Patent Description:
Public safety providers, such as law enforcement, fire rescue, and emergency service providers, typically utilize two-way radio communication systems when handling emergency incidents. Public safety personnel, such as police officers, may only have limited information pertaining to an incident prior to arrival upon the incident scene. While dispatch centers convey audio messages pertaining to the incident over a network, this information may not always be sufficient to provide a proper assessment of the incident. Upon arrival at the incident scene, an officer may not be as well prepared to address and respond to the incident as he or she could be if better incident information were available.

<CIT>) discloses a known communication system. Activation of emergency lights may cause a vehicular camera to activate, to record video, and to provide first video via wired cable to a digital video recording system. A secondary firearm video camera may be activated upon withdrawal from a holster, and then provide second video back to the digital video recording system via a remote pack's transceiver. The vehicular video arrives at the digital video recorder via a wired communication path. The firearm video arrives at the digital video recorder via a wireless path. Accordingly, there is a need for an improved means for acquiring and sharing incident scene information in a communication system.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a system comprising the features of appended claim <NUM> is provided. In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, a method comprising the steps of appended claim <NUM> is provided. The dependent claims provide further details of embodiments of the invention.

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.

Before describing in detail examples that are in accordance with the present invention, it should be observed that the examples relate to apparatus components and method steps for managing public safety resources and sharing incident information in response to an incident event trigger. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein.

Briefly, there is provided herein a communication system for enabling automatic recording of multiple views of an incident scene, and for generating an incident event alert which triggers an automatic recording of video information. The communication system comprises a first two-way portable handheld or vehicular radio unit having a camera. The first two-way portable handheld or vehicular radio unit is configured to, responsive to receiving a wired or wireless incident event trigger, transmit a unique emergency alert to a central control station, activate the camera, and automatically, without manual user input to the radio unit, record first video of an incident scene and wirelessly provide the recorded first video of the incident scene to the central control station. At least one more portable handheld or vehicular radio unit is communicably coupled with the first two-way portable handheld or vehicular radio unit in a talk group, the talk group being established by the central control station in response to receipt of the emergency alert. The at least one more portable handheld or vehicular radio unit is configured to, in response to the first two-way portable handheld or vehicular radio unit activating its camera and providing the recorded first video of the incident scene, begin to record second video of the incident scene and wirelessly provide the recorded second video of the incident scene to the central control station. The central control station is configured to receive the first video of the incident scene and the second video of the incident scene, and record and store the first video of the incident scene and the second video of the incident scene for subsequent accessing for evidentiary purposes.

<FIG> is a diagram a communication system <NUM> transitioning through different operating states <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> while operating in accordance with the various embodiments. Communication system <NUM> operates within a network such as a long term evolution (LTE) network, a P25 network, Wifi, or other network capable of handling two-way radio and video data. For the purposes of this application two-way radios comprise radios which utilize a pushto-talk (PTT) switch for half-duplex (also referred to as simplex) audio communication. The communication system <NUM> comprises a plurality of radio units, which may be vehicular and/or portable handheld units, operating in a public safety radio network. Each radio unit comprises a camera, or other visual recording capability, operatively coupled thereto for recording video. For the purposes of this application a video recording may further comprise audio from the scene. The communication system <NUM> integrates streaming video along with local and network storage functionality. Operating states <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM> are also labeled as <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM>.

Referring to operating state <NUM>, the plurality of radio units are communicating over the network utilizing two-way radio communication. A communications tower <NUM> broadcasts transmissions amongst the plurality of radios, and a control center, such as a dispatch control center shown later, manages resource assignments of the radios within the communication system <NUM> in accordance with the various embodiments. In <FIG>, the radio units are represented as vehicular radio units, however handheld radio units having visual recording capability may also be utilized as will be further described later.

