IP Library Granted Patent US 12,298,455
Granted Patent B2
US 12,298,455 · App. 17/658,223 · Granted May 13, 2025

System and method for seismically triggered intrusion detection

Inventors: John Bryant (Dallas, TX); Frederick Hershel Savage (Austin, TX)
Assignee: EarthSystems Technologies Operating LLC
G01V1/003G01V1/288G01V1/303
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,298,455
App. No.
17/658,223
Granted
May 13, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention disclosed provides a network of master controller and node arrays which all communicate with a system server, a client device and an administrator device. Each of the master controller and node arrays is equipped with an ERT system, and various seismic sensors to monitor a geographic perimeter for surface and sub-surface trigger events. Upon detection of a trigger event, each of the master controller and node arrays executes a sensor monitoring routine to determine the approximate path of travel, velocity, acceleration of the trigger event. The master controller and node arrays further conduct an ERT survey to determine the presence of anomalies which may indicate sub-surface activity related to the trigger event.

Claims (110)

1. A seismically triggered intrusion detection system comprising:

a controller having a controller processor and a controller memory;

an electrical resistivity tomography node array operatively connected to the controller;

the electrical resistivity tomography node array further comprising:

a master processor, having a master processor memory;

a plurality of node processors, having a plurality of node processor memories;

a unidirectional upstream communication channel, connecting the master processor and each node processor of the plurality of node processors;

a unidirectional downstream communication channel, connecting the master processor and each node processor of the plurality of node processors;

a dedicated synchronization channel, connecting the master processor and each node processor of the plurality of node processors;

a set of seismic sensors operatively connected to the plurality of node processors; and

a set of instructions, stored in the controller memory, the master processor memory and the plurality of node processor memories, that when executed cause the seismically triggered intrusion detection system to:

conduct a self-enumeration process at each node processor of the plurality of node processors, using the unidirectional upstream communication channel;

format the plurality of node processors, by the master processor, using the unidirectional upstream communication channel;

detect a trigger event;

conduct a sensor test, with the set of seismic sensors in response to the trigger event;

conduct an electrical resistivity tomography test with the electrical resistivity tomography node array in response to the trigger event including the steps of:

acquiring a set of geophysical data, by the plurality of node processors, controlled by a set of test shot signals, from the master processor, using the dedicated synchronization channel; and

reporting the set of geophysical data, from the plurality of node processors, to the master processor, using the unidirectional downstream communication channel;

conduct a sensor comparison analysis;

conduct an electrical resistivity tomography comparison analysis; and

generate a report based on one of the sensor comparison analysis and the electrical resistivity tomography comparison analysis.

2. The seismically triggered intrusion detection system of claim 1 wherein the step of conducting the sensor comparison analysis further comprises:

determining a path vector map.

3. The seismically triggered intrusion detection system of claim 2 wherein the step of conducting the sensor comparison analysis further comprises determining one of a group of:

a velocity profile;

an average velocity;

an acceleration profile; and,

an average acceleration.

4. The seismically triggered intrusion detection system of claim 2 wherein the step of determining the path vector map further comprises:

obtaining a set of sensor amplitudes from the sensor test;

identifying a set of maximum amplitudes, from the set of sensor amplitudes, associated with a set of electrical resistivity tomography node positions, indexed by a set of time increments; and,

determining the path vector map from the set of maximum amplitudes.

5. The seismically triggered intrusion detection system of claim 4 wherein the step of determining the path vector map further comprises:

applying a linear regression analysis to the set of electrical resistivity tomography node positions.

6. The seismically triggered intrusion detection system of claim 4 wherein the step of determining further comprises:

obtaining a straight line graph through the set of electrical resistivity tomography node positions.

7. The seismically triggered intrusion detection system of claim 6 further comprising one of a group of:

obtaining a velocity profile from the straight line graph, and obtaining an acceleration profile from the velocity profile.

8. The seismically triggered intrusion detection system of claim 4 wherein the set of instructions further comprises instructions, that when executed, cause the seismically triggered intrusion detection system to:

enter a sleep mode; and,

exit the sleep mode upon detecting the trigger event.

9. The seismically triggered intrusion detection system of claim 1 wherein the step of conducting the electrical resistivity tomography comparison analysis further comprises:

conducting a baseline electrical resistivity tomography survey with the electrical resistivity tomography node array;

conducting a current electrical resistivity tomography survey with the electrical resistivity tomography node array; and,

comparing the current electrical resistivity tomography survey to the baseline electrical resistivity tomography survey.

10. The seismically triggered intrusion detection system of claim 9 wherein the step of comparing further comprises:

accumulating a set of baseline resistivity values, from the baseline electrical resistivity tomography survey, into a baseline sum;

accumulating a set of current resistivity values, from the current electrical resistivity tomography survey, into a current sum;

calculating a difference between the baseline sum and the current sum; and

returning a signal if the difference is above a threshold value.

11. The seismically triggered intrusion detection system of claim 10 wherein the set of instructions further comprises instructions, that when executed, cause the seismically triggered intrusion detection system to:

generate a first resistivity map from the baseline electrical resistivity tomography survey; and

generate a second resistivity map from the current electrical resistivity tomography survey.

12. The seismically triggered intrusion detection system of claim 1 wherein the sensor test further comprises one of a group of reading a geophone amplitude, reading a geophone frequency, reading an accelerometer amplitude and reading a magnetometer amplitude.

13. The seismically triggered intrusion detection system of claim 12 wherein the set of instructions further comprises instructions that when executed cause the seismically triggered intrusion detection system to execute one of the group of:

comparing the geophone amplitude to a geophone threshold amplitude;

comparing the accelerometer amplitude to an accelerometer amplitude threshold; and,

comparing the magnetometer amplitude to a magnetometer amplitude threshold.

14. The seismically triggered intrusion detection system of claim 1 wherein the set of seismic sensors includes one of a group of a geophone, an accelerometer and a magnetometer.

15. The seismically triggered intrusion detection system of claim 1 wherein the trigger event further comprises a first amplitude signal exceeding a second amplitude signal.

16. The seismically triggered intrusion detection system of claim 1 wherein the trigger event further comprises a manual trigger signal.

17. The seismically triggered intrusion detection system of claim 1 wherein the electrical resistivity tomography node array further comprises one of a group of a linear array, a dual direction array, a quadrilateral node array, a star node array, a ring node array and a grid node array.

18. The seismically triggered intrusion detection system of claim 1 wherein the electrical resistivity tomography node array further comprises one of a group of a pole-dipole configuration, a dipole-dipole configuration, a Schlumberger configuration and a Wenner configuration.

19. A method of seismically triggered intrusion detection comprising:

providing a controller, having a controller processor and a controller memory;

providing an electrical resistivity tomography node array operatively connected to the controller;

the electrical resistivity tomography node array further comprising:

a master processor, having a master processor memory;

a plurality of node processors, having a plurality of node processor memories;

a unidirectional upstream communication channel, connecting the master processor and each node processor of the plurality of node processors;

a unidirectional downstream communication channel, connecting the master processor and each node processor of the plurality of node processors;

a dedicated synchronization channel, connecting the master processor and each node processor of the plurality of node processors;

providing a set of seismic sensors operatively connected to the plurality of node processors; and

providing a set of instructions, stored in the controller memory, the master processor memory and the plurality of node processor memories that when executed cause the controller processor, the master processor, and the plurality of node processors to:

conduct a self-enumeration process at each node processor of the plurality of node processors, using the unidirectional upstream communication channel;

format the plurality of node processors, by the master processor, using the unidirectional upstream communication channel;

receive a trigger signal;

conduct a sensor test, with the electrical resistivity tomography node array in response to the trigger signal;

conduct an electrical resistivity tomography test, with the electrical resistivity tomography node array, in response to the trigger signal including the steps of:

acquiring a set of geophysical data, by the plurality of node processors, controlled by a set of test shot signals, from the master processor, using the dedicated synchronization channel;

reporting the set of geophysical data, from the plurality of node processors, to the master processor, using the unidirectional downstream communication channel;

conduct a sensor comparison analysis;

conduct an electrical resistivity tomography comparison analysis; and;

generate a report based on one of the sensor comparison analysis and the electrical resistivity tomography comparison analysis.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of conducting the sensor comparison analysis further comprises:

determining a path vector map.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of conducting the sensor comparison analysis further comprises determining one of a group of:

a velocity profile;

an average velocity;

an acceleration profile; and,

an average acceleration.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the step of determining the path vector map further comprises:

obtaining a set of sensor amplitudes from the sensor test;

identifying a set of maximum amplitudes, from the set of sensor amplitudes, associated with a set of electrical resistivity tomography node positions, indexed by a set of time increments; and,

determining the path vector map from the set of maximum amplitudes.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the step of determining the path vector map further comprises:

obtaining a straight line graph through the set of electrical resistivity tomography node positions.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising one of a group of:

obtaining a velocity profile from the straight line graph, and obtaining an acceleration profile from the velocity profile.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the step of providing the set of instructions further comprises providing the instructions of:

generating a first resistivity map from a baseline electrical resistivity tomography survey; and;

generating a second resistivity map from a current electrical resistivity tomography survey.

26. The method of claim 19 wherein the sensor test further comprises providing one of a group of reading a geophone amplitude, reading a geophone frequency, reading an accelerometer amplitude and reading a magnetometer amplitude.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of providing the set of instructions further comprises providing the instructions of:

comparing the geophone amplitude to a geophone threshold amplitude;

comparing the accelerometer amplitude to an accelerometer amplitude threshold; and,

comparing the magnetometer amplitude to a magnetometer amplitude threshold.

28. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of providing the set of seismic sensors further includes providing one of a group of a geophone, an accelerometer and a magnetometer.

29. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of providing the electrical resistivity tomography node array further comprises providing one of a group of a linear array, a dual direction array, a quad direction array, a star array, a ring node array and a grid node array.

30. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of providing the electrical resistivity tomography node array further comprises providing one of a group of a pole-dipole configuration, a dipole-dipole configuration, a Schlumberger configuration and a Wenner configuration.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 16, 2025
From: EARTHSYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: EARTHSYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIES OPERATING LLC
Reel/Frame 070861/0714 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 6, 2022
From: BRYANT, JOHN; SAVAGE, FREDERICK HERSHEL
To: EARTHSYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 059521/0508 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230324572A1 · Oct 12, 2023
References Cited (63)
US RE32468E · Le Nay et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 6380889B1 · Herrmann et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6532190B2 · Bachrach · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6859831B1 · Gelvin et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 7080544B2 · Stepanik et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7122783B1 · Pastore et al. · 2006 [cited by applicant]
US 7386402B2 · Bryant · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7425902B2 · Fedora et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 7786885B2 · Payton · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7788049B2 · Bryant et al. · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7813883B2 · Bryant · 2010 [cited by applicant]
US 7864037B2 · Miller · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7869444B2 · Menard et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 7957222B2 · Souders et al. · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8019547B2 · Bryant · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8031555B2 · Schuster · 2011 [cited by applicant]
US 8217803B2 · El-hamamsy et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8321160B2 · Bryant et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 8510076B2 · Green et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8520587B2 · Menard et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8615476B2 · Berger et al. · 2013 [cited by applicant]
US 8674842B2 · Zishaan · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 8804463B2 · Krumhansl et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 9031791B2 · Nedilko et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 9234973B2 · Scarlatti et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9239396B2 · Thompson et al. · 2016 [cited by applicant]
US 9557413B2 · Kozma et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9578398B2 · Svoen et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9721456B2 · Thurlow et al. · 2017 [cited by applicant]
US 9886833B2 · Noland et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 9995838B2 · Labrecque · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10120088B2 · Jurok et al. · 2018 [cited by applicant]
US 10276013B2 · Undy · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20080221797A1 · Bryant · 2008 [cited by examiner]
US 20080255431A1 · Erad et al. · 2008 [cited by applicant]
US 20120053840A1 · Knutsen · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20120134237A1 · Esteban-Campillo et al. · 2012 [cited by applicant]
US 20140056103A1 · Virgin et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140236487A1 · Kimman · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140307523A1 · Elder et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20140307525A1 · Postel et al. · 2014 [cited by applicant]
US 20150109883A1 · Vangasse et al. · 2015 [cited by applicant]
US 20160097870A1 · Routh · 2016 [cited by examiner]
US 20190383958A1 · Jamali et al. · 2019 [cited by applicant]
US 20210255349A1 · Zhou · 2021 [cited by examiner]
CN 104167073B · 2016 [cited by applicant]
WO 9633478A1 · 1996 [cited by applicant]
WO 0126327A2 · 2002 [cited by applicant]
WO 2005006273A2 · 2005 [cited by applicant]
WO 2010009165 · 2010 [cited by applicant]
WO 2011123893 · 2011 [cited by applicant]
WO 2019132979A1 · 2019 [cited by applicant]
WO 2021048629A2 · 2021 [cited by applicant]
Werner-Allen, Geoffrey, et al. “Monitoring volcanic eruptions with a wireless sensor network.” Proceedings of the Second European Workshop on Wireless Sensor Networks, 2005. IEEE, 2005. [cited by applicant]
Pottie, Gregory J., and William J. Kaiser, “Wireless integrated network sensors.”Communications of the ACM 43.5 (2000): 51-58. [cited by applicant]
Peng, Chaoyong, et al. “Performance evaluation of a dense MEMS-based seismic sensor array deployed in the Sichuan-Yunnan border region for earthquake early warning.” Micromachines 10.11 (2019): 735. [cited by applicant]
Tuna, Gurkan, V. Cagri Gungor, and Kayhan Gulez, “Wireless sensor networks for smart grid applications: a case study on link reliability and node lifetime evaluations in power distribution systems.” International Journa… [cited by applicant]
Intanagonwiwat, Chalermek, Ramesh Govindan, and Deborah Estrin, “Directed diffusion: A scalable and robust communication paradigm for sensor networks.”Proceedings of the 6th annual international conference on mobile com… [cited by applicant]
Lee, Winnie Louis, “Flexible-schedule-based tdma protocols for supporting fault-tolerance, on-demand tdma slot transfer, and peer-to-peer communication in wireless sensor networks.” University of Western Australia, 2008. [cited by applicant]
Harrington, Ryan F. “Unattended ground sensors for Expeditionary Force 21 intelligence collections.” Naval Postgraduate School Monterey CA, 2015. [cited by applicant]
Palm, Bradley C., and Ryan P. Richter “Mobile situational awareness tool: Unattended ground sensor-based remote surveillance system.” Naval Postgraduate School Monterey CA, 2014. [cited by applicant]
Mn, Zhiyuan, Yan Zhou, and Yongxin Li. “Seismic exploration wireless sensor system based on wi-fi and LTE.” Sensors 20.4 (2020): 1018. [cited by applicant]
Mahamuni, Chaitanya Vijaykumar. “A military surveillance system based on wireless sensor networks with extended coverage life.” 2016 International conference on global trends in signal processing, information computing … [cited by applicant]