Weapon fire location systems and methods involving mobile device and/or other features

• US 7,855,935 B1
• Filed: 10/05/2007
• Issued: 12/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shotspotter Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Shotspotter Incorporated
• Inventors: Beldock, James, Showen, Robert L., Lauder, Gary
• Primary Examiner(s): PIHULIC, DANIEL T
• Application Number:
  US11/973,310
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 367/906, 367/129, 367/128, 367/127, 340/425.5
• US Class Current: 367/129
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/80 using ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/18 using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/906 Airborne shock-wave detection

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for processing information associated with weapon fire. In one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method of processing information associated with weapon fire, including identifying a weapon fire incident, determining positional information regarding a source location of the weapon fire, and processing positional information regarding a device within a particular proximity of the source location of the weapon fire. Moreover, exemplary methods may include providing information for displaying the positional information of the source location of the weapon fire and the device together on a display. Other exemplary embodiments may include performing processing that provides one or more of source location of the weapon fire, device location information and/or other information related to the device for various uses.

Claims

1. A method of processing information associated with weapon fire comprising:

identifying a weapon fire incident;

processing information regarding a source location of the weapon fire;

processing positional information regarding a communication device within a particular proximity of the source location of the weapon fire, including a travel path of the communication device before and after the weapon fire incident;

providing information for displaying the positional information of the source location of the weapon fire and the travel path of the communication device together on a display; and

processing information regarding performance of an augmented operation in response to the weapon fire incident, wherein the augmented operation includes a follow-up action that is determined as a function of the travel path before and after the weapon fire incident.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the device is a mobile phone, a cell phone, a Wi-Fi device, or a land phone.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the information regarding the communication device includes a position, location, phone number or owner of the device.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

upon receipt of a weapon fire location, transmitting to a mobile device processing component a request for specified information including one or both of location of mobile devices and/or identity of mobile device owners within the specified proximity; and

receiving the specified information.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

upon receipt of an authenticated weapon fire incident, transmitting to a mobile device processing component a request for specified information including one or both of location of mobile devices and/or identity of mobile device owners within the specified proximity; and

receiving the specified information.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

processing instructions regarding provision of information for enabling a dispatcher to manually call a mobile device provider to provide weapon fire information and request location and identity information associated with mobile devices and/or their owners within a particular proximity of the weapon fire.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing output information including weapon fire data and mobile device data configured to enable graphical representation of weapon fire location and device location on the display.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

providing motion data regarding movement of a mobile device after the weapon fire, wherein the motion data is provided for transmission in a manner suitable for graphical representation on a display.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

providing motion data regarding movement of a mobile device before the weapon fire, wherein the motion data is provided for transmission in a manner suitable for graphical representation on a display.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

flagging a mobile device phone number proximate to the weapon fire location either as a candidate to contact the owner or investigate further.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

performing processing associated with communicating to a response center processor, including instructions to call to the mobile device phone number.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the communications include requesting whether the user or owner of the mobile device needs assistance and/or whether they can provide witness information related to the weapon fire incident.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

processing alert data instructions regarding the weapon fire location and prioritizing 9-1-1 calls as a function of each call'"'"'s proximity to the weapon fire location.

18. The method of claim 1 wherein the augmented processing operations include characterizing the mobile device owner as a potential victim, a perpetrator or a witness.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein the augmented processing operations include processing instructions regarding:

characterizing the communication device as not worthy of any follow-up, calling the communication device, dispatching an officer to a present location of the communication device, or dispatching an officer to a residence of an owner of the communication device.

2. A method of processing information associated with weapon fire comprising:

identifying a weapon fire incident;

processing information regarding a source location of the weapon fire;

processing mobile device information regarding a mobile device within a particular proximity of the source location of the weapon fire;

acquiring an owner name as well as location information of the mobile device, wherein the location information includes a travel path of the mobile device before and after the weapon fire incident;

performing processing that provides, in real time proximate to the weapon fire incident, both the source location of the weapon fire and the mobile device location information, including a travel path of the mobile device before and after the weapon fire incident, for transmission as well as mapping together on a display; and

processing information regarding performance of an augmented operation in response to the weapon fire incident, wherein the augmented operation includes a follow-up action that is determined as a function of the owner name and/or the travel path before and after the weapon fire incident.

20. The method of claim 2 wherein the augmented processing operations include characterizing the mobile device owner as a potential victim, a perpetrator or a witness.

21. The method of claim 2 wherein the augmented processing operations include processing instructions regarding:

characterizing the communication device as not worthy of any follow-up, calling the communication device, dispatching an officer to a present location of the communication device, or dispatching an officer to a residence of an owner of the communication device.

15. A weapon fire location system comprising:

a sensor that identifies a weapon fire incident;

at least one processing component that;

determines positional information regarding a source location of the weapon fire;

processes information regarding a communication device within a particular proximity of the source location of the weapon fire, including a travel path of the communication device before and after the weapon fire incident; and

provides information for displaying the positional information of the source location of the weapon fire and the travel path of the communication device, wherein both the weapon fire location and the travel path before and after the weapon fire are provided for graphical representation together on a display; and

process information regarding performance of an augmented operation in response to the weapon fire incident, wherein the augmented operation includes a follow-up action that is determined as a function of the travel path before and after the weapon fire incident.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the at least one processing component, upon receipt of a weapon fire location:

transmits to a mobile device processing component requesting specified information including one or both of location of mobile devices and/or identity of mobile device owners within the specified proximity; and

receives the specified information.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein the at least one processing component processes instructions regarding provision of information for enabling a dispatcher to manually call a mobile device provider to provide weapon fire information and request location and identity information associated with mobile devices and/or their owners within a particular proximity of the weapon fire.

22. The system of claim 15 wherein the augmented processing operations include characterizing the mobile device owner as a potential victim, a perpetrator or a witness.

23. The system of claim 15 wherein the augmented processing operations include processing instructions regarding:

characterizing the communication device as not worthy of any follow-up, calling the communication device, dispatching an officer to a present location of the communication device, or dispatching an officer to a residence of an owner of the communication device.