Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput – Distributed data processing – Client/server
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-29
2003-08-05
Voeltz, Emanuel Todd (Department: 2121)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: multicomput
Distributed data processing
Client/server
C709S201000, C709S217000, C701S213000, C703S007000, C717S104000, C382S113000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06604126
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to a method of processing and presenting structural data for display, and more particularly, a method for presenting tactical structural plans to remote locations responsive to emergency situations.
2.Background of the Invention
With the rise of violence in the school and workplace has also come increased scrutiny of the methods in which law enforcement and rescue personnel respond to a crisis. In dangerous situations, leaders are not apt to send personnel into unknown situations without some strategic and tactical planning. From the earliest times, maps and plans have been utilized to reduce risk to personnel and achieve predefined objectives.
Where time is available, structural plans may be obtained an analyzed prior to taking action in a crisis situation. However, in reality, plans are typically not readily available when an unexpected crisis occurs. Accordingly, responding personnel are left scrambling to aggregate enough information from a heterogeneous array of sources to develop a plan. During the time in which information is being obtained, severe damage may be inflicted to both life and property.
While numerous references in the prior art acknowledge the problem, none provide a method of presenting tactical structural plans responsive to emergency situations in an efficient and consistent manner.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,417 to Orr et al. describes a method for acquiring and presenting data relevant to an emergency incident. The “417 patent describes at least two examples of incorporating architectural plans into the system. However, the uses include (1) visualization of a completed construction plan (Col. 8, lines 40-53); and (2) confirmation of regulatory compliance (Col. 8, lines 54-67).
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,793,882 and 5,596,652 to Piatek et al. describe a personnel accountability system which also suggests that site information, including floor plans, blueprints, photographs, fire inspection reports and the like, may be obtained by a data receiver (39) for display on a computer hardware system (20). (Col. 8, lines 26-41 of the “882 patent and Col. 7, lines 7-22 of the “652 patent).
U.S. Pat. No. 5,124,915 to Krenzel describes a system for transmitting image information for emergency response situations. The “915 patent describes the use of (1) cellular communications for digital images (Col. 3, line 1 and Col. 5, lines 59-61); (2) compression of images for bandwidth limitations (Col. 3, lines 43-48); and (3) the removal of extraneous information from the display (Col. 5, lines 45-48).
In
Safe Schools, A Security and Loss Prevention Plan,
author J. Barry Hylton notes that in barricaded captor/hostage situations, the “principal and school custodian . . . should offer to the nearest police commander blueprints of the school . . . ”(Pg. 171).
In
Raids, A Tactical Guide to High Risk Warrant Service,
author Mark V. Lonsdale notes that when planning a raid, tactical intelligence includes aerial photograph, building plans, direction of door openings (swing of door) and the like. (Pgs. 122-123).
In
After Columbine, A Schoolplace Violence Prevention Manual,
author Kelly A. Zinna recommends that a crisis management kit include blueprints of the school with exit routes clearly marked. (Pg. 83). In
Advanced Weapons Training for Hostage Rescue Teams,
author Mark V. Lonsdales illustrates and describes entry procedures for hostage rescue that are strongly tied to the structure“s floorplan (Pgs. 9, 10, 216-219).
A significant problem in the prior art is the lack of uniformity in structural plans. There are currently no known methods of systematically standardizing the variances between various plan formats, even if they are in digital format and produced by the same design software application. While preexisting structural plans may simply be stored and transmitted to a remote location, there is currently no uniform context to the structural objects nor can they be presented in a uniform manner. Although the above-mentioned references describe the necessity of accessing structural plans to respond to crisis situations, none of the references solve the problem of clearly presenting an array of heterogeneous plans and information to a remote location.
Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a method for emergency response personnel to quickly and consistently access structural information on an area of concern.
There is another need in the art for a standardization process wherein a heterogeneous array of structural data may be processed and displayed in a uniform and accessible fashion.
There is another need in the art for onsite three-dimensional visualization of structural data.
There is another need in the art to provide structural plans to a remote location optimized for an array of tactical objectives.
There is another need in the art for a method for encapsulating logic into standard structural objects to aid in achieving particular tactical objectives.
There is another need in the art to provide an efficient and consistent structural overlay for GPS-based personnel monitoring.
There is another need in the art to provide GPS-based identification of downed personnel with respect to structural plans.
It is, therefore, to the effective resolution of the aforementioned problems and shortcomings of the prior art that the present invention is directed.
However, in view of the prior art in at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art how the identified needs could be fulfilled.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention includes a method of processing and displaying structural plans responsive to emergency tactical situations, the method comprising the steps of receiving a heterogeneous array of structural plan files, establishing a common specification for displaying structural plans, transforming the heterogeneous array of structural plan files to a standardized plan according to the common specification, receiving a remote request for a structural plan relating to a tactical objective and responsive to the remote request transmitting the standardized plan to a remote recipient. Additional steps may include establishing an array of preselected tactical objectives, establishing an array of relevant objects for each preselected tactical objectives and filtering the array of relevant objects from the standardized plan according to the tactical objective and transmitting the filtered plan to the remote recipient.
A preferred embodiment of the invention includes the steps of establishing an array of reusable structural objects according to the common specification, associating a tactical strategy with at least one object in the array of reusable structural objects, constructing the standardized plan with the array of reusable structural objects and generating a tactical recommendation display to the remote recipient responsive to a display of the at least one object. Additional steps may include calculating a position of the at least one object relative to other objects and generating the tactical recommendation display in view of the position.
An array of dimensions of the object may be calculated wherein the tactical recommendation display is generated in view of the array of dimensions. Exemplary tactical strategies may include providing fire cover, providing pathways for equipment transport, providing utility access or providing containment by lockable doors. For example, where law enforcement or military personnel wish to position themselves within a structure to maximize protection against hostile gunfire, the tactical recommendation display may be a gradient rendered over areas of concern. This creates a topography map of hazardous locations offering the least protection against hostile gunfire. Another example, is where emergency rescue personnel must transport a stretcher to an incapacitated individual. Elevators, stairways, and tight corners may be unable to accommodate the stretcher. Accordingly, the tactical recommendation display compris
Neiman Richard S.
Parsons Michael
Hopen Anton J.
Smith & Hopen , P.A.
Todd Voeltz Emanuel
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