Apparatus for efficient dispatch and selection of information in law enforcement applications

• US 6,571,174 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2001
• Issued: 05/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sovereign Peak Ventures, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Morin, Philippe R., Rigazio, Luca, Junqua, Jean-Claude
• Primary Examiner(s): Zanelli, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/929,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20030040865A1
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 701/209, 701/211, 701/117, 340/995, 342/357.07, 342/357.09
• US Class Current: 701/209
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/096811 where the route is computed offboard
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/202 Dispatching vehicles on the basis of a location, e.g. taxi dispatching

Abstract

A navigation apparatus is disclosed which may be used by law enforcement personnel for rapid intervention to a location while adding safety and reliability to the process. The apparatus includes a computer system, having an operating system, memory and a user interface. The system further includes a positioning system, such as a GPS system for determining the position of a vehicle. The positioning system communicates with the operating system. An information database, communicating with the operating system, contains data related to routing information concerning routes for travel by the vehicle. The routing information includes safety information concerning route safety in the traveling region accessible by the vehicle. The apparatus further includes a routing system in communication with the operating system that determines a route based at least in part on the routing information. Driving directions and call information are provided multi-modally to provide the officer with critical information in an efficient and timely fashion.

Claims

1. A navigation apparatus for use in dispatch of law enforcement personnel, the apparatus comprising:

an operating system;

a memory in communication with said operating system;

a user interface in communication with said operating system;

a positioning means for determining the position of at least one vehicle in communication with said operating system;

an information database in communication with said operating system containing at least one datum related to routing information concerning routes for travel by vehicle in a traveling region accessible to travel by vehicle, wherein the routing information includes at least safety information concerning route safety in the traveling region;

a routing means in communication with said operating system for determining a determined route based at least in part on the routing information; and

an information selection means in communication with said operating system for selecting information, wherein said information selection means is managed by said operating system in a manner permitting selection of useful information for useful communication to the user through a secondary communications means, and selection of prioritized information for prioritized communication to the user through a primary communications means, wherein the prioritized communication occurs in a non-interference manner permitting the priority-based communication of higher priority information without interference from lower priority information,

wherein said operating system manages said memory, said user interface, said positioning means, said information database, and said routing means in a manner permitting a safety-accountable determination of at least one determined route using the safety information in the safety-accountable determination.

2. The navigation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the safety information includes at least one of accident history, road conditions, and weather conditions.

3. The navigation apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one of a tracking means in communication with said operating system, wherein said tracking means is managed by said operating system for at least one of inserting new routing information into the information database and altering existing routing information in the information database based at least in part on the new routing information, and an information sharing means in communication with said operating system wherein said information sharing means is managed by said operating system for sharing information with an additional apparatus.

4. A method for selecting information for communication in a dispatch and navigation system for law enforcement personnel, the method comprising:

communicating initial information to an information selector;

selecting prioritized information including at least higher priority information and lower priority information for communication to a primary communications means for prioritized communication to a user; and

selecting useful information for communication to a secondary communications means for useful communication to the user,

wherein the prioritized communication occurs in a non-interference manner permitting the priority-based communication of higher priority information without interference from lower priority information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the initial information includes at least one of navigation information for navigating a travelling route for travel by vehicle through a travelling region accessible to travel by vehicle and call information relating to a call for assistance.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the higher priority information includes at least one navigation maneuver for navigating the travelling route.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the lower priority information includes at least one of preparation information relating to preparation for the navigation maneuver and important call information relating to the call for assistance.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the useful information includes at least useful call information relating to the call for assistance.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the primary communications means includes a speech generation means.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the secondary communications means includes a display means.

11. A navigation apparatus for use in dispatch of law enforcement personnel, the apparatus comprising:

an operating system;

a memory in communication with said operating system;

a primary communications means in communication with said operating system for communicating information to a user;

a secondary communications means in communication with said operating system for communicating information to the user;

an information database in communication with said operating system containing initial information; and

an information selection means in communication with said operating system for selecting information,

wherein said operating system manages said memory, said primary communications means, said secondary communications means, said information database, and said information selection means in a manner permitting selection of useful information for useful communication to the user through said secondary communications means, and selection of prioritized information for prioritized communication to the user through said primary communications means, wherein the prioritized communication occurs in a non-interference manner permitting the priority-based communication of higher priority information without interference from lower priority information.

12. The navigation apparatus of claim 11, wherein the initial information includes at least one of navigation information for navigating a travelling route for travel by vehicle through a travelling region accessible to travel by vehicle and call information relating to a call for assistance.

13. The navigation apparatus of claim 12, wherein the higher priority information includes at least one navigation maneuver for navigating the travelling route.

14. The navigation apparatus of claim 12, wherein the lower priority information includes at least one of preparation information relating to preparation for the navigation maneuver and important call information relating to the call for assistance.

15. The navigation apparatus of claim 12, wherein the useful information includes at least useful call information relating to the call for assistance.

16. The navigation apparatus of claim 11, wherein said primary communications means includes a speech generation means.

17. The navigation apparatus of claim 11, wherein said secondary communications means includes a display means.

18. A navigation apparatus for use in dispatch of law enforcement personnel, the apparatus comprising:

an operating system;

a memory in communication with said operating system;

a user interface in communication with said operating system;

a positioning means for determining the position of at least one vehicle of an officer in communication with said operating system;

an information database in communication with said operating system containing at least one datum related to routing information concerning routes for travel by vehicle in a traveling region accessible to travel by vehicle, wherein the routing information includes at least safety information concerning route safety in the traveling region;

a routing means in communication with said operating system for determining a determined route based at least in part on the routing information; and

a wireless interface outputting routing information to vehicles of other officers and receiving routing information from vehicles of other officers, wherein the routing information includes at least one of road conditions and traffic conditions, thereby informing said information database,

wherein said operating system manages said memory, said user interface, said positioning means, said information database, and said routing means in a manner permitting a safety-accountable determination of at least one determined route using the safety information in the safety-accountable determination.

19. The navigation apparatus of claim 18, further comprising an information sharing means in communication with said operating system, wherein said information sharing means is managed by said operating system for sharing information with an additional apparatus.

20. The navigation apparatus of claim 19, further comprising an information selection means in communication with said operating system for selecting information, wherein said information selection means is managed by said operating system in a manner permitting selection of useful information for useful communication to the user through a secondary communications means, and selection of prioritized information for prioritized communication to the user through a primary communications means, wherein the prioritized communication occurs in a non-interference manner permitting the priority-based communication of higher priority information without interference from lower priority information.

21. The navigation apparatus of claim 18, wherein the routing information includes at least safety information concerning route safety in the travelling region.