BODY CAMERA

• US 20160182850A1
• Filed: 12/18/2015
• Published: 06/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: S4 Worldwide LLC
• Original Assignee: S4 Worldwide LLC
• Inventors: Thompson, Patrick J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,912,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/61 for supporting one-way streaming services, e.g. Internet radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00106 using land mobile radio networks, e.g. mobile telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

Described herein is a body camera, a method of operating a body camera, a system for a body camera, and methods and systems for configuring a body camera. The body camera may include a digital camera configured to capture video. The body camera may also include one or more sensors for sensing data about the environment experienced by the body camera. The body camera may also include a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. The body camera may also include a transceiver for streaming video and sensor data.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a digital camera configured to capture video data;

one or more sensors configured to capture associated sensor data;

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver configured to determine location information;

a processor configured to;

receive the video data, sensor data, and location information; and

generate an augmented video stream by periodically marking the video data with contemporaneous location information and sensor data; and

a wireless transceiver configured to automatically stream the augmented video stream in response an event detected via at least one of the one or more sensors or in response to a determined location.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to mark the video data with an event corresponding to at least a portion of the sensor data.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the processor is further configured to compare sensor data to at least one threshold and mark the video data with the event on a condition that the event data exceeds the at least one threshold.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine a wireless connection condition;

and

wherein the wireless transceiver is further configured to;

transmit the augmented video stream at a relatively higher resolution on a condition that the wireless connection condition is determined to be above a first threshold; and

transmit the augmented video stream at a relatively lower resolution on a condition that the wireless connection condition is determined to be below the first threshold.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the wireless transceiver is further configured to transmit the location information and sensor data without the video data on a condition that the wireless connection is determined to be below a second threshold that is lower than the first threshold.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether a wearer of the apparatus has been shot based on the sensor data.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the one or more sensors include an inertial measurement unit (IMU), wherein the processor is further configured to determine that the wearer of the apparatus has been shot based on data received from the IMU.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the processor is further configured to mark the video data with an indication of a gunshot responsive to determining that the wearer of the apparatus has been shot.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor, in conjunction with the GPS receiver, is configured to determine that the apparatus has entered into a location corresponding to a predefined geo-fence, and wherein the wireless transceiver is further configured to automatically stream the augmented video stream in response to determining that the apparatus has entered the location corresponding to the predefined geo-fence.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to transmit the augmented video stream to a remote server on a condition that the wireless transceiver detects a presence of a predetermined wireless connection.

11. A method for execution by a body camera, the method comprising:

capturing video data;

capturing sensor data associated with one or more sensors;

determining location information corresponding to the body camera;

generating an augmented video stream by periodically marking the video data with contemporaneous location information and sensor data; and

automatically streaming the augmented video stream in response an event detected via at least one of the one or more sensors or in response to a determined location.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising marking the video data with an event corresponding to at least a portion of the sensor data.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising comparing sensor data to at least one threshold and marking the video data with the event on a condition that the event data exceeds the at least one threshold.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining a wireless connection condition;

transmitting the augmented video stream at a relatively higher resolution on a condition that the wireless connection condition is determined to be above a first threshold; and

transmitting the augmented video stream at a relatively lower resolution on a condition that the wireless connection condition is determined to be below the first threshold.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising transmitting the location information and sensor data without the video data on a condition that the wireless connection is determined to be below a second threshold that is lower than the first threshold.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining whether a wearer of the body camera has been shot based on the sensor data.

17. The method of claim 16, determining that the wearer of the body camera has been shot based on data received from an inertial measurement unit (IMU).

18. The method of claim 17, marking the video data with an indication of a gunshot responsive to the determining that the wearer of the body camera has been shot.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

determining that the body camera has entered into a location corresponding to a predefined geo-fence; and

automatically streaming the augmented video stream in response to determining that the body camera has entered the location corresponding to the predefined geo-fence.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting the augmented video stream to a remote server on a condition that a presence of a predetermined wireless connection is detected.