Method and apparatus for active defense and emergency response

An apparatus comprising:

• a processor being configured to be operable for monitoring a user's interactions with the apparatus, controlling functions of the apparatus in response to the user's interactions, and establishing communications to an external mobile computing device, wherein said apparatus is not said external mobile computing device and said external mobile computing device is not included in said apparatus;
• a deterrent initiator unit configured to receive a user indication to initiate a deterrent;
• a camera unit configured to capture at least one image, said camera unit being further responsive to said processor for activation of said image capturing
• in which said processor activates said camera unit and captures said image in response to said user indication to initiate said deterrent;
• a wireless communications unit configured to establish a first wireless communications link to said external mobile computing device, said wireless communications unit being further responsive to said processor for transferring said captured image to said mobile computing device to be further transmitted via a second communication link to at least an emergency contact along with user information;
• wherein said the first wireless communication link utilizes a Bluetooth protocol and the mobile computing device is a smart phone;
• and
• a deterrent release unit configured to release said deterrent in response to said user indication to initiate said deterrent, in which said deterrent comprises a repellent spray.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium with an executable program stored thereon, wherein the program instructs a processor to perform the following steps:

• establishing at a deterrent device a first wireless communications link with a mobile computing device, wherein said deterrent device is not said mobile computing device and said mobile computing device is not included in said deterrent device;
• receiving at said deterrent device a user indication to initiate a deterrent an;
• activating an image capture device component of said deterrent device to capture at least one image in response to said user indication to initiate said deterrent;
• transferring at least said image, via said first wireless communications link, from said deterrent device to said mobile computing device in which said mobile computing device establishes a connection via a second communication link to at least an emergency contact and at least transmits said image and user information user to said emergency contact via said second communication link;
• wherein said the first wireless communication link utilizes a Bluetooth protocol and the mobile computing device is a smart phone;
• and
• initiating in response to said user indication to initiate said deterrent a releasing of said deterrent from said deterrent device, wherein said deterrent comprises a repellent spray.