Abstract:
An apparatus and method for generating and transmitting alerts in response to an indication of an emergency in a facility. The apparatus comprises an emergency and mass notification system (EMNS) configured to be connected to a plurality of mobile devices each having an app installed thereon for communication with the EMNS over a network. The EMNS is adapted to receive an authorization code from one of the mobile devices and, in response to receipt of the code, to transmit an alert to law enforcement authorities, transmit an alert to other mobile devices and to manipulate selected lighting and audio systems in the facility.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of Provisional U.S. Patent Application No. 61/998,570, filed on Jun. 30, 2014, and entitled “SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC ALERT AND LOCKDOWN,” the content of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Emergencies requiring the immediate and quick lockdown of a facility, and the rapid deployment and intervention of law enforcement authorities, have become a commonplace occurrence. For example, the safety of the students, faculty, administration and others in an office complex, school or university, or any other building where people congregate is at great risk when there is a school intrusion by a would be evil doer. Such an intrusion requires that action be taken quickly to reduce or eliminate the risk and/or neutralize the evil doer. Presently, such action is most commonly instituted by a phone call or some other similar alert to the law enforcement authorities and by manual lockdown of the facility. What is needed is an automated alert and lockdown system that can be easily and quickly activated and deactivated from varied, multiple, and/or mobile locations, and that is easy to implement. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    There is provided a system and method for automatically alerting law enforcement authorities of an emergency situation and for automatically locking down a facility. The system preferably comprises a software application (“app”) that is installed on a wireless mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet, carried by users. Authorized users of the system, such as assigned faculty or administrators, are provided with an authorization code that can be entered upon launching the app. Once a correct code has been entered, the system is activated and proceeds to automatically:
   Alert all users that an emergency has been reported, and, if desired and based on the code entered, identify on the users&#39; devices the emergency procedures to be followed;   Alert law enforcement authorities of the occurrence of an emergency, and, if desired, based on the code entered, identify the nature of the emergency to the authorities. The user&#39;s mobile device may also forward information pertaining to the location of the device from which the code was sent; and,   Communicate with the facility&#39;s emergency and mass notification system to cause one or more of the following events to automatedly occur: shut down lighting, computers and other equipment in selected locations in the facility, e.g., in the case of a school, in the classrooms; activate strobe lights, for example, in hallways, and other selected locations; play an automated message through the facility&#39;s public address system; and/or sound an alarm.   
 
         [0007]    The system is also deactivated via the app, and/or by authorized law enforcement authorities, by communicating with the emergency and mass notification system to automatedly cause the lighting, computer and other equipment to repower/reboot and to power down the strobe lights, alarm(s). For example, a deactivation code may be entered via the app that allows system deactivation, and there may be a requirement that the code be separately and independently entered on two separate devices. 
         [0008]    Communication between the mobile devices and the law enforcement authorities may occur via the internet using the facility&#39;s WiFi system and/or cellular data communication, and communication between the mobile devices and the building automation system may occur over the facility&#39;s local wireless network, or by direct WiFi connection, to the emergency and mass notification system. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system configured according to one aspect of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart illustrating activation of the system of  FIG. 1  so as to place the facility in a “lockdown” mode. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram illustrating those aspects of the system of  FIG. 1  employed to deactivate the system so as to remove the facility from “lockdown” mode. 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating deactivation of the system so as to remove the facility from “lockdown” mode. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Turning now to the drawings, wherein like numerals represent like elements, there is illustrated in  FIG. 1  a block diagram of a system  10 , for use in a facility having a emergency and mass notification system (“EMNS”)  12 , for automatically alerting law enforcement authorities of an emergency situation and for automatically locking down the facility. An example of EMNS  12  is the Honeywell Building Solutions Instant Alert System, described at https://buildingsolutions.honeywell.com/en-US/solutions/instantalert/Pages/default.aspx. An example of one implementation of the Honeywell Instant Alert system as used in a school facility can be found at http://www.wssd.org/domain/9. 
         [0014]    EMNS  12  is in communication with a public address, or paging, system  14  and strobes and other alerts, such as audible alerts, in well-known fashion. EMNS  12  is networkable so as to allow for wired or wireless communication with a network, such as a local network and/or the internet, as shown at  26 , also in well known fashion. 
