Safety response systems, and related devices, units, and methods

Abstract

Various embodiments relate to response systems. A system may include a unit, which may include at least one input device, at least one output device, and at least one communication device. Further, the system may include a server remote from and communicatively coupled to the unit. The server may be configured to initiate a first mode of operation for the unit responsive to receipt of a first signal from a mobile device positioned within a geofence of the unit. The server may also be configured to initiate a second mode of operation for the unit responsive to receipt of a second signal from the mobile device positioned within the geofence of the unit. Associated methods and devices are also disclosed.

Description

[0001] SAFETY SYSTEMS, AND RELATED AND METHODS PRIORITY CLAIM This application claims the benefit of the filing date of United States Provisional Patent Application Serial No.63 / 687,398 filed August 27, 2024, for “SAFETY RESPONSE SYSTEMS, AND RELATED DEVICES, UNITS, AND METHODS.” TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates generally to safety responses and, more specifically, to safety response systems, and to related systems, devices, units, and methods. BACKGROUND Conventional security systems may include a panic button that is used to request immediate police, fire, or medical dispatch. Conventional panic button devices work by sending a signal to a security system, which may alert a third party, such as a monitoring station, which may request a response (e.g., police, fire, and / or medical response). Other safety alert systems may send a pre-defined message and / or a person’s location to a list of designated contacts in an emergency situation. However, these conventional systems fail to provide a real-time deterrent at a location of an emergency situation. DISCLOSURE At least one embodiment of the disclosure includes a system. The system may include a unit, which may include at least one input device, at least one output device, and at least one communication device. Further, the system may include a server remote from and communicatively coupled to the unit. The server may be configured to initiate a first mode of operation for the unit responsive to receipt of a first signal from a mobile device positioned within a geofence of the unit. The server may also be configured to initiate a second mode of operation for the unit responsive to receipt of at least a second signal from the mobile device positioned within the geofence of the unit. Another embodiment includes a method including initiating a first output from a mobile security unit responsive to a first signal from a user device positioned within a geofence of the mobile security unit. The method may also include initiating a second output from the mobile security unit to a second signal from the user device positioned within the geofence of the mobile security unit. Another embodiment includes a system including a mobile unit. The mobile unit includes a trailer, a mast coupled to the trailer, and a head unit coupled to the mast. The head unit may include at least one output device, a controller for controlling the at least one output device, and at least one communication device coupled to the controller. The system may also include a server communicatively coupled to the mobile unit via the at least one communication device. The server may be configured to determine whether a mobile user device is positioned within the geofence of the mobile unit. Further, the server may be configured to send one or more signals to the mobile unit to initiate at least one panic mode feature while the mobile user device is positioned within the geofence and in response to at least one signal from the mobile user device. In another embodiment, a system includes a response device positioned within an environment and including one or more input devices and one or more output devices. The system further includes an application program configured to determine if a user device is positioned within a threshold distance of the response device, enable a panic button to be displayed on the user device responsive to determining that the user device is positioned within the threshold distance, and cause, responsive to a signal generated responsive to selection of the panic button, an output to be conveyed via the one or more output devices of the response device. In yet another embodiment, a system includes a security unit including at least one output device. The system may also include a server remote from and communicatively coupled to the security unit. Further, the system includes an application program configured to enable at least one selection element to be displayed on a user interface of a mobile user device responsive to the mobile user device being positioned within a geofence of the security unit. The application program may further be configured to initiate one of a safety mode response or a panic mode response via the security unit responsive to receipt of an input based on selection of the at least one selection element while the mobile user device is positioned within a geofence of the security unit. At least one embodiment of the disclosure includes a system. The system may include a unit, which may include at least one input device, at least one output device, and at least one communication device. Further, the system may include a server remote from and communicatively coupled to the unit. The server may be configured to initiate a first mode of operation for the unit responsive of a first signal from an authorized mobile device. The server may also be configured to initiate a second mode of operation for the unit responsive to receipt of at least a second signal from the authorized mobile device. Another embodiment includes a method, including initiating a first output from a mobile security unit responsive to a first signal from an authorized user device. The method may also include initiating a second output from the mobile security unit responsive to a second signal from the authorized user device. In yet another embodiment, a system includes a unit including at least one input device, at least one output device, and at least one communication device. The unit may be configured to initiate a first mode of operation responsive to a first signal from an authorized remote device. The unit may further be configured to initiate a second mode of operation responsive to at least a second signal from the authorized remote device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG.1 depicts an example system including a unit, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure. FIGS.2A-2C illustrate examples of a mobile unit, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure. FIG.3 illustrates an example system, according to various embodiments of the disclosure. FIG.4 depicts an example server, according to various embodiments of the disclosure. FIGS.5A-5C depict an example user interface of a mobile application in various scenarios, according to various embodiments. FIG.6 depicts another example system including a mobile unit, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure. FIG.7 depicts an example system including a unit, a server, and one or more devices, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure. FIG.8 illustrates another example system, according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. FIG.9 is a flowchart illustrating an example method, according to various embodiments of the disclosure. MODE(S) FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring in general to the accompanying drawings, various embodiments of the present invention are illustrated to show example embodiments related to safety response systems, and more specifically to systems including response devices and for providing safety and / or panic responses. It should be understood that the drawings presented are not meant to be illustrative of actual views of any particular portion of an actual circuit, device, system, or structure, but are merely representations which are employed to more clearly depict various embodiments of the disclosure. The following provides a more detailed description of the present invention and various representative embodiments thereof. In this description, functions may be shown in block diagram form in order not to obscure the present invention in unnecessary detail. Additionally, block definitions and partitioning of logic between various blocks is exemplary of a specific implementation. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention may be practiced by numerous other partitioning solutions. For the most part, details concerning timing considerations and the like have been omitted where such details are not necessary to obtain a complete understanding of the present invention and are within the abilities of persons of ordinary skill in the relevant art. Although various embodiments are described herein with reference to security and / or surveillance systems and / or mobile security and / or mobile surveillance units, the present disclosure is not so limited, and the embodiments may be generally applicable to any system and / or device that may or may not include security and / or surveillance systems and / or units. Further, although some embodiments are disclosed with reference to a mobile unit, the disclosure is not so limited, and a person having ordinary skill will understand that various embodiments may be applicable to stationary units (e.g., stationary security / surveillance devices), such as a unit coupled to a stationary pole (e.g., a light pole), a structure (e.g., of a business or a residence), a tree, etc. Embodiments of the disclosure will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG.1 illustrates a system 100, according to one or more embodiments of the disclosure. System 100, which may include a security and / or surveillance system, includes a unit 102, which may also be referred to herein as, for example, a “mobile unit,” a “mobile security unit,” a “mobile surveillance unit,” a “physical unit,” a “response unit,” a “response device,” an “alert device,” or variation thereof. According to various embodiments, unit 102 may include one or more sensors (e.g., cameras, weather sensors, motion sensors, noise sensors, chemical sensors, without limitation) 104 and one or more output devices 106 (e.g., lights, speakers, electronic displays, without limitation). For example only, sensors 104 may include one or more cameras, such as thermal cameras, infrared cameras, optical cameras, PTZ cameras, bi-spectrum cameras, any other camera, or any combination thereof. Further, for example only, output devices 106 may include one or more lights (e.g., flood lights, strobe lights (e.g., LED strobe lights), and / or other lights), one or more speakers (e.g., loudspeakers, two-way public address (PA) speaker systems, etc.), any other suitable output device (e.g., a digital display), or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, unit 102 may also include one or more storage devices 108. Storage device 108, which may include any suitable storage device (e.g., a memory card, hard drive, a digital video recorder (DVR) / network video recorder (NVR), internal flash media, a network attached storage device, or any other suitable electronic storage device), may be configured for receiving and storing data (e.g., video, images, and / or i-frames) captured by sensors 104. In some embodiments, during operation of unit 102, storage device 108 may continuously record data (e.g., video, images, i-frames, and / or other data) captured by one or more sensors 104 (e.g., cameras, lidar, radar, environmental sensors, acoustic sensors, without limitation) of unit 102 (e.g., 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or any other time scenario). Unit 102 may further include a computer 110, which may include memory and / or any suitable processor, controller, logic, and / or other processor-based device known in the art. Unit 102 may also include a communication device (e.g., a modem (e.g., a cellular modem, a satellite modem, a Wi-Fi modem, etc.)) 112 that may comprise any suitable and known communication device, which may be coupled to sensors 104, output devices 106, storage device 108, and / or computer 110 via wired connections, wireless connections, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, communication device 112 may include one or more radios and / or one or more antennas. Moreover, although not shown in FIG.1, unit 102 may include one or more additional devices including, but not limited to, one or more microphones, one or more solar panels, one or more power generators (e.g., fuel cell generators), or any combination thereof. System 100 may further include one or more electronic devices 113, which may comprise, for example only, a mobile device (e.g., user device, such as a mobile phone, a tablet, etc.), a desktop computer, or any suitable electronic device including a display. Electronic device 113 may be accessible to one or more end-users. Additionally, system 100 may include a server 116 (e.g., a cloud server), which may be remote from unit 102. Communication device 112, electronic devices 113, and server 116 may be coupled to one another via a network (e.g., the Internet or other network) 114 and / or one or more other connections. According to various embodiments of the disclosure, unit 102 may be within a first location (a “camera location” or a “unit location”), and server 116 may be within a second location, remote from the first location. In addition, each electronic device 113 may or may not be remote from unit 102 and / or server 116. In some embodiments, unit 102 may be communicatively coupled to another device (e.g., server 116 and / or electronic device 113) via one or more metered (e.g., cellular and / or satellite) connections. Similarly, server 116 may be communicatively coupled to another device (e.g., unit 102 and / or electronic device 113) via one or more metered (e.g., cellular and / or satellite) connections. As will be appreciated by a person having ordinary skill in the art, system 100 may be modular, expandable, and / or scalable. It is noted that control of unit 102, and more specifically control of sensors 104 and output devices 106, and any processing and / or control of associated data, may be performed locally (e.g., via computer 110), remotely (e.g., via server 116, electronic device 113, or other device), or some combination thereof. Non-limiting examples of unit 102 are shown in FIGS.2A-2C. More specifically, FIG.2A illustrates an example of a unit 202, which is a mobile unit including a trailer, a storage box, a mast, and a head unit; FIG.2B illustrates a head unit 210 (e.g., of unit 102) including a number of lights, a number of cameras, and a speaker; and FIG.2C is another depiction of a head unit 220 (e.g., of unit 102) including a number of lights, a number of cameras, and a speaker. Additional description of a unit, including components thereof, will be provided below with regard to at least FIGS.6-8. FIG.3 depicts an example system 300, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure. System 300 includes a response device (e.g., a unit, such as unit 102 of FIG.1) 302, a server 304 (e.g., a cloud server) (e.g., server 116 of FIG.1), and a number of user devices (e.g., mobile phone or other device) 306 (e.g., electronic device 113 of FIG.1). FIG.3 further depicts a geofence with response device 302. A value of a radius of geofence 308 may be selected to be any suitable value, such as 1000 feet (304.8 meters), 750 feet (228.54 meters), 500 feet (152.4 meters), 250 feet (76.14 meters), or any other desired and suitable value. As shown in FIG.3, user device 306A is inside (i.e., within) geofence 308 and user device 306B is outside of geofence 308. As will be appreciated, user device 306 may include GPS capabilities. For example, each user device 306 may include a mobile application stored thereon, wherein the mobile application may be associated with (e.g., owned, developed, and / or controlled by) an entity that sells, leases, and / or is otherwise associated with response devices (e.g., unit 102 of FIG.1 and / or response device 302 of FIG.3). As will be appreciated by a person having ordinary skill, a mobile application (also commonly referred to as a “mobile app”) is a software program that runs on a portable device (e.g., user device 306), such as a smartphone or tablet (e.g., instead of a desktop or laptop computer). According to various embodiments, server 304 may include at least one database for storing and tracking locations of a number of response devices (e.g., a fleet of response devices (e.g., a number of response devices 302)) and a number of user devices (i.e., having a mobile app installed thereon) (e.g., a number of user devices 306). For example, as shown in FIG.4, server 304 includes at least one database 310 including location data (e.g., locations of response devices and user devices) and a service 312 for comparing (mapping) response devices to user devices. More specifically, in one non-limiting example, server 304 may include a first database including location data for response devices and a second database including location data for user devices (i.e., user devices having an installed associated mobile application). In this example, service 312 may determine whether a user device is within a geofence of a response device, determine which response device (e.g., of a fleet of response devices) is nearest to a user device, determine a distance between the nearest response device and the user device, and / or determine directions on how a user of the user device may travel toward and / or get to the location of the response device. In some embodiments, the mobile app may enable locations of response devices within a specified area (e.g., 1 mile (1.6 kilometers), 10 miles (16.09 kilometers), 20 miles (32.18 kilometers), etc.) to be displayed via an associated user device (i.e., via a user interface of the mobile application). More specifically, the mobile app may, based on known location data of response devices location data of the associated user device, display a map (i.e., on a display of the user device) including icons depicting response devices within a selectable region. Further, the mobile app may notify the user whether or not the user device is within a range (e.g., geofence) of a response device and / or information about the nearest response device. Further, if the user device is within range of a response device, a user may be notified (i.e., via the mobile app) and / or an option to enable a safety mode may be provided to the user (i.e., via the mobile app). In addition, if the user device is within range of a response device, an option to enable a panic mode may be provided to the user (i.e., via the mobile application). According to various embodiments, some response devices (e.g., of a fleet of response devices) may be “participating devices” and some other response devices (e.g., of the fleet) may be “non-participating devices,” wherein participating response devices may be available for a safety response and non-participating response device may not be available for a safety response, as described more fully herein. In this example, although both participating and non-participating devices may appear on a map (i.e., displayed in the map in the mobile application), participating devices may appear on the map differently than non-participating devices. For example, non-participating response devices may be greyed out on the map, and participating response devices may not be greyed out. As will be appreciated, in a scenario wherein a user is positioned near a non-participating response device, the user may not be able to enable a safety or panic mode using the non- participating response device. The greyed-out depiction, in this example, may prevent the user from being confused as to why the user is unable to engage the response device, even though the user is within a geofence of the response device. According to various embodiments, enabling a safety mode (i.e., via the mobile app) may cause an associated response device to generate a response, such as turning on one or more lights, conveying a sound, and / or conveying an audible message (e.g., “warning….this area is under surveillance”). Further, for example, enabling a panic mode (i.e., via the mobile app) may cause the associated response device to generate another response, which is elevated relative to the response associated with the safety mode. For example, a panic mode response (also referred to as a “berserk mode response”) may include turning on one or more lights of the response device, conveying an alarm via the response device, and / or conveying an audible message (e.g., “authorities have been notified and are en route”) via the response device. Further, for example, a panic mode may include engaging (e.g., via server 304) a third as an emergency call center (e.g., 911) and / or a monitoring entity. For example, various embodiments disclosed herein may be tied into a security operations center (SOC) (e.g., so a live operator can watch over an individual (e.g., public user, employee, etc.) in real-time (e.g., as they walk through the parking lot to their car)). It is noted that various embodiments may utilize geofencing technology with GPS capable user devices (e.g., to determine if a user device is within range of a response device and to enable the user device to trigger a response). Further, various embodiments may rely on direct wireless communication between a user device and a response device (i.e., a user device may trigger a response by a response device (i.e., via direct communication with the response device) if the user device is within a certain distance to the response device. As noted above, in some embodiments, a user may utilize a response device if an associated user device is within a geofence of the response device. In other embodiments, rather than requiring that a user device be positioned within a geofence of a response device, a user may enter a pin code (e.g., via the user device) to utilize the response device (e.g., regardless of whether or not the user device is within a geofence of the response device). Further, in some embodiments, if a user is registered user (e.g., has a user registration), the user may utilize a response device (i.e., via an associated user device) (e.g., regardless of whether or not the user device is within a geofence of the response device). According to various embodiments, if a user device is positioned within a geofence, an acceptable pin code has been provided, and / or if the user device is registered, the user device may be considered to be an authorized user device. As noted above, some embodiments of the disclosure may include a server (e.g., server 304). However, the disclosure is not so limited, and other embodiments that do not include a server, or may not require a server, are within the scope of the disclosure. For example, a user device (e.g., user device 306) may be configured to convey a number of signals to a response device (e.g., response device 302) for activating one or more modes (e.g., a safety mode and / or a panic mode). More specifically, for example, user device 306 may include, or may have access to, at least one database (e.g., database 310) for storing and tracking locations of a number of response devices (e.g., a fleet of response devices (e.g., a number of response devices 302)). Further, user device 306 may include, or may have access to, a service (e.g., similar to service 312) to determine whether user device 306 is authorized (e.g., within a geofence of a response device) and / or determine which response device (e.g., of a fleet of is nearest to user device 306, determine a distance between the nearest response device and user device 306, and / or determine directions on how a user of user device 306 may travel toward and / or get to the location of the response device. In at least these embodiments, a communication link may be established between user device 306 and response device 302, such that user device 306 may communicate directly with response device 302 for activation of a desired mode (e.g., safety mode and / or panic mode) (e.g., assuming user device 306 is an authorized user device). In some embodiments, response devices (e.g., each response device of a fleet