the debilitating device to counter the nefarious subject activity.

13. The RFID network of claim 12, wherein the debilitating device is a stun gun and using the debilitating device to counter the nefarious subject activity comprises stunning a subject responsible for the nefarious subject activity with an electric shock.

14. The RFID network of claim 12, wherein the debilitating device is a smoke bomb and using the debilitating device to counter the nefarious subject activity comprises activating the smoke bomb.

15. The RFID network of claim 1, wherein a first drone in the one or more drones includes a sensor in electronic communication with the response computer system, the first drone is instructed to perform the surveillance protocol, and the surveillance protocol comprises:

instructing the first drone to fly to a portion in the closed environment associated with the first event; and

obtaining, through the first drone, sensor data from the portion of the closed environment using the sensor.

16. The RFID network of claim 15, wherein the sensor is temperature sensor, a noise-level detector, a gas monitor, an air flow meter, a humidity sensor, a pressure sensor, a chemical sensor, or a radiation sensor.

17. The RFID network of claim 16, wherein the surveillance protocol further comprises:

using the sensor to map out one or more safe passage routes from the portion in the closed environment; and

sending the one or more safe passage routes to the response computer system for dissemination to the first subset of subjects.

18. The RFID network of claim 1, wherein a first drone in the one or more drones includes an 802.11 router in electronic communication with the response computer system, the first drone is instructed to perform the surveillance protocol, and the surveillance protocol comprises:

instructing the first drone to fly to a portion in the closed environment associated with the first event; and

providing, through the first drone, 802.11 communication services to facilitate communication between subjects at the portion of the closed environment and the response computer system.

19. The RFID network of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the response computer system to maintain a visual position map based on the indication data, the visual position map comprising:

a respective position, on a schematic diagram of the closed environment, of each subject bearing a passive RFID tag detected by at least one RFID reader in the plurality of RFID readers and the one or more aerial drones; and

a respective position, on the schematic diagram of the closed environment, of the one or more aerial drones.

20. The RFID network of claim 1, wherein a first drone in the one or more drones includes a video camera in electronic communication with the response computer system, the first drone is instructed to perform the containment protocol, and the containment protocol comprises:

instructing the first drone to fly to a portion in the closed environment associated with the first event;

obtaining, through the video camera, confirmation of a nefarious subject in the portion of the closed environment;

receiving authorization, at the first drone from the response computer system, for the drone to crash into the nefarious subject.

21. The RFID network of claim 1, wherein a first aerial drone in the one or more aerial drones is dispatched to perform the rescue protocol, and wherein the rescue protocol comprises using the first aerial drone to guide the rescue personnel to a site of the first event.

22. The RFID network of claim 1, wherein the closed environment comprises a plurality of internal zones, and each respective RFID reader in a second subset of the plurality of RFID readers is positioned at an entry of an internal zone in the plurality of internal zones.

23. The RFID network of claim 1, wherein a first aerial drone in the one or more aerial drones is dispatched to perform the rescue protocol, and wherein the rescue protocol comprises:

dispatching the first aerial drone to an entrance of the closed environment; and

upon arrival at the entrance of one or first responders, guiding the one or more first responders to a location of the first event.

24. The RFID network of claim 1, wherein the closed environment is a warehouse, a manufacturing facility, a refinery, a school, a business campus, a cruise ship, a subject transportation hub, a government facility, a military installation, a conference center, a medical campus facility, a correctional facility, hotel, or a mine.

25. The RFID network of claim 1, wherein the closed environment includes one or more buildings and one or more predefined open areas.

26. The RFID network of claim 1, wherein a first aerial drone in the one or more aerial drones is dispatched to perform the rescue protocol, and wherein the rescue protocol comprises:

dispatching the first aerial drone to a position in an exit route from the closed environment; and

upon arrival at the position of one or subjects in the plurality of subjects at the position, using the first aerial drone to guide the one or more subjects along the exit route.

27. The RFID network of claim 1, wherein a first RFID reader in the plurality of RFID readers further comprises a second sensor, other than an RFID sensor, and wherein the instructions further cause the response computer system to:

responsive to receiving an indication of an event in a portion of the closed environment associated with the first RFID, remotely using the second sensor to verify an occurrence of the event.

28. The RFID network of claim 1, wherein a first RFID reader in the plurality of RFID readers further comprises a second sensor, other than an RFID sensor, and wherein the instructions further cause the response computer system to use the second sensor to independently obtain a measurement, wherein the second sensor is a camera, a temperature sensor, a noise-level detector, a gas monitor, a proximity sensor, a chemical sensor, or a radiation sensor.

29. The RFID network of claim 1, wherein the electronic address is a mobile phone number, social media account, or e-mail address associated with the respective subject.

30. The RFID network of claim 1, wherein the instructions further cause the response computer system to execute an RFID reader status module method comprising:

receiving, on a recurring basis, a respective status signal from each respective RFID reader in the plurality of RFID readers, wherein the respective status signal indicates a status of the respective RFID reader, and

analyzing each respective status signal for the status of the corresponding RFID reader.