Abstract:
A smart belt system includes a belt having a plurality of holders for holding a plurality of devices including a firearm, a baton, and an electroshock weapon, a GPS component disposed within the belt configured to track the location and movement of the belt, a microprocessor disposed within the belt, logic instructions executing by the microprocessor configured to monitor and regulate the activities of the plurality of devices and location and movement data generated by the GPS component, a wireless data communications system wirelessly communicating with an external data communications system, a data storage component accessible by the microprocessor for storing activity data of the plurality of the devices and the location and movement data of the belt generated by the GPS component.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
     This U.S. non-provisional patent application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/289,313 filed on Jan. 31, 2016. 
    
    
     FIELD 
     The invention relates generally to a wearable computer device worn as a belt. 
     BACKGROUND 
     As public technology advances and additional hardware and software applications become available to public safety employees, the amount of space available on the “traditional” public safety utility belt to carry these devices has become limited. Another challenge is the ability to maintain power to these devices on a long term basis, throughout the shift of the public safety employee. In addition, many of these devices and applications generate data, which must be captured and stored. For many applications this data must also be transferred or uploaded either immediately or at a later time. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       A better understanding of the claimed subject matter can be obtained when the following detailed description of the disclosed embodiments is considered in conjunction with the following figures. 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating the internal components that may be wired or wirelessly connected to the smart belt according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIGS. 2 and 3  are diagrams illustrating the seat mounted inductive charging configurations according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is an illustration of a myriad of external and internal public safety components wired or wirelessly coupled to the smart belt according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 5  is an illustration of a public safety vehicle and its components wired or wirelessly connected to the smart belt according to one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , a wearable computer system  10 , in the form of a smart belt  10  (in the form of an elongated strap and a fastener like a buckle) to be worn by a public safety employee to carry a myriad of tools. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, the system includes a belt  10 , containing an embedded computer microprocessor  12  operable to control the functions of the belt and the integration of other wired or wirelessly connected devices with the smart belt  10 . The system further includes a wireless data communications system  14  disposed within the smart belt  10  that is capable of wirelessly communicatively coupling the microprocessor  12  with external data communications systems such as cellular networks, local computer networks, and global computer networks. The smart belt  10  includes one or more radio transceiver(s) and antenna to enable wireless communication of voice data, sensor data, commands, instructions, Global Positioning System (GPS) or location data, Internet data, etc. 
     The smart belt  10  may contain GPS components  16  to report or record the position of the smart belt or its components. Here, GPS components  16  also represent accelerometer and/or gyroscope devices that are used to detect the orientation of the smart belt and generate orientation data. In addition, the smart belt  10  includes an embedded expansion area for additional memory devices  18 . Further, the smart belt  10  may incorporate a removable or fixed data storage component  20  now known or to be developed to store additional data generated by the microprocessor as well as data generated by the wired or wirelessly connected devices. Further, the smart belt  10  may contain a rechargeable power supply  22  capable of powering all of the components of the smart belt  10  as well as external components which may be integrated with the smart belt  10 . The smart belt  10  may incorporate a power strip/data bus  24 , disposed on the exterior or interior of the smart belt, which allows power from the power source  22  disposed within the smart belt to be transmitted to component devices that are attached to the smart belt. The power strip may also be used to provide power to the rechargeable power supply  22  and/or power the components disposed within the smart belt by attaching external power sources (power outlet, supplemental battery, etc.) via a charging port  26  to transfer the power. In addition, the smart belt may connect to a first aid component  27 , described in more detail below. A data port  58  may also be incorporated in the smart belt  10  to upload, download, sync, and transmit data to and from the microprocessor  12  and data storage devices  20 . The smart belt further includes a component mounting strip disposed on the exterior of the belt that facilitates the mounting of external components to the belt. 
     The rechargeable power supply  22  in the smart belt  10  may be charged by using inductive charging. An inductive charging system  30  is incorporated within the driver&#39;s seat  32  in a vehicle  33 , and/or in a specially-equipped chair  34  in a home, office facility or other location to charge the power supply in the smart belt  10 . The inductive charging system  30  is incorporated in the seats so that it may inductively couple and charge the power supply  22  in the smart belt  10 . The inductive charging system  30  is preferably embedded in the back portion of the vehicular seat or office seat. In this manner, whenever a public safety officer wearing a smart belt  10  is sitting in a seat  32  or  34  equipped with the charging system  30 , the smart belt power supply  22  receives additional electrical charge to replenish its charge. The user does not need to plug the power supply to an outlet or connect any wires or connectors. Charging occurs when the smart belt  10  comes into proximity with the inductive charging system  30 , such as when the wearer is seated in the vehicular or office seat  32  or  34 . Contactless inductive energy transfer is known in the art as a convenient way to transfer energy. See for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,490,176 and 5,959,433, and published United States patent applications, Publication Nos. US 2004/0189,246 and US 2004/0145,343. 
     The power supply  22  in the smart belt is capable of supplying power to all of the devices coupled to and held by the smart belt via the power strip/data bus  24 . The devices are held in sockets or holders that have electrical connections to the power strip/data bus  24  to enable the power and data distribution. The microprocessor  12  is also capable of detecting the power level in any device waning and to distribute power from the batteries of one or more other devices to devices that have low power charge. The microprocessor  12  may also prioritize the devices in the smart belt so that power may be taken from the lower priority devices and distributed to the higher priority devices. 
     In addition, the smart belt  10  may interface with external electronic components wired or wirelessly connected to the smart belt. By way of example, one such component may be a holster  40  ( FIG. 2 ) that is capable of detecting when a gun  42  is removed from the holster, the number of bullets in the weapon  42 , the mechanical status of the weapon, etc. Further, each external component may be equipped with location and orientation detection mechanism such as GPS/accelerometer/gyroscope devices that can detect the position and orientation of the component (e.g., directional, relative to orientation of the smart belt, and with respect to horizontal/vertical). The microprocessor in the smart belt is configured to receive this information and monitor their position/orientation relative to the wearer. An analysis of this data may include determining that the position of a component is too distant from the location of the smart belt wearer, and displaying/sounding a warning message along with the location of the component to the wearer, other smart belts, other persons or to a central public safety dispatch or control center. The microprocessor in the smart belt may also be configured to enable or disable devices or certain functionalities of a device, based on the position or orientation of the device in comparison to the smart belt or the distance of the device from the smart belt. The holster  40  may also incorporate a mechanism or mechanical lock that would prevent an unauthorized user from removing the weapon  42  from the holster  40  if certain biometric requirements (e.g., fingerprints, handprint, etc.) are not met. The holster  40  may also work in conjunction with the other belt components. For example, when the weapon  42  is removed from the holster  40 , it may also cause the video recording system associated with the smart belt  10  to activate and begin recording. In addition, the removal of the weapon  42  may cause the GPS component  16  of the smart belt  10  to send the wearer&#39;s location to other public safety officers in the area or to a central public safety dispatch or control center. The orientation of the weapon  42  is also sensed and relayed to the microprocessor in the smart belt and used in analytics. The microprocessor  12  disposed within the smart belt  10  may control and coordinate the interaction of all connected components on the smart belt  10  to determine the proper action to be taken by any component on the officer&#39;s person or in the patrol vehicle when one or more of the components are activated. The microprocessor  12  may also record the status/activity/GPS coordinates/orientation of the components and store and/or transfer the status/activity data. The microprocessor  12  may also send an alert to other public safety employees or to a central public safety dispatch center or control center, if a certain component or components are activated. The smart belt  10  may convey information/data to the wearer using a number of ways, such as providing a visually-perceivable display on a pair of goggles or eyewear  52 , and providing aurally-perceivable information using speakers/earbuds  76 , etc. The public safety personnel may receive visual/graphical/audio information related to all of the components associated with the smart belt, including power levels, location/orientation, operating status, central dispatch communications, low fuel level of the vehicle, warning messages, etc. 
