System and Method for Distributed Video Storage Across Enterprises

• US 20170006313A1
• Filed: 06/29/2016
• Published: 01/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Johnson Controls Tyco IP Holdings LLP (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Martin, Walter A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,728,585 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19676 Temporary storage, e.g. cyclic memory, buffer storage on pre-alarm
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/11 by using information not detectable on the record carrier
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/322 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2181 comprising remotely distributed storage units, e.g. when movies are replicated over a plurality of video servers distributed storage of data in networks, e.g. transport arrangements for network file system [NFS], storage area networks [SAN] or network attached storage [NAS], H04L67/1097
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2347 involving video stream encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/26613 for generating or managing keys in general key distribution for secret or secure communication involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP] H04L9/083; network support of key management H04L63/06; key management for network security in communication control or processing H04W12/04
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A system and method for storing image information, such as video clips, across multiple storage devices of different business entities provides redundancy and off-site storage, but possibly without the costs associated with a traditional cloud storage system. In examples, a peer-to-peer arrangement is used. A user/customer accesses the image information via a web portal hosted by their business entity or the operator of the system or accesses the image information from a mobile device.

Claims

1. A system for image information storage, comprising:

image information storage devices that are located in respective business entities that store image information from other business entities; and

one or more storage indexes that indicate where image information is stored between the business entities.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the image information storage devices include network video recorders and network cameras.

3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the image storage devices include local storage in which image information is stored for the respective business entity and peer storage in which image information is stored from at least one other business entity.

4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the peer storage is encrypted.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein image information is transmitted between image information storage devices of different business entities using peer-to-peer connections.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein selectable levels of redundancy are associated with the business entities, and image information is stored over higher numbers of other business entities for higher levels of redundancy.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an application server that maintains the one or more storage indexes.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the one or more storage indexes are maintained in the image information storage devices.

9. A method for image information storage, comprising:

storing image information generated at respective business entities to storage devices of other business entities; and

maintaining one or more indexes that indicate where image information is stored between the business entities.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising storing the image information to network video recorders and network cameras.

11. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising storing locally-generated image information in local storage in which image information is stored for the respective business entity and storing remotely-generated image information to peer storage in which image information is stored from at least one other business entity.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising encrypting the remotely-generated image information.

13. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein image information is transmitted between different business entities using peer-to-peer connections.

14. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising enabling selectable levels of redundancy associated with the business entities, and storing image information to higher numbers of other business entities for higher levels of redundancy.

15. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising maintaining the one or more storage indexes in an application server.

16. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein the one or more storage indexes are maintained in the image information storage devices.

17. An image information storage device, comprising:

image information storage including local storage in which locally-generated image information is stored and peer storage in which remotely-generated image information is stored; and

a client for sending locally-generated image information to and receiving remotely-generated image information from other image information storage devices.

18. An image information storage method, comprising:

storing in local storage locally-generated image information and in peer storage storing remotely-generated image information; and

a client for sending locally-generated image information to and receiving remotely-generated image information from other image information storage devices.

19. A system for image information storage, comprising:

surveillance cameras generating image information;

image information storage devices for storing the image information across different local area networks; and

one or more storage indexes that indicate where image information is stored between the different local area networks.

20. A system for image information storage, comprising:

generating image information;

storing the image information across different local area networks; and

maintaining one or more storage indexes that indicate where image information is stored between the different local area networks.