Digital network video recorder and the monitoring system thereof

• US 20060245731A1
• Filed: 09/22/2005
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Appro Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Appro Technology, Inc.
• Inventors: Lai, Chih-Chuan
• Application Number:
  US11/233,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20060245731A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2187 Live feed
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2381 Adapting the multiplex stream to a specific network, e.g. an Internet Protocol [IP] network transmission of MPEG streams over ATM H04L12/5601
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/24 Monitoring of processes or resources, e.g. monitoring of server load, available bandwidth, upstream requests monitoring of server performance or load G06F11/34; arrangements for observation, testing or troubleshooting for broadcast or for distribution combined with broadcast H04H20/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4135 external recorder interface circuits between an apparatus for recording television signals and a television receiver H04N5/775
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43615 Interfacing a Home Network, e.g. for connecting the client to a plurality of peripherals home Audio Video Interoperability [HAVI] data switching networks H04L12/2805
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43637 involving a wireless protocol, e.g. Bluetooth, RF or wireless LAN [IEEE 802.11] arrangements for wireless networking or broadcasting of information in indoor or near-field type systems H04B10/114
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6131 involving transmission via a mobile phone network wireless downlink channel access H04W74/006
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A digital network video recorder (NVR) and a monitoring system thereof are provided. The NVR features low cost and high stability and is easy to install and use. The NVR receives video/audio data from a network and provides functions of such as the real-time monitoring, recording, and searching/playback operations. The NVR comprises a network module, a storage module, an input/output module and a control module. The network module serves as an interface between the NVR and the network. The storage module stores the video/audio data received from the network and provides the stored video/audio data. The input/output module receives instructions from a user and provides a video playback operation. The control module controls the reception, storage, searching, and playback of the video/audio data.

Claims

1. A digital network video recorder, for receiving and storing digital video/audio data from a network, comprising:

a network module, being an interface between the digital network recorder and at least one network system;

a storage module, for storing the digital video/audio data from the network, and providing the stored digital video/audio data;

an input/output module, receiving at least one user command and providing a video playback operation; and

a control module, coupled among the network module, the storage module and the input/output module, automatically through the network module sending a request for video/audio data to at least one network camera in the network, and recombining a plurality of network packets sent from the at least one network camera to obtain the digital video/audio data, and then controlling reception, storage, search, and playback of the digital video/audio data.

2. The digital network video recorder of claim 1, wherein the network module at least comprises one of an internet interface, an LAN network interface card and a wireless LAN interface, wherein the internet interface, the LAN network interface card and the wireless LAN interface are coupled to the control module to respectively serve as an interface to connect the digital network video recorder with the internet, the wired LAN and the wireless LAN.

3. The digital network video recorder of claim 2, wherein the wireless LAN interface further comprises:

an antenna, transmitting and receiving a radio-frequency signal; and

a wireless access point, for converting the digital video/audio data into sent by the control module into the RF signal and then providing to the antenna, or for converting the RF signal received by the antenna into the digital data and then providing to the control module.

4. The digital network video recorder of claim 3, wherein the wireless access point further comprises:

a RF module, for converting a first digital signal into the RF signal and then providing to the antenna, or for converting the RF signal received from the antenna into a second digital signal; and

a wireless network adapter, for the digital signal sent from the control module into the first digital signal and then providing to the RF module, or for converting the second digital signal into the digital video/audio data and then providing to the control module.

5. The digital network video recorder of claim 1, wherein the storage module further comprises:

a storage media, storing the digital video/audio data obtained from the network, and providing the stored digital video/audio data;

a storage interface coupled between the control module and the storage media, for establishing a communication between the control module and the storage media.

6. The digital network video recorder of claim 5, wherein the storage media is selected from a group consisting of at least one disk drive and at least one memory card.

7. The digital network video recorder of claim 1, wherein the input/output module further comprises:

an input device, coupled to the control module, for receiving at least one user command; and

an output device, coupled to the control module, for providing a video/audio playback operation.

8. The digital network video recorder of claim 7, wherein the input device comprises a keyboard for receiving at least one user command.

9. The digital network video recorder of claim 7, wherein the output device further comprises:

an video/audio output interface coupled to the control module, for receiving a video signal and an audio signal decoded from the digital video/audio data, and then outputting the video signal outputting to a video display device, and outputting the audio signal to a speaker.

10. The digital network video recorder of claim 1, wherein the control module further comprises:

a network server unit coupled to the network module, for acquiring the digital video/audio data from network packets, controlling a network traffic flow, receiving control signals set by a remote user, receiving warning notifications, and providing an IP address allocation mechanism;

a user interface unit coupled to the input/output module, for providing a command selection to at least one user;

a video/audio displaying and decoding unit, for decoding the digital video/audio data into a video signal and an audio signal, and providing the video signal and the audio signal to the input/output module; and

a video recorder unit coupled among the network server unit, the user interface unit, the video/audio displaying and decoding unit, and the storage module, for controlling the real-time monitoring, recording, playback, and searching of the digital video/audio data.

11. The digital network video recorder of claim 10, wherein the warning notification received by the network server unit is triggered by a dynamic detection function of the at least one network camera.

12. The digital network video recorder of claim 10, wherein the warning notification received by the network server unit is from at least one external sensor of the at least one network camera.

13. The digital network video recorder of claim 10, wherein the IP address allocation mechanism of the network server unit is used for allocating an IP addresses to the at least one network camera.

14. The digital network video recorder of claim 10, wherein the video recorder unit searches the digital video/audio data according to at least one of recording time and date, and time points of occurrences of the warning notifications.

15. The digital network video recorder of claim 10, wherein the network server unit further comprises:

a gateway server coupled to the network module, for providing an IP address redirect service required by the internet;

a webpage server coupled between the gateway server and the video recorder unit, for providing an user interface for a remote monitoring operation; and

a video/audio capturing module coupled between the gateway server and the video recorder unit, for actively sending a request for the digital video/audio data through the network module to the at least one network camera, and for recombining the network packets returned by the at least one network camera to obtain the digital video/audio data.

16. A digital network monitoring system, comprising:

at least one network camera, providing at least one digital video/audio data; and

at least one digital network video recorder, for receiving the at least one digital video/audio data through a network, and for providing a real-time monitoring, storing or searching and playback operation for the at least one digital video/audio data.

17. The digital network monitoring system of claim 16, wherein the at least one digital network video recorder further comprises:

a network module, for serving as an interface between the at least one digital network video recorder and the at least one network camera;

a storage module, for storing and providing the at least one video/audio data;

an input/output module, for receiving at least one user command and providing a video/audio playback operation;

a control module coupled among the network module, the storage module, and the input/output module, for actively sending a request for the digital video/audio data through the network module to the at least one network camera, and for recombining the network packets returned by the at least one network camera to obtain the digital video/audio data, and then controlling a reception, storage, or search and playback operation of the at least one digital video/audio data.

18. The digital network monitoring system of claim 16, wherein the at least one network camera is disposed at one of an internet, a wired LAN and a wireless LAN.

19. The digital network monitoring system of claim 16, wherein the at least one digital network recorder/player is able to provide a user interface to at least one user for monitoring, and the at least one user is located at one of a local terminal, an internet, a wired LAN and a wireless LAN.