Vehicle-based cloud-aware video capture system

Abstract

Systems are provided for capturing video images from vehicles and relaying the video to a cloud-based database for access by authorized users. In one example, a video capture apparatus is conveniently mounted to a dashboard power socket of a vehicle. The apparatus includes adjustable arms for positioning a videocamera above the dashboard to capture video of the road ahead of the vehicle. A controller device transmits the video along with the date/time and location of the vehicle to a database of the cloud-based system using cellular, Wi-Fi or other communication networks. Thereafter, authorized users such as insurance investigators or law enforcement personnel can search the database to locate videos relevant to accident investigations or criminal matters, such as videos that recorded the scene of an accident or street crime. A fee may be automatically paid to the owner of the vehicle for access to video obtained from that vehicle.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.