Moving to state <NUM>, a radio <NUM> amongst the plurality of radio units is triggered by an incident event alert in accordance with the various embodiments. For the purposes of this application, an incident event alert automatically triggers an input to the radio, either by wired or wireless communication, without manual input from the user. The incident event alert may be based on a predetermined event trigger scenario recognized by the radio. For example, a gun being pulled from a holster may be an event which triggers a switch input at the radio. Predetermined audio events may also enable the trigger, such a gunshot or a voice command. As another example, a sensor indicating a toxic condition, radiation condition or other hazardous condition in the area surrounding the radio may automatically trigger an incident alert input to the radio. The sensor need not be located in the radio but may be part of a radio ecosystem, for example a Bluetooth radiation sensor. Other types of events can be programmed such that the radio recognizes a plurality of different incident events via the automated trigger.

In accordance with the various embodiments, the automated event trigger enables automatic video recording by the radio unit without manual user input to the radio. Thus, if the user of radio <NUM>, who is likely the primary responder, is injured or busy attending to the incident, the video recording being automatically enabled without requiring any button presses or other manual user input is highly advantageous. Moving to state <NUM>, the communication system further responds to the event trigger by performing a dynamic search which identifies one or more radio units, such as units <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, which are suitable for a talkgroup.

The suitability of units for a talkgroup is based on the type of incident event indicated by the alert and the video content. For example a talkgroup can be formed based on relevance to the incident type, proximity to the incident, availability of the unit, specialized equipment, job function, and language skills to name a few. For example, for an emergency incident alert indicating explosives or a chemical spill (incident type), a talkgroup may be formed of a bio hazard unit (relevance to explosive and chemical), a canine unit (relevance to searching), and a unit which is closest to the incident (proximity). As an another example, an emergency incident alert indicating gun removal from the user's holster (trigger) during a riot (incident type), a talkgroup may be formed of units in close proximity having riot gear protection (relevance), such a face masks, and body padding. Radios having intelligent audio can also be triggered by predetermined voice commands. Radios having intelligent audio always have an active microphone (sometimes referred to as a "hot mic") that automatically adjusts the level of the speaker depending on the level of ambient noise. Thus, a radio programmed to recognize certain voice commands can be used to trigger video. These examples are provided to better describe the advantageous benefits of the application and are not intended to be limiting. The automated trigger type and automated video recording enable the dynamic formation of a talkgroup best suited for the incident.

Moving to state <NUM>, the video recorded by radio unit <NUM> is transmitted to the talkgroup formed of units <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The three units <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of the talkgroup are thus able to view real-time video of events as they approach the incident scene. Thus, units <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> are able to be far better prepared to address the incident.

<FIG> and <FIG> show examples of pictorial implementation embodiments for the communication system of <FIG>. Briefly, <FIG> shows an example of a one-to-many embodiment, and <FIG> shows an example of a many-to-one embodiment. Both embodiments automatically share video amongst a dynamically formed talkgroup in response to a triggered event.

Referring to <FIG>, there is shown a representation for operating state <NUM> in which vehicular radio unit <NUM> records <NUM> incident events <NUM> occurring at a scene. The recording <NUM> is transmitted via a streamlined digital signal <NUM> to the communication system's tower <NUM>. The recording <NUM> may also comprise a radio ID, date stamp, time stamp, sensor data and location as part of log information. The log information may be used to authenticate and substantiate the video recording for future evidentiary purposes.

The central control station <NUM>, for example a dispatch center or incident commander, receives signal <NUM> and establishes a talkgroup based on the type of event indicated by the trigger and analysis of the incident video. The recorded signal of incident events <NUM> is then retransmitted via signals <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> to the units <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> within the talkgroup. This one-to-many embodiment, allows radio units <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of the talkgroup approaching the incident scene to be better prepared for the incident.

<FIG> shows a representation for operating state <NUM> in which each of the radio units <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> of the talkgroup respectively records <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> in- route video <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> as the units approach the incident scene. These in-route recordings are transmitted via signals <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> to tower <NUM>, which saves the recordings to the central control station <NUM>. Thus, the camera operates as an accessory to the radio system. The in-route recordings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> preferably include radio ID, date stamp, time stamp and location information as part of a log. This log can be used to facilitate studying the manner in which units have responded to an incident. The in-route video recordings <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> may contain additional evidence pertaining to the incident, and are thus potentially useful for future evidentiary proceedings. For example, a person fleeing the incident scene may have his/her image or the image of an escape car captured on one of these in-route recordings. The tower <NUM> and control station <NUM> may also retransmit the in-route video as streamlined signals over transmission signal <NUM> to the initial responding unit <NUM>, if the system is so configured.

For the scenario in <FIG>, the video recording may be performed by a remote speaker microphone (RSM) having a camera for capturing video while attached to the portable radio, with the portable radio managing the wireless video transmissions; or an accessory with video capability that pairs directly with the mobile two way radio in the car that is either mounted somewhere on the car or worn on the officer (for example shoulder mount or head mount). Again, with all the embodiments, the camera is operating as an accessory to the radio system.

Thus, the communication system <NUM> operating in accordance with the various embodiments described in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> provide radio(s) which automatically capture video in response to an event trigger and share the captured video amongst members of a talkgroup, wherein the talkgroup is dynamically formed based on the type of event, and the type of event being determined by the trigger type and the video captured at the incident scene. The communication system <NUM> integrates streaming video along with local and network storage functionality thereby facilitating buffering, transmission, and storage of the video data. The ability to automatically enable video capture in an emergency situation and sharing the video over the network allows for appropriate responders to be assigned to an incident and for the assigned responders to be better prepared for the incident.

While <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG> have shown vehicular radio units, the embodiments of the invention apply to video capable wearable devices, and exemplary embodiments of these devices will be discussed later. In mission critical applications, the availability of personnel to respond to an incident quickly and efficiently is imperative. The communication system operating in accordance with the various embodiments provides an independent, integrated solution allowing evidence to be collected during an incident, such as during a police stop or disaster scene. The radio user interface for management of automated alert, video recording, talkgroup formation and sharing of information improves the user experience by eliminating the need to have a user manipulate or adjust any settings.

The ability of monitoring self and/or the talkgroup member video provides an advantage for quick current video analytics as well as for future analytics. Accessing the camera footage can be advantageously accessed approaching an incident, at the incident, and after the incident. The use of time and location stamps further facilitates authenticating the data for future retrieval.

<FIG> is a flowchart of a method for responding to an incident event alert within a communication system operating in accordance with the various embodiments. Method <NUM> begins at <NUM> by monitoring for an incident event alert, referred to in this embodiment as an emergency alert, at the radio at <NUM>. For example, the radio may monitor wired or wireless sensors, such as a gun holster switch, radiation sensor, biosensor, and the like. At <NUM>, a determination is made whether an emergency alert has been triggered, and if not then monitoring continues at <NUM>. As described earlier, specific or predetermined incident events enable the trigger. For example, a switched physical event like a gun being drawn from a holster, an audio event like a gunshot, and/or a sensed event like a bio hazard condition. If an emergency alert is triggered at <NUM>, then the radio transmits a unique emergency alert and radio ID at <NUM>. This unique emergency alert may be dependent on the type of event, such as for example, a gun holster switch being triggered, a radio sensor detecting an elevated radiation level, and the like. The unique emergency alert is transmitted to the central control station.

A check is made at <NUM> to determine if the camera was recording and buffering any video prior to the emergency alert. If the camera was recording and buffering information, then this buffered video and sensor data is uploaded to the central control station at <NUM>. If no previous recording was made at <NUM>, then the radio proceeds to enable video streaming at <NUM>. The camera, which may be in the radio (coupled to the vehicular or handheld portable) or part of an accessory coupled to the radio, is turned on and begins recording. The recorded video is transmitted to the central control station at <NUM>. Prior to transmitting the video stream, the unique emergency ID, radio ID, location data and time stamp are preferably embedded in the stream. This embedded information can facilitate usage of the information at a later date for evidentiary purposes.

