Method and system for an interactive community alert network

• US 8,989,700 B2
• Filed: 12/14/2012
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/17/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Cordero Group
• Original Assignee: The Cordero Group
• Inventors: Cordero, Jose M., Zakhary, Tamer
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly, Nghi H
• Application Number:
  US13/714,959
• Publication Number:
  US 20130157612A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455/404.1, 455/414.1, 455/456.1, 455/421
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/698 for achieving an enlarged field of view, e.g. panoramic image capture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

An interactive community alert network (iCan) system is operable to receive one or more signals indicating a report of an incident. The iCan system may determine a location of the reported incident. One or more visual and/or audio capture devices, which may be within proximity of the determined location of the reported incident may be adjusted. Corresponding visual and/or audio content of the reported incident may be captured and utilized to determine how to handle the reported incident. The location of the reported incident may be determined based on a position of a device and based on a global navigation satellite system position of a device utilized to report the incident. The location of the incident may also be determined based on information within the report of the incident and/or based on localization through use of one or more electronic mapping systems and/or panoramic still images of camera views.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

in an interactive community alert network system having as members multiple citizens or residents of an associated community;

receiving, from a communications device associated with one of the members, one or more signals indicating a report of an incident identified by the one member as taking place in the community;

identifying, in response to the one or more signals, an electronic map illustrating at least a portion of the community;

providing the map for display by the communications device;

receiving, from the communications device, an input indicating a location of the incident on the map, wherein the input is generated in response to the one member selecting the location from the map when the map is displayed by the communications device;

adjusting an orientation of one or more surveillance cameras within proximity of the location of the reported incident such that the one or more surveillance cameras turn toward and focus on the location of the incident;

capturing, from the adjusted one or more surveillance cameras, corresponding visual content of the reported incident, wherein the captured corresponding visual content of the reported incident is utilized to determine how to handle the reported incident;

providing feedback for display by the communications device, wherein the feedback includes information about police or security personnel activities associated with handling the reported incident; and

generating a community activity report to be provided to the members, wherein the community activity report includes activity information associated with the handling of the reported incident.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the electronic map is generated from one or more electronic mapping systems and/or panoramic still images of camera views.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein police or security personnel activities associated with handling the reported incident include dispatching a policing authority to the location of the reported incident when the incident is determined to involve a crime in progress.

4. The method according to claim 1, comprising updating one or more incident statistical parameters based on the reported incident, wherein the one or more incident statistical parameters are included in the community activity report.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the community activity report is generated weekly or monthly.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising presenting for display at a graphical user interface, at least a portion of the visual content of the reported incident captured by the adjusted one or more surveillance cameras.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising generating an acknowledgement that the report of the incident has been received and is to be handled by the police or security personnel.

8. The method according to claim 7, comprising communicating the acknowledgement to the communications device.

9. The method according to claim 1, comprising proving a text screen for display by the communications device to enable collaborating between the one member and the police or security personnel during the handling of the incident by the police or security personnel.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the communications device is a smartphone and the one or more signals are communicated from an app running on the smartphone.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the app running on the smartphone comprises a panic mode of operation and a message mode of operation, and wherein the app is operating in the message mode during the handling of the incident.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the app running on the smartphone is operable to communicate with one or more other interactive community alert network systems when the smartphone is outside an operating range of the interactive community alert network system.

13. A system, comprising:

one or more processors for use in an interactive community alert network system having as members multiple citizens and residents of an associated community, the one or more processors being operable to;

receive, from a communications device associated with one of the members, one or more signals indicating a report of an incident identified by the member as taking place in the community;

identify, in response to the one or more signals, an electronic map illustrating at least a portion of the community;

provide the map for display by the communications device;

receive, from the communications device, an input indicating a location of the incident on the map, wherein the input is generated in response to the one member selecting the location from the map when the map is displayed by the communications device;

adjust an orientation of one or more surveillance cameras within proximity of the location of the reported incident such that the one or more surveillance cameras turn toward and focus on the location of the incident;

capture, from the adjusted one or more surveillance cameras, corresponding visual content of the reported incident, wherein the captured corresponding visual content of the reported incident is utilized to determine how to handle the reported incident;

provide feedback for display by the communications device, wherein the feedback includes information about police or security personnel activities associated with handling the reported incident; and

generating a community activity report to be provided to the members, wherein the community activity report includes activity information associated with the handling of the reported incident.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the electronic map is generated from one or more electronic mapping systems and/or panoramic still images of camera views.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the police or security personnel activities associated with handling the reported incident include the dispatch of a policing authority to the location of the reported incident when the incident is determined to involve a crime in progress.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are operable to update one or more incident statistical parameters based on the reported incident, and the one or more incident statistical parameters are included in the community activity report.

17. The system according to claim 13, wherein the community activity report is generated weekly or monthly.

18. The system according to claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are operable to present for display at a graphical user interface, at least a portion of the visual content of the reported incident captured by the adjusted one or more surveillance cameras.

19. The system according to claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are operable to generate an acknowledgement that the report of the incident has been received and is to be handled by the police or security personnel.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein the one or more processors are operable to communicate the acknowledgement to the communications device.

21. The system according to claim 13, wherein the one or more processors are operable to provide a text screen for display by the communications device to enable collaboration between the one member and the police or security personnel during the handling of the incident by the police or security personnel.

22. The system according to claim 13, wherein the communications device is a smartphone and the one or more signals are communicated from an app running on the smartphone.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the app running on the smartphone comprises a panic mode of operation and a message mode of operation, and wherein the app is operating in the message mode during the handling of the incident.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein the app running on the smartphone is operable to communicate with one or more other interactive community alert network systems when the smartphone is outside an operating range of the interactive community alert network system.