PERIMETER OPTICAL SECURITY SYSTEM E-FENCE (POSSE) WITH INTEGRATED CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION (CCTV) SYSTEM

Disclosed herein is a Perimeter Optical Security System E-Fence (POSSE) system having a high definition (HD) closed-circuit television (CCTV) system. The HD CCTV system, strategically placed throughout a freight terminal facility, records high definition video data utilizing both fixed and 360° camera hardware. The video is stored on localized servers to be made available for an extended period. There is full video coverage of the dock work area where the majority of freight handling and loading takes place. There are also cameras strategically located in the office and yard locations of the freight terminal facility. Cameras are also strategically placed around the perimeter to provide superior protection. The streaming video can be accessed from both wired and wireless hardware at the local facility as well as remotely.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/501,913, filed May 5, 2018, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is generally related to security, surveillance and asset tracking systems.

BACKGROUND

Both freight carriers and their customers desire up-to-date tracking and location of shipments. They also want to prevent theft and unauthorized access to freight during transit. The installation, maintenance, and monitoring of traditional alarm systems are typically outsourced to vendors, and confidence intervals associated with the aforementioned systems are low because they incorporate layers of technology without using visual confirmation. Consequently, false alarms are frequently the result of operator (human) error, debris from wind, animals, and defective equipment. Security managers rely on inadequate police responses to investigate and handle incidents during the closed hours of business. Therefore, a need clearly exists of a security system capable of preventing loss events, reducing costs and false alarms.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a Perimeter Optical Security System E-Fence (POSSE) system having a high definition (HD) closed-circuit television (CCTV) system. The HD CCTV system, strategically placed throughout a freight terminal facility, records high definition video data utilizing both fixed and 360° camera hardware. The video is stored on localized servers to be made available for an extended period. There is full video coverage of the dock work area where the majority of freight handling and loading takes place. There are also cameras strategically located in the office and yard locations of the freight terminal facility. Cameras are also strategically placed around the perimeter to provide superior protection. The streaming video can be accessed from both wired and wireless hardware at the local facility as well as remotely.

Further, a HD CCTV surveillance system is activated by thermal heat signature and motion using thermal imaging cameras, thermal radar cameras, and HD color yard cameras to create an event/alarm. The information is received by a video management system and processed through aggregator software. Each alarm is visually verified by a command center who can access the system and live view any event from any location within the HD CCTV network. Aggregator software processes the arming/disarming of the system via electronic keypad at points of egress/ingress. Specifically, the aggregator software detects company-owned equipment and arms/disarms the system as needed to prevent false alarms. The process allows the company to control and manage events by visually investigating each event. Company vehicles equipped with Electronic Logging Devices (ELD's) possess GPS technology, and Geo fencing surrounds each terminal. The system allows the company to control egress/ingress and the arming/disarming of the alarm, thus minimizing unauthorized entry into the facility with little disruption of access by authorized personnel.

The HD CCTV system provides many operational benefits as well. It is used to increase accurate weight and measures as well as authenticate the intensity and validity of workman's compensation claims. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) allows the identification of freight, equipment, and vehicles through the same system. Real Time Location Services (RTLS) tracks the location of freight, equipment and vehicles. An Object Left Behind (OLB) system sends an alert when an item has not moved and may be lost. These three analytics can be overlaid to improve process compliance and efficiency as well as reduce occurrences of loss and damage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring first toFIG. 1, depicted is a block diagram of the security system100installed in a LTL freight dock or other similar operation. As shown, the security system100comprises a plurality of HD color door cameras102, 360° color HD dock cameras104, HD color yard cameras106, and office cameras108for complete video coverage of trailers, dock and yard contained at a LTL shipping facility. These cameras are connected via wire150to a video management system116contained at the facility. Video is stored by the video management system (VMS)116system in video data storage114for archive and future use. Video is also available real time for monitoring current activities.

Further, 360° color HD Forklift cameras110can be installed on the forklifts to provide additional video coverage. These cameras transmit data wirelessly over wireless network152to the video management system116.

Thermal imaging cameras120and/or thermal radar sensors122are strategically located around the perimeter of the facility to monitor activity near the perimeter of the facility. They are connected wired or wirelessly to the video management system116. Thermal cameras120and thermal sensors detect122and capture the presence, shape and motion of heat producing objects, including people, that may pose a security threat. Thermal cameras120also allow for monitoring during darkness, storms, fog, high relative humidity, excessive heat, or similar conditions.

Trailers can also be equipped with door cameras112that activate and store images when the door is opened while away from a company-owned facility to capture video of pickup and deliveries. This will also capture any non-conformances during pickup or delivery and capture thefts. Data is sent wirelessly via network154to the video management system116.

Freight that has not moved for an extended period of time may have become misplaced or misrouted. Using the images from the HD CCTV cameras102-112, the Object Left Behind (OLB) software136can detect potentially misplaced freight and alert the local terminal146and/or the centralized command center144for further investigation and resolution.

