Analyzing data from networked radar detectors

Abstract

A radar detector accesses a network interface module that enables communication of data to and from a server. The server executes analysis algorithms that analyze data received from multiple radar detectors to develop predictions about the likelihood of future alerts or threats in geographic locations. The server communicates the predictions to each of the radar detectors based on the geographic locations corresponding to each of the radar detectors. Each radar detector communicates alert levels as needed to its corresponding radar detector user based on predictions that correspond to the geographic locations corresponding to each of the radar detectors.

1 . A networked electromagnetic signal detector, comprising:
 an electromagnetic signal detector;   a communication element that receives data from a server, wherein said data comprises information associated with at least one geographic location;   a location identifier operatively associated with said electromagnetic signal detector, wherein said location identifier determines a geographic location associated with said networked electromagnetic signal detector;   a processing component which determines a prediction of an alert level, wherein said prediction is based on an analysis of said data and said geographic location associated with said networked electromagnetic signal detector;   a user interface to communicate said prediction to a user of said networked electromagnetic signal detector.   
     
     
         2 . The networked electromagnetic signal detector of  claim 1 , wherein said communication element further facilitates transmission of data based on a detection of an electromagnetic signal by said networked electromagnetic signal detector to said server. 
     
     
         3 . The networked electromagnetic signal detector of  claim 1 , wherein said data is aggregated from at least one networked electromagnetic signal detector. 
     
     
         4 . The networked electromagnetic signal detector of  claim 3 , wherein said server aggregates said data from at least one networked electromagnetic signal detector. 
     
     
         5 . The networked electromagnetic signal detector of  claim 1 , wherein said electromagnetic signal is one of a radar wave and a light wave. 
     
     
         6 . The networked electromagnetic signal detector of  claim 1 , wherein said data further comprises information related to at least one of a road segment, a speed, and an acceleration associated with a motor vehicle that is using said electromagnetic signal detector. 
     
     
         7 . The networked electromagnetic signal detector of  claim 1 , wherein said data further comprises information related to at least one of a heading, a timestamp, and a time interval associated with a motor vehicle that is using said electromagnetic signal detector. 
     
     
         8 . The networked electromagnetic signal detector of  claim 1 , wherein said prediction of said alert level is further associated with a geographic area. 
     
     
         9 . The networked electromagnetic signal detector of  claim 1 , wherein said prediction of said alert level is further based at least one of signal strength, signal intensity, and the band of said electromagnetic signal. 
     
     
         10 . The networked electromagnetic signal detector of  claim 1 , wherein said user interface communicates said prediction to said user based on a user input. 
     
     
         11 . The networked electromagnetic signal detector of  claim 1 , wherein said user interface communicates said prediction to said user via one of an audible output, a visual output and a mechanical output. 
     
     
         12 . The networked electromagnetic signal detector of  claim 11 , wherein said prediction prevents operation of said audible output. 
     
     
         13 . The networked electromagnetic signal detector of  claim 11 , wherein said audible output comprises at least one of a beep, a buzz, and a voice response. 
     
     
         14 . The networked electromagnetic signal detector of  claim 11 , wherein said mechanical output comprises at least one of a vibration and a vehicle control response. 
     
     
         15 . The networked electromagnetic signal detector of  claim 14 , wherein said vehicle control response comprises an automatic deceleration of a vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The networked electromagnetic signal detector of  claim 11 , wherein said visual output comprises at least one of a color, a text, an image, a map, and a visual pattern. 
     
     
         17 . The networked electromagnetic signal detector of  claim 16 , wherein said visual output displays an option for an alternative route based upon said prediction associated with a current route. 
     
     
         18 . The networked electromagnetic signal detector of  claim 17 , wherein alternative route is further based upon a prediction associated with at least one potential alternative route. 
     
     
         19 . The networked electromagnetic signal detector of  claim 1 , wherein said user interface comprises at least one of a light, a liquid crystal display, a light-emitting diode, and an interactive display. 
     
     
         20 . The networked electromagnetic signal detector of  claim 1 , wherein said prediction is based at least in part on a road segment suggested for travel by a navigation application. 
     
     
         21 . The networked electromagnetic signal detector of  claim 1 , wherein said prediction is based on at least one of a heading, a speed, an acceleration and a driving pattern associated with said electromagnetic signal detector. 
     
     
         22 . The networked electromagnetic signal detector of  claim 21 , wherein said prediction prevents operation of an output based at least in part on a speed associated with a road segment. 
     
     
         23 . The networked electromagnetic signal detector of  claim 1 , wherein said data comprises additional information from a database. 
     
     
         24 . The networked electromagnetic signal detector of  claim 23 , wherein said additional information comprises at least one of a weather condition, a traffic condition, a public notice, a local knowledge entry, and a custom notice. 
     
     
         25 . The networked electromagnetic signal detector of  claim 1 , wherein said analysis determines the proximity of said electromagnetic signal detector to at least one of a school zone, a daycare, a hospital zone, and a location of predicted law enforcement activity. 
     
     
         26 . The networked electromagnetic signal detector of  claim 1 , wherein said data comprises a safety alert associated with a mobile communication device, wherein said analysis determines the proximity of said electromagnetic signal detector to a location associated with said safety alert. 
     
