Video documentation for loss control

• US 20050283438A1
• Filed: 06/16/2005
• Published: 12/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Compliant Data Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Compliant Data Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Bonham, Richard H., Mitchell, Ann J., Brownewell, Michael L.
• Application Number:
  US11/154,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20050283438A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/50
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/085 using electronic data carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0891 Video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording

Abstract

Systems and methods of documenting an event are disclosed. Events may include, but are not limited to, an accident, a crime, transportation of cargo, a medical procedure, a legal proceeding, an economic transaction, and/or a construction project. An event may be documented by data including, but not limited to, optical and/or audio records of the event. The event documentary may be accessible only via a database storage service bureau which has been certified to maintain accurate and authentic data by a party acceptable to a judicial system. The documentary may be admissible in a court of law. The documentary may be useful for determining the cause of an event and/or preventing a future event.

Claims

1. An event documenting system (EDS) functioning to document an event in a monitored area, the EDS comprising:

a video monitoring subsystem having an output signal representing an image of the monitored area;

an event trigger subsystem capable of detecting the event;

an encoding subsystem capable of encrypting the video monitoring subsystem output signal;

a storage subsystem capable of storing the video monitoring subsystem output signal;

a control subsystem capable of controlling the EDS;

wherein the video monitoring subsystem is continuously operating while the EDS is operating;

wherein the encoding subsystem encrypts the video monitoring subsystem output signal;

wherein the storage subsystem stores the encrypted video monitoring subsystem output signal;

wherein when the event trigger subsystem detects the event, the control subsystem instructs the storage subsystem to preserve a pre-event data segment and a post-event data segment;

wherein if the event renders the video monitoring subsystem inoperable, then storage subsystem'"'"'s complete storage capacity is used to store the pre-event data segment; and

wherein the encrypted video monitoring subsystem output signal can be decrypted only by a database storage service bureau which has been certified to maintain accurate and authentic data.

2. The EDS of claim 1, wherein the event trigger subsystem further comprises an environmental change detection subsystem.

3. The EDS of claim 2, wherein the event trigger subsystem further comprises a mechanical force detection subsystem.

4. The EDS of claim 2, wherein the event trigger subsystem further comprises a flow change detection subsystem.

5. The EDS of claim 2, wherein the event trigger subsystem further comprises a pressure change detection subsystem.

6. The EDS of claim 1, wherein the monitored area further comprises a vehicle'"'"'s trajectory.

7. The EDS of claim 6 further comprising a vehicle monitoring subsystem having an output signal representing one or more of the vehicle'"'"'s operating characteristics.

8. The EDS of claim 1 further comprising a transmitter capable of transmitting the encrypted video monitoring subsystem output signal to the database storage service bureau.

9. The EDS of claim 1, wherein the event trigger subsystem further comprises a panic switch for manual triggering.

10. The EDS of claim 1, wherein the video monitoring subsystem further comprises a camera installed on a vehicle'"'"'s exterior.

11. The EDS of claim 1, wherein the monitored area further comprises real property.

12. The EDS of claim 1, wherein the monitored area further comprises a construction apparatus.

13. The EDS of claim 1, wherein the monitored area further comprises a cargo container.

14. The EDS of claim 1 further comprising a receiver capable of receiving a command from a remote party instructing the EDS to take one or more actions.

15. The EDS of claim 14, wherein the one or more actions further comprises disabling a subsystem.

16. The EDS of claim 14, wherein the one or more actions further comprises activating a subsystem.

17. A method of documenting an event in a monitored area, the method comprising:

operating a video monitoring subsystem having an output signal representing an image of the monitored area continuously;

encrypting the video monitoring subsystem output signal via an encoding subsystem;

storing the encrypted video monitoring subsystem output signal in a storage subsystem;

instructing the storage subsystem to preserve a pre-event data segment and a post-event data segment when an event trigger subsystem detects the event;

preserving in the storage subsystem'"'"'s entire storage capacity a pre-event data segment if the event renders the video monitoring subsystem inoperable; and

permitting the encrypted video monitoring subsystem output signal to be decrypted only by a database storage service bureau which has been certified to maintain accurate and authentic data.

18. An event documenting system (EDS) functioning to document an event in a monitored area, the EDS comprising:

a video monitoring subsystem having an output signal representing an image of the monitored area;

an event trigger subsystem capable of detecting the event;

an encoding subsystem capable of encrypting the video monitoring subsystem output signal;

a transmission subsystem capable of transmitting the video monitoring subsystem output signal to a remote site;

a control subsystem capable of controlling the EDS;

wherein the video monitoring subsystem is continuously operating while the EDS is operating;

wherein the encoding subsystem encrypts the video monitoring subsystem output signal;

wherein the transmission subsystem transmits the encrypted video monitoring subsystem output signal to the remote site at a predetermined time interval; and

wherein the encrypted video monitoring subsystem output signal can be decrypted only by a database storage service bureau which has been certified to maintain accurate and authentic data.

19. A method of documenting a medical or dental conference and a medical or dental procedure, the method comprising:

operating a video monitoring subsystem covering a pre-procedure medical or dental conference;

operating the video monitoring subsystem during the medical or dental procedure;

encrypting the video monitoring subsystem output signal via an encoding subsystem;

storing the encrypted video monitoring subsystem output signal in a storage subsystem capable of storing the video monitoring subsystem output signal; and

permitting the encrypted video monitoring subsystem output signal to be decrypted only by a database storage service bureau which has been certified to maintain accurate and authentic data.

20. The method of documenting a medical or dental conference and a medical or dental procedure of claim 19 further comprising operating the video monitoring subsystem during a post-procedure data collection session.

21. A method of documenting a legal proceeding, the method comprising:

operating a video monitoring subsystem having an output signal representing an image of the legal proceeding during the legal proceeding;

encrypting the video monitoring subsystem output signal via an encoding subsystem;

storing the encrypted video monitoring subsystem output signal in a storage subsystem capable of storing the video monitoring subsystem output signal; and

permitting the encrypted video monitoring subsystem output signal to be decrypted only by a database storage service bureau which has been certified to maintain accurate and authentic data.

22. A method of documenting an economic transaction, the method comprising:

providing a database storage service bureau which has been certified to maintain accurate and authentic data;

authenticating and recording an end user'"'"'s order via the database storage service bureau;

authenticating and recording an invoice corresponding to the end user'"'"'s order via the database storage service bureau;

authenticating and recording shipment of property corresponding to the invoice via the database storage service bureau;

authenticating and recording the end user'"'"'s payment of a bill via the database storage service bureau; and

permitting stored records of the economic transaction to be accessed only by the database storage service bureau.

23. A method of documenting a construction project, the method comprising:

providing a database storage service bureau which has been certified to maintain accurate and authentic data;

verifying data related to the construction project via the database storage service bureau;

encrypting the data related to the construction project;

creating a documentary of the construction project by storing the encrypted data related to the construction project in a database associated with the construction project maintained by the database storage service bureau;

providing read only access to the database for the construction project maintained by the database storage service bureau to a first group of parties; and

providing read and write access to the database for the construction project maintained by the database storage service bureau to a second group of parties.

24. A portable apparatus functioning to document and facilitate the delivery of cargo, the portable apparatus comprising:

a keyboard to capture character data;

a bank card interface to capture bank card data;

an identification card interface to capture identification card data;

a communication interface to connect to an external communication network;

a user interface for a user to acknowledge acceptance or rejection of the cargo;

an optical screen for displaying data;

wherein an operator may document transfer of the cargo via the keyboard;

wherein the user may be identified via the identification card interface;

wherein the operator may be identified via the identification card interface;

wherein the user may purchase cargo via the bank card interface;

wherein the user may acknowledge receipt of the cargo via the user interface; and

wherein the operator may transfer data comprised by the portable apparatus to the external communication network via the communication interface.