Method, system and computer program product for backup assignment of a mobile electronics device

Abstract

A method, system and computer program product for backup assignment of a mobile electronics device is disclosed. In response to one or more device assignment requests received by a controller apparatus when a server is operating in an off-line mode, one or more device assignment records are created within the controller apparatus, and which indicate assignment of the at least one mobile electronics device to a respective one or more users. When the server is operating in an off-line mode such that communication between the controller apparatus and the server is off-line, the one or more device assignment records, in relation to the at least one mobile electronics device, are stored in the controller apparatus. In response to the server re-entering the on-line mode, the server is updated with the one or more device assignment records.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A controller apparatus comprising:
 a first interface communicatively couplable to at least one mobile electronics device;   a second interface communicatively couplable over at least one network to a server, and wherein the server, when operating in a normal mode associated with communications between the controller apparatus and the server being on-line, records each of the at least one mobile electronics device as being assigned to a respective user;   at least one processor; and   at least one non-transient computer readable medium communicatively connected to the at least one processor and configured to store:
 one or more device assignment records in relation to the at least one mobile electronics device, indicating assignment of the at least one mobile electronics device to a respective one or more users, when the server operates in an off-line mode when communication between the controller apparatus and the server is off-line, and 
 computer program instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the controller apparatus to:
 in response to one or more device assignment requests received when the server is operating in the off-line mode, create the one or more device assignment records, and 
 in response to the server re-entering the normal mode, update the server with the one or more device assignment records. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The controller apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a single device housing, and
 wherein the first and second interfaces, the at least one processor and the at least one non-transient computer readable medium are all contained within the single device housing. 
 
     
     
         3 . The controller apparatus as claimed in  claim 2  further comprising a credentials input device that is configured to receive user credentials as input and initiate a credentials validation request within the controller apparatus, and wherein at least a portion of the one or more assignment records are derived from the user credentials. 
     
     
         4 . The controller apparatus as claimed in  claim 3  wherein the credentials input device includes at least one of a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) card reader, a Bluetooth-based reader, a keypad, a keyboard and a biometric reader. 
     
     
         5 . The controller apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the at least one mobile electronics device includes an image sensor configured to capture and store video. 
     
     
         6 . The controller apparatus as claimed in  claim 5  wherein the at least one non-transient computer readable medium is configured to also store the video during the off-line mode when the at least one mobile electronics device is coupled to the first interface. 
     
     
         7 . The controller apparatus as claimed in  claim 5  wherein no space is allocated within the at least one non-transient computer readable medium to store the video during the off-line mode when the at least one mobile electronics device is coupled to the first interface. 
     
     
         8 . The controller apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the server operates in the off-line mode when a connectivity issue exists in the at least one network, an upgrade to the server is taking place, or maintenance tasks in relation to the server are taking place. 
     
     
         9 . The controller apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the at least one non-transient computer readable medium is further configured to store audit events that transpire during a period of time when the server is operating in the off-line mode. 
     
     
         10 . The controller apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the at least one network includes a part of the Internet and at least a part of the server resides within a cloud environment. 
     
     
         11 . The controller apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the at least one mobile electronics device is a plurality of body-worn cameras. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 providing a controller apparatus, at least one mobile electronics device communicatively coupled to the controller apparatus, and a server communicatively coupled over at least one network to the controller apparatus, wherein the server, when operating in a normal mode associated with communications between the controller apparatus and the server being on-line, records each of the at least one mobile electronics device as being assigned to a respective user;   in response to one or more device assignment requests received by the controller apparatus when the server is operating in an off-line mode, creating, within the controller apparatus, one or more device assignment records indicating assignment of the at least one mobile electronics device to a respective one or more users;   when the server is operating in the off-line mode such that communication between the controller apparatus and the server is off-line, storing, in the controller apparatus, the one or more device assignment records in relation to the at least one mobile electronics device; and   in response to the server re-entering the normal mode, updating the server with the one or more device assignment records.   
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12  further comprising:
 receiving user credentials as input at a credentials input device; and 
 initiating a credentials validation request within the controller apparatus. 
 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the at least one mobile electronics device includes an image sensor configured to capture and store video. 
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14  further comprising storing the video within the controller apparatus during the off-line mode. 
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 12  wherein the server operates in the off-line mode when a connectivity issue exists in the at least one network, an upgrade to the server is taking place, or maintenance tasks in relation to the server are taking place. 
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 12  further comprising storing, within the controller apparatus, audit events that transpire during a period of time when the server is operating in the off-line mode.