Telematics sensors and camera activation in connection with firearm activity
Disclosed herein are apparatuses, systems, methods, and machine readable media for activating a portable camera in response to the activity of a firearm, and for implementing and using a system for identifying an individual who discharged a firearm, and for recording, assessing, identifying, and transmitting information related to the firing of a firearm, and for monitoring the status of an implement at a mount, and for using a charging device for delivering electrical power to components of a firearm. A communications channel may be established between a firearm telematics sensor and a video camera, sometimes by means of intermediary devices. A communications channel may be established between a mount (e.g., holster) telematics device and local and/or remote monitoring service components, sometimes by means of intermediary devices. When the telematics sensor detects that its associated firearm is removed from its holster, or in motion, or being discharged, it may signal the camera to initiate recording. When the telematics device detects that its associated firearm is removed from its holster, the change in status can be reported to the local and/or remote system.
1. A method for documenting a firearm-discharge event, based on instructions from a holster telematics sensor device mounted to a holster and a firearm telematics sensor device attached to a firearm, the holster telematics sensor device having a first processor, a first sensor, and a first storage component and configured for detecting an unholstering event, wherein the first processor, the first sensor, and the first storage component are contained within a common housing of the holster telematics sensor device, and the firearm telematics sensor device having a second processor, a second sensor, and a second storage component and configured for detecting a firearm-discharge event, wherein the second processor, the second sensor, and the second storage component are contained within a common housing of the firearm telematics sensor device, the method comprising:
detecting, by the holster telematics sensor device, an unholstering event, wherein detecting the unholstering event comprises:
generating, by the first sensor of the holster telematics sensor device, a presence measurement regarding the presence of the firearm in the holster, wherein the presence measurement is inductive coupling data or dielectric trace data;
determining, by the first processor of the holster telematics sensor device, the holstering status of the firearm based on the presence measurement, wherein the holstering status is selected from a group consisting of holstered and unholstered, and storing the holstering status in the first storage component; and
comparing, by the first processor of the holster telematics sensor device, the holstering status to a previous holstering status and identifying, by the first processor of the holster telematics sensor device, the unholstering event as a change in the status of the firearm from holstered to unholstered;
responsive to detection of the unholstering event, sending, to a camera, an instruction to record video data;
detecting, by the firearm telematics sensor device the firearm-discharge event, wherein detecting the firearm-discharge event comprises:
generating, by the second sensor of the firearm telematics sensor device, a data series based on inertial measurements concerning translation of the firearm and storing the data series in the second storage component; and
determining that a discharge event has occurred by identifying, by the processor of the firearm telematics sensor device, a portion of the data series based on the inertial measurements that is indicative of to a characteristic firearm-discharge-event pattern; and
storing, by the firearm telematics sensor device, metadata regarding the discharge event for association with the video data in the second storage component, wherein the metadata comprise a time stamp for the discharge event.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the instruction to record video data is sent over a telecommunications network.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the instruction to record video data is sent over a local area network by the holster telematics sensor device.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the firearm telematics sensor device is integrated into the grip of the firearm.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: receiving, at the camera, an instruction selected from the group consisting of: turning on the camera, waking the camera, marking existing video to be retained, and marking new video to be retained.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending, responsive to detecting an unholstering event, by the holster telematics sensor device, to the firearm telematics sensor device, an instruction to change the status of the firearm telematics sensor device to a more active state.
7. The method of claim 1 , the step of detecting the firearm-discharge event further comprising determining, by the firearm telematics sensor device, the orientation of the firearm during the firearm-discharge event, and the metadata further comprising the determined orientation.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the data series based on inertial measurements is filtered with a band pass filter prior to identifying the similar portion of the data series.