REDUCING THE NETWORK LOAD OF EVENT-TRIGGERED VIDEO

• US 20080304565A1
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Baker, Todd M., Sakhardande, Amit S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,516,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/240.12
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23805 Controlling the feeding rate to the network, e.g. by controlling the video pump
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6587 Control parameters, e.g. trick play commands, viewpoint selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method for reducing the network load of an event-triggered video system comprising transmitting a first ‘play’ indication by a controlling process over a data network, to an appropriately configured video encoding process, transmitting first video data by the encoding process in response to receiving the first ‘play’ indication, the first video data being transmitted over the data network through a communication channel established over the data network between the encoding process and a recording process and receiving the first video data by the recording process.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting a first ‘

play’

indication by a controlling process over a data network, to an appropriately configured video encoding process;

transmitting first video data by said encoding process in response to receiving said first ‘

play’

indication, said first video data being transmitted over said data network through a communication channel established over said data network between said encoding process and a recording process; and

receiving said first video data by said recording process.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising, waiting until an event-trigger signal is received by said controlling process before beginning transmission of said first ‘

play’

indication.

3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

leaving said communication channel open for receiving a predefined pre-event and post-event period of said first video data;

transmitting a first ‘

pause’

indication by said controlling process over said data network, to said encoding process, said encoding process ceasing transmission of said first video data in response to receiving said first ‘

pause’

indication; and

transitioning said encoding process into a buffering state in response to receiving said first ‘

pause’

indication.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein when said encoding process is in said buffering state, a predefined portion of the most recently received new video data is buffered in a buffer maintained by said encoding process, wherein said buffer video data is buffered at a predetermined recording data rate.

5. A method according to claim 4 further comprising, wherein said first video data includes said buffer video data and subsequently received said new video data.

6. A method according to claim 5 further comprising, transmitting a first ‘

fast forward’

indication by said controlling process over said data network, to said encoding process, said encoding process responding by progressing through said buffer video data faster than said recording data rate for bringing said first video data closer to substantially real time transmission of said new video data.

7. A method according to claim 5 further comprising, transmitting a first ‘

archive’

indication by said controlling process over said data network, to said encoding process, said encoding process responding by transmitting information about how it interacts with said recording process.

8. A method according to claim 5 wherein transmission of said buffer video data is at a data rate faster than said recording data rate.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said video data is surveillance video data.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said first video data is substantially real-time video data.

11. A method according to claim 1 further comprising:

establishing said communication channel between said encoding process and said recording process;

transmitting a second ‘

play’

indication by said controlling process over said data network, to said video encoding process;

transmitting second video data by said encoding process in response to receiving said second ‘

play’

indication, said second video data is transmitted over said data network though said communication channel;

confirming configuration settings of said encoding process, said configuration setting including pre-event and post-event times;

transmitting a second ‘

pause’

indication by said controlling process over said data network, to said encoding process;

ceasing said encoding process transmission of said second video data in response to receiving said second ‘

pause’

indication; and

transitioning said encoding process into a buffering state in response to receiving said first ‘

pause’

indication.

12. An apparatus comprising:

at least one encoding device configured to receive a ‘

play’

indication for transitioning to a transmitting state and transmitting first video data, and wherein each said encoding device is further configured to receive a ‘

pause’

indication for transitioning to a buffering state and buffering a predefined portion of the most recently received new video data; and

at least one recording device configured to transmit said ‘

play’ and

said ‘

pause’

indication to a respective said encoding device, each said recoding device being further configured to produce a recording of at least part of said first video data;

wherein each said encoding and recording devices is coupleable to each other by a data network.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein at least one said recording device is operatively associated with a plurality of said encoding devices.

14. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said first video data is substantially real-time video data.

15. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the transmission rate of said first video data is faster than the encoding data rate of the buffered said new video data.

16. An apparatus comprising:

at least one controlling device configured to perform a controlling process for transmitting a ‘

play’ and

a ‘

pause’

indication,

wherein said ‘

play’

indication, when received by at least one encoding device configured to perform an encoding process, transitions each said encoding process to a transmitting state and transmits first video data,

wherein said ‘

pause’

indication, when received by said at least one encoding device, transitions each said encoding process to a buffering state and buffers a predefined portion of the most recently received new video data.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein at least one said controlling device is operatively associated with a plurality of said encoding devices.

18. An apparatus according to claim 16, further comprising at least one recording device configured to execute a recording process for producing a recording of at least part of said first video data.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein at least one said controlling device is, operatively associated with a plurality of said recording devices.

20. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein at least one of said encoding, recording and controlling devices are distributed across one or more said data networks.