Manhole security device and methods thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8976038-B2
Application number	US-201213689894-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 30, 2012
Priority date	Dec 22, 2009
Publication date	Mar 10, 2015
Grant date	Mar 10, 2015

Abstract

A security device for detecting the position of a manhole cover includes a pinger device, such as an acoustic pinger, that transmits a signal in the direction of the expected position of the manhole cover. The device takes energy samples to determine if the signal has been reflected back by the manhole cover. If the device determines the signal has not been reflected, it determines that the manhole cover has been moved from the expected position. In response, the device captures an image of an area around the expected position of the manhole cover. In addition, the device can notify a remote security station via a network that the manhole cover has been moved.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for detecting a position of a manhole cover, comprising:
determining if the manhole cover is at an expected position by utilizing a processor of a device; and
capturing an image of an area surrounding a different position of the manhole cover in response to determining that the manhole cover is not at the expected position.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining if the manhole cover is at the expected position further comprises:
transmitting an acoustic signal in a direction of the expected position of the manhole cover; and
determining if the acoustic signal is reflected back by the manhole cover in an expected amount of time.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising determining that the manhole cover is not at the expected position if the acoustic signal is not reflected back by the manhole cover in the expected amount of time.

4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising determining that the manhole cover is not at the expected position if the acoustic signal is reflected back by the manhole cover in the expected amount of time and if an energy level associated with the acoustic signal reflected back by the manhole cover is below a threshold value.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising transmitting a notification to a communications network in communication with the processor if the manhole cover is determined to not to be at the expected position.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the notification comprises a date and a time that the manhole cover was determined to not be at the expected position.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the notification comprises the image of the area surrounding the different position of the manhole cover.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising suspending determination of whether the manhole cover is at the expected position if a moisture level surrounding a manhole security device in communication with the processor exceeds a threshold value.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing an indication that the manhole cover has been moved to a remote security station if the manhole cover is not at the expected position, wherein the indication is provided via a wireless network interface in communication with the processor.

10. A system for detecting a position of a manhole cover, comprising:
a manhole security device in communication with a processor that determines if the manhole cover is at an expected position; and
an image capture device that captures an image of an area surrounding a different position of the manhole cover in response to the processor determining that the manhole cover is not at the expected position.

11. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a signal generation device that transmits a first signal in a direction of the expected position of the manhole cover.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor determines if the manhole cover is at the expected position if a second signal is reflected back by the manhole cover in response to the first signal in a predetermined amount of time.

13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor determines that the manhole cover is not at the expected position if an energy level associated with a second signal reflected back by the manhole cover in response to the first signal is below a threshold value.

14. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first signal comprises a light-based signal.

15. The system of claim 11 , wherein the processor determines if the manhole cover is at the expected position based on measuring changes in an electromagnetic field.

16. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor transmits a notification to a communications network if the manhole cover is determined to not to be at the expected position.

17. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor suspends determination of whether the manhole cover is at the expected position if a moisture level surrounding the manhole security device in communication with the processor exceeds a threshold value.

18. The system of claim 10 , further comprising a retractable arm that includes a locking mechanism that locks the manhole security device in place.

19. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor transmits the image to a remote station if the processor determines that the manhole cover is not at the expected position.

20. A system for detecting a position of a manhole cover, comprising:
a signal generation device that transmits a first signal in a direction of an expected position of the manhole cover;
a processor that determines if the manhole cover is at the expected position if a second signal is reflected back by the manhole cover in response to the first signal in a predetermined amount of time; and
an image capture device that captures an image of an area surrounding a different position of the manhole cover in response to the processor determining that the manhole cover is not at the expected position.

Assignees

• At & T Ip I Lp

Inventors

• Miller Ii Robert R
• Amoroso Edward G
• Bailey Susan R
• Ji Lusheng
• Worstell Harry R
• Britz David M

Classifications

• G08B13/1672 Primary

  using sonic detecting means, e.g. a microphone operating in the audio frequency range · CPC title

• G08B13/19697

  Arrangements wherein non-video detectors generate an alarm themselves · CPC title

• E02D29/14

  Covers for manholes or the like; Frames for covers {(gully gratings E03F5/06)} · CPC title

• E02D29/1481

  Security devices, e.g. indicating unauthorised opening (E02D29/1427 takes precedence) · CPC title