For the current incident at hand, the central control station creates a new talkgroup, which may also be referred to as a work group at <NUM>. The talkgroup is formed based on relevance to the event type, and parameters, such as proximity to the incident scene, availability, job function to name a few. The video stream, the sensor data (if applicable) along with audio is sent to the talkgroup at <NUM>. The radios within the talkgroup start viewing the streamed video at <NUM>. Thus, the radios of the talkgroup are able to view the incident scene in real time by viewing the video from the radio that initiated the emergency alert. The radios of the talkgroup can also view the buffered video to analyze events leading up to the incident.

The radios in the talkgroup may also activate their own cameras and transmit video-data streams to the central control station. This allows various vantage points to be viewed as the radios of the talkgroup approach the incident scene. Again, the central control station at <NUM> can transmit this video stream out to members of the group if desired or retain and store the information for future evidentiary purposes.

Once the emergency event is deactivated at <NUM>, the radios in the talkgroup turn off their cameras at <NUM>, ending the process at <NUM>.

Accordingly, the automated event driven emergency alert provided by method <NUM> allows emergency information to be shared among dynamically established work groups without the user to manually press any button to initiate video recording or talkgroup formation. The communication system <NUM> and method <NUM> allows automatic event-driven logging during emergency events. Automatic event driver logging negates the need for any user input to the radio, thereby allowing the user to focus on the incident rather than the radio.

Video capable wearable devices are highly valued by public safety personnel working in the field. Past wearable devices have been restrictive and lacked a fully integrated solution. <FIG> shows a portable two-way radio <NUM> having an accessory <NUM> coupled either wired or wirelessly thereto in accordance with the various embodiments. The accessory <NUM> may be for example, a remote speaker microphone which is coupled with a digital camera <NUM>. The radio and/or accessory is programmed to respond to predetermined events to trigger automatic video recording. As previously described, the predetermined events may include but are not limited to, physical events, such as a gun being drawn from the user's holster, an audio event such as a gunshot or voice command, and/or a sensed event such as a bio hazard condition. Hence, the accessory <NUM> and/or radio <NUM> may further comprise a sensor <NUM> for sensing hazardous conditions, such as smoke, radiation levels, man down, carbon monoxide, or methane gas to name a few.

The radio <NUM> comprises a controller having a microprocessor, a memory, and two-way radio transceiver for two-way radio communication as previously described in conjunction with <FIG>. The microprocessor, transceiver, sensor (if applicable) and camera provide emergency alert capability which triggers the sharing of real time visual incident information to a talkgroup. The talkgroup is dynamically formed based the type of event, job function, skill set, and/or location to name a few. For example a talkgroup can be formed of a SWAT unit, canine unit, hazardous waste control unit, and/or a forensic unit operating within a predetermined distance from the incident or operating within a particular zone. Thus, different talkgroups may be formed to respond to different types of incident event alert triggers.

The remote speaker microphone <NUM> is typically worn at the user's lapel/shoulder making it ideal for the camera <NUM> to record video events or changes occurring at an incident scene and/or events surrounding the user, which in many cases involve a police officer. The real-time video recorded by camera <NUM> is transmitted as previously described. Unlike past wearable devices which have been restrictive and required a variety of separate independently operated components, the radio <NUM> and radio accessory <NUM> provide a fully integrated approach for radio communication and sharing of real-time video with other radio units (handheld, vehicular, and central control station units).

<FIG> and <FIG> provide some pictorial implementation examples of the communication system operating in accordance with the various embodiments.

<FIG> shows a communication system <NUM> operating in accordance with the embodiments of the invention. Communication system <NUM> comprises a two-way portable handheld radio <NUM> having accessory <NUM> wired (or could be wirelessly) coupled thereto. The remote speaker microphone <NUM> comprises camera <NUM> which automatically records video <NUM> in response to the radio receiving an incident event alert trigger. In response to the trigger, the remote speaker microphone's camera <NUM> records video <NUM> at the scene. The integration of the camera within the radio system advantageously provides a camera ecosystem which allows the video to be either locally streamed to another radio <NUM> within WiFi range, or streamed over a wide area network <NUM> via the radio <NUM> connected to the camera <NUM>. A digital video recorder (DVR) can receive the video signal to be stored in the car either from a camera that is in proximity to the vehicle, or over the wide area network <NUM>/<NUM> if the first responder goes out of WiFi range.

