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A system and method for archiving and retrieving information from an array of remote sensors. In a preferred embodiment the invention is incorporated in a gunshot detection and location system to preserve audio information surrounding a gunshot event for later review or analysis. In a preferred embo

A system and method for archiving and retrieving information from an array of remote sensors. In a preferred embodiment the invention is incorporated in a gunshot detection and location system to preserve audio information surrounding a gunshot event for later review or analysis. In a preferred embodiment the system includes a plurality of acoustic sensors deployed in an array, a computer for processing gunshot information from the sensors, and a mass storage device for temporary archival of audio information. When a gunshot event is detected, the location of the audio information of the data within the spool is stored in an index to facilitate later retrieval of the information.

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What is claimed is: 1. A method for archiving audio information in a gunshot detection system of a type having array of acoustic sensors placed over a geographic area; wherein said array of sensors detects gunshots which occur proximate to the array, the method comprising the steps of: providing a

What is claimed is: 1. A method for archiving audio information in a gunshot detection system of a type having array of acoustic sensors placed over a geographic area; wherein said array of sensors detects gunshots which occur proximate to the array, the method comprising the steps of: providing a mass storage device; periodically sampling an audio signal from each sensor; detecting an impulsive noise event including a start time; storing samples of audio data in said mass storage device wherein audio signals detected by each sensor can be selected using time data, wherein the audio signals may be reproduced with the relative timing between the audio signals of each sensor preserved; and creating a searchable database wherein audio signals containing the impulsive noise event are indexed, with each audio signal being indexed as a function of a sensor that detected the audio signal and the start time. 2. The method for archiving audio information of claim 1 further comprising: providing a file structure on said mass storage device, said file structure having a plurality of files, each file having an absolute time associated therewith. 3. The method for archiving audio information of claim 2 the samples of audio data are stored in a file having an appropriate absolute time associated therewith. 4. The method for archiving audio information of claim 3 wherein each file of said plurality of tiles represents one second of sampled audio. 5. The method for archiving audio information of claim 4 wherein said files representing one second of sampled audio are organized into minute directories, each minute directory having sixty said files representing one second of sampled audio. 6. The method for archiving audio information of claim 1 further including the step of when a gunshot is detected, storing an index to the location of the stored samples in said mass storage device corresponding to said gunshot. 7. The method for archiving audio information of claim 6 further including the step of reproducing the audio surrounding said gunshot by using said index to locate said stored samples corresponding to said gunshot. 8. The method for archiving audio information of claim 1, wherein the audio signals are further indexed according to metadata so as to provide a metadata index. 9. The method for archiving audio information of claim 8, wherein the metadata index parses the searchable database into subsets which comprise impulsive noise events. 10. A method for archiving audio information in a gunshot detection system of a type having an array of acoustic sensors placed over a geographic area, wherein said array of sensors detects gunshots which occur proximate the array, the method comprising the steps of: providing a mass storage device; obtaining, from data storage elements on remote sensors, information indicative of audio signal samples that contain impulsive noise components; creating a searchable database wherein the information is indexed as a function of a sensor and a time associated with capture of each audio signal; processing data in the searchable database to identify an impulsive noise component or an audio signal sample of interest; and downloading, from a remote sensor, audio data associated with the impulsive noise component or the audio signal sample of interest. 11. The method for archiving audio information of claim 10, wherein the information in the searchable database is further indexed according to metadata so as to provide a metadata index. 12. The method for archiving audio information of claim 11, wherein the metadata index parses the information in the searchable database into subsets of information which comprise impulsive noise components. 13. The method for archiving audio information of claim 10 further comprising providing a file structure on said mass storage device, said file structure having a plurality of files, each file having an absolute time associated therewith. 14. The method for archiving audio information of claim 13 the samples of audio data are stored in a file having an appropriate absolute time associated therewith. 15. The method for archiving audio information of claim 14 wherein each file of said plurality of files represents one second of sampled audio. 16. The method for archiving audio information of claim 10 further including the step of, when a gunshot is detected, storing an index to the location of the stored samples in said mass storage device corresponding to said gunshot. 17. The method for archiving audio information of claim 16 further including the step of reproducing the audio surrounding said gunshot by using said index to locate said stored samples corresponding to said gunshot. 18. The method for archiving audio information of claim 17, wherein a permanent recording is made of said later reproduction. 19. The method for archiving audio information of claim 10 further comprising identifying a non-gunshot event storing an index to the location of the stored samples in said mass storage device corresponding to said non-gunshot event. 20. The method for archiving audio information of claim 19 further including the step of reproducing the audio surrounding said non-gunshot event by using said index to locate said stored samples corresponding to said non-gunshot event. 21. The method for archiving audio information of claim 17, wherein determination of a source location of said gunshot event is performed from said later reproduction.