Abstract:
A system and method ( 10 ) are shown for providing a guided emergency exit to personnel ( 12 ) within a building ( 14 ), and includes the steps of: automatically determining the location of each of a plurality of wireless communication devices ( 22 ) within a building in response to an emergency, each of the communication devices being assigned to a person ( 12 ); determining an escape route ( 28 ) from the building for each of the communication devices based on the location of the communication device ( 22 ) and the available paths ( 20 ) from that location to a safe exit ( 29 ); and wirelessly transmitting a sequential series of images to each of the communication devices to guide the person assigned to the device from checkpoint ( 18 ) to checkpoint along the escape route ( 28 ) until the person ( 12 ) safely exits.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Not Applicable. 
       FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable. 
       MICROFICHE/COPYRIGHT REFERENCE 
       [0003]    Not Applicable. 
       FIELD 
       [0004]    This disclosure is related to systems and methods for helping personnel to evacuate buildings and/or other facilities during an emergency situation. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0005]    With the growing concerns in the safety of the people in a building or any structure, there is a need for faster evacuation in case of emergencies like fire or earthquake etc. 
         [0006]    Current methods of guiding people to the emergency exits include overhead signs or an escape route map. There are several disadvantages to these methods. For example, maps often point to one and only one way of getting to the emergency exit and will fail to serve the intended purpose if the shown escape route is compromised or not safe. As another example, signs may not be visible at all times or they may fall off as the result of the emergency event. For example, if there is a fire, there are fair chances that at least some of the overhead signs may get burnt or fall from their positions or be hidden by smoke. Even maps placed at various locations may be destroyed in a fire. All of these scenarios could result in people in the building not being able to exit the building to safety because they will be unaware as to which way they need to go to reach the emergency exit. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    In accordance with one feature of this disclosure, a secure central server provides data to mobile devices carried by all the people within a building. All the escape routes from the building will be loaded into the server in the form of real life images of the route and can be transmitted to all the mobile devices in case of any emergency. Along with the primary escape routes, alternate routes will also be configured in the server so that these routes can be transmitted in case a primary route has been compromised. The mobile device shows the real-life image of the route to be followed, thereby allowing the users to immediately recognize the route that they need to take. 
         [0008]    As one feature, the server can be updated with the latest data in regular intervals either manually or automatically using cameras at specific locations. The latest updated route will be available to the users all the time since the routes come from a central location which will have the updated routes. 
         [0009]    In accordance with one feature of the disclosure, a system is shown for providing a guided emergency exit to personnel within a building. The system includes a plurality of wireless transceivers located at checkpoints spaced throughout the building. The checkpoints are connected by paths that can be navigated by personnel in the building to exit the building. The system further includes a plurality of handheld wireless communication devices, each communication device including a visual display and being assigned to a person within the building, and a central server in operable association with the wireless transceivers to communicate information to and from each of the communication devices via the wireless transceivers. The server is configured to determine the location of each communication device within the building in the case of an emergency and to communicate a sequential set of visual images of an escape route via the wireless transceivers to each of the communication devices to lead the person carrying the communication device from checkpoint to checkpoint along the escape route until the person exits the building. 
         [0010]    In one feature, the central server is configured to determine a location of each of the communication devices based upon which one of the transceivers is communicating wirelessly with the communication device, to communicate a visual image of the sequential set based on the determined location via the one of the transceivers to the communication device, and to communicate a new visual image from the sequence via another one of the transceivers to the communication device in response to the one of the wireless transceivers losing the ability to communicate wirelessly with the communication device. 
         [0011]    As one feature, the central server is configured to continue to repeatedly communicate a visual image associated with one of the wireless transceivers to a communication device as long as the one of the wireless transceivers is able to communicate with the communication device. 
         [0012]    According to one feature, the central server is further configured to communicate a message to the communication device urging the person assigned to the communication device to hurry as long as the one of the wireless transceivers is able to communicate with the communication device. 
