Abstract: A method and apparatus for redacting documents is provided herein. During operation, a call is received from a caller and an identity of the caller is determined. Electronic paperwork related to a particular incident is retrieved. Witness statements from the caller along with past correspondences of the caller are analyzed to determine the caller's knowledge of the incident. Redaction of the electronic paperwork then takes place based on the caller's knowledge of the incident. In particular, items such as addresses, phone numbers, times, places, . . . , etc. that are potentially unknown to the caller are redacted so that the called party will not inadvertently disclose this information to the caller.

Abstract: A portable communication system includes a remote speaker microphone (RSM) accessory (102) coupled to a portable radio and further coupled to a secondary audio accessory (SAA) (108). The RSM accessory (102) includes a user interface toggle switch (120) that toggles between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation. Toggling to the first mode of operation selectively routes receive audio from the portable radio to a speaker (112) of the RSM accessory, while generating and routing a periodic audio artifact from the RSM to the SAA (108) for play out at a speaker (316) of the secondary accessory. The received audio is played out of the RSM speaker (112) in parallel with the periodic audio artifact being played out of the secondary accessory speaker (316).

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices disclosed herein can collect digital witness statements (e.g., on a witness's own mobile device), detect when witnesses are accessing electronic resources during preparation of those digital witness statements, elicit input from witnesses to identify the electronic resources accessed, and detect portions of the digital witness statements that may have been influenced by data procured from those electronic resources. Furthermore, the systems, methods, and devices disclosed herein can generate an indication of consistency between content found in the electronic resources and content found in the digital witness statements so that a degree to which the electronic resources influenced the witness statements can be inferred.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for better securing databases is provided herein. During a database search, a target of a search (e.g., a person or object) will have a maximum number of allowed searches. When a user performs a search on a target, a determination of how many prior searches on the target object or individual was made. If the number of prior searches exceeds a threshold, then the search will be denied.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for implementing workflows across multiple differing systems and devices is provided herein. During operation a workflow is automatically modified, or a new workflow generated, based upon user queries made after a workflow has been executed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing security at access points for a room or facility is provided herein. During operation, a security level at an access point will be increased during a lockdown situation. The increased security at the access point will require permission from those behind the access point prior to granting entry to any individual.

Abstract: A system, method, and apparatus for implementing workflows across multiple differing systems and devices is provided herein. During operation a workflow for a first camera is automatically suggested, or a new workflow generated for the first camera, based upon a workflow being created for a second camera having a similar field of view as the first camera. In particular, a workstation (or server) will receive an indication that a workflow was created for a camera. The workstation (or server) then determines if any other cameras have similar field of views. New workflows will then be suggested (or implemented) for the cameras having similar field of views. The suggested/implemented workflows will have a similar trigger and a similar action.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices disclosed herein can collect digital witness statements (e.g., on a witness's own mobile device), detect when witnesses are accessing electronic resources during preparation of those digital witness statements, elicit input from witnesses to identify the electronic resources accessed, and detect portions of the digital witness statements that may have been influenced by data procured from those electronic resources. Furthermore, the systems, methods, and devices disclosed herein can generate an indication of consistency between content found in the electronic resources and content found in the digital witness statements so that a degree to which the electronic resources influenced the witness statements can be inferred.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for increasing security at access points for a room or facility is provided herein. During operation, a security level at an access point will be increased during a lockdown situation. The increased security at the access point will require permission from those behind the access point prior to granting entry to any individual.

Abstract: Techniques for a digital assistant to receive intent input from a secondary user are provided. A digital assistant receives a query intent from a primary user, wherein the primary user is authorized to provide query intents. It is determined, based on the query intent, that intent input will be provided by a secondary user, wherein the secondary user is not authorized to provide query intents. Intent input provided by the secondary user is received. The digital assistant processes the query intent using the intent input. The results of the query intent are provided to the primary user.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing two-step authentication is provided herein. During operation, the two parts of authentication comprise (1) something a user knows, for example, a password; and (2) a push-to-talk (PTT) communication over a predetermined talkgroup.

Abstract: A device and method for convoy navigation is provided. An audio device comprises: a memory; a speaker; a communication interface; a location determining device; and a controller. The controller: receives, from a second audio device, via the communication interface, on a narrowband communication channel, audio information and an associated location of the second audio device, the associated location indicative of where the second audio device transmitted the audio information; stores, at the memory, the audio information and the associated location; tracks, using the location determining device, a current location of the audio device; and when the current location of the audio device is at about the associated location, controls the speaker to play the audio information.

Abstract: A process for preempting a transmission during a group call. An electronic computing device detects a user interaction by a first talk group member with multimedia content corresponding to an incident and determines an interaction measure corresponding to the user interaction with the multimedia content. The electronic computing device then adjusts a transmission preemption priority assigned to the first talk group member based on the interaction measure and an incident priority level associated with the incident. When a user input to initiate a transmission from a first communication device associated with a first talk group member is detected, the electronic computing device preempts a transmission from a second communication device associated with a second talk group member participating in the group call when the adjusted transmission preemption priority assigned to the first talk group member is greater than a transmission preemption priority assigned to the second talk group member.

Abstract: Methods and systems for responding to a query in a communication system. One system includes an electronic computing device including a transceiver configured to receive a query from a communication device. The electronic computing device further includes an electronic processor configured to generate a response to the query, and determine a channel availability of a communication system that the electronic computing device uses to communicate with the communication device. The electronic processor is further configured to transmit, via the transceiver, the response to the communication device as voice data over a voice channel in response to determining that the channel availability is above a predetermined threshold. The electronic processor is further configured to transmit the response to the communication device as text data over a text channel separate from the voice channel in response to determining that the channel availability is below the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Systems and methods for dynamically assigning priority for shared spectrum communication systems. One method includes receiving, via a communication interface of a base station, a call request from a first communication device identifying a second communication device and a first spectrum priority level for the first communication device. The method includes establishing a call, having the first priority level, between the first and second communication devices. The method includes determining a second spectrum priority level for the second communication device, and, when the second priority level is lower than the first priority level, transmitting, to a spectrum manager, a priority assignment request to assign the first priority level to the second communication device after the call is terminated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing two-step authentication is provided herein. During operation, the two parts of authentication comprise (1) something a user knows, for example, a password; and (2) a push-to-talk (PTT) communication over a predetermined talkgroup.

Abstract: Methods and systems for responding to a query in a communication system. One system includes an electronic computing device including a transceiver configured to receive a query from a communication device. The electronic computing device further includes an electronic processor configured to generate a response to the query, and determine a channel availability of a communication system that the electronic computing device uses to communicate with the communication device. The electronic processor is further configured to transmit, via the transceiver, the response to the communication device as voice data over a voice channel in response to determining that the channel availability is above a predetermined threshold. The electronic processor is further configured to transmit the response to the communication device as text data over a text channel separate from the voice channel in response to determining that the channel availability is below the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for associating a name to a device/virtual partner is provided herein. During operation, virtual-partner “names” will be determined for each co-located virtual partner. When a task is conveyed to a virtual partner, the virtual partner will perform the task only if its “name” has been called. The “name” of each virtual partner will be associated with a color shown on a device screen (i.e., the device associated with the virtual partner), object shown on a device screen, and/or color of another indicator that is displayed on the device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for leveraging past search results is provided herein. During operation a search string/phrase is received from a person and the search string is provided to a search engine. A plurality of search results is received from the search engine. A database of past search results is accessed, and a search result from the plurality of search results is deprioritized if the search result is included in the database of past search results.

Abstract: A device and method for convoy navigation is provided. An audio device comprises: a memory; a speaker; a communication interface; a location determining device; and a controller. The controller: receives, from a second audio device, via the communication interface, on a narrowband communication channel, audio information and an associated location of the second audio device, the associated location indicative of where the second audio device transmitted the audio information; stores, at the memory, the audio information and the associated location; tracks, using the location determining device, a current location of the audio device; and when the current location of the audio device is at about the associated location, controls the speaker to play the audio information.