Abstract:
A wearable, computerized apparatus for use with law enforcement has an evidence collector adapted to collect evidentiary information of a type collected according to law enforcement procedures and useful for identification of a suspect. It further has a safety monitor adapted to collect safety information relating to well-being of an officer. A wireless communications link communicates the evidentiary information and the safety information to a centralized component of a distributed communications system to assist in identifying suspects and dispatching assistance.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention generally relates to distributed computer systems for law enforcement applications, and particularly relates to distributed communications systems for law enforcement implementing a wearable, computerized component.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Today, laptops are becoming very common in police cars. There exist, however, many safety issues related to operation of these laptops because police officers have to take their eyes off the road or away from an arrested suspect to operate the laptop computer. Furthermore, the computer still has limited communication capabilities, with a central server that is generally only able to respond to requests typed by an officer using a keyboard. Thus, officers are generally limited to typing in driver&#39;s license and license plate numbers in the field. These limitations make it difficult for an officer to attempt to identify a suspect or provide information to a centralized, dispatch facility at times when it is most needed.  
           [0003]    What is needed is a device that an officer can take into the field and use to safely collect information on-site, communicate the information off-site to a centralized, dispatch facility, and communicate information from the off-site facility to the officer. The present invention provides such a device in concert with a distributed communications system.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    According to the present invention, a wearable, computerized apparatus for use with law enforcement has an evidence collector adapted to collect evidentiary information of a type collected according to law enforcement procedures and useful for identification of a suspect. It further has a safety monitor adapted to collect safety information relating to well-being of an officer. A wireless communications link communicates the evidentiary information and the safety information to a centralized component of a distributed communications system to assist in identifying suspects and dispatching assistance.  
           [0005]    The distributed communication system according to the present invention is advantageous over previous distributed computer systems for law enforcement applications in that the wearable, computerized component assists an officer in collecting and communicating important information quickly and conveniently, and with increased safety. A vehicular component having an on-site camera can receive data from the wearable, computerized component via a wireless connection, automatically activate the camera at times of stress and/or distress, and forward collected information off-site to a centralized, dispatch facility via a wireless connection. The centralized, dispatch facility can, in turn, dispatch any needed assistance based on the type of situation and the camera images. It can further process biometric data of suspects to assist in identifying suspects, and determine if any warrants are issued with respect to an identified suspect. The camera images, suspect identification, and information relating to the suspect can be forwarded to vehicles of other officers and to the vehicle of the officer in question. Received communications may be wirelessly communicated to the wearable, computerized component and, thus, to the officer. The wearable computerized component preferably makes use of speech recognition and speech generation technologies to allow hands-free operation of the device wherever possible. Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0006]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
         [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is a block diagram providing a perspective view of a wearable, computerized component of a distributed computer system for law enforcement applications according to the present invention;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view and block diagram depicting various components of the distributed computer system according to the present invention;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a wearable, computerized component of a distributed communication system according to the present invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 4 is a flow chart depicting a method of operation for a wearable, computerized component of a distributed communication system according to the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 5 is a flow chart depicting a method of operation for an on-site, vehicular component of a distributed communication system according to the present invention; and  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 6 is a flow chart depicting a method of operation for an off-site, centralized component of a distributed communication system according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0013]    The present invention is described below with reference to a distributed architecture employing a wearable, computerized component, an on-site, vehicular component, and an off-site, centralized component. The following description of the preferred embodiment, however, is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.  
         [0014]    The wearable, computerized apparatus  10  according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. It is generally modeled on a personal digital assistant (PDA) having a small keyboard  12 , touch screen  14 , and stylus  16 . A plurality of hot keys  18  provide easy access to pre-programmed functions  20 , such as license plate number voice input, driver&#39;s license number scanning, retinal scanning, fingerprint sensing, on-site camera activation, and/or calling for assistance. These functions  20  are also preferably selectable by voice using speech recognition technology. Thus, apparatus  10  has a microphone input  22 , and also a speaker output  24  to permit communication of sound, including generated speech. Additionally, a fingerprint sensor  26  and retinal scanner  28  are provided for collecting biometric data from a suspect, as well as a smart card reader  30  for reading a magnetic strip on a driver&#39;s license. Also, a two-way, wireless link  32  is capable of transmitting and receiving data in at least one of many possible ways.  
