AUTO-TRIGGERED FAST FRAME RATE DIGITAL VIDEO RECORDING

• US 20100265344A1
• Filed: 04/15/2009
• Published: 10/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Hung, Szepo Robert, Velarde, Ruben M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,830,339 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/208.160
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction

Abstract

This disclosure describes techniques for triggering recording of digital video in a fast frame rate mode. In one example, a digital video recording apparatus includes a video sensor that captures digital video data at a fast frame rate in a fast frame rate mode, a video buffer that buffers the captured digital video data according to a first-in-first-out storage schema, a video storage that stores digital video data, and a motion detection unit that detects fast motion in the buffered digital video data, that stores digital video data from the video sensor in the video storage after detecting the fast motion, and that copies the contents of the video buffer to the video storage prepended to the stored video data. The digital video recording apparatus may be incorporated in a wireless communication device, such as a cellular phone.

Claims

1. A video recording method comprising:

buffering digital video data captured by a video sensor in a video data buffer;

detecting motion or a scene change in the buffered digital video data;

recording at least a portion of the buffered digital video data in a data storage device in response to the detection of motion or a scene change; and

recording digital video data newly captured from the video sensor in the data storage device in response to the detection of motion or a scene change.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein buffering digital video data comprises buffering a sufficient number of frames of the digital video data to support at least one second of video playback time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting motion or a scene change in the buffered digital video data comprises:

generating a motion vector data indicating motion between at least a portion of one frame of the buffered digital video data and at least a portion another frame of the buffered digital video data; and

detecting motion or a scene change based on the motion vector data.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting motion or a scene change in the buffered digital video data comprises:

generating pixel difference data indicating pixel difference between at least a portion of one frame of the buffered digital video data and at least a portion of another frame of the buffered digital video data; and

detecting motion or a scene change based on the pixel difference data.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting motion or a scene change in the buffered digital video data comprises:

encoding the buffered digital video data with an encoder;

receiving motion vector data from the encoder; and

detecting motion or a scene change based on the motion vector data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein recording at least a portion of the buffered digital video data and recording newly captured digital video data comprises:

encoding the buffered digital video data and the newly captured digital video data; and

storing the encoded digital video data in the data storage device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein buffering digital video data comprises buffering the digital video data in a fast frame mode, recording at least a portion of the buffered digital video data comprises recording at least a portion of the buffered digital video data in the fast frame mode, and recording newly captured digital video data comprises recording newly captured digital video data in the fast frame mode.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the fast frame mode specifies at least one of buffering and recording at a fast frame rate of greater than thirty frames per second.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the fast frame mode specifies at least one of buffering and recording at a fast frame rate of at least sixty frames per second.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising selecting the fast frame mode in response to user input.

11. A video recording apparatus comprising:

a video sensor that captures digital video data;

a video data buffer that buffers the captured digital video data;

a detection unit that detects motion or a scene change in the buffered digital video data; and

a video recording unit that records at least a portion of the buffered digital video data in a data storage device in response to the detection of motion or a scene change, and records digital video data newly captured by the video sensor in the data storage device in response to the detection of motion or a scene change.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the video buffer is configured to buffer a sufficient number of frames of the digital video data to support at least one second of video playback time.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the detection unit generates motion vector data indicating motion between at least a portion of one frame of the buffered digital video data and at least a portion another frame of the buffered digital video data, and detects motion or a scene change based on the motion vector data.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the detection unit generates pixel difference data indicating pixel difference between at least a portion of one frame of the buffered digital video data and at least a portion of another frame of the buffered digital video data, and detects motion or a scene change based on the pixel difference data.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a video encoder that encodes the buffered digital video data captured by the video sensor, wherein the motion detection unit receives motion vector data from the encoder, and detects motion or a scene change based on the motion vector data.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a video encoder, wherein the video recording unit directs the video encoder to encode the buffered digital video data and the newly captured digital video data, and store the encoded digital video data in the data storage device.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus comprises a wireless communication device.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the apparatus comprises one or more integrated circuit devices that implement the video data buffer, the detection unit, and the video recording unit.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the video sensor captures the digital video data in a fast frame mode, the video recording unit records at least a portion of the buffered digital video data in the fast frame mode, and records the newly captured digital video data in the fast frame mode.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the fast frame mode specifies at least one of buffering and recording at a fast frame rate of greater than thirty frames per second.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the fast frame mode specifies at least one of buffering and recording at a fast frame rate of at least sixty frames per second.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a user input device to receive user input specifying selection of the fast frame mode.

23. A video recording apparatus comprising:

means for buffering digital video data captured by a video sensor in a video data buffer;

means for detecting motion or a scene change in the buffered digital video data;

means for recording at least a portion of the buffered digital video data in a data storage device in response to the detection of motion or a scene change; and

means for recording digital video data newly captured from the video sensor in the data storage device in response to the detection of motion or a scene change.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for buffering digital video data comprises means for buffering a sufficient number of frames of the digital video data to support at least one second of video playback time.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for detecting motion or a scene change in the buffered digital video data comprises:

means for generating a motion vector data indicating motion between at least a portion of one frame of the buffered digital video data and at least a portion of another frame of the buffered digital video data; and

means for detecting motion or a scene change based on the motion vector data.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for detecting motion or a scene change in the buffered digital video data comprises:

means for generating pixel difference data indicating pixel difference between at least a portion of one frame of the buffered digital video data and at least a portion of another frame of the buffered digital video data; and

means for detecting motion or a scene change based on the pixel difference data.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for detecting motion or a scene change in the buffered digital video data comprises:

means for encoding the buffered digital video data with an encoder;

means for receiving motion vector data from the encoder; and

means for detecting motion or a scene change based on the motion vector data.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for recording at least a portion of the buffered digital video data and recording newly captured digital video data comprises:

means for encoding the buffered digital video data and the newly captured digital video data; and

means for storing the encoded digital video data in the data storage device.

29. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the means for buffering digital video data comprises means for buffering the digital video data in a fast frame mode, the means for recording at least a portion of the buffered digital video data comprises means for recording at least a portion of the buffered digital video data in the fast frame mode, and the means recording newly captured digital video data comprises means for recording newly captured digital video data in the fast frame mode.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the fast frame mode specifies at least one of buffering and recording at a fast frame rate of greater than thirty frames per second.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the fast frame mode specifies at least one of buffering and recording at a fast frame rate of at least sixty frames per second.

32. The apparatus of claim 29, further comprising means for selecting the fast frame mode in response to user input.

33. A computer-readable medium encoded with instructions for causing a programmable processor to:

buffer digital video data captured by a video sensor in a video data buffer;

detect motion or a scene change in the buffered digital video data;

record at least a portion of the buffered digital video data in a data storage device in response to the detection of motion or a scene change; and

record digital video data newly captured from the video sensor in the data storage device in response to the detection of motion or a scene change.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the instructions cause the processor to buffer digital video data comprises buffering a sufficient number of frames of the digital video data to support at least one second of video playback time.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the instructions that cause the processor to detect motion or a scene change in the buffered digital video data comprise instructions that cause the processor to:

generate a motion vector data indicating motion between at least a portion of one frame of the buffered digital video data and at least a portion of another frame of the buffered digital video data; and

detect motion or a scene change based on the motion vector data.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the instructions that cause the processor to detect motion or a scene change in the buffered digital video data comprise instructions that cause the processor to:

generate pixel difference data indicating pixel difference between at least a portion of one frame of the buffered digital video data and at least a portion of another frame of the buffered digital video data; and

detect motion or a scene change based on the pixel difference data.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the instructions that cause the processor to detect motion or a scene change in the buffered digital video data comprise instructions that cause the processor to:

encode the buffered digital video data with an encoder;

receive motion vector data from the encoder; and

detect motion or a scene change based on the motion vector data.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, wherein the instructions that cause the processor to detect record at least a portion of the buffered digital video data and record newly captured digital video data comprises instructions to cause the processor to:

encode the buffered digital video data and the newly captured digital video data; and

store the encoded digital video data in the data storage device.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, further comprising instructions to cause the processor to buffer the digital video data in a fast frame mode, record at least a portion of the buffered digital video data in the fast frame mode, and record the newly captured digital video data in the fast frame mode.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein the fast frame mode specifies at least one of buffering and recording at a fast frame rate of greater than thirty frames per second.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein the fast frame mode specifies at least one of buffering and recording at a fast frame rate of at least sixty frames per second.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, further comprising instructions to cause the processor to select the fast frame mode in response to user input.