GPS based situational awareness and identification system and method

• US 7,518,501 B2
• Filed: 07/11/2006
• Issued: 04/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Spatial Reality LLC
• Original Assignee: Charles D. Huston
• Inventors: Huston, Charles D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeff
• Assistant Examiner(s): NWUGO, OJIAKO K
• Application Number:
  US11/456,723
• Publication Number:
  US 20070018880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2024/0025 Tracking the path or location of one or more users, e.g. players of a game
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/836 Sensors arranged on the body of the user
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0021 Tracking a path or terminating locations
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0605 Decision makers and devices using detection means facilitating arbitration
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/216 using geographical information, e.g. location of the game device or player using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/65 automatically by game devices or servers from real world data, e.g. measurement in live racing competition
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/406 Transmission via wireless network, e.g. pager or GSM
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/69 Involving elements of the real world in the game world, e.g. measurement in live races, real video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/8017 Driving on land or water; Flying
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/42 Determining position
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 27/017 Head mounted

Abstract

A system and method for observing a security event which shares the position of a number of friendly participants with other participants. Preferably, the position of unknown participants or foes is also displayed to friendly participants. The views are selectable by friendly participants on, for example, a handheld device, to include a view from the participant'"'"'s position, zoom, pan, and tilt views, or views of another friendly or from another location, giving increased situational awareness. Other information can be shared among friendly participants, including status and directions.

Claims

1. A system for observing a security event comprising:

a plurality of friendly participants and other participants, each friendly participant having a GPS receiver for determining a friendly participant position and a radio for transmitting said friendly participant position;

a base station having a radio for receiving said friendly participant positions and transmitting said friendly participant and other participant positions; and

a plurality of handheld devices accompanying one or more friendly participants, each handheld device including a radio for receiving friendly and other participant positions and a graphics display selectable by said one or more friendly participant to display different views of the security event with a depiction of a participant position.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the friendly participant views selectable on the display is the view from the friendly participant'"'"'s position.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a friendly participant view includes a friendly and other participant'"'"'s positions rendered on the graphics display.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein said one or more handheld devices includes a processor for receiving said friendly and other participant positions and for comparing said friendly and other participant positions with said friendly participant'"'"'s position, and is coupled to said graphics display to generate said friendly participant view from the friendly participant'"'"'s position of said friendly and other participant positions.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said friendly participant view from the friendly participant'"'"'s position is adjustable by the friendly participant to zoom in or out.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein one of said friendly participant'"'"'s different views is an overhead view of the security venue.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein one of said friendly participant'"'"'s different views is an enlarged zoom view.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein one of said friendly participant'"'"'s different views is a horizontally shifted pan view.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein one of said friendly participant'"'"'s different views is a vertically shifted tilt view.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein one of said handheld devices operates as said base station.

10. A method for observing a security event comprising:

determining a position of one or more participants, including friendly and other participants, at an area of interest;

transmitting the determined position of said one or more participants;

equipping one or more friendly participants with a device having a graphics display;

receiving the one or more participant positions on the friendly participant'"'"'s devices; and

viewing on the graphics display of the device a depiction of the one or more participant positions at said area of interest, whereby a friendly participant can selectively change the points of view on said device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said device includes a GPS receiver for determining a friendly participant'"'"'s location, one of the selectable points of view being the area of interest from the friendly participant'"'"'s position.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein one of said points of view being an overhead view of said area of interest with a rendering depicting positions of friendly and other participants.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said participant position determining step comprises equipping a plurality of friendly participants with a GPS receiver.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said participant positions are transmitted to a server, wherein said friendly participant'"'"'s device authenticates with said server, and wherein said server communicates said participant positions to authenticated devices.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said authenticated devices are remote from said venue, and said participant positions are communicated over a network.

16. A method of viewing a security event by a friendly participant comprising:

determining the position of a friendly participant using a GPS receiver;

wirelessly receiving the positions of a number of participants, including friendly and unknown participants, at said security event;

rendering a graphical depiction of a plurality of participant positions at said security event;

viewing the graphical depiction from said friendly participant position; and

selectively changing the view point of said graphical depiction from said friendly participant position to another position.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein changing the view point of said graphical depiction comprises enlarging the depiction to a zoom view.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein changing the view point of said graphical depiction comprises rotating the depiction in a vertical axis to a tilt view.

19. The method of claim 16, including transmitting other information from friendly participants to other friendly participants.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein changing the view point of said graphical depiction comprises changing the view point to the location of another participant.