Event-based responder dispatch

1. A method of automated communication between a computing device of a responder and a computing device of a dispatch unit, the method performed by the computing device of the responder, the method comprising:

determining that an event has occurred, the event is associated with the responder;

in response to determining that the event occurred, automatically sending an indication of the event to the computing device of the dispatch unit;

receiving, from the computing device of the dispatch unit, a request for information, the computing device of the dispatch unit is configured to send the request for information in response to receiving the indication of the event;

obtaining the requested information; and

sending the requested information to the computing device of the dispatch unit.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein

the requested information includes live video; and

sending the requested information includes streaming the live video from the computing device of the responder to the computing device of the dispatch unit.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein obtaining the requested information includes

enabling a camera associated with the responder; and

receiving the live video from the enabled camera.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

adding metadata to the requested information prior to sending the requested information.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the metadata includes one or more of a dispatch record number, an identifier of a responder agency, a location, or a category of the requested information.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a request to enable or disable at least one responder device associated with the responder;

determining that the request to enable or disable the at least one responder device was sent by an authorized sender; and

enabling or disabling the at least one responder device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the at least one responder device includes at least one of a camera, a microphone, a weapon, a light bar, and a safety device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the event includes one or more of a heart rate of the responder exceeding a threshold, a safety device being disabled, a gunshot sound being detected, the responder being determined to be nonresponsive, the responder pressing a panic button, the responder entering information into the computing device of the responder, or the computing device of the responder arriving at a particular location or event.

9. A computing device for communicating between a responder and a dispatch unit, the computing device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory having instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, in response to execution by the processor, cause the computing device to:

determine that an event has occurred, the event is associated with the responder;

automatically send an indication of the event to a dispatch computing device in response to determining that the event has occurred;

receive, from the dispatch computing device, a request for information, the dispatch computing device is configured to send the request for information in response to receiving the indication of the event;

obtain the information requested; and

send the information requested.

10. The computing device of claim 9 wherein to determine that the event has occurred, the processor executes instructions to assess at least one of a source and a value of a signal from a responder device to determine whether an event has occurred.

11. The computing device of claim 9 wherein to obtain the information, the processor executes instructions to obtain the information from at least one of a responder device and a component of the computing device.

12. The computing device of claim 9 wherein to obtain the information, the processor executes instructions to:

enable at least one of a responder device and a component of the computing device to capture the information; and

receive the captured information.

13. A method performed by a computing device carried by a responder for communicating with a dispatch unit, the method comprising:

receiving a signal from at least one of a responder device and a component of the computing device;

determining whether the signal indicates that an event has occurred;

in response to determining that the event has occurred, transmitting a message indicating that the event has occurred;

in response to transmitting the message, receiving a first request for information from a computing device of the dispatch unit;

obtaining the information identified in the first request; and

transmitting the information.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein determining comprises assessing at least one of a source and a value of the signal to determine whether the signal indicates that an emergency event has occurred.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein obtaining comprises receiving the information from at least one of the responder device and the component of the computing device.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein obtaining comprises:

enabling at least one of the responder device and the component of the computing device to capture the information; and

receiving the captured information.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein:

the at least one responder device and the component of the computing device comprises a camera; and

the information comprises streaming video.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

receiving a second request to enable or disable the at least one of the responder device and the component of the computing device;

determining that the second request was sent by an authorized sender; and

in accordance with determining, enabling or disabling the at least one of the responder device and the component of the computing device.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the at least one responder device includes at least one of a camera, a microphone, a weapon, a light bar, or a safety device.