Methods and Apparatus for Event Detection and Localization Using a Plurality of Smartphones

• US 20120063270A1
• Filed: 09/09/2011
• Published: 03/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Rite-Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Connecticut Pawcatuck, Rite-Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Angell, Robert Charles, Hubbell, Joshua C., Holmes, Eleanor S., Gaines, Albert P.
• Application Number:
  US13/229,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20120063270A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 367/127
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/18 Military applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems
• 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

An event detection and localization system is provided that employs a plurality of smartphones. The detected events may comprise a gunshot, a biological threat, a chemical threat and/or a radiological threat. Each smartphone comprises a memory for storing an event detection process; and at least one hardware device to implement the event detection process. The hardware device is operative to detect an event based on a signal obtained using a sensor in the vicinity of the smartphone; obtain a time of arrival of the signal; obtain a location of the smartphone at the time of arrival; send a notification of the arrival time and arrival location to one or more of another smartphone and a server; and receive an indication of an origination of the event.

Claims

1. An event detection system, comprising:

a plurality of distributed smartphones, each comprising;

a memory for storing an event detection process; and

at least one hardware device to implement the event detection process, said at least one hardware device operative to;

detect an event based on a signal obtained using a sensor in the vicinity of said smartphone;

obtain a time of arrival of the signal;

obtain a location of the smartphone at the time of arrival;

send a notification of the arrival time and arrival location to one or more of another smartphone and a server; and

receive an indication of an origination of the event.

2. The event detection system of claim 1, wherein said at least one hardware device is further operative to present said origination to the user:

3. The event detection system of claim 1, wherein said time of arrival is obtained by starting a timer process that determines an absolute arrival time in a reference time frame.

4. The event detection system of claim 1, wherein said location of the smartphone at the time of arrival is obtained by enabling a location awareness capability of the smartphone.

5. The event detection system of claim 1, wherein said at least one hardware device is further operative to alert a user that an event is detected and obtain a validation of the detected event from the user.

6. The event detection system of claim 1, wherein said received indication of an origination of the event is received from another smartphone or the server.

7. The event detection system of claim 1, wherein said at least one hardware device is operative to interact with one or more servers to employ one or more server-based functions.

8. The event detection system of claim 1, wherein said at least one hardware device is operative to interact with one or more external sensors.

9. The event detection system of claim 1, wherein said event comprises one or more of a gunshot, a biological threat, a chemical threat and a radiological threat.

10. A method of processing event location information in an event detection system comprised of a plurality of distributed smartphones that execute a smartphone event detection process, the method comprising:

detecting an event based on a signal obtained using a sensor in the vicinity of said smartphone;

obtaining a time of arrival of the signal;

obtaining a location of the smartphone at the time of arrival;

sending a notification of the arrival time and arrival location to one or more of another smartphone and a server;

receiving an indication of an origination of the event.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of presenting said origination to the user:

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said time of arrival is obtained by starting a timer process that determines an absolute arrival time in a reference time frame.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said location of the smartphone at the time of arrival is obtained by enabling a location awareness capability of the smartphone.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of alerting a user that an event is detected and obtain a validation of the detected event from the user.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said received indication of an origination of the event is received from another smartphone or the server.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of interacting with one or more servers to employ one or more server-based functions.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising the step of interacting with one or more external sensors.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein said event comprises one or more of a gunshot, a biological threat, a chemical threat and a radiological threat.

19. A smartphone for use in an event detection system, comprising:

a memory for storing a smartphone event detection process; and

at least one hardware device to implement the smartphone event detection process stored in the memory, said at least one hardware device operative to;

detect an event based on a signal obtained using a sensor in the vicinity of said smartphone;

obtain a time of arrival of the signal;

obtain a location of the smartphone at the time of arrival;

send a notification of the arrival time and arrival location to one or more of another smartphone and a server; and

receive an indication of an origination of the event.

20. The smartphone of claim 19, wherein said event comprises one or more of a gunshot, a biological threat, a chemical threat and a radiological threat.