Abstract:
A gun detection system and method to prevent school and business shootings is provided that is capable of detecting a firearm a significant distance away from the point of entry and triggering response of an alarm and an automatic door locking system.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/924,100, filed Jan. 6, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a security system for preventing the use or entry of firearms in schools and other buildings. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    There is a wide spread epidemic of shootings at schools and businesses in the United States. Metal detectors are commonly used at the point of entrance to a building to determine if a person entering is armed. However, metal detectors avow a gun to become too close to the point of entry, where an armed person can do harm. A metal detector will detect a gun, but by then it can be too late to lock a door or sound an alarm, as the gun may be inside the building. 
         [0004]    The present invention addresses these problems in the art with a system that is capable of detecting a gun that is a significant distance away from the door, allowing time for an automatic door locking system and alarm to engage. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    According to a first aspect of the present invention, a system is provided comprising a radio frequency identification reader positioned near a building configured to detect a firearm comprising a radio frequency identification tag from within 100 feet of the radio frequency identification reader, an alarm in communication with the radio frequency identification reader and configured to be triggered when the radio frequency identification reader detects a firearm, and an automatic door locking system in communication with the radio frequency identification reader and configured to lock doors of the building when the radio frequency identification reader detects a firearm. 
         [0006]    In certain embodiments of the present invention, the radio frequency identification reader can be secured to a structure positioned on or near the building, or can be a hand-held device. The radio frequency identification reader comprises a long-range ultrahigh frequency antenna. The radio frequency identification reader is configured to detect a radio frequency identification tag attached to or embedded in a firearm, including in a firearm ammunition clip. 
         [0007]    The radio frequency identification reader according to the system of the present invention can be configured to alert a third party or to activate a security system when the radio frequency identification reader detects a firearm. 
         [0008]    The system according to the invention may further include at least a second radio frequency identification reader in communication with both the alarm and the automatic door locking system and positioned near the building, configured to detect a firearm comprising a radio frequency identification tag from as far as 100 feet away from the at least second radio frequency identification reader, wherein the alarm is further configured to be triggered and the automatic door locking system is further configured to lock the doors of the building when the at least second radio frequency identification reader. 
         [0009]    The system according to the invention may comprise a central computing device configured to communicate with and control the operation of the radio frequency identification reader, the alarm and the automatic door locking system. 
         [0010]    The system according to the present may further comprise a device comprising a memory that stores a software application, wherein the device is in communication with the radio frequency identification reader and the software application is configured to execute an action when the radio frequency identification reader detects a firearm. The system according to the present invention may further comprise a transceiver configured to receive a signal from the radio frequency identification reader that the firearm has been detected and to transmit a signal to each of the alarm and the automatic door locking system instructing the alarm and the automatic door locking system to activate. 
         [0011]    According to a second aspect of the invention, a method is provided that comprises detecting, by a radio frequency identification reader, the presence of a firearm comprising a radio frequency identification tag within 100 feet of a building, receiving by an alarm and by an automatic door locking system, a signal indicating that the firearm has been detected by the radio frequency identification reader, triggering the alarm in response to receiving the signal; and locking the doors to the building by the automatic door locking system in response to receiving the signal. 
         [0012]    The method according to the invention may further comprise receiving, by a communication device having a receiver, the signal indicating that the firearm has been detected by the radio frequency identification reader, and transmitting, a transmitter of the communication device in response to receiving the signal, an alert message to a third party to inform the third party that the firearm has been detected. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  shows the system of the present invention according to a first embodiment of the invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  shows the system of the present invention according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  shows the system of the present invention according to a third embodiment of the invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  shows the system of the present invention according to a fourth embodiment of the invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  shows firearms comprising radio frequency identification tags according to the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 6  shows a method and system according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0019]    The present invention will now be described with reference made to  FIGS. 1 through 6 . 
         [0020]    According to the present invention, a radio frequency identification (“RFID”) reader device  10  is provided in connection with a building, to detect the presence of an RFID tag or tags  20  that are affixed to a firearm  30 . When an RFID tag  20  is detected by the RFID reader device  10 , the RFID reader device  10  causes an alarm  40  and an automatic door locking system  50  to be activated for the building. 
         [0021]    The RFID tags  20  are known in the art and are small, inexpensive and abundant. The RFID tags  20  can be concealed in a firearm  30  and/or an ammunition clip  60  during manufacture or by the retailer, as shown in  FIG. 5 . The RFID tag  20  is programmed to signal to a RFID reader device  10  that the RFID tag  20  is affixed to a firearm  30  or a part of a firearm  30 . For purposes of explanation, any reference to a firearm  30  detected by the RFID reader device  10  contained herein refers to the detection of any part of the firearm  30  having an affixed RFID tag  20 , including an ammunition clip  60  which may or may not be physically attached to the firearm. 
         [0022]    The RFID reader device  10  comprises an ultrahigh frequency (“UHF”) antenna  15  that is configured to detect the presence of an RFID tag  20  affixed to a firearm  30  or ammunition clip  60 . The antenna  15  is capable of detecting the presence of such an RFID tag  20  that is within a distance D of 100 feet of the antenna  15  in any direction. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, the antenna  15  is capable of detecting an RFID tag  20  from greater distances D than 100 feet. 
         [0023]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the system operates as follows. If an armed individual approaches a building utilizing the system of the present invention, when the individual enters within 100 feet of the RFID reader device, the concealed RFID tag  20  installed in the firearm  30  is detected. In response to detecting the RFID tag  20 , the RFID reader device  10  activates the automatic door locking system  50  for the building. The automatic door locking system  50 , when activated, automatically locks the doors to the building to prevent anyone from entering the building from outside, including the armed individual. Upon detecting the RFID tag  20 , the RFID reader  10  also activates a warning alarm  40 . The warning alarm  40  may include sonic and/or visual alarms, and may also be a system comprising multiple individual alarms that can be installed inside and outside of the building. The warning alarm  40  alerts the armed individual outside of the building that they have been detected, increasing the likelihood that the individual flees the vicinity of the building without ever entering the building. The warning alarm  40  also alerts those inside of the building that an armed individual is approaching, thereby providing them with additional time to take preparatory protective steps, such as locking down individual rooms in the building. 
         [0024]    The RFID reader device  10  can vary with respect to the number of devices  10  that are used with a particular building. For example, in a first embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , a single RFID reader device  10  can be positioned over the door of the building. The RFID reader device  10  would therefore detect an RFID tag  20  that is within 100 feet of the door to the building. 
         [0025]    In a second embodiment, shown in  FIG. 2 , a plurality of RFID reader devices  10  are used and are secured to a wall  70  of the building near the entrance. Because each RFID reader device  10  is configured to detect a RFID tag  20  that is within a certain range, the use of multiple RFID reader devices  10  increases the range in which an RFID tag  20  can be detected. Additionally, in the event that an RFID reader device  10  is non-functional or does not have sufficient power, the use of more than one RFID reader device  10  allows the system to still function by using the other RFID reader devices  10 . An RFID reader device  10  is not limited to being secured to any particular, existing structure, but rather, the RFID reader device  10  can be secured to or concealed on any available, existing object or structure on or near a building, including for example support columns, trees, signs, light posts or flag poles. 
         [0026]    According to a third embodiment, shown in  FIG. 3  the RFID reader device  10  can be secured to a support pole  80  that is not part of the pre-existing architecture or landscape of the building, but rather, is installed with the installation of the system for the purpose of supporting the RFID reader device  10 . One or more support poles  80  can be installed in the number and locations deemed appropriate for the particular use, and are not limited as such. 
         [0027]    According to a further embodiment of the invention, the RFID reader device  10 , or at least one of a plurality of RFID reader devices  10  used in the system may be a handheld unit  100 , as shown in  FIG. 4 . The handheld RFID reader device  100  can be used by police officers or other security personnel to detect an RFID tag  20  in the same manner as described above. An individual can use a handheld RFID reader device  100  to detect the presence of a firearm within a distance D (e.g., 100 feet) of the individual. For example, if a building has a large parking lot, a security officer can patrol the parking at with the handheld RFID reader device  100  to detect if an automobile  90  or an individual in an automobile  90  has a firearm  30  inside. The handheld RFID reader device  100  can be configured to implement the same response of activating the warning alarm  40  and automatic door locking system  50  as would be implemented by the RFID reader device  10 , or configured to trigger a different response sequence. 
         [0028]    An exemplary method according to the invention is shown in  FIG. 6 . When an RFID reader device  10  detects the presence of a RFID tag  20 , it is configured to transmit to a central processer  110 , a signal  120  containing information that the firearm-related RFID tag  20  has been detected. The central processor  110  can be part of the RFID reader device  10  or can be part of an external computing device (not shown), including for example, a computer or mobile device located inside of the building that allows an individual to oversee and manage the RFID reader device  10 , warning alarms  40  and automatic door locking system  50 . The central processor  110  may comprise a transceiver (not shown) configured to receive and transmit signals, and a memory stored with instructions or a software application that is configured, in combination with a processor, to execute a series of actions when a signal  120  is received. Upon receiving the signal  120 , the central processor  110  is configured to transmit a signal  121   a  to the warning alarm  40  instructing the warning alarm  40  to activate. The central processor  110  also simultaneously transmits a signal  121   b  to the automatic door locking system  50  instructing the automatic door locking system  50  to lock the entrance doors to the building. 
         [0029]    According to an embodiment of the invention, if the building comprises a security system  130 , upon receipt of the signal  120 , the central processor  110  can be configured to transmit a signal  121   c  to trigger the security system  130 . The security system  130  can be configured to respond to the signal  121   c  in the same manner that the security system  130  may respond to a break in, including for example, sending a transmission to a private security company or law enforcement to indicate that the security system  130  has been activated. 
         [0030]    According to a further embodiment of the invention, upon receipt of the signal  120 , the central processor  110  transmits a signal  121   d  directly to law enforcement or on- or off-site security personnel to inform the recipient that a firearm  30  has been detected. Alternatively or additionally, the signal  121   d  can be transmitted to a mobile device or a computer inside the budding, such as in the main office or the security office, instructing an individual to contact law enforcement or security personnel. 
         [0031]    The warning alarm  40  and the automatic door locking system  50  are configured to be manually deactivated once it has been determined that any threat posed by the detected firearm  30 . This can be done for example, using a central control device configured to control operation of at least the alarm  40  and automatic door locking system  50 , or using individual control consoles. 
         [0032]    According to a further alternative embodiment of the present invention, the RFID tags  20  are further programmed to signal to the RFID reader device  10  if the accompanying firearm  30  belongs to a law enforcement officer. The RFID reader device  10  can be configured to not activate the alarm  40  or automatic door locking system  50  upon detecting the firearm  30  of a law enforcement officer. 
         [0033]    According to a further embodiment of the invention, the firearm  30  may be further implanted with a disabling locking device that the RFID reader device  10  can engage to disable the firearm  30 . 
         [0034]    While there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices and methods described may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto. Furthermore, in the claims means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. Thus although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures.