Vehicle-mounted camera network for surveillance and tracking
View Patent ↗An example embodiment is a system of network-capable cameras and/or sensors in vehicles in combination with a network that communicates and manages data from multiple vehicle's cameras and/or sensors to provide a comprehensive surveillance network. In some embodiments vehicle sensors and/or cameras communicate anonymously with electronic devices in range of short-range wireless communication protocols to relay the information to the network. Vehicles may be occupied or unoccupied, moving or parked, powered or unpowered. This dynamic surveillance network aids authorities and safety personnel in tracking vehicles and individuals in real-time. In some embodiments vehicle cameras and/or sensors are equipped with license plate reader technology and facial recognition technology.
1 . A surveillance system comprising: wireless connectivity between a plurality of vehicle mounted sensors, a plurality of vehicle mounted cameras; and a central processing unit; and said central processing unit configured to receive signals from said plurality of vehicle mounted sensors and vehicle mounted cameras; and said central processing unit storing instructions for processing said signals, providing for surveillance of an area defined by, and surrounding, the location of said vehicle mounted sensors and vehicle mounted cameras, the area expanded to a geofenced area and further defined by a last known position of the location of said vehicle mounted sensors and cameras, and wherein the last known position of the location of said vehicle mounted sensors and cameras is based on LPR technology.
2 . The surveillance system of claim 1 further comprising:
anonymous wireless connectivity from said plurality of vehicle mounted sensors and cameras, transmitted through wireless devices to said central processing unit.
3 . The surveillance system of claim 1 wherein:
the signals and processing thereof may only be authorized by a federal or governmental agency.
4 . The surveillance system of claim 1 further comprising: LPR technology electronically coupled with each of said plurality of vehicle mounted cameras; wherein license plates within the field of view of said plurality of vehicle mounted cameras are read by said license plate reading technology and converted to data; wherein said data is sent to said central processing unit for processing to text data that may be sent to authorities for matching to vehicles of interest.
5 . The surveillance system of claim 1 further comprising:
facial recognition technology electronically coupled with each of said plurality of vehicle mounted cameras; wherein
faces within the field of view of said plurality of vehicle mounted cameras are recorded by said facial recognition technology and converted to data; wherein
said data is sent to said central processing unit for processing, the results of which may be sent to authorities for matching to persons of interest.
6 . The surveillance system of claim 1 further comprising:
instructions for tracking a specific vehicle are included in said instructions; wherein said plurality of vehicle mounted cameras and sensors on nearby vehicles may be focused on said specific vehicle.
7 . A surveillance system comprising:
wireless connectivity between a plurality of vehicle mounted sensors, a plurality of vehicle mounted cameras; and a central processing unit; and
said central processing unit configured to receive signals from said plurality of vehicle mounted sensors and vehicle mounted cameras; and
said central processing unit storing instructions for processing said signals, providing for surveillance of an area defined by, and surrounding, the location of said vehicle mounted sensors and vehicle mounted cameras, the area expanded to a geofenced area and further defined by a last known position of the location of said vehicle mounted sensors and cameras, and wherein
the last known position of the location of said vehicle mounted sensors and cameras is based on facial recognition data.
8 . A method for operating the surveillance system of claim 7 , the method comprising:
monitoring vehicles through a network of vehicle's cameras and sensors; and
deploying LPR technology using the sensors and cameras of at least one vehicle; and
transmitting LPR data to said central processing unit; and
processing LPR data by matching license plate information with license plate information of vehicles of interest; and
identifying a vehicle of interest; and
setting a geofencing boundary surrounding a location of said vehicle of interest; and
tracking said vehicle of interest with said network of vehicle's cameras and sensors.
9 . The method of claim 8 further comprising:
evaluating said geofencing boundary according to a location of most recent transmittal of signals from said plurality of vehicle mounted sensors; and
resetting said geofencing boundary according to said location of most recent transmittal.
10 . The method of claim 8 further comprising:
deploying facial recognition technology using the sensors and cameras of at least one vehicle; and
transmitting facial recognition data to said central processing unit; and
processing facial recognition data by matching said facial recognition data with an identity of a person of interest; and
setting a geofencing boundary surrounding a location of said person of interest; and
tracking said person of interest with said network of vehicle's cameras and sensors.