         [0015]    According to the invention, there is provided a switch  18 , operating under control of EMNS  12 , for making/breaking the power connections to building lighting controls for controlling lighting  16  (for classrooms, for example), and the power outlets to which various computer workstations  20  are connected. For example, switch  18  may comprise a mechanical arm that is able to manipulate the circuit breakers, between on and off positions, for the lighting controls for lighting  16  and power outlets for computers  20 . Alternatively, switch  18  may comprise a number of switches placed in series with each circuit that is desired to be controlled so as to make and break the connection for each circuit on demand. Though  FIG. 1  shows the lighting controls and power outlets for lighting  16  and computers  20  connected to the EMNS  12 , it should be pointed out that this is a drawing expedient. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the lighting controls and computer circuits are controlled via a circuit breaker panel (not shown), the individual circuits of which the switch  18  selectively controls under control of EMNS  12 . Thus, EMNS  12  has the ability to send voice messages to the paging system  14 , and power up and down the lighting connected to lighting controls  16  and the computers  20 . 
         [0016]    Mobile devices  22  are equipped with an app that provides an interface and functionality for communicating with the EMNS  12  via network  26  and also for communicating with the mobile devices  28  of others (e.g., faculty and staff)  32  in the facility and law enforcement authorities  34 , via a cellular network  24 . Communication may also be made to other devices  30 , such as to a device for initiating an Amber alert, to a 911 dispatcher, or to other emergency alert systems. 
         [0017]      FIG. 2  illustrates one embodiment of the functionality for initiating an automatic alert and lockdown sequence using the system  10 . As noted, an app  100  is initially loaded onto mobile devices  22 . The app  100  may also be loaded on various workstations  101  in the facility. As shown at  102 , the app  100  is instantiated by a user interacting with the mobile device  22 , as shown at  102 , and opening the app  100 , as shown at  104 . The user then enters an initiation code into the app  100 , such as a five digit PIN, as shown as  106 . Only authorized personnel may be provided with the PIN. Once a correct PIN has been entered, the automatic alert and lockdown sequence is begun. The EMNS  12  causes all or selected lighting and computers to be shut down, as shown at  108 . The EMNS  12  also activates strobe lights  16  located at various selected locations in the facility, as shown at  110  and sends an automated voice alert message through the facility&#39;s public address/announcement system  14 . As shown, all of the forgoing occurs as a result of the activated mobile device  22  communicating with the EMNS  12  via the local wireless network  26  in response to entry of the PIN. 
         [0018]    Simultaneously, in response to entry of the PIN, the activated mobile device  22  communicates via the cellular network  24  with law enforcement authorities  34  and faculty/staff  32  and to the other devices  30  via the cellular network (and/or via the local wireless network, if desired). Communication may be by text messaging, voice messaging or the like. At the facility, pre-programmed audible alerts  114  may be sounded through the public address/announcement system  14 , such as a programmed sequence of sounds or tones  116 . Low frequency sounds may also be played so as to provide alerts in the form of vibrations in the facility. All designated users  32  may also be alerted to the emergency via their mobile devices  28 . In one embodiment, a message displaying the emergency procedures to be followed is displayed on the devices  28 . 
         [0019]    In a preferred embodiment, the app transmits the location of the mobile device  22  from which the PIN was entered to law enforcement authorities. In another preferred embodiment, the PIN is indicative of the type of emergency, such that law enforcement authorities are aware of the nature of the situation. 
         [0020]    Once the emergency has been abated or declared under control, the deactivation process may begin. Reference is made to  FIGS. 3 and 4  in respect to the deactivation process. Again, deactivation is implemented via the app  100 . As before, the app  100  is instantiated by a user interacting with the mobile device  22 , as shown at  200 . However, for safety and security reasons, it is preferred that deactivation require entry of correct PIN(s) by two authorized personnel,  202 , such as some combination of law enforcement authorities  34 , and facility management/staff. Once the correct PIN(s) has (have) been entered, the deactivation sequence begins, as shown at  206 . Communication between the mobile device  22  and the EMNS  12  then proceeds via the network  26 , and between the mobile device  22  that instantiated the deactivation, and the mobile devices  28  of other faculty/staff  32  via cellular network  24  so as to alert them that the emergency has been abated. The app  100  instructs the EMNS  12  to activate the lighting and computers that were previously deactivated, discontinue the audible alerts, discontinue the use of the strobe lights, and close the switch(es)  18  as shown at  208 ,  210  and  212 . Power may be restored via switch  36 . 
         [0021]    While particular embodiments of the invention have been described for illustrative purposes, many modifications and changes are apparent to those skilled in the art. According, the appended claims, rather than the foregoing description, are intended to encompass the true spirit and scope of the invention.