US 6,646,550 B1Granted

Radio frequency security system and method for a building facility

AssigneeBattelle Memorial Institute

InventorsLarry Runyon, Wayne M. Gunter, Ronald W. Gilbert

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Abstract

A security system for a building facility where radio frequency tamper-indicating devices are placed in the area of the facility to detect movement and/or relative movement of components under circumstances where such movement may indicate a security risk. One example is where there are ceiling tiles in a false ceiling which may be moved during a covert entry. An RF damage indicating device is placed at juncture locations of the tiles and tendrils of the tamper-indicating devices are positioned so that movement of one of the tiles will break the tendril and cause an alarm signal to be given. In other arrangements, tamper-indicating devices could be attached to security-sensitive objects, containers for the same, and building-related components so that movement of these security-sensitive objects would also trigger an alarm.

Claims40

Dependent claims

A method of reducing security risks in or adjacent to a building facility where there are in, or proximate to, said building facility components which comprise one or more of the following:

a) building components which are part of, or associated with, a building of said building facility;
b) facility components which are in or adjacent to said building and relate to functions or occupancy of the building facility;
c) other components which are in or adjacent to said building facility but are not included in building components or facility components,
and which components are also categorized as:
a) security-sensitive components which comprise:
i) components which themselves are security-sensitive;
ii) components which are of a nature that if moved or otherwise tampered with in some manner, such tampering may indicate a security risk;
iii) components which both themselves are security-sensitive and also are of a nature that if moved or otherwise tampered with in some manner, such tampering may indicate a security risk;
b) non-security-sensitive components;
said method comprising:
a) providing at least one tamper-indicating device which comprises:
i) a tamper-responsive section which comprises at least one tamper-responsive portion which has an intact condition and a non-intact condition, and said tamper-responsive section has an electrically conductive portion which in the intact condition is able to conduct electricity between first and second tamper related locations and in the non-intact condition is not able to conduct electricity between said first and second tamper related locations;
ii) a tamper-signaling section operatively connected to said tamper-responsive section in a manner to provide a signal indicating at least one of a non-intact condition, an intact condition, or not provide a signal in response to an interrogating signal to indicate a non-intact condition or intact condition;
b) placing said tamper-indicating device in a security risk detecting position by operatively engaging said tamper-indicating device to two of said components, at least one of which is a security-sensitive component, said two components being characterized in that relative movement between said two components indicates a possibility of a security risk occurrence, said tamper-indicating device being arranged and connected to said two components so that relative movement between said two components causes a break or damage to said tamper-responsive section to cause the tamper-responsive section to go to its non-intact condition;
c) operating a signal receiving device to ascertain either a reception of a signal or a lack of a signal from said tamper-indicating device to ascertain said possible security risk occurrence.

12 more elements

A system of reducing security risks in or adjacent to a building facility where there are in, or proximate to, said building facility components which comprise one or more of the following:

a) building components which are part of, or associated with, a building of said building facility;
b) facility components which are in or adjacent to said building and relate to functions or occupancy of the building facility;
c) other components which are in or adjacent to said building facility but are not included in building components or facility components,
and which components are also categorized as:
a) security-sensitive components which comprise:
i) components which themselves are security-sensitive;
ii) components which are of a nature that if moved or otherwise tampered with in some manner, such tampering may indicate a security risk;
iii) components which both themselves are security-sensitive and also are of a nature that if moved or otherwise tampered with in some manner, such tampering may indicate a security risk;
b) non-security-sensitive components;
said system comprising:
a) at least one tamper-indicating device which comprises:
i) a tamper-responsive section which comprises at least one tamper-responsive portion which has an intact condition and a non-intact condition, and said tamper-responsive section has an electrically conductive portion which in the intact condition is able to conduct electricity between first and second tamper related locations and in the non-intact condition is not able to conduct electricity between said first and second tamper related locations;
ii) a tamper-signaling section operatively connected to said tamper-responsive section in a manner to provide a signal indicating at least one of a non-intact condition, an intact condition, or not provide a signal in response to an interrogating signal to indicate a non-intact condition or intact condition;
b) said tamper-indicating device being placed in a security risk detecting position operatively engaging two of said components, at least one of which is a security-sensitive component, said two components being characterized in that relative movement between said two components indicates a possibility of a security risk occurrence, said tamper-indicating device being arranged and connected to said two components so that relative movement between said two components causes a break or damage to said tamper-responsive section to cause the tamper-responsive section to go to its non-intact condition;
c) a receiver/monitoring section arranged to receive said signal in a manner to ascertain either a reception of a signal or a lack of a signal from said tamper-indicating device to ascertain said possible security risk occurrence.

12 more elements

A method of reducing security risks in or adjacent to a building facility where there are in, or proximate to, said building facility components which comprise one or more of the following:

a) building components which are part of, or associated with, a building of said building facility;
b) facility components which are in or adjacent to said building and relate to functions or occupancy of the building facility;
c) other components which are in or adjacent to said building facility but are not included in building components or facility components,
and which components are also categorized as:
a) security-sensitive components which comprise:
i) components which themselves are security-sensitive;
ii) components which are of a nature that if moved or otherwise tampered with in some manner, such tampering may indicate a security risk;
iii) components which both themselves are security-sensitive and also are of a nature that if moved or otherwise tampered with in some manner, such tampering may indicate a security risk;
b) non-security-sensitive components;
said method comprising:
a) providing at least one tamper-indicating device which comprises:
i) a tamper-responsive section which comprises at least one tamper-responsive portion which has an intact condition and a non-intact condition, and said tamper-responsive section has a damage-sensitive portion located between first and second tamper-related locations;
ii) a tamper-signaling section operatively connected to said tamper-responsive section in a manner to provide a signal indicating at least one of a non-intact condition, an intact condition, or not provide a signal in response to an interrogating signal to indicate a non-intact condition or intact condition;
b) placing said tamper-indicating device in a security risk detecting position by operatively engaging said tamper-indicating device to two of said components, at least one of which is a security-sensitive component, said two components being characterized in that relative movement between said two components indicates a possibility of a security risk occurrence, said tamper-indicating device being arranged and connected to said two components so that relative movement between said two components causes a break or damage to said tamper-responsive section to cause the tamper-responsive section to go to its non-intact condition;
c) operating a signal receiving device to ascertain either a reception of a signal or a lack of a signal from said tamper-indicating device to ascertain said possible security risk occurrence.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.