Event Indicator System

• US 20190295397A1
• Filed: 11/30/2018
• Published: 09/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul L. Eckert
• Original Assignee: Paul L. Eckert
• Inventors: Eckert, Paul L., Hisey, Christopher B.
• Granted Patent: US 10,679,480 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1672 using sonic detecting means, e.g. a microphone operating in the audio frequency range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/00 Identifying, scaring or incapacitating burglars, thieves or intruders, e.g. by explosives
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/08 Actuation involving the use of explosive means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/188 Data fusion; cooperative systems, e.g. voting among different detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/062 indicating emergency exits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/066 guiding along a path, e.g. evacuation path lighting strip

Abstract

A system is configured to assist occupants of a building in response to an active shooter situation. A plurality of sensor units are arranged in the building to detect a gunshot and generate a signal indicative of the gunshot. A processing system determines an approximate location of the gunshot based on the signal and determines safe areas and unsafe areas in the building based on the approximate location of the gunshot. A plurality of output devices are in the building and in communication with the processing system. The output devices indicate an evacuation path within the safe areas with a first graphic and indicate the unsafe areas with a second graphic that is different from the first graphic. An indicator is arranged in a room and generates a lock down indication to notify occupants to stay in the room in response to the processing system receiving the signal.

Claims

1. A system configured to assist occupants of a building in response to an active shooter situation, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensor units configured to be arranged in the building to detect a gunshot and generate a signal indicative of the gunshot within the building;

a processing system in communication with the plurality of sensors to receive the signal, wherein the processing system is configured to determine an approximate location of the gunshot based on the signal and determine safe areas and unsafe areas in the building based on the approximate location of the gunshot;

a plurality of output devices in communication with the processing system configured to be arranged in the building, the output devices configured to indicate an evacuation path within the safe areas with a first graphic and indicate the unsafe areas with a second graphic that is different from the first graphic; and

an indicator configured to be arranged in a room of the building and configured to generate a lock down indication to notify occupants to stay in the room in response to the processing system receiving the signal.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the indicator is further configured to generate an exit indication for the occupants to exit the room, the exit indication being different than the lock down indication.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising an input control configured to be arranged in the room of the building, the input control configured to be activatable by an occupant in the room to indicate that the room is secured.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising an interface configured to be arranged in the room of the building, and wherein the input control and indicator are arranged on the interface.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein in response to the input control being activated, the processing system is configured to notify a responder that the room is secure.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor units include a smartphone having an application, the application configured to allow the smartphone to detect the gunshot and communicate the signal to the processing system.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor units are configured to detect at least one of a high decibel audible boom sound, a muzzle flash, or gunpowder smoke.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the processing system is configured to determine that an area within a line-of-sight of the approximate location of the gunshot is an unsafe area.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the output devices include light projecting components that are mounted on a first surface and are configured to project light onto a second surface that is different than the first surface.

10. The system of claim 2, wherein the lock down indication is a first color light and the exit indication is a second color light that is different from the first color light.

11. A system configured to assist occupants of a building in response to an active shooter situation, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensor units configured to be arranged in the building to detect a gunshot and generate a signal indicative of the gunshot within the building;

a processing system in communication with the plurality of sensors to receive the signal, wherein the processing system is configured to determine an approximate location of the gunshot based on the signal and determine safe areas and unsafe areas in the building based on the approximate location of the gunshot; and

a plurality of output devices in communication with the processing system configured to be arranged in the building, the output devices configured to indicate an evacuation path within the safe areas with a first graphic and indicate the unsafe areas with a second graphic that is different from the first graphic.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor units are configured to detect at least one of a high decibel audible boom sound, a muzzle flash, or gunpowder smoke.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the processing system is configured to determine that an area within a line-of-sight of the approximate location of the gunshot is an unsafe area.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the sensor units include a smartphone having an application, the application configured to allow the smartphone to detect the gunshot and communicate the signal to the processing system.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the output devices include light projecting components.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the light projecting components include at least one laser.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the light projecting components are mounted on a first surface and are configured to project light onto a second surface that is different than the first surface.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the first graphic is a green arrow and the second graphic is a red X.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein at least one of the output devices is configured to project the first graphic down a first hallway and configured to project the second graphic down a second hallway that is perpendicular to the first hallway.

20. A method of assisting occupants of a building in response to an active shooter situation, the method comprising:

using a sensor unit to detect a gunshot within the building;

in response to detecting the gunshot, generating a signal indicative of the gunshot;

receiving the signal at a processing system that is in communication with the sensor unit;

in response to receiving the signal at the processing system, determining an approximate location of the gunshot within the building;

in response to determining the approximate location of the gunshot within the building, determining safe areas within the building and unsafe areas within the building;

using a plurality of output devices to indicate an evacuation path within the safe areas with a first graphic; and

using the plurality of output devices to indicate the unsafe areas with a second graphic that is different from the first graphic.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising using the processing system to notify an appropriate responder.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising communicating a layout of the building to the appropriate responder.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising communicating the approximate location of the gunshot within the building to the appropriate responder.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising communicating approximate locations of subsequent gunshots within the building to the appropriate responder.

25. The method of claim 20, further comprising determining one or more safe routes out of the building within the evacuation path.

26. The method of claim 20, further comprising determining a safe route within the evacuation path from a first location in the building to a second location within the building that is different than the first location.

27. The method of claim 20, further comprising saving a detection data as detected by the sensor unit.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of indicating an evacuation path within the safe areas includes using output devices mounted on a first surface to project the first graphic onto a second surface that is different than the first surface, and wherein the step of indicating unsafe areas includes using output devices mounted on a third surface to project the second graphic onto a fourth surface that is different than the third surface.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of determining unsafe areas within the building includes determining that an area within a line-of-sight of the approximate location of the gunshot is an unsafe area.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein the step of detecting the gunshot within the building includes detecting at least one of a high decibel audible boom sound, a muzzle flash, or gunpowder smoke.

31. A system configured to assist occupants of a building in response to an active shooter situation, the system comprising:

a plurality of sensor units configured to be arranged in the building to detect a gunshot and generate a signal indicative of the gunshot within the building;

a processing system in communication with the plurality of sensors to receive the signal; and

an indicator configured to be arranged in a room of the building, the indicator configured to generate a lock down indication to notify occupants to stay in the room in response to the processing system receiving the signal.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the indicator is further configured to generate an exit indication for the occupants to exit the room, the exit indication being different than the lock down indication.

33. The system of claim 31, further comprising an input control configured to be arranged in the room and configured to be activatable by an occupant in the room to indicate that the room is secured.

34. The system of claim 33, further comprising an interface configured to be arranged in the room of the building, and wherein the input control and indicator are arranged on the interface.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein in response to the input control being activated, the processing system is configured to notify a responder that the room is secure.

36. The system of claim 31, wherein the input control is selected from the group consisting of a switch, a button, a thumb scan, and a face recognition scan.

37. A system configured to detect a gunshot, the system comprising:

an application on a smartphone configured to allow the smartphone to detect a gunshot and generate a signal indicative of the gunshot;

a processing system in communication with the application to receive the signal, wherein the processing system is configured to determine an approximate location of the gunshot based on the signal.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the signal is a GPS signal indicating an approximate location of the smartphone.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein the processing system is part of an event indicator system arranged in a building, and wherein if the smartphone is in the building and a gunshot is fired proximate the smartphone, the processing system is configured to determine an approximate location of the gunshot within the building based on the signal.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein if the smartphone is outside of the building and a gunshot is fired proximate the smartphone, the processing system is configured to determine an approximate location of the gunshot and send a notification indicative of the approximate location to a local law enforcement group.