Abstract:
The present invention is a perimeter containment system and method of use thereof having a control center, perimeter contact units, and a perimeter structure. The invention is designed to reduce human error and misinformation during emergency situations. The invention includes a method of monitoring a perimeter such that upon a breach of the perimeter immediate notice is provided to perimeter units so that at least one of the perimeter units may secure the breach. The invention allows a control center to monitor the location of the perimeter units by use of GPS data.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
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   STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
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   REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
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   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to perimeter containment systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to systems that monitor any area, including a prison, university campus, shopping center parking lot, and the like. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   In the industry of perimeter containment, a major problem currently existing is that human error commonly results in a breach of a containment system or the lack of a timely correction of the breach. Even a short lag in communication between a control center and a perimeter unit may result in a poor result after the breach has occurred. Specifically, employees may be out of their job described position or unresponsive when a system breach occurs. Unfortunately, rather than informing the control center of such information, an employee may misrepresent his location or misrepresent that which he claims to have visually confirmed. 
   Even in non-prison settings, such as security efforts at schools, universities and the like, the current perimeter containment systems lack the ability to provide a timely and complete response to a breach. First, there is a lag time associated with the communication between the control center and perimeter unit. Second, as described above, there is human error, in which an employee may intentionally or inadvertently misrepresent his location during an emergency situation. A lag in responsiveness or misinformation results in an inefficient and inoperative security system. 
   Accordingly, there is a need for a perimeter containment system and method as the one described herein. The invention is designed to reduce the amount of human error associated with such perimeter containment systems and decrease the response time when a security breach occurs. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention discloses a perimeter containment system. The present invention provides the advantage of allowing actual confirmation of the location of a perimeter vehicle that is monitoring a perimeter structure. Another advantage is the real time communication between the control center and a perimeter vehicle. For example, when an alarm sounds, all perimeter units, as well as the control center, immediately receive notice of the alarm. Further, in addition to the control center having complete GPS data regarding the location of all perimeter units, such information is regularly and frequently recorded into a data base or printed records. The perimeter containment system of the present invention includes a control center, a plurality of perimeter contact units, and a perimeter structure. The control center has a radio communication module, a processing unit, and an interface which requires GPS data in order to operate. The plurality of perimeter contact units are operationally connected to the control center and each perimeter contact unit has a screen, a radio communication module, a multiplex board, and a GPS device. 
   The present invention also includes a method of containing a perimeter, including predetermining a plurality of zones located outside of the perimeter structure, monitoring the perimeter structure, monitoring through GPS data the position of each perimeter contact unit, communicating through a radio communication module, including two way communication, determining that a breach to the perimeter structure has occurred by use of an alarm, identifying which of the plurality of zones is adjacent to the site of the breach, communicating an alarm to the control center, communicating the alarm from the control center to each of the perimeter contact units, communicating GPS data from the perimeter contact units to the control center, acknowledging by the control center that a perimeter contact unit is present in a zone of the perimeter structure breach, determining that the perimeter structure breach is secure by the perimeter contact unit in the zone of the breach, communicating that the perimeter structure breach is secure from the perimeter contact unit in the zone of the breach to the control center, and resetting the alarm by the control center. Certain embodiments may also include moving at least one of the perimeter contact units into the zone adjacent to the breach, analyzing the site of the breach to the perimeter structure to determine that the breach is corrected, communicating from the perimeter contact unit that the breach is corrected, analyzing the GPS data to determine that the perimeter contact unit is located within the zone adjacent to the breach, and resetting the alarm. 
   In another embodiment of the present invention, the method of monitoring a perimeter includes predetermining a location of a plurality of zones located adjacent to the perimeter structure, communicating an alarm to the perimeter contact units, wherein the alarm indicates which of the plurality of zones is closest to a breach of the perimeter, communicating GPS data from each perimeter contact unit to the control center, recording GPS data by a processing unit of the control center, moving at least one of the perimeter contact units into the zone closest to the breach, acknowledging by the control center the presence of the perimeter contact unit in the zone closest to the breach, communicating from the perimeter contact unit that the breach is secure, and resetting the alarm. 
