Patent Publication Number: US-2019191060-A1

Title: Shoulder mountable portable communication device

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to portable communication devices and more particularly to a portable shoulder mounted communication devices. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Portable communication devices have been utilized by public safety personnel for years. While it is not unusual for several devices to be worn at various locations on the body at the same time, the ability to organize and efficiently handle several different body worn devices of different types and sizes may become tiresome, if not problematic for the user. In certain public safety environments, such as law enforcement, fire, and rescue, the ability to maintain a hands-free environment is the utmost importance. To this end, the integration of increased functionality into a single device can be desirable. However, the integration of several devices into one, presents challenges to engineering designers seeking to strike a balance between portability, user interface, size, and weight. 
     There is an increased desire for public safety personnel to provide video recordings interactions. While front facing body worn cameras have been used in the past, the results of such recordings are limited due to the recording area and much context of the area may not be recorded. There is a strong desire to capture increased information pertaining to a scene, whether for evidentiary purposes or for the overall safety of those at the scene. 
     Accordingly, an improved apparatus and manner of capturing video is desired that allows for hands-free manner. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       The accompanying figures where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention. 
         FIG. 1  is a portable communication device formed and operating in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 2  shows optional attachment features for mounting the portable communication device to an article of clothing in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 3  is an alternative embodiment of the portable communication device in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 4  is another alternative embodiment of the portable communication device in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a portable communication device operating within a communications network in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 6  is a method of operating a portable communication device in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG. 7  shows the portable communication device mounted to a body worn article of clothing in accordance with some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Before describing in detail embodiments that are in accordance with the present invention, it should be observed that the embodiments reside primarily in a communication device having a remote speaker microphone and camera integrated therein. The camera is formed of one or more video 360 degree field of view hemispherical imagers. The communication device is formed of a portable housing providing a shoulder conformable flexible housing, a remote speaker microphone (RSM) integrated into the portable housing, at least one video imager integrated into the housing, the at least one video imager providing at least a 360 degree field of view, and at least one battery integrated into the housing for powering the RSM and the at least one imager. 
     In one embodiment, the imager comprises first and second hemispherical convex video imagers coupled to a mounting frame located on the top portion of the portable housing, which operating together provide a full spherical field of view. In an alternative embodiment, the imager comprises a first video imager located on the front portion of the housing, and a second video imager located on a back surface of the portable housing, the first and second video imagers are each hemispherical imagers, which operating together provide a full spherical field of view. In yet another alternative embodiment, the imager comprises a single hemispherical video imager coupled to a mounting frame located on the top portion of the portable housing, the single hemispherical video imager providing a 360 degree field of view. The portable communication device, formed in accordance with the embodiments, provides for hands-free and eyes-up enhanced image capturing with ease of access to the remote speaker microphone user interface and is thus well suited as a portable public safety communication device for public safety environments. 
     In this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element preceded by “comprises . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element. 
       FIG. 1  is a communication device  100  formed in in accordance with some embodiments. The communication device  100  is a portable, body wearable device for shoulder worn usage particularly well suited to public safety environments, such as law enforcement and fire rescue. The portable housing  102  is formed of a shoulder conformable flexible housing preferably formed of front, top and back portions  114 ,  116 ,  118  respectively configured in a reverse u-shape formation. The remote speaker microphone (RSM)  104  is integrated into the front housing portion  114 , the battery is integrated into the back housing portion  118 , and in accordance with this embodiment at least one video imager providing a 360 degree field of view is coupled to the top portion  116  of the portable housing  102 . In this embodiment, the at least one imager is coupled by a camera mounting frame  108  protruding from the top housing portion  116  retaining first and second convex lenses  110   a ,  110   b  are hemispherical lenses each providing a 360 degree field of view in opposing directions, which combined form provide a full spherical field of view. In accordance with this embodiment, the first and second convex video imagers  110   a ,  110   b  are coupled to the camera mounting frame  108  in a back-to-back configuration to provide the full spherical field of view. The RSM  104  integrated within the front housing portion  114  comprises a speaker  132 , a microphone  134 , and a push-to-talk (PTT) button  130 , all under the control of one or more internal processors and interoperable with an internal transceiver. The battery  106  powers the RSM  104  and the at least one imager. 