     
         27 . The networked electromagnetic signal detector of  claim 26 , wherein said location associated with said safety alert comprises the approximate current location of said mobile communication device. 
     
     
         28 . A server for a networked electromagnetic signal detector, comprising:
 a communication element that facilitates communication between said sever and said networked electromagnetic signal detector via a communication standard,
 wherein said communication element receives data from at least one of said mobile communication device and said networked electromagnetic signal detector, and 
 wherein said communication element facilitates transmission of said data to a user interface based on a geographic location associated with said user interface, wherein said user interface communicates said data to a user of said user interface; and 
   an analysis component that analyzes said data, wherein analyzing said data generates a prediction of an alert level based on a geographic location associated with at least one of said mobile communication device, said networked electromagnetic signal detector, and said user interface, wherein said prediction is communicated to at least one of said mobile communication device, said networked electromagnetic signal detector, and said user interface.   
     
     
         29 . The server of  claim 28 , wherein said user interface is operatively associated with at least one of said mobile communication device and said networked electromagnetic signal detector. 
     
     
         30 . The server of  claim 28 , wherein said prediction is communicated to said user based at least partially on a user input. 
     
     
         31 . The server of  claim 28 , wherein said data comprises at least one data entry associated with a geographic location. 
     
     
         32 . The server of  claim 28 , wherein said prediction prevents an output. 
     
     
         33 . The server of  claim 31 , wherein said prediction is further based on an age associated with each said data entry. 
     
     
         34 . The server of  claim 33 , wherein said prediction is further based on an evaluation of said age associated with a first data entry in conjunction with a density analysis of data entries in proximity to said first data entry. 
     
     
         35 . The server of  claim 28 , wherein said prediction is based upon a road segment suggested by a navigation system. 
     
     
         36 . The server of  claim 28 , wherein said prediction is communicated to said user as an alternative route based upon said prediction associated with a current route. 
     
     
         37 . The server of  claim 36 , wherein alternative route is further based upon a prediction associated with at least one potential alternative route. 
     
     
         38 . The server of  claim 28 , wherein said user interface is associated with at least one of a mobile phone, a smart phone, a satellite phone, a portable computer, a navigation system with wireless connectivity, and a citizens band radio. 
     
     
         39 . A method for a mobile communication device associated with an electromagnetic signal detector, the method comprising:
 a) detecting an electromagnetic signal;   b) facilitating transmission of data based on detection of said electromagnetic signal, wherein said data comprises a geographic location associated with the detection of said electromagnetic signal;   c) receiving data based on a plurality of detections by a plurality of electromagnetic signal detectors;   d) analyzing said data, wherein analyzing said data generates a prediction of an alert level based on a geographic location associated with at least one of said plurality of electromagnetic signal detectors; and   e) communicating said prediction to a user of said mobile communication device based on a geographic location associated with said mobile communication device.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein said mobile communication device is at least one of an electromagnetic signal detector and a mobile communication device associated with a prediction service, wherein said mobile communication device associated with said prediction service lacks radar and laser signal detection capabilities. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said mobile communication device associated with said prediction service is at least one of a mobile phone, a smart phone, a satellite phone, a portable computer, a navigation system with wireless connectivity, and a citizens band radio. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein said analyzing determines a statistical likelihood that said mobile communication device is in proximity to at least one of a school zone, a daycare, a hospital zone, a weather alert, a custom alert, and a location of law enforcement activity, wherein said prediction of said alert level is based upon said statistical likelihood. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein said facilitated transmission comprises
 facilitating transmission of said detection of said electromagnetic signal from said electromagnetic signal detector to said mobile communication device via a first communication standard, and   facilitating transmission of said detection of said electromagnetic signal from said mobile communication device to a server via a second communication standard, wherein said first communication standard differs from said second communication standard.   
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein said analyzing comprises said server generating said prediction, said mobile communication device receiving said prediction and communicating said prediction to said user. 
     
     
         45 . A server for a plurality of networked mobile communication devices, comprising:
 a communication element that receives data and transmits data with said plurality of networked mobile communication devices; and   an identification element that analyzes said data, wherein analyzing said data identifies each of said plurality of networked mobile communication devices that are located within a proximity of each other to identify a proximity group;   wherein said data is communicated to each of said plurality of networked mobile communication devices in said proximity group, and wherein at least one of said plurality of networked mobile communication devices in said proximity group communicates said data to a user of at least one of said plurality of networked mobile communication devices in said proximity group.   
     
     
         46 . The server for a plurality of networked mobile communication devices of  claim 45 , wherein said data comprises a voice alert. 
     
     
         47 . The server for a plurality of networked mobile communication devices of  claim 46 , wherein said server generates a prediction of an alert level based upon a geographic location associated with said proximity group, and said at least one of said plurality of networked mobile communication devices in said proximity group communicates said data and said prediction to said user. 
     
     
         48 . The server for a plurality of networked mobile communication devices of  claim 45 , wherein at least one of said plurality of networked mobile communication devices generates a voice alert. 
     
     
         49 . The server for a plurality of networked mobile communication devices of  claim 48 , wherein at least one of said plurality of networked mobile communication devices generates a voice alert and facilitates transmission of said voice alert to said communication element.