   Accordingly, one aspect of the invention is to provide a perimeter containment system that confirms the GPS positioning of each perimeter vehicle before resetting an alarm. 
   Another aspect of the invention is to provide a perimeter vehicle the ability to reset an alarm if the perimeter vehicle is located within the zone where the breach to the perimeter structure occurred. 
   Still another aspect of the invention is to provide a method of containing a perimeter in which there is confirmation that the site of a breach of a perimeter structure was actually monitored to determine whether the breach was corrected. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the present invention. There is shown the control center, perimeter structure, and perimeter contact units, also called perimeter vehicles. The control center receives GPS data regarding the positioning of the perimeter vehicles from the satellite. 
       FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of the types of communications sent from and received by the control center and the perimeter contact units, such as perimeter vehicles. 
       FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of the control center. Shown there is connection of the radio communication module, PLC unit, and interface. 
       FIG. 4  is schematic diagram of a first embodiment of a perimeter contact unit, such as the box placed in each vehicle used to monitor the perimeter structure. The perimeter contact unit includes a housing surrounding a radio communication module, multiplex board, GPS device, and screen. 
       FIGS. 5A and 5B  show schematic diagrams of embodiments of the control center and perimeter contact unit, respectively.  FIG. 5A  shows the control center attached to a perimeter structure, such as a prison fence.  FIG. 5B  shows a perimeter contact unit having an antenna. 
       FIG. 6  is a flow chart of a first embodiment of a method of containing a perimeter. 
       FIG. 7  is a flow chart of another embodiment of the method of containing a perimeter. 
       FIG. 8  is a flow chart of still another embodiment of the method of monitoring a perimeter. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention disclosed herein is a perimeter containment system  10 . The system  10  has a control center  12 , perimeter contact units  14 , and a perimeter structure  16 . One advantage provided by the present invention is that real time communication between the control center  12  and perimeter contact units  14  is provided with confirmation of the location of each of the perimeter contact units  14 . An additional advantage of the present invention is the continuous tracking and recordation of the location of the mobile perimeter contact units  14 . Stated another way, the present invention creates a record of the specific location of each perimeter vehicle in the event of a breach of containment. Such perimeter containment systems  10  are useful in many different environments, including, but not limited to, prisons, hospitals, and universities. 
   Shown in  FIG. 1  is an overview of a first embodiment of the present invention. There is shown the perimeter containment system  10  which includes the control center  12 , multiple mobile perimeter contact units  14 , and a perimeter structure  16 . The control center  12  is merely a centrally located communication unit, as further described herein, which communicates with the mobile perimeter contact units  14 . In certain embodiments of the present invention, the mobile perimeter contact units  14  are vehicles. In alternate embodiments, the mobile perimeter contact units  14  may be alternate mobile units including, but not limited to, cars, trucks, vans, golf carts, or other similar vehicles. In such embodiments, it is necessary that the vehicle include a battery source, such as a 12 volt battery, as the current system operates at about a one half amp to about a one amp load. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the perimeter structure  16  may be a perimeter fence as commonly found around a prison. In alternate embodiments, the perimeter structure  16  may be the boundary of a parking lot, or the boundary of a specific property. In still other embodiments, the perimeter structure  16  may merely be a reference to a specific location, rather than an actual structure. In certain embodiments, the invention disclosed herein may be a stand alone system which is not interfaced with the perimeter structure  16 , which may be used to monitor locations of perimeter contact units  14  in predetermined zones. 
