Testing of gunshot sensors
Techniques for gunshot sensor testing are disclosed. An acoustic generator and infrared generator are disposed in a housing. Soundproofing insulation is distributed around and/or within the housing to provide sound deadening which minimizes disturbance to building occupants during testing. The housing is placed in proximity to a gunshot sensor. A trigger device enables multiple modes of triggering both the acoustic generator and infrared generator. The generators stimulate corresponding components of a gunshot sensor. Input from the gunshot sensor components is evaluated to determine an operating condition of the gunshot sensor. The gunshot sensor verifies its operation by communicating with a server. The server further tests mass communication channels by issuing a test message. The test results indicative of the condition of the gunshot sensor are sent to a mobile device for an operator to review.
1. An apparatus for sensor evaluation comprising:
an acoustic generator used in testing of a gunshot sensor;
a housing connected to the acoustic generator wherein the housing covers the gunshot sensor and a faceplate for the gunshot sensor;
a gasket on the housing that forms a seal between the housing and the faceplate, wherein the seal between the housing and the faceplate temporarily forms a closed chamber containing both the acoustic generator and the gunshot sensor; and
a switch activating the acoustic generator.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the acoustic generator provides a series of pulsed tones.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the acoustic generator emits a particular frequency.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the particular frequency matches a test mode setting for the gunshot sensor.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an infrared generator used in testing the gunshot sensor.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the infrared generator provides a series of pulses.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising sound deadening material within the housing for audio isolation of the acoustic generator from a region outside the housing.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the acoustic generator is delayed from when the switch is activated.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein results of testing, using the acoustic generator, are provided to a mobile device.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the acoustic generator is used for testing of multiple gunshot sensors.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the switch activating the acoustic generator is configured to select a triggering mode from a plurality of triggering modes.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a battery for powering the acoustic generator.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a gasket on the housing that improves an audio seal around the gunshot sensor.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a handle that extends the housing to an elevation for the gunshot sensor.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the acoustic generator and the housing are configured to evaluate directionality of the gunshot sensor.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the gunshot sensor is verified as operational at the gunshot sensor.
17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the gunshot sensor verifies its operation by communicating with a server.
18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the server communicates with a user to verify operation of the gunshot sensor with a text string to a mobile device.
19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the text string includes a location and a device address of the gunshot sensor.
20. A processor-implemented method for sensor evaluation comprising:
using an acoustic generator in testing of a gunshot sensor, wherein the acoustic generator is connected to a housing wherein the housing covers the gunshot sensor and a faceplate for the gunshot sensor, and wherein a gasket on the housing forms a seal between the housing and the faceplate, wherein the seal between the housing and the faceplate temporarily forms a closed chamber containing both the acoustic generator and the gunshot sensor;
detecting a switch activating the acoustic generator; and
stimulating the gunshot sensor to report a gunshot event.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein the gunshot event is classified as a test-mode gunshot.
22. The method of claim 21 further comprising providing automatic notifications based on the gunshot event being classified as a test-mode gunshot.
23. The method of claim 22 wherein the automatic notifications include digital radio notifications, email notifications, text message notifications, phone call notifications, web-site notifications, or voice mail notifications.
24. A computer program product embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium for sensor evaluation, the computer program product comprising code which causes one or more processors to perform operations of:
using an acoustic generator in testing of a gunshot sensor wherein the acoustic generator is connected to a housing wherein the housing covers the gunshot sensor and a faceplate for the gunshot sensor, and wherein a gasket on the housing forms a seal between the housing and the faceplate, wherein the seal between the housing and the faceplate temporarily forms a closed chamber containing both the acoustic generator and the gunshot sensor; and
detecting a switch activating the acoustic generator.
25. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a handle that removably positions the housing over the faceplate to form the seal.