GB1604836A - Security system - Google Patents

Description

(54) SECURITY SYSTEM (71) We, MASTIFF SECURITY SYSTEMS LIMITED, formerly known as Lewis Security Systems Limited, a Company registered under the Laws of England, of Randalls Road, Leatherhead, Surrey, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to security systems for example for enabling a user to give an alarm if he needs help because of the disturbance in a prison, or a fire in a building, or a distress signal because he has been taken ill.

According to the present invention, in a security system, the area to be secured com- prises a yard or yards and I or a room or rooms which is or are divided into local areas, each of which area is defined by its own inductive pick-up loop which local areas together comprise substantially the whole of the area to be secured, including a corn- mon control unit connected to receive signals from all the pick-up loops, and to identify from which pick-up loop a signal is received, the system including a number of portable self-powered tokens each capable of transmitting radio signals for picking up by any of the pick-up loops in dependence upon the area in which it is located.

The expressions "room" and "yard" are used to refer to areas respectively indoors and outdoors large enough for people to be able to move about freely in them.

One application of the invention is a security system in a prison where each war der can push a button or operate a switch on his token or activate it in some other way, so that it starts generating at a certain frequency, and an alarm signal is received at the control unit which is able to determine in which area the signal has been given in dependence upon the particular pick-up loop concerned.

It is also possible for the tokens to generate continuously signals for picking up by the loops, so that the control unit can give a continuous indication whether there is at least one token in any of the local areas and in that way it is possible in a control room to know approximately how the staff are distributed throughout the area to be secured.

The staff may be divided into two or more different security levels, those in one level having a token giving a different continuous signal from the tokens of those in other security levels, so that the system can also see whether in a particular area there is someone of a particular security level.

The different security levels might be differentiated from each other by the frequency of radio signals transmitted by the tokens at the different levels, but it is also possible in a more complicated system to have a dif- ferent token for each member of the staff, each of which gives its unique signal so that the positions of the individual members of the staff throughout the area can be monitored.

In a preferred form of the invention, each individual in a common security level has a token which transmits a radio frequency signal, the frequency of which is unique to that security level; each token is pulsed on for a certain number of radio frequency cycles, and then interrupted, and then pulsed on for the same number of cycles, and the number of cycles in each burst can be unique to that individual, so that there is a comprehensive system for distinguishing at the control unit between the tokens of all members in the same security level. Then, if there is an alarm, and the switch is operated by a member of staff, that can switch off his normal monitoring sginal, and merely generate a panic frequency signal which can be immediately displayed on the control unit.

If the previous display is automatically frozen when a panic signal is received, it is possible to tell at the control unit what was the disposition of all the staff when the panic signal was initiated.

The invention may be carried into prao tice in various ways, and one embodiment will now be briefly described by way of example as applied to a security system for a prison.

Every room in the prison is wired, possible around the walls or at floor level with its individual inductive pick-up loop connected to a common control unit. Large rooms and large spaces such as a court-yard are individually divided into local areas by their own loops which might for example be rectangular shaped with sides about 20 feet by 60 feet.

All the staff are classified amongst three security levels, and each has a token arranged to generate continuously radio frequency signals at one of three frequencies depending upon the security level of the holder. The tokens are normally carried in the pocket or on the belt of the user and preferably with a transmitting aerial directed vertically. Normally the user does not have to touch his token at all. Each token operates in bursts of radio frequency pulses, there being a different number of radio frequency cycles in the pulses of the tokens of the different members of staff. Thus if one security level had a generating frequency of 100 KHz, then each member of the staff in that security level would have his token adjusted to generate that frequency in bursts of different numbers of radio frequency cycles interrupted by short periods of no transmission.

The control unit has a display showing each of the local areas for indicating whether a signal is being received from that area, and the security level of the transmitter in that area, and also the identity of the wearer, and in that way a display can be given of the positions of all the staff throughout the security area. Not only does that enable the Governor to know how his staff is distributed; it also enables him to check the movements of his staff which is an important aspect of prison security where sometimes staff associate illegally with prisoners.

If any of the staff wants to give an alarm, he merely operates a push button on his token which causes it to generate a panic frequency different from all the identifying frequencies so that an alarm is immediately displayed on the control unit together with the local area in which the token is. That also freezes the previous display on the control unit so that although the token whose button has been pressed ceases to transmit its identifying signals, the Governor can see which tokens were present in the panic area at the time the button was pressed.

The radio signals may be as described in British Patent Specifications Nos. 1414119 and 1414120 for identifying different security levels, and may be as described in British Patent Specification No. 1528901 for identifying different individuals in the same security level.

A simpler system is possible. For example, if it is not desired to identify each individual member of the staff, the tokens can be simplified to be only capable of transmitting the security level frequency signal and not the individual identifying signals, and in the even simpler system, the tokens do not normally generate any signal, but merely are operated by the push button to generate the panic frequency when an alarm is to be given. The control unit can tell where the button was pressed.

In addition, there can be local loops situated at selected doorways through which warders pass which can indicate by a display to the warder that his token is transmitting correctly. These loops could be arranged so that if they receive the correct security level transmission they permit access to a secure area as generally described in Patent Specifications Nos. 1414119 and 1414120. Alarms are generated by passage of non-authorised persons as described in British Patent Specification No. 52764/77 (Case 12). (Serial No. 1604837).

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:- 1. A security system in which the area to be secured comprises a yard or yards and/or room or rooms which is or are divided into local areas each of which area is defined by its own inductive pick-up loop, which local areas together comprise substantially the whole of the area to be secured, including a common control unit connected to receive signals from all the pick-up loops, and to identify from which pick-up loop a signal is received, the system including a number of portable self-powered tokens each capable of transmitting radio signals for picking up by any of the pick-up loops in dependence upon the area in which it is located.

2. A security system as claimed in Claim 1 in which each token has activating means enabling its user to cause the token to generate a signal.

3. A security system as claimed in either of the preceding claims in which the tokens are capable of generating signals continuously.

4. A security system as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the tokens are divided into two or more different security levels, those in one level giving a different signal from those in another level.

5. A security system as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which each token is capable of generating a unique signal.

6. A security system as claimed in Claim 5 in which each token is capable of continuously generating a radio frequency signal in bursts each consisting of a number of radio frequency cycles unique to that token.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. example as applied to a security system for a prison. Every room in the prison is wired, possible around the walls or at floor level with its individual inductive pick-up loop connected to a common control unit. Large rooms and large spaces such as a court-yard are individually divided into local areas by their own loops which might for example be rectangular shaped with sides about 20 feet by 60 feet. All the staff are classified amongst three security levels, and each has a token arranged to generate continuously radio frequency signals at one of three frequencies depending upon the security level of the holder. The tokens are normally carried in the pocket or on the belt of the user and preferably with a transmitting aerial directed vertically. Normally the user does not have to touch his token at all. Each token operates in bursts of radio frequency pulses, there being a different number of radio frequency cycles in the pulses of the tokens of the different members of staff. Thus if one security level had a generating frequency of 100 KHz, then each member of the staff in that security level would have his token adjusted to generate that frequency in bursts of different numbers of radio frequency cycles interrupted by short periods of no transmission. The control unit has a display showing each of the local areas for indicating whether a signal is being received from that area, and the security level of the transmitter in that area, and also the identity of the wearer, and in that way a display can be given of the positions of all the staff throughout the security area. Not only does that enable the Governor to know how his staff is distributed; it also enables him to check the movements of his staff which is an important aspect of prison security where sometimes staff associate illegally with prisoners. If any of the staff wants to give an alarm, he merely operates a push button on his token which causes it to generate a panic frequency different from all the identifying frequencies so that an alarm is immediately displayed on the control unit together with the local area in which the token is. That also freezes the previous display on the control unit so that although the token whose button has been pressed ceases to transmit its identifying signals, the Governor can see which tokens were present in the panic area at the time the button was pressed. The radio signals may be as described in British Patent Specifications Nos. 1414119 and 1414120 for identifying different security levels, and may be as described in British Patent Specification No. 1528901 for identifying different individuals in the same security level. A simpler system is possible. For example, if it is not desired to identify each individual member of the staff, the tokens can be simplified to be only capable of transmitting the security level frequency signal and not the individual identifying signals, and in the even simpler system, the tokens do not normally generate any signal, but merely are operated by the push button to generate the panic frequency when an alarm is to be given. The control unit can tell where the button was pressed. In addition, there can be local loops situated at selected doorways through which warders pass which can indicate by a display to the warder that his token is transmitting correctly. These loops could be arranged so that if they receive the correct security level transmission they permit access to a secure area as generally described in Patent Specifications Nos. 1414119 and 1414120. Alarms are generated by passage of non-authorised persons as described in British Patent Specification No. 52764/77 (Case 12). (Serial No. 1604837). WHAT WE CLAIM IS:-

1. A security system in which the area to be secured comprises a yard or yards and/or room or rooms which is or are divided into local areas each of which area is defined by its own inductive pick-up loop, which local areas together comprise substantially the whole of the area to be secured, including a common control unit connected to receive signals from all the pick-up loops, and to identify from which pick-up loop a signal is received, the system including a number of portable self-powered tokens each capable of transmitting radio signals for picking up by any of the pick-up loops in dependence upon the area in which it is located.

2. A security system as claimed in Claim 1 in which each token has activating means enabling its user to cause the token to generate a signal.

3. A security system as claimed in either of the preceding claims in which the tokens are capable of generating signals continuously.

4. A security system as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which the tokens are divided into two or more different security levels, those in one level giving a different signal from those in another level.

5. A security system as claimed in any of the preceding claims in which each token is capable of generating a unique signal.

6. A security system as claimed in Claim 5 in which each token is capable of continuously generating a radio frequency signal in bursts each consisting of a number of radio frequency cycles unique to that token.

7. A security system as claimed in any

of Claims 24 including means for freezing the display on the control unit if an alarm signal is generated.

8. A security system as claimed in any of the preceding claims including inductive pick-up loops at doorways in the region to be secured.

9. A security system arranged to operate substantially as herein specifically described.