Methods and Systems for Enhancing Firearm Safety Through Wireless Network Monitoring
A firearm includes a firing mechanism and a sensor device. The sensor device includes a subscriber identity module configured to communicate with a server over a signaling channel of a wireless communications network. The Sensor device is configured to enable/disable the firing mechanism in accordance with instructions received by the SIM from the server. Movements and/or attempted operations of the firearm may be monitored using an application running on a mobile device, which application receives information concerning the firearm over the signaling channel of the wireless communications network.
1 . A firearm, comprising a firing mechanism and a sensor device, the sensor device including a subscriber identity module (SIM) configured to communicate with a server using common channel signaling over a signaling channel of a wireless communications network.
2 . The firearm of claim 1 , wherein the sensor device is configured to enable or disable the firing mechanism of the firearm in accordance with instructions received by the SIM from the server.
3 . The firearm of claim 1 , wherein the SIM comprises a SIM configured to communicate over a Global Systems for Mobile Communications (GSM) network.
4 . The firearm of claim 1 , wherein the signaling channel is a signaling systems 7 (SS-7) signaling channel of a mobile telecommunications network.
5 . The firearm of claim 1 , wherein the sensor device includes a motion sensor.
6 . The firearm of claim 5 , wherein the SIM is configured to send information to the server upon the motion sensor detecting movement of the firearm.
7 . The firearm of claim 1 , wherein the SIM is configured to respond to attempted voice communications from the server by returning information stored in a dial buffer of the SIM.
8 . The firearm of claim 1 wherein the SIM is configured to transmit information to the server upon one or more of: movement of the firearm, an attempted operation of the firearm, disabling of a safety of the firearm, and a change in mode of the firearm.
9 . A system, comprising a sensor device of a firearm including a subscriber identity module (SIM), and a home location register (HLR) storing information concerning the SIM, the SIM being configured to be in periodic communication with the HLR using common channel signaling over a signaling channel of a wireless communications network.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the HLR stores some or all of: information concerning permitted times and/or days for operation of the firearm, and geo-fence information for the firearm.
11 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising an application running on a mobile device, the application configured to communicate with the SIM over the signaling channel of the wireless communications network.
12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the sensor device is configured to inform the HLR upon one or more of: movement of the firearm, an attempted operation of the firearm, disabling of a safety of the firearm, and a change in mode of the firearm
13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the sensor device further includes a motion sensor.
14 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the sensor device is configured to enable/disable operation of the firearm in accordance with instructions received by the SIM from the HLR.
15 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the sensor device is configured to enable/disable operation of the firearm in accordance with instructions received by the SIM from the application.
16 . A firearm, comprising a subscriber identity module (SIM) configured to communicate with a home location register (HLR) storing information concerning the SIM, the SIM being configured to be in periodic communication with the HLR using common channel signaling over a signaling channel of a wireless communications network, a controller coupled to receive signals from the SIM, and a solenoid coupled to receive signals from the controller and responsive to said signals to cause a blocking or gating means of the firearm to move from a first position to a second position or vice-versa.
17 . The firearm of claim 16 , further comprising a rechargeable power source.
18 . The firearm of claim 17 further configured to receive a charging clip.
19 . The firearm of claim 1 , further comprising a solenoid coupled to receive signals from the sensor device and responsive to said signals to cause a blocking or gating means of the firearm to move from a first position to a second position or vice-versa.
20 . The system of claim 9 wherein the firearm further includes a solenoid coupled to be responsive to signals received by the SIM from the HLR, and to cause a blocking or gating means of the firearm to move from a first position to a second position or vice-versa.