Advanced law enforcement and response technology

• US 6,188,939 B1
• Filed: 08/18/1997
• Issued: 02/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Texas A&M University System
• Original Assignee: Texas A&M University System
• Inventors: Hubenak, Greg, Morgan, Joseph, Witz, John, Hausman, Johnny R., Wright, George B., Kappler, David, Chilek, Shawn
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US08/912,676
• Time in Patent Office: 1,275 Days
• Field of Search: 701/35, 701/36, 340/468, 340/472, 340/474, 340/815.69, 340/936, 340/937, 340/825.69, 340/825.72, 348/118, 348/149
• US Class Current: 701/36
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle

Abstract

A central control system that affords intuitive and easy control of numerous subsystems associated with a police car or other emergency vehicle and reduces the cockpit clutter associated with present control systems. An emergency response system is described that rapidly coordinates and controls operation of a plurality of emergency subsystems associated with a predetermined scheme of operation for the devices. In one preferred embodiment, the controller receives a single input command and, in response, provides specific device control commands to several individual controlled devices on a relatively simultaneous basis.

Claims

1. A system for providing data communications between a receiving vehicle and an extra-vehicular source, the system comprising:

a. a data receiver disposed upon said vehicle;

b. a CDPD modem data transmitter associated with the extra-vehicular source; and

c. data input means associated with said data transmitter, said data input means comprising a device for inputting desired user-selected information for transmission.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the data input means comprises a hand-held pen-based portable computer.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the data input means comprises a magnetic stripe reader for reading information encoded in a magnetic stripe on a card.

4. A vehicular-based emergency response system to provide unified control of a plurality of subsystems, comprising:

(a) a warning signal subsystem for providing a visual or audible warning signal from the vehicle;

(b) one or more peripheral subsystems of the group comprising;

(1) a video camera subsystem having at least one video camera;

(2) a traffic radar subsystem for detecting the speeds of other vehicles traveling on a roadway;

(3) a GPS subsystem for recording the location of the vehicle; and

(c) a programmable controller operably interconnected to the warning signal subsystem and the one or more peripheral subsystems, the controller selectively actuating the subsystems in accordance with a common scheme upon receipt of a control command.

5. The emergency response system of claim 4 wherein the warning signal subsystem comprises an overhead light bar for creating flashing or rotating patterns of light in accordance with a predetermined scheme.

6. The emergency response system of claim 4 wherein the warning signal subsystem comprises a siren for generating siren sounds.

7. The emergency response system of claim 4 further comprising a user interface device having a touch-sensitive display panel that displays information to a user and presents a graphical panel of controls for the user to provide commands to the controller.

8. The emergency response system of claim 7 wherein the controller and user interface device provide a graphical display of a hierarchical menu of command choices for a user for individualized control of subsystems.

9. The emergency response system of claim 4 wherein the video camera subsystem further comprises a video recording apparatus.

10. The emergency response system of claim 9 wherein the video camera subsystem further comprises a plurality of cameras, the controller operating said plurality of cameras to cause one of said plurality of cameras to be manipulated by the controller as a primary camera to be panned, scanned, zoomed or focused.

11. The emergency response system of claim 4 further comprising a printer operably interconnected with the controller to selectively print information.

12. A emergency response system to be used with a vehicle comprising:

(a) a programmable controller within the vehicle operably interconnected for selective actuation to one or more peripheral subsystems of the group comprising;

(1) a warning signal subsystem for providing a visual or audible warning signal from the vehicle;

(2) a video camera subsystem having at least one video camera;

(3) a traffic radar subsystem for detecting the speeds of other vehicles traveling on a roadway;

(4) a GPS subsystem for recording the location of the vehicle;

(b) a vehicular-based data receiver operably interconnected with the programmable controller;

(c) a portable data entry device for use within a short distance from the vehicle, the data entry device having a means for entry of data and a storage area for data; and

(d) a portable communications device operably interconnected to the data entry device for transmitting entered data from the data entry from the data entry device to the data receiver of the programmable controller within the vehicle.

13. The emergency response system of claim 12 wherein the programmable controller further comprises a retransmitter and receiver for communication to a remote communications base of data transmitted to the vehicular-based data receiver.

14. The emergency response system of claim 13 wherein the portable data entry device comprises a pen-based portable computer.

15. The emergency response system of claim 13 wherein the vehicular-based data receiver comprises a wireless LAN.

16. An emergency response system for use in an emergency vehicle comprising:

(a) a video camera subsystem for obtaining video images, the video camera subsystem comprising at least one video camera upon the vehicle for obtaining video images;

(b) a programmable controller for said video camera subsystem, the controller being operably interconnected to said video camera subsystem for control of said camera; and

(c) a user interface device interoperably associated with the controller, the interface device having a touch-sensitive display panel that displays information to a user and presents a graphical panel of controls for the user to provide commands to the controller.

17. The emergency response system of claim 16 wherein the video camera subsystem further comprises a video recording apparatus for recording video images obtained by said video camera.

18. The emergency response system of claim 16 further comprising a frame grabber assembly operably associated with the video camera subsystem, the frame grabber assembly operable to cause a still video image to be displayed on the touch-sensitive display panel.

19. The emergency response system of claim 16 wherein the video camera subsystem comprises a plurality of video cameras, and the controller selectively operates each of said plurality of cameras.