         [0013]    As one feature, the system further comprises an electronic database accessible by the central server, the electronic database containing images of each checkpoint and images of each path connecting the checkpoints. 
         [0014]    In one feature, the central server is configured to determine a primary escape route from the building for each of the communication devices based on the location of each communication device within the building and, for each communication device, to communicate a sequential set of the images of the checkpoints and paths between the checkpoints along the primary escape route to the communication device via the wireless transceivers. 
         [0015]    According to one feature, the central server is configured to determine an alternate escape route in response to an indication that the primary escape route for a communication device is compromised, and to communicate to the communication device via the wireless transceivers a sequential set of the images of the checkpoints and paths between the checkpoints along the alternate escape route. 
         [0016]    In one feature, the central server is configured to disable the transceivers along an escape route in response to an indication that the escape route is no longer viable. 
         [0017]    As one feature, each of the communication devices has a unique identifier assigned to it and the central server is configured to associate each of the handheld wireless communications devices with the unique identifier assigned to the handheld wireless communications device. 
         [0018]    In one feature, each of the communication devices is configured so that wireless communications with the transceivers is always enabled. 
         [0019]    According to one feature, the central server is configured to determine which of a plurality of wireless communications protocols are enabled for each communications device and to select a preferred one of the plurality of wireless communications protocols for use in communicating information to and from each of the communication devices via the wireless transceivers. 
         [0020]    In accordance with one feature of the disclosure, a method is shown for providing a guided emergency exit to personnel within a building. The method includes the steps of automatically determining the location of each of a plurality of wireless communication devices within a building in response to an emergency, each of the communication devices being assigned to a person; determining an escape route from the building for each of the communication devices based on the location of the communication device within the building and the available paths from that location to a safe exit from the building; and wirelessly transmitting a sequential series of images to each of the communication devices to guide the person assigned to the device from checkpoint to checkpoint along the escape route until the person safely exits the building. 
         [0021]    As one feature, the step of wirelessly transmitting includes sequentially transmitting the sequential series of images from transceivers corresponding to the checkpoints, each transceiver transmitting one of the images corresponding to a path from the checkpoint corresponding to the transceiver to the next checkpoint along the escape route. 
         [0022]    As one feature, the step of wirelessly transmitting further includes transmitting a new image to one of the communication devices every time one of the wireless transceivers along the escape route loses the capability to communicate with the communication device. 
         [0023]    According to one feature, the method further includes the step of automatically determining an alternate escape route for one of the communication devices in response to an indication that a previously determined escape route for the one of the communication devices is no longer viable. 
         [0024]    In one feature, the method further includes the step of automatically disabling wireless transceivers corresponding to checkpoints along an escape in response to an indication that the escape route for the one of the communication devices is no longer viable. 
         [0025]    As one feature, the method further includes the step of automatically determining which of a plurality of wireless communications protocols are enabled for each communications device and selecting a preferred one of the plurality of wireless communications protocols for use in communicating information to and from each of the communication devices. 
         [0026]    In one feature, the step of wirelessly transmitting further includes automatically transmitting the same image to a communication device as long as the communication device can communicate with a wireless transmitter corresponding to one of the checkpoints along the escape route determined for the communication device. According to a further feature, the step of wirelessly transmitting further includes automatically transmitting a new image to the communication device when the wireless transmitter is no longer able to communicate with the communication device. 
         [0027]    As one feature, the step of wirelessly transmitting further includes automatically transmitting a message to a communication device urging the person assigned to the device to hurry as long as the communication device can communicate with a wireless transmitter corresponding to one of the checkpoints along the escape route determined for the communication device. 
