Systems and methods that yield highly-accurate classification of acoustic and other non-image events, involving pre-processing data from one or more transducers and generating a visual representation of the source as well as associated features and processing, are disclosed. According to certain exemplary implementations herein, such pre-processing steps may be utilized in situations where 1) all impulsive acoustic events have many features in common due to their point source origin and impulsive nature, and/or 2) the error rates that are considered acceptable in general purpose image classification are much higher than the acceptable levels in automatic impulsive incident classification. Further, according to some aspects, the data may be pre-processed in various ways, such as to remove extraneous or irrelevant details and/or perform any required rotation, alignment, scaling, etc. tasks, such that these tasks do not need to be “learned” in a less direct and more expensive manner in the neural network.
Systems and methods that yield highly-accurate classification of acoustic and other non-image events, involving pre-processing data from one or more transducers and generating a visual representation of the source as well as associated features and processing, are disclosed. According to certain exemplary implementations herein, such pre-processing steps may be utilized in situations where 1) all impulsive acoustic events have many features in common due to their point source origin and impulsive nature, and/or 2) the error rates that are considered acceptable in general purpose image classification are much higher than the acceptable levels in automatic impulsive incident classification. Further, according to some aspects, the data may be pre-processed in various ways, such as to remove extraneous or irrelevant details and/or perform any required rotation, alignment, scaling, etc. tasks, such that these tasks do not need to be “learned” in a less direct and more expensive manner in the neural network.
Systems and methods for processing information present in a digital audio stream to obtain a measure of gain of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) preamplifier are disclosed. In one implementation, a method of processing information present in a digitally sampled stream to obtain a measure of ADC preamplifier gain used to digitize the output of a known transducer comprises transforming time-domain digital samples into the frequency domain through use of a discrete Fourier transform (DFT), and using knowledge of the maximum effective frequency associated with the frequency response of the transducer to process frequency-domain data to obtain a measure of the gain of the ADC preamplifier.
Systems and methods that yield highly-accurate classification of acoustic and other non-image events, involving pre-processing data from one or more transducers and generating a visual representation of the source as well as associated features and processing, are disclosed. According to certain exemplary implementations herein, such pre-processing steps may be utilized in situations where 1) all impulsive acoustic events have many features in common due to their point source origin and impulsive nature, and/or 2) the error rates that are considered acceptable in general purpose image classification are much higher than the acceptable levels in automatic impulsive incident classification. Further, according to some aspects, the data may be pre-processed in various ways, such as to remove extraneous or irrelevant details and/or perform any required rotation, alignment, scaling, etc. tasks, such that these tasks do not need to be “learned” in a less direct and more expensive manner in the neural network.
System and methods are disclosed for emergency management during threatening events such as gunfire incidents. In some exemplary implementations, systems and methods may provide information to computer-based and mobile-device user interfaces, enabling various features and capabilities such as notifying site-based subscribers and public safety personnel that an emergency has occurred at a specific location. Implementations may also provide users with real-time information that can utilized by on-site personnel and responding public safety personnel to mitigate the emergency. Further, aspects may include configurations and/or capabilities that integrate with external technology platforms such as computer aided dispatch systems, surveillance camera systems, and security systems such as those having electronic lock control.
G08B 1/00 - Systems for signalling characterised solely by the form of transmission of the signal
G08B 25/10 - Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems characterised by the transmission medium using wireless transmission systems
A survey method giving improvements in weapons fire location systems is disclosed. In an urban system with a distributed array in the midst of many buildings that block signal paths or create echoes, methods are provided to measure signal propagation. A survey or tour of the covered region uses a moving signal source to probe propagation inside the region. Survey results may indicate where more or fewer sensors are needed. Survey results plus current measured noise gives prediction of instantaneous system sensitivity. In addition, multipath propagation may be used to determine a location even when only one or two sensors detect the signal. In such exemplary cases, triangulation may be replaced or augmented by pattern recognition. Further, signals of the survey need not be acoustic impulses such as gunfire, but may be RF signals, or coded continuous signals so that gunfire-like sounds would not disturb citizens in the area.
G01S 5/00 - Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position-line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations
G01S 5/22 - Position of source determined by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements
7.
Systems and methods associated with detection of indoor gunfire
Systems and methods are disclosed for reliably detecting gunfire in enclosed spaces having significant acoustic reverberation. Implementations are configured to quickly and reliably report the room or portion of a room where gunfire is located. Innovations herein may ensure low false alarm rate by thresholding, pattern recognition and/or detecting the muzzle optical flash. In some embodiments, a review center with trained personnel may evaluate the incident before reporting to local authorities. The indoor system can be incorporated into an outdoor gunshot location system to better protect a local area such as a campus or a transportation hub. Systems and methods herein may involve features and functionality associated with additional resources, such as intercoms, cellphones, and access control, to provide mitigation of harm in case of a shooting.