     The device  100  is advantageously worn at the shoulder. Mounting portable communication device  100  to the shoulder may be accomplished under a variety of attachment features  112  including but not limited to clips, snaps, magnets, slide-in features, shoulder harness or holster and/or epaulette interface. The shoulder conformable flexible housing may be formed of ruggedized plastic with flexible sections  126 ,  128  jointed between the RSM and video imager, as well as jointed between the video imager and battery. In accordance with some embodiments, the strain reliefs  122 ,  124  may further comprise flex interconnects running therethrough to electrically and mechanically couple the RSM  104  electronics to the camera and the battery. Locating the battery on the back portion of the housing advantageously provides balance with the front mounted RSM. 
     Flexible sections  122  and  124  provide flexibility between rigid housing sections (RSM, camera, and battery). These sections allow the overall device to contour to various shoulder sizes. The flexible sections  122 ,  124  may be made of rubber-like materials. The flexible sections  122 ,  124  further provide an interior interconnect path within which a flexible circuit or wires may be passed for electrically interconnecting the rigid housing sections (RSM, camera, and battery). 
     Once properly mounted to the user&#39;s shoulder, the user is able to perform duties in a hands free environment. The ability to capture video while maintaining a hands-free environment allows the user to continue operating the RSM. The processing capabilities of the RSM may further be used to control the electronics of the camera thus advantageously providing for a portable RSM controlled camera providing 360 degree field of view. 
     The ability of the portable communication device  100  to flexibly conform to a user&#39;s shoulder advantageously provides for a comfortable form fit that can be easily secured to clothing with a variety of attachment articles.  FIG. 2  shows optional attachment articles for mounting the portable communication device  100  to an article of clothing, such as a vest or shirt, in accordance with some embodiments. The attachment features  112  may comprise one or more of clips, snaps, hook and loop, magnets and straps to name a few. The attachment features  112  may be located on one or more portions (front, back, top) of the portable communication device to ensure that the device remains optimally situated for that individual and for optimal image capturing by the camera. Variable adjustment positions of the attachment features  112  can be used to ensure a customized fit for each user. Thus, the portable communication device  100  can advantageously provide a flexible conformity to a variety of different shoulder form factors. The attachment feature enables positioning of the camera of the portable communication device for individual user configurations and proportions. 
     While the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  provides for dual imagers coupled to the top portion of the housing, another dual imager embodiment provides for individual hemispherical imagers to be located on the front and back portions of the portable communication device.  FIG. 3  is a communication device  300  formed in accordance with some embodiments. The portable communication device of  FIG. 3  retains the portable housing  102  formed of the shoulder conformable flexible housing. Again, the flexible housing is formed as a reverse u-shaped flexible housing having front, top and back portions  114 ,  116 ,  118 .In this embodiment, rather than the protruding as the top mounted camera, the at least one imager is formed of a first imager  310   a  located on the front portion  114  of the housing  102  and a second imager  310   b  located on a back portion  118  of the portable housing. Each of the first and second imagers, formed of hemispherical lenses, provide a 360 degree field of view independently in rearward and forward facing directions. In this embodiment, the battery  106  again powers the RSM  104  and electronics associated with imagers  310   a ,  310   b.    
     The embodiments of  FIGS. 1, 2, and 3  provide first and second imagers in a dual imager formation of first and second convex lenses.  FIG. 4  shows yet another embodiment, in which a single hemispherical lens is mounted to the top portion  116  of the flexible shoulder a single spherical video imager  410  is coupled to a mounting frame  408  located on the top portion  116  of the portable housing  102 , the single hemispherical video imager providing a 360 degree field of view. 
