Patent Publication Number: US-11021893-B2

Title: Security system for a building

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally involves a security system for a building. Particular embodiments of the present invention may provide local and/or remote lockdown and/or monitoring capability for multiple doors in the building to control access inside the building. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Schools, airports, dormitories, and virtually all commercial and private buildings often include multiple interior rooms. It is generally necessary to allow students, employees, guests, and other authorized personnel to enter the buildings and freely move between the interior rooms throughout the day. The number of authorized personnel in a building can be significant, and the authorized personnel may need to move between the interior rooms multiple times throughout the day. Therefore, providing convenient and relatively unrestricted access to enter the building and move between the interior rooms is often an important design consideration that must be balanced with security measures to limit and/or prevent unauthorized access to the building or between interior rooms in the building. 
     The relatively large number of occupants in a building creates an increased threat that an armed person may access the building for criminal purposes. Although the capability exists to secure the building and interior rooms from unauthorized access, prompt communication throughout the building of an active threat is often not possible. As a result, several instances have been reported in which an armed shooter, such as a disgruntled student, an employee, or even a complete stranger, gained access to a school or office building and indiscriminately attacked personnel in multiple rooms before being stopped. 
     Therefore, the need exists for an improved security system for a building that can provide local and/or remote lockdown and/or monitoring capability for multiple doors in the building to promptly control access inside the building. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Aspects and advantages of the invention are set forth below in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. 
     One embodiment of the present invention is a security system for a building that includes multiple lock modules. Each lock module is associated with a particular door and has an unlocked position that allows the particular door to open and a locked position that prevents the door from opening. A door status signal associated with each lock module includes a unique identifier and a door position signal for the particular door associated with the lock module. A controller associated with each lock module transmits the door status signal for the associated lock module. A lock module command signal is communicated to at least some of the controllers and directs at least some of the lock modules to reposition to either the unlocked position or the locked position. Each controller enables the associated lock module to reposition to the locked position when the door position signal reflects that the particular door associated with the associated lock module is shut. 
     An alternate embodiment of the present invention is a security system for a building that includes multiple lock modules. Each lock module is associated with a particular door and has an unlocked position that allows the particular door to open and a locked position that prevents the particular door from opening. Each lock module includes a door status signal and a controller. The door status signal includes a unique identifier for the particular door associated with the lock module and a status that identifies when the lock module is in the locked position. The controller transmits the door status signal for the lock module. A lock module command signal received by at least some of the lock modules directs at least some of the lock modules to reposition to either the unlocked position or the locked position. 
     Those of ordinary skill in the art will better appreciate the features and aspects of such embodiments, and others, upon review of the specification. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof to one skilled in the art, is set forth more particularly in the remainder of the specification, including reference to the accompanying figures, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a lock module for a security system according to an embodiment of the present invention with the lock module in an unlocked position; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the lock module shown in  FIG. 1  in a locked position; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the lock module shown in  FIG. 2  with the cover removed; 
         FIG. 4  is a functional block diagram of the security system according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 5  is a high-level block diagram representation of one exemplary security system according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Reference will now be made in detail to present embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The detailed description uses numerical and letter designations to refer to features in the drawings. Like or similar designations in the drawings and description have been used to refer to like or similar parts of the invention. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit thereof. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment may be used on another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. 
     As used in the claims, the definite article “said” identifies required elements that define the scope of embodiments of the claimed invention, whereas the definite article “the” merely identifies environmental elements that provide context for embodiments of the claimed invention that are not intended to be a limitation of any claim. 
