System and method for storing pattern data

A method of recording and storing camera scan patterns in an active video surveillance system executing a plurality of camera conditions, each pattern comprising one or more pattern records, each pattern record comprising a camera condition data and a count data, the method comprising:

• storing a first camera condition data corresponding to a first camera condition in a first pattern record;
• reading a second camera condition data corresponding to a second camera condition;
• comparing the second camera condition data with the first camera condition data;
• incrementing the count data of the first pattern record if the second camera condition data is identical to the first camera condition data;
• and
• storing the second camera condition data in a new pattern record if the second camera condition data is not identical to the first camera condition data.

A method of video surveillance using a camera having a memory storing one or more pattern data sets, each pattern data set comprising one or more pattern records, each pattern record comprising a camera condition field and a count field, the method comprising:

• selecting a first pattern record from a first pattern data set;
• reading a first camera condition data from the camera condition field of first pattern record, the first camera condition data including a first set of camera commands corresponding to a first camera condition;
• reading a first count data from the count field of the first pattern record;
• and
• moving the camera in accordance with the first camera condition for a duration equal to the first count data multiplied by a predetermined pattern time interval.