Distributed apparatus to improve safety and communication for security applications

• US 20040246127A1
• Filed: 07/07/2004
• Published: 12/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Junqua, Jean-Claude
• Granted Patent: US 6,995,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 15/00 Arrangements or apparatus for collecting fares, tolls or entrance fees at one or more control points handling coins or valuable papers, e.g. banknotes, G07D; apparatus for vending or hiring articles or services activated by coins, credit cards, paper currency or the like G07F7/00, G07F17/00

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.

Claims

1-23. -23. (Cancelled).

24. A distributed communications system for use with security applications, comprising:

a plurality of wearable, computerized components adapted to collect evidentiary information of a type collected according to security procedures and useful for identification of suspects, and adapted to wirelessly send the evidentiary information; and

a centralized component wirelessly receiving the evidentiary information, wherein said centralized component is adapted to process the evidentiary information to identify suspects.

25. The system of claim 24, comprising a plurality of vehicular components wirelessly receiving the evidentiary information from the wearable, computerized components and wirelessly relaying the evidentiary information to the centralized component.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein said centralized component is adapted to wirelessly communicate suspect identifications and information relevant to the suspect identifications to the officers via the wearable computerized components.

27. The system of claim 24, wherein said evidentiary information corresponds to biometric data relating to a suspect, including at least one of:

(a) a fingerprint;

(b) a retinal pattern;

(c) an iris image;

(d) facial characteristics;

(e) DNA; and

(f) a voice pattern.

28. The system of claim 24, comprising a plurality of imaging devices positioned to capture visual information in regions proximate to the officers, said imaging devices responsive to wireless manipulation via at least one of said plurality of wearable, computerized components, and said centralized component, said plurality of imaging devices operable to wirelessly send captured visual information.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein said centralized component is adapted to receive the captured visual information, and to dispatch assistance based on the visual information.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein said centralized component is operable to communicate received visual information to the officers via said wearable, computerized components.

31. The system of claim 24, wherein said plurality of wearable, computerized components is further adapted to collect safety information relating to well-being of officers, and further adapted to wirelessly send the safety information, wherein said centralized component further wirelessly receives the evidentiary information, wherein said centralized component is further adapted to dispatch assistance based on the safety information.

32. The system of claim 31, further comprising a plurality of imaging devices positioned to capture visual information in regions proximate to the officers, said plurality of imaging devices adapted to receive the safety information from the wearable, computerized components, and adapted to automatically commence operation when the safety information indicates a state of emergency, thereby wirelessly communicating visual information to said centralized component.

33. The system of claim 31, comprising a plurality of sensors attached to the officers and sending safety information to the wearable, computerized devices, wherein said sensors are adapted to sense officer reactions to stimuli, including at least one of:

(a) heart rate;

(b) respiratory rate;

(c) body temperature;

(d) blood pressure; and

(e) perspiration.

34. The system of claim 31, comprising a plurality of sensors attached to the officers and sending safety information to the wearable, computerized devices, wherein said sensors are adapted to sense stimuli affecting the officers, including at least one of:

(a) a force impacting the officers; and

(b) environmental conditions.

35. A distributed communications system for use with security applications, comprising:

a plurality of wearable, computerized components adapted to collect safety information relating to well-being of officers, and adapted to wirelessly send the safety information; and

a centralized component wirelessly receiving the evidentiary information, wherein said centralized component is further adapted to dispatch assistance based on the safety information.

36. The system of claim 35, further comprising a plurality of vehicular components wirelessly receiving the safety information from the wearable, computerized components and wirelessly relaying the safety information to the centralized component.

37. The system of claim 35, further comprising a plurality of imaging devices positioned to capture visual information in regions proximate to the officers, said plurality of imaging devices adapted to receive the safety information from the wearable, computerized components, and adapted to automatically commence operation when the safety information indicates a state of emergency, thereby wirelessly communicating visual information to said centralized component.

38. The system of claim 35, comprising a plurality of sensors attached to the officers and sending safety information to the wearable, computerized devices, wherein said sensors are adapted to sense officer reactions to stimuli, including at least one of:

(a) heart rate;

(b) respiratory rate;

(c) body temperature;

(d) blood pressure; and

(e) perspiration.

39. The system of claim 35, comprising a plurality of sensors attached to the officers and sending safety information to the wearable, computerized devices, wherein said sensors are adapted to sense stimuli affecting the officers, including at least one of:

(a) a force impacting the officers; and

(b) environmental conditions.

40. The system of claim 35, wherein said plurality of wearable, computerized components is further adapted to collect evidentiary information of a type collected according to security procedures and useful for identification of suspects, and further adapted to wirelessly send the evidentiary information, wherein said centralized component is further adapted to process the evidentiary information to identify suspects.

41. The system of claim 40, wherein said centralized component is adapted to wirelessly communicate suspect identifications and information relevant to the suspect identifications to the officers via the wearable computerized components.

42. The system of claim 40, wherein said evidentiary information corresponds to biometric data relating to a suspect, including at least one of:

(a) a fingerprint;

(b) a retinal pattern;

(c) an iris image;

(d) facial characteristics;

(e) DNA; and

(f) a voice pattern.

43. The system of claim 35, comprising a plurality of imaging devices positioned to capture visual information in regions proximate to the officers, said imaging devices responsive to wireless manipulation via at least one of said plurality of wearable, computerized components, and said centralized component, said plurality of imaging devices operable to wirelessly send captured visual information.

44. The system of claim 35, wherein said centralized component is adapted to receive the captured visual information, and to dispatch assistance based on the captured visual information.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein said centralized component is operable to communicate the captured visual information to the officers via said wearable, computerized components.