Hostage negotiator throw phone

Abstract

A system for wireless hostage negotiation between a first party in a first location and a second party in a second location. The system includes a throw phone subsystem configured to be placed in the second location. The throw phone subsystem further includes an armored housing having two handles such that the throw phone subsystem is configured to be carried with two hands. The system further includes a command subsystem configured to operate in a first location. The throw phone subsystem may be configured to send and receive audio data to and from the command subsystem wirelessly. The throw phone subsystem may be further configured to send video data to the command subsystem wirelessly through a different wireless transceiver component from the audio data.

Description

HOSTAGE NEGOTIATOR THROW PHONECROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 569,013 filed March 22, 2024, the specification of which is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention is directed to a two-station throw phone system for hostage situations, capable of secure wireless transmission and control of audio and video data.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) is deployed when a person of interest has barricaded themselves either with hostages or alone with the intent of causing harm. The CNT has a set protocol to establish communication with the suspect as soon as possible. The current system, the hardwired throw phone, is tossed into the location of the person of interest with a 50% chance of failure. It is better described to be an analog phone inside a small tactical hard case. Within the case are four hidden cameras and a passive audio receiver. The other half of the system is a center command module with multiple audio inputs, Bluetooth® relay, and audio controls. If the line of communication is established with the suspect, then the CNT will be able to proceed with the protocols to de-escalate the situation.

[0004] As of right now, the cable from the command module to the suspect has multiple system hazards, such as a risk of being cut, serving as a tripping hazard, and a cumbersome deployment method. Attempts at wireless hostage negotiation have been attempted, but the network strain and the need for consistent communication with minimal interruptions have prevented the implementation of audio and video communication. Thus, there exists a present need for a two-station throw phone system for hostage situations, capable of secure wireless transmission and control of audio and video data.BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] It is an objective of the present invention to provide systems that allow for a two-station throw phone system for hostage situations, capable of secure wireless transmission and control of audio and video data, as specified in the independent claims. Embodiments of the invention are given in the dependent claims. Embodiments of the present invention can be freely combined with each other if they are not mutually exclusive.

[0006] The present invention features a system for wireless hostage negotiation between a first party in a first location and a second party in a second location. The system may comprise a throw phone subsystem configured to be placed in the second location. The throw phone subsystem may comprise an armored housing comprising two handles such that the throw phone subsystem is configured to be carried with two hands.

[0007] The throw phone subsystem may further comprise an audio transceiver device disposed within the armored housing, comprising a first wireless transceiver component communicatively coupled to a command subsystem, configured to accept a continuous stream of first-party audio data from the command subsystem, gather second-party audio data, generate a continuous stream of second party audio data, and transmit the continuous stream of second party audio data to the command subsystem. The throw phone subsystem may further comprise a video transceiver device disposed within the armored housing, comprising a second wireless transceiver component communicatively coupled to the command subsystem, configured to gather video data, generate one or more continuous streams of video data, and transmit the one or more continuous streams of video data to the command subsystem.

[0008] The system may further comprise the command subsystem configured to operate in the first location, the command subsystem comprising a command wireless transceiver component communicatively coupled to the first wireless transceiver component and the second wireless transceiver component, configured to accept the continuous stream of first-party audio data, transmit the continuous stream of first-party audio data to the throw phone subsystem, and receive the one or more continuous streams of video data from the video transceiver device.

[0009] The present invention has extreme importance in the field of law enforcement. Increasing the success rate of the CNT to deploy a new, updated, and more efficient throw phone that takes less time and has an increased success above 50% is going to help the police officers save more people. Going wireless will also reduce tripping hazards and wasted time connecting the bridge of communication to the suspect. Having a system be more efficient with the visual and audio capabilities and recording will help provide evidence when presented in court. Overall, the present invention features a product for the police to protect the community from those actively looking to cause harm.

[0010] One of the unique and inventive technical features of the present invention is the implementation of separate channels for audio and video transmission to and from an armored phone subsystem. Without wishing to limit the invention to any theory or mechanism, it is believed that the technical feature of the present invention advantageously provides for efficient,consistent, and uninterrupted communication and data gathering for de-escalating hostage situations. None of the presently known prior references or work has the unique inventive technical feature of the present invention.

[0011] Another one of the unique and inventive technical features of the present invention is the implementation of heavy armoring and a dual-handle design on the phone subsystem. Without wishing to limit the invention to any theory or mechanism, it is believed that the technical feature of the present invention advantageously provides for a near-indestructible phone subsystem that can only be carried by two hands, providing for de-escalation of hostage situations as the negotiator carrying or holding the phone subsystem in the building does not have easy access to weaponry due to both hands being occupied. None of the presently known prior references or work has the unique inventive technical feature of the present invention.

[0012] Furthermore, the inventive technical feature of the present invention is counterintuitive. The reason that it is counterintuitive is because it contributed to a surprising result. One of ordinary skill in the art would expect that the implementation of a heavy two-handed communication device carried by a negotiator would result in an escalation of the situation due to said negotiator being unarmed and vulnerable. Surprisingly, this feature allows for de-escalation of the situation due to the lack of a threat while also providing protection to the negotiator due to the size of the device and the armored housing. Thus, the inventive technical feature of the present invention contributed to a surprising result.

