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AssigneeSensormatic Electronics Corporation
InventorsCharles Park Wilson, Chris Harvey Pedersen, Jr., Alex Kamlun Auyeung, David Ross MacCormack
Estimating the term…
Signals from sixteen video cameras are selectively captured using three video decoding circuits. Each decoding circuit is selectively connectable to each camera. Each of two A/D converters is selectively connectable to each of the three decoding circuits. Two video field buffers are provided to store, respectively, the digital video signals generated by the two A/D converters.
Apparatus for storing video signals, comprising:
A method of updating a display buffer, said display buffer for storing image data to be supplied to a display device to cause the display device to display an image corresponding to the image data, said display device displaying said image in the form of a plurality of rows of picture elements, said rows of picture elements consisting of a first set of rows that are alternate ones of said rows of picture elements and a second set of rows that are all of the rows of picture elements not included in said first set of rows, said display buffer including a first set of memory locations corresponding to said first set of rows and a second set of memory locations corresponding to said second set of rows, the method comprising the steps of:
Apparatus for formatting an image plane represented as a two-dimensional array of pixel locations according to a 4:1:1 digital color video format, comprising:
A method of formatting an image plane represented as a two-dimensional array of pixel locations according to a 4:1:1 digital color video format, the method comprising the steps of:
A method of transmitting a field of video data on a multi-bit parallel data bus, said field of video data corresponding to an image, the method comprising the steps of:
Video data transmission apparatus, comprising:
A method of updating a display buffer, said display buffer for storing image data to be supplied to a display device to cause the display device to display an image corresponding to the image data, said display device displaying said image in the form of a two-dimensional array of picture elements, said array of picture elements defining an image plane, the method comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.
No related US applications are recorded in the indexed filing history.
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User interface: interfaces for setting up or customising the system
Information retrieval; Database structures therefor; File system structures therefor: of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and…
Image analysis to detect motion of the intruder, e.g. by frame subtraction: involving reference image or background adaptation with time to…
Using television cameras: electrical details of the system, e.g. component blocks for carrying out specific functions
Term ended 31 Oct 2016 (estimated)
USPTO file history isn’t available for this patent, so only indexed dates are shown.
The present invention is related to closed circuit video surveillance security systems, but also is more generally concerned with application of machine intelligence to the management, interpretation and use of video information. The system disclosed herein can therefore be referred to as an "intelligent video information management" (IVIM) system. The IVIM field has not hitherto been recognized as distinct from other related endeavors, and it is among the primary purposes of the present disclosure to teach fundamental principles of general application to the emerging art of intelligent video information management. The invention as claimed herein is particularly concerned with capture, formatting and temporary storage of video information according to novel techniques that support demanding and sophisticated strategies for compression, permanent storage, and manipulation of the video information.
It is well known to provide video security systems in which video cameras are used to generate video signals representative of locations for which security surveillance is desired. In a typical system, some or all of the video signals are displayed on video screens for monitoring by security personnel. It is also known to record some or all of the video signals on videotape, either to provide evidentiary support for the observations of security personnel or in cases where "real-time" human monitoring of the signals is impractical or is not desired.
However, videotape suffers from serious drawbacks as a storage medium, particularly in view of the large quantity of video information generated by a video security system. A major concern is the sheer quantity of tapes to be stored, especially when it is desired to record signals generated by a large number of surveillance cameras. Moreover, in a large system many video tape recorders may be required, resulting in a large capital expenditure, and also the need to allocate space for the recorders. Another problem is the need to frequently change tape cassettes.
FIG. 1 presents in block diagram form an overview of a distributed intelligent video information management system provided in accordance with the invention.
FIG. 2 represents, in functional block form, a video analysis and storage apparatus forming a functional part of the system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram of electronic components of a video recording/personal computer (VR/PC) unit provided in accordance with the invention and used in the system of FIG. 1.
FIG. 1 presents an overview of an intelligent video information management (IVIM) system, generally indicated by reference numeral 500. The system 500 is shown as extending over multiple locations and a plurality of business enterprises. For example, the business enterprises may include a multi-branch bank 502 and a multi-location retailer 504. The bank 502 and retailer 504 are, respectively, served by IVIM systems 506 and 508, which are quasi-independent from each other, but are at least selectively interactive with a master node facility 510 provided by a security service organization 512. For example, the service organization 512 may provide, install and service intelligent video information management systems and other video security systems.
The master node 510 is preferably in the form of a host computer which provides support functions and downloadable software resources to the IVIM systems 506 and 508. Although only two business enterprise IVIM's are shown in FIG. 1, it is contemplated that the master node 510 may provide support for a large number of businesses each maintaining its own IVIM system. The business enterprises may be located and have branches across the United States (for example), and in other countries as well. It is contemplated that the system disclosed herein will be used in many other types of enterprises in addition to banks and retailers.
As shown in FIG. 1, each of the IVIM systems 506 and 508 includes a local node 514 which provides oversight and management functions for the respective IVIM system. Each of the local nodes 514 is connected via a respective data communication channel 516 to the master node 510. Each data communication channel 516 may, for example, be constituted by a dedicated telecommunication channel, or the channel 516 may be implemented upon demand on a dial-up basis; The local nodes 514 are preferably implemented using standard personal computer hardware and software, augmented with novel software capabilities which will be described below.