G08B 17/00 - Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
G08B 17/08 - Actuation involving the use of explosive means
G08B 13/16 - Actuation by interference with mechanical vibrations in air or other fluid
G08B 29/18 - Prevention or correction of operating errors
G01S 5/18 - Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position-line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
8.
Systems and methods of processing information regarding weapon fire location using projectile shockwave and muzzle blast times of arrival data
Systems and method of processing information regarding weapon fire are set forth herein. In one exemplary implementation, a method of processing information regarding weapon fire, such as determining weapon fire location using projectile shockwave and muzzle blast time(s) of arrival data is disclosed.
G01S 3/80 - Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
9.
Systems and methods associated with detection of indoor gunfire
Systems and methods are disclosed for reliably detecting gunfire in enclosed spaces having significant acoustic reverberation. Implementations are configured to quickly and reliably report the room or portion of a room where gunfire is located. Innovations herein may ensure low false alarm rate by thresholding, pattern recognition and/or detecting the muzzle optical flash. In some embodiments, a review center with trained personnel may evaluate the incident before reporting to local authorities. The indoor system can be incorporated into an outdoor gunshot location system to better protect a local area such as a campus or a transportation hub. Systems and methods herein may involve features and functionality associated with additional resources, such as intercoms, cellphones, and access control, to provide mitigation of harm in case of a shooting.
Systems and methods are disclosed for locating a weapon fire incident such as an acoustic transient from a gunshot, explosion, weapons launch, etc. In one exemplary implementation, there is provided a method of locating the incident from a combination of propagation phenomena including a discharge time of the weapon fire incident. Moreover, the method may include obtaining a first propagation parameter of the incident from one or more first sensors, obtaining the discharge time from another sensor, and processing the data to determine a location using a common time basis among sensor measurements. According to further exemplary implementations, the discharge time may include a transient event that has a different propagation velocity than that of sound in the atmosphere.
G01S 3/808 - Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using transducers spaced apart and measuring phase or time difference between signals therefrom, i.e. path-difference systems
11.
Systems and methods for augmenting gunshot location using echo processing features
Systems and methods are disclosed for processing weapon fire information such as gunfire. In one exemplary implementation, there is provided a method of processing gunshot information to determine source location information involving echo/reflection processing features. Moreover, the method may include processing gunshot information received from a source at a sensor having a reflecting surface at a given distance, processing direct arrival time and echo arrival time information, and determining source location information as a function of a virtual sensor calculated behind the surface.
G01S 3/80 - Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
12.
Systems and methods of automated correlation of weapon fire data with monitored persons-of-interest/location data
Systems and methods are disclosed for processing information associated with monitoring persons/devices and weapon fire location information. In one exemplary implementation, a weapon fire location system is used to characterize and locate impulsive events and these locations are correlated with the positions of monitoring persons or devices, such as monitoring anklets placed on offenders or other persons of interest. Further, various information can be plotted on map, display, or for other graphical output to assist in the process of handling a weapon fire event. For example, when a monitoring device, whose position can be provided by GPS or alternate methods is found nearby a gunshot location, then associated graphical information can be presented on the output of the weapon fire location system or an associated display used by those monitoring the offenders.
G01S 3/80 - Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
G08B 1/08 - Systems for signalling characterised solely by the form of transmission of the signal using electric transmission
A system for locating and identifying an acoustic event such as gunfire. The inventive system employs a plurality of man wearable acoustic sensors for detecting gunfire, each acoustic sensor having a display associated therewith for displaying information concerning the acoustic event to a user. In preferred embodiments, the sensor includes a microphone for receiving acoustic information; an A/D converter; a processor for processing the digitized signal to detect a gunshot and determine a time of arrival; a GPS receiver for determining the position of the acoustic sensor; and a network interface for bidirectional communication with a system server. Preferably the display comprises: an LCD; and an electronically readable compass. When the display and acoustic sensor are in separate housings, the acoustic sensor includes a transmitter and the display includes a receiver for transferring the gunshot information.
G01S 3/80 - Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
14.
Weapon fire location systems and methods involving mobile device and/or other features
Systems and methods are disclosed for processing information associated with weapon fire. In one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a method of processing information associated with weapon fire, including identifying a weapon fire incident, determining positional information regarding a source location of the weapon fire, and processing positional information regarding a device within a particular proximity of the source location of the weapon fire. Moreover, exemplary methods may include providing information for displaying the positional information of the source location of the weapon fire and the device together on a display. Other exemplary embodiments may include performing processing that provides one or more of source location of the weapon fire, device location information and/or other information related to the device for various uses.
G01S 3/80 - Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
15.
Acoustic detection of weapons near transportation centers
Systems and methods are disclosed for determining location of a weapon firing incident. In one exemplary embodiment, there is provided a system for determining the location of a weapon firing incident in proximate position to a region traversed by vehicles. The system includes a first set of sensors associated with a first sub-region of the region, for detecting the weapon firing incident and for generating an output, and a processing component that determines a location of the weapon firing incident based upon the output. Moreover, the system may also include a second set of sensors arranged to detect the weapon firing incident along the travel path traversed by the vehicles and for generating a second output. Other exemplary embodiments may include arrangements of the sensors in patterns is associated with sub-regions and/or travel path as well as weapon fire location processing features.
G01S 3/80 - Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
16.
Systems and methods with improved three-dimensional source location processing including constraint of location solutions to a two-dimensional plane
Systems and methods are disclosed associated with processing origin/location information of a source or event. In one exemplary implementation, there is provided a method of performing improved three-dimensional source location processing including constraint of location solutions to a two-dimensional plane. Moreover, the method includes obtaining a plane of constraint characterized as a plane in which the source is likely to occur, providing one or more virtual sensing elements each characterized as being located on a first side of the plane of constraint in a mirror image/symmetrical position across from a corresponding actual sensing element on an opposite side of the plane, and constraining possible origin locations to be located in the plane of constraint. Other exemplary implementations may include determining the origin location as a function of positions of the sensing elements and the virtual sensing elements as well as time-of-arrival and/or angle-of-arrival information.
G01S 3/80 - Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
17.
Systems and methods of processing impulses including bullet pulses and/or muzzle pulses in association with time domain representations
Systems and method are disclosed for processing signals. In one exemplary implementation, a method may include transforming initial bullet data associated with one or more sensors into a set of discrete pulses, dividing the discrete pulses into pulse subsets, generating, for the subsets, time domain representations of the pulses, wherein the time domain representations include waveforms having pulse features, and processing the time domain representations to determine alignment between one or more of pulse features, pulses, pairs of channels, and/or pairs of sensors. One or more further implementations may include determining identity of pulses in association with a matching process performed as a function of the alignment, as well as, optionally, other pulse processing features/functionality.
G01S 3/80 - Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
18.
System and method for precision acoustic event detection
A system and method for providing precision locations for sensors which make up an array of sensors in a gunshot detection system. In a preferred embodiment sensors employ a commercial GPS which reports a sensor position or a group of pseudoranges to GPS satellites. A server collects differential information from a differential node and, in one preferred embodiment, calculates a precision position for each sensor by adjusting the reported position or pseudoranges with the differential information. In another preferred embodiment differential information is sent from the host to individual sensors which calculate their own precision positions. Differential information may be latitude and longitude corrections, pseudorange corrections, ionospheric delay, GPS satellite clock drift, or other corrective term which will improve the accuracy of a sensor position.
G01S 5/18 - Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position-line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
G01S 5/14 - Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
19.
Acoustic location of gunshots using combined angle of arrival and time of arrival measurements
A gunshot location system computes candidate gunshot locations [314] from angle-of-arrival information [304, 308] and time-of-arrival information [312] provided by acoustic sensors [300, 302]. In addition to an angle, each sensor calculates an angular uncertainty [306, 310] from impulses received at four or more microphones having rotational symmetry. An intersection of one or more time-of-arrival hyperbolas with one or more angle-of-arrival beams [322] is used to determine a candidate gunshot location. In simple environments, a location can be confirmed with just two sensors allowing sensor density to be significantly reduced, while in complex environments including reflections, blocking, and interfering acoustic events, the additional angle-of-arrival information improves location accuracy and confidence, allowing elimination of candidate locations inconsistent with the combined time-of-arrival and angle-of-arrival information.
G01S 3/80 - Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
20.
Systems and methods of directing a camera to image weapon fire
Systems and methods are disclosed for processing data associated with an acoustic event. In an exemplary implementation, there is provided a method of data processing including determining a location of an acoustic event and processing information associated with directing a camera towards the location. Moreover, one exemplary method may include processing information from and/or related to one or more sensors in an area to be monitored, processing data associated with the acoustic event, and determining a location of a source of the acoustic event as a function of the information from and/or related to the acoustic event. Further exemplary implementations include performing processing associated with providing instructions to direct a camera towards the determined location.
A system for locating and identifying an acoustic event such as gunfire. The inventive system employs a plurality of man wearable acoustic sensors for detecting gunfire, each acoustic sensor having a display associated therewith for displaying information concerning the acoustic event to a user. In preferred embodiments, the sensor includes a microphone for/receiving acoustic information; an A/D converter; a processor for processing the digitized signal to detect a gunshot and determine a time of arrival; a GPS receiver for determining the position of the acoustic sensor; and a network interface for bidirectional communication with a system server. Preferably the display comprises an LCD; and an electronically readable compass. When the display and acoustic sensor are in separate housings, the acoustic sensor includes a transmitter and the display includes a receiver for transferring the gunshot information.
G01S 3/80 - Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
22.
System and method for improving the efficiency of an acoustic sensor
The present invention provides a system for identifying and locating an acoustic event. In a preferred embodiment a gunshot detection sensor includes an audio sensor which detects gunshots in combination with a GPS engine which provides location and timing in conjunction with a host system. This allows an acoustic sensing weapon locator which is integrated for size and portability. The inventive mobile military gunshot detector requires a battery or fuel cell at its heart to operate. By managing the power consumption, batteries can be down-sized and the time between changes or recharges can be dramatically extended allowing soldiers to carry less weight and transport fewer replacement batteries into a hostile environment.
G01S 3/80 - Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
23.
Acoustic location of gunshots using combined angle of arrival and time of arrival measurements
A gunshot location system computes candidate gunshot locations [314] from angle-of-arrival information [304, 308] and time-of-arrival information [312] provided by acoustic sensors [300, 302]. In addition to an angle, each sensor calculates an angular uncertainty [306, 310] from impulses received at four or more microphones having rotational symmetry. An intersection of one or more time-of-arrival hyperbolas with one or more angle-of-arrival beams [322] is used to determine a candidate gunshot location. In simple environments, a location can be confirmed with just two sensors allowing sensor density to be significantly reduced, while in complex environments including reflections, blocking, and interfering acoustic events, the additional angle-of-arrival information improves location accuracy and confidence, allowing elimination of candidate locations inconsistent with the combined time-of-arrival and angle-of-arrival information.
G01S 3/80 - Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
24.
System and method for archiving data from a sensor array
A system and method for archiving and retrieving information from an array of remote sensors. In a preferred embodiment the invention is incorporated in a gunshot detection and location system to preserve audio information surrounding a gunshot event for later review or analysis. In a preferred embodiment the system includes a plurality of acoustic sensors deployed in an array, a computer for processing gunshot information from the sensors, and a mass storage device for temporary archival of audio information. When a gunshot event is detected, the location of the audio information of the data within the spool is stored in an index to facilitate later retrieval of the information.
G01S 3/808 - Systems for determining direction or deviation from predetermined direction using transducers spaced apart and measuring phase or time difference between signals therefrom, i.e. path-difference systems
25.
System and method for protecting the location of an acoustic event detector
A system and method for protecting sensor positions in an array of acoustic sensors which make up a gunfire locator system. The inventive system includes a purity of sensors and a host computer. Each sensor includes: a microphone for receiving acoustic information; a processor for processing acoustic information to detect an acoustic event and determine a time of arrival; a GPS receiver; an encryption module for encrypting transmitted sensor positions; and a network interface for transmitting sensor positions and times of arrival. The host computer includes: a network interface for receiving sensor transmissions; an encryption module for deciphering sensor positions; and a CPU.
A system and method for providing precision locations for sensors which make up an array of sensors in a gunshot detection system. In a preferred embodiment sensors employ a commercial GPS which reports a sensor position or a group of pseudoranges to GPS satellites. A server collects differential information from a differential node and, in one preferred embodiment, calculates a precision position for each sensor by adjusting the reported position or pseudoranges with the differential information. In another preferred embodiment differential information is sent from the host to individual sensors which calculate their own precision positions. Differential information may be latitude and longitude corrections, pseudorange corrections, ionospheric delay, GPS satellite clock drift, or other corrective term which will improve the accuracy of a sensor position.
G01S 5/18 - Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position-line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves
G01S 5/14 - Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
A system for locating and identifying an acoustic event such as gunfire. The inventive system employs a plurality of man wearable acoustic sensors for detecting gunfire, each acoustic sensor having a display associated therewith for displaying information concerning the acoustic event to a user. In preferred embodiments, the sensor includes a microphone for receiving acoustic information; an A/D converter; a processor for processing the digitized signal to detect a gunshot and determine a time of arrival; a GPS receiver for determining the position of the acoustic sensor; and a network interface for bidirectional communication with a system server. Preferably the display comprises: an LCD; and an electronically readable compass. When the display and acoustic sensor are in separate housings, the acoustic sensor includes a transmitter and the display includes a receiver for transferring the gunshot information.
G01S 3/80 - Direction-finders for determining the direction from which infrasonic, sonic, ultrasonic, or electromagnetic waves, or particle emission, not having a directional significance, are being received using ultrasonic, sonic, or infrasonic waves