Method and apparatus for locating a person during a man-down situation

• US 9,159,206 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2013
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Luei, Fong Min, Lim, Dennis Keat Jeen, Mohd Mohdi, Intan Mazlina, Syed Idrus, Syed Isa, Tang, Ting Fook
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCCORMACK, THOMAS S
• Application Number:
  US13/905,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20140354423A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 340/471
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/245 Searchlights, e.g. adjustable from within the vehicle adjustable headlights B60Q1/06
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2611 Indicating devices mounted on the roof of the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 2900/30 Lamps commanded by wireless transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/002 Distress signalling devices, e.g. rescue balloons vehicle optical signalling for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52

Abstract

A method and apparatus for more-quickly locating an individual during a man-down situation is provided herein. During operation a light source on an officer'"'"'s vehicle will be directed towards the downed officer when a man-down situation has been identified. Since a light source will be pointed at the downed individual, respondents responding to the man-down situation may more-quickly locate any downed individual.

Claims

1. A method for locating a person, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a distress notification;

determining a location of the distress notification;

determining a location of a spotlight;

calculating an angle from the spotlight to the location of the distress notification;

pointing the spotlight to the location of the distress notification to aide in locating the person; and

wherein the step of determining the location of the spotlight comprises the step of determining a location of an emergency response vehicle'"'"'s spotlight.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the distress notification comprises a man-down notification.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining the location of the distress notification comprises the step of wirelessly receiving a message containing the location of the distress notification.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining the location of the spotlight comprises the step of determining a location of a light bar on top of an emergency response vehicle.

5. A method for locating a person, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a man-down notification from a wireless radio;

receiving a location of the wireless radio;

determining a location of an emergency response vehicle;

determining an angle to direct a spotlight based on the location of the emergency response vehicle and the location of the wireless radio; and

pointing a spotlight attached to the vehicle to the location of the wireless radio to aide in locating the person.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the location of the wireless radio comprises a geographic location of the wireless radio.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the emergency response vehicle comprises a police car.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the spotlight comprises a public safety vehicle light bar.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a wireless receiver receiving a distress notification;

logic circuitry determining a location of the distress notification, determining a location of an emergency vehicle'"'"'s spotlight, and calculating an angle from the spotlight to the location of the distress notification; and

a motor receiving instructions from the logic circuitry to point the spotlight to the location of the distress notification to aide in locating a person.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the distress notification comprises a man-down notification.