Mobile gunshot detection

• US 10,061,013 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2013
• Issued: 08/28/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Hermann, Thomas Joseph, Kleve, Robert Bruce, Van Wiemeersch, John Robert, Holub, Patrick Kevin, Hrecznyj, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Hulka, James R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nolan, John T
• Application Number:
  US14/134,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20150177363A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,713 Days
• Field of Search: 367128
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/20 Position of source determined by a plurality of spaced direction-finders
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/22 Position of source determined by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements G01S5/28 takes precedence

Abstract

A first computer is configured to receive, from at least one second computer in a first vehicle, data relating to a gunshot. The computer is configured to then determine a location of the gunshot from the data, and to transmit a message, including the gunshot location, to at least one third computer in a second vehicle.

Claims

1. A system, comprising a first computer that comprises a processor and a memory and is configured to:

receive, from a second computer in a first vehicle, data relating to a gunshot detected by one or more sensors in the first vehicle, wherein the data includes at least first vehicle location sensor data, sound sensor data, and data from at least one additional vehicle sensor;

wherein the at least one additional vehicle sensor includes at least one of a vehicle intrusion detector, an interior camera, an engine knock sensor, an engine pressure sensor, and a window status sensor;

determine a location of the gunshot from the data; and

transmit a message, including the gunshot location, to a second vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first computer is in a third vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the second computer is one of a plurality of second computers, each in a respective second vehicle, and data related to the gunshot is received from each of the second computers in the respective second vehicles.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein determining a location of the gunshot from the data includes comparing time-stamps associated with the gunshot, each of the time-stamps being received from one of the second computers.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second vehicle is a plurality of second vehicles.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the message includes a route based on a location of the second vehicle and the gunshot location.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first computer is further configured to place a call identifying the gunshot location to an emergency service provider.

8. A system, comprising a computer in a first vehicle that comprises a processor and a memory and is configured to:

detect a gunshot fired outside the first vehicle;

transmit data concerning the gunshot to a remote computer, wherein the data is data detected by one or more sensors in a second vehicle and includes at least second vehicle location sensor data, sound sensor data, and data from at least one additional vehicle sensor;

wherein the at least one additional vehicle sensor includes at least one of a vehicle intrusion detector, an interior camera, an engine knock sensor, an engine pressure sensor, and a window status sensor; and

receive a message from the remote computer identifying a location of the gunshot.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the remote computer is in thea second vehicle.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising a computer in a second vehicle that comprises a processor and a memory and is configured to:

detect the gunshot;

transmit data concerning the gunshot to the remote computer; and

receive a second message from the remote computer identifying the location of the gunshot.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising a computer in a second vehicle that comprises a processor and a memory and is configured to receive a second message from the remote computer identifying the location of the gunshot.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the remote computer is in a stationary location.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the computer in the first vehicle is further configured to place a call identifying the gunshot location to an emergency service provider.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the message includes a route based on a location of the second vehicle and the gunshot location.

15. A method, comprising:

receiving, in a first computer, from a second computer in a first vehicle, data relating to a gunshot detected by one or more sensors in the first vehicle, wherein the data includes at least first vehicle location sensor data, sound sensor data, and data from at least one additional vehicle sensor;

wherein the at least one additional vehicle sensor includes at least one of, a vehicle intrusion detector, an interior camera, an engine knock sensor, an engine pressure sensor, and a window status sensor;

determining a location of the gunshot from the data; and

transmitting a message, including the gunshot location, to a second vehicle.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the message includes a route based on a location of the second vehicle and the gunshot location.