Video camera apparatus with compression system responsive to video camera adjustment

A video surveillance system for surveillance of a remote location, the system comprising:

• a video camera module at the remote location, the video camera module comprising:
• a video camera for generating video signals;
• a first network interface connecting the video camera module to a communications network, such that with the video camera module connected to the communications network, the video camera module can communicate with a monitoring station over the communications network;
• a camera control system for causing adjustment of the video camera, the camera control system comprising means for generating an adjustment indication signal indicative of adjustment of the video camera by the camera control system;
• compression means effecting a degree of compression processing on the video signals, said compression means comprising:
• means for effecting a decree of spatial compression processing on the video signals;
• and means for effecting a degree of temporal compression processing on the video signals including means for generating motion vectors in response to the adjustment indication signal:
• a processor for outputting to the compression means, an instruction to vary the degree of compression processing in response to the adjustment indication signal, said instruction to vary the degree of compression processing comprising instructions to vary the degree of spatial compression processing and the degree of temporal compression processing in response to the adjustment indication signal.

A video camera apparatus comprising:

• a video camera comprising a lens and for generating video signals comprising a plurality of video images comprising picture elements;
• a camera control system for causing adjustment of the video camera, the camera control system comprising means for generating an adjustment indication signal indicative of adjustment of the video camera by the camera control system;
• compression means effecting a degree of compression processing on the video signals, said compression means comprising:
• means for effecting a degree of spatial compression processing on the video signals;
• and means for effecting a degree of temporal compression processing on the video signals including means for generating motion vectors in response to the adjustment indication signal;
• a processor for outputting to the compression means, an instruction to vary the degree of compression processing in response to the adjustment indication signal, said instruction to vary the degree of compression processing comprising instructions to vary the degree of spatial compression processing and the degree of temporal compression processing in response to the adjustment indication signal;
• and
• means for storing the video signals on a storage medium and wherein the instruction to vary the degree of compression processing is stored on the storage medium.

For use in a video camera system comprising an adjustable video camera and a controller for adjusting the video camera, the method comprising the steps of:

• generating the video signals comprising a plurality of video images;
• adjusting the video camera and generating an adjustment indication signal indicative of adjustment of the video camera;
• effecting a degree of compression processing on the video signals, thereby generating compressed video signals, said effecting the degree of compression processing comprising:
• effecting the degree of spatial compression processing on the video signals:
• and effecting the degree of temporal compression processing on the video signals including generating motion vectors in response to the adjustment indication signal;
• outputting to the compression means, an instruction to vary the degree of compression processing in response to the adjustment indication signal, said instruction to vary the degree of compression processing comprising instructions to vary the degree of spatial compression processing and the degree of temporal compression processing in response to the adjustment indication signal.

A video camera apparatus comprising:

• a video camera comprising a lens, and for generating video signals comprising a plurality of video images;
• a camera control system for causing adjustment of the video camera, the camera control system comprising:
• a remote controller including means for generating a control signal for causing adjustment of the video camera;
• and means for receiving said control signal and generating an adjustment indication signal indicative of adjustment of the video camera by the camera control system in response to the received control signal;
• compression means effecting a degree of compression processing on the video signals, said compression means comprising:
• means for effecting a degree of spatial compression processing on the video signals:
• and means for effecting a degree of temporal compression processing on the video signals including means for generating motion vectors in response to the adjustment indication signal;
• a processor for outputting to the compression means, an instruction to vary the degree of compression processing in response to the adjustment indication signal, said instruction to vary the degree of compression processing comprising instructions to vary the degree of spatial compression processing and the degree of temporal compression processing in response to the adjustment indication signal.