Body-Worn Camera Automatic Activation via GPS Hotspot

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current police body-worn cameras require manual activation or external signals to start video recording, which can be unsafe or impractical in emergency situations, such as police confrontations or sudden crime events.

Innovation Solution

An information capturing device with a positioning unit that detects its geographic location and activates an audiovisual recording unit when within a predefined hotspot boundary, using GPS-based fence settings to automatically start recording environmental data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual activation or external signal activation is used for video recording, then the device can be activated intentionally, but it cannot be activated in time during emergencies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecording activation reliabilityVSAvoidactivation time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-configures geographic boundaries (hotspots) where recording should occur. When the device enters these pre-defined zones, recording automatically activates without requiring manual input or external signals, thus eliminating activation delay during emergencies while maintaining intentional activation capability through the pre-set geographic parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of time

If automatic recording is activated without manual confirmation, then activation time is reduced, but false activation may occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactivation timeVSAvoidactivation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Geographic boundaries serve as an intermediary condition between automatic detection and recording activation. The system uses GPS positioning to detect whether the device is within a pre-defined hotspot boundary, and only activates recording when both conditions are met: (1) device enters the geographic boundary, and (2) the boundary is properly configured in the system. This intermediary geographic check prevents false activation while maintaining automatic response capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If recording is activated continuously, then no data loss occurs, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata capture reliabilityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous recording, the system uses periodic location checking combined with geographic boundary detection. The device periodically checks its GPS position and compares it against pre-defined hotspot boundaries, activating recording only when entering these designated zones. This periodic location-based triggering maintains data capture reliability in critical areas while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous recording.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables automatic activation of audiovisual recording when entering a hotspot, ensuring safety by eliminating the need for manual activation during emergencies and preventing data loss by using a secondary boundary for automatic deactivation.

Implementation Method 1

detecting a current position of the information capturing device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGPS positioning:

Data Source

PatentEP3989538B1Information capturing device and starting method of information capturing device
Publication Date: 2023.10.25 GETAC HLDG CORP
  • EP3989538B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3989538B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3989538B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

An information capturing device includes a setting storage unit, a positioning unit, an audiovisual recording unit and a control unit. The setting storage unit stores a fence setting of a hotspot. The positioning unit, coupled to the setting storage unit, detects a current position, determines whether the current position is within a first geographic boundary defined by the fence setting, and outputs an activation notification when the current position is within the first geographic boundary. The control unit, coupled to the positioning unit and the audiovisual recording unit, activates the audiovisual recording according to the activation notification to perform audiovisual recording so as to capture environmental data.