MARBLE Mesh Radio for Body-Worn Camera Data Relay

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current body-worn cameras for law enforcement and soldiers face issues such as user forgetfulness during stressful situations, limited recording duration due to storage capacity, excessive bandwidth consumption for data transmission, and lack of integration with communication devices, leading to inadequate real-time communication and data sharing across siloed systems.

Innovation Solution

A portable, self-contained mesh-capable radio transceiver unit, known as MARBLE, forms a local ad hoc network and acts as a relay gateway to access IP networks, enabling interoperability with other devices and systems, automatically triggering video recording and streaming based on biometric data, and allowing real-time voice and video communication across agencies.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Duration of action of moving object

If body-worn cameras are used for continuous recording, then recording duration is extended, but storage capacity is exceeded and bandwidth consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecording durationVSAvoidstorage capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the video storage function from the body-worn camera to the cloud-based storage system. The camera captures and transmits video data, but the actual storage occurs remotely in cloud infrastructure, allowing continuous recording without being constrained by local storage capacity of the wearable device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a cloud-based intermediary system that mediates between the body-worn camera and the final storage destination. This intermediary handles data transmission, storage management, and retrieval operations, enabling extended recording duration while managing bandwidth consumption through intelligent data handling and compression.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If body-worn cameras transmit data in real-time, then communication responsiveness is improved, but bandwidth consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication responsivenessVSAvoidbandwidth consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic data transmission instead of continuous real-time streaming. Video data is captured locally and transmitted at scheduled intervals or when significant events occur, maintaining communication responsiveness for critical information while significantly reducing overall bandwidth consumption compared to constant streaming.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent dynamically changes transmission parameters such as video resolution, frame rate, and compression level based on situational context, event significance, and available bandwidth. This allows high-quality real-time transmission when necessary while reducing data rates during routine situations, optimizing the balance between responsiveness and bandwidth usage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If standalone body-worn cameras are used, then device simplicity is maintained, but interoperability and communication capabilities are limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice simplicityVSAvoidinteroperability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the body-worn camera system universal by implementing support for multiple communication protocols and standards. The camera can interoperate with various first responder devices, command systems, and storage infrastructures through standardized interfaces, enabling seamless integration across different agencies and platforms while maintaining the simplicity of the core camera device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3254480B1System and method for a man-portable mobile ad-hoc radio based linked extensible network
Publication Date: 2020.04.22 MUTUALINK INC
  • EP3254480B1 patent drawingFigure 1A
  • EP3254480B1 patent drawingFigure 1B
  • EP3254480B1 patent drawingFigure 2A

AI summary

Embodiments include a system, method, and computer program product for a mobile ad-hoc radio based linked extensible (MARBLE) unit that is a portable, self-contained mesh-capable radio transceiver unit capable of being deployed with other MARBLE units to form a local area ad hoc mesh network. Several MARBLE units may be distributed in the field by an operator (e.g., first responder) in the form of a ball, puck or other shaped enclosure that may be held by a human hand and thrown, tossed or placed in the field to deploy a local area ad hoc mesh network. The MARBLE units may exchange information among themselves to determine and select one MARBLE unit as a relay gateway to access an IP network for all of the MARBLE units coupled to the local area ad hoc mesh network.