System and method for multi-level border control within sites

A system for keeping a movable restricted object within a confined area that forms part of an institutional site, the confined area having:

• (i) one or more lockable exits which can be remotely locked to prevent exit of the restricted object from said confined area, (ii) a safe area where the restricted object is designated to stay, (iii) a buffer area adjacent to the first area, and (iv) a lock area situated between the buffer area and the one or more lockable exits, the system comprising:
• an object identifier, that is a beacon or a visual feature, borne by the restricted object;
• a first fixed tag that is a device fixed either at the border of or within the buffer area and operative to:
• communicate with the object identifier to detect whether the restricted object is in the buffer area,
• check whether the restricted object is authorized to leave the safe area, and
• upon recognizing that the restricted object is in the buffer area and is not authorized to leave the safe area:
• send a message to a tag of a selected staff member, the message instructing the selected staff member to move the restricted object back to the safe area prior to the restricted object reaching the lock area;
• and
• a second fixed tag that is a device fixed either at the border of or within the lock area and operative to:
• communicate with the object identifier to detect whether the restricted object is in the lock area,
• check whether the restricted object is authorized to leave the safe area, and
• upon recognizing that the restricted object is in the lock area and is not authorized to leave the first area:
• send a locking signal to at least one lockable exit of the one or more lockable exits to prevent exit of the restricted object from said confined area within said institutional site.

A system for keeping a movable restricted object within a fixed confined area that forms part of an institutional site, the confined area having:

• (i) one or more lockable exits that are remotely lockable to prevent exit of the restricted object from said confined area, (ii) a safe area where the restricted object is designated to stay, (iii) a buffer area adjacent to the first area, and (iv) a lock area situated between the buffer area and the one or more lockable exits, the system comprising:
• a first beacon fixed at the border of or within the buffer area and configured to recurrently transmit a short-range wireless signal;
• a second beacon fixed at the border of or within the lock area and configured to recurrently transmit a short-range wireless signal;
• and
• a tag that is a device attached to the restricted object and operative to:
• communicate with the first fixed beacon to detect whether the restricted object is in the buffer area,
• communicate with the second fixed beacon to detect whether the restricted object is in the lock area,
• check whether the restricted object is authorized to leave the safe area,
• upon recognizing that the restricted object is in the buffer area and is not authorized to leave the safe area:
• autonomously send a message to a tag of a selected staff member within said institutional site, the message instructing the selected staff member to move the restricted object back to the safe area prior to the restricted object reaching the lock area, and
• upon recognizing that the restricted object is in the lock area and is not authorized to leave the safe area:
• send a locking signal to at least one lockable exit of the one or more lockable exits to prevent exit of the restricted object from said confined area.

A method of operation of at least one tag and at least one beacon for keeping a restricted object within a confined area that forms part of an institutional site, the confined area having one or more lockable exits which can be remotely locked to prevent exit of the restricted object from said confined area, the confined area including:

• a safe area where the restricted object is designated to stay,
• a buffer area adjacent to the first area, and
• a lock area situated between the buffer area and the one or more lockable exit, each of the at least one tag being a device that is either a personal tag borne by a person, an asset tag attached to an asset, or a fixed tag that is fixed at a location that is either at the border of or within the buffer area or lock area, each tag of the at least one tag;
• the method comprising:
• recurrently transmitting, via a wireless transmitter of each beacon of the at least one beacon, a short-range wireless signal;
• receiving, via a short-range wireless receiver of each tag of the at least one tag, the short-range wireless signal;
• wirelessly communicating, via a network communication device of each tag of the at least one tag, with other tags;
• based on the received short-range wireless signal, detecting, by the at least one tag, whether the restricted object is in the buffer area or in the safe area;
• checking, by the at least one tag, whether the restricted object is authorized to leave the safe area;
• upon recognizing that the restricted object is in the buffer area and is not authorized to leave the safe area:
• sending, by the at least one tag, a message to a tag of a selected staff member, the message instructing the selected staff member to move the restricted object back to the safe area prior to the restricted object reaching the lock area;
• and
• upon recognizing that the restricted object is in the lock area and is not authorized to leave the safe area:
• sending, by the at least one tag, a locking signal to at least one lockable exit of the one or more lockable exits to prevent exit of the restricted object from said confined area within said institutional site.