Large venue security method

• US 8,792,677 B2
• Filed: 04/19/2012
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kephart Consulting LLC
• Original Assignee: Intelligence Based Integrated Security Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Kephart, Stanley Loel
• Primary Examiner(s): Johns, Andrew W
• Application Number:
  US13/451,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20130279757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 382/103, 382/118, 382/105, 348/156, 348/157, 348/148, 340/5.2, 340/5.52, 340/5.53, 340/5.7, 340/5.82, 340/5.83, 705/325
• US Class Current: 382/103
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2240/00 Transportation facility access, e.g. fares, tolls or parking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/265 Personal security, identity or safety
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 40/173 face re-identification, e.g. recognising unknown faces across different face tracks

Abstract

A method for reducing violence within crowded venues includes reading license plates of vehicles passing into entry ports of a parking area, and capturing facial images of persons seeking admission to the venue. A computer compares such license plates to a database of vehicle license plates associated with persons with past histories of violence. A computer also compares captured facial images to a database of facial data for persons with past violent histories. Upon detecting a match, the computer creates an alert presented to law enforcement officers at the venue to facilitate detention of such persons for investigation. Information recorded on entry tickets is scanned and saved together with the facial image of the ticket holder. If a violent act occurs, cameras within the venue capture facial images of participants. The computer matches such participants to stored identifying data to assist in the identification and apprehension of such persons.

Claims

1. A method for reducing violent acts during an event held in a crowded venue, the venue including seating to accommodate spectators to an event, the venue further including at least one parking area to accommodate vehicles driven by spectators wishing to attend such event, the method comprising:

providing at least one entry port for persons to enter into the crowded venue;

forming a photographic image of each person who approaches the at least one entry port seeking entry into the crowded venue;

comparing the photographic image of each person seeking entry into the crowded venue to facial images compiled in a first database of facial images of persons who are known to be violent to detect a likely match;

alerting at least one law enforcement officer of a detection of a likely match between the photographic image of the person seeking entry into the crowded venue and a facial image of a person known to be violent;

providing at least one vehicle entry port for vehicles to enter into the at least one parking area;

providing a license plate reader at the at least one vehicle entry port for reading information appearing on a license plate associated with each vehicle seeking entry into the at least one parking area;

comparing the license plate of each vehicle seeking entry into the parking area with license plates compiled in a second database of vehicles associated with persons who are known to be violent to detect a likely match; and

alerting the at least one law enforcement officer of a detection of a likely match between the license plate of the vehicle seeking entry into the at least one parking area and a vehicle associated with a person known to be violent,

wherein the comparing of the photographic image of each person seeking entry into the crowded venue includes transmitting the photographic image of each person seeking entry into the crowded venue to a third party and, in response, receiving an alert that the person seeking entry into the crowded venue is known to be violent if the likely match is detected between the photographic image of the person seeking entry into the crowded venue and the facial image of the person known to be violent, and

wherein the first database is a third party database controlled by a first entity and the second database is a third party database controlled by a second entity.

2. The method recited by claim 1, further comprising distributing tickets to persons wishing to attend the event before such persons enter into the crowded venue.

3. The method recited by claim 2, wherein the at least one entry port is provided for persons holding a ticket to enter into the crowded venue, and

wherein the forming of the photographic image includes forming the photographic image of each ticket holder seeking entry into the crowded venue before each ticket holder presents his or her ticket for entry.

4. The method recited by claim 3, wherein the photographic image formed of each ticket holder approaching the at least one entry port is stored in an electronic memory.

5. The method recited by claim 4, wherein the photographic image of each ticket holder stored in the electronic memory is indexed to data signals stored in the electronic memory derived from the ticket presented by a same ticket holder.

6. The method recited by claim 3, wherein each seat provided in the crowded venue for use by a spectator is uniquely identified, and wherein each ticket identifies a particular seat reserved for a corresponding ticket holder.

7. The method recited by claim 6, wherein an electronic ticket reader is provided proximate to the at least one entry port for creating data signals based upon information recorded on each ticket, and wherein the data signals created by the electronic ticket reader include information identifying the particular seat reserved for the corresponding ticket holder.