Hence, the users of vehicle <NUM>, such as police officers of a police cruiser, can monitor <NUM> the ongoing events of the incident scene via vehicular radio <NUM>. Vehicular radio <NUM> comprises a display <NUM> allowing video to be monitored as the vehicle approaches the incident scene. This real-time video allows the officers in the vehicle <NUM> to be better informed and prepared upon arrival at the scene.

Additionally, and as discussed earlier the vehicles themselves may be recording their own video and transmitting this back to the dispatch control center <NUM> via wide area network <NUM> so that various vantage points may be recorded and stored which may be accessed at a later date for evidentiary reasons.

<FIG> shows a communication system <NUM> operating in accordance with the embodiments of the invention. Communication system <NUM> comprises a portable radio <NUM> having an accessory in the form of a remote speaker microphone (RSM) coupled (wired or wirelessly) thereto. The remote speaker microphone <NUM> includes a camera <NUM> or other visual recordation device recording an incident scene <NUM>. The video is broadcast to a central control station <NUM>, shown here as a dispatch center, over an LTE frequency. A talkgroup, <NUM>, <NUM> is formed based on the video reviewed at the dispatch center <NUM> in the manner previously described. A talkgroup may comprise one or more radios receiving information from the dispatch center. The real-time video and sensor data (if applicable) allows units having the appropriate skill sets to be assigned to the talkgroup. For example, events dealing with explosives might be assigned to a talkgroup encompassing a canine unit and a biohazard unit. The recorded scene is transmitted to radios within the talkgroup <NUM>, <NUM>. Thus, radios within the talkgroup <NUM>, <NUM> receive real-time updates as to events and changes occurring at the incident scene.

Accordingly, an improved communication system for incident response has been provided. Public safety personnel are no longer limited to audio status updates. The automated event driven emergency alert allows incident information to be shared among dynamically established talkgroups without the user needing to manually press any button to initiate video recording or talkgroup formation. Event driven emergency alerts allows officials at the incident scene to focus on critical tasks. The ability to seamlessly share video and data from the incident scene helps better prepare public safety personnel within the talkgroup to handle the incident. The ability to further record video and data as personnel within the group approach an incident may provide an additional valuable record for future use. The incorporation of alert driven video/data recording and talkgroup formation is highly desirable for radios operating over public safety radio networks, such as long term evolution (LTE) bandwidths.

The automated emergency alert being triggered permits the tight collaboration between radios in a talkgroup enabling the sharing of data during an emergency event. Tight collaboration between radios in a talkgroup advantageously allows data sharing during an emergency event which has been previously unavailable.

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 invention is defined solely by the appended claims including any amendments made during the pendency of this application.

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 nonexclusive 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", "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 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.

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.

Claim 1:
A communication system (<NUM>) for enabling automatic recording of multiple views of an incident scene, the communication system comprising:
a first two-way portable handheld or vehicular radio unit (<NUM>) having a camera (<NUM>), the first two-way portable handheld or vehicular radio unit (<NUM>) being configured to, responsive to receiving a wired or wireless incident event trigger:
transmit a unique emergency alert to a central control station;
activate the camera (<NUM>); and
automatically, without manual user input to the radio unit, record first video of an incident scene and wirelessly provide the recorded first video of the incident scene to the central control station (<NUM>);
at least one more portable handheld or vehicular radio unit (<NUM>) communicably coupled with the first two-way portable handheld or vehicular radio unit (<NUM>) in a talk group, the talk group established by the central control station in response to receipt of the emergency alert, and the at least one more portable handheld or vehicular radio unit (<NUM>) configured to, in response to the first two-way portable handheld or vehicular radio unit (<NUM>) activating its camera (<NUM>) and providing the recorded first video of the incident scene:
begin to record second video of the incident scene; and
wirelessly provide the recorded second video of the incident scene to the central control station (<NUM>); and
the central control station being configured to receive the first video of the incident scene and the second video of the incident scene, and store the first video of the incident scene and the second video of the incident scene for subsequent accessing.