System and method for integrated facility and fireground management

• US 7,965,178 B1
• Filed: 03/05/2007
• Issued: 06/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bruce E. Schmuttor, David B. Mccauley
• Original Assignee: Bruce E. Schmuttor, David B. Mccauley
• Inventors: McCauley, David B., Schmuttor, Bruce E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Hung T.
• Application Number:
  US11/714,392
• Time in Patent Office: 1,569 Days
• Field of Search: 340/506, 340/521, 340/531, 340/539.27, 340/577, 340/584, 340/588, 340/628, 340/632, 250/339.05, 250/339.15, 700/1, 700/19, 702/127, 701/127
• US Class Current: 340/506
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/20 involving the use of a pass

Abstract

The present invention provides an intelligent, integrated facility and fireground management system which is efficient, assures first responder, pedestrian and appliance safety, as well as precise performance in extreme emergency situations, regulatory compliance, easy and flexible integration with building systems and add-on components, as well as advanced internal component monitoring and event logging. The present invention additionally provides systems and method for real-time first responder situational awareness and real-time fireground situational awareness.

Claims

1. A facility and fireground management system comprising:

a structure;

a first barrier coupled to the structure, wherein the first barrier selectively moves between a first open position and a first closed position in response to a corresponding first control signal;

a second barrier coupled to the structure, wherein the second barrier selectively moves between a second open position and a second closed position in response to a corresponding a second control signal;

a first sensing device coupled to the first barrier and configured to obtain a first ambient information relating to a first area around the first barrier;

a second sensing device coupled to the second barrier and configured to obtain a second ambient information relating to a second area around the second barrier;

a first controller coupled to the first barrier and a second controller coupled to the second barrier, wherein the first controller instructs the first barrier to move from the open position to the closed position in response to the second ambient information while the second controller instructs the second barrier to move from the closed position to the open position.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a host computer coupled to the first and second controllers for controlling the first and second controllers.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first controller further includes:

a first local processor configured to provide the first control signal;

a first communication device coupled to the first local processor and configured to provide communications between the first local processor and the host computer; and

a first local storage device coupled to the first local processor and configured to store at least a portion of history logging, terminal services, calendar service and ambient information relating to the first door.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first local processor is a microprocessor that is capable of executing instructions.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the first communication device provides wireless communications between the local processor and the host computer.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the host computer is capable of instructing the first local processor to instruct the first barrier to open or close in response to ambient information obtained by a sensing device associated to a second barrier not associated with the first local processor.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the host computer is in wireless communication with the first and second controllers.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein each sensing device and each controller is thermally fortified.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first sensing device, second sensing device and controller are thermally fortified to function within a temperature range between about −

40 degrees and about 2000 degrees Fahrenheit.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein each sensing device further comprises a status sensor for detecting status of the corresponding barrier.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein each sensing device further comprises:

a temperature sensor for detecting ambient temperature of the corresponding barrier.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein each sensing device further comprises a sensor for sensing a substance selected from the group consisting of oxygen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide, chlorine, cyanogen, fluorine, hydrogen cyanide, nitric oxide, nitrogen tetraoxide and phosgene.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein each controller is configured to process a Doppler radar signal.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the first sensing device further includes:

a temperature sensor for detecting ambient temperature of the first barrier; and

a status sensor for detecting status of the first barrier.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the first sensing device and second sensing device are expendable.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a printed circuit board configured to function within a temperature range of at least −

20 to 80 degrees Celsius.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising a hydraulic device to move the first barrier between an open and closed position.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic device comprises a hydraulic cylinder, hydraulic hoses, a hydraulic pump, a multi-valve electrical mechanical hydraulic control and a sealed hydraulic reservoir.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the sealed hydraulic reservoir is a regenerative reservoir.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to perform barrier mode priority conflict management.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the barrier mode priority conflict management comprises conflicting priorities of barrier management and pedestrian access.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to resolve conflicting priorities of barrier and appliance management versus pedestrian access.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the controller resolves the conflicting priorities based on door mode priority conflict management design criteria and user priority conflict management design criteria.

24. The system of claim 1, further comprising an absolute encoder configured to determine the position of the barrier.

25. The system of claim 1, wherein the first controller controls the second controller based on at least one of the first ambient information and the second ambient information.

26. The system of claim 1, wherein the first controller communicates the first ambient information to the second controller.

27. The system of claim 1, wherein the second controller communicates the second ambient information to the first controller.