     Examples of what may constitute proper action that can be taken automatically include: logging the location, orientation, and acceleration/movement of the officer/vehicle/external component(s), begin recording audio/video, begin analysis of audio/video information, begin relaying audio/video information to central dispatch/station, relay officer&#39;s physiological data to central dispatch, sound siren of the vehicle, and turn on an emergency light bar  8  on the vehicle. 
     The following components, may communicate wired or wirelessly with the smart belt  10 : 
     A radar component  29 . The radar component  29  may be a handheld unit, a remote fixed or portable device or a device integrated with the public safety vehicle. When it is activated and being used to measure the speed of passing vehicles, it may relay the measured speed to the microprocessor in the smart belt in a wired or wireless manner, which may project it for viewing by the wearer on the eyewear and/or a display in the vehicle, whichever one that is best suited for the user. If the measured speed exceeds the posted legal speed, the video information captured of the speeding vehicle&#39;s license plate and the driver&#39;s facial features are automatically analyzed using character recognition and facial recognition software to identify the license plate and the speed violator. 
     A flashlight component  46 . In one embodiment, a flashlight component  46  wired or wirelessly connected to the smart belt  10  may be charged and monitored via the smart belt. If the smart belt  10  detects a problem (i.e., low battery, defective bulb/battery/switch) it may take action to correct the problem or alert the wearer to the problem. If the flashlight device  46  is activated, the smart belt  10  may record the date/time and location/orientation of the device prior to, during and after the activation, further activate any other components of the smart belt  10  as programmed, further send a notification or alert of the activation or status of the device  46 . 
     A taser, stun gun, or an electroshock weapon component  48 . In one embodiment, the electronic weapon  48  is wired or wirelessly connected to the smart belt and its power supply may be charged and monitored via the smart belt  10 . If the smart belt  10  detects a problem (e.g., low battery, defective probe/battery/switch) it may take action to correct the problem or alert the wearer to the problem. If the electronic weapon device  48  is activated, the smart belt  10  may record the date/time and location/orientation of the device prior to, during and after the activation, further activate any other components of the smart belt as programmed, and further send a notification or alert of the activation or status of the device  48 . 
     A facial recognition system. In one embodiment, facial recognition software installed and executing in the microprocessor  12  may work in conjunction with a video camera  50  and/or  60  wired or wirelessly connected to the smart belt  10 . The video camera  50  and/or  60  may be mounted on protective eyewear  52  worn by the user or on an armored vest  53 , clothing  90 , or smart belt  10  worn by the user, for example. The video camera is operable to scan the faces and postures of people encountered by the wearer of the smart belt  10  and transmit the image data to the smart belt  10  or a remote database or software application for analysis and to take proper action. 
     A night vision system  54 . The night vision system  54  is coupled the eyewear  52  to enables the wearer of the eyewear  52  to see in environments of low ambient light. In one embodiment, the night vision component  54  is wired or wirelessly connected to the smart belt and may provide 360-degree perimeter movement detection in low light circumstances for the wearer of the smart belt  10 , record the activity and the time/date/geographical location of the activity, and transfer the information to the smart belt to take proper action. 
     A chemical spray component  56 . In one embodiment, the chemical spray component  56  is wired or wirelessly connected to the smart belt  10  and may be monitored via the smart belt. If the smart belt  10  detects a problem (e.g., outdated chemicals, low chemical supply, chemical leakage, etc.) it may take action to correct the problem or alert the wearer or a third party of the problem. If the device  56  is activated, the smart belt may record the date/time and location/orientation of the device prior to, during and after the activation, activate any other components of the smart belt as programmed, and further send a notification or alert of the activation or status of the device. 
     A gunshot detection component  28 . In one embodiment, the gunshot detection device  28  may be incorporated into the smart belt and may include one or more microphones that is wired or wirelessly connected to the microprocessor  12  of the smart belt  10  and may sense the sound of a gunshot in the vicinity of the smart belt wearer. Software installed in the microprocessor  22  or elsewhere in the smart belt  10  is capable of analyzing the audio data and detect gunshots from received audio signals. In addition, the smart belt may receive wireless data from remotely mounted gunshot detection listening devices  28 . Once detected, the detection may trigger the activation of other smart belt associated components such as the night vision component  54 , video recorder component  60 , GPS component  16 , and the communication component  14 , to automatically send the information to other public safety employees or a public safety facility or other smart belts. It may also use data received via the gunshot detection device  28  or other devices to mathematically or visually determine the possible location of the origin of the gunshot and map the location to be displayed to the wearer of the smart belt visually via glasses with video and graphical capabilities that are wired or wirelessly associated with the smart belt. 
     An environmental sensor component  62 . In one embodiment, the environmental sensor component  62  is wired or wirelessly connected to the microprocessor  12  of the smart belt  10  and may detect chemical or biological hazards in the environment of the smart belt wearer, take action by activating additional components of the smart belt, and notifying the wearer of the smart belt  10  and others. 
     An audio recording component. In one embodiment, the audio recording component is part of the video recording component  60  described above, but they be separate independent subsystems. The audio recording component  60  is wired or wirelessly connected to the smart belt  10  and may be voice activated and integrate with the Global Positioning system component  16  and be either manually activated to begin recording or begin recording based on certain criteria, e.g., the detection of sound at a certain geographical location. For example, if a police officer is at the police station the device will not record, however is the officer in proximity to residence known for illegal drug activity it may begin to automatically record. In another embodiment, the audio recording device may integrate with voice recognition software to allow the public safety employee to control the function of the smart belt and the wired or wirelessly connected external or internal components via voice commands. In another embodiment, the audio recording component may integrate with a voice recognition component operable to compare the audio pattern and characteristics of voices detected to a digital library of known voices to identify the person detected. Further, the audio recording component may be integrated the video eye glasses  52  that are wired or wirelessly connected to the smart belt  10  to display the picture and information to the smart belt wearer based on the identification of the individual by the audio recording component. 
     A video recording component  60 . In one embodiment, the video recording component is wired or wirelessly connected to the smart belt and may be voice activated and integrate with the Global Positioning component and be either manually activated to begin recording or begin based on the detection of sound at a certain geographical location. For example, if a police officer is at the police station the device will not record, however is the officer in proximity to residence known for illegal drug activity it may begin to automatically record received video signals. In another embodiment, the video recording component  60  may integrate with the facial recognition component. If the facial recognition component identifies a person or persons in the officer&#39;s vicinity with an arrest/conviction record and/or a history of aggression on police officers, it may begin recording. In another example, if firefighting personnel wearing smart belts are at the scene of a fire and the facial recognition component identifies a known arsonist in the area around the fire personnel wearing smart belts, the recording component may activate and also send the information from the video recording component and the global positioning component or via an electronic alert or other message to a central command and/or public safety employees or other personnel in the area who are also wearing their smart belts. 
     A handcuff component  66 . In one embodiment, the handcuff component  66  is wired or wirelessly connected to the smart belt  10  and when the handcuff  66  is removed from its case in the belt, the GPS component  16  is activated to automatically record the location and also to activate the audio component and/or video component to document the surrounding activity, including the arrest. 
     A first aid component  27 . In one embodiment, one or more items such as a tourniquet may be part of a first aid component  27  that are wired or wirelessly connected to the smart belt  10 . The removal of the tourniquet and/or another from the first aid component would automatically cause the activation of the communication component to send a live or pre-recorded message to the public safety dispatch center or other public safety employees or other personnel in the vicinity. It may also automatically trigger the location stamping of the location by the GPS component  16 , the location being sent with the message by the communication component to a central dispatch or communications center or to other public safety employees or other personnel or other smart belt wearers in the vicinity. 
     An ammunition storage component  68 . In one embodiment, the ammunition storage component  68  is wired or wirelessly connected to the smart belt  10  and may monitor the age or condition of the ammunition contained in the ammunition storage component  68  and notify the wearer of the smart belt (via the microprocessor  12 ) if a problem is detected with the ammunition. In addition, the component may recognize incompatible ammunition as compared to the weapon  42  detected in the firearm holster component  40  and compare the information and notify the wearer of the smart belt  10 . In addition, when ammunition is removed from the ammunition storage component  68  it may cause other components wired or wirelessly connected to the smart belt  10  to activate and operate. 
     A communication device component  70 . In one embodiment, the communication device  70  is wired or wirelessly connected to the smart belt  10  and allows two-way audible communications between the smart belt wearer and other smart belt wearers or a public safety dispatch center. The communication device component may also function to transfer data to and from the smart belt or the external or internal components wired or wirelessly connected to the smart belt, to and from external computer systems, voice or data analytics systems or voice or data storage systems. The communication device component may also work in conjunction with a software component disposed within the smart belt or the smart belt components, to identify components in need of software updates and transmit the data related to the update to the component. 
     A baton component  72 . In one embodiment the baton device  72  is wired or wirelessly connected to the smart belt  10  and works in conjunction with software disposed in the baton component  72  or the smart belt  10 , the software component working in conjunction with the microprocessor  12  in the smart belt  10  to recognize the removal of the police baton  72  from the smart belt and cause the GPS component  16  to create a digital stamp of the location/orientation of the device prior to, during or after deployment, the communications device component  70  to send a notification to other smart belt users in the area or a police dispatch facility indicating that the baton  72  has been removed from its holster. The baton&#39;s removal may also cause the audible recoding component, the video recording component, and the facial recognition component to be activated and begin recording. The baton device  72  may also have a biometric component that detects usage by unauthorized person and activates other components of the smart belt and takes action to notify other public safety employees, other smart belts and/or a public safety dispatch center. 
     A holster component  40 . In one embodiment, the holster  40  is wired or wirelessly connected to the smart belt  10 , with the weapon  42  contained within the smart belt wired or wirelessly connected to either the holster or the smart belt. The holster may monitor the condition and status of the weapon contained within the holster including, but not limited to the number of bullets in the weapon, if there is a bullet in the chamber of the weapon, the status of the weapon, the number of rounds fired by the weapon and the caliber of the weapon. The holster or smart belt may further detect the removal of the weapon  42  from the holster  40  and the removal of the weapon from the holster may further cause the holster or the smart belt to further activate the audio recording component, the global positioning component, the video recording component, the communications component, the night vision component, and/or the eyewear component or any other component of the smart belt 
     A firearm component  42 . In one embodiment, the firearm is wired or wirelessly connected to the smart belt  10 , the smart belt  10  operable to monitor the status of the firearms component including the readiness of the firearm to fire, the usage history of the firearm including the number of times it has been removed from the holster and fired and the location/orientation of the firearm prior to, during or after the firearm is fired. The firearm  42  may also contain a biometric component that prohibits unauthorized users from using the weapon by reporting the biometric information to the smart belt, the smart belt operable to determine that the user is not authorized and disabling the weapon, and further activating other components of the smart belt including but not limited to the GPS component  16 , the video recording component, the communications component and the audio recording component. The smart belt  10  may also notify other smart belt users, other public safety employees or a public safety dispatch center of the status of or use or attempted use of the weapon. 
     In addition, the wireless communications component  14  disposed within the smart belt may act to receive software updates for the smart belt itself, as well as the components connected wired or wirelessly to the smart belt. 
