Abstract:
A personal protection device carried or worn by a user has a simple actuator button and transmitter operable within a mesh network covering a monitored environment such as a college campus or industrial park transmits an exigent assistance call to a first responder such as security or DPS (Department of Public Safety) personnel for urgent response. The system for deploying and monitoring the personal protection devices distributes or otherwise transfers possession of an actuator device to a user, such that the actuator device is adapted for wearing or disposing on the user in anticipation of a sudden exigent situation. A distribution repository associates the actuator device with the user, in which the association is temporary for subsequent association with a second user to provide efficient reuse as devices are exchanged or no longer needed.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/983,147 filed Apr. 23, 2014, entitled “CAMPUS SAFETY SYSTEM” incorporated herein by reference in entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Personal safety becomes particularly concerning to pedestrians when alone, late at night, or in an unfamiliar area. A lone, ambulatory (walking) subject does not have the security of a vehicle or group. Many organizations such as educational and business entities operate in a campus environment, however, where students, employees, and other inhabitants may need to walk between buildings, vehicles and dwellings in the course of normal operations. Often, such a monitored environment employs a specialized security, police, or department of public safety (DPS) group for assisting in maintaining a safe environment. So called “blue light boxes” may be established as beacons from which one can alert the DPS to a need for assistance. However, the blue light boxes occupy fixed locations, and an exigent situation requiring assistance might arise at some distance, causing an inhabitant in distress to run or vocalize a need for assistance and hope that such a call is heeded. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    A personal protection device carried or worn by a user has a simple actuator button and transmitter operable within a mesh network covering a monitored environment such as a college campus or industrial park transmits an exigent assistance call to a first responder such as security or DPS (Department of Public Safety) personnel for urgent response. The system for deploying and monitoring the personal protection devices distributes or otherwise transfers possession of an actuator device to a user, such that the actuator device is adapted for wearing or disposing on the user in anticipation of a sudden exigent situation. A distribution repository associates the actuator device with the user, in which the association is temporary for subsequent association with a second user to provide efficient reuse as devices are exchanged or no longer needed. In operation, relay nodes, placed similarly to “blue light boxes,” deployed around the monitored environment receive an actuation of the actuation device from a user experiencing an exigent situation, and transmit a wireless signal from the actuator device indicative of the exigent situation. The relay nodes define a mesh network for forwarding the wireless signal to a coordinator node, in which the coordinator node is configured for alerting a first responder of the exigent situation, the identity of the user, and a location of the user, and is typically monitored by first responders for immediate response to an exigent situation. 
         [0004]    Configurations herein are based, in part, on the observation that conventional approaches to ambulatory safety rely on fixed stations where a “panic button” may be pressed, or require the user to perform an extended series of actions, such as dialing “911” on a cellphone. Unfortunately, conventional approaches suffer from the shortcoming that a user in an exigent situation, such as direct assault or restraint by an aggressor, may not have time, strength or mental stability to initiate a call for assistance. Accordingly, configurations herein substantially overcome the above described shortcomings by providing a handheld device in immediate proximity to the user with a single actuation for issuing a wireless signal to a local mesh network for alerting first responders such as DPS (Department of Public Safety) or security as to the GPS (Global Positioning System) location of the user. 
         [0005]    The disclosed system was created which to signal police/DPS/security to the scene of assistance from which a handheld device may be activated very quickly. It does this by sending GPS coordinates from the handheld to the computer screen of the police dispatcher. This gives police an accurate location to investigate in real time. Additionally, a nearby alarm box (relay node) relaying the signal from the handheld discourages an assailant from persisting. In contrast to conventional approaches, however, users only need possess the handheld when they feel unsafe and want the security in their hand. Otherwise, the handhelds are maintained and stored in on-campus receptacles in various locations. Rather than requiring the user to pay for use of the handhelds, through either an annual fee or one-time cost, the user can borrow a handheld for the duration of any occasion that they feel it necessary. During this time, the handheld is registered to their campus account and they simply return it later the next day, at their convenience. This approach provides users a simple, low overhead security system and provides responders with location data to respond more quickly than if they had to respond to a phone call. 
         [0006]    Conventional approaches to hand-held and personal safety devices include a cellphone, which must be dialed using a sequence of keystrokes and usually requires visual based response from screen observation. Other approaches include automobile key fobs, which have a “panic” button to sound the vehicle&#39;s horn. No affirmative communication or transmission to a third party is made, however, only the horn sound of the vehicle results. Other devices include medical alert/call devices often marketed as elder care appliances under taglines such as “I&#39;ve fallen and I can&#39;t get up!” These devices are tied only to a single receiver which performs a phone call or IP message transmission. There is no mesh network of multiple receivers or relay nodes defining an area in which the user may occupy and still initiate an assistance call. Further, such devices are dedicated to a single user and cannot be rebranded or associated to another user. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]    The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  is a context diagram of a personal protection device operable in a monitored environment in configurations disclosed herein; and 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram for a system in the monitored environment of  FIG. 1  suitable for use with configurations herein. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]    Depicted below is an example deployment scenario using a college campus environment, however any suitable area, region or complex may be protected. The disclosed example depicts a student on a college campus overseen by a campus police organization. The system is comprised of the following parts: a trigger (actuator device), a box (relay node), a coordinator node, and a dispenser, or device repository that retrieves and provides information to a user rental database. The handheld devices including the trigger are operable to inform campus police of the user&#39;s location at the press of the button. Since the user simply borrows the device, there would be no maintenance required on the user side. The relay network of boxes would receive the emergency signal from the wireless module of the user&#39;s device and transmit it along the shortest route possible to campus police headquarters. In order to have current location data, the handheld device would utilize satellites/GPS data to capture the user&#39;s most recent location if the assailant fled from the scene. The information sent along the network would converge at police headquarters through the coordinator. This would be a receiver similar to the boxes and an accompanying program which handles incoming emergency transmissions and does maintenance on the system. Finally, there would need to be a series of units to dispense the handheld devices to users. These dispensing units would be capable of keeping track of the devices rented and maintaining them when they are returned. 
         [0011]    To meet the requirements of the system, a number of technologies were integrated in a cooperative and optimal manner. Triggers contain GPS technology, and therefore also contain a low power microcontroller to interpret GPS data coming in as well as all of the data being sent out to the network. The handheld device, the relay boxes, and the coordinator use wireless communication technology to create a network for sending and receiving packets of information. Similarly, information transfer between the dispensing units and the handheld units would be essential to track which student is using which handheld. In order for the handheld units to be maintained by the dispensing units, the dispensers have the ability to charge the handheld. The coordinator would need access to information from the dispensing units as well as the wireless network to present campus police with usable data. In order to allow the relay network to exist both on and off campus, the relay boxes were designed to be entirely wireless and largely independent of the power grid. 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a context diagram of a personal protection device operable in a monitored environment in configurations disclosed herein. Referring to  FIG. 1 , a personal protection device adapted to be carried or worn by a user  120  in the monitored environment  100  in case of personal emergence or other exigent situations such as stalking, assault or robbery includes an actuator device  110  having an actuator  112 , such that the actuator  112  is a button or similar switch adapted for unhindered accessibility for requesting assistance in exigent situations. The actuator device  110  includes a registration identifier  114 , such as the device ID or a user ID, in which the registration identifier is based on a temporary assignment of the actuator device to the user  120 , and is operable for subsequent association with a second user following the temporary assignment, as discussed further below. In the example configuration, the registration identifier is stored in a non-volatile memory on the actuator device  110  for a student ID, employee ID, device ID mappable to (associated with) the student ID, or other identifier indicative of a current user for response and subsequent tracking in the case of a misplaced device. 
         [0013]    The actuator device  110  includes transmit and receive (TX/RX) hardware to define an actuator node  116 , such that the actuator node  116  has a network interface  118  to a mesh network  130 . The network interface  118  is configured to transmit an actuation signal  150  over the network  130  based on the actuator  112 , in which the network  130  is coupled to at least one relay node  140 - 1  . . .  140 -N ( 140  generally). The relay node  140  is configured for receiving the actuator signal  150  indicative of an identity of the user  120  and a location of the user, and forwards the actuator signal  150  to a responsive entity  152  such as security, DPS, or other staffed office for exigent response in the case of a user  120  pressing the actuator  112 . 
         [0014]    In the example configuration, the actuator  110  has an RF (Radio Frequency) interface coupled to a mesh network  130 , and the relay node  140  is defined by a plurality of relay nodes  140 -N coupled via the mesh network  130  to a coordinator node  160 , such that each relay node  140  is responsive to the actuator signal  150  and operable to transport the actuator signal to the staffed coordinator node  150  at the responsive entity  152  via the mesh network  130 . The coordinator node  160  may also be coupled to a console computing device  162  for providing a GUI (Graphical User Interface) responsive to the actuator signal  150  and other administrative functions, discussed further below. 
         [0015]    The actuator devices  110  are physically distributable in the monitored environment  100 . In some instances, a distribution repository, discussed further below, automates distribution and collection with various users. To deploy an actuator device  110  to a user, a registration interface  113  in the actuator device  110  is invoked. The registration interface is responsive to a change in possession of the actuator device  110  and upon the change in possession, and the actuator device  110  is responsive to an identity of the subsequent user  120 ′ for associating the subsequent user  120 ′ with the actuator device  110 . 
         [0016]    Many monitored environments are generally open to common pedestrian and vehicle traffic, although maintain a concentration or exclusivity of buildings, parking lots and common areas under common ownership and control. Typical examples include college campuses, industrial parks, shopping malls, transportation hubs and other open or semi controlled access areas where some, but not all occupants share a relation to a common entity. People (users) associated with the common entity are often issued an ID card or band that has a personal identifier, or credential, to uniquely identify the student, employee, member, etc. that can be used to associate with a registration identifier. 
         [0017]    The actuator device  110  is adapted to receive the registration identifier of the user from an exchange of a unique user credential, as may be encoded on a magnetic strip of an ID card, on an RFID (Radio Frequency ID), or an optically scanned symbol such as a barcode. Therefore, the unique user credential may take the form of at least one of an RFID, magnetic strip or optically scanned symbol, recognized by the registration interface  113 . 
         [0018]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram for a system employing the actuator device for in the monitored environment of  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , in the monitored environment  100 , the system provides invoking the actuator device  110  as a call device for exigent situation response. The environment  100  includes a plurality of relay nodes  140  defining a mesh network  130  substantially covering the monitored environment  100 . Placement of the relay nodes  140  provides for connectivity between the relay nodes  140  and an actuator device  110  anywhere in the monitored environment  100 . A plurality of actuator devices  110  carried by users  120  each define an actuator node  116  in the mesh network  130 , in which the actuator device  110  has an actuator  112  button or switch and is adapted to be carried or worn by a user, such that the actuator  112  is adapted for unhindered accessibility for requesting assistance in exigent situations. The actuator device  110  may include a lanyard  115 , clip or attachment such as a hook-and-loop fastener for maintaining proximity to the user  120  during walking, for example. 
         [0019]    A coordinator node  160  couples to the mesh network for receiving the actuator signal  150  over the mesh network  130  based on the actuator on any of the deployed actuator devices  110  of the plurality of actuator devices. Each of the relay nodes  140  is configured for receiving the actuator signal  150  indicative of an identity of the user  120  and a location of the user, and for forwarding the actuator signal  150  to a responsive entity for exigent response. Therefore, each of the actuator nodes  116 , relay nodes  140 , and coordinator node  160  are nodes within the mesh network  130  and have wireless communication capability with other nodes in the mesh network  130 . In the example arrangement, the mesh network is a ZIGBEE® network, and the nodes include transmit and receive (TX/RX) hardware, however alternate mediums may be selected. The coordinator node  160  remains fixed at a monitored location in a security station, DPS facility or other responsive entity to permit real time observance and response by first responders. The relay nodes  140  remain fixed and dispersed throughout the monitored environment for providing effective coverage to an actuator device  110  of a user  120  anywhere in the monitored environment. The actuator device  110  includes hardware for the actuator node  116 , as well as the actuator  112 , registration interface  113 , registration identifier  114  and network interface  118 , such as an RF antenna for transmission to the nearest relay node  140 . 
         [0020]    Distribution of the actuator devices  110  in the monitored environment  100  involves the use of a device repository  170  accessible to a plurality of users  120 , such that the device repository  170  is responsive to an identity of the user  120  for transferring possession to the user for temporary association with the user in anticipation of an exigent situation risk. The system verifies user identity prior to dispensing an actuator device  110 , and each device repository  170  maintains an available supply of undeployed devices  110 ′ which are not currently associated with a particular user  120 . During each deployment, the system determines the user ID from an exchange of a unique user credential stored on a token of the user, such as a student ID  117 , for denoting the user as a member of the monitored environment  100 . The registration interface  113  may read the token from the ID  117 , or the device repository  170  (dispenser) may read the ID  117 . The device repository  170  dispenses the actuator devices  110  to a plurality of users  120  in the monitored environment  110 , such that dispensing is performed by an automated exchange of the unique user credential associated with each user at a device repository  170  generally accessible in the monitored environment. 
         [0021]    Upon dispensing, which transfers possession of the actuator device  110  to the user  120 , associating the actuator device  110  with the user  120  further includes receiving a unique user credential at the device repository  170 , such that the device repository  170  maintains possession of the actuator device  110  until authentication. The device repository  170  associates an indication of the identity of the user, such as a student ID  117 , with an identifier of the actuation device  110 , and transfers possession of the actuator device  110  from the device repository  170  to the user  120  based on the association, such as through a slot in the repository  170 . 
         [0022]    Association of the user  120  for establishing the registration identifier  114  in the actuator device  110  includes associating a user ID corresponding to the user  120  with an identifier of the actuator device  110 . An IP link  171  transports the association via a wired network  172  to a server, such as the console computing device  162 , and a DB (Database)  166  stores the association in a server table  168  responsive to the coordinator node  160  for subsequent retrieval in response to the received actuator signal  150 . Alternatively, the registration identifier  114  could be satisfied by writing the student ID in the actuator device, but maintaining the same device ID avoids the need for a writable interface in the device  110  while still allowing transfer to subsequent users  120  by updating the association in the server table  168 . In an alternate configuration, the actuator device  110  may transmit the registration identifier via the mesh network  130 . 
         [0023]    To maintain widespread availability throughout the monitored environment  100 , distribution repositories or kiosk stations are disposed around the environment  100 . The actuator device  110  is adapted to associate a second user  120 ′ with the actuator device  110  based on the first user relinquishing possession and the actuator device  110  receiving a registration identifier  114  corresponding to the second user  120 ′. For example, the distribution repository may simply accept the actuator device  110  via a return slot, disassociate the user  120 , and await subsequent users for other devices  110 . Presumably, each distribution repository would maintain a sufficient stock of available actuator devices  110 . 
         [0024]    In operation by a distressed user  120 , the method of transmitting an exigent assistance call to a first responder includes transferring possession of the actuator device  110  to a user  120  as described above, such that the actuator device  110  is adapted for wearing or disposing on the user in anticipation of a sudden exigent situation. For example, the actuator device  110  may be picked up by a user  120  at a device repository  170  while exiting a building or residence party late at night. 
         [0025]    The console  162  associates the newly acquired actuator device  110  with the user  120  as discussed above, such that the association is temporary for subsequent association with a second user, as the user  120  only needs the device to arrive home safely that night, and may return the actuator device  110  to a repository in the morning. However, should an event requiring a distress call occur, the actuation device  110  receives an actuation  112  from a user  120  experiencing an exigent situation. The actuator node  116  in the device  110  transmits a wireless signal from the actuator device  110  indicative of the exigent situation to the nearest relay node  140 . This includes transmitting, in response to the received actuation, an actuator signal  150  including an indication of the identity of the user  120  and the location of the user to a relay node  140  in the mesh network  130 , in which the mesh network provides coverage of the monitored environment for transport of actuation signals from a plurality of deployed actuation devices  110  to the coordinator node  160 . 
         [0026]    The mesh network  130  forwards the wireless signal to the coordinator node  160 , such that the coordinator node is configured for alerting a first responder  153  of the exigent situation, the identity of the user  120 , and a location of the user. The coordinator node  160  receives the actuator signal  150  including an identifier of the actuator device and a location of the user  120 , and maps the identifier of the actuator device to the associated user  110  using the server table  168  and associated console  162 . The console  162  invokes a location service to determine a current position of the user in the monitored environment; and an associated GUI  164  renders the identity of the user  110  and the current position within the monitored environment to a first responder  153  for rapid response. 
         [0027]    The GUI  164  allows the first responders to visualize an image of the user  120  and personal information such as address and personal characteristics as on a student ID or driver&#39;s license, and also displays a geographic street map showing a GPS location of the user  110  in the locale. Invokable GPS cognizant services such as GOOGLE® Maps and GOOGLE® Earth may be invoked to perform such street level mapping. This allows first responders  153  to quickly move to render assistance at the user location. GPS coordinates are updated, if the user moves, and the relay node  140  receiving the actuator signal  150  may also sound an audible alarm to further facilitate user location. 
         [0028]    Upon the temporary usage by a user, the actuator device  110  may be redeployed in conjunction with a second user  110 ′ upon relinquishing of possession of the first user and exchange of a unique user credential corresponding to the second user. Upon return of the actuator device  110  to a device repository  170 , the system associates a second user  140 ′with the actuator device based on the first user relinquishing possession and the actuator receiving a registration identifier  114  corresponding to the second user. 
