Abstract: A method of operating a talk group server to control a virtual talk group member. During operation, the talk group server determines an assignment for a virtual talk group member to join a first talk group and communicate on behalf of a talk group member associated with a second talk group. The talk group server obtains user profile associated with the talk group member and causes the virtual talk group member to join the first talk group using the user profile associated with the talk group member. The talk group server then controls the virtual talk group member to perform the assignment by generating audio communications as a function of the user profile associated with the talk group member and transmitting audio communications on the first talk group.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for synchronizing group video is provided herein. Upon a triggering event, users viewing a video over an LTE network will transmit synchronization information (e.g., a frame number, or a time stamp of the video frame, . . . , etc.) over an LMR and/or LTE network. In response, user devices will synchronize to the same spot in the video.

Abstract: Method and device for responding to an audio inquiry. The electronic computing device monitors audio communications transmitted between communication devices that are members of a talk group on a talk group channel. The electronic computing device detects an audio inquiry from a first communication device and generates an audio content response to be provided in response to the audio inquiry. The electronic computing device determines based on one or both of the audio inquiry and the audio content response, and as a function of the context information, that the audio content response is to be individually provided to the first communication device. The electronic computing device then establishes a private call with the first communication device and provides the audio content response to the first communication device via the private call.

Abstract: A portable communication device receives evidence information pertaining to an incident scene along with a plurality of incident scene contextual factors pertaining to the evidence information and the incident scene. An optimum search pattern is calculated and displayed as part of an augmented reality of the incident scene. The contextual factors can be weighted to generate an optimum search pattern, such as for different individual user-investigators working at an incident scene or for certain tools being used at an incident scene.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cropping annotated images are provided herein. During operation an image will be analyzed to determine any annotation existing within the image. When annotation exists, the annotated portion is cropped and displayed as the preview (thumbnail) within, for example, a messaging application.

Abstract: An incident scene is searchable via a portable communication device and method that provides for displaying a masked augmented reality of the incident scene to the display of the portable communication device. A geofenced area is applied within the displayed masked augmented reality of the incident scene as an indication to the user of an area to be searched. As the geofenced area is searched, masking is removed from the displayed masked augmented reality of the incident scene. The masking is only being removed within the geofenced area based on user attention span provided to the geofenced area. The removal of masking indicates areas that have been searched.

Abstract: A method is provided for cutting and pasting text at a computing device. A user selects an area of text on a display of the computing device. The computing device expands the selected area of text to form an expanded area of text to make sure that no text that the user wanted to select is inadvertently omitted. The computing device associates a data label with a portion of the expanded area of text, and the computing device stores the data label and the associated portion of the expanded area of text, preferably within the clipboard of the computing device. When a user enters input text on the computing device, the computing device parses the input text to determine if a data label stored in the clipboard matches the input text. If there is a match, the computing device displays stored text associated with that data label within a popup window, for example. If a user chooses one of the items in the popup window, the data label is replaced by the portion of text that was chosen and matches the data label.

Abstract: Improved incident scene investigation is provided by displaying the incident scene and evidence pertaining to the incident scene on a display of a portable communication device where the display is augmented with tagged evidence attributes and/or further augmented with geofenced safeguard areas surrounding pieces of evidence. The evidence attributes provide and display risk assessment information as to which pieces of evidence at an incident scene are vulnerable to being contaminated or damaged. The evidence attributes may further provide and display an impact factor indicator indicating whether a piece of evidence is likely to be impacted by a context factor from the incident scene. Alerts can be generated at the portable device upon approach to a geofenced safeguarded area surrounding vulnerable evidence. The augmented display of the incident scene can also redirect a user approaching a particular piece of evidence.

Abstract: An incident scene is searchable via a portable communication device and method that provides for displaying a masked augmented reality of the incident scene to the display of the portable communication device. A geofenced area is applied within the displayed masked augmented reality of the incident scene as an indication to the user of an area to be searched. As the geofenced area is searched, masking is removed from the displayed masked augmented reality of the incident scene. The masking is only being removed within the geofenced area based on user attention span provided to the geofenced area. The removal of masking indicates areas that have been searched.

Abstract: A portable communication device receives evidence information pertaining to an incident scene along with a plurality of incident scene contextual factors pertaining to the evidence information and the incident scene. An optimum search pattern is calculated and displayed as part of an augmented reality of the incident scene. The contextual factors can be weighted to generate an optimum search pattern, such as for different individual user-investigators working at an incident scene or for certain tools being used at an incident scene.

Abstract: A method is provided for cutting and pasting text at a computing device. A user selects an area of text on a display of the computing device. The computing device expands the selected area of text to form an expanded area of text to make sure that no text that the user wanted to select is inadvertently omitted. The computing device associates a data label with a portion of the expanded area of text, and the computing device stores the data label and the associated portion of the expanded area of text, preferably within the clipboard of the computing device. When a user enters input text on the computing device, the computing device parses the input text to determine if a data label stored in the clipboard matches the input text. If there is a match, the computing device displays stored text associated with that data label within a popup window, for example. If a user chooses one of the items in the popup window, the data label is replaced by the portion of text that was chosen and matches the data label.