Devices with network-connected scopes for allowing a target to be simultaneously tracked by multiple other devices

1. A system for tracking a presumed target in a surveillance environment, the presumed target having a target position, the system comprising:

(a) a network server in communication with an electronic network;

(b) a first scope in the surveillance environment configured to initially act as a lead scope and initially locate a presumed target, the first scope including:

(i) a first plurality of measurement devices,

(ii) a first processor configured to:

(A) identify current target position data of a presumed target located by the first scope, the current target position data being identified using the first plurality of measurement devices of the first scope, and

(B) electronically communicate the current target position data regarding the presumed target located by the first scope to the network server via the electronic network; and (c) a second set of scopes in the surveillance environment for following the presumed target identified by the lead scope, each of the second set of scopes being in electronic communication with the network server via the electronic network for receiving the current target position data of the presumed target identified by the lead scope, and reporting its position to the network server via the electronic network, each of the second set of scopes including:

(i) a second plurality of measurement devices, and

(ii) a second processor configured to:

(A) identify current target position data of the second scope's current target position using the second plurality of measurement devices in the second scope, and

(B) calculate, using its current target position data and the target position data received from the first scope, position movements that are required to move the second scope from its current target position to the target position of the presumed target identified by the lead scope, wherein the position movements are used to re-position the second scope from its current target position to move towards the target position defined by the current target position data of the presumed target identified by the lead scope, and

wherein the first processor of the first scope, or the network server, is configured to:

(i) select one of the scopes from the second set of scopes based on its position with respect to the presumed target, and

(ii) direct the selected scope of the second set of scopes to locate the target position of the presumed target identified by the first scope, and then take over from the first scope as a new lead scope,

wherein the second processor of the selected scope is further configured to:

(D) send its current target position data of the presumed target to the remaining ones of the second set of scopes via the network server and the electronic network, thereby allowing the remaining ones of the second set of scopes to continue to follow the presumed target that was initially located by the first scope.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the selection of the scope from the second set of scopes is based on one of the following factors:

(i) the scope in the second set of scopes that is closest to the presumed target,

(ii) the scope in the second set of scopes that provides the least obstructed view of the presumed target,

(iii) the elevation of the second scope with respect to a view the target,

(iv) ability of the scope in the second set of scopes to capture biometric data of the target, or

(v) ability of the scope in the second set of scopes to shoot a projectile at the target or at a specific part of the target.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the second processor of the selected scope is further configured to:

(C) send its current target position data of the presumed target to the first scope via the network server and the electronic network, thereby allowing the first scope to follow the presumed target that it initially located when it acted as the initial lead scope.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the scopes in the second set of scopes is a vehicle-mounted or vehicle-integrated scope.

5. A method for tracking a presumed target in a surveillance environment using (i) a first scope in the surveillance environment that initially acts as a lead scope, (ii) a second set of scopes in the surveillance environment that follow the presumed target identified by the lead scope, and (iii) a network server in communication with an electronic network, each of the scopes being in communication with the network server via the electronic network, each of the scopes including a plurality of measurement devices that are used by their respective scopes to identify current target position data of the presumed target, wherein the presumed target has a target position, the method comprising:

(a) the first scope identifying current target position data of a presumed target using its plurality of measurement devices, the first scope thereby initially locating the presumed target;

(b) electronically communicating the current target position data regarding the presumed target located by the first scope to the network server via the electronic network; and

(c) each of the second set of scopes reporting its respective position to the network server via the electronic network;

(d) the first processor of the first scope, or the network server:

(i) selecting one of the scopes from the second set of scopes based on its position with respect to the presumed target, and

(ii) directing the selected scope of the second set of scopes to locate the target position of the presumed target identified by the first scope, and then take over from the first scope as a new lead scope, the selected scope locating the target position of the presumed target identified by the first scope by:

(A) identifying current target position data of the selected second scope's current target position using the plurality of measurement devices in the selected second scope, and

(B) calculating, using its current target position data and the target position data received from the first scope, position movements that are required to move the selected second scope from its current target position to the target position of the presumed target identified by the first scope, wherein the position movements are used to re-position the selected second scope from its current target position to move towards the target position defined by the current target position data of the presumed target identified by the first scope; and

(e) the processor of the selected scope sending its current target position data of the presumed target to the remaining ones of the second set of scopes via the network server and the electronic network, thereby allowing the remaining ones of the second set of scopes to continue to follow the presumed target that was initially located by the first scope.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the selection of the scope from the second set of scopes is based on one of the following factors:

(i) the scope in the second set of scopes that is closest to the presumed target,

(ii) the scope in the second set of scopes that provides the least obstructed view of the presumed target,

(iii) the elevation of the second scope with respect to a view the target,

(iv) ability of the scope in the second set of scopes to capture biometric data of the target, or

(v) ability of the scope in the second set of scopes to shoot a projectile at the target or at a specific part of the target.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein step (e) further comprises the processor of the identified scope sending its current target position data of the presumed target to the first scope via the network server and the electronic network, thereby allowing the first scope to follow the presumed target that it initially located when it acted as the initial lead scope.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein at least one of the scopes in the second set of scopes is a vehicle-mounted or vehicle-integrated scope.