     Embodiments of the present invention include a security system  10  for a building that provides local and/or remote lockdown and/or monitoring capability for multiple doors in the building to control access inside the building. The security system  10  includes a lock module  12  associated with each door  14  controlled by the security system  10 . Each lock module  12  has an unlocked position that allows the associated door  14  to open and a locked position that prevents the associated door  14  from opening. As will be described, a controller  16  for each lock module  12  may generate a door status signal  18  and/or receive a lock module command signal  20 . The door status signal  18  communicates information about the door  14  associated with the lock module  12 , and the lock module command signal  20  directs the controller  16  to reposition the lock module  12  to either the locked or unlocked position. 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  provide a perspective view of the lock module  12  in the unlocked and locked positions, respectively, according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , each lock module  12  may be attached to a door frame  22 , a wall  24 , or a floor surface  26  adjacent to the associated door  14 . A lock bar  28  associated with each lock module  12  has a first or retracted position ( FIG. 1 ) and a second or extended position ( FIG. 2 ). The first or retracted position ( FIG. 1 ) allows the door  14  associated with the lock module  12  to open, and the second or extended position ( FIG. 2 ) prevents the door  14  associated with the lock module  12  from opening. Although illustrated as a plate that extends or retracts from the lock module  12 , one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the lock bar  28  may be a rod, a bolt, or other similar structure that extends from the door frame  22 , wall  24 , and/or floor surface  26  to prevent the door  14  from opening, and the present invention is not limited to any particular structure unless specifically recited in the claims. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the lock module  12  may further include additional, optional features to monitor local conditions and enhance functionality of the security system  10 . For example, the lock module  12  may include a speaker  30  and/or an image sensor  32  visible through a cover  34  of the lock module  12 . The speaker  30  may generate an audible signal to alert occupants when the controller  16  receives the lock module command signal  20  to direct the associated lock module  12  to reposition to the unlocked and/or locked positions. The image sensor  32  may be a camera or video recorder that captures images or video of the surrounding area and generates an image or video signal  36 . The image sensor  32  may continually capture images or video or may be enabled to only capture images or video and/or generate the image or video signal  36  when the controller  16  receives the lock module command signal  20  to direct the associated lock module  12  to reposition to the unlocked and/or locked positions. 
     The lock module  12  may optionally include a manual arm/disarm switch  38  that allows local control of the lock module  12  and generates an arm/disarm signal  40  when actuated. The manual arm/disarm switch  38  may be separate buttons or combined into a single rocker switch as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In this manner, an operator may depress the arm/disarm switch  38  to reposition the associated lock module  12  to the locked or unlocked position regardless of the lock module command signal  20 . 
       FIG. 3  provides a perspective view of the lock module  12  shown in  FIG. 2  with the cover  34  removed. As shown in  FIG. 3 , an actuator  42  associated with the lock module  12  is operably connected to the lock bar  28  to move the lock bar  28  between the first or retracted position and the second or extended position. The actuator  42  may be any electrical, pneumatic, hydraulic, rotary, or geared device known in the art for moving the lock bar  28  between the first and second positions based on instructions  43  provided by the controller  16 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , for example, the actuator  42  may include a reciprocating piston  44  connected by a follower  48  to a slot  46  in the lock bar  28 . To move the lock bar  28  to the second or extended position, the controller  16  sends instructions  43  to the actuator  42  to extend the piston  44 . As the piston  44  extends from the actuator  42 , the follower  48  travels in the slot  46  to drive the lock bar  28  to the right, as shown in  FIG. 3 . To move the lock bar  28  to the first or retracted position, the controller  16  sends instructions  43  to the actuator to retract the piston  44 . As the piston  44  retracts into the actuator  42 , the follower  48  travels in the slot  46  to drive the lock bar  28  to the left. 
     Moving the lock module  12  to the locked position while the associated door  14  is open may actually lock the door  14  open or prevent the door  14  from being shut. Therefore, each lock module  12  may also include a sensor  50  that determines a position of the particular door  14  associated with the lock module  12  and generates a door position signal  52  that identifies if the particular door  14  is open or shut. The sensor  50  may be a proximity sensor that detects the presence or absence of the associated door  14  or a metallic object  54  in the door  14 . The door position signal  52  may be used by the controller  16  as an interlock to prevent the actuator  42  from moving the lock bar  28  to the second or extended position when the door  14  is open. 
     An unauthorized visitor may attempt to physically breach the door  14  when the lock module  12  is in the locked position. As a result, each lock module  12  may also include a vibration sensor  56  that monitors the vibration level near the lock module  12  and generates a vibration signal  58  that reflects a level of vibration at the lock module  12 . 