         [0029]    In the example campus environment depicted, other features disclosed include the following. A particular feature allows the dispenser to read an individual trigger&#39;s ID when a student or other member of the monitored environment attempted to dispense it. When this trigger&#39;s ID was read, the dispensing unit would then need the capability to associate the student ID and trigger ID in a database. That way, when an emergency signal was sent via the ZigBee module, the unique identification of the trigger that the module provides would allow the campus police to then determine which student was in trouble. Providing identifying information such as a name and picture in addition to location data would allow the first responders to the scene to quickly find the potential victim and come to assist. 
         [0030]    The example mesh network incorporates a ZigBee based approach. Zigbee is may not be as fast as Wi-Fi, since the data rate is usually 250 KB/s in comparison to the data rate for Wi-Fi which is about 54 Mb/s. For the disclosed approach, however, the data being sent between the Trigger and each Box is small enough so that 250 KB/s is more than enough speed. Another advantage of ZigBee is that it can support thousands of nodes in a single network. A Zigbee network can be configured in a point-to-point network or in a mesh network. In a point-to-point network, all of the nodes are able to communicate with each other, and send data to each node. The other network that ZigBee modules can be configured as is a mesh network. A mesh network uses a different approach to sending data throughout the network. In each mesh network, there is one coordinator that maintains the network by managing the associated devices and routes. Routers send data between nodes that cannot communicate directly due to distance. Endpoints are the last part of the network, which are connected to controllers and sensors. In the example campus environment, there would be one coordinator in the network, which is located as the coordinator at police headquarters. Routers would be used in the Boxes, and Triggers would be endpoints. 
         [0031]    Various configurations of GPS capability may be employed. GPS provides a convenient and inexpensive solution to track location. Receivers get information from the GPS satellites orbiting around the earth and use triangulation to calculate the user&#39;s location. The information from the satellites gives three-dimensional data—longitude, latitude and altitude. There are different types of GPS receivers available. The standalone systems may not integrate well with the disclosed approach. However GPS modules, which can be embedded into a device, are more configurable with the disclosed approach. The output of the module is a string of ASCII characters which can be converted into longitude, latitude and altitude data by using the NMEA protocol, a standard protocol for GPS systems. The GPS modules are small in size, have an update rate of about 5 to 10 Hz, have average power requirement of 30 mA at 3.3 V, and an accuracy of up to 3 m depending the number of channels of the GPS module. Besides these specifications, there is also a wide availability of software to convert GPS data into maps such as those used for Google Maps or Google Earth For example, software libraries can convert the GPS data into a readable format that gives longitude and latitude information. The GPS data files can then be imported into this program and mapped into Google Maps. Based on this information, we decided to include a GPS module into the trigger because the trigger needs to provide accurate location data, have reasonable power consumption and update rate, and software to easily recover the GPS data into the server. 
         [0032]    As is typical with electronic devices not tethered to a wall for main power, the trigger and box need batteries to store energy. Research into what batteries would be suitable for these devices began with a few requirements, namely size, capacity, and nominal voltage. Given that both of these devices have specific charging methods, the batteries would also need to be rechargeable and ease of charging was most desirable. A few types of rechargeable batteries with various chemistries were considered, specifically NiCd, NiMH, NiZn and Li-ion. Present configurations conclude that the best balance of desirable traits would be NiMH, which are the least expensive and most readily available, and they can easily be trickle charged. Additionally, capacity is excellent, and they perform well under high drain conditions. This allows them to last long enough for users to have overnight between charges and easily switch into emergency mode without depleting the battery quickly. 
         [0033]    Those skilled in the art should readily appreciate that the programs and methods as defined herein are deliverable to a user processing and rendering device in many forms, including but not limited to a) information permanently stored on non-writeable storage media such as ROM devices, b) information alterably stored on writeable non-transitory storage media such as floppy disks, magnetic tapes, CDs, RAM devices, and other magnetic and optical media, or c) information conveyed to a computer through communication media, as in an electronic network such as the Internet or telephone modem lines. The operations and methods may be implemented in a software executable object or as a set of encoded instructions for execution by a processor responsive to the instructions. Alternatively, the operations and methods disclosed herein may be embodied in whole or in part using hardware components, such as Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs), Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), state machines, controllers or other hardware components or devices, or a combination of hardware, software, and firmware components. 
         [0034]    While the system and methods defined herein have been particularly shown and described with references to embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention encompassed by the appended claims.