Methods and systems for tracking a presumed target in a surveillance environment using an aerial-mounted scope to supplement a plurality of ground-based scopes

A method for deploying an aerial-mounted scope in a surveillance environment to supplement a plurality of ground-based scopes which are also in the surveillance environment, wherein a presumed target is being tracked in the surveillance environment, and wherein the ground-based scopes are in electronic communication, via an electronic network, with a network server, the method comprising:

• (a) determining, by a first ground-based scope, a current target position data of the presumed target in the surveillance environment, the current target position data being identified using a plurality of measurement devices in the first scope;
• (b) following the presumed target identified by the first ground-based scope using one or more additional ground-based scopes in the surveillance environment, each of the additional ground-based 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 first ground-based scope, and reporting their respective position to the network server via the electronic network,
• (c) determining by the network server whether the time and effort for any of the additional ground-based scopes to reach a suitable, unobstructed position to view the presumed target meets acceptable conditions;
• (d) electronically communicating by the network server through the electronic network to an aerial-mounted scope the current target position data regarding the presumed target identified by the first ground-based scope when it is determined that the time and effort for any of the additional ground-based scopes to reach a suitable, unobstructed position to view the presumed target does not meet the acceptable conditions;
• and
• (e) deploying the aerial-mounted scope to reach a suitable, unobstructed position to view the presumed target when it is determined that the time and effort for any of the additional ground-based scopes to reach a suitable, unobstructed position to view the presumed target does not meet the acceptable conditions.

A system for deploying a plurality of scopes in a surveillance environment, wherein a presumed target is being tracked in the surveillance environment, and wherein the scopes are in electronic communication, via an electronic network, with a network server, the system comprising:

• (a) a first ground-based scope configured to determine a current target position data of the presumed target in the surveillance environment, the current target position data being identified using a plurality of measurement devices in the first scope and electronically communicated, via the electronic network, to the network server;
• (b) one or more additional ground-based scopes in the surveillance environment configured to follow the presumed target identified by the first ground-based scope, each of the additional ground-based 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 first ground-based scope, and reporting their respective position to the network server via the electronic network;
• and
• (c) an aerial-mounted scope configured to be deployed in the surveillance environment to supplement the plurality of ground-based scopes,
• wherein the network server is configured to:
• (i) determine whether it is possible for any of the additional ground-based scopes to reach a suitable, unobstructed position to view the presumed target, and
• (ii) electronically communicate through the electronic network to the aerial-mounted scope the current target position data regarding the presumed target identified by the first ground-based scope when it is determined that it is not possible for any of the additional ground-based scopes to reach a suitable, unobstructed position to view the presumed target, and
• wherein the aerial-mounted scope is configured to be deployed to reach a suitable, unobstructed position to view the presumed target when it is determined that it is not possible for any of the additional ground-based scopes to reach a suitable, unobstructed position to view the presumed target.

A system for deploying a plurality of scopes in a surveillance environment, wherein a presumed target is being tracked in the surveillance environment, and wherein the scopes are in electronic communication, via an electronic network, with a network server, the system comprising:

• (a) a first ground-based scope configured to determine a current target position data of the presumed target in the surveillance environment, the current target position data being identified using a plurality of measurement devices in the first scope and electronically communicated, via the electronic network, to the network server;
• (b) one or more additional ground-based scopes in the surveillance environment configured to follow the presumed target identified by the first ground-based scope, each of the additional ground-based 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 first ground-based scope, and reporting their respective position to the network server via the electronic network;
• and
• (c) an aerial-mounted scope configured to be deployed in the surveillance environment to supplement the plurality of ground-based scopes,
• wherein the network server is configured to:
• (i) determine whether the time and effort for any of the additional ground-based scopes to reach a suitable, unobstructed position to view the presumed target meets acceptable conditions, and
• (ii) electronically communicate through the electronic network to the aerial-mounted scope the current target position data regarding the presumed target identified by the first ground-based scope when it is determined that the time and effort for any of the additional ground-based scopes to reach a suitable, unobstructed position to view the presumed target does not meet the acceptable conditions, and
• wherein the aerial-mounted scope is configured to be deployed to reach a suitable, unobstructed position to view the presumed target when it is determined that the time and effort for any of the additional ground-based scopes to reach a suitable, unobstructed position to view the presumed target does not meet the acceptable conditions.