# US 10,503,921 B2 · Emergency notification system and methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,503,921 B2 - Document ID: US10503921B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/047,905 - Filed: 2016-02-19 - Published: 2016-06-16 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-12 - Assignees: Sielox, LLC - Applicants: Sielox, LLC - Inventors: Karen Evans - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10503921B2 ## CPC - G06F 21/6218: {to a system of files or objects, e.g. local or distributed file system or database} - G05B 15/02: electric - G08B 21/02: Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons - G08B 25/14: Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G) - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS ## Abstract The present invention is related to systems and methods for identifying and reporting a crisis status. In at least one embodiment, the system comprises a central server; an administrative work station communicably coupled to the central server, wherein the administrative work station is accessible only by an authorized administrator; a database communicably coupled to the central server, the database including a floor plan of the area, wherein the database is accessible and modifiable by the authorized administrator at the administrative work station; and a remote device at a particular location in the area, the remote device communicably coupled to the central server, the remote device capable of communicating securely to the database the particular location of the remote device and the crisis status of the particular location. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An emergency notification system for an area, the system comprising: a controller; a plurality of remote devices, each remote device associated with a particular location in the area and communicably coupled to the controller, each remote device having a display and configured to, upon user activation of the device, communicate a lockdown signal for the area together with the location of the remote device to the controller, wherein each remote device includes one or more color-coded buttons, wherein the color-coded buttons trigger the color of the block corresponding to the location of the remote device; wherein the display graphically illustrates a floor plan of the area, wherein the floor plan has blocks corresponding to the locations of each remote device; and one or more speakers communicably coupled to the controller; wherein upon receipt of a lockdown signal from a remote device, the controller automatically: sends a signal to trigger broadcast of a pre-recorded message over the one or more speakers; and displays a color in the display of all of the remote devices indicating emergency status in the block of the floor plan corresponding to the location of the remote device from which the lockdown signal was triggered. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The emergency notification system of claim 1, wherein the remote device comprises a desktop computer, laptop computer, mobile phone, smartphone, or tablet device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The emergency notification system of claim 1, wherein the remote device is a smartphone having an application configured to send a lockdown signal to the controller. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The emergency notification system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more speakers is a wireless speaker. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The emergency notification system of claim 1, further comprising one or more notification devices, wherein upon receipt of a lockdown signal from the remote device, the controller automatically operates the notification device, the notification device comprising at least one of speakers, alarms, cameras, lights, locks, barriers, sensors, fire sprinkler systems, and public address systems. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The emergency notification system of claim 1, wherein upon receipt of a lockdown signal from the remote device, the controller automatically notifies at least one of law enforcement personnel, medical personnel, fire personnel, and administrative personnel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The emergency notification system of claim 1, further comprising one or more controlled access points communicably coupled to the controller, wherein upon receipt of a lockdown signal from the remote device, the controller automatically engages the one or more controlled access points to restrict access to the area. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The emergency notification system of claim 7, wherein the one or more controlled access points are configured to allow access to at least one of law enforcement personnel, medical personnel, fire personnel, and administrative personnel. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The emergency notification system of claim 1, wherein upon receipt of a lockdown signal from the remote device, the controller automatically displays a notification on a user interface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The emergency notification system of claim 9, wherein the user interface comprises a desktop computer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The emergency notification system of claim 9, wherein the user interface comprises a smartphone. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The emergency notification system of claim 1, further comprising a color-coded map of the area accessible by at least one of law enforcement personnel, medical personnel, fire personnel, and administrative personnel. ### Claim 13 A method of communicating an emergency notification for an area, the method comprising: receiving an alert signal from a remote device associated with a particular location in the area, the alert signal being received together with a location of the remote device, wherein the remote device includes one or more color-coded buttons, wherein the color-coded buttons trigger the color of the block corresponding to the location of the remote device; automatically sending a signal to trigger broadcast of a pre-recorded message over a public address system for the area, the public address system comprising a plurality of speakers; automatically displaying a color indicating emergency status in a block corresponding to the location of the remote device on a floor plan of the area at a user interface of each of a plurality of remote devices; and automatically contacting at least one of law enforcement personnel, medical personnel, fire personnel, and administrative personnel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising automatically operating at least one of a light, an alarm, and a message board. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the remote device comprises a desktop computer, laptop computer, mobile phone, smartphone, or tablet device. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the remote device is a smartphone having an application configured to send a lockdown signal to the controller. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising automatically displaying a pop-up notification on a user interface. ### Claim 18 The method of 17, wherein the user interface comprises a desktop computer. ### Claim 19 (depends on 9) The emergency notification system of claim 9, wherein the location of the remote device is displayed at the user interface with a color corresponding to a status at the location. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The emergency notification system of claim 1, wherein the location of the remote device is a default location for the remote device. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The emergency notification system of claim 1, wherein the location of the remote device is determined by a user at the remote device. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The emergency notification system of claim 1, wherein the location of the remote device is determined by scanning a QR code.