         [0028]    Other features and advantages will become apparent from a review of the entire specification, including the appended claims and drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0029]      FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic representation of a system for providing a guided emergency exit to personnel within a building or other facility according to this disclosure; and 
           [0030]      FIGS. 2 and 3  are flow charts illustrating the system and method according to the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a system  10  is shown for providing a guided emergency exit to personnel  12  within a facility or building  14 . The system  10  includes a plurality of wireless transceivers  16  located at checkpoints  18  spaced throughout the building  14 , with the checkpoints  18  being connected by paths  20  that can be navigated by the personnel  12  in the building  14  to exit the building  14 . The system  10  also includes a plurality of handheld wireless communication devices  22 , such as smart phones, with each device  22  including a visual display  24  and being assigned to a person  12  within the building  14 . The system  10  further includes a computer processor in the form of a central server  26  in operable association with the wireless transceivers  16  to communicate information to and from each of the communication devices  22  via the wireless transceivers  16 . While the server  26  is shown adjacent the building  14  for purposes of illustration, it should be understood that the server  26  could be located within the building  14  or at a location remote from the building  14 . The server  26  is configured to determine the location of each device  22  within the building  14  in the case of an emergency and to communicate a sequential set of visual images of an escape route (as shown diagrammatically in  FIG. 1  by arrows  28  for each of the persons  12 ) via the wireless transceivers  16  to each of the communication devices  22  to lead the person  12  carrying the communication device  22  from checkpoint  18  to checkpoint  18  along the escape route A until the person  12  exits the building  14  via an exist  29 . 
         [0032]    The wireless transceivers  16  can be any suitable, conventional wireless transceiver, such as any conventional wireless router, configured to operate according to any suitable relatively low power radio/wireless protocol, such as wireless signals operating according to Bluetooth protocols in the ISM band from 2400 to 2800 megahertz, signals operating according to Zigbee protocols such as IEEE 802.15.4, signals operating under ultra-wide band protocols, such as IEEE 802.14.4a, and signals operating under so-called Wi-Fi or wireless local area network protocols, such as signals operating under IEEE 802.11 standards, from 2400 to 2800 megahertz, signals operating. In this regard, it is anticipated that Bluetooth protocols and/or Wi-Fi protocols will be the most often used in most applications of the system  10 . The wireless communication devices  22  can be provided in the form any conventional wireless communication device configured to operate according to any of the relatively low power radio/wireless protocols mentioned above. Such devices  22  include, for example, smart phones, cellular phones, tablet computers, iPhones™, iPads™, and Itouch™ devices, and will each typically include a wireless transceiver comprising a wireless transmitter and receiver, a programmable processor, a user interface in the form of the visual display  24  and a keyboard either incorporated into the visual display  24  or as a separate element of the device  22 , and a battery. The central server  26  can be in the form of any conventional and known server and will typically include one or more programmable processors, electronic databases, suitable user interfaces, and communication ports that allow the server  26  to be in operable association with each of the wireless transceivers  16 , such as, for example, via hard line data connections and/or wireless data connections. 
         [0033]    The system  10  further includes an electronic database  30  accessible by the central server, the electronic database  30  containing images of each of the checkpoints  18  and/or images of each path  20  connecting the checkpoints  18 . Primary and alternate escape routes  28  are determined from every location within the building following the paths  20  from checkpoint  13  to checkpoint  80  and again stored in the database  30 . The central server  26  is configured to determine a primary escape route  28  from the building  14  for each of the communication devices  22  based on the location of each communication device  22  within the building  14  and to communicate to each of the communication devices  22  a sequential set of the images of the checkpoints  18  and/or paths  20  between the checkpoints  18  along the primary escape route  28  via the wireless transceivers  16  located at the checkpoints  18  along the primary escape routes  28 . In this regard, the central server  26  is configured to communicate a visual image of the path  20  from the checkpoint  18  corresponding to the transceiver  16  currently communicating with a device  22  to the next checkpoint  18  along the escape route  28 , with a new visual image of the next path  20  being transmitted when a user reaches the next checkpoint  18 . If the central server  26  receives an indication that one of the primary escape routes  28  is no longer viable, such as receiving a signal from a video monitor or smoke detector indicating that the escape route  28  is no longer safe, the server  26  is configured to determine an alternate escape route, such as the escape route  28 ′ in  FIG. 1 , for any device  22  impacted by the non-viability of the primary escape route  28 . 
         [0034]    With reference to  FIG. 2 , according to the disclosed method, when a person  12  enters a facility or building  14  for the first time, the person will be asked if he/she has any mobile communication device  22  and if that device  22  is supported by this system, as shown at  40 . If he/she does not have any device, he/she will be provided with a device  22  that has been preconfigured to work with the transceivers  16  and the central server  26  as part of the method and system  10 , as shown at  42 . If he/she has a supported device  22 , emergency exit guiding software will be installed in the communication device  22  to allow the communication device  22  to operate with the transceiver  16  and the server  26  as part of the method and system  10 , as shown at  44 . In this regard, a unique ID (identifier) will be assigned to the communication device  22  and the communication device  22  will be configured to receive data from the central server  26 , as shown at  46 . Further in this regard, the central server  26  will be given access to the communication device  22  so that the server  26  can transmit data without any interruption or permission issues, as shown at  48 , and the communication device  22  will be configured so that one or more of the relatively low power radio/wireless protocols, such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi protocols, are always switched on (enabled) in the communication device  22  as long as the person  12  and device  22  are present in the building, as shown at  50 . 
         [0035]    With reference to  FIG. 3 , further according to the disclosed method, when a person  12  needs to exit the building  14  due to an emergency, the central server  26  sends a signal to find all the communication devices  22  in the building  14  and to determine the nearest wireless transceiver  16  and associated checkpoint  18  to each of the devices  22 , as shown at  52 . After the communication devices  22  are found, the server  26  determines what relatively low power radio/wireless protocols are enabled for each device  22 , such as whether they are Bluetooth enabled and/or Wi-Fi enabled, and uses the respective protocol to transmit the data, as shown at  54 . If more than one of the protocols is enabled and the enabled protocols include Wi-Fi, it will be desirable in many applications for Wi-Fi to take preference. Before transmitting the details for each escape route  28 , the server  26  determines whether the primary escape route  28  for each device  22  is compromised or not, as shown at  56 . If the primary escape route  28  is compromised, all the checkpoints  18  along that route can be disabled by the server  26  (i.e., the transceivers  16  at each checkpoint  18  can be disabled by the server  26 ), as shown at  58 . An alternate escape route  28 ′ will be determined by the server  26  and transmitted as the preferred escape route  28 , as shown at  60 . 
         [0036]    After steps  58  and  60 , or if the primary escape route  28  is not compromised, the server  26  transmits real life images of the next nearest checkpoint  18  or the path  20  to the next nearest checkpoint  18  to be reached on the escape route  28  to each of the communication devices  22  based on the locations of each of the devices  22 , as shown at  62 . The server  26  next determines if each person  12  with a device  22  has reached the next checkpoint  18  for that device  22 , as shown at  64 . In this regard, the server  26  is configured to assume the person  12  has not reached the next checkpoint  18  as long as the transceiver  16  at the prior checkpoint  18  can still communicate with the communication device  22 . If the person  12  has not reached the next checkpoint  18 , the same image will be shown continuously, as shown at  66 , and notifications will be transmitted for the person  12  to hurry, as shown at  68 . If the person  12  reaches the next checkpoint  18 , the transmitted image will be updated with the next image for the escape route  28 , as shown at  70 , and this will be repeated until the person  12  exits the building  14  via the escape route  28 . 
         [0037]    It should be appreciated that while specific embodiments of the system and method  10  have been shown herein for purposes of illustration, the method and system  10  can take on many forms according to the disclosure. For example, while  FIG. 1  discloses a certain number of the transceivers  16  and checkpoints  18  being located at intersections of pathways, the most desirable locations for the transceiver  16  and checkpoints  18  can vary depending upon the particular parameters of each application. By way of further example, while the illustrated method has been described as providing alternate escape routes, in some applications this feature may not be incorporated. As yet a further example, while the illustrated method shows that a message can be transmitted to the person urging the person to hurry, in some applications this feature may not be incorporated. Accordingly, no limitation to specific details is intended unless specifically recited in an appended claim.