of response devices) may transmit a signal (e.g., ping and / or other data) that may be received by a user device, such that the user device may become aware of the existence and a location of a specific response device. Although various embodiments disclose user device 306 as being a smartphone- type device, the disclosure is not so limited; rather, according to various embodiments, user device 306 may include a dedicated response device (e.g., a non-mobile app capable device) including, for example, one or more selectors (e.g., buttons) and non-display indicators, such as LED(s). Accordingly, various embodiments may provide a real-time deterrent in an emergency situation. FIGS.5A-5C depict a user interface of a mobile application in various scenarios, according to various embodiments. More specifically, FIG.5A depicts a user interface 500A in a scenario wherein the associated user device is not positioned within a geofence of a unit (e.g., response device 302). For example, user device 306B of FIG.3, which is outside of geofence 308, may depict user interface 500A shown in FIG.5A. In this scenario, user interface 500A may inform a user (i.e., via the mobile app) that the associated response device is not within range (e.g., not within geofence 308) of a response device, as shown by an example notification 502. Further, in some embodiments, user interface 500A may provide information to the user about the nearest response device, as shown by an example notification 504. More specifically, for example, a user interface may depict a map showing a location of one or more of the nearest response devices, and possibly directions on how to travel to at least one of the nearest response devices. If and / or when a user device is positioned within a geofence (e.g., geofence 308) of a response device (e.g., user device 306A of FIG.3), the user interface may notify the user that the response device is within range, provide information about the response device (as shown by example notification 512) of 500B / 500C, and / or provide an option (e.g., button 514 of FIG.5B) to select a first mode (e.g., a safety mode). Further, user interface 500C of FIG.5C may provide an option (e.g., button 524 of FIG.5C) to select a second, different mode (e.g., a panic mode). In one example, the option to select button 524 may be provided after button 514 is selected by a user. In other words, for example, the display in FIG.5C may be provided after a user selects button 514 of FIG.5B. Stated yet another way, in one non-limiting example, a panic mode may be selected after a safety mode has been initiated. In another example, both button 514 and button 524 may be provided (i.e., together) and the user may decide which button to select (e.g., depending on a perceived threat level). It is noted that the disclosure is neither limited to a specific order in which selection elements (e.g., safety button v. panic button) are displayed (e.g., to a user) nor a type of resulting operation (i.e., safety and panic functionalities are provided as examples only). Rather, any system including one or more modalities is within the scope of the disclosure. With reference to FIGS.3, 5B, and 5C, in one example, in response to a user selecting button 514, a signal may be sent from user device 306A to server 304, which may send a command to response device 302 to cause response device 302 to generate a first response (e.g., a response associated with a first mode (e.g., a safety mode)). Continuing with this example, in response to a user selecting button 524, a signal may be sent from user device 306A to server 304, which may send a command to response device 302 to cause response device 302 to generate a second response (e.g., a response associated with a second mode (e.g., a panic mode)), which may be elevated relative to the first response. As will be appreciated, if an individual feels threatened (e.g., in a parking lot, construction area, a school campus, or any other area), the individual may, via selecting a selection element (e.g., slider, button, etc.) (e.g., safety button 514 or panic button 524) on their user device, cause a response device (e.g., a mobile unit) positioned nearby to provide a response (e.g., a safety response or a panic response), assuming the individual has the mobile application installed on his or her user device and the user device is positioned within a geofence of the response device. Accordingly, various embodiments may provide a real-time deterrent in an emergency situation. Accordingly, various embodiments may provide a real-time deterrent in an emergency situation. In accordance with other embodiments of the disclosure, a user device with an installed mobile application may be configured to upload and / or stream video (i.e., captured with the user device) to a server server 304). More specifically, for example, a user that triggered the safety or panic mode (i.e., via a user device) may also capture video via a camera of the user device, wherein the captured video may be uploaded to the server (e.g., in real-time) and / or after capturing the video. Similarly, a third party (e.g., a witness) having the mobile application installed on his or her user device may capture video via a camera of his or her user device, wherein the captured video may be uploaded to the server (e.g., in real-time) and / or after capturing the video. Of course, the response device (i.e., the response device that is or was generating a response) may also be configured to capture video of an event. In some embodiments, via, for example, using GPS coordinates of a user device (e.g., user device 306A), data (e.g., video) uploaded from the user device (e.g., of a user that triggered a mode and / or of a witness) to a server (e.g., server 304) may be correlated as long as the user device is within or close to the geofence of an associated response device (e.g., security unit). As will be appreciated, video captured via a user device and / or a response device and uploaded to a server may provide for additional evidence involving and / or related to events that triggered the safety mode and / or the panic mode. According to various embodiments, a user may be authenticated during or before installation of the mobile application. For example, a user may provide an identifier (e.g., a telephone number) to prove their identity and / or associate their user device to a specific individual with the identifier (e.g., each installed mobile application is associated with at least one identifier). Further, activity of users may be recorded and monitored (e.g., a record of engagement), and, in the event any abuse and / or misuse of the mobile application and / or the associated features occurs, appropriate action may be taken (e.g., the user may be flagged and / or warned, the user’s account may be suspended or terminated, and / or any other suitable action may be taken). In some example applications, a response device (e.g., a mobile unit), which may be owned or leased by an entity (e.g., retail entity, government / military / law enforcement, construction, property management, etc.), may be positioned within in an environment (e.g., a parking lot, a roadside location, a construction zone, a concert or sporting venue, a school campus, without limitation). In these and other applications, the entity may opt in to allow its response device(s) to be part of a response system network. For example, a retail store, which includes one or more response devices in its parking lot, may opt in to allow individuals (e.g., public users) that have installed the mobile application to access the response features (i.e., carried out using store’s response device(s)), as described herein. As noted above, some response devices may be participating devices, and some response devices may not be participating devices. It is noted that an entity (e.g., an entity paying for a response device and / or entity making and / or selling responsive devices and / or associated services) or other personnel, may adjust whether a response device is participating or not (e.g., based on time of day, day of the week, traffic, or any other variable). Further, according to various embodiments, a mobile application may be linked to various levels of access and / or rights. For example, a public user may install the mobile application by providing an identifier (e.g., telephone number) and by using a username and password. Further, as described herein, a public user may be provided certain rights and / or access to utilize the response features upon being within range (e.g., within a geofence) of a response device. As another example, an employee of an entity (i.e., an entity owning or subscribing to a response device) may be provided, for example, a digital certificate, which may provide the employee with rights and / or access, which may be a different level of rights / access compared to rights / access given to a public user. Depending on implementation, it may or may not be required to utilize geofence determination for an employee to access and / or use the response features associated with a response device of their employer. For example, if an employee is located at a first location of the entity (e.g., the location that the employee works), the employee may have employee access; however, if the employee is located at a second location of the entity (e.g., not a location that the employee works), the employee may or may not have employee access (e.g., the employee may have public user access at the second location). Similarly, other employee personnel (e.g., security personnel or other authorized users) of the entity (“power users”) may be granted a level of access that may be different than public users and employee level access and may or may not require geofence determination to be granted access to a response device. As another example, if an entity (e.g., an employer) has opted in (e.g., for public use), an employee of the entity may be granted rights to use an associated response device. It is noted that the implementation scenarios are provided as examples, and other implementation scenarios may be within the scope of the disclosure. It is noted that, according to various embodiments, access (e.g., to the safety and panic features) may be given to a user (e.g., public user and / or an employee of an employer) without necessarily giving the user access to any other part of an associated account (i.e., an employer (e.g., the for an alert device) account with a service provider (e.g., entity making and / or selling alert devices and / or the associated technology). FIG.6 depicts another example system 600 including a unit 602, in accordance with various embodiments of the disclosure. Unit 602 (e.g., response device 302 of FIG.3) may be configured to be positioned in an environment (e.g., a parking lot, a retail location, a roadside location, a construction site, a concert venue, a sporting venue, a school campus, without limitation). In some embodiments, unit 602 may include one or more sensors 604 (e.g., cameras, weather sensors, motion sensors, noise sensors, without limitation) and one or more output devices 606 (e.g., lights, speakers, electronic displays, without limitation). In some embodiments, unit 602 may include a mobile unit. In these and other embodiments, unit 602 may include a portable trailer 608, a storage box 610, and a mast 612 coupled to a head unit (also referred to herein as a “live unit,” an “edge device,” or simply an “edge”) 614, which may include (or be coupled to) for example, one or more batteries, one or more cameras, one or more lights, one or more speakers, one or more microphones, and / or other input and / or output devices. According to some embodiments, a first end of mast 612 may be proximate storage box 610 and a second, opposite end of mast 612 may be proximate, and possibly adjacent, head unit 614. More specifically, in some embodiments, head unit 614 may be coupled to mast 612 an end opposite an end of mast 612 proximate storage box 610. In some examples, unit 602 may include one or more primary batteries (e.g., within storage box 610) and one or more secondary batteries (e.g., within head unit 614). In these embodiments, a primary battery positioned in storage box 610 may be coupled to a load and / or a secondary battery positioned within head unit 614 via, for example, a cord reel. In some embodiments, unit 602 may also include one or more solar panels 616, which may provide power to one or more batteries of unit 602. More specifically, according to some embodiments, one or more solar panels 616 may provide power to a primary battery within storage box 610. Although not illustrated in FIG.6, unit 602 may include one or more other power sources, such as one or more generators (e.g., fuel cell generators) (e.g., in addition to or instead of solar panels). In some embodiments, unit 602 may be configured to connect to shore power (e.g., unit 602 may be coupled to a power outlet). As will be appreciated, unit 602 may include one or controllers (e.g., within head unit 614) including one or more operating systems, which may be configured and / or updated in accordance with various embodiments disclosed herein. FIG.7 depicts a system 700, in with various embodiments of the disclosure. System 700 includes one or more mobile units 702, a server 704, and one or more electronic devices 706. In one non-limiting example, response device 302 of FIG.3 includes mobile unit 702, server 304 of FIG.3 includes server 704, and user device 306 of FIG.3 includes electronic device 706. According to various embodiments of the disclosure, mobile unit 702, which may include a modem, may be within a first location (a “camera location” or a “remote location”), and server 704 may be within a second location, remote from the camera location. In addition, in at least some examples, electronic device 706 may be remote from the camera location and / or server 704. As will be appreciated by a person having ordinary skill in the art, system 700 may be modular, expandable, and / or scalable. FIG.8 illustrates a system 800 that may be used to implement embodiments of the disclosure. System 800 may include a computer 802 (e.g., computer 110 of FIG.1) that comprises a processor 804 and memory 806. For example only, and not by way of limitation, computer 802 may include a workstation, a laptop, or a hand-held device such as a cell phone or a personal digital assistant (PDA), a server (e.g., server 118 / 304), computer 110 (see FIG.1), or any other processor-based device known in the art. In one embodiment, computer 802 may be operably coupled to a display (not shown in FIG.8), which presents images to the user via a GUI (e.g., user interface 500; see FIGS.5A-5C). As will be appreciated, computer 802 may include one or controllers including one or more operating systems, which may be configured and / or updated in accordance with various embodiments disclosed herein. Generally, computer 802 may operate under control of an operating system 808 stored in memory 806, and interface with a user to accept inputs and commands and to present outputs through a GUI module 810. Although GUI module 810 is depicted as a separate module, the instructions performing the GUI functions may be resident or distributed in the operating system 808, an application program 812, or implemented with special purpose memory and processors. Computer 802 may also implement a compiler 814 that allows a program 812 (e.g., code) written in a programming language to be translated into processor 804 readable code. After completion, program 812 may access and manipulate data stored in memory 806 of computer 802 using the relationships and logic that are generated using compiler 814. Further, operating system 808 and program 812 may include instructions that, when read and executed by computer 802, may cause computer 802 to perform the steps necessary to implement and / or use of the disclosure. Program 812 and / or operating instructions may also be tangibly embodied in memory 806 and / or data communications devices, thereby making a computer program product or article of manufacture according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As such, the term “application program” or the term “program” as used herein is intended to encompass a computer program accessible from any