Time-Based Multivariable Alarm System for Secure Facility Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing security alarm systems in secure facilities generate numerous generic and often irrelevant alerts, leading to potential situations of interest being overlooked, as they are based on single events rather than multi-variable criteria and lack customizable notification methods.
Innovation Solution
A time-based multivariable secure facility alarm system that generates alerts based on multiple events occurring within a specified time period, including non-telephonic events, and allows for customizable notification methods based on time of day and event type, such as financial transactions involving friends and family.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If single-event alarm criteria are used, then alarm generation is simple and responsive, but alert relevance deteriorates due to numerous generic and irrelevant alerts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple independent alarm criteria into a unified multivariable alarm system. Instead of treating single events in isolation, the system merges multiple event types (telephonic events, non-telephonic events, financial transactions) and their associated criteria into a comprehensive evaluation framework. This allows the system to distinguish meaningful security threats from routine activities by analyzing patterns across multiple variables simultaneously, thereby reducing irrelevant alerts while maintaining rapid response capability.
2Ease of manufacture
If generic alarm notification methods are used, then notification implementation is simple, but notification effectiveness deteriorates due to lack of customization for different situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic notification routing that automatically adapts the notification method based on the specific alarm conditions and time of day. The system dynamically selects between text message notifications during working hours and automated phone calls during non-working hours, and can adjust notification priorities based on the severity and type of alarm triggered. This dynamic approach maintains simple implementation while providing context-appropriate notification customization.
3Loss of information
If comprehensive multi-variable monitoring is implemented, then alert relevance improves, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex monitoring system into distinct modular components: telephonic event monitoring modules, non-telephonic event monitoring modules, financial transaction monitoring modules, and notification management modules. Each module independently evaluates its specific criteria and feeds results to a central alarm evaluation engine. This segmentation reduces overall system complexity by allowing independent development, testing, and maintenance of each component while still achieving comprehensive multivariable analysis.
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary embodiment provides for a computer-implemented method that generates a time-based multivariable secure facility alarm. The method includes selecting a person for alert monitoring, alert monitor criteria pertaining to the person and alarm notification rules. When an occurrence that satisfies the alert monitor criteria are detected, an alarm notification, based upon the alarm notification rules, is generated. The method's alert monitor criteria include at least two events and a time period such that the alert monitor criteria is satisfied when the at least two events occur within the time period. Additionally, at least one event of the at least two events is a non-telephonic event.