Systems and methods of directing a camera to image weapon fire

• US 8,063,773 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shotspotter Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Shotspotter Incorporated
• Inventors: Holmes, Fred, Baxter, Kevin, Fisher, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Phung
• Application Number:
  US11/981,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20080266084A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,484 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/426.19, 340/506, 340/539.13, 340/995.28, 340/691.6, 340/825.36, 340/521, 367/127
• US Class Current: 340/539.22
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 13/00 Means of attack or defence not otherwise provided for details of radar or sonar systems G01S7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/18 using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/22 Position of source determined by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements G01S5/28 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 367/906 Airborne shock-wave detection

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for processing data associated with an acoustic event. In an exemplary implementation, there is provided a method of data processing including determining a location of an acoustic event and processing information associated with directing a camera towards the location. Moreover, one exemplary method may include processing information from and/or related to one or more sensors in an area to be monitored, processing data associated with the acoustic event, and determining a location of a source of the acoustic event as a function of the information from and/or related to the acoustic event. Further exemplary implementations include performing processing associated with providing instructions to direct a camera towards the determined location.

Claims

1. A method of processing data associated with an acoustic event, the method comprising:

processing data from a plurality of sensors deployed across an area to be monitored, wherein the sensors are configured for communication via a network, and wherein each sensor includes a microphone for detecting the acoustic event and a clock;

processing data associated with the acoustic event communicated from the sensors to a processing component;

determining a location of a source of the acoustic event as a function of the data associated with the acoustic event and/or sensor location information;

processing instructions for directing a camera towards the location; and

accumulating statistical information regarding the acoustic event from sensors registering the acoustic event and scoring the acoustic event as a function of the statistical information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the location of the source of the acoustic event includes triangulating the location as a function of the sensor location information and time of arrival information as to when the acoustic event was detected at the sensors.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein each sensor that detects the acoustic event transmits an identifier and a time of arrival of the event to a host processor for use in determining the location of the source of the acoustic event.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the data associated with the acoustic event includes time of arrival information as to when the acoustic event was detected at the sensors, wherein the time of arrival information is measured at a peak of a beginning portion of an acoustic wave'"'"'s envelope as received at the sensors.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the data processed includes time of arrival information as to when the acoustic event was detected at the sensors, and further comprising enhancing accuracy of time values beyond accuracy of a clock source via a time mark function associated with a GPS.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least 3 sensors.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the clocks associated with the sensors are synchronized.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the clocks associated with the sensors are synchronized via GPS time codes received at the sensors.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein time of arrival data associated with the acoustic event communicated from a plurality of the sensors to a processing component is communicated over a single channel without latency in connection with synchronization of each clock of the plurality of sensors with clocks of other sensors in a network.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein determination of the location of the source of the acoustic event includes processing relative times of arrival of acoustic waves from the acoustic event at the sensors.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the data associated with the acoustic event includes time of arrival information as to when the acoustic event was detected at the sensors.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein each sensor includes a GPS receiver that provides sensor location information for use in determination of the location of the source of the acoustic event.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the locations of all of the sensors are known.

14. A method of processing data associated with an acoustic event, the method comprising:

processing data from a plurality of sensors deployed across an area to be monitored, wherein the sensors are configured for communication via a network, and wherein each sensor includes a microphone for detecting the acoustic event and a clock;

processing data associated with the acoustic event communicated from the sensors to a processing component;

determining a location of a source of the acoustic event as a function of the data associated with the acoustic event and/or sensor location information; and

processing instructions for directing a camera towards the location;

wherein determination of the location of the source of the acoustic event includes iterative calculations of expanding circles.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the data associated with the acoustic event includes time of arrival information as to when the acoustic event was detected at the sensors.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the clocks associated with the sensors are synchronized via GPS time codes received at the sensors.

17. Computer readable media storing a computer program for processing data associated with an acoustic event, the computer program executable by one or more processors and comprising instructions for:

processing data from a plurality of sensors deployed across an area to be monitored, wherein the sensors are configured for communication via a network, and wherein each sensor includes a microphone for detecting the acoustic event and a clock;

processing data associated with the acoustic event communicated from the sensors to a processing component;

determining a location of a source of the acoustic event as a function of the data associated with the acoustic event and/or sensor location information;

processing instructions for directing a camera towards the location; and

accumulating statistical information regarding the acoustic event from sensors registering the acoustic event and scoring the acoustic event as a function of the statistical information.

18. The computer readable media of claim 17 wherein determination of the location of the source of the acoustic event includes processing relative times of arrival of acoustic waves from the acoustic event at the sensors.

19. The computer readable media of claim 17 wherein the data associated with the acoustic event includes time of arrival information as to when the acoustic event was detected at the sensors.

20. The computer readable media of claim 17 wherein the clocks associated with the sensors are synchronized.

21. The computer readable media of claim 17 wherein the clocks associated with the sensors are synchronized via GPS time codes received at the sensors.

22. The computer readable media of claim 17 wherein determination of the location of the source of the acoustic event includes processing relative times of arrival of acoustic waves from the acoustic event at the sensors.

23. The computer readable media of claim 17 wherein the data associated with the acoustic event includes time of arrival information as to when the acoustic event was detected at the sensors.

24. The computer readable media of claim 17 wherein each sensor includes a GPS receiver that provides sensor location information for use in determination of the location of the source of the acoustic event.