Systems and methods for distributed control
Inventors
Wagner, Daniel J. • Hanchett, Mark A. • Kloc, Aaron J. • Conant, Tyler J.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12386634-B2
Publication Date
2025-08-12
Expiration Date
Abstract
Systems involving distributed control functions are described herein. Each member or device within the system has responsibility for controlling part of the system's behavior, and includes logic to determine what action, if any, will follow as a response to determining information or receiving information from other members or devices within the system. A change of status of one member of a system may provide a basis for action by another member of the system. Status may be the result of sensing a condition of the environment, sensing the condition of a component, receiving the output of a conventional sensor, and/or sensing the condition of a link between components. In some embodiments, action taken by a member of the system may include collecting data during law enforcement activities.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to distributed control of controllable devices in response to automatically detected events via peripheral devices. A peripheral device comprising at least one sensor detects a change in a first status of the peripheral device, generates a first notification including information indicating that the first status has changed, and transmits the first notification via a first short-range wireless interface.
A first controllable camera device comprising a video sensor and short-range wireless interface receives the first notification, collects first video data, and makes a first determination whether a first configuration setting of the controllable camera device should be changed based on the notification information indicating the peripheral status change. In accordance with the determination, the configuration setting is changed, and the device transmits a second notification via the short-range wireless interface, wherein the second notification includes the information indicating that the first status has changed.
A second controllable device receives the second notification via its third short-range wireless interface, makes a second determination whether a second configuration setting should be changed in response to the information indicating that the peripheral status has changed, and changes the configuration setting accordingly. The peripheral device is one of a weapon peripheral device, a weapon holster peripheral device, and a vehicle monitor peripheral device.
Claims Coverage
The document includes two independent claims. Across these claims, the coverage centers on a distributed notification-driven control architecture using automatically generated status-change notifications transmitted over short-range wireless and resulting configuration setting changes at camera and other controllable devices.
Peripheral device status change notification for distributed control
A peripheral device comprising at least one sensor, a first processor, and a first short-range wireless interface detects a change in a first status of the peripheral device, automatically generates a first notification including information indicating that the first status has changed, and transmits the first notification via the first short-range wireless interface.
Camera device determination and configuration change based on notification
A first controllable camera device comprising a first video sensor, a second processor, and a second short-range wireless interface collects first video data, receives the first notification from the peripheral device, makes a first determination whether a first configuration setting should be changed in response to the notification information indicating the peripheral status change, changes the first configuration setting in accordance with the determination, and transmits a second notification including the same status-change information.
Second controllable device configuration change in response to received notification
A second controllable device comprising a third short-range wireless interface and a third processor receives the second notification, makes a second determination whether a second configuration setting should be changed in response to the information indicating the peripheral status change, and changes the second configuration setting in accordance with the second determination.
Distributed control method carried out by peripheral and camera devices
A method of distributed control performed by a peripheral device, a first controllable camera device, and a second controllable camera device detects a change in status of the peripheral device based on sensor-generated first data, automatically generates a first notification including information indicating that the status has changed, transmits the first notification via a first short-range wireless interface, receives the first notification at the first controllable camera device, determines and changes a configuration setting of the first controllable camera device in response to the notification information, transmits a second notification via the second short-range wireless interface, receives the second notification at the second controllable camera device, determines and changes a configuration setting of the second controllable camera device in response to the notification information.
Peripheral device limited to weapon and vehicle monitor types
The method specifies that the peripheral device is one of a weapon peripheral device, a weapon holster peripheral device, and a vehicle monitor peripheral device.
Overall, the independent claims cover a distributed control framework where a peripheral device detects status changes and broadcasts notifications over short-range wireless so that a controllable camera device and another controllable device determine whether to change configuration settings based on the received status-change information.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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