METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CATEGORIZED EVENT RECORDING OF IMAGES IN MULTIPLE RESOLUTION LEVELS

• US 20100309971A1
• Filed: 01/27/2010
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Watchguard Video Incorporated (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Enforcement Video Incorporated (Enforcement Technology Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: VANMAN, Robert V., Cilia, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,982,944 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 375/240.01
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/59 involving spatial sub-sampling or interpolation, e.g. alteration of picture size or resolution
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 19/61 in combination with predictive coding

Abstract

A method includes compressing digital data of video images to a second resolution level and storing the digital data at a plurality of resolution levels. The plurality of resolution levels include a first resolution level and the second resolution level. The first resolution level is greater than the second resolution level. The method also includes receiving a category selection, responsive to the received category selection, determining whether the digital data stored at least the first resolution level is needed, responsive to a determination that the digital data stored at least the first resolution level is not needed, performing one of the following: discarding the digital data determined to not be needed; and flagging the digital data determined to not be needed to be discarded later.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

compressing digital data of video images to a second resolution level;

storing the digital data at a plurality of resolution levels, the plurality of resolution levels comprising a first resolution level and the second resolution level;

wherein the first resolution level is greater than the second resolution level;

receiving a category selection;

responsive to the received category selection, determining whether the digital data stored at least the first resolution level is needed;

responsive to a determination that the digital data stored at least the first resolution level is not needed, performing one of the following;

discarding the digital data determined to not be needed; and

flagging the digital data determined to not be needed to be discarded later.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first resolution level is compressed.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the category selection is based on importance of an event depicted by the video images.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising, responsive to a determination that the digital data stored at the first resolution level is needed, performing one of the following:

discarding the digital data stored at the second resolution level; and

flagging the digital data stored at the second resolution level to be discarded later.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising:

wherein the first resolution level is uncompressed; and

responsive to a determination that the digital data stored at the first resolution level is needed;

compressing the digital data stored at the first resolution level to a third resolution level that is greater than the second resolution level and less than the first resolution level; and

performing one of the following;

discarding the digital data stored at the second resolution level; and

flagging the digital data stored at the second resolution level to be discarded later.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the category selection is performed automatically.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the category selection comprises selection of one of a resolution level, a video-quality setting, and a video data rate.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of resolution levels comprises a third resolution level; and

responsive to the received category selection, determining which of the digital data stored at the first resolution level, the digital data stored at the second resolution level, and the digital data stored at the third resolution level is to be retained.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the category selection comprises selection of one of a resolution level, a video-quality setting, and a video data rate.

9. A method comprising:

storing digital data of video images at a first resolution level;

receiving a category selection;

responsive to the received category selection, determining whether greater compression of the digital data is needed;

responsive to a determination that greater compression of the digital data is needed;

compressing the digital data to at least a second resolution level;

wherein the first resolution level is greater than the at least a second resolution level; and

performing one of the following;

discarding the digital data stored at the first resolution level; and

flagging the digital data stored at the first resolution level to be discarded later.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the first resolution level is compressed and the compressing of the digital data to the at least a second resolution level is performed by re-encoding the digital data stored at the first resolution level.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the category selection is based on importance of an event depicted by the video images.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the category selection is performed automatically.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the first resolution level is uncompressed.

15. The method of claim 14, comprising:

wherein the step of determining whether greater compression of the digital data is needed comprises determining the degree of compression needed;

compressing the digital data to a third resolution level;

wherein the at least a second resolution level comprises the third resolution level; and

determining which of the digital data stored at the second resolution level and the digital data stored at the third resolution level is to be retained.

16. A computer-program product comprising a computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein, the computer-readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method comprising:

compressing digital data of video images to at least a second resolution level;

storing the digital data at a plurality of resolution levels, the plurality of resolution levels comprising a first resolution level and the second resolution level;

wherein the first resolution level is greater than the second resolution level;

receiving a category selection;

responsive to the received category selection, determining whether the digital data stored at least the first resolution level is needed;

responsive to a determination that the digital data stored at least the first resolution level is not needed, performing one of the following;

discarding the digital data determined to not be needed; and

flagging the digital data determined to not be needed to be discarded later.

17. The computer-program product of claim 16, wherein the first resolution level is compressed.

18. The computer-program product of claim 16, wherein the category selection is based on importance of an event depicted by the video images.

19. The computer-program product of claim 16, the method comprising, responsive to a determination that the digital data at the first resolution level is needed, performing one of the following:

discarding the digital data stored at the second resolution level; and

flagging the digital data stored at the second resolution level to be discarded later.

20. The computer-program product of claim 16, the method comprising:

wherein the first resolution level is uncompressed; and

responsive to a determination that the digital data stored at the first resolution level is needed;

compressing the digital data stored at the first resolution level to a third resolution level that is greater than the second resolution level and less than the first resolution level; and

performing one of the following;

discarding the digital data stored at the second resolution level; and

flagging the digital data stored at the second resolution level to be discarded later.

21. The computer-program product of claim 16, wherein the category selection is performed automatically.

22. The computer-program product of claim 16, wherein the category selection comprises selection of one of a resolution level, a video-quality setting, and a video data rate.

23. The computer-program product of claim 16, wherein:

the plurality of resolution levels comprises a third resolution level; and

responsive to the received category selection, determining which of the digital data stored at the first resolution level, the digital data stored at the second resolution level, and the digital data stored at the third resolution level is to be retained.

24. A computer-program product comprising a computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein, the computer-readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method comprising:

storing digital data of video images at a first resolution level;

receiving a category selection;

responsive to the received category selection, determining whether greater compression of the digital data is needed;

responsive to a determination that greater compression of the digital data is needed;

compressing the digital data to at least a second resolution level;

wherein the first resolution level is greater than the at least a second resolution level; and

performing one of the following;

discarding the digital data stored at the first resolution level; and

flagging the digital data stored at the first resolution level to be discarded later.

25. The computer-program product of claim 24, wherein the first resolution level is compressed and the compressing of the digital data to the at least a second resolution level is performed by re-encoding the digital data stored at the first resolution level.

26. The computer-program product of claim 24, wherein the category selection is based on importance of an event depicted by the video images.

27. The computer-program product of claim 24, wherein the category selection is performed automatically.

28. The computer-program product of claim 24, wherein the category selection comprises selection of one of a resolution level, a video-quality setting, and a video data rate.

29. The computer-program product of claim 24, wherein the first resolution level is uncompressed.

30. The computer-program product of claim 24, comprising:

wherein the step of determining whether greater compression of the digital data is needed comprises determining the degree of compression needed;

compressing the digital data to a third resolution level;

wherein the at least a second resolution level comprises the third resolution level; and

determining which of the digital data stored at the second resolution level and the digital data stored at the third resolution level is to be retained.