     Accordingly, the various embodiments provide for a communication device  100 ,  300 ,  400  formed as a portable, body wearable device for shoulder worn applications particularly well suited to public safety environments, such as law enforcement and fire rescue. The portable housing of the various embodiments being formed of a shoulder conformable flexible housing having integrated therein: the remote speaker microphone (RSM)  104 , the at least one video imager providing the at least a 360 degree field of view, and the at least one battery for powering the RSM and the at least one imager, together provide for an improved public safety portable communication device. The at least one video imager has been advantageously provided by the various embodiments via the dual convex imaginers  110   a ,  110   b  as described in  FIGS. 1 and 2  which provide a for a full spherical field of view, the dual convex imaginers  310   a ,  310   b  as described in  FIG. 3  which also provide for a full spherical field of view, and the single convex imager  410  as described in  FIG. 4  which provides a single hemispherical for the 360 degree field of view. 
     In some embodiments, a controller of the portable communication device  100 ,  300  or  400  may provide an automated feedback signal, such as an audio tone or series or tones to notify the user that proper positioning of the camera has been achieved for a maximized field of view. In order to generate such feedback signals, the camera  110   a ,  110   b , or  310   a ,  310   b , or  410  may be turned on temporarily in response to a button press  120  and/or trigger signal in response to the attachment features being secured. By temporarily enabling the camera to measure samples of the field of view, and generating tones in response thereto, the user is thus able to make positioning adjustments, based on the tones, to ensure a maximum field of view has been achieved. 
     The operation of the portable communication device can thus commence including such functions as playing out audio at the remote speaker  132  of the RSM or pressing a push-to-talk (PTT) button  130  to transmit from the RSM. Camera operation of the portable communication device is enabled either manually through a dedicated button or automatically in response to some predetermined input to the portable communication device, such as a press to the PTT button  130  with verbal command “start video” to RSM microphone  134 . Hands-free recording of video is thus available to the user with a maximum field of view. 
       FIG. 5  is a block diagram of a portable communication device  100 ,  300  or  400  operating within a communications network  500  in accordance with some embodiments. The portable communication device  100 ,  300 , or  400  comprises electronics associated with a remote speaker microphone (RSM)  502 , a camera  504 , and a battery  506 . In accordance with the various embodiments the camera  504  provides at least a 360 degree field of view via a single hemispherical imager. The camera  504  may alternatively be formed of dual convex video imagers to provide a full spherical field of view. The RSM  502 , camera  504 , and battery  506  may be mechanically and electrically interconnected via a flex  508  having circuit traces integrated therein. Flex circuitry  508  lends itself well to being folded, for example in an accordion or pleated formation, or rolled, for example in a ribbon formation, thereby providing adjustable flexibility between the three portions of the device. The accordion or ribbon formations of the flex  508  are well suited for location within the flexible sections  122 ,  124  (shown in previous figures), thereby advantageously permitting a user to adjust positioning of the device upon the shoulder via flexible sections of the device  100 ,  300 ,  400 . 
     While the block diagram of a  FIG. 5  shows first and second flex interconnects  508 , it is appreciated that in some embodiments, such as the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , a single flexible section  122  with flex interconnect contained therein can be used. 
     Operationally, the RSM  502  may comprise electronics  512  such as a speaker  514 , a microphone  516 , a PTT witch  518 , one or more processors  520 , memory storage  522 , and a transceiver  524 . The RSM  502  transmits and receives wireless signals to and from a portable radio  510 . The portable radio  510  may comprise a two-way portable radio worn at the belt, coupled via a radio frequency (RF) communications link to the RSM  502 . The portable radio  510  may be in further communications with a central control server  526 , as part of a public safety communications network. 