Images from the HD CCTV cameras can be analyzed with Optical Character Recognition software134to identify characters or barcodes on identification labels. These labels can be placed on objects including but not limited to freight, trailers, tractors, trucks, forklifts, and material handling equipment.

Further, the HD CCTV camera images, along with the real time location software138, can maintain records and report on the last known position of any object tracked with an alpha numeric label or barcode. Tracked objects include, but are not limited to, freight, trailers, tractors, forklifts, and material handling equipment.

Similarly, RFID tags127and sensors can be used to track the location of an object including but not limited to freight, trailers, tractors, forklifts, and material handling equipment.

The location provided from real time location software138or the RFID tags127will be used to track shipment progress and optimize operations.

Security aggregation software142is used to consolidate multiple security/operational functions under one operating platform. The software can coordinate location information, video images, and security threat alerts to a centralized command center144. The command center144distributes alerts and video in response to potential threat identified by the object left behind system136and the security aggregation software142.

Once the command center144verifies that a potential threat is an actual threat, there are multiple response options. Responses include, but are not limited to, alerts to local police148and/or local terminal employees146working for the facility with an alert. Command center144can also use an audio speaker402to deter an intruder from taking further action.

Authentication to access facilities can be provided by keypad128, RFID129, cardkey130, and/or biometric readers132located at entry points. A person's identity is compared to an authorized access list before entry is granted.

Global position system (GPS)126integrated with a virtual perimeter crated by a geo-fence can provide authorization for access to facilities. Further, geo-fencing can alert the control center and/ or local operations of the location of a truck, tractor, or trailer that is in an unauthorized location. GPS can also extend the Real time location system (RTLS)138to include position of freight while in transit.

FIG. 2depicts a block diagram showing how multiple terminal facilities202, such as LTL hub and spoke facilities, can all be monitored from a single centralized command center144. Any alarms triggered can be viewed from this centralized location and staff can be dispatched only if the alert is confirmed by the centralized command center144. This avoids having multiple redundant security personnel at each facility, especially during periods where the facilities are inactive (e.g., early morning or otherwise).

FIG. 3depicts an overview of an example terminal facility, showing possible placement locations of HD cameras102-112. As depicted, cameras are strategically placed on the dock and around the yard of the terminal facility202in order to provide full visual coverage for surveillance and security monitoring purposes. Use of 360° color HD cameras, in particular, greatly reduces the amount of cameras needed while also reducing blind spots. Further, because the cameras are HD, any captured images can be magnified much more greatly than those in a typical CCTV system. This also enables the HD cameras to be used by OCR system134and RTLS138because it is much easier to identify barcodes with HD cameras.

FIG. 4depicts the various components of the RTLS138. As shown, in order to track objects, RTLS138utilizes a combination of OCR system134, which reads barcodes placed on objects, electronic logging devices (ELDs)124, which tracks trailers as they arrive/depart from each facility202, GPS126which can be used to track trailers within each facility202(e.g., at the gate, yard, or dock) or to identify the location of the trailers on the road (e.g., to estimate arrival time of each trailer). The information from each of these systems is logged by position tracking software302which keeps a record of the last known position of each tracked object in data storage140. This helps, for example, in locating missing freight because the last known location of the freight is known much more precisely than with other current systems.

FIG. 5depicts the various components of OLB system136. Door cameras102and dock cameras104are monitored by object left behind software136. If any freight that is not marked is left in an incorrect location for a specified amount of time or at a wrong location, OLB system alerts the local terminal146and/or command center144that freight has been left behind. Actions can then be taken by personnel to ensure that the freight is delivered to the intended location. OLB system136also may store video/picture of the last known location of the freight which can be used for insurance claims, etc.

FIG. 6depicts the interaction of the various components of the perimeter security system which is used to detect intruders and/or unauthorized personnel. The video management system116monitors various sources such as thermal imaging camera120, thermal radar sensors122, yard camera106, etc. to detect any movement or thermal signals. Security data aggregation software142determines if the movement is a possible threat and alerts command center144if a threat is detected. Command center144can then utilize video management system116to check the video feed to see if a response is warranted. For example, local police148can be alerted or the command center144can use audio speaker402to issue a warning to any intruders or alert local security personnel.

FIG. 7depicts the interaction of the various components utilized by the controlled entry system which is used to provide access to authorized users at each facility202. As shown, security data aggregation software142monitors the use of ELDs124, GPS126, keypads128, cardkeys130, and/or biometric readers132at each facility202. As a check, security data aggregation software142also utilizes the video management system116as a backup. For example, if it is detected that a keypad128is being used, security data aggregation software142may utilize finger print recognition software as a backup to verify that the correct user is utilizing the keypad128. In particular, security data aggregation software142decides whether or not to grant access to different areas of facility202. If access is not granted for whatever reason, security data aggregation software142can alert command center144or local terminal146which can then investigate further.