     Each lock module  12  may further include a modem  60 , a status indicator  62 , and a power distribution module  64 . The modem  60  may transmit and receive information to and from the lock module  12  using cellular technology. For example, the modem  60  may receive the door status signal  18  from the controller  16  and transmit the door status signal  18  over a standard cellular network to other lock modules  12  in the security system  10 . Alternately, or in addition, the modem  60  may receive the lock module command signal  20  from other lock modules  12  or the security system  10  and communicate the lock module command signal  20  to the controller  16  to reposition the lock module  12 . The status indicator  62  may provide a local indication of the operability of the lock module  12 . For example, the status indicator  62  may be a LED or visual display that indicates that the lock module  12  is receiving power, communicating with other lock modules  12 , and available for operation. The power distribution module  64  may supply electricity from an external source  66  and/or internal battery  68  to the previously described components. In the event of loss of power from the external source  66 , the power distribution module  64  may extend operation of each lock module  12  by selectively limiting power to components that are not directly associated with repositioning the lock module  12 , such as the speaker  30 , image sensor  32 , and/or vibration sensor  56 . 
       FIG. 4  provides a functional block diagram of the security system  10  to illustrate the integration of the previously described components with the controller  16  according to an embodiment of the present invention. As used herein, the controller  16  is not limited to any particular hardware architecture or configuration. The controller  16  may be one or more general purpose or customized computing devices adapted in any suitable manner to provide the desired functionality. The device(s) may be adapted to provide additional functionality complementary or unrelated to the present subject matter, as well. For instance, one or more computing devices may be adapted to provide desired functionality by accessing logic or software instructions rendered in a computer-readable form. When software is used, any suitable programming, scripting, or another type of language or combinations of languages may be used to implement the teachings contained herein. However, software need not be used exclusively, or at all. For example, some embodiments of the systems and methods set forth herein may also be implemented by hard-wired logic or other circuitry, including, but not limited to application-specific circuits. Of course, combinations of computer-executed software and hard-wired logic or other circuitry may be suitable, as well. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , the controller  16  may transmit the door status signal  18  to the modem  60  for communication over a cellular network to other lock modules  12  or the security system  10 . In particular embodiments, the door status signal  18  may include a unique identifier for the particular door  14  associated with the lock module  12  to allow the security system  10  to identify each door  14  included in the system. Alternately, or in addition, the door status signal  18  may include a heartbeat protocol that indicates an operational status for the lock module  12 . For example, the heartbeat protocol may include periodic pings between the processor  16  and the various components associated with each lock module  12  to confirm operability, and the door status signal  18  may include the results of this check. If desired, the heartbeat protocol may provide a basis for the security system  10  to generate the lock module command signal  20  to one or more lock modules  12 . For example, the security system  10  may be configured to generate the lock module command signal  20  to reposition the lock modules  12  to locked in the event the heartbeat protocol indicates that any single lock module  12  is inoperable. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , each previously described component may also communicate information to the controller  16  to enable the controller  16  to properly respond to the lock module command signal  20  and/or for inclusion in the door status signal  18 . For example, the sensor  50  may communicate the door position signal  52  to the controller  16  to prevent the controller  16  from repositioning the lock module  12  to the locked position when the door  14  is not shut. Upon receipt of a lock module command signal  20  that directs the lock module  12  to reposition to the locked position, the controller  16  may send instructions  43  to the actuator  42  to reposition the lock bar  28  only if the door position signal  52  indicates that the associated door  14  is already shut. Otherwise, the controller  16  may delay repositioning the lock module  12  until the door position signal  52  indicates that the associated door  14  is shut. In any event, the controller  16  may include the door position signal  52  in the door status signal  18  so other lock modules  12  and the security system  10  have accurate information about the position of each door  14  in the system. 
     The manual arm/disarm switch  38  may similarly communicate the arm/disarm signal  40  to the controller  16  to cause the controller  16  to provide instructions  43  to the actuator  42  to reposition the lock module  12 . For example, an operator may use the arm/disarm switch  38  to locally reposition the lock module  12  to the locked position. The controller  16  may also incorporate the arm/disarm signal  40  into the door status signal  18  for communication to other lock modules  12  or the security system  10 . In this manner, the other lock modules  12  and/or security system  10  may propagate the arm/disarm signal  40  throughout the security system  10  using the lock module command signal  20  to similarly reposition all lock modules to the locked position. 
