Multifunction remote control system for audio and video recording, capture, transmission and playback of full motion and still images

• US 20050232579A1
• Filed: 02/14/2005
• Published: 10/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: e-Watch, Inc. (Cision Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: The Telesis Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Monroe, David A., Forman, Michael A., Baker, Stephen M., Hoeffer, Randall A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,359,622 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/225
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal

Abstract

A multifunction remote controlled video recording, transmission and playback system includes a still frame generator adapted for selecting and generating still frames on the fly while a full motion video signal is being recorded, without interrupting the recording function. Audio and data signals, such as cockpit audio in an aircraft and gps and telemetry signals may also be incorporated in the recorded full motion video recording on a real time synchronized basis. The still frames are digitally enhanced, producing a full field frame from the analog video signal. Still frames can be produced in single, burst and snap modes without interrupting the full motion video recording function.

Claims

1. A multifunction remote controlled recording/playback system for recording full motion video signals comprising a series of sequential “

still”

frames, the recording/playback system comprising;

a. a recorder/player;

b. a central processing unit for controlling the recording/playback system;

c. a video signal source for providing a video signal;

d. a video signal display monitor;

e. a video signal transmission system;

f. a video signal switching system responsive to commands from the central processor unit for selectively distributing the video signal to the recorder/player, the display monitor and the transmission system, wherein a full motion video signal may be distributed to the recorder/player while a selected still frame of the video signal is distributed to other components of the system.

2. The multifunction remote controlled recording/playback system of claim 1, further comprising a digital capture system for creating a still frame on the fly as the full motion video signal is generated by the video signal source, whereby a full field still frame is produced.

3. The multifunction remote controlled recording/playback system of claim 1, further comprising means for capturing a selected group of sequential still frames on the fly as the full motion video signal is generated by the video signal source.

4. The multifunction remote controlled recording/playback system of claim 1, wherein the video signal transmission system is adapted for transmitting full motion video signals in a first mode as the full motion video signal is generated by the video signal source and in a second mode as a playback of the recorded full motion video signal from the recorder/player.

5. The multifunction remote controlled recording/playback system of claim 1, further including an audio signal generator for generating an audio signal which can be recorded by the recorder/player in real time synchronization with the full motion video signal.

6. The multifunction remote controlled recording/playback system of claim 1, further including a data signal generator for generating a data signal which can be recorded by the recorder/player in real time synchronization with the full motion video signal.

7. The multifunction remote controlled recording/playback system of claim 6, wherein the data signal generator is a gps signal generator.

8. The multifunction remote controlled recording/playback system of claim 1, further including a marking signal generator, whereby specific, selected still frames of the recorded full motion video signal may be marked, the system being adapted to select said frames by searching for the marks, for distribution of the recorded marked frames by the video switching system.

9. The multifunction remote controlled recording/playback system of claim 8, wherein the marking signal generator is operative in a plurality of modes, a first mode being manually activated by an operator and a second mode being activated by a preselected data signal.

10. The multifunction remote controlled recording/playback system of claim 1, wherein the central processing unit is a Pentium class processor.