Abstract: A data analytics system. The data analytics system includes a communication processor configured to communicate with one or more remote electronic devices, and one or more electronic processors electrically coupled to the communication processor. The one or more electronic processors are configured to receive a first data from the one or more electronic devices, generate a determination including a first confidence level based on the first data, identify additional data which would increase the first confidence level; request the additional data, receive responses including the additional data, and generate a second confidence level of based on the second data.

Abstract: A computer apparatus, such as a validator node, for validating data records in a distributed electronic ledger may be configured to receive a proposed data record submitted by an originating agent of an originating agency to a distributed ledger. In response to the proposed incident-related data record, other agents within the originating agency may, based on validation criteria, submit one or more responsive data records that may provide information for use in determining a validity of the proposed incident-related data record. Validator nodes hosted by external agencies may submit validation responses relative to a validity of the proposed incident-related data record. The system may determine that the proposed data record is valid. Based a consensus algorithm, the system may responsively append the proposed data record or an indication of validity to the distributed ledger or to a different distributed ledger.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method and apparatus allow for weighted voting in a public safety distributed ledger. A first node operating in a distributed ledger network receives an incident data record of one or more other nodes to maintain a distributed ledger. The first node reviews the incident data record to determine a vote. The vote indicates whether the incident data record should be entered into the distributed ledger. The vote is sent to a second node operating in the distributed ledger network. Votes are received from the one or more other nodes, and weights are determined for each node operating in the distributed ledger network node. A weighted vote result is calculated utilizing the votes and the weights. The distributed ledger is updated with the incident data record when the weighted vote result is greater than or equal to a predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A process for maintaining geofence definitions associated with criminal organizations includes maintaining, at an electronic computing device, a stored first geofence definition defining a geographic area associated with a first criminal organization. The computing device receives audio and/or video streams from devices located outside of and/or inside of a boundary of the first geofence definition, and detects, via the one or more audio and/or video streams, a pattern-of-conduct of one or more individuals associated with the first criminal organization or associated with another criminal organization known to have an adversarial relationship with the first criminal organization.

Abstract: A process for electronically detecting a criminal organization out-of-boundary condition includes first maintaining a stored first geofence definition defining a geographic area associated with a first criminal organization. One or more audio and/or video streams or RF identifiers from recording devices located outside of the first geofence definition are received. An out-of-boundary condition is then detected in the streams or identifiers in which an individual determined to be associated with the first criminal organization is detected outside of the first geofence definition. Responsive to detecting the out-of-boundary condition, causing an electronic notification of the out-of-boundary condition to be one of output and transmitted to another computing device notifying the another computing device of the out-of-boundary condition.

Abstract: A computer apparatus, such as a validator node, for validating data records in a distributed electronic ledger may be configured to receive a proposed data record submitted by an originating agent of an originating agency to a distributed ledger. In response to the proposed incident-related data record, other agents within the originating agency may, based on validation criteria, submit one or more responsive data records that may provide information for use in determining a validity of the proposed incident-related data record. Validator nodes hosted by external agencies may submit validation responses relative to a validity of the proposed incident-related data record. The system may determine that the proposed data record is valid. Based a consensus algorithm, the system may responsively append the proposed data record or an indication of validity to the distributed ledger or to a different distributed ledger.

Abstract: A method and device for dispatching data carrier devices is provided. The device comprises: a communication interface; and a controller. The controller is configured to: receive, using the communication interface, an incident report including a location of an associated incident; determine from the incident report: that the location has limited wireless coverage; and information that is to be transported to the location of the associated incident; identify a data carrier device that is capable of transporting the information to the location and is one or more of: presently storing at least a portion of the information; and capable of downloading any portion of the information that is not presently stored at the data carrier device; and transmit, using the communication interface, a dispatch command to the data carrier device to travel to the location; and an indication of the information to be transported to the location.

Abstract: A method and device for dispatching data carrier devices is provided. The device comprises: a communication interface; and a controller. The controller is configured to: receive, using the communication interface, an incident report including a location of an associated incident; determine from the incident report: that the location has limited wireless coverage; and information that is to be transported to the location of the associated incident; identify a data carrier device that is capable of transporting the information to the location and is one or more of: presently storing at least a portion of the information; and capable of downloading any portion of the information that is not presently stored at the data carrier device; and transmit, using the communication interface, a dispatch command to the data carrier device to travel to the location; and an indication of the information to be transported to the location.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for task-based allocation of services at an incident scene include determining assignments for a plurality of users at the incident scene, each of the plurality of users comprising a mobile device; identifying a group of the plurality of users performing a similar function near one another or at a same area; determining if the group is likely to be separated from a wireless local area network at the incident scene; and, in response to determining that the group is likely to be separated from the local area network, allocating service instances on at least one mobile device associated with the group.

Abstract: A process for maintaining geofence definitions associated with criminal organizations includes maintaining, at an electronic computing device, a stored first geofence definition defining a geographic area associated with a first criminal organization. The computing device receives audio and/or video streams from devices located outside of and/or inside of a boundary of the first geofence definition, and detects, via the one or more audio and/or video streams, a pattern-of-conduct of one or more individuals associated with the first criminal organization or associated with another criminal organization known to have an adversarial relationship with the first criminal organization.

Abstract: A process for electronically detecting a criminal organization out-of-boundary condition includes first maintaining a stored first geofence definition defining a geographic area associated with a first criminal organization. One or more audio and/or video streams or RF identifiers from recording devices located outside of the first geofence definition are received. An out-of-boundary condition is then detected in the streams or identifiers in which an individual determined to be associated with the first criminal organization is detected outside of the first geofence definition. Responsive to detecting the out-of-boundary condition, causing an electronic notification of the out-of-boundary condition to be one of output and transmitted to another computing device notifying the another computing device of the out-of-boundary condition.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for task-based allocation of services at an incident scene include determining assignments for a plurality of users at the incident scene, each of the plurality of users comprising a mobile device; identifying a group of the plurality of users performing a similar function near one another or at a same area; determining if the group is likely to be separated from a wireless local area network at the incident scene; and, in response to determining that the group is likely to be separated from the local area network, allocating service instances on at least one mobile device associated with the group.

Abstract: A data analytics system. The data analytics system includes a communication processor configured to communicate with one or more remote electronic devices, and one or more electronic processors electrically coupled to the communication processor. The one or more electronic processors are configured to receive a first data from the one or more electronic devices, generate a determination including a first confidence level based on the first data, identify additional data which would increase the first confidence level; request the additional data, receive responses including the additional data, and generate a second confidence level of based on the second data.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for task-based allocation of services at an incident scene include determining assignments for a plurality of users at the incident scene, each of the plurality of users comprising a mobile device; identifying a group of the plurality of users performing a similar function near one another or at a same area; determining if the group is likely to be separated from a wireless local area network at the incident scene; and, in response to determining that the group is likely to be separated from the local area network, allocating service instances on at least one mobile device associated with the group.

Abstract: A mobile device, associated with a responder of the visiting agency and present in the geographical jurisdiction of the local agency, maintains a first mutual aid token associated with the local agency, wherein the mutual aid token authorizes the first responder to access the local agency and wherein the mutual aid token is associated with a transferability time period, that is, a time during which the mutual aid token can be transferred from one mutual aid responder to another. The mobile device identifies another mobile device of another responder associated with the visiting agency and transfers to the another mobile device, without a need to first contact the local or visiting agencies, a mutual aid token that is derived from the first mutual aid token, wherein the transferred mutual aid token authorizes the another responder to access the local agency.

Abstract: A method for managing content, within a video-on-demand system, which includes receiving, at a first content source, a request for content. The method also includes determining that the content is not available from the first content source. The method also includes determining that a second content source cost to retrieve the content from a second content source is less than a third content source cost to retrieve the content from a third content source. The costs are determined based on a network impact to fetch the content to the first content source. The method also includes in response to determining that the second content source cost is less than the third content source cost, fetching the content from the second content source. The first content source, the second content source, and the third content source each maintain a different subset of content available from a master content source.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a service at an incident scene is provided herein. During operation, a device will enter a geographic area (e.g., an incident scene), join a local-area network (LAN), and determine what services are presently being offered by other devices on the LAN. From a list of services deployed on the device, a determination is then made as to what services the device will run, and those services are then offered to all devices on the LAN.

Abstract: A mobile device, associated with a responder of the visiting agency and present in the geographical jurisdiction of the local agency, maintains a first mutual aid token associated with the local agency, wherein the mutual aid token authorizes the first responder to access the local agency and wherein the mutual aid token is associated with a transferability time period, that is, a time during which the mutual aid token can be transferred from one mutual aid responder to another. The mobile device identifies another mobile device of another responder associated with the visiting agency and transfers to the another mobile device, without a need to first contact the local or visiting agencies, a mutual aid token that is derived from the first mutual aid token, wherein the transferred mutual aid token authorizes the another responder to access the local agency.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for downloading content within a video-on-demand system is provided herein. During operation a Video Home Office (VHO) will cache a subset of the Video Service Office (VSO) content. When a user requests content that is not stored on the VHO, the VHO will request that content from another VHO or the VSO. In order to reduce the additional network load imposed during item forwarding while attempting to balance the total load on all the links interconnecting the VSO and VHOs, recorded traffic history metrics are used to predict their future or current traffic. A VHO or VSO is chosen for fetching the content that will result in the lowest predicted traffic on the interconnecting links.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing a service at an incident scene is provided herein. During operation, a device will enter a geographic area (e.g., an incident scene), join a local-area network (LAN), and determine what services are presently being offered by other devices on the LAN. From a list of services deployed on the device, a determination is then made as to what services the device will run, and those services are then offered to all devices on the LAN.