[0013] Any feature or combination of features described herein are included within the scope of the present invention provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification, and the knowledge of one of ordinary skill in the art. Additional advantages and aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims.

[0014] Additional information can be found in Appendix A of the present application, the specification of which is included herein in its entirety.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

[0015] The features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description presented in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0016] FIG. 1 A shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the throw phone device of the present invention.

[0017] FIG. IB shows a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the throw phone system of the present invention.

[0018] FIG. 1C shows a schematic diagram of an alternate embodiment of the throw phone system of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 2 shows a schematic of the internal components of the throw phone subsystem of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 3 A shows a diagram of the throw phone subsystem of the present invention.

[0021] FIG. 3B shows a photograph of the throw phone subsystem of the present invention.

[0022] FIG. 4A shows a front wall of the armored housing of the throw phone subsystem.

[0023] FIG. 4B shows a side wall of the armored housing of the throw phone subsystem.

[0024] FIG. 5A shows a diagram of the system of the present invention and how the users and systems interact with each other.

[0025] FIG. 5B shows an alternate diagram of the system of the present invention and how the users and systems interact with each other.

[0026] FIG. 6A shows a schematic of the portable computing device of the present invention.

[0027] FIG. 6B shows a schematic of the command subsystem of the present invention.

[0028] FIG. 7 shows a flow chart diagram of the user’s interaction with the command subsystem to control the throw phone subsystem.

[0029] FIG. 8 shows a system diagram of the communication system of the present invention.

[0030] FIG. 9 shows a tree diagram of the components and subcomponents of the communication system of the present invention.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0031] Following is a list of elements corresponding to a particular element referred to herein:

[0032] 100 throw phone system

[0033] 110 armored housing

[0034] 120 portable computing device

[0035] 122 throw phone audio sensors

[0036] 124 first wireless transceiver component

[0037] 126 throw phone processor

[0038] 128 throw phone memory component

[0039] 130 cameras

[0040] 140 second wireless transceiver component

[0041] 150 speaker

[0042] 160 switcher device

[0043] 170 terminal distribution blocks

[0044] 200 command subsystem

[0045] 210 command audio sensors

[0046] 220 command wireless transceiver component

[0047] 230 command processor

[0048] 240 command memory component

[0049] 1000 system

[0050] 1100 audio transceiver device

[0051] 1200 video transceiver device

[0052] Referring now to FIG. 1 A and FIGs 3A-3B, the present invention features a throw phone system (100) configured to be placed in a location for hostage negotiation. In some embodiments, the throw phone system (100) may comprise an armored housing (110) comprising two handles such that the throw phone system (100) is configured to be carried with two hands. The system (100) may further comprise a portable computing device (120) disposed within the armored housing (110), the portable computing device (120) configured to establish two-way audio communication between a command subsystem (200) and a second party. The system (100) may further comprise one or more cameras (130) disposed within the armored housing (110), each camera configured to gather video data and generate a continuous stream of video data and transmit the continuous stream of video data from each camera of the one or more cameras (130) to the command subsystem (200).

[0053] In some embodiments, the portable computing device (120) may further comprise one or more audio sensors (122) configured to gather second party audio data. In some embodiments, the one or more audio sensors (122) comprise one or more microphones. In some embodiments, the portable computing device (120) may further comprise a first wireless transceiver component (124) configured to wirelessly transmit and receive audio data between the command subsystem (200) and the second party. In some embodiments, the first wireless transceiver component (124) may comprise one or more antennas. In some embodiments, the system (100) may further comprise a second wireless transceiver component (140) configured to transmit the continuous stream of video data from each camera of the one or more cameras (130) to the command subsystem (200). In some embodiments, the system (100) may further comprise a speaker (150)disposed within the armored housing (110), operatively coupled to the portable computing device (120), configured to amplify audio data from the command subsystem (200). In some embodiments, the system (100) may further comprise a switcher device (160) disposed within the armored housing (110), operatively coupled to the one or more cameras (130), configured to select at least one of the one or more cameras (130) based on selection instructions. In some embodiments, the system (100) may further comprise a battery configured to generate power. In some embodiments, the system (100) may further comprise one or more terminal distribution blocks (170) operatively coupled to the battery, disposed within the armored housing (110), configured to evenly distribute power throughout the armored housing (110).

[0054] Referring now to FIG. IB, the present invention features a system (1000) for wireless hostage negotiation between a first party in a first location and a second party in a second location. In some embodiments, the system (1000) may comprise a throw phone subsystem (100) configured to be placed in the second location. The throw phone subsystem (100) may comprise an armored housing (110) comprising two handles such that the throw phone subsystem (100) is configured to be carried with two hands.

