Secure digital data collection

Abstract

Systems and methods for generating certified images and incident reports are disclosed. An image capture device can be used to capture an image and integrate metadata from camera sensors as well as other ancillary device sensors into the image. The image and its metadata can then be certified upon a check that the image and its metadata are authentic and unaltered. The image and its metadata can then be included in or as a part of an incident or other report describing an incident or event such as an accident or a crime. The image and/or incident report may be maintained at a cloud-based server for viewing, authorized editing, and subsequent distribution.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for secure incident reporting, the method comprising:
 receiving a digital media asset captured by a media capture device; and   executing instructions stored in memory, wherein execution of the instructions by a processor causes the processor to:
 generate an incident report, wherein the incident report includes at least the digital media asset, 
 authenticate that the incident report has been protected from alteration, and 
 encrypt the incident report; and 
   transmitting the encrypted incident report to a network server.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising receiving sensor data captured using a sensor of the media capture device and associated with the digital media asset, wherein the incident report includes the sensor data. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the sensor data includes a location of the media capture device, wherein the sensor identifies the location based on a global positioning system (GPS). 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the incident report includes a timestamp associated with capture of the digital media asset. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the incident report also includes a description related to an incident depicted in the digital media asset. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the incident report includes a form. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 receiving user input; and   filling out the form based on the user input.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein authenticating that the incident report has been protected from alteration includes archiving the incident report. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digital media asset includes visual media data. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the digital media asset includes audio data. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting the encrypted incident report to the network server causes the encrypted incident report to be stored in a database. 
     
     
         12 . A system for secure incident reporting, the system comprising:
 a media capture device that captures a digital media asset;   a memory storing instructions; and   a processor coupled to the memory, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor causes the processor to:
 generate an incident report that includes at least the digital media asset, 
 authenticate that the incident report has been protected from alteration, and 
 encrypt the incident report; and 
   a communication transceiver that transmits the encrypted incident report to a network server.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a sensor that captures sensor data associated with the digital media asset, wherein the incident report includes the sensor data. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the sensor data includes a location of the media capture device, wherein the sensor identifies the location based on a global positioning system (GPS). 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the incident report includes a timestamp associated with capture of the digital media asset. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the incident report also includes a description related to an incident depicted in the digital media asset. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the incident report includes a form. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein authenticating that the incident report has been protected from alteration includes archiving the incident report. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising a database that stores the encrypted incident report. 
     
     
         20 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, having embodied thereon a program executable by a processor to perform a method for secure incident reporting, the method comprising:
 receiving a digital media asset captured by a media capture device;   generating an incident report, wherein the incident report includes at least the digital media asset;   authenticating that the incident report has been protected from alteration;   encrypting the incident report; and   transmitting the encrypted incident report to a network server.