   Shown in  FIG. 2  is a flow diagram of the perimeter containment system  16 . Regarding communication between the control center  12  and each of the mobile perimeter contact units  14 , audio transmissions  18 , and video transmissions  20  are available. In certain embodiments, video transmissions  20  include video from a camera on the mobile perimeter contact unit  14 , or a camera on the actual vehicle which is operationally connected to the perimeter contact unit  14  so that it transmits to the control center  12 . As further described herein those transmissions are encrypted such that secure transmissions result.  FIG. 2  also shows that the control center  12  receives GPS data  22  from a satellite  26  and may send command transmissions  24  in order to open or close doors, move cameras, zoom in or out of camera shots and the like. Command transmissions  24  also include receiving an alarm and silencing that alarm. Also shown in  FIG. 2  is the ability of the mobile perimeter contact units  14  to receive and send command transmissions  24 . Accordingly, when an alarm sounds, all perimeter contact units  14  receive the signal and may reset the alarm, but only if that perimeter contact unit  14  is located within a specific area, or zone, as further described herein. The perimeter contact unit  14  may reset the alarm from anywhere. 
   Referring back to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a first embodiment in which a plurality of zones are established by the GPS data  22 . For example, if an alarm sounded in a first zone  28  due to an open gate then the first vehicle  36  would receive a command transmission  24  indicating a breach to the perimeter structure  16 . The first vehicle  36  would not be able to reset the alarm given its current location in the second zone  30 . However, upon transit from the second zone  30  to the first zone  28 , the first vehicle  36  could reset the alarm. Likewise, the second vehicle  38 , located in the fourth zone  34  could not reset the alarm regarding a breach of the perimeter structure  16  in the first zone  28 . This embodiment of the present invention requires that each alarm be reset only after a mobile perimeter contact unit  14  is located within the same zone. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a schematic of the control center  12 . In certain embodiments, the control center  12  includes a radio communication module  40 , a processing unit  54 , and an interface  44 . The processing unit  54  may be a PLC unit or a CPU. In certain embodiments of the present invention, the processing unit  54  may be, for example, a PLC unit such as an OMRON PLC which is available from OMRON Electronics, LLC, One Commerce Drive, Schaumburg, Ill. 60173. In certain embodiments, communications through the radio communication module  40  may be encrypted for security purposes. In such embodiments, the encryption may be provided by the radio communication module  40 , for example the model available from Phoenix Contact, Inc., which is described below. In other embodiments, one of ordinary skill in the art is aware of other ways of encrypting for security purposes. 
   Each of the other components is also readily commercially available. For example, the radio communication module  40  is available as RAD-ISM-900 Data Radio Series Model RS-485 from Phoenix Contact, Inc., P.O. Box 4100, Harrisburg, Pa. 17111-0100. The radio communication module  40  may be an equivalent of the above-listed module. In certain embodiments, the radio communication module  40  is a radio frequency transmitter and receiver. In certain embodiments, the radio communication module  40  may be a module which performs the functions disclosed herein. In certain embodiments, communication through the radio communication module  40  may be at about 900 mHz or about 2.4 gHz. Such a radio communication module  40  includes two way communication by audio, visual, and other communications resulting in the manipulation of the perimeter structure, such as opening or closing gates or doors, moving security cameras, or the like. The interface  44  is merely a personal computer and screen which are readily available from a variety of sources. An example of an interface  44  is a computer with a pentium IV, 2.0 gHz, and 1 GB ram. An example of the screen is a Viewsonic LCD monitor. The listed parts of the control center  12  are operably connected as known to one of ordinary skill in the art. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a perimeter contact unit  14 . Each perimeter contact unit  14  includes a housing  46  having a screen  48 , a multiplex board  42 , a radio communication module  40 , and a GPS device  50 . In certain embodiments, the screen  48  shows a map of the perimeter structure  16  and other components. In certain embodiments, the screen  48  may be a plastic sheet with a luminescent background. Construction of such a screen is known by those of ordinary skill in the art. The housing  46  is a metal, plastic or other rigid material which encloses the remainder of the components, other than the screen  48 . The housing  46  makes the perimeter contact unit a unitary structure which is easily installed in a vehicle, as further discussed below. The parts of the perimeter contact unit  14  are commercially available as indicated above. Further, the multiplex board  42  is available as Model MPX-48/48 from STI, Inc., 1877 Vanderhorn Drive, Memphis, Tenn. 38134 and is described in the Model #MPX-48/48 product description sheet, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. In certain embodiments, the multiplex