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`DOCKET NO.: REDM-P0001US
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`MOBILE LEGAL COUNSEL SYSTEM AND METHOD
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`RELATED APPLICATION
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`[0001] This disclosure claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
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`62/364,300 filed on July 19, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
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`FIELD
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`[0002] This disclosure relates to mobile software applications, and more particularly to a
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`mobile legal counsel system and method, so that an attorney can be summoned quickly and
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`virtually whenever a need arises to help defuse the situation, run interference, and provide legal
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`advice.
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`BACKGROUND
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`[0003] According to data compiled by The Washington Post, white people make up
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`roughly 62 percent of the U.S. population but only about 49 percent of those who are killed by
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`police officers. African Americans, however, account for 24 percent of those fatally shot and
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`killed by the police despite being just 13 percent of the U.S. population. These numbers mean
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`black Americans are 2.5 times as likely as white Americans to be shot and killed by police
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`officers. U.S. police officers have shot and killed the exact same number of unarmed white
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`people as they have unarmed black people: 50 each. But because the white population is
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`approximately five times larger than the black population, unarmed black Americans were five
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`times as likely as unarmed white Americans to be shot and killed by a police officer.
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`[0004] Some argue that police shooting is racially—based, but there are evidence that
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`show these police officers who commit these atrocities may be motivated by unconscious or
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`implicit bias. There are research studies that support the notion that police professionals use
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`more force, or be quicker to use force, against blacks due to a black—crime implicit bias
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`producing greater perceptions of threat. Studies also support that implicit bias, once recognized,
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`can be counteracted with repeated and intentional training and learning. However, implicit or
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`explicit, the result is still the same — loss of innocent lives.
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`PATENT APPLICATION
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`DOCKET NO.: REDM-POOOlUS
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`[0005] Whether white or black, implicit or explicit bias, there is a desire to defuse and
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`de—escalate tense situations between the police and members of the general public if the loss of
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`innocent lives can be avoided or reduced.
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`DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
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`[0006] FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system and
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`method for mobile legal counsel according to the teachings of the present disclosure; and
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`[0007] FIG. 2 is a simplified flowchart of a system and method for mobile legal counsel
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`according to the teachings of the present disclosure.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
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`[0008] For many African Americans living in the United States, the threat of police
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`brutality and shooting is an everyday reality. Black parents have “The Talk” with their children
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`not of the birds and the bees, but how they must be obedient and compliant whenever they
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`encounter the police.
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`[0009] Police brutality and killing is a deeply—rooted problem that cannot be easily and
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`quickly addressed without multi—pronged persistent efforts. The concept described herein is an
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`effort to introduce technology as one immediate solution to this problem. This concept uses
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`technology to introduce the presence of a third party, a licensed attorney, into a police encounter.
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`The licensed attorney can serve as a live observer, witness, and intermediary who can help to de—
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`escalate and defuse the situation.
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`[0010] FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a system and
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`method for mobile legal counsel 10 according to the teachings of the present disclosure. The
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`system 10 includes a 360—degree video camera 12 that can live—stream 360 degrees of video data
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`with accompanying audio data over the Internet and/or cellular network 14. The 360—degree
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`camera 12 is preferably high definition and designed for mounting on the dash of a vehicle so
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`that it can capture unobstructed video images of a user seated in the driver’s seat as well as the
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`front passenger seat of the vehicle. An example of such a camera is a 1080p sports action
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`camera, Chinavasion product code CVLM—DVl4l. In an alternate embodiment, the 360—degree
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`camera 12 is joined by additional video cameras mounted at different points of the user’s car,
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`inside and/or outside the passenger compartment, to capture video footage from various vantage
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`PATENT APPLICATION
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`DOCKET NO.: REDM-POOOlUS
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`points to avoid obstacles that may block the view, such as some parts of the car or passengers in
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`the car. In yet another embodiment, a drone—based video camera 28 can be used to augment the
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`live—streamed video data from an overhead vantage point. It is contemplated that the drone can
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`be remotely controlled by either the user, a remote administrator, or the remote lawyer.
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`Additionally, the remote administrator and/or lawyer may also be able to remotely control one or
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`more other video cameras mounted inside and/or outside the passenger compartment.
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`[0011] All of the captured live—stream video data (including audio) are transmitted via a
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`global computer network (Internet) and/or cellular mobile telephone network 14 to a remote
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`server 16 and stored in a database 18, preferably encrypted to ensure privacy. The database 18
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`further stores the identities, credentials, states where licensed, contact information (e. g., address,
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`email address, and mobile telephone number), and other information of lawyers licensed in
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`various jurisdictions who have been vetted and contracted to be on call during certain days, time
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`periods, and other work parameters to provide mobile lawyer services. The system 10 further
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`includes a dash—mounted display monitor 20 such as the seven—inch LCD display, Chinavasion
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`product code CVABR—LT298. A user may download and install the Mobile Lawyer App 22 onto
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`his mobile phone 24 or another mobile device, such as a wearable device, for example. The
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`video camera 12 and display screen 20 may directly communicate wireless to the server 16 and
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`database 18 via the Internet/cellular network or via the mobile device 24. It is contemplated that
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`the drone may be controlled by administrators or other employees of the mobile lawyer service
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`and/or the remote lawyer.
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`[0012] In operation, the user may initialize the Mobile Lawyer App 22 by setting up a
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`profile with the name, address, phone number, age, sex, race, emergency contact, medical
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`information, and other basic information. The user may become a subscriber by agreeing to make
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`monthly subscription payments to retain the services provided via the Mobile Lawyer App 22.
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`There may be multi—tiered services available tied to different subscription payment amounts. For
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`example, the user may enter into an agreement to pay $9.99 per month for the basic service level
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`and $29.99 per month for a premium service level. The service levels may differ in the amount
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`of coverage in terms of, e.g., hours and jurisdiction. Once becoming a subscriber, the user is
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`issued one or more stickers or decals that can be displayed on the vehicle (on the bumper, in the
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`rear window, in the driver side window, etc.) to clearly mark and identify the user/driver as one
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`that is protected by the Mobile Lawyer App 22.
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`PATENT APPLICATION
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`DOCKET NO.: REDM-POOOlUS
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`[0013] The user may initiate a Mobile Lawyer Consultation Session and live—stream
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`video capture by the camera(s) by sending a request via the Mobile Lawyer App 22 on his/her
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`mobile device 24. Once the request to live—stream video is received at the server 16, an alert
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`notification is sent to one or more lawyers licensed in the same jurisdiction as the current
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`location of the user. The alert notification may be in the form of a call, text message, email, and
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`another form of message transmitted to and presented on a computing device 26, such as a
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`mobile phone, tablet computer, and laptop computer that is equipped with a video camera. The
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`first lawyer who responds first to handle the consultation session can immediately view the live—
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`streamed video information on a computing device. One or more different criteria may also be
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`used to select the responding lawyer. In a preferred embodiment, the lawyer interfaces with the
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`system 10 via a web browser—based interface. As soon as a lawyer is assigned to handle the
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`consultation session, his/her image as captured by his/her computing device 26 (transmitted via
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`the cloud 14) along with his/her name is displayed on the dash—mounted monitor 20 in the user’s
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`vehicle. Alternatively, if the user does not have a dash—mounted display monitor, the lawyer’s
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`image is displayed by the user’s mobile device 24. In another alternate embodiment, a still image
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`of the selected lawyer stored in the database may be displayed on the display monitor or mobile
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`device if the lawyer is not able to participate via video.
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`[0014] The Mobile Lawyer App 22 has GPS and mapping capabilities, or alternatively
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`has access to these functions of the mobile phone, so that it may be able to pinpoint the location
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`of the user and relay this information to the server 16 so that this information may be used in
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`selecting lawyers who may respond to the alert notification. When GPS is not available, location
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`may be determined by triangulation of cellular towers that are in communication with the user’s
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`mobile device.
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`[0015] Referring to FIG. 2, a simplified flowchart of the mobile lawyer system and
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`method is shown. In blocks 30 and 32, a request from the user is received by the mobile device
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`to execute the Mobile Lawyer App. The video camera begins to capture video images inside and
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`outside the vehicle and transmits the captured images in real—time to the remote server and
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`database for storage, as shown in blocks 34 and 36. A determination is made as to the location of
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`the user/vehicle, such as the city and state, as shown in block 38. In response to the location of
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`the user, and possibly other criteria (e. g., ranking or rating of lawyers), one or more lawyers are
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`selected and alerts are transmitted to their respective computing devices, as shown in blocks 40
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`PATENT APPLICATION
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`DOCKET NO.: REDM-POOOlUS
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`and 42. One or more responses are received from the lawyers, and one is selected, as shown in
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`blocks 44 and 46. The captured video data is immediately transmitted to the lawyer’s associated
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`computing device, as shown in block 48. The lawyer’s computing device also captures video
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`images of the lawyer and transmits it to the remote server, which in turn transmits it to the
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`display monitor located inside the user’s vehicle, as shown in block 50. Audio data captured of
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`the lawyer are also transmitted to the user via either the display monitor or the user’s mobile
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`device, as shown in block 52. In this manner, the lawyer has become a third—party observer in a
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`police encounter.
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`[0016] The following is an exemplary scenario in which the Mobile Lawyer App 22 can
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`be used. The user, driving his car, sees that a police squad car is behind him with its lights
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`flashing. The user pulls the car to the side of the road, and upon stopping the car completely,
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`immediately clicks on the Mobile Lawyer App icon displayed on the screen of his mobile phone
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`24 to execute the app. Alternatively, the Mobile Lawyer App 22 can be initiated by a verbal
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`command. The user also connects the phone to the 360—degree camera and optionally to the
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`display screen. The execution of the Mobile Lawyer App 22 turns on the 360—degree camera 12
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`and begins live— streaming video data either directly via the Internet/cellular network or via the
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`mobile device 24. The server 16 also receives the request from the user and selects one or more
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`licensed lawyers to send an alert notification. The notification may be done via the attomey’s
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`own mobile phone or computer, in the form of text message, a phone call, or another form of
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`alert. The first lawyer who responds immediately has access to the live—streaming video data.
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`Additionally, the lawyer’s image is also immediately displayed on the dash—mounted monitor 20.
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`Alternatively, the same can be displayed on the screen of the mobile phone. Because the 360—
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`degree camera 12 is mounted and positioned to optimally capture the actions of the user/driver as
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`well as the police officer that steps up to the car and standing by the driver’s side door, the
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`remotely—located lawyer can clearly see what is happening. Because of the 360—degree nature of
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`the video camera, the actions of any passenger in the car and activities that occur around the
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`vehicle can be clearly captured. The lawyer’s speech can be relayed by a display screen that has
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`audio speaker capability or through the speakers on the user’s mobile phone. The lawyer’s image
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`is identified by name and other information that clearly identifies him/her as a licensed attorney
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`for the jurisdiction in which the user is located. The licensed attorney can have a 360—degree
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`view of the scene by accessing the live streamed video from the video camera. Video data from
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`PATENT APPLICATION
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`DOCKET NO.: REDM-POOOlUS
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`additional camera angles from above and other vehicle—mounted cameras are also live—streamed
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`to the lawyer’s computing device. The live streamed video is, at the same time, stored in the
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`cloud data storage 18.
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`[0017] By the time the police officer steps up to the driver’s side window, the display
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`screen 20 shows the attorney’s face and identification, and the video camera is capturing and live
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`streaming video data. When the police officer first comes into view, the lawyer may choose to
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`introduce him/herself to ensure that the police officer is aware of his/her presence. During the
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`interaction between the police officer and the user, the attorney may remain silent and only act as
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`an observer to allow the police officer to do his/her job without obstruction. However, the lawyer
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`may interject if and when the situation demands it, such as when the police officer’s demand or
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`action is illegal under the laws of that jurisdiction. The lawyer may also provide guidance to the
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`user to cooperate with the police officer and serve as a calming influence in a scenario that may
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`be tense for all parties involved.
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`[0018] From the vantage point of the police officer, the presence of the lawyer as a third—
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`party observer may also serve to alleviate concerns he/she may have about the user/driver and
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`remove some of the tension. The police officer may be assured that the presence of the Mobile
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`Lawyer means that the user will likely be compliant and not resist his reasonable demands.
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`Further assurance is that fact that there will be a comprehensive video recording of the incident
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`that can be used to verify either party’s testimony.
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`[0019] The Mobile Lawyer may use the attorney functionalities provided by the app such
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`as taking down extemporaneous notes regarding his/her observation of the activities. The
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`attorney function also includes capturing and storing of the video of the attorney in cloud
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`storage.
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`[0020] It is the hope that the Mobile Lawyer technology described herein can provide a
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`desperately needed calming and tempering presence that can be called upon whenever a police
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`encounter occurs. Not unlike having a legal adviser along at all times, the Mobile Lawyer can be
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`summoned to serve, observe, and provide legal guidance to the user in tense situations.
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`[0021] The lawyer selection criteria is primarily jurisdictional due to the licensing
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`requirements for lawyers. Secondarily, users may rate lawyers and those lawyers with poor
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`rating may receiver fewer or no opportunities to respond to consultation requests.
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`PATENT APPLICATION
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`DOCKET NO.: REDM-POOOlUS
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`[0022] It should be noted that it is contemplated herein that the functionalities of the
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`video camera and display monitor can be combined and integrated into one housing, so that one
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`integrated device is dash—mounted with video camera and display capabilities, as well as
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`communicating with the remote server, either directly via the Intemet/cellular network or
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`through the user’s mobile device.
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`[0023] It should be understood that user’s profile data, subscription information, and
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`video data are protected by password and other security measures. Further, the lawyers’ profile
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`and credential information are also protected by password and other security measures. To access
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`these data, the users and lawyers must supply the correct login information. It should be noted
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`that the word “video” used herein is used to denote video and/or audio.
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`[0024] The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth
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`below with particularity in the appended claims. However, modifications, variations, and
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`changes to the exemplary embodiments described above will be apparent to those skilled in the
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`art, and the system and method for Mobile Lawyer described herein thus encompasses such
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`modifications, variations, and changes and are not limited to the specific embodiments described
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`herein.
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