[0055] The throw phone subsystem (100) may further comprise an audio transceiver device (1100) disposed within the armored housing (110), comprising a first wireless transceiver component (124) communicatively coupled to a command subsystem (200), configured to accept a continuous stream of first-party audio data from the command subsystem (200), gather second party audio data, generate a continuous stream of second party audio data, and transmit the continuous stream of second party audio data to the command subsystem (200). The throw phone subsystem (100) may further comprise a video transceiver device (1200) disposed within the armored housing (110), comprising a second wireless transceiver component (140) communicatively coupled to the command subsystem (200), configured to gather video data, generate one or more continuous streams of video data, and transmit the one or more continuous streams of video data to the command subsystem (200).

[0056] The system (1000) may further comprise the command subsystem (200) configured to operate in the first location, the command subsystem (200) comprising a command wireless transceiver component communicatively coupled to the first wireless transceiver component (124) and the second wireless transceiver component (140), configured to accept the continuous stream of first-party audio data, transmit the continuous stream of first-party audio data to the throw phone subsystem (100), and receive the one or more continuous streams of video data from the video transceiver device (1200).

[0057] In some embodiments, the audio transceiver device (1100) may further comprise a portable computing device (120) (e.g. a smartphone, a smartwatch, etc.). In some embodiments, the audio transceiver device (1100) may further comprise one or more audio sensors (122). In some embodiments, the one or more audio sensors (122) may comprise one or more microphones. In some embodiments, the video transceiver device (1200) may comprise one or more cameras (130). In some embodiments, the video transceiver device (1200) may further comprise a switcher device (160), operatively coupled to the one or more cameras (130), configured to select at least one of the one or more cameras (130) based on selection instructions. In some embodiments, the second wireless transceiver component (140) may be further configured to transmit the continuous stream of video data from each camera of the at least one selected camera to the command subsystem (200), receive the selection instructions from the command subsystem (200), and transmit the selection instructions to the switcher device (160).

[0058] In some embodiments, the first wireless transceiver component (124) may comprise one or more antennas. In some embodiments, the second wireless transceiver component (140) may comprise one or more antennas. In some embodiments, the system (1000) may further comprise a battery configured to generate power. In some embodiments, the system (1000) may further comprise one or more terminal distribution blocks (170) operatively coupled to the battery, disposed within the armored housing (110), configured to evenly distribute power throughout the armored housing (110).

[0059] Referring now to FIG. 1C and FIG. 2, the present invention features a system (1000) for wireless hostage negotiation between a first party in a first location and a second party in a second location. The system (1000) may comprise a throw phone subsystem (100) configured to be placed in the second location. The throw phone subsystem (100) may comprise an armored housing (110) comprising two handles such that the throw phone subsystem (100) is configured to be carried with two hands. The walls and components of the armored housing (110) are depicted in FIGs 4A-4B.

[0060] The throw phone subsystem (100) may further comprise a portable computing device (120) disposed within the armored housing (110). The portable computing device (120) may comprise one or more throw phone microphones (122) configured to gather second-party audio data, a first wireless transceiver component (124) communicatively coupled to a command subsystem (200), a throw phone processor (126) operatively coupled to the one or more throw phone microphones (122) and the first wireless transceiver component (124), configured to execute computer-readable instructions, and a throw phone memory component (128) operativelycoupled to the throw phone processor (126). The portable computing device (120) is further depicted in FIG. 6A. In some embodiments, the computer-readable instructions may comprise receiving a continuous stream of first-party audio data from the command subsystem (200), accepting the second-party audio data from the one or more throw phone microphones (122), generating a continuous stream of second-party audio data, and transmitting the continuous stream of second party audio data to the command subsystem (200).

[0061] The throw phone subsystem (100) may further comprise a speaker (150) disposed within the armored housing (110), operatively coupled to the portable computing device (120), configured to amplify the continuous stream of first-party audio data. The throw phone subsystem (100) may further comprise one or more cameras (130) disposed within the armored housing (110), each camera configured to gather video data and generate a continuous stream of video data. The throw phone subsystem (100) may further comprise a switcher device (160) disposed within the armored housing (110), operatively coupled to the one or more cameras (130), configured to select at least one of the one or more cameras (130) based on selection instructions.

[0062] The throw phone subsystem (100) may further comprise a second wireless transceiver component (140) disposed within the armored housing (110), comprising one or more antennas, operatively coupled to the one or more cameras (130) and the switcher component, configured to transmit the continuous stream of video data from each camera of the at least one selected camera to the command subsystem (200), receive the selection instructions from the command subsystem (200), and transmit the selection instructions to the switcher device (160). In some embodiments, the system (1000) may further comprise a battery configured to generate power. In some embodiments, the system (1000) may further comprise one or more terminal distribution blocks (170) operatively coupled to the battery, disposed within the armored housing (110), configured to evenly distribute power throughout the armored housing (110).

[0063] The system (1000) may further comprise the command subsystem (200) configured to operate in the first location. The command subsystem (200) may comprise one or more command microphones (210) configured to gather first-party audio data, a command wireless transceiver component (220) communicatively coupled to the first wireless transceiver component (124), and the second wireless transceiver component (140), a command processor (230) operatively coupled to the one or more command microphones (210) and the command wireless transceiver component (220), configured to execute computer-readable instructions, and a command memory component (240) operatively coupled to the command processor (230), comprisingcomputer-readable instructions. The computer-readable instructions may comprise accepting the first-party audio data from the one or more command microphones (210), generating the continuous stream of first-party audio data, transmitting the continuous stream of first-party audio data to the first wireless transceiver component (124), receiving the continuous stream of second party audio data, receiving the continuous stream of video data from each camera of the at least one selected camera, accepting the selection instructions from a user, and transmitting the selection instructions to the second wireless transceiver component (140). The command subsystem (200) is further depicted in FIG. 6B.

[0064] The system of the present invention may comprise a command unit. This is the unit that will be placed in a negotiation van away from the area of danger and is where negotiators will be communicating with the individual presenting a danger. The core functionalities of this unit are to allow negotiators to select a phone number to call the throw phone, output audio and video data transmitted by the throw phone, transmit audio data to the throw phone, allow negotiators to decide when to record audio and video, store recorded audio and video, allow negotiators to mute and unmute their mics, and terminate the connection to the throw phone when prompted.

[0065] The system of the present invention may further comprise a throw phone unit. This is the unit that will be actively deployed into the area where the danger is present and will be used by the individual presenting the danger to speak directly to negotiators at the command unit. The core functionalities of this unit are to output audio data received from the command unit, capture audio and video from the area of danger, be durable enough to withstand abuse received during deployment and operation, and operate completely wirelessly.

[0066] The Throw Phone Subsystem and the Command Unit Subsystem are composed of many different components. In the Command Unit Subsystem there is a Laptop Subsystem which is the main component of the Command Unit Subsystem and it can receive video, audio, and power, as well as record, store, and produce the audio / video received from the Throw Phone Subsystem. All of this is done through a cellular connection which is the Wireless Wide Area Network (WWAN) Long Term Evolution (LTE) Module as well as the Video Transmitter component which allows video to be transmitted between the Throw Phone and Command Unit. In the Throw Phone Subsystem, the main component is a portable computing device which will be used to produce audio as well as receive it through the splitter plugged into the portable computing device. The other main component of the Throw Phone Subsystem is the video transmitter which will be able to switch through any of the cameras connected to it as well as transmit video to the Command Unit Subsystem.

[0067] In some embodiments, the throw phone system of the present invention may comprise a double-handle design. In some embodiments, the housing of the system may comprise a first handle on a first side of the housing and a second handle on a second side of the housing. In some embodiments, the first side is parallel to the second side. In other embodiments, the first side may be perpendicular to the second side. In some embodiments, at least one of the handles may be parallel to a length of the housing. In some embodiments, at least one of the handles may be perpendicular to a length of the housing. In some embodiments, at least one of the handles may extend from the housing at an angle. In some embodiments, the first handle and the second handle may both be disposed on the same side of the housing. In some embodiments, at least one of the handles may be configured to retract into the housing when not in use (e.g. by a spring-loaded mechanism). The throw phone system may be substantially heavy and / or bulky such that the system is most naturally picked up and held by gripping both handles.

[0068] Referring now to FIGs 5A-5B and 7, the software of the present invention needs to perform some key functions and these requirements are set by the system requirements in the System Requirements Document. These functions are establishing 2-way audio connection between the Throw Phone System and Command Module System, receiving video feed from the Throw Phone System and displaying it in the Command Module System, recording the audio and video feed and saving it in the command module system, and utilizing a graphical user interface.

[0069] The user may enter a phone number and the GUI will check to see if it is a correct one. If the user enters the correct number, then it may send out a call to the Throw Phone System and establish a connection to the Command Module System. The call and video will be recorded. If the number is not entered correctly then the user may get an error message. The user at any time may disconnect the call to stop recording.

[0070] The GUI may display the video feed that is being transmitted to the Command Module System from the Throw Phone System. This may be done by having a video monitor on the laptop monitor. The code embedded in the GUI may also start recording the audio and video. This may be saved onto an external hard drive that meets the system requirements. Audio may be recorded as a .WAV file using scipy.io.wavfile module. Video may be recorded as a .AVI using the OpenCV library and cv2.VideoCapture() module.

[0071] The goal for the Media Software System may be to interface with the Throw Phone System and Command Module System. In some embodiments, the Media Software System may be configured to be used by law enforcement agencies. It may be used in a high stress environment and for official use only. In some embodiments, the law enforcement officers thatuse the system may not be limited to crisis negotiators, supporting officers and law enforcement leadership. For simplicity, users will only need to operate the GUI and camera switch. For security this software is not for public use and only law enforcement will handle this system.

[0072] In some embodiments, a law enforcement technician may have administrative access to modify, add and delete features or to implement security features. For example, they may be able to add phone numbers to an easy access list for other users to have an alternative way of entering a phone number into the GUI. They may also have access to the source code and what file path the recordings will be saved at.

[0073] The system diagrams of the present invention are depicted in FIGs 8-9. In some embodiments, the Throw Phone System of the present invention may comprise at least 480 degrees of video capabilities. In some embodiments, the Throw Phone System may comprise at least four pinhole cameras. In some embodiments, the cameras within the Throw Phone System may each have a resolution of at least 720p. In some embodiments, the pinhole cameras may have low light capabilities of .001 lux or lower. In some embodiments, the Throw Phone System of the present invention may comprise a video transmitter. In some embodiments, the video transmitter may be 5.8GHz. In some embodiments, the video transmitter may be configured to transmit up to 300 feet away.

