Camera Command Control System for Emergency Situational Awareness

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing technologies lack an efficient and integrated system for monitoring and remotely controlling networks of visual, audio, and meteorological data capturing devices, which hinders rapid situational awareness and effective resource allocation during emergencies.

Innovation Solution

A software and systems framework utilizing digital cameras, command and control software, machine learning, and artificial intelligence to create a network that allows for real-time data processing, visualization, and control, enabling enhanced situational awareness and resource allocation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple cameras are manually controlled to view different locations, then each user can view their target area, but system complexity and control conflicts increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-user camera controlVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables cameras to automatically perform patrol functions by pre-configuring patrol patterns, targets, and time intervals. The camera controller autonomously executes these patterns without requiring manual intervention for each patrol cycle, reducing control complexity while maintaining multi-location monitoring capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Users pre-configure patrol patterns, target locations, and time intervals before system operation. These preliminary settings allow the system to automatically execute complex multi-camera coordination without real-time manual control, resolving the contradiction between versatile control and system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If cameras continuously capture images for multiple users, then all users can simultaneously view their target areas, but image capture frequency and data volume increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimultaneous multi-user viewingVSAvoidimage data volume

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic patrol patterns where cameras capture images at predetermined time intervals rather than continuously. Each camera alternates between capturing images and remaining stationary, providing updated views to multiple users periodically while significantly reducing overall image capture frequency and data generation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system captures images at lower frequency than continuous monitoring would require, using periodic patrol patterns to provide sufficient situational awareness updates without generating excessive image data. This partial action approach maintains multi-user viewing capability while controlling data volume

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Ease of operation

If cameras are moved frequently to accommodate different user requests, then user flexibility is improved, but camera wear and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser flexibilityVSAvoidcamera energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Users pre-configure patrol patterns, target locations, and time intervals before system operation. These preliminary settings allow the system to automatically execute complex multi-camera coordination without real-time manual control, resolving the contradiction between versatile control and system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements periodic patrol patterns where cameras capture images at predetermined time intervals rather than continuously. Each camera alternates between capturing images and remaining stationary, providing updated views to multiple users periodically while significantly reducing overall image capture frequency and data generation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS12309340B2PT/PT-Z camera command, control and visualization system and method

Publication Date: 2025.05.20 DIGITAL PATH

AI summary

System and method for collection, control and display of cameras and images. Software may direct the cameras to targeted images automatically or manually. Artificial Intelligence (AI) may be used to identify targets and automatically direct one or more cameras to focus on a target. Images taken by one or more cameras may then be stored and displayed for later viewing or live streamed. Images may be aggregated to create up to a three hundred sixty-degree (360) view. Images may be conventional, thermal or infrared. Image parameters, such as sharpness and gain, may be adjusted in real-time at the camera level or during post processing on merged/panorama images to provide a consistent merged image for the end user. One or more cameras may be controlled by clicking on an image, including the generated panoramic 360 image, or a map overlaid with images and other data. Three dimensional (3D) models may be created by the software from the images taken by the cameras. Visualizations and map overlays may be created from the data collected.