computer readable device or media. Program 812 may exist on an electronic device (e.g., electronic device 113; see FIG.1), a server (e.g., server 116; see FIG.1), a unit (e.g., unit 102; see FIG.1), and / or another device. Furthermore, portions of program 812 may be distributed such that some of program 812 may be included on a computer readable media within an electronic device (e.g., electronic device 113), some of program 812 may be included on a computer readable media on a server (e.g., server 116), some of program 812 may be included on a computer readable media on a unit (e.g., unit 102 / 602), and / or some of program 812 may be included on a computer readable media on another device. For example, with reference to FIG.1, in some embodiments, program 812 may be configured to run on electronic device 113, server 116, unit 102, another computing device, or any combination thereof. As a specific example, program 812 may exist on server 116 and / or unit 102 and may be accessible to a user via electronic device 113. FIG.9 is a flowchart of an example method 900 of operating a response system. Method 900 may be arranged in accordance with at least one embodiment described in the disclosure. Method 900 may be performed, in some embodiments, by a device or system, such as system 100 (see FIG.1), system 300 (FIG.3), server 304 (FIG.4), user interface 500A, 500B, 500C (see FIG.5A, 5B, and / or 5C), system 600 (see FIG.6), system 700 (see FIG.7), system 800 (FIG.8) or another device or system. Although illustrated as discrete blocks, various blocks may be divided into additional blocks, combined into fewer blocks, or eliminated, depending on the desired implementation. Method 900 may begin at block 902, wherein a first output from a mobile unit is initiated responsive to a first signal from a user device positioned within a geofence of a mobile unit, and method 900 may proceed to block 904. For example, in response to a user selecting a first element (e.g., button or other icon) (e.g., safety button) displayed by the user device, a signal sent from the user device (user device 306A of FIG.3) may be received at a server (e.g., server 304 of FIG.3), which may send a signal to the mobile unit (e.g., response device 302 of FIG.3) to mobile unit to generate the first output (e.g., a safety response output). At block 904, a second output from the mobile unit is initiated responsive to receipt of a second signal from the user device positioned within the geofence of the mobile unit, and method 900 may proceed to block 906. For example, in response to a user selecting a second element (e.g., button or other icon) (e.g., panic button) displayed by the user device (user device 306A of FIG.3), a signal sent from the user device may be received at the server (e.g., server 304 of FIG.3), which may send a signal to the mobile unit (e.g., response device 302 of FIG.3) to cause the mobile unit to generate the second output (e.g., a panic response output). Modifications, additions, or omissions may be made to method 900 without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the operations of method 900 may be implemented in differing order. Furthermore, the outlined operations and actions are only provided as examples, and some of the operations and actions may be optional, combined into fewer operations and actions, or expanded into additional operations and actions without detracting from the essence of the disclosed embodiment. For example, method 900 may include one or more acts wherein it is determined whether or not the user device is within the geofence of the mobile unit. As another example, method 900 may include one or more acts wherein a signal conveyed from the user device is received at a server, and in response thereto, the server conveys a signal to the mobile unit. In another example, method 900 may include one or more acts wherein a selectable element (e.g., a safety mode button and / or a panic mode button) may be displayed on the user device (e.g., responsive to determining that the user device is positioned within the geofence of the mobile unit). As yet another example, method 900 may include one or more acts wherein an alert may be sent (e.g., from the server) to at least one third party responsive to receipt of a signal from the user device. In accordance with common practice, the various features illustrated in the drawings may not be drawn to scale. The illustrations presented in the disclosure are not meant to be actual views of any particular apparatus (e.g., interface, device, system, etc.) or method, but are merely idealized representations that are employed to describe various embodiments of the disclosure. Accordingly, the dimensions of the various features may be arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. In addition, some of the drawings may be simplified for clarity. Thus, the drawings not depict all of the components of a given apparatus (e.g., interface, device, or system) or all operations of a particular method. Terms used herein and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including, but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes, but is not limited to,” etc.). Additionally, if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and / or “an” should be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. As used herein, “and / or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, it is understood that such recitation should be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of “two recitations,” without other modifiers, means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” or “one or more of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended to include A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, or A, B, and C together, etc. For example, the use of the term “and / or” is intended to be construed in this manner. Further, any disjunctive word or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” should be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.” As used herein, the term in reference to a given parameter, property, or condition means and includes to a degree that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the given parameter, property, or condition is met with a degree of variance, such as within acceptable tolerances. By way of example, depending on the particular parameter, property, or condition that is substantially met, the parameter, property, or condition may be at least 90.0 percent met, at least 95.0 percent met, at least 99.0 percent met, at least 99.9 percent met, or even 100.0 percent met. As used herein, the term “approximately” or the term “about,” when used in reference to a numerical value for a particular parameter, is inclusive of the numerical value and a degree of variance from the numerical value that one of ordinary skill in the art would understand is within acceptable tolerances for the particular parameter. For example, “about,” in reference to a numerical value, may include additional numerical values within a range of from 90.0 percent to 110.0 percent of the numerical value, such as within a range of from 95.0 percent to 105.0 percent of the numerical value, within a range of from 97.5 percent to 102.5 percent of the numerical value, within a range of from 99.0 percent to 101.0 percent of the numerical value, within a range of from 99.5 percent to 100.5 percent of the numerical value, or within a range of from 99.9 percent to 100.1 percent of the numerical value. Additionally, the use of the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., are not necessarily used herein to connote a specific order or number of elements. Generally, the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., are used to distinguish between different elements as generic identifiers. Absent a showing that the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., connote a specific order, these terms should not be understood to connote a specific order. Furthermore, absent a showing that the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., connote a specific number of elements, these terms should not be understood to connote a specific number of elements.