[0074] In some embodiments, the Throw Phone System of the present invention may comprise a method of switching video inputs. In some embodiments, the Throw Phone System may comprise a camera switch. In some embodiments, the Throw Phone System may comprise a toggle receiver. In some embodiments, the Throw Phone System may comprise a speaker. In some embodiments, the speaker may comprise dimensions of 4” x 4” x 2”. In some embodiments, the speaker may transmit at 90 dBs at 1 foot distance. In some embodiments, the Throw Phone System may comprise an omnidirectional microphone. In some embodiments, the microphone may interface with the rest of the Throw Phone System through a 3 -way lightning splitter through a 3.5 mm plug. In some embodiments, the microphone may comprise dimensions of 10mm x 10mm x 10mm or less. In some embodiments, the lightning jack splitter may comprise one 3.5 mm input, one 3.5mm output, one lightning power output, and one lightning power input.

[0075] In some embodiments, the Throw Phone System may comprise a portable battery. In some embodiments, the portable battery may have a usage time of at least 8 hours. In some embodiments, the portable battery may be rechargeable. In some embodiments, the portable battery may have dimensions of 6.2 x 2.9 x .08” or less. In some embodiments, the Throw PhoneSystem may implement a sanctioned government agency iPhone®.

[0076] In some embodiments, the Throw Phone System may implement a cellular connection. In some embodiments, the Throw Phone System may comprise a coaxial cable extender for connection to the command module system. In some embodiments, the Throw Phone System’s battery may connect to a NEMA 1-15 plug.

[0077] In some embodiments, the Command Module System may be configured to receive audio from a microphone with a Signal to Noise Ratio of at least 60 dB. In some embodiments, the Command Module System may be configured to record audio. In some embodiments, the Command Module System may be configured to receive passive audio. In some embodiments, the Command Module System may be configured to receive passive audio and record up to 0.5 TB in an mp3 format. In some embodiments, the Command Module System may be configured to receive video from the throw phone. In some embodiments, the Command Module System may be configured to display received video at 720p. In some embodiments, the Command Module System may be configured to record video up to 1.5 TB at a minimum of 720p resolution in a mp4 format. In some embodiments, the Command Module System may comprise a switch for hardwire connection.

[0078] In some embodiments, the Command Module System may comprise a laptop computer (e.g., a Windows® computer). In some embodiments, the Command Module System may further comprise a number pad. In some embodiments, the Command Module System may comprise a WWAN LTE Module. In some embodiments, the WWAN LTE Module may comprise a mobile device dialer. In some embodiments, the WWAN LTE Module may be configured to send audio. In some embodiments, the Command Module System may further comprise a 2 way 3.5 mm auxiliary splitter. In some embodiments, the USB auxiliary splitter may be configured to connect to 2 headsets. In some embodiments, the Command Module System may be configured to transmit recorded data onto an external hard drive. In some embodiments, the external hard drive may comprise at least 2 terabytes of storage. Media may be loaded onto the storage until the capacity is reached, then this capacity will be measured and see if it is equal to 2 terabytes.

[0079] In some embodiments, the Command Module System may comprise a maximum exterior dimensions of 13 x 12 x 6” or less. In some embodiments, the Command Module System may comprise a maximum interior dimensions of 12 x 9 x 5” or less. In some embodiments, the Command Module System may be configured to connect to a 15.6V / 5A charging cable equipped with a NEMA 5-15 plug. In some embodiments, the Command Module System may be configured to connect to a wired service provided by coax cables.

[0080] The computer system can include a desktop computer, a workstation computer, a laptop computer, a netbook computer, a tablet, a handheld computer (including a smartphone), a server, a supercomputer, a wearable computer (including a SmartWatch™), or the like and can include digital electronic circuitry, firmware, hardware, memory, a computer storage medium, a computer program, a processor (including a programmed processor), an imaging apparatus, wired / wireless communication components, or the like. The computing system may include a desktop computer with a screen, a tower, and components to connect the two. The tower can store digital images, numerical data, text data, or any other kind of data in binary form, hexadecimal form, octal form, or any other data format in the memory component. The data / images can also be stored in a server communicatively coupled to the computer system. The images can also be divided into a matrix of pixels, known as a bitmap that indicates a color for each pixel along the horizontal axis and the vertical axis. The pixels can include a digital value of one or more bits, defined by the bit depth. Each pixel may comprise three values, each value corresponding to a major color component (red, green, and blue). A size of each pixel in data can range from 8 bits to 24 bits. The network or a direct connection interconnects the imaging apparatus and the computer system.

