PERSONAL SAFETY SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS

• US 20100283609A1
• Filed: 05/06/2010
• Published: 11/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PerpCast, Inc.
• Original Assignee: PerpCast, Inc.
• Inventors: Remer, David M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,177,455 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/004 using portable personal devices hand-held or body-worn self-defence devices using repellent gases or chemicals F41H9/10
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

A personal safety system, method, and apparatus provides image, audio, and data capture and transport system (IADCTS) features wherein an electronic device placed on a user can capture data associated with a potential perpetrator of a crime against the user. The electronic device sends the captured data (such as images or audio) to a secure and remote storage location. The capturing and sending of the data cannot be reversed or canceled by the user or potential perpetrator. The potential perpetrator is notified that the potential perpetrator'"'"'s data has been captured by the electronic device, thereby discouraging the potential perpetrator from further proceeding with the crime.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

capturing, by an electronic device placed on a user, data associated with a potential perpetrator of a crime against the user;

sending, by the electronic device, the captured data to a secure and remote storage location, wherein said capturing and sending cannot be reversed or canceled by the user or potential perpetrator; and

notifying the potential perpetrator that the potential perpetrator'"'"'s data has been captured by the electronic device, so as to attempt to discourage the potential perpetrator from further proceeding with the crime.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said capturing the data includes obtaining one or more images, audio, environmental condition information, date, time, or location, including one or more images or audio of the potential perpetrator.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating the electronic device so as to trigger said capturing the data, including remotely activating the electronic device by other than the user.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said activating includes activating the electronic device in response to voluntary user activation of the electronic device.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said activating includes activating the electronic device in response to involuntary user activation of the electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending, by the electronic device, a message to law enforcement or 911 or to some other third party to indicate that said sending of the captured data has occurred.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said notifying includes electronically notifying from the electronic device, including an audible or visual notification emitted from the electronic device.

8. An article of manufacture, comprising a tangible computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon and executable by a processor to perform the method of claim 1.

9. An apparatus, comprising:

an electronic device to be held or worn by a user, the electronic device being configured to;

capture data associated with a potential perpetrator of a crime against the user;

send the captured data to a secure and remote storage location, wherein said capture and send cannot be reversed or canceled by the user or potential perpetrator; and

notify the potential perpetrator that the potential perpetrator'"'"'s data has been captured by the electronic device, so as to attempt to discourage the potential perpetrator from further proceeding with the crime.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said captured data includes one or more images, audio, environmental condition information, date, time, or location, including one or more images or audio of the potential perpetrator captured by a camera and microphone of the electronic device.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the electronic device is further configured to be activated voluntarily or involuntarily by the user, so as to trigger said capture of the data.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the electronic device is further configured to send a message to law enforcement or to 911 or to some other third party to indicate that the captured data has been sent to the secure location.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the electronic device includes a visual or audio component to perform said notify by emission of an electronic notification.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the electronic device includes at least one sensor configured to sense biometric information, motion, location information, environmental information, or hand pressure applied to the electronic device.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the electronic device is further configured to be remotely activated by other than the user.

16. A system, comprising:

secure storage means for remotely storing data, associated with a potential perpetrator of a crime against a user, captured by an electronic device worn or held by the user; and

communication means for receiving the captured data from the electronic device and for providing the stored captured data to an authorized party,

wherein said storing and said receiving cannot be reversed or canceled by the user or potential perpetrator.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising means for certifying that the secure storage means stores the captured data in a format that is pristine, genuine, secure, and admissible in a court of law.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein said authorized party includes law enforcement.

19. The system of claim 16 wherein said captured data includes obtaining one or more images, audio, environmental condition information, date, time, or location, including one or more images or audio of the potential perpetrator.

20. The system of claim 16 wherein said secured storage means includes a server including or coupled to a storage unit.