Method and system for managing data in a system

• US 20040183903A1
• Filed: 03/21/2003
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Pedersen, Christen Kent
• Application Number:
  US10/394,467
• Publication Number:
  US 20040183903A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A method and system for managing data in a system is disclosed. The method and system include the utilization of a programmable algorithm to periodically discard data in a memory component of a system. By utilizing a programmable algorithm to periodically discard data in the memory component of a system, data can be recorded over long periods of time at varying degrees of temporal and spatial resolution without the use of cumbersome video tapes and the like. Using the method and system in accordance with the present invention allows a user to select particularly useful data from the large amount of stored data and save it to a more permanent storage device. The method and system include receiving data from an input portion of the system, storing the data in a solid state memory portion of the system and utilizing a programmable algorithm to reduce the amount of the data stored in the solid state memory portion of the system.

Claims

1. A video surveillance camera comprising:

a sensor input for receiving the data;

a randomly accessible memory for storing the data; and

a microprocessor coupled to the sensor input and the randomly accessible memory for implementing a programmable algorithm to reduce the amount of the data stored in the randomly accessible memory of the system wherein the programmable algorithm comprises;

periodically checking an amount of available storage in the randomly accessible memory; and

reducing the amount of data in the randomly accessible memory based on the 11 amount of available storage in the randomly accessible memory; and

an interface coupled to the randomly accessible memory for providing access to a portion of data in the randomly accessible memory.

2. The video surveillance camera of claim 1 wherein reducing the amount of data in the randomly accessible memory further comprises deleting a portion of the data from the randomly accessible memory.

3. The video surveillance camera of claim 1 wherein reducing the amount of data in the randomly accessible memory further comprises lowering a resolution of a portion of the data from the randomly accessible memory.

4. A method for managing data in a system comprising:

receiving data from an input portion of the system;

storing the data in a solid state memory portion of the system; and

utilizing a programmable algorithm to reduce the amount of the data stored in the solid state memory portion of the system.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the solid state memory portion comprises flash random access memory.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein utilizing a programmable algorithm comprises:

utilizing a microprocessor to implement the programmable algorithm.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the programmable algorithm comprises:

periodically checking an amount of available storage in the solid state memory portion; and

selectively reducing the amount of data in the solid state memory portion based on the amount of available storage in the solid state memory portion.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein reducing the amount of data in the solid state memory portion further comprises deleting a portion of the data from the solid state memory portion.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein reducing the amount of data in the solid state memory portion further comprises lower a resolution of a portion of the data in the solid state memory portion.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein the system comprises a video surveillance camera.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

utilizing a remote device to access a portion of the data in the solid state memory portion.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the remote device comprises a personal digital assistant.

13. A system for managing data comprising:

a sensor input for receiving the data;

a solid state memory portion for storing the data; and

implementation means coupled to the sensor input and the solid state memory portion for implementing a programmable algorithm to reduce the amount of the data stored in the solid state memory portion of the system.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the solid state memory portion comprises flash random access memory.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the implementation means comprises a microprocessor.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the programmable algorithm comprises:

periodically checking an amount of available storage in the solid state memory portion; and

reducing the amount of data in the solid state memory portion based on the amount of available storage in the solid state memory portion.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein reducing the amount of data in the solid state memory portion further comprises deleting a portion of the data from the solid state memory portion.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein reducing the amount of data in the solid state memory portion further comprises lower a resolution of a portion of the data in the solid state memory portion.

19. The system of claim 16 further comprising access means coupled to the solid state memory portion for accessing a portion of the data in the solid state memory portion.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the access means further comprises a local user interface.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the access means further comprises an I/O port capable of being accessed by a remote device.

22. A computer readable medium comprising program instructions for managing data in a system, the program instructions comprising the steps of:

receiving data from an input portion of the system;

storing the data in a solid state memory portion of the system; and

utilizing a programmable algorithm to reduce the amount of the data stored in the solid state memory portion of the system.