[0081] The term "processor" encompasses all kinds of apparatus, devices, and machines for processing data, including by way of example a programmable microprocessor, a microcontroller comprising a microprocessor and a memory component, an embedded processor, a digital signal processor, a media processor, a computer, a system on a chip, or multiple ones, or combinations, of the foregoing. The apparatus can include special-purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit). Logic circuitry may comprise multiplexers, registers, arithmetic logic units (ALUs), computer memory, look-up tables, flip-flops (FF), wires, input blocks, output blocks, read-only memory, randomly accessible memory, electronically-erasable programmable read-only memory, flash memory, discrete gate or transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination thereof. The apparatus also can include, in addition to hardware, code that creates an execution environment for the computer program in question, e.g., code that constitutes processor firmware, a protocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, a cross-platform runtime environment, a virtual machine, or a combination of one or more of them. The apparatus and execution environment can realize various different computing model infrastructures, such as web services, distributed computing and grid computing infrastructures. The processor may include one or more processors of any type, such as central processing units (CPUs), graphics processing units(GPUs), special-purpose signal or image processors, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), tensor processing units (TPUs), and so forth.

[0082] A computer program (also known as a program, software, software application, script, or code) can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, declarative or procedural languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, object, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program may, but need not, correspond to a file in a file system. A program can be stored in a portion of a file that holds other programs or data (e.g., one or more scripts stored in a markup language document), in a single file dedicated to the program in question, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files that store one or more modules, subprograms, or portions of code). A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers that are located at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network.

[0083] Embodiments of the subject matter and the operations described herein can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, including the structures disclosed in this specification and their structural equivalents, or in combinations of one or more of them. Embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented as one or more computer programs, i.e., one or more modules of computer program instructions, encoded on computer storage medium for execution by, or to control the operation of, a data processing apparatus.

[0084] A computer storage medium can be, or can be included in, a computer-readable storage device, a computer-readable storage substrate, a random or serial access memory array or device, or a combination of one or more of them. Moreover, while a computer storage medium is not a propagated signal, a computer storage medium can be a source or destination of computer program instructions encoded in an artificially generated propagated signal. The computer storage medium can also be, or can be included in, one or more separate physical components or media (e.g., multiple CDs, drives, or other storage devices). The operations described in this specification can be implemented as operations performed by a data processing apparatus on data stored on one or more computer-readable storage devices or received from other sources.

[0085] Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RE, Bluetooth, storage media, computer buses, etc., or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of the present disclosure may bewritten in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Java, Smalltalk, C#, Ruby, or the like, conventional procedural programming languages, such as Pascal, FORTRAN, BASIC, or similar programming languages, programming languages that have both object-oriented and procedural aspects, such as the "C" programming language, C++, Python, or the like, conventional functional programming languages such as Scheme, Common Lisp, Elixir, or the like, conventional scripting programming languages such as PHP, Perl, Javascript, or the like, or conventional logic programming languages such as PROLOG, ASAP, Datalog, or the like.

[0086] The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).

[0087] The processes and logic flows described in this specification can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing one or more computer programs to perform actions by operating on input data and generating output. The processes and logic flows can also be performed by, and apparatus can also be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit).

[0088] Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processors of any kind of digital computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for performing actions in accordance with instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks.

[0089] However, a computer need not have such devices. Moreover, a computer can be embedded in another device, e.g., a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile audio or video player, a game console, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, or a portable storage device (e.g., a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive), to name just a few. Devices suitable for storing computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, media and memory devices, including by way of example semiconductormemory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto-optical disks; and CD-ROM and DVD-ROM disks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.

[0090] Computers typically include known components, such as a processor, an operating system, system memory, memory storage devices, input-output controllers, input-output devices, and display devices. It will also be understood by those of ordinary skill in the relevant art that there are many possible configurations and components of a computer and may also include cache memory, a data backup unit, and many other devices. To provide for interaction with a user, embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented on a computer having a display device, e.g., an LCD (liquid crystal display), LED (light emitting diode) display, or OLED (organic light emitting diode) display, for displaying information to the user.

[0091] Examples of input devices include a keyboard, cursor control devices (e.g., a mouse or a trackball), a microphone, a scanner, and so forth, wherein the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to the user can be in any form of sensory feedback, e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input. Examples of output devices include a display device (e.g., a monitor or projector), speakers, a printer, a network card, and so forth. Display devices may include display devices that provide visual information, this information typically may be logically and / or physically organized as an array of pixels. In addition, a computer can interact with a user by sending documents to and receiving documents from a device that is used by the user; for example, by sending web pages to a web browser on a user's client device in response to requests received from the web browser.

[0092] An interface controller may also be included that may comprise any of a variety of known or future software programs for providing input and output interfaces. For example, interfaces may include what are generally referred to as “Graphical User Interfaces” (often referred to as GUI’s) that provide one or more graphical representations to a user. Interfaces are typically enabled to accept user inputs using means of selection or input known to those of ordinary skill in the related art. In some implementations, the interface may be a touch screen that can be used to display information and receive input from a user. In the same or alternative embodiments, applications on a computer may employ an interface that includes what are referred to as“command line interfaces” (often referred to as CLI’s). CLI’s typically provide a text based interaction between an application and a user. Typically, command line interfaces present output and receive input as lines of text through display devices. For example, some implementations may include what are referred to as a “shell” such as Unix Shells known to those of ordinary skill in the related art, or Microsoft® Windows Powershell that employs object-oriented type programming architectures such as the Microsoft® .NET framework.

[0093] Those of ordinary skill in the related art will appreciate that interfaces may include one or more GUI’s, CLI’s or a combination thereof. A processor may include a commercially available processor such as a Celeron, Core, or Pentium processor made by Intel Corporation®, a SPARC processor made by Sun Microsystems®, an Athlon, Sempron, Phenom, or Opteron processor made by AMD Corporation®, or it may be one of other processors that are or will become available. Some embodiments of a processor may include what is referred to as multi-core processor and / or be enabled to employ parallel processing technology in a single or multi-core configuration. For example, a multi-core architecture typically comprises two or more processor “execution cores”. In the present example, each execution core may perform as an independent processor that enables parallel execution of multiple threads. In addition, those of ordinary skill in the related field will appreciate that a processor may be configured in what is generally referred to as 32 or 64 bit architectures, or other architectural configurations now known or that may be developed in the future.

[0094] A processor typically executes an operating system, which may be, for example, a Windows type operating system from the Microsoft Corporation®; the Mac OS X operating system from Apple Computer Corp.®; a Unix® or Linux®-type operating system available from many vendors or what is referred to as an open source; another or a future operating system; or some combination thereof. An operating system interfaces with firmware and hardware in a well-known manner, and facilitates the processor in coordinating and executing the functions of various computer programs that may be written in a variety of programming languages. An operating system, typically in cooperation with a processor, coordinates and executes functions of the other components of a computer. An operating system also provides scheduling, input-output control, file and data management, memory management, and communication control and related services, all in accordance with known techniques.

[0095] Connecting components may be properly termed as computer-readable media. For example, if code or data is transmitted from a website, server, or other remote source using a coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, digital subscriber line (DSL), or wireless technologysuch as infrared, radio, or microwave signals, then the coaxial cable, fiber optic cable, twisted pair, DSL, or wireless technology are included in the definition of medium. Combinations of media are also included within the scope of computer-readable media.

[0096] Although there has been shown and described the preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto which do not exceed the scope of the appended claims. Therefore, the scope of the invention is only to be limited by the following claims. In some embodiments, the figures presented in this patent application are drawn to scale, including the angles, ratios of dimensions, etc. In some embodiments, the figures are representative only and the claims are not limited by the dimensions of the figures. In some embodiments, descriptions of the inventions described herein using the phrase “comprising” includes embodiments that could be described as “consisting essentially of’ or “consisting of’, and as such the written description requirement for claiming one or more embodiments of the present invention using the phrase “consisting essentially of’ or “consisting of’ is met.

[0097] The reference numbers recited in the below claims are solely for ease of examination of this patent application, and are exemplary, and are not intended in any way to limit the scope of the claims to the particular features having the corresponding reference numbers in the drawings.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A throw phone system (100) configured to be placed in a location for hostage negotiation, the throw phone system (100) comprising: a. an armored housing (110) comprising two handles such that the throw phone system (100) is configured to be carried with two hands; b. a portable computing device (120) disposed within the armored housing (110), the portable computing device (120) configured to establish two-way audio communication between a command subsystem (200) and a second party; and c. one or more cameras (130) disposed within the armored housing (110), each camera configured to gather video data and generate a continuous stream of video data and transmit the continuous stream of video data from each camera of the one or more cameras (130) to the command subsystem (200).

2. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein the portable computing device (120) further comprises one or more audio sensors (122) configured to gather second party audio data.

3. The system (100) of claim 2, wherein the one or more audio sensors (122) comprise one or more microphones.

4. The system (100) of claim 1, wherein the portable computing device (120) further comprises a first wireless transceiver component (124) configured to wirelessly transmit and receive audio data between the command subsystem (200) and the second party.

5. The system (100) of claim 4, wherein the first wireless transceiver component (124) comprises one or more antennas.

6. The system (100) of claim 1 further comprising a second wireless transceiver component (140) configured to transmit the continuous stream of video data from each camera of the one or more cameras (130) to the command subsystem (200).

7. The system (100) of claim 1 further comprising a speaker (150) disposed within the armored housing (110), operatively coupled to the portable computing device (120), configured to amplify audio data from the command subsystem (200).

8. The system (100) of claim 1 further comprising a switcher device (160) disposed within the armored housing (110), operatively coupled to the one or more cameras (130), configured to select at least one of the one or more cameras (130) based on selection instructions.

9. The system (100) of claim 1 further comprising a battery configured to generate power and one or more terminal distribution blocks (170) operatively coupled to the battery,disposed within the armored housing (110), configured to evenly distribute power throughout the armored housing (110).

10. A system (1000) for wireless hostage negotiation between a first party in a first location and a second party in a second location, the system (1000) comprising: a. a throw phone subsystem (100) configured to be placed in the second location, the throw phone subsystem (100) comprising: i. an armored housing (110) comprising two handles such that the throw phone subsystem (100) is configured to be carried with two hands; ii. an audio transceiver device (1100) disposed within the armored housing (110), comprising a first wireless transceiver component (124) communicatively coupled to a command subsystem (200), configured to accept a continuous stream of first-party audio data from the command subsystem (200), gather second party audio data, generate a continuous stream of second party audio data, and transmit the continuous stream of second party audio data to the command subsystem (200); and iii. a video transceiver device (1200) disposed within the armored housing (110), comprising a second wireless transceiver component (140) communicatively coupled to the command subsystem (200), configured to gather video data, generate one or more continuous streams of video data, and transmit the one or more continuous streams of video data to the command subsystem (200); and b. the command subsystem (200) configured to operate in the first location, the command subsystem (200) comprising a command wireless transceiver component communicatively coupled to the first wireless transceiver component (124) and the second wireless transceiver component (140), configured to accept the continuous stream of first-party audio data, transmit the continuous stream of first-party audio data to the throw phone subsystem (100), and receive the one or more continuous streams of video data from the video transceiver device (1200).

11. The system (1000) of claim 10, wherein the audio transceiver device (1100) further comprises a portable computing device (120).

12. The system (1000) of claim 10, wherein the audio transceiver device (1100) further comprises one or more audio sensors (122).

13. The system (1000) of claim 12, wherein the one or more audio sensors (122) compriseone or more microphones.

14. The system (1000) of claim 10, wherein the video transceiver device (1200) comprises one or more cameras (130).

15. The system (1000) of claim 14, wherein the video transceiver device (1200) further comprises a switcher device (160), operatively coupled to the one or more cameras (130), configured to select at least one of the one or more cameras (130) based on selection instructions.

16. The system (1000) of claim 15, wherein the second wireless transceiver component (140) is further configured to transmit the continuous stream of video data from each camera of the at least one selected camera to the command subsystem (200), receive the selection instructions from the command subsystem (200) and transmit the selection instructions to the switcher device (160).

17. The system (1000) of claim 10, wherein the first wireless transceiver component (124) comprises one or more antennas.

18. The system (1000) of claim 10, wherein the second wireless transceiver component (140) comprises one or more antennas.

19. The system (1000) of claim 10, wherein the throw phone subsystem (100) further comprises a battery configured to generate power and one or more terminal distribution blocks (170) operatively coupled to the battery, disposed within the armored housing (110), configured to evenly distribute power throughout the armored housing (110).

20. A system (1000) for wireless hostage negotiation between a first party in a first location and a second party in a second location, the system (1000) comprising: a. a throw phone subsystem (100) configured to be placed in the second location, the throw phone subsystem (100) comprising: i. an armored housing (110) comprising two handles such that the throw phone subsystem (100) is configured to be carried with two hands; ii. a portable computing device (120) disposed within the armored housing (110), the portable computing device (120) comprising:A. one or more throw phone microphones (122) configured to gather second-party audio data;B. a first wireless transceiver component (124) communicatively coupled to a command subsystem (200);C. a throw phone processor (126) operatively coupled to the one ormore throw phone microphones (122) and the first wireless transceiver component (124), configured to execute computer-readable instructions; andD. a throw phone memory component (128) operatively coupled to the throw phone processor (126), comprising computer-readable instructions for: a. receiving a continuous stream of first-party audio data from the command subsystem (200); b. accepting the second-party audio data from the one or more throw phone microphones (122); c. generating a continuous stream of second-party audio data; and d. transmitting the continuous stream of second-party audio data to the command subsystem (200); iii. a speaker (150) disposed within the armored housing (110), operatively coupled to the portable computing device (120), configured to amplify the continuous stream of first-party audio data; iv. one or more cameras (130) disposed within the armored housing (110), each camera configured to gather video data and generate a continuous stream of video data; v. a switcher device (160) disposed within the armored housing (110), operatively coupled to the one or more cameras (130), configured to select at least one of the one or more cameras (130) based on selection instructions; vi. a second wireless transceiver component (140) disposed within the armored housing (110), comprising one or more antennas, operatively coupled to the one or more cameras (130) and the switcher component, configured to transmit the continuous stream of video data from each camera of the at least one selected camera to the command subsystem (200), receive the selection instructions from the command subsystem (200), and transmit the selection instructions to the switcher device (160); vii. a battery configured to generate power; and viii. one or more terminal distribution blocks (170) operatively coupled to thebattery, disposed within the armored housing (110), configured to evenly distribute power throughout the armored housing (110); and b. the command subsystem (200) configured to operate in the first location, the command subsystem (200) comprising: i. one or more command microphones (210) configured to gather first-party audio data; ii. a command wireless transceiver component (220) communicatively coupled to the first wireless transceiver component (124) and the second wireless transceiver component (140); iii. a command processor (230) operatively coupled to the one or more command microphones (210) and the command wireless transceiver component (220), configured to execute computer-readable instructions; and iv. a command memory component (240) operatively coupled to the command processor (230), comprising computer-readable instructions for:A. accepting the first-party audio data from the one or more command microphones (210);B. generating the continuous stream of first-party audio data;C. transmitting the continuous stream of first-party audio data to the first wireless transceiver component (124);D. receiving the continuous stream of second-party audio data;E. receiving the continuous stream of video data from each camera of the at least one selected camera;F. accepting the selection instructions from a user; andG. transmitting the selection instructions to the second wireless transceiver component (140).

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