System and methods for visualizing the location and movement of people in facilities

• US 20070132586A1
• Filed: 12/09/2005
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Plocher, Thomas, Raymond, Michelle, Rye, Jeffrey, Kiff, Liana
• Granted Patent: US 7,646,307 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.100
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements

Abstract

A system and method for visualizing the location and movement of people in facilities. The facility is provided with a plurality of sensors such as RF or IR sensors that communicate with a badge worn by each individual and selected physical assets in the facility. The sensors send data to a processor which displays the data on a monitor in a form that permits ready visualization of the individuals, and allows the observer to select information as needed. The display may directly indicate certain specifics about an individual based on data stored in the processor or entered by the observer.

Claims

1. A system for visualizing the location and movement of individuals in a facility, comprising:

a plurality of sensors located a plurality of locations in and around a facility and positioned to interact with persons at any location;

a badge to be carried by selected individuals using the facility and physical assets in the facility, said badge being interactive with said plurality of sensors;

a processor adapted to receive signals from said plurality of sensors to create display signals representative of interaction between said plurality of sensors and each badge being carried in said facility; and

a monitor for displaying said display signals for visualization by an observer.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said sensors are selected from RF sensors, IR sensors and combinations thereof.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said display signals illustrate the location of each of said selected individuals.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said display signals illustrate the movement of selected individuals over a period of time.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said display signals illustrate lack of movement by selected individuals over a period of time.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said display signals illustrate responses by selected individuals to an alarm over a period of time.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said processor displays said display signals in two dimensional space.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein said processor displays said display signals in three dimensional space.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein said processor is adapted to redisplay display signals on demand of the activity of selected individuals over a period of time.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said processor is adapted to display additional information about selected individuals.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said processor is adapted to receive a signal from a fire detection and alerting system and sending a display signal setting an emergency state in the system.

12. A system for visualizing the location and movement of individuals in a facility, comprising:

a plurality of sensor means located a plurality of locations in and around a facility and positioned for interacting with persons at any location;

badge means for interacting with said plurality of sensor means and carried by selected individuals using the facility and physical assets in the facility;

processor means for receiving signals from said plurality of sensor means to create display signals representative of interaction between said plurality of sensor means and each badge means being carried in said facility; and

monitor means for displaying said display signals for visualization by an observer.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said sensor means are selected from RF sensors, IR sensors and combinations thereof.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein said display signals illustrate the location of each of said selected individuals.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein said display signals illustrate the movement of selected individuals over a period of time.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein said display signals illustrate lack of movement by selected individuals over a period of time.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein said display signals illustrate responses by selected individuals to an alarm over a period of time.

18. The device of claim 12, wherein said processor means displays said display signals in two dimensional space.

19. The device of claim 12, wherein said processor means displays said display signals in three dimensional space.

20. The device of claim 12, wherein said processor means is adapted to redisplay display signals on demand of the activity of selected individuals over a period of time.

21. The device of claim 12, wherein said processor means is adapted to display additional information about selected individuals.

22. The device of claim 12, wherein said processor is adapted to receive a signal from a fire detection and alerting system and sending a display signal setting an emergency state in the system.

23. A method for visualizing the location and movement of individuals in a facility, comprising the steps of:

locating a plurality of sensors a plurality of locations in and around a facility and positioning said plurality of sensors to interact with persons at any location;

providing a badge to be carried by selected individuals using the facility and physical assets in the facility, said badge being interactive with said plurality of sensors;

processing signals from said plurality of sensors to create display signals representative of interaction between said plurality of sensors and each badge being carried in said facility; and

displaying said display signals for visualization by an observer.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said sensors are selected from RF sensors, IR sensors and combinations thereof.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein said display signals illustrate the location of each of said selected individuals.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein said display signals illustrate the movement of selected individuals over a period of time.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein said display signals illustrate lack of movement by selected individuals over a period of time.

28. The method of claim 23, wherein said display signals illustrate responses by selected individuals to an alarm over a period of time.

29. The method of claim 23, wherein said processor displays said display signals in two dimensional space.

30. The method of claim 23, wherein said processor displays said display signals in three dimensional space.

31. The method of claim 23, wherein said processor is adapted to redisplay display signals on demand of the activity of selected individuals over a period of time.

32. The method of claim 23, wherein said processor is adapted to display additional information about selected individuals.

33. The method of claim 23, wherein said processor is adapted to receive a signal from a fire detection and alerting system and sending a display signal setting an emergency state in the system.