         [0015]    The distributed communications system of FIG. 2 demonstrates many of the ways apparatus  10  can communicate with other components of the system. For example, apparatus  10  can use a short range wireless link, such as Bluetooth, to communicate with sensors disposed in various accoutrements of the officer, such as a helmet  34 , wristwatch  36 , and bullet-proof vest  38 . These sensors, in turn, can sense and communicate data relating to stimuli affecting the officer and officer reactions to stimuli. Thus, a sensed impact to the bullet proof vest and/or external temperature, can be communicated as stimuli to the apparatus. Similarly, sensed heart rate, respiratory rate, body temperature, blood pressure, perspiration, and/or blood loss can be communicated as officer reactions to apparatus  10 .  
         [0016]    Another way that apparatus  10  can communicate with other components of the system is by using a mid-range wireless link, such as radio wave. This mid-range wireless link can be used to communicate with a vehicular component of the system, such as a police car  40  or motorcycle  42 . Thus, suspect biometric data, sensed officer reactions, stimuli, scanned input, text input, voice input and/or sounds and images from various on-site cameras  44 A-C can be communicated to and from various on-site components of the distributed communications system.  
         [0017]    Still another way that apparatus  10  can communicate with other components of the system is by using a long-range communication link, such as shortwave radio and/or cell phone technology, to communicate off-site via a communications tower  46  and adjacent network  48 . Additionally, a vehicular component of the system can use a long range wireless link to forward any communications between an off-site, centralized component of the system and apparatus  10 . It should be readily apparent that several combinatorial options are available according to this same communications architecture, including long-range communication capability being provided by various officer accoutrements.  
         [0018]    Off-site centralized components of the system can use these same available communications mechanisms to communicate with apparatus  10 . for example, a dispatch order from a police dispatch function  50  and/or an emergency dispatch function  52  can be communicated to apparatus  10 . Also, suspect biometric data, sensed officer reactions, stimuli, scanned input, text input, voice input and/or sounds and images from various on-site cameras  44 A-C can be communicated from one on-site location to another on-site location via communications relay function  54 . Further, an identification of a suspect and/or information relating to an identified suspect, such as issued warrants, resulting from use of police record database  56  and index and retrieval system  58  can be communicated to apparatus  10 . This distributed communications architecture is important to functionality of apparatus  10  as further explored in FIG. 3, and to other components of the system.  
         [0019]    In operation, apparatus  10  is able to collect information  60  based on biometric data  62  and officer input  64 . The biometric data  62  is input using one or more biometric sensors  66 , such as a retinal scanner and/or fingerprint sensor, and includes suspect biometrics  68 . The officer input  64  is received by one or more interface devices  70 , such as a keyboard, touch screen with stylus, microphone, smart card reader, and short-range data link with associated sensors. Thus, the officer input  64  may include text input  72 , data embodied in a magnetic strip  74 , recognized speech  76  from a speech input  78  processed via a speech recognizer  80 , and/or sensed stimuli and/or reactions  82 . Suspect biometrics  68 , text input  72 , data embodied in a magnetic strip  74 , recognized speech  76 , and sensed stimuli and/or reactions  82 , thus, are exemplary types of collected information  60  that can be output as collected data  84  for delivery off-site.  
         [0020]    Various components of collected information  60  are further useful in connection with operation of apparatus  10 . For example, recognized speech  76 , text input  72 , and sensed stimuli and/or reactions  82  may be communicated to situation monitor  86 . In turn, situation monitor  86  may determine cause for alarm as at  88  based on recognized speech  76 , a hot key activation component of text input  72 , and/or sensed stimuli of sensed stimuli and/or reactions  82 . Further, situation monitor  86  may determine cause for alarm as at  88  based on sensed stimuli and/or reactions  82  based on an adaptive threshold mechanism using an officer reactions history  90 . Thus, a sudden increase in heart rate, respiration, and/or perspiration may be interpreted as cause for alarm at  88 . Similarly, detection of blood, a drop in blood pressure and/or absence of heart rate and/or respiration may be interpreted as cause for alarm at  88 . Accordingly, response mechanism  92  issues an alarm based on predetermined response rules  94 , thus resulting in output of call for assistance  96  and/or a command for on-site camera activation  98 .  
         [0021]    Yet further to the operation of apparatus  10 , received communications from off-site, such as dispatch orders  100 , camera sounds and images  102  from another on-site location, and/or suspect identity  104  with relevant information, are processed by a communication mechanism  106 . Communication mechanism  106  displays camera images and suspect identity  104  and relevant information via a touch screen of interface  108 , while generating speech to communicate important portions of relevant information. Camera sounds, dispatch orders, and generated speech are communicated to the officer via a speaker output of interface  108 . Recognized speech  76  and/or text input  72  are also communicated to communication mechanism  106  as needed to permit the officer to carry on a dialogue with apparatus  10 . Thus, the officer can prompt the device for specific types of information, and/or express preferences relating to how the communications are presented. As a result, text, images sound, and/or generated speech  110  are communicated to the officer in a facilitated fashion.  
         [0022]    A method of operation for a wearable, computerized component of a distributed communications system according to the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 4. Beginning at  112 , biometric data, officer input, and communications from off-site are received respectively at steps  114 ,  116 , and  118 . Received suspect biometrics and officer input are collected as data at step  120 , and the collected data is output at step  122  in accordance with transmission and routing protocols selected by voice input and/or hot key activation, and in accordance with selectable pre-programmed functions. Officer reactions, such as sensed vital signs, are analyzed at step  124 , and if the reactions warrant an alarm or if officer input indicates an alarm state as at  126 , then a call for assistance is issued at step  128  concurrent with an on-site camera activation command at step  130 . Received communications are communicated to the officer at step  132 .  
         [0023]    The method of operation for the wearable, computerized component of the present invention is designed to operate in concert with methods of operation for an on-site, vehicular component and an off-site centralized component. These methods are illustrated respectively in FIGS. 5 and 6. Beginning at  134 , the method of operation for an on-site, vehicular component according to the present invention accommodates reception of collected data, a call for assistance, and/or an on-site camera activation command from the wearable, computerized component at steps  136 ,  138 , and  140 , respectively. The method further accommodates reception of communications from an off-site, centralized component at step  142 . The communications received at step  142  are typically forwarded to the worn device at step  144 . One example exception involves camera control signals affecting control of an on-site camera, which are communicated to the on-site camera. Concurrently, the on-site camera activation and/or control command received at step  140  prompts activation and/or control of an on-site camera at step  146 , such that sounds and images generated at step  148  are forwarded to the off-site, centralized component at step  150 . In one embodiment, the camera may sense a position of the signal source from the device, and automatically track the position in absence of specific control-signals from the centralized component of the system and/or the wearable, computerized component of the system. Further, the collected data and/or call for assistance respectively received in steps  136  and  138  are concurrently forwarded to the off-site, centralized component at step  150 .  
         [0024]    The method of operation for an off-site, centralized component according to the present invention begins at  152 , and accommodates reception of collected data, sounds and images, and/or a call for assistance at step  154 . An analysis of the information received in step  154  takes place in step  156 , and any appropriate action may concurrently be taken based on the analysis. For example, a human dispatcher may receive the call for assistance, collected data corresponding to officer vital signs, and on-site camera sounds and images. The human dispatcher may issue camera control signals in step  158  to gain better images and/or sounds, and select to dispatch appropriate assistance and forward on-site camera sounds and images to assisting officers and/or medical personnel in step  158 . Alternatively or in addition, a suspect name, received biometric data, license plate information, and/or a driver&#39;s license number can be automatically processed to identify a suspect and obtain relevant information, such as issued warrants, vehicle ownership, insurance information, and/or arrest records. This automatically retrieved information can be forwarded to the on-site officer and/or to assisting personnel at step  158 .  
         [0025]    It should be readily understood that the communications architecture can be modified from the form presented herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, a wearable device according to the present invention may be able to communicate directly with a police station, without requiring a vehicle component or a communications network. Also, wearable computerized components at different on-site locations may be able to communicate directly with one another. It should also be readily understood that functions performed by a particular component of the present invention can be shifted from one component to another without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the situation monitor function may be allocated to the on-site vehicle component or the off-site, centralized component. Further, a backup safety monitoring mechanism may be employed that expects to continuously or periodically receive a signal from the wearable, computerized device, and issues an alarm if the signal is not received as expected. Still further, the microphone and speakers for the wearable device do not have to be on the wearable device, but can be placed on the police officer (headset microphone and headphones) and connected to the wearable device. Thus, the systems and methods of the present invention may take various forms other than those of the preferred embodiment without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Moreover, the description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention.