Emergency Video Stream Access Control for First Responders

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Solution Overview

Problem

Private surveillance networks are not accessible to emergency responders during emergencies, hindering their ability to gain critical situational awareness and respond effectively.

Innovation Solution

A system that allows facility administrators to securely share video streams from private surveillance networks with pre-designated first responders by activating access through authentication and permissions, enabling real-time video access via mobile apps and web browsers during emergencies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If private surveillance networks maintain strict accessibility control, then privacy and security are improved, but emergency responders cannot access video streams during emergencies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprivacy and securityVSAvoidaccessibility to emergency responders

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic access control that transitions from a static closed state to a dynamic open state during emergencies. The surveillance system can switch between restricting access to authorized personnel only and allowing emergency responder access based on real-time emergency detection and administrator activation, resolving the contradiction between maintaining privacy and enabling emergency access

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-designating emergency responders and establishing authentication credentials before emergencies occur. First responders register in advance, and the system prepares authentication mechanisms and permission frameworks ahead of time, enabling rapid activation of access during emergencies without compromising normal privacy restrictions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If the system always shares video streams with first responders, then situational awareness is improved, but privacy of the surveillance network is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesituational awareness for first respondersVSAvoidprivacy of surveillance network

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the sharing state based on emergency conditions. Video stream access is automatically restricted during normal operations to maintain privacy, and only activated during confirmed emergencies when administrators detect and trigger the emergency response mode, thus balancing privacy protection with situational awareness needs

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies different access quality to different user groups based on context. Normal users have no access, authorized personnel have limited access during emergencies, and first responders receive full access only when emergency conditions are active. This localized quality control ensures privacy is maintained during normal operations while enabling situational awareness when needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Reliability

If the system requires authentication and permissions for video access, then security is improved, but access speed and response time are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesecurityVSAvoidaccess speed

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs authentication and permission verification in advance during normal operations. First responders pre-establish credentials and the system pre-configures emergency response permissions, so that during actual emergencies, access can be activated through simple triggers without requiring lengthy authentication processes, thus maintaining both security and rapid response capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where administrators receive real-time notifications when emergencies are detected, and the system automatically activates pre-configured access permissions for designated first responders. This feedback loop eliminates manual authentication delays during emergencies by using automated permission activation based on pre-established security frameworks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20220053041A1Methods for sharing private video streams with first responders under facility administrator control

Publication Date: 2022.02.17 EAGLE EYE NETWORKS INC

AI summary

A method enables video surveillance service subscribers to share image streams with individual first responder agencies in the event of emergency. Nominated agencies establish access credentials at the surveillance service data center. A customer administrator selects permissions on each camera via privileged web-browser or mobile device. Permissions enable selection by static meta data such as type, audio, location, motion, recognition, spectrum, and epoch. Setting ranges of time controls access to video streams of present and past epochs. A responding agency presents their access credential and a handle for each shared camera of interest upon receiving an electronic notification from the administrator. Dynamically generating a link to a secure webserver which records geo-location or network identifiers for validation customizes a notification for each responding agency and each event. Under control by a customer administrator, a virtual machine dedicated to each responding agency instantiates a video server.