Method for viewing and controlling multiple DVR's

• US 20030081131A1
• Filed: 10/25/2002
• Published: 05/01/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Reese, Daniel J., Farnan, F. Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,623,753 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/211.11
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/20 Disc-shaped record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/268 Signal distribution or switching
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver

Abstract

A system and method for viewing and controlling a plurality of digital video recorders (DVRs). The system includes a video matrix switch comprising a plurality of inputs and outputs arranged as a matrix; a plurality of cameras and a plurality of DVRs having ports in communication with the plurality of inputs of the video matrix switch; a plurality of monitors attached to the plurality of outputs of the video matrix switch; a controller that is adapted for communication with at least one port of each of the DVRs, the controller also communicates with the video matrix switch and provides a mapping function between the DVRs and video matrix switch inputs and outputs. The controller may comprise a computer that communicates with the plurality of DVRs via an Ethernet Switch, and the computer communicates the route DVR commands to the appropriate DVR of the plurality of DVRs. By use of a table, the computer can reroute video images to backup DVRs in the event of a failure.

Claims

1. A system for viewing and controlling a plurality of digital video recorders (DVRs) comprising:

a video matrix switch comprising a plurality of inputs and outputs arranged as a matrix;

a plurality of cameras and a plurality of DVRs having ports in communication with the plurality of inputs of the video matrix switch;

a plurality of monitors attached to the plurality of outputs of the video matrix switch;

a controller that is adapted for communication with at least one port of each of the DVRs, the controller also communicates with the video matrix switch and provides a mapping function between the DVRs and video matrix switch inputs and outputs;

a keyboard that is adapted to provide a matrix mode and a DVR mode, where the matrix mode is typical for matrix system control, and the DVR mode provides full control over a DVR connected to the system.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a computer that communicates with the plurality of DVRs via an Ethernet Switch.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the computer communicates the route DVR commands to the appropriate DVR of the plurality of DVRs.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the computer responds to loss of communication/failure messages of the DVRs and automatically re-maps route DVR commands to allocated backup units.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein the system comprises a matrix mode for viewing on a particular monitor the live image captured by a particular camera, a DVR mode for viewing recorded images and controlling a DVR, and a softkey for changing between the modes.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the DVR mode permits user selection of another camera from the plurality of cameras.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of cameras and plurality of DVRs are respectively associated with each other, so that a respective one camera and a respective one DVR are attached together and in communication with a respective on input of the plurality of inputs of the video matrix switch.

8. The system according to claim 2, wherein the keyboard is adapted for initiating a virtual DVR front panel to facilitate review of recorded video from a camera.

9. The system according to claim 2, further comprising a plurality of operator stations connected to the computer and to the video matrix switch.

10. A method of providing viewing and controlling of multiple digital video recorders (DVRs) comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a video matrix switch comprising a plurality of inputs and outputs arranged as a matrix;

(b) arranging a plurality of cameras and a plurality of DVRs having ports in communication with the plurality of inputs of the video matrix switch;

(c) attaching a plurality of monitors to the plurality of outputs of the video matrix switch;

(d) controlling the DVRs, and the video matrix switch with a controller that provides a mapping function between the DVRs and video matrix switch inputs and outputs.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the controller comprises a computer that communicates with the plurality of DVRs via an Ethernet Switch.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the computer communicates the route DVR commands to the appropriate DVR of the plurality of DVRs.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the computer responds to loss of communication/failure messages of the DVRs and automatically re-maps route DVR commands to allocated DVR backup units.

14. The method according to claim 10, further comprising

(e) providing by the computer a plurality of modes including a matrix mode for viewing on a particular monitor the live image captured by a particular camera and a DVR mode for viewing recorded images and controlling a DVR, and a softkey for changing between the modes.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the re-mapping function includes designating logical camera numbers for operator or automatic selection, and designating physical camera numbers which the logical camera numbers are converted to so as to facilitate switching and control between the matrix and DVR and playback modes.

16. The method according to claim 13, further comprising:

providing a keyboard that communicates with the computer, the keyboard being adapted for initiating a virtual DVR front panel on a particular monitor to facilitate review of recorded video from a camera.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein the pressing of the softkey causes the computer to identify the DVR associated with a particular camera and monitor, and to call up the recorded video from an earlier time from the particular camera that was being displayed on the monitor, so that a camera displayed on the monitor is the same as the particular camera but now with recorded video instead of live video.