Abstract:
A system for real-time or near real-time coordination of personnel and a method for creating a gridded reference graphic (GRG) for use in such a system is provided. A GRG is created by obtaining imagery of an area a team is to be operating in, wherein the imagery is obtained from overhead, taken from a position substantially orthogonal to the central portion of the area of operation. A grid, which may then be further modified with labels allowing identification of areas within the grid, is then overlaid thereon, creating a GRG. The GRG may then be served to personnel and displayed on a user device. The system includes a GRG comprising scale images of an intended area of operation, a labeled grid overlaid thereon and a scale for measurement of distances wherein the GRG are dispersed among and displayed to personnel.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention relates to the coordination and identification of personnel in a designated area, and, more particularly, to systems and methods for providing coordinating location and identification information using gridded reference graphics. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Existing systems and methods for coordination and identification of personnel in designated areas are limited and lacking in both simplicity and effectiveness. Personnel using such systems and methods often have difficulty verbally, or otherwise, identifying and coordinating their locations. This is especially true in complex, unfamiliar and non-sign-marked locations, contributing to confusion that may hamper operational efforts. 
         [0003]    Improved techniques for the coordination and rapid identification of the geospatial locations of personnel would be especially useful where personnel lack intimate familiarity with the area in which they are operating. Such personnel may be first responders, security teams, especially those operating in a crowded environment, military personnel, those conducting a missing person search and other market segments where real-time or near real-time visualization of the locations of those working together would be beneficial. 
         [0004]    What is needed, therefore, are simple, visual, real-time apparatuses and methods that enable effective coordination of and communication between personnel, especially those operating in an unknown or relatively unknown environment. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    By utilizing readily available data, such as the locations of personnel and points of interest on grid-based annotated imagery, better coordination, faster response times and more complete coverage of an area may be achieved. 
         [0006]    One embodiment of the present invention provides a method of creating a gridded reference graphic for coordination of teams comprising: obtaining imagery of an area a team is to be operating in wherein the imagery is obtained from overhead, the imagery being taken from a position substantially orthogonal to the central portion of the area of operation; overlaying a grid on the imagery further comprising labels allowing identification of individual areas within the grid, creating a gridded reference graphic; serving the gridded reference graphic to personnel; and displaying the gridded reference graphic on a user device. 
         [0007]    Another embodiment of the present invention provides such a method wherein the imagery obtained is orthorectified. 
         [0008]    A further embodiment of the present invention provides such a method further comprising orthorectifying the obtained imagery prior to overlaying of a grid thereon. 
         [0009]    Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides such a method further comprising adding annotations, labels, a scale for measurement and a coordinate system to the gridded reference graphic. 
         [0010]    A yet further embodiment of the present invention provides such a method wherein the gridded reference graphic is saved to a staging area prior to being served to personnel. 
         [0011]    Still another embodiment of the present invention provides such a method wherein the gridded reference graphic is displayed geospatially. 
         [0012]    A still further embodiment of the present invention provides such a method wherein the display further comprises personnel locations and movements overlaid thereon. 
         [0013]    Even another embodiment of the present invention provides such a method further comprising coordinating personnel using the gridded reference graphic labels to describe locations. 
         [0014]    One embodiment of the present invention provides a system for the real-time or near real-time coordination of personnel comprising: a gridded reference graphic comprising scale images of an intended area of operation, a labeled grid overlaid thereon and a scale for measurement of distances wherein the gridded reference graphics are dispersed among and displayed to personnel operating in the area of operation. 
         [0015]    Another embodiment of the present invention provides such a system wherein the scale images are orthorectified. 
         [0016]    A further embodiment of the present invention provides such a system wherein the gridded reference graphic further comprises annotations. 
         [0017]    Yet another embodiment of the present invention provides such a system wherein the gridded reference graphic is dispersed to the personnel as printed copies. 
         [0018]    A yet further embodiment of the present invention provides such a system further comprising a plurality of mobile computing devices to which the gridded reference graphic is dispersed and displayed. 
         [0019]    Still another embodiment of the present invention provides such a system wherein the gridded reference graphic further comprises real-time or near real-time indications of personnel locations and movements overlaid thereon. 
         [0020]    A still further embodiment of the present invention provides such a system wherein the mobile computing devices comprise a processor, a display, a Global Positioning System and a WiFi system. 
