Abstract: A lockable spring-biased latchbolt in some embodiments of a door latch is manipulatable from a first side (protected side) of a door by translation to an opened-door position, and a separate element situated alongside the latchbolt is manipulatable from a second side (less protected side) of the door to contact and move the latchbolt to the opened-door position only if movement of that second element is not prevented by a locked position of a locking means. The locking means in these embodiments does not interfere with opening the door from the first side. The locking means can be changed back and forth between its locked position and its unlocked position by use of a key (or combination or code) from the second side of the door, and optionally from the first side of the door with or without the key (or combination or code).

Abstract: Gun ports fitted to a wall of a building or vehicle each comprise an expandable aperture that accommodates penetration from within by a gun barrel having irregularly shaped attachments. The gun ports can provide protection against laser pointers used in training exercises, where lasers are used outside the gun ports by attackers against those protected behind the gun ports. Each implementation of a gun port can accommodate guns of different sizes and shapes. The gun ports can be configured as exchangeable cartridges or subassemblies that can readily replace regular non-expandable apertures otherwise used for defense against real ballistic weapons and explosives. Each expandable aperture expands and contracts as necessary to fit sizes and shapes of a gun barrel portion inserted through it. Of special importance is accommodation of a laser sensor module attached near the firing end of a gun. A window for sighting the gun is provided.

Abstract: An intrusion delaying barrier includes primary and secondary physical structures and can be instrumented with multiple sensors incorporated into an electronic monitoring and alarm system. Such an instrumented intrusion delaying barrier may be used as a perimeter intrusion defense and assessment system (PIDAS). Problems with not providing effective delay to breaches by intentional intruders and/or terrorists who would otherwise evade detection are solved by attaching the secondary structures to the primary structure, and attaching at least some of the sensors to the secondary structures. By having multiple sensors of various types physically interconnected serves to enable sensors on different parts of the overall structure to respond to common disturbances and thereby provide effective corroboration that a disturbance is not merely a nuisance or false alarm. Use of a machine learning network such as a neural network exploits such corroboration.

Abstract: A mobile elevated building assembly is configured to be compactly transportable in a transportation mode yet readily reconfigured to an installed mode after set-up with a building held many meters off of the ground by a tower supported off of the ground by outriggers. A flat-bed trailer is used to transport the assembly while in its transportation mode, and the trailer can optionally remain attached to the bottom of the tower in the installed mode. A foldable stairway and top-of-stairs platform can form a subassembly that can be pivotally attached where they connect to one-another, and this connection can be supported by a horizontal upper member of the tower. The platform can include one of at least two horizontal support members for holding the building on top of the tower. Methods are provided for reconfiguring the assembly and subassemblies between their transportation mode and their installed mode.

Abstract: A mobile elevated building assembly is configured to be compactly transportable in a transportation mode yet readily reconfigured to an installed mode after set-up with a building held many meters off of the ground by a tower supported off of the ground by outriggers. A flat-bed trailer is used to transport the assembly while in its transportation mode, and the trailer can optionally remain attached to the bottom of the tower in the installed mode. A foldable stairway and top-of-stairs platform can form a subassembly that can be pivotally attached where they connect to one-another, and this connection can be supported by a horizontal upper member of the tower. The platform can include one of at least two horizontal support members for holding the building on top of the tower. Methods are provided for reconfiguring the assembly and subassemblies between their transportation mode and their installed mode.