Frame grabber

• US 20070285438A1
• Filed: 06/28/2005
• Published: 12/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Kanowitz, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 7,668,403 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/632
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/13 Satellite images

Abstract

A method for producing images is provided. The method involves acquiring images, acquiring data corresponding to the location of the acquired images, and transferring the images and data to a frame grabber. The method also involves combining the images and data within the frame grabber to provide a plurality of imagery products.

Claims

1. A method for producing images, the method comprising:

acquiring images;

acquiring data, the data corresponding to a location of the acquired images;

transferring the acquired images to a frame grabber;

transferring the acquired data to the frame grabber; and

combining the acquired images and acquired data within the frame grabber to provide a plurality of imagery products.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the acquired images are from a video source.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the acquired data are from a telemetry source.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the acquired images are processed from a first remote location and reflected to at least one viewer.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the acquired data are processed from a second remote location and reflected to at least one viewer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring the acquired images to a frame grabber comprises broadcasting the acquired images to an image information server using an encoded video stream.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring the acquired data to a frame grabber comprises broadcasting the data corresponding to the location of the acquired images to a location information server using a telemetry stream.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein combining acquired images and acquired data within the frame grabber to provide a plurality of imagery products comprises:

transferring the acquired images from the image information server using a video stream; and

transferring the acquired data from the location information server using a telemetry stream.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of imagery products includes synchronized still-frames that provide both the location and the representation of the acquired images.

10. A method of remote imaging and telemetry processing, comprising:

gathering video data from a video source;

gathering telemetry data from a telemetry source;

combining video and telemetry data and creating intelligent frames;

ensuring video tags correspond with provided telemetry data; and

producing a variety of imagery products based on the intelligent frames created.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein intelligent frames are formed when network synchronization is used to combine reference tags in the video data with matching telemetry data, taking into account any network delays inherent in the process.

12. A surveillance system, comprising:

a monitoring vehicle with at least one source of imagery data and at least one source of location data; and

an information server, responsive to at least one imagery data stream broadcast and one location data stream broadcast, the information server adapted to combine the at least one imagery data stream broadcast and the at least one location data stream broadcast to produce a plurality of imagery products.

13. The surveillance system of claim 12, wherein a monitoring vehicle is capable of reflecting at least one imagery data stream broadcast to at least one viewer.

14. The surveillance system of claim 12, wherein a monitoring vehicle is capable of reflecting at least one location data stream broadcast to at least one viewer.

15. The surveillance system of claim 12, wherein a plurality of imagery products includes captured digital video.

16. The surveillance system of claim 12, wherein a plurality of imagery products includes geo-referenced still-frames.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein means for acquiring images comprise means for a video source.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein means for acquiring data comprise means for a telemetry source.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein means for acquiring images from a video source comprise means of processing from the first remote location for reflection to at least one viewer.

22. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein means for transferring the acquired images to a frame grabber comprises means for broadcasting the acquired images to an image information server using an encoded video stream.

23. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein means for transferring the acquired data to a frame grabber comprises means for broadcasting the data corresponding to the location of the acquired images to a location information server using a telemetry stream.

24. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein means for combining acquired images and data within the frame grabber to provide a plurality of imagery products comprises:

means for transferring the acquired images from the image information server using a video stream; and

means for transferring the acquired data from the location information server using a telemetry stream.

17. An apparatus for producing images, comprising:

means for acquiring images;

means for acquiring data, the data corresponding to a location of the acquired images;

means for transferring the acquired images to a frame grabber;

means for transferring the acquired data to the frame grabber; and

means for combining the acquired images and acquired data within the frame grabber to provide a plurality of imagery products.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein means for acquiring data from a telemetry source comprise means of processing from the second remote location for reflection to at least one viewer.

25. An apparatus for remote imaging and telemetry processing, comprising:

means for gathering video data from a video source;

means for gathering telemetry data from a telemetry source;

means for combining video and telemetry data and creating intelligent frames;

means for ensuring video tags correspond with provided telemetry data; and

means for producing a variety of imagery products based on the intelligent frames created.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein intelligent frames are formed when means for network synchronization are used to combine reference tags in the video data with matching telemetry data, taking into account any network delays inherent in the process.