     In accordance with some embodiments, the portable shoulder mounted communication device  100 ,  300 , or  400  operating within the network  500  can be used in license plate recognition, face detection, and other edge analytics. The network&#39;s central controller  526  can perform video analytics on the video recorded by the shoulder mounted communication device  100 ,  300 , or  400 , for example face identification to a server registry. Depending on the memory capacity of the portable shoulder mounted communication device  100 ,  300 , or  400  some edge analtyics may be performed locally using the device&#39;s memory and processor. 
     The central control server  526  may operate as part of a base station, a dispatch center or other network control device, providing appropriate protocol processing for database interconnectivity, management and storage of data, voice, and video captured by the RSM controlled camera  504 . Video captured by the camera  504  may be temporarily stored in memory  522  and wirelessly transmitted by the RSM  502  to the portable radio  510 , where further storage may take place, and then wirelessly transmitted from the portable radio  510  to the central control server  526 . Thus,  360  degree video captured by the camera  504  can be forwarded from the RSM, to the radio, and then to the central control server  526 . 
     The one or more processors  520  control operation of the RSM transceiver  524  and audio associated with the speaker  514  and microphone  516 . The one or more processors  520  further control electronics associated with the camera  504  and battery circuitry of battery  506 . The PTT  518 , as described previously, can be used to enable automated video recording by a PTT press with appropriate voice command into microphone  516 . Alternatively a dedicated button can be used to enable the video recording. One or more of the processors  520  provide video processing for the camera  504  while memory  522  provides temporary storage of video captured by the device  100 ,  300 , or  400 . 
     The various embodiments, either  360  field of view or full spherical image capture, advantageously avoid difficult alignment positioning requirements, such as needed in devices having a narrower field of view. Positioning the camera near the top of the user&#39;s shoulder minimizes blocking. A level check may be provided, if desired, by a built-in six-axis accelerometer. Leveling feedback to the user may be provided through an audible tone from the RSM speaker. 
     Accordingly, there has been provided a portable shoulder mounted communication device  100 ,  300 ,  400  that provides RSM control over a shoulder mounted camera for 360 degree field of view or full spherical image capture within a communications network  500 . 
       FIG. 6  is a method  600  of operating a portable communication device in accordance with some embodiments. The method is provided for the top mounting of the camera as was shown in  FIG. 1  but applies to the other configurations as well. The method begins at  602  by mounting the portable communication device to a shoulder of a user worn article of clothing, the portable communication device comprising a remote speaker microphone (RSM), a camera and a battery. At  604 , the user conforms the portable communication device to the shoulder, via at least one flexible strain relief, such that the remote speaker microphone is situated on the front of the shoulder, the camera at the top of the shoulder, and the battery on the back of the shoulder. As previously described, the strain relief having internal flex can be adjusted, bent, and flexed to conform the device to the shoulder. The portable communication device can then positioned at  606  such that the camera obtains a maximized field of view. The maximized field of view may be verified by, for example, a level check performed by a built-in accelerometer along with feedback to the user. 
     The camera is then secured at  608  to the user worn article of clothing via an attachment feature at the position determined to obtain the maximized field of view. Camera operation is then enabled at  610  which allows recording of hands free and eyes up video at  612 . The hands free video recording may be enabled by the push-to-talk (PTT) button along with a verbal command. Alternatively, the hands free video recording may be enabled by a dedicated button press. The hands free video recording may, in some embodiments, be enabled by a predetermined audio command to an always-on microphone. The recorded handsfree video can be stored and edge analytics performed on the stored video at  614 . 
     Method  600  advantageously allows playing out audio at a remote speaker of the RSM during the recording of video, and pressing a push-to-talk (PTT) button to transmit from the RSM. By recording hands free and eyes up video, the RSM remains available to transmit a communication and receive a communication during the video recording. Edge analytics of a video recording can be performed in parallel with normal RSM usage. 