     As previously discussed, the image or video signal  36  may include images or video of the surrounding area, and the image sensor  32  may communicate this image or video signal  36  to the controller  16 . Similarly, the vibration sensor  56  may communicate the vibration signal  58  to the controller  16 . The controller  16  may, in turn, incorporate the image or video signal  36  and/or the vibration signal  58  into the door status signal  18  for transmission by the modem  60  to the security system  10 . In this manner the security system  10  may receive the images, video, and/or vibration levels of the surrounding area for any lock modules  12  included in the system. 
     Attention is now directed more particularly to the various signals the security system  10  generates and uses and the associated communication and monitoring capabilities. As previously described, the door status signal  18  may communicate information about the lock module  12  and/or the door  14  associated with the lock module  12 . For example, the door status signal  18  may include a unique identifier, serial number, or user-defined number that uniquely identifies each particular lock module  12 . The door status signal  18  may further include the door position signal  52  for the particular door  14  associated with the lock module  12  to indicate the open or closed status of the associated door  14 . The door status signal  18  may further identify when the associated lock module  12  has been manually positioned using the arm/disarm switch  38 . The door status signal  18  may also include the vibration signal  58  that reflects a level of vibration at the associated lock module  12 . For embodiments with the image sensor  32 , the door status signal  18  associated with each lock module  12  may further include image data such as a still picture or a video of an area at the associated lock module  12 . The door status signal  18  may also include what is referred to as a “heartbeat protocol” that indicates an operational status for the associated lock module  12  as described previously. The heartbeat protocol may be transmitted periodically at set intervals, random intervals, or upon command/request. 
     The lock module command signal  20  may direct the controller  16  to reposition the lock module  12  to either the locked or unlocked positions. Thus, the controller  16  may enable the associated lock module  12  to reposition to the locked position when directed by the lock module command signal  20  and the door position signal  52  reflects that the particular door  14  associated with lock module  12  is shut. If the controller  16  receives the lock module command signal  20  when the door position signal  52  reflects that the associated door  14  is open, the controller  16  may wait until the door position signal  52  reflects that the associated door  14  is shut before allowing the lock module  12  to reposition to the locked position. For embodiments having the manual arm/disarm switch  38 , the locked/unlocked status of the lock module  12  may be changed at any time by actuating the arm/disarm switch  38 . 
     The security system  10  may communicate the lock module command signal  20  to some or all of the controllers  16  to direct some lock modules  12  to reposition to the locked position and other lock modules  12  to reposition to the unlocked position. For example, upon receipt of a door status signal  18  indicating that a particular lock module  12  has been manually repositioned to the locked positions, the lock module command signal  20  may propagate the lock module command signal  20  to all other lock modules  12  to reposition all lock modules to the locked position. Alternately, the lock module command signal  20  may direct particular lock modules  12  to reposition to the unlocked position to provide an evacuation path or to direct a threat to a predetermined location. For example, the lock module command signal  20  may direct all lock modules  12  for classroom doors to reposition to the locked position while directing all lock modules for hallway doors to reposition to the unlocked position. 
       FIG. 5  provides a functional block diagram of the security system  10  communicating with a database server  70  through a cellular network  72  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Backend logic  76  installed on the database server  70  and/or registered personal communication devices  74  (e.g., a personal computer, smartphone, tablet, etc.) may allow a registered user to monitor and/or control the security system  10  locally and remotely. In this manner, the security system  10  may use the cellular network  72  to relay the door status signal  18  and the lock module command signal  20  between the lock modules  12  and the database server  70 . For example, a registered user may use a registered personal communication device  74  to generate and transmit the lock module command signal  20  through the cellular network  72  to the database server  70 . The database server  70  may then use the cellular network  72  to propagate the lock module command signal  20  to some or all of the lock modules  12  in the security system  10 . Alternately, the registered user may generate and transmit the lock module command signal  20  to a particular lock module  12 . The particular lock module  12  may then generate the door status signal  18  and use the cellular network  72  to effectively propagate the lock module command signal  20  to other lock modules  12  in the security system  10 . 
     One of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that the embodiments described and illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5  may thus provide an improved security system for a building that allows doors  14  included in the system to be remotely or locally locked. In addition, the status of each lock module  12 , the position of each door  14 , and visual and physical conditions near each door  14  may be communicated throughout the security system  10  to enhance situational awareness and response time. 
     This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims.