# US 12,100,279 B2 · Lockdown apparatus for initiation of lockdown procedures at a facility during an emergency > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,100,279 B2 - Document ID: US12100279B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/327,887 - Filed: 2023-06-01 - Published: 2023-10-12 - Granted: 2024-09-24 - Earliest claimed: 2014-05-23 - Applicants: Emergency Alert Solutions Group, LLC - Inventors: Brian M. Lyman; Kevin G. Cherven - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12100279B2 ## CPC - G08B 17/02: Mechanical actuation of the alarm, e.g. by the breaking of a wire - G06F 1/1632: {External expansion units, e.g. docking stations} - G07C 9/00: Individual registration on entry or exit - G07C 9/00182: {operated with unidirectional data transmission between data carrier and locks} - G08B 3/10: using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission - G08B 5/38: using flashing light - G08B 7/06: using electric transmission {, e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources} - G08B 19/005: {combined burglary and fire alarm systems} - G08B 25/001: {Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation} - G08B 25/008: {Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system} - G08B 25/10: using wireless transmission systems {(G08B25/009 takes precedence)} - G08B 25/12: Manually actuated calamity alarm transmitting arrangements {emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm, activators, e.g. details of alarm push buttons mounted on an infrastructure} - G09B 5/04: with audible presentation of the material to be studied (sound recording or reproducing G11B) - H04L 67/12: specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks - H04M 1/0202: {Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets (constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03)} - H04W 4/90: Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS] - G07C 2009/00269: {opening and locking of all locks at the same time} - H04W 4/14: Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD] - G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) - H04M: TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION (circuits for controlling other apparatus via a telephone cable and not involving telephone switching apparatus G08) - H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72) ## Abstract Some embodiments are directed to a lockdown apparatus for facilitating initiation of lockdown procedures at a facility that includes multiple doors and is configured for occupation by facility occupants. A lockdown actuator is disposed at the facility and configured to initiate transmission of a lockdown initiation signal upon being actuated, the lockdown actuator being configured to be recognizably distinguishable from the fire alarm actuator. A lockdown communicator is configured to produce a lockdown initiation communication for communicating initiation of lockdown procedures to the facility occupants and individuals not disposed proximate the facility upon transmission of the lockdown initiation signal, the lockdown initiation communication being recognizably distinguishable from the fire alarm communication. A display is configured to indicate status of each of the multiple doors of the facility upon transmission of the lockdown initiation signal, the status including at least one of open versus closed, and locked versus unlocked. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A processor based lockdown controller for use with a lockdown system configured to facilitate implementation of lockdown procedures at a facility that is configured for occupation by facility occupants, the facility including an alternative controller that controls a system other than the lockdown system, the facility also including a fire alarm, the fire alarm including a fire alarm actuator and a fire alarm communicator configured to produce a fire alarm communication for communicating actuation of the fire alarm actuator, the lockdown system including a lockdown actuator disposed at the facility and configured to transmit a lockdown initiation signal upon being actuated, the lockdown actuator being configured to be recognizably distinguishable from the fire alarm actuator, the lockdown system also including a lockdown communicator configured to produce a lockdown initiation communication for communicating initiation of lockdown procedures to the facility occupants and individuals not disposed proximate the facility upon transmission of the lockdown initiation signal, the lockdown initiation communication being recognizably distinguishable from the fire alarm communication, the lockdown communicator including an annunciator that communicates an audible lockdown initiation annunciation to the facility occupants upon transmission of the lockdown initiation signal so as to instruct the facility occupants to adopt the lockdown procedures, the lockdown communicator also including a visual indicator that communicates a visual indication to the facility occupants upon transmission of the lockdown initiation signal so as to inform the facility occupants of the initiation of the lockdown procedures, the lockdown controller being operated by software configured to perform the following operations: receiving the lockdown initiation signal transmitted by the lockdown actuator; upon receipt of the lockdown initiation signal, instructing the annunciator to communicate the audible lockdown initiation annunciation, and instructing the visual indicator to communicate the visual indication; and in addition to instructing the annunciator to communicate the audible lockdown initiation annunciation, and in addition to instructing the visual indicator to communicate the visual indication, instructing the lockdown communicator to communicate with the alternative controller that controls a system other than the lockdown system via a secondary communication confirming initiation of lockdown procedures. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The processor based lockdown controller of claim 1, wherein the alternative controller is a part of the fire alarm, such that the secondary communication affects operation of the fire alarm. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The processor based lockdown controller of claim 1, wherein the alternative controller is part of at least one of a facility security system, facility communication system, and access control system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The processor based lockdown controller of claim 3, wherein the alternative controller is part of the facility communication system configured for telecommunications transmissions. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The processor based lockdown controller of claim 4, wherein the secondary communication instructs the alternative controller of the facility communication system to transmit an alternative communication confirming initiation of lockdown procedures to the individuals not disposed proximate the facility so as to thereby constitute a duplicative communication to the communication directly provided by the lockdown communicator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The processor based lockdown controller of claim 4, wherein the secondary communication instructs the alternative controller of the facility communication system to transmit an alternative communication confirming initiation of lockdown procedures to recipients other than the facility occupants and the individuals not disposed proximate the facility who received the communication directly provided by the lockdown communicator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The processor based lockdown controller of claim 6, wherein the duplicative communication is different from the communication directly provided by the lockdown communicator. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The processor based lockdown controller of claim 6, wherein the duplicative communication is substantially the same as the communication directly provided by the lockdown communicator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The processor based lockdown controller of claim 1, wherein the lockdown communicator is also configured to produce a lockdown procedure communication, which is different from the lockdown initiation communication, for communicating to the facility occupants a predetermined lockdown procedure for adoption by the facility occupants subsequent to the initiation of the lockdown procedures. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The processor based lockdown controller of claim 9, wherein the lockdown controller is operated by software configured to perform the following operations: subsequent to instructing the annunciator to communicate the audible lockdown initiation annunciation, and subsequent to instructing the visual indicator to communicate the visual indication, instructing the lockdown communicator to communicate the lockdown procedure communication so as to communicate to the facility occupants the predetermined procedure for adoption by the facility occupants. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The processor based lockdown controller of claim 10, wherein the predetermined lockdown procedure communicated to facility occupants via the lockdown procedure communication includes instructions for facility occupants to remain within a secured area of the facility. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The processor based lockdown controller of claim 11, wherein the predetermined lockdown procedure communicated to facility occupants via the lockdown procedure communication includes an estimation of at least one of: the duration of the lockdown procedures, and a time when responding authorities will be arriving at the facility. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The processor based lockdown controller of claim 11, wherein the lockdown communicator includes a display at the facility that is configured, upon receipt of instructions, to communicate the lockdown procedure communication to the facility occupants so as to advise the facility occupants of the predetermined lockdown procedure subsequent to the initiation of the lockdown procedures. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The processor based lockdown controller of claim 13, wherein the lockdown procedure communication is in the form of a video, and the lockdown communicator is configured, upon receipt of instructions, to cause the display of the video via the display so as to be viewed by the facility occupants. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The processor based lockdown controller of claim 14, wherein the video includes content at least in part in the form of sign language for communicating with facility occupants who are hearing impaired. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The processor based lockdown controller of claim 14, wherein the lockdown communicator includes a speaker that is configured, upon receipt of instructions, to provide audio signals that complement the displayed video. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The processor based lockdown controller of claim 13, wherein the display is configured, upon receipt of instructions, to also communicate the lockdown initiation communication so as to inform the facility occupants of the initiation of the lockdown procedures upon transmission of the lockdown initiation signal. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The processor based lockdown controller of claim 17, wherein the display is configured, upon receipt of instructions, to communicate the lockdown initiation communication prior to communicating the lockdown procedure communication, so as to initially inform the facility occupants of the initiation of the lockdown procedures, and to subsequently advise the facility occupants of the predetermined lockdown procedure. ### Claim 19 (depends on 9) The processor based lockdown controller of claim 9, wherein the lockdown system is for use with mobile devices that each have a display, the mobile devices being disposed at the facility, and the lockdown communicator is configured, upon receipt of instructions, to communicate the lockdown procedure communication to the mobile devices so as to advise the facility occupants of the predetermined lockdown procedure subsequent to the initiation of the lockdown procedures. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The processor based lockdown controller of claim 19, wherein the lockdown procedure communication is in the form of a video, and the lockdown communicator is configured, upon receipt of instructions, to cause the display of the video via the mobile devices so as to be viewed by the facility occupants.