REALTIME VIDEO NETWORK

• US 20100293580A1
• Filed: 05/12/2009
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David P. Latchman
• Original Assignee: David P. Latchman
• Inventors: Latchman, David P.
• Application Number:
  US12/464,510
• Publication Number:
  US 20100293580A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/71
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0866 the electronic data carrier being a digital video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

A real-time video network has remote mobile vehicles operating on land, sea and air, each mounted with one or more video cameras. The video feeds from these video cameras is transmitted real-time via satellite to one or more earth stations and to one or more network operation centers. The network operation center previews, selects, consolidates and aggregates the video feeds from the mobile vehicles. Distribution networks are used to communicate one or more video streams, feeds or channels to display devices for viewing. Operators at the network operation center or the end user can select which video feed to view.

Claims

1. A real-time video capture and distribution system for communicating video channels to users comprising:

a) at least one mobile vehicle, the at least one mobile vehicle having at least one digital video camera producing at least one video feed;

b) a satellite communication network for communicating the video feed produced from each of the at least one digital video cameras;

c) an earth station for receiving the at least one video feed from the satellite communication network;

d) a network operation centre for receiving from the earth station previews of the video feeds and managing the video feeds into channels;

e) a network for distributing the channels to a plurality of viewing devices.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprises a controller for controlling the location, movement and direction of the at least one mobile vehicle and the at least one cameras.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one video camera comprises a high definition video camera.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the at least one video camera is mounted to the at least one vehicle using mechanical, electrical or electro-mechanical video image stabilization.

5. A method of creating and distributing real-time video to viewers comprising the steps of:

a) creating at least one video feed from at least one mobile vehicle using at least one video camera;

b) communicating the at least one video feed from the mobile vehicle to an earth station using at least one satellite;

c) communicating the at least one video feed from the earth station to a network operation center;

d) previewing and managing the at least one video feed at a network operations center to create at least one video channel;

e) communicating the at least one video channel to a plurality of viewing devices.

6. A network operation center for a distribution system for communicating video feeds to a plurality of viewing devices from at least one mobile vehicle comprising:

a) means for receiving the video feeds from at least one camera mounted on the at least one mobile vehicle transmitted via at least one satellite;

b) a previewer for previewing the video feeds;

c) at least one managing device for organizing and managing the video feeds;

d) a means for transmitting at least one video feed or combined video feed to a plurality of viewing devices.

7. The network operation center of claim 6 wherein the means for receiving video feeds comprises a satellite receiver for receiving video feeds from a geostationary satellite.

8. The network operation center of claim 6 wherein the means for transmitting the at least one video feed or combined video feed comprises the at least one satellite.

9. The network operation centre of claim 6 wherein the means for transmitting the at least one video feed or combined video feed comprises a network.

10. The network operation centre of claim 6 wherein the at least one managing device comprises a mixer or a switcher or both.