         [0021]    Even another embodiment of the present invention provides such a system further comprising a staging area on which the gridded reference graphic is uploaded prior to dispersion to personnel. 
         [0022]    An even further embodiment of the present invention provides such a system wherein the mobile computing devices receive the gridded reference graphic and updates thereto from a central server. 
         [0023]    A still even another embodiment of the present invention provides such a system wherein the mobile computing devices receive the gridded reference graphic and updates thereto through ad-hoc network connections between the plurality of mobile computing devices. 
         [0024]    Still yet another embodiment of the present invention provides such a system wherein the ad-hoc network connections are made and maintained via WiFi. 
         [0025]    A still yet further embodiment of the present invention provides such a system further comprising icons identifying points of interest. 
         [0026]    The features and advantages described herein are not all-inclusive and, in particular, many additional features and advantages will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification, and claims. Moreover, it should be noted that the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and not to limit the scope of the inventive subject matter. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  is a gridded reference graphic in accordance with embodiments of the present invention; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 2  is a flowchart describing a method in accordance with embodiments of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    The present disclosure concerns visual, real-time and near real-time systems and methods that enable effective coordination of team members performing operations through utilization of the locations of team members and points of interest superimposed on grid-based annotated imagery  100 . 
         [0030]    A starting point for the systems and methods of the current disclosure is the creation of a Gridded Reference Graphic (GRG)  100 . A GRG  100  in accordance with embodiments of the present invention comprises an image  105  of a geospatial area of interest with an overlaid grid  110  having simple alphabetical and numerical labels and/or an actual coordinate system  115  along the axes, forming a reference coordinate system  115 , and including annotations  120  for points of interest. 
         [0031]    The creation of a gridded reference graphic  100  for use with embodiments of the present invention involves first obtaining imagery  105  of an intended area of operation and the surrounding area  200 . The imagery  105  obtained should, generally, be from overhead, and as close to orthogonal to the central area of the intended area of operation, the nadir, as possible. 
         [0032]    The nadir at a given point is the local vertical direction pointing in the direction of the force of gravity at that location. Imagery  105  may be an earth image, picture, chart, schematic, blueprint, map, diagram or other suitable image. The imagery  105 , if not already, may also be converted to an electronic format. Before or after the conversion to an electronic format, the imagery  105  may, advantageously, be resampled and orthorectified using software or other suitable methods in conjunction with terrain elevation data to enhance its accuracy  205 . 
         [0033]    As used in this specification, orthorectification should be understood to refer to the process of removing the effects of image perspective (tilt) and relief (terrain) effects for the purpose of creating a planimetrically correct image. The resultant image, referred to as an orthorectified image or orthoimage, has a constant scale wherein features are represented in their ‘true’ positions. This allows for the accurate direct measurement of distances, angles, and areas (i.e. mensuration). Orthorectified images are commonly used as in visualization tools such as Google Earth, OSSIM Planet, ArcMap, WMS, etc. 
         [0034]    The requisite inputs for orthorectification consist of an image with accurate sensor geometry and an elevation model of the ground surface in Digital Elevation Model (DEM), Digital Terrain Elevation Data (DTED), Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) or other compatible format. The resulting accuracy of the orthoimage depends on the accuracy of the triangulation, the resolution of the source image and the accuracy of the elevation model. 
         [0035]    After obtaining suitable imagery  105  and converting the imagery  105  to a suitable format, a grid  110  may then be overlaid thereon  210 , creating a GRG  100 . The grid  110 , in embodiments, comprises a series of perpendicular, substantially equally spaced, lines atop the image  105  and axis labels  115 . 
         [0036]    The grid  110  may further be arbitrarily oriented or aligned with a reference coordinate system  115 . The GRG  100  may also contain labels along one or more axis, such that a specific portion of the grid  110  may be readily called out using the axis labels  115 . Alternatively, the GRG  105  may contain labels  115  on the individual cells created by the perpendicular, substantially equally spaced, lines overlaid on the image  105 . The GRG  100  cell height, width and number, in embodiments, may be controlled by a user or programmatically determined. 
         [0037]    After a grid  110  has been overlaid on a GRG  100 , the GRG  100  is then, in embodiments, annotated  120 . Annotation  120  of the GRG  100  comprises augmenting the existing imagery  105  and GRG  100  information with callouts, labels, measurements, shadings, zone markings, terrain information, graphical emphasis, lines, shapes, icons  125  and/or additional information  130 / 215 . This annotation  120  information may then be saved as part of the GRG  100  or as a different layer distinct from the GRG  100 . As with the grid  110  itself, the size, shape, color, opacity and other details of these annotations  120 , in embodiments, may be controlled by a user, generated programmatically, or generated in accordance with saved user profiles. The GRG  100  may also be used without annotations  120  if desired. 
         [0038]    Further customizations to the GRG  100  to suit individual user preferences are also contemplated in embodiments, where line thickness, color, opacity, and overall appearance may be controlled by a user and/or predefined where the GRG  100  is programmatically generated. An individual user may also save customized profiles, which may be used to generate GRGs  100  or reconstitute GRGs  100 , even during use. 
         [0039]    After a GRG  100 , with or without annotations  120 , is created, it must then be published, so that it is accessible to those having a need to use it, and stored. The GRG  100  may, in embodiments, be saved in an electronic format compatible with mobile devices and delivered to a hosted data storage location accessible to the intended users  220 . The hosted data storage location may be in the cloud or in a local data storage location. Some embodiments may alternatively store the GRG  100  on individual user devices. 
         [0040]    After storing and publishing the GRG  100 , it must then be disseminated or served to the intended users  225 . In embodiments, dissemination of the GRG  100  from its location is to users&#39; mobile devices. Dissemination methods include email, Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) or Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS), File Transfer Protocol (FTP) or Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP), copy to a portable drive or SIM card, send to a printer, or other forms of electronic file delivery. Alternatively, the GRG  100  may be pushed to other user devices via an ad-hoc network, allowing dissemination without the use of a Wide or Local Area Network (WAN/LAN). In some embodiments, the GRG  100  or variations thereof may be selectively disseminated to a subset of users or different GRGs  100  disseminated to different users, based on permissions, rankings, roles, their need to know, professions and/or other factors. Updates made to the GRG  100  in its publishing location may be synced to users automatically or on demand. 
         [0041]    After the GRG  100  or GRGs  100  are disseminated, they are then displayed to the users  230 . In embodiments, the GRG  100  is displayed on each user&#39;s mobile device. In this context, a mobile device may be a smartphone, tablet, phablet, wearable, or other data-connected carry-able device. In embodiments, specific subsets of GRG  100  information may be selectively displayed or emphasized to different users, even those receiving the identical GRG  100  based on permissions, rankings, roles, need to know, professions or other factors. In other embodiments the GRG  100  may be printed and handed out to users. 
         [0042]    Still other embodiments display a base map beneath the GRG  100  on each user&#39;s mobile device while data connectivity to a map service provider is present. Base maps may also be loaded onto each user&#39;s device to be utilized instead of or in addition to a map service provider, or when connectivity is not available. In embodiments, users also have the ability to pan and zoom on the GRG  100  and base map, if available. 
         [0043]    In addition to the GRG  100  and base map, the map, as seen by a user, in embodiments, will also display information about other users, particularly where those other users are working together as a team. This may be advantageously accomplished, in the case of a team working together, by graphically showing each team member&#39;s real or near-real time location by feeding the location from each team member&#39;s device to a server and streaming the locations from the server to each device. This could also be accomplished via an ad-hoc network comprising the individual user devices should broader network connectivity be unavailable or insecure. Should real-time information not be available, each team member&#39;s most recently reported location could instead be overlaid onto the GRG  100  using a personnel marker  135 , which may be generic, color-coded or otherwise representative of a specific user and may further contain information about the marked user, either directly displayed or able to be displayed upon demand by a user. If no data connectivity is available on the mobile device, team member location may be omitted from the display. Embodiments of the present disclosure also provide the ability to toggle each team member&#39;s name and/or relevant information, which may be in the form of a profile, on the display. 
         [0044]    Coordination of teams based on available information, including provisions for visualization in real-time or near real-time of team member deployments and movement tracking on the GRG  100  allows for the precise direction of team members, through the use of simple yet specific GRG  100  locations  235 . The GRG  100  may also be updated with additional annotations and information as it becomes available. With an entire team communicating utilizing an annotated GRG  100  or GRGs  100 , information is more easily shared and directions more easily given and understood, resulting in a safer and more efficient working environment. 
         [0045]    The foregoing description of the embodiments of the invention has been presented for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of this disclosure. It is intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by the claims appended hereto.