[0002] The embodiments of the above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings do not limit the scope of the disclosure, which is encompassed by the scope of the appended claims and their legal equivalents. Any equivalent embodiments are within the scope of this disclosure. Indeed, various modifications of the disclosure, in addition to those shown and described herein, such as alternative useful combinations of the elements described, will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. Such modifications and embodiments also fall within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents.

Claims

What is claimed:

1. A system, comprising: a unit including: at least one input device; at least one output device; and at least one communication device; and a server remote from and communicatively coupled to the unit, the server configured to: initiate a first mode of operation for the unit responsive to a first signal from a remote device positioned within a geofence of the unit; and initiate a second mode of operation for the unit responsive to at least a second signal from the remote device positioned within the geofence of the unit.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the unit comprises a mobile unit.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the server is further configured to determine whether the remote device is positioned within the geofence of the unit.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising the remote device comprising a first portion of at least one application program stored thereon.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first portion of the at least one application program is configured to enable selection, via the remote device, of one of the first mode or the second mode.

6. The system of claim 4, further comprising another portion of the at least one application program stored on the server.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first mode comprises a first response and the second mode comprises a second response elevated relative to the first response.

8. The system of claim 1, the at least one output device comprises at least one light and at least one speaker; and the at least one input device comprises at least one camera.

9. A method of operating a security system including a mobile security unit, the method comprising: initiating a first output from the mobile security unit responsive to a first signal from a user device positioned within a geofence of a mobile security unit and including a mobile application associated with mobile security unit stored thereon; and initiating a second output from the mobile security unit responsive to a second signal from the user device positioned within the geofence of the mobile security unit.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining whether the user device is within the geofence of the mobile security unit.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising: receiving, at a cloud server, the first signal from the user device; and conveying a third signal from the cloud server to the mobile security unit to initiate the first output.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising: receiving, at the cloud server, the second signal from the user device; and conveying a fourth signal from the cloud server to the mobile security unit to initiate the second output.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising enabling a panic button to be displayed on the user device responsive to determining that the user device is positioned within the geofence of the mobile security unit.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising sending an alert to at least one third party responsive to the second signal from the user device.

15. A system, comprising: a mobile unit comprising: a trailer; a mast coupled to the trailer; and a head unit coupled to the mast and comprising: at least one output device; a controller for controlling the at least one output device; and at least one communication device coupled to the controller; and a server communicatively coupled to the mobile unit via that at least one communication device, the server configured to: determine whether a mobile user device is positioned within a geofence of the mobile unit; and send one or more signals to the mobile unit to initiate at least one panic mode feature while the mobile user device is positioned within the geofence and in response to at least one signal from the mobile user device.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising the mobile user device, wherein panic button functionality is enabled on the mobile user device responsive to the mobile user device being positioned within the geofence of the mobile unit.

17. The system of claim 15, the head unit further comprising at least one sensor for capturing sensor data while the at least one panic mode feature is initiated.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the server includes at least one database including information regarding a location of the mobile unit.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the server is further configured to determine a location of the mobile user device based on location-based information stored on the mobile user device.

20. The system of claim 15, the server is further configured to cause panic button functionality to be enabled on the mobile user device responsive to determining that the mobile user device is positioned within the geofence of the mobile unit.

21. The system of claim 15, further comprising an application program configured to at least one of: cause a map to be displayed on the mobile user device depicting a location of the mobile unit on the map responsive to the mobile user device being positioned within the geofence of the mobile unit; and cause the map to be displayed on the mobile user device illustrating a location of the nearest mobile unit of a number of mobile units to the mobile user device if the mobile user device is not positioned within the geofence of the mobile unit.

22. A system, comprising: a unit positioned within an environment and including one or more input devices and one or more output devices; and an application program configured to: determine if an electronic device having at least a portion of the application program stored thereon is positioned within a threshold distance of the mobile unit; enable a panic button to be displayed on the electronic device responsive to determining that the electronic device is positioned within the threshold distance; and cause, responsive to a signal generated responsive to selection of the panic button, an output to be conveyed via the one or more output devices of the mobile unit.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the application program includes a first portion stored on the electronic device, a second portion stored on the mobile unit, and a third portion stored on a cloud server.

24. A system, comprising: a security unit including at least one output device; a server remote from and communicatively coupled to the security unit; and an application program configured to: enable at least one selection element to be displayed on a user interface of a mobile user device responsive to the mobile user device being positioned within a geofence of the security unit; and initiate one of a safety mode response or a panic mode response via the security unit responsive to receipt of an input based on selection of the at least one selection element while the mobile user device is positioned within a geofence of the security unit.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the security unit comprises a mobile security unit including: a trailer; a mast coupled to the trailer; and a head unit coupled to the mast and comprising the at least one output device and at least one camera.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein the security unit and the server are communicatively coupled via a metered connection, and the server is communicatively coupled to the mobile user device via another metered connection.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein the application program is configured to: initiate the safety mode response responsive to receipt of the input based on selection of the at least one selection element while the mobile user device is positioned within the geofence of the security unit; enable at least one other selection element to be displayed on the user interface responsive to initiation of the safety mode response; and initiate the panic mode response via the security unit responsive to receipt of another input based on selection of the at least one other selection element while the mobile user device is positioned within the geofence of the security unit.

28. A system, comprising: a unit including: at least one input device; at least one output device; and at least one communication device; and a server remote from and communicatively coupled to the unit, the server configured to: initiate a first mode of operation for the unit responsive to a first signal from an authorized remote device; and initiate a second mode of operation for the unit responsive to a second signal from the authorized remote device.

29. A method of operating a security system including a mobile security unit, the method comprising: initiating a first output from the mobile security unit responsive to a first signal from an authorized user device; and initiating a second output from the mobile security unit responsive to a second signal from the authorized user device.

30. A system, comprising: a unit including: at least one input device; at least one output device; and at least one communication device; the unit configured to: initiate a first mode of operation for the unit responsive to a first signal from a remote device positioned within a geofence of the unit; and initiate a second mode of operation for the unit responsive to at least a second signal from the remote device positioned within the geofence of the unit.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the unit comprises a mobile unit.

32. The system of claim 30, further comprising the remote device comprising a first portion of at least one application program stored thereon.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the first portion of the at least one application program is configured to enable selection, via the remote device, of one of the first mode or the second mode.

34. The system of claim 30, wherein the remote device is configured to determine whether the remote device is positioned within the geofence of the unit.

35. The system of claim 30, wherein the first mode comprises a first response and the second mode comprises a second response elevated relative to the first response.

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