Remote Camera Control via Movement Prompts for NG911
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Solution Overview
Problem
Next Generation 911 (NG911) systems face challenges in remotely controlling the field of vision of camera-equipped cellular devices due to their handheld nature and limited optics, leading to unstable video feeds and suboptimal quality, which hampers public safety practitioners' ability to assess incidents effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system that enables remote viewers to communicate with portable image capture devices to provide unambiguous movement prompts and capture high-resolution images by using a data path interface, processing system, and user interface to direct the device operator, allowing for precise control of the camera's field of vision and image capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a citizen uses a handheld camera-equipped cellular device to capture video at an incident scene, then the citizen can quickly deploy the device and begin capturing video, but the field of vision becomes unstable and difficult to control
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a remote viewer terminal as an intermediary between the citizen's handheld device and the public safety practitioner. The terminal receives video from the citizen's device, provides movement prompts to guide the citizen on how to position the camera, and enables the practitioner to indirectly control the field of vision without requiring direct manipulation of the handheld device
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by analyzing the video feed and providing movement prompts to the citizen. The terminal determines when the field of vision is stable and appropriate, then communicates this back to the citizen through movement prompts, creating a closed-loop control system that guides the citizen to achieve the desired field of vision
2Adaptability or versatility
If the citizen manually controls the camera to achieve desired field of vision, then the citizen can adjust the view, but the video quality degrades due to haphazard movement and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The remote viewer terminal acts as an intermediary that mediates between the citizen's manual control and the quality requirements. It provides movement prompts that guide the citizen on how to adjust the camera, enabling adaptability while ensuring that adjustments are made in a controlled manner that maintains video quality
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual mechanical control with an automated guidance system. Instead of relying on the citizen's manual manipulation, the terminal uses image processing and analysis to determine appropriate field of vision and provides electronic guidance (movement prompts) to achieve the desired view, substituting mechanical control with an automated control system
3Manufacturing precision
If the public safety practitioner needs high-resolution images for litigation or injury assessment, then the video quality should be high, but wireless bandwidth constraints force low-resolution video streaming
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses partial action by selectively capturing high-resolution images only when needed, rather than continuously streaming high-resolution video. The terminal monitors the video feed and triggers high-resolution image capture at specific moments when the field of vision is stable and appropriate, consuming bandwidth only when necessary
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the resolution parameter dynamically. During normal operation, low-resolution video is streamed to conserve bandwidth. When the terminal determines that high-quality images are needed (based on field of vision stability and appropriateness), it triggers high-resolution image capture, temporarily changing the resolution parameter to meet quality requirements
Data Source
AI summary
A digital image capture device streams captured images (e.g. low-resolution images) to a remote viewer terminal, along with image identifiers and/or device position information. The remote viewer terminal displays the images for viewing by a remote viewer. The remote viewer provides inputs to a user interface, which indicate a direction of desired movement of the image capture device, and/or that the remote viewer wants new images (e.g. high-resolution images) to be captured at a desired position. The user interface inputs are translated into requests, which are transmitted to the image capture device. The image capture device provides movement prompts that direct a device operator to move the device in a requested direction or toward a requested position. When a position of the device corresponds to a requested image capture position, the image capture device captures one or more new images, and transmits the new images.