board  42  is a graphic panel remote interfacing board. In certain embodiments, the multiplex board  42  may be a multiplex board which is a microprocessor-based circuit designed to reduce the amount of wiring between remote locations. In that embodiment, the board has the following characteristics. The board may have 48 inputs and 48 outputs, which reduce the number of conductors from 98 to two twisted pairs. The circuit may be designed to be fiber optic compatible. Outputs are available for circuit status annunciation and acknowledgement. Integrated circuits are socketed and all board connections may be made with plug-in type connectors. Communication medium may be selectable by plug-on communication module. Input power shall be reverse polarity protected and fused. A single input to master unit may be capable of turning on all outputs on slave units. With respect to the GPS device  50 , it needs to be a NMEA qualified GPS device. In certain embodiments, for example, the GPS device  50  may be one of several models available from Motorola, for example Model FS Encore. In certain embodiments, the GPS device  50  may be an embedded device, for example embedded in the multiplex board  42 . The parts of the perimeter contact unit  14  are readily assembled as known by those of ordinary skill in the art. The perimeter contact unit  14  may be mounted in a vehicle, or other mode of transportation, so that it is mobile relative to the perimeter structure  16  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The various connections which are necessary for the parts of the control center  12  and perimeter contact units  14  may be accomplished by use of connections or cables commercially available from Omron Electronics, LLC, One Commerce Drive, Schaumburg, Ill. 60173. In certain embodiments of the present invention, a surge voltage protection adapter for mobile phone or radio link systems may be used. An example of such an adapter is the COAXTRAB model from Phoenix Contact GmbH &amp; Co. KG, 32823 Blomberg, Germany. In still other embodiments of the present invention, an antenna  52  may be attached to the radio communication module  40  or the GPS device  50 . Such an antenna  52  is commercially available, for example, from Phoenix Contact, Inc. P.O. Box 4100, Harrisburg, Pa. 17111 as a one quarter wave whip antenna with six foot cable. 
   Referring now to  FIGS. 5A and 5B , there is shown schematic drawings of the arrangement of another embodiment of the control center  12 , and a perimeter contact unit  14 , respectively. With reference to  FIG. 5A , the PLC unit  54  allows the current invention to attach to an existing perimeter structure  16  through standard hard wiring connections. It is noted that the system shown in  FIG. 5B  is mobile. 
   In certain embodiments of the present invention, the functions of the components listed above may be directed by source code. One of ordinary skill in the art may generate such code with the use of a C++ programming package. In certain embodiments, the programming code for a processing unit  54 , which is a PLC unit, is protocol management language. In certain embodiments, the programming code for a processing unit  54 , which is a CPU, is C++. In other embodiments of the present invention, one of ordinary skill may construct source code based upon this disclosure of the functions described herein. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 6 , there is shown a flow chart of the steps for monitoring the perimeter containment system  10  when there is no breach of the perimeter structure  16 . The process starts by communicating a request  60  from the control center  12  to all perimeter contact units  14  for GPS data  22 . The next step is inputting 62 GPS data  22  into each multiplex board  42  of each perimeter contact unit  14  from the GPS device  50  of each unit  14 . The next step is communicating 64 GPS data  22  and switch status from each perimeter contact unit  14  to the control center  12 . The next step is recording  66  at the control center  12  the GPS data  22  received from each perimeter contact unit  14 . In certain embodiments, the GPS data  22  may be recorded at a certain frequency of time (once per second, for example) which may be adjustable. Also, GPS data  22  recordation may occur each time a zone is traversed. The final step is displaying  68  on the interface  44  the location of each perimeter contact unit  14 . The frequency of these steps may be adjusted by a user of the system  10 . Since no breach of the perimeter structure  16  is detected, the interface  44  at the control center  12  continues to display the changing locations of each perimeter contact unit  14 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a flow chart of the steps of detecting and correcting a breach to the perimeter structure  16 . Prior to taking the steps shown in either  FIG. 6  or  7 , it is necessary to predetermine a plurality of zones located outside of the perimeter structure  16 . Examples of such zones are the zones ( 28 ,  30 ,  32 , and  34 ) shown in  FIG. 1 . The boundaries of the zones are determined by the individual user of the system  10 . However, the boundaries of the zones are established by mapping the GPS coordinates of all boundaries. Those GPS coordinates are entered into the processing unit  54 , in a manner known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The processing unit  54  uses those GPS coordinates as reference points and GPS data  22  from any of the perimeter contact units  14  to determine which of the zones each of the perimeter contact units  14  is in. 
