Method and system for vehicle-mounted recording systems

Abstract

Vehicle-mounted recorded systems capture and record surveillance data as well as location and time data. Methods for obtaining recorded data corresponding to a region of interest from vehicle-mounted recorded systems use wireless communications to request and transmit data. Methods for using time-synchronized recorded surveillance data from multiple recording sources generate viewable reproductions of an event.

1 . A method for acquiring surveillance data corresponding to a region of interest recorded by vehicle-mounted recording systems, comprising the steps of: 
 transmitting a request for recorded surveillance data corresponding to the region of interest; and    receiving a reply transmission to said request for recorded surveillance data, said reply transmission comprising surveillance data corresponding to at least a portion of the region of interest recorded by a vehicle-mounted recording system.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said surveillance data comprises video data.  
   
   
       3 . A method for receiving surveillance data corresponding to a region of interest from vehicle-mounted recording systems, comprising the steps of: 
 transmitting a polling request comprising information corresponding to the region of interest; and    receiving a reply transmission to said polling request from a vehicle-mounted recording system having recorded data corresponding to said polling request, said reply transmission to said polling request comprising information identifying said vehicle-mounted recording system.    
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising the step of retrieving recorded surveillance data corresponding to at least a portion of the region of interest from said vehicle-mounted recording system.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein said retrieving recorded surveillance data is performed by the steps of: 
 transmitting a request for recorded surveillance data corresponding to the region of interest, said request for recorded surveillance data comprising information identifying said vehicle-mounted recording system; and    receiving a reply transmission to said request for recorded surveillance data from said vehicle-mounted recording system, said reply transmission to said request for recorded surveillance data comprising recorded surveillance data corresponding to at least a portion of the region of interest.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3  wherein said surveillance data comprises video data.  
   
   
       7 . A method for acquiring current surveillance data corresponding to a region of interest relating to an ongoing event of public concern, comprising the steps of: 
 transmitting a request comprising information corresponding to the region of interest; and    receiving a transmission comprising surveillance data from a vehicle-mounted recording system within the region of interest.    
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein said surveillance data comprises video data.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising the steps of: 
 receiving a reply to said request, said reply being transmitted by said vehicle-mounted recording system within the region of interest, said reply comprising information identifying said vehicle-mounted recording system; and    transmitting a request for surveillance data, said request for surveillance data comprising information identifying said vehicle-mounted recording system that transmits said reply, wherein said transmission comprising surveillance data being transmitted by said vehicle-mounted recording system that is identified.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 7  further comprising the step of transmitting control data for controlling an operation of said vehicle-mounted recording system.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein said control data comprises instructions for an operator of the vehicle.  
   
   
       12 . A method for reconstructing an event of public concern, comprising the steps of: 
 acquiring first data from a first recording source, said first data comprising first video data depicting a portion of the event, first location data recording a location of said first recording source, and first time data corresponding to said first video data;    acquiring second data from a second recording source, said second data comprising second video data depicting a portion of the event, second location data recording a location of said second recording source, and second time data corresponding to said second video data;    synchronizing said first data and said second data in conformity with said first time data and said second time data; and    generating a viewable reproduction of said event.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said at least one of said first recording source and said second recording source being a vehicle-mounted recording system.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein said generating is performed by the steps of: 
 computing a plurality of coordinates corresponding to at least a portion of said event in conformity with said first video data, said second video data, said first location data, and said second location data;    determining at least one viewing source location for said viewable reproduction; and    displaying said viewable reproduction corresponding to said at least one viewing source location in conformity with said at least one viewing source location and said coordinates that are computed.    
   
   
       15 . A vehicle-mounted recording system comprising a memory for storing program instructions and data, a processor coupled to said memory for executing said program instructions, a camera coupled to said processor for capturing visual data, locating means coupled to said processor for acquiring location data, timing means coupled to said processor for acquiring time data, and an antenna coupled to said processor for sending and receiving transmissions, wherein said program instructions comprise instructions for: 
 storing said visual data, said location data, and said time data so that each portion of said visual data is locatable by at least one of a time of video data capture and a location of video data capture;    searching at least one of said stored time data and said location data in response to receiving a transmission designating a region of interest; and    sending a transmission in response to said searching.    
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said vehicle-mounted recording system continually operates independently of an operation of said vehicle.  
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said vehicle-mounted recording system executes said program instructions automatically.  
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 15  wherein said vehicle-mounted recording system further comprises a user interface coupled to said processor for exchanging information with an operator of said vehicle.  
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 18  wherein said vehicle-mounted recording system further comprises a unique identifier, and wherein said program instructions further comprise program instructions for: 
 receiving from said user interface information corresponding to a anonymity preference; and    including said unique identifier in said transmission that is sent in conformity with said anonymity preference.    
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 18  wherein said program instructions further comprise instructions for: 
 receiving from said user interface a transmission selection, said transmission selection comprising one of sending all transmissions automatically, sending no transmissions, and prompting said operator for permission prior to sending a transmission; and    responding to a received transmission in conformity with said transmission selection.    
   
   
       21 . A method for obtaining recorded surveillance data from a vehicle-mounted recording system, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a stationary data transfer device;    receiving via wireless transmission at least a portion of said surveillance data from said vehicle-mounted recording system;    transmitting said surveillance data that is received to a data depository; and    indexing said surveillance data in data depository so that said surveillance data is searchable by at least one of a recording location and a recording time.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein said receiving comprises the steps of: 
 detecting a vehicle-mounted recording system proximate a stationary computer, said stationary computer having a wireless interface and further having a landline interface;    wirelessly requesting said at least a portion of said surveillance data from said vehicle-mounted recording system;    wirelessly receiving said at least a portion of said surveillance data from said vehicle-mounted recording system; and    storing in a memory of said stationary computer said surveillance data that is received, and wherein said transmitting is performed via said landline interface.