Extending the operational lifetime of a hard-disk drive used in video data storage applications

#This disclosure describes a video imaging system that intelligently recognizes the content of video data, reduces system storage capacity demands, and prolongs the operational lifespan of video data mass storage units.

#Network camera systems, for example network surveillance camera systems or IP camera systems, have existed for a number of years but have undergone relatively slow industry adoption. Compared to traditional analog camera systems, network camera systems offer advantages such as accessibility, integration, low installation costs, scalability, and an ability to move to higher resolution video. Data produced by network cameras, however, demand large amounts of bandwidth and storage capacity.

#Bandwidth problems associated with network camera systems have lead to more complex camera networks that include an increased number of switches and, in some cases, complete alternative data paths. Storage problems associated with network camera systems become magnified as video resolution and the number of cameras in a system increase. For example, a single standard D1 resolution camera using MPEG-4 compression and operating at 30 frames-per-second (fps) can require 360 gigabytes (GB) of storage for video data representing one month of video data. A camera system with 1000 cameras, therefore, would require 360 terabytes (TB) of storage for data spanning one month. This example demonstrates a huge cost and facility management challenge presented with network camera systems, especially where mega-pixel resolution is desired and where applications require six months or a year of video data storage. Due to the problems identified, most network video data are not recorded at full quality, but are recorded at lower resolutions and frame rates. Because typical high resolution cameras generate video data requiring a large amount of storage resources within a short period of time, it is impractical for a typical camera to include a self-contained storage unit, such as a hard drive, that is able to store a significant amount of video data.

#FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment of a network camera system.

#FIG. 2 is a high level block diagram of a network camera of FIG. 1.

#FIG. 3 is a block diagram depicting the imaging system, video processing system, and data storage system of FIG. 2 according to a first embodiment.

#System components with like reference numerals perform the same functions in each of the embodiments of a content aware storage system described below.

#FIG. 1 is a pictorial diagram depicting an embodiment of a network camera system 100 utilized in an application with local campus buildings and remote sites. Network camera system 100 is not limited to video surveillance or to the application depicted, but may be used in any network communication system. Network camera system 100 includes network cameras 102 connected to a central monitoring station 104 through a network 106 that includes a wide area network (WAN) 108 and a campus local area network (LAN) 110. Network 106 may also include a wireless network 112 that includes network cameras 102′ with wireless communication capabilities. Network 106 establishes multiple network communications paths. The following descriptions of network camera 102 apply also to network camera 102′. Network 106 is not limited to the configuration depicted, but may include various configurations and types of networks. A remote user 114 may also be connected to network cameras 102 through WAN 108. Network cameras 102 may be connected to a remote storage unit 116 (i.e., a network data store). Network camera system 100 may also include various switches 118 and routers 120 to facilitate communication over network 106.

#In operation, network cameras 102 capture various fields of view and generate data representing the fields of view. Certain applications may require substantially continuous operation of network camera 102. The data are communicated to central monitoring station 104, in which a user may view images, generated from the data, depicting the fields of view. Also, the data may be communicated to remote user 114 to generate images of the fields of view. The data may be stored in remote storage unit 116 and later accessed by a user.