Vehicle video system and method

• US 20040008255A1
• Filed: 07/11/2002
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Paul Masanek
• Original Assignee: Paul Masanek
• Inventors: Lewellen, Mark A.
• Application Number:
  US10/192,941
• Publication Number:
  US 20040008255A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/148
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0891 Video recorder in combination with video camera

Abstract

A vehicle video system includes a small camera in the passenger area that uses illumination in the non-visible spectrum to illuminate the passenger area. The vehicle video system records video information on a digital video recorder that uses digital media such as a hard disk drive, recordable CD (CD-R), rewritable CD (CR-RW), or writable Digital Video Disc (DVD). The vehicle video system includes a local wireless interface, such as a Bluetooth-compatible interface, that automatically connects to a compatible device in the parking area of the vehicle that is coupled to a database. In this manner, the digital video information collected by the vehicle video system is automatically transferred to the database when the vehicle is parked, removing the need for any human intervention for the logging and cataloging of video tapes. The local wireless interface of the vehicle video system also allows other devices, such as a handheld device or a vehicle video system in a different vehicle, to access the stored digital video information.

Claims

1. A video system for a vehicle comprising:

a first camera fixedly mounted to the vehicle in a position that allows the first camera to view a front view of the vehicle through the windshield;

a second camera fixedly mounted to the vehicle in a position that allows the second camera to view a passenger area of the vehicle, the second camera comprising a monochromatic camera that includes at least one illumination mechanism that provides illumination that is not visible to a human eye but that provides illumination for the monochromatic camera;

a digital video recorder; and

a system controller coupled to the first camera, to the second camera, and to the digital video recorder, the system controller sending a digital data stream that includes video information from the first camera and from the second camera to the digital video recorder.

2. The video system of claim 1 further comprising:

a control head coupled to the system controller, the control head comprising;

a user interface that allows a user to control the function of the system controller; and

a monitor that displays video information from at least one of the first camera, the second camera, and the digital video recorder.

3. The video system of claim 1 further comprising:

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver coupled to the system controller that provides location coordinates for the vehicle to the system controller.

4. The video system of claim 1 further comprising:

a wireless audio and video receiver coupled to the system controller that allows at least one wireless microphone and at least one wireless camera to send information to the system controller.

5. The video system of claim 1 further comprising:

a mobile data terminal coupled to the system controller, the mobile data terminal being coupled via a wireless communication mechanism to a central database.

6. A video system for a vehicle comprising:

at least one camera mounted in the vehicle;

a digital video recorder mounted in the vehicle; and

a system controller coupled to the at least one camera and to the digital video recorder, the system controller sending a digital data stream that includes video information from the at least one camera to the digital video recorder.

7. A video system for a vehicle comprising:

at least one camera mounted in the vehicle;

a digital video recorder mounted in the vehicle;

a local wireless interface for directly communicating with at least one compatible local wireless device within a specified range of the vehicle; and

a system controller coupled to the at least one camera, to the digital video recorder, and to the local wireless interface, the system controller sending a digital data stream that includes video information from the at least one camera to the digital video recorder, the system controller communicating with the at least one compatible local wireless device only after performing at least one security function to assure the compatible local wireless device is authorized to communicate with the video system.

8. The video system of claim 7 further comprising a parking area data transfer mechanism in a parking area for the vehicle that is a compatible wireless device and that receives via the local wireless interface digital video information stored by the digital video recorder.

9. The video system of claim 7 further comprising a portable data transfer mechanism that is a compatible wireless device and that receives via the local wireless interface digital video information stored by the digital video recorder.

10. The video system of claim 7 wherein the local wireless interface comprises a Bluetooth-compatible interface.

11. The video system of claim 7 further comprising:

a control head coupled to the system controller, the control head comprising;

a user interface that allows a user to control the function of the system controller; and

a monitor that displays video information from at least one of the at least one camera and the digital video recorder.

12. The video system of claim 7 further comprising:

a global positioning system (GPS) receiver coupled to the system controller that provides location coordinates for the vehicle to the system controller.

13. The video system of claim 7 further comprising:

a wireless audio and video receiver coupled to the system controller that allows at least one wireless microphone and at least one wireless camera to send information to the system controller.

14. The video system of claim 7 further comprising:

a mobile data terminal coupled to the system controller, the mobile data terminal being coupled via a wireless communication mechanism to a central database.

15. A video system for a vehicle comprising:

(A) a first camera fixedly mounted to the vehicle in a position that allows the first camera to view a front view of the vehicle through the windshield;

(B) a second camera fixedly mounted to the vehicle in a position that allows the second camera to view a passenger area of the vehicle, the second camera comprising a monochromatic camera that includes at least one illumination mechanism that provides illumination that is not visible to a human eye but that provides illumination for the monochromatic camera;

(C) a local wireless interface for directly communicating with at least one compatible local wireless device within a specified range of the vehicle;

(D) a digital video recorder;

(E) a system controller coupled to the first camera, to the second camera, and to the digital video recorder, the system controller sending a digital data stream that includes video information from the first camera and from the second camera to the digital video recorder;

(F) a control head coupled to the system controller, the control head comprising;

a user interface that allows a user to control the function of the system controller; and

a monitor that displays video information from at least one of the first camera, the second camera, and the digital video recorder;

(G) a global positioning system (GPS) receiver coupled to the system controller that provides location coordinates for the vehicle to the system controller;

(H) a wireless audio and video receiver coupled to the system controller that allows at least one wireless microphone and at least one wireless camera to send information to the system controller;

(I) a mobile data terminal coupled to the system controller, the mobile data terminal being coupled via a wireless communication mechanism to a central database.

16. The video system of claim 15 further comprising a parking area data transfer mechanism in a parking area for the vehicle that is a compatible wireless device and that receives via the local wireless interface digital video information stored by the digital video recorder.

17. The video system of claim 15 further comprising a portable data transfer mechanism that is a compatible wireless device and that receives via the local wireless interface digital video information stored by the digital video recorder.

18. The video system of claim 15 wherein the local wireless interface comprises a Bluetooth-compatible interface.

19. A method for recording information relating to a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

mounting a monochromatic camera in a position in the vehicle that allows the camera to view a passenger area of the vehicle, the camera including at least one illumination mechanism that provides illumination that is not visible to a human eye but that provides illumination for the monochromatic camera;

activating the illumination mechanism; and

recording a video image from the monochromatic camera.

20. A method for digitally recording information relating to a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

mounting at least one camera in the vehicle;

providing a digital video recorder in the vehicle; and

sending a digital data stream that includes video information from the at least one camera to the digital video recorder.

21. A method for digitally recording information relating to a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

(A) providing a vehicle video system comprising;

at least one camera mounted in the vehicle;

a digital video recorder mounted in the vehicle;

a local wireless interface for directly communicating with at least one compatible local wireless device within a specified range of the vehicle; and

a system controller coupled to the at least one camera, to the digital video recorder, and to the local wireless interface;

(B) sending a digital data stream that includes video information from the at least one camera to the digital video recorder; and

(C) communicating with the at least one compatible local wireless device only after performing at least one security function to assure the compatible local wireless device is authorized to communicate with the vehicle video system.

22. A method for automatically transferring digital information in a vehicle video system, the method comprising the steps of:

communicating via a local wireless interface with a compatible device;

performing at least one security operation to verify that the compatible device is authorized to access the vehicle video system;

if the compatible device is authorized to access the vehicle video system, sending the digital information to the compatible device.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the local wireless interface comprises a Bluetooth-compatible interface.

24. A method for automatically transferring digital information in a vehicle video system to a database, the method comprising the steps of:

the vehicle video system communicating via a local wireless interface with a data transfer mechanism;

the vehicle video system performing at least one security operation to verify that the data transfer mechanism is authorized to access the vehicle video system;

the data transfer mechanism performing at least one security operation to verify that the vehicle video system is authorized to access the data transfer mechanism;

if the data transfer mechanism is authorized to access the vehicle video system and the vehicle video system is authorized to access the data transfer mechanism, performing the steps of;

the vehicle video system sending the digital information to the data transfer mechanism;

the data transfer mechanism storing the digital information in the database.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the local wireless interface comprises a Bluetooth-compatible interface.

26. The method of claim 24 further comprising the steps of:

the data transfer mechanism sending a message to the vehicle video system when the digital information has been successfully received from the vehicle video system; and

the vehicle video system performing at least one operation on the digital information sent to the data transfer mechanism.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the at least one operation includes archiving the digital information.

28. The method of claim 26 wherein the at least one operation includes compressing the digital information.

29. The method of claim 26 wherein the at least one operation includes deleting the digital information.