     In addition, the smart belt may be wired or wirelessly communicatively coupled to external devices removed from the smart belt including: 
     Eyewear  52  equipped with an internal projection system to provide data, images or video to the wearer received from the wearer&#39;s smart belt or its related components or received from other smart belts worn by other public safety employees. 
     A headset  76  incorporating a ear piece  74  and microphone  78  to provide two-way audio communication via the smart belt or its related components or received from other smart belts worn by other public safety employees. 
     Ballistic headwear  80 . The ballistic headwear  80  or helmet being operable detect impact and measure the degree of impact to the ballistic headwear, or change in orientation of the ballistic headwear, and transfer the information to the smart belt  10  for analysis and take action. 
     A ballistic vest  53 . The ballistic vest is able to detect impact to the ballistic vest and measure the degree of impact, or change in orientation of the ballistic vest, and transfer the information to the smart belt for analysis and take action. 
     A ballistic shield  82 . The ballistic shield  82  is capable of detecting impact or change in orientation of the ballistic shield and transfer the information to the smart belt to take action. 
     In addition, the public safety vehicle  33  itself may wired or wirelessly connect as a component of the smart belt. The public safety vehicle may be equipped with sensors to detect glass breakage, intrusion, force applied to the exterior or malfunctions and transfer the information to the smart belt to take action. The sensor may detect glass breakage (sniper fire/car accident/attack while the vehicle is occupied or unoccupied) and send a warning message to the belt wearer (if away from the car) or a centralized monitoring station. 
     In addition, the ballistic shield  82 , helmet  80 , vest  53 , clothing  90  (e.g., shirt, trousers, hat, shoes), and public safety vehicle may be further equipped with external or internal sensors to detect a number of variables. For example, temperature sensors may be used to determine the body temperature of the officer to detect overheating or other less than optimal environment. The officer&#39;s physiological condition may also be measured by a plurality of sensors and relayed to the smart belt. Sensors can also be incorporated to detect the presence of environmental hazards. Sensors may be incorporated into the clothing to determine whether a force exceeding a certain magnitude has been applied to any of the components, determine a velocity and direction vector of the force, and transmit the location information (received from GPS component) to the smart belt  10 . The smart belt  10  is operable to analyze the received information and determine the possible location of the origin of the force/hazard, and take action by alerting the wearer or other public safety personnel in the area or a central public safety dispatch center or control center of the possible location of a suspect or threat based on the analysis. 
     In addition, the smart belt  10  may act as an electronic “key” to authorize the operation of the functions of the public safety vehicle  33 . In one embodiment, the smart belt is wirelessly connected to the public safety vehicle and when the smart belt is in proximity to the public safety vehicle it provides a digital authorization for the vehicle to be started. In another embodiment, the smart belt provides a digital authorization for a weapon to be removed from a locking gun lock located within the vehicle. In another embodiment, the mobile data computer mounted in the public safety vehicle will accept a digital verification from the smart belt and allow access to the computers operating system by the authorized wearer of the smart belt. 
     In addition, the smart belt  10  worn by one public safety officer may be wired or wirelessly connected to other smart belts worn by other personnel to exchange data and information between smart belts based on proximity or other associative parameters pertaining to the wearer such as time of day, function performed, etc. 
     It should be noted that the phrase “wired or wirelessly connected to the smart belt  10 ” used herein means that a component is communicating with the microprocessor  12  and/or one or more other components/subsystems coupled or held in the smart belt  10  via a wired or wireless communication channel. It should also be noted that the sensors disposed within the holders of the smart belt  10  may be implemented by passive and/or active sensors depending on the desired application and functionality. 
     In addition, the headset, audio recording component or the video recording component may be operable to receive audible input commands from the wearer of the smart belt, the audible input being recognized and interpreted by a software component to allow for voice control of the smart belt or its externally or internally connected components, by the wearer of the smart belt. 
     The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth below with particularity in the appended claims. However, modifications, variations, and changes to the exemplary embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the system and method described herein thus encompasses such modifications, variations, and changes and are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein.