Image data collection from mobile vehicles with computer, GPS, and IP-based communication

#The invention relates to retrieving and utilizing image data from mobile vehicles and other sources.

#Originally video surveillance was based on analog technology such as closed circuit television (CCTV) and recording on video tapes. This was fine for recording an event, but such surveillance systems didn't broadcast actual live information, so such surveillance wasn't practical for monitoring locations, for instance, from a remote location to obtain real-time information. Moreover, picture quality was typically grainy and tapes needed to be changed regularly.

#Other sources of video footage often have been citizens with a camera. Footage of an event may be captured by the citizen, but usually this footage is turned in to authorities or news agencies at a time after the event and is not useful as real-time information to possibly prevent a crime or terrorist act.

#FIG. 1 is a graphic representation of several vehicles moving on, under, or over a bridge in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

#FIG. 2 is a schematic of an embodiment of the invention.

#FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an embodiment of the invention.

#Soon, many, if not all, mobile vehicles will have some type of communication system e.g., wireless internet access, as well as GPS or other type of location capability. The present invention takes advantage of mobile vehicles that have cameras, GPS, and communication systems, to transmit time, space, and video information. (GPS will be discussed for convenience, but any appropriate location devices, such as an electronic compass, triangulation device, radar, sonar, or combination of location devices is contemplated.) The information is retrieved, filtered, and filed and may be compared with information taken from other mobile vehicles to provide a set of images of, for example a specified location. The information may also be compared with archived information, for example, to find objects in real-time images that are not present in the archived images.

#The present invention provides the ability for interested agencies, e.g. the Port Authority, Federal Transportation Agency, and other government agencies on the federal, state, and local level, to capture a constant or semi-constant image data from any geographic point in which mobile vehicles are passing or have recently passed. The system may be used for monitoring a geographic area on a periodic basis or for monitoring the geographic area on an as-needed basis.

#The mobile vehicle may be any suitable mobile vehicle on which a camera and GPS may be mounted. Such vehicles include, but are not limited to, cars, trucks, buses, motorcycle, bicycles (and other two-wheeled vehicles), boats, trains, airplanes, helicopters, and satellites.