Abstract: A portable communication device includes a housing and a push-to-talk button. The push-to-talk (PTT) button is disposed on the front surface of the housing and further occupies a substantial portion of the front surface of the housing. The portable communication device also includes a light emitting diode (LED) stripe that is disposed on the PTT button. The LED stripe is placed on a flexible cable to allow the LED stripe and the PTT button to be moved together when any portion of the front surface of the housing containing the LED stripe and the PTT button is activated. The PTT button is configured to activate transmission of a PTT signal on a talk group channel when the PTT is activated.

Abstract: A mounting apparatus and system for a portable communication device is disclosed. The apparatus includes a mounting plate configured to be attached to a planar surface. The mounting plate has elastically bendable arms adapted to engage around peripheral portions of a portable communication device and to secure the device with the mounting plate. The device has a front-facing PTT button that is configured to transmit a non-voice based signal notification when the PTT button is depressed and when the device is secured to the mounting plate. The apparatus includes a modular electronic accessory that aligns with top or bottom surfaces of the device when the device is secured with the mounting plate. The accessory may include a speaker microphone or camera. When the PTT button is pressed, a bidirectional audio-only call, an audio-video call, or an access control function is established depending on the type of accessory that is aligned with the portable communication device.

Abstract: A panoramic video camera includes a lens, an image sensor, a processor, and a storage medium. The lens has a field of view that includes horizontal and vertical portions, with the horizontal portion being 360° about the lens' optical axis. The image sensor converts light passing through the lens into electronic signals and the storage medium stores digital image files constructed from the electronic signals. The processor is operable to: analyze the set of digital image files to locate an object within one or more panoramic images of the set of digital image files; process the set of digital image files such that portions of panoramic images including images of the object have higher resolutions than other portions of the panoramic images to produce processed digital image files; and control the transmitter to transmit the processed digital image files to the network.

Abstract: A panoramic video camera includes a lens having a horizontal FOV portion of 360° about an optical axis. The panoramic video camera includes an image sensor, a processor, and a storage medium. The processor executes programmatic instructions to analyze digital image files to locate an object and positions thereof to produce object position data. Executed programmatic instructions also generate a plurality of zoom levels for the respective digital image files based on the object position data. The zoom levels enable a playback device to visually show the object at varying magnifications during playback of a video segment derived from the digital image files. Zoom levels may alter image capture settings of the panoramic video camera, may alter playback device playback settings, or both.

Abstract: A first panoramic video camera of the multi-camera imaging system captures images to produce captured panoramic images. At least some panoramic images include images of an object being tracked by the multi-camera imaging system. The first panoramic video camera generates a set of digital image files based on the captured panoramic images. Each digital image file of the set of digital image files is time sequenced to reflect a time at which a panoramic image was captured. The first panoramic video camera receives over a, first wireless communication network, a control message relating to tracking the object. Responsive to the control message, the first panoramic video camera transmits at least a portion of the set of digital image files over a second wireless communication network, which supports higher data rate transmission than does the first wireless communication network.

Abstract: A modular camera system includes two panoramic camera modules and a base module. Each camera module has a field of view larger than 180°, such that both camera modules are able to capture a combined 360° field of view. At least one (and optionally both) of the camera modules is releasably attached to the base module. The camera module that is releasably attached includes a processor operable to synchronize image data generated from the other camera module with image data generated by its own camera module to produce combined image data representing a 360° field of view. The other camera module may also include a processor, such that the two processors may be dynamically switchable between acting as a main processor and acting as a secondary processor. The base module may provide electrical connections for both camera modules and include a rechargeable battery and/or removable non-volatile memory for file storage.