Guard track is an advanced electronic guard monitoring system that informs management using historical reports or radio signals of a guards movements while on duty.

SYSTEM COMPONENTS

The Patrol Baton:

The stainless steel Patrol Baton is 30mm in diameter, 210mm long and weighs approximately 300g. The baton has an on-board, self-contained microprocessor powered by a long life lithium battery.

The Supervisor Baton:

The blue Supervisor Baton is slightly longer than the Patrol Baton and was developed to monitor supervisors while moving from site to site. It has a self-contained microprocessor and additional memory to allow for data collection from multiple off-site batons. This alleviates the common problem of having to transport batons to and from the control room in order to download data.

The Patrol Point:

The Patrol Point contains a microchip with a built-in serial number, which is used to identify the location of the Patrol Point. Similar in appearance to a wristwatch battery, these units do not require cables or external power. The units are supplied with a high impact PVC bracket, which can be affixed to most surfaces using screws or strong adhesive.

The Docking Station:

These devices are typically placed on the desk, near the PC, and do not require any external power. Their function is to transfer data from the batons to the PC via either a USB or Serial port.

GuardTrack Patrol Analysis Software:

GuardTrack is a user friendly software package, which runs on Windows 9x, ME, NT, XP , Vista & 2000/2003 Server. The software has been designed for use with an infinite number of sites, batons and patrol units. It has all the features necessary to produce professional reports, detailing the activities of guards and supervisors.

Alternatively, GuardTrack Lite can be used on a single site with a single baton and multiple Patrol Points.  

SYSTEM OPERATION

Patrol points must first be placed on the site to be guarded. They are situated at strategic points along the designated route to be taken. After starting a patrol, the guard visits each patrol point touching it with the patrol baton.

This action records the guard’s presence at that specific point with the date and time. A light emitting diode (led) at the end of the baton will flash to confirm that the patrol point has been read correctly.

At the end of the shift, the guard will return the baton to management where the information is downloaded into a computer via the docking station, the baton is then returned to the site to monitor the next shift.

The reporting process can now start. Depending on how the system has been configured various reports can be obtained, see Report Wizard at left.

Detailed reports illustrating; the guard’s movements on a site, a supervisors movements from site to site, or what happened at a particular patrol point or summary reports showing; activity on sites, or points not visited.

The Patrol Monitor

The addition of a patrol monitor to a site will further increase performance and provide an “on line” patrolling system that radio’s signals directly to a control room for instant response. Signals from a typical installation are:

· Missing guard

· Failed patrol

· Good patrol

· Missed patrol

· Panic

· On / Off duty

· Tamper

The patrol monitor can be quickly setup and configured using the “auto patrol” method”, however, parameters such as how often the guard patrols and what type of patrol the guard is expected to make can be tailored to suit most situations. The guard is alerted to start a patrol when the built-in buzzer sounds and, at all times the status of the unit can be seen from the liquid crystal display (LCD).

The patrol monitor has been designed with flexibility in mind and most alarm transmitters can be fitted and powered internally. Power is from the mains with a backup battery. Patrol data along with dates and times of transmissions are stored within the unit and can be retrieved using a supervisor baton for printing and analysis.

IN OPERATION

The guard track system can be applied to many guarding situations. However sites tend to fall into one of four types.

Site type 1

This site has no patrolling guards and usually takes the form of a vacant plot or dwelling. The only requirement is for a site of this nature is that a supervisor visits the site at intervals to generally check the site for illegal dumping or inhabitants. To monitor visits to this type of site a supervisor or guard must carry a baton or supervisor baton and a patrol point must be located on site. The reports can be produced detailing who visited the site and when.

Site type 2

This is a site being patrolled by one or many guards. At strategic locations around the site, patrol points are installed in prominent positions. At intervals a guard leaves on a tour, and visits each point with a patrol baton. At the end of the shift the baton is taken to the control room and the patrol data is downloaded into a desktop computer. Where a supervisor also visits this site he can download the patrol data into his supervisor baton allowing the patrol baton to remain on site. Reports from a type 2 site can take many forms. To begin with a site report can be generated showing everything that happened on the site, or a baton report will detail exactly what patrolling was carried out with one particular baton. A patrol point report will show how many times a patrol point was visited, at what time and by whom. In addition where the supervisor baton is being used a supervisor’s movement on a site can also be tracked on the site.

Site type 3

Similar to a type 2 except the times of each patrol are set and checked with the patrol monitor. As each patrol is completed a signal is sent to the control room where a decision can be made as to if the site needs a visit from a supervisor. The reporting is similar to that of a type 2 site but with the addition of starting times and the result of each patrol. Patrol data is taken from the patrol monitor by the supervisor with his supervisor baton and then carried along with all other data to the control room for downloading.

Site type 4

In most respects a type 4 site is identical to a type 3 except the patrol data is not sent to the control room for analysis. It is downloaded and printed by the client using a data carrier and GuardTrack 6 software. This removes a large amount of administration work from the security company as reports are now generated by the client. However as signals are still sent to the control room, the security company can be confidant that quality patrols are being carried out at regular intervals.