       FIG. 7  shows a portable communication device  700  formed in accordance with the various embodiments mounted to a body worn article of clothing  702  in accordance with some embodiments. The body worn article of clothing  702  may comprise a shirt, vest, harness or other clothing article worn at the shoulder. The attachment features  112 , as previously described, may be located on one or more housing portions (front, back, top) of the portable communication device to ensure that the device remains optimally situated for that individual and for optimal image capturing by the camera. The RSM  104 , at least one  360  video imager  710  (which can be formed of imagers from the various embodiments  110   a / 110   b ,  310   a / 310   b , or  410 ), and battery  106  are electronically and mechanically coupled via the previously described flexible electronic interconnects located within the at least one strain relief  122  and/or  124  of the portable communication device. Variable adjustment positions of the attachment features  112  can be used to ensure a customized fit for each user while providing for maximized video capture. Thus, the portable communication device  700  can advantageously provide a flexible conformity to a variety of different shoulder form factors. The attachment feature(s)  112  enable positioning of the camera for optimum video capture while the flexibility of the device provided by the strain relief section(s)  122  and/or  124  provide adjustability for individual user configurations and proportions. As previously described, the RSM transmits and receives wireless signals to and from the portable radio. The portable radio  510  may comprise a two-way portable radio worn at the belt, coupled via a radio frequency (RF) communications link to the RSM. Imaging data ( 360  or full spherical field of view) is captured by the camera and transferred via a wireless link shoulder mounted communication device to the portable radio for further transmission to a remote server, as previously described. 
     Accordingly, there has been provided a portable communication device which provides maximum field of view imaging in conjunction with RSM capability. Video can now be advantageously recorded without requiring that a user manually hold the video device and maintain an eyes-up position while recording. The video recorded by the portable communication devices of the various embodiments may further capture the users neck and side of face which can be advantageous as part of the overall analytics as well as for evidentiary purposes. The ability to capture the direction of the officer&#39;s face and facial expression is not possible with current bodyworn camera systems. 
     In the foregoing specification, specific embodiments of the present invention have been described. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of present invention. 
     The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential features or elements of any or all the claims. The invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application and all equivalents of those claims as issued. 
     Moreover in this document, relational terms such as first and second, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another entity or action without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. The terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “has”, “having,” “includes”, “including,” “contains”, “containing” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains a list of elements does not include only those elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. An element proceeded by “comprises . . . a”, “has . . . a”, “includes . . . a”, “contains . . . a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises, has, includes, contains the element. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. The terms “substantially”, “essentially”, “approximately”, “about” or any other version thereof, are defined as being close to as understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, and in one non-limiting embodiment the term is defined to be within 10%, in another embodiment within 5%, in another embodiment within 1% and in another embodiment within 0.5%. The term “coupled” as used herein is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly and not necessarily mechanically. A device or structure that is “configured” in a certain way is configured in at least that way, but may also be configured in ways that are not listed. 
     It will be appreciated that some embodiments may be comprised of one or more generic or specialized processors (or “processing devices”) such as microprocessors, digital signal processors, customized processors and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and unique stored program instructions (including both software and firmware) that control the one or more processors to implement, in conjunction with certain non-processor circuits, some, most, or all of the functions of the method and/or apparatus described herein. Alternatively, some or all functions could be implemented by a state machine that has no stored program instructions, or in one or more application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), in which each function or some combinations of certain of the functions are implemented as custom logic. Of course, a combination of the two approaches could be used. 
     Moreover, an embodiment can be implemented as a computer-readable storage medium having computer readable code stored thereon for programming a computer (e.g., comprising a processor) to perform a method as described and claimed herein. Examples of such computer-readable storage mediums include, but are not limited to, a hard disk, a CD-ROM, an optical storage device, a magnetic storage device, a ROM (Read Only Memory), a PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory) and a Flash memory. Further, it is expected that one of ordinary skill, notwithstanding possibly significant effort and many design choices motivated by, for example, available time, current technology, and economic considerations, when guided by the concepts and principles disclosed herein will be readily capable of generating such software instructions and programs and ICs with minimal experimentation. 
     The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in various embodiments for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.