   After the zone boundaries are set, the processing unit  54  monitors the perimeter structure  16 . In certain embodiments, the perimeter structure  16  is a prison fence or other sophisticated structure having the ability to communicate when the structure has been compromised. Accordingly, a breach of the perimeter structure  16  is communicated to the processing unit  54 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , when the perimeter structure  16  is breached, the next step is communicating notification  70  of the breach to the processing unit  54 . The processing unit  54  then communicates  72  an alarm to each of the perimeter contact units  14 . The next step is inputting 62 GPS data  22  into the multiplex board  42  of the perimeter contact unit  14  from the GPS device  50 . The next step is communicating 64 GPS data  22  and switch status from each perimeter contact unit  14  to the control center  12 . Thereafter, the next step is silencing  78  the alarm by the control center  12 . Then, the next step is recording  66  at the control center  12  the GPS data  22  received from each perimeter contact unit  14 . The next step is moving 82 a perimeter contact unit  14  into the zone in which the breach occurred. The next step is communicating 64 GPS data  22  and switch status from each perimeter contact unit  14  to the control center  12 . Then, the control center  12  acknowledges  84  that a perimeter contact unit  14  is in the zone of the breach. At that point, the control center  12  acknowledges receipt  86  of information from the perimeter contact unit  14  that the breach of the perimeter structure  16  secure and the control center  12  takes the final step of resetting  88  the alarm. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 8 , there is shown a flow chart of another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, each of the perimeter contact units is allowed autonomy with regard to command transmissions  24 . For example, a perimeter contact unit  14  is set up to have the same ability as the control center  12  to initiate command transmissions  24  in order to open gates, doors, reset alarms, and the like. Shown in  FIG. 8  is the requesting  90  by the control center  12  of perimeter contact unit  14  switch status and GPS data  22  for each perimeter contact unit  14 ; inputting 62 GPS data  22  into each multiplex board  42  of each perimeter contact unit  14  from the GPS device  50  of each unit  14 ; communicating 64 GPS data  22  and switch status from each perimeter contact unit  14  to the control center  12 ; recording  66  at the control center  12  the GPS data  22  received from each perimeter contact unit  14 ; displaying  68  on the interface  44  the location of each perimeter contact unit  14 ; transmitting  92  from the control center  12  the command transmissions  24  in response to the switch status of the perimeter contact units  14 ; and communicating  94  from the control center  12  to each of the perimeter contact units  14  the status of each command transmission  24 . 
   All references, publications and patents disclosed herein are expressly incorporated by reference. 
   Thus, it is seen that the perimeter containment system and method of use thereof of the present invention readily achieves the ends and advantages mentioned as well as those inherent therein. While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described for the purposes of the present disclosure, numerous changes in the arrangement and construction of parts may be made by those skilled in the art, which changes are encompassed within the scope and spirit of the present invention, as defined by the following claims.