In-car digital video recording with MPEG compression

An apparatus comprising:

• a video camera;
• a microphone;
• a display means for displaying status and control information;
• a speaker;
• an input for receiving status data;
• a base unit comprising:
• means for receiving the output signal of said video camera and preparing said output signal for compression;
• an analog-to-digital converter coupled to convert audio signals from said microphone to digital data;
• a buffer and merge circuit functioning to merge said status data with the frames of video data output by said means for receiving to generate composite live digital video data, and for buffering the resulting composite live digital video data and for detecting sync intervals in said frames of video data output by said means for receiving and outputting a frame signal, and for receiving at least frame number data that increments with each received frame and merging said frame number data into said composite live digital video data stream;
• a compression circuit for compressing said composite live digital video data stored in said buffer using any compression algorithm, and for compressing said audio data output by said analog-to-digital converter using any compression algorithm;
• anti-tampering means for receiving said compressed video and audio data and rendering it tamper proof;
• a hard disk for recording whatever data is output by said anti-tampering means;
• and
• means for controlling said base unit coupled to said display means and including a frame counter for receiving said frame signal and for incrementing a frame count each time said frame signal is received and for supplying said frame count data as status data to said buffer and merge circuit.

An in-car video recording apparatus comprising:

• one or more video cameras;
• one or more microphones;
• a display means for displaying status and control information;
• a speaker;
• a GPS receiver;
• an input for receiving status data;
• a base unit comprising:
• means for receiving the output signals of said one or more video cameras, selecting one output signal therefrom and preparing said selected output signal for compression;
• an analog-to-digital converter means coupled to select one or more outputs from said one or more microphones and convert the selected audio signal(s) from said one or more microphones to generate digital audio data;
• a buffer and merge circuit functioning to merge said status data including position data from said GPS receiver and vehicle speed data and lights and siren status data and traffic surveillance radar data with the frames of video data output by said means for receiving and said digital audio data to generate composite live digital video data, and for buffering the resulting composite live digital video data, and for recognizing a sync signal in the incoming video data and outputting a frame signal, and for receiving a frame count signal and merging said frame count as status data in said composite live digital video data;
• a compression circuit for compressing said composite live digital video data stored in said buffer using any compression algorithm to generate compressed composite live digital video data, and for compressing said audio data output by said analog-to-digital converter using any compression algorithm to generate compressed audio data;
• a hard disk means for receiving and continuously recording said compressed composite live digital video data along with said compressed audio data, and for receiving an archive signal commanding playback of recorded data and specifying in any way at least the starting point in the stream recorded data where said playback is to begin;
• a digital video tape recorder or other removable medium digital data recording device for recording compressed data output by said hard disk means when a record signal is received;
• and
• control means coupled to said display means for controlling said base unit and including at least a frame counter, said control means also coupled to receive said frame signal and for incrementing said frame counter each time said frame signal is received and for supplying said frame count to said buffer and merge circuit as status data.