8. The method recited by claim 2, further comprising receiving a ticket presented by each ticket holder at the at least one entry port.

9. The method recited by claim 8, wherein the receiving of the ticket includes stationing a ticket taker at the at least one entry port for taking the ticket presented by each ticket holder.

10. The method recited by claim 2, wherein an electronic ticket reader is provided proximate to the at least one entry port for creating data signals based upon information recorded on each such ticket, and wherein the data signals created by the electronic ticket reader are stored in an electronic memory.

11. The method recited by claim 1, wherein the comparing of the photographic image of each person seeking entry into the crowded venue further comprises comparing the photographic image of each person seeking entry into the crowded venue to facial images of persons who are subject to an outstanding warrant for arrest, and

wherein the alerting of the at least one law enforcement officer of the detection further comprises alerting the at least one law enforcement officer of a detection of a likely match between the photographic image of the person seeking entry into the crowded venue and a facial image of a person known to have an outstanding warrant for arrest.

12. The method recited by claim 11, further comprising having the at least one law enforcement officer detain the person seeking entry into the crowded venue if the at least one law enforcement officer is alerted that there is the outstanding warrant for the arrest of the person seeking entry into the crowded venue.

13. The method recited by claim 1, further comprising:

positioning at least one venue security personnel proximate to the at least one entry port;

upon the at least one law enforcement officer being alerted of the detection of the likely match between the photographic image of the person seeking entry into the crowded venue and the facial image of the person known to be violent, having the at least one law enforcement officer advise the at least one venue security personnel that the person seeking entry into the crowded venue is known to be violent; and

allowing the at least one venue security personnel to decide whether to allow the person known to be violent to enter into the crowded venue.

14. The method recited by claim 1, wherein the license plate reader detects information displayed upon a license plate secured to a rear end of each vehicle seeking entry into the at least one parking area.

15. The method recited by claim 1, wherein the license plate reader detects information displayed upon a license plate secured to a front end of each vehicle seeking entry into the at least one parking area.

16. The method recited by claim 1, further comprising:

providing a mobile license plate reader associated with a law enforcement vehicle;

directing a law enforcement officer to drive the law enforcement vehicle along streets neighboring the crowded venue while directing the mobile license plate reader at a license plate of each vehicle parked along said neighboring streets;

comparing the license plate of each vehicle parked along said neighboring streets with license plates compiled in the second database to detect a likely match; and

alerting the law enforcement officer who is driving said law enforcement vehicle of a detection of a likely match between the license plate of the vehicle parked on said neighboring streets and a vehicle associated with a person known to be violent.

17. The method recited by claim 16, wherein the mobile licenses plate reader includes a camera, and wherein the mobile license plate reader camera is mounted proximate a roof of the law enforcement vehicle.

18. The method recited by claim 1, wherein the comparing of the license plate of each vehicle seeking entry into the at least one parking area further comprises comparing the license plate of each vehicle seeking entry into the at least one parking area with license plates of vehicles which have been reported to be stolen, and

wherein the alerting of the at least one law enforcement officer further comprises alerting the at least one law enforcement officer of a detection of a likely match between the license plate of the vehicle seeking entry into the at least one parking area and a license plate of a vehicle which has been reported to be stolen.

19. The method recited by claim 1, wherein the comparing of the license plate of each vehicle seeking entry into the at least one parking area further comprises comparing the license plate of each vehicle seeking entry into the at least one parking area with license plates of vehicles associated with persons who are subject to an outstanding warrant for arrest and

wherein the alerting of the at least one law enforcement officer further comprises alerting the at least one law enforcement officer of a detection of a likely match between the license plate of the vehicle seeking entry into the at least one parking area and a license plate of a vehicle associated with a person who is subject to an outstanding warrant for arrest.

20. The method recited by claim 1, wherein the alerting of the at least one law enforcement officer of the detection of the likely match between the license plate of the vehicle seeking entry into the at least one parking area and the vehicle associated with the person known to be violent further comprises:

providing a video display proximate to the at least one law enforcement officer; and

displaying on the video display the license plate, a vehicle description, and information relating to at least one person associated with the vehicle associated with the person known to be violent.