Intelligent video information management system performing multiple functions in parallel

• US 6,144,797 A
• Filed: 09/02/1997
• Issued: 11/07/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics LLC (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: Sensormatic Electronics Corporation (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Nunally, Patrick O., Winter, Gerhard Josef, MacCormack, David Ross, Wilson, Charles Park
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THAI Q
• Application Number:
  US08/923,881
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• Field of Search: 386/4, 386/6-8, 386/45-46, 386/95, 386/52, 386/56, 386/64, 386/125-126, 369/83, 360/13, 345/328
• US Class Current: 386/224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19604 involving reference image or background adaptation with time to compensate for changing conditions, e.g. reference image update on detection of light level change
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19634 Electrical details of the system, e.g. component blocks for carrying out specific functions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19645 Multiple cameras, each having view on one of a plurality of scenes, e.g. multiple cameras for multi-room surveillance or for tracking an object by view hand-over
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19667 Details realated to data compression, encryption or encoding, e.g. resolution modes for reducing data volume to lower transmission bandwidth or memory requirements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19673 Addition of time stamp, i.e. time metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1968 Interfaces for setting up or customising the system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19682 Graphic User Interface [GUI] presenting system data to the user, e.g. information on a screen helping a user interacting with an alarm system
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/445 for displaying additional information H04N5/50 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8205 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the colour video signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8227 the additional signal being at least another television signal

Abstract

In an intelligent video information management (IVIM) system, a first sequence of dynamic video images is generated by a first video camera on a first occasion and is recorded on a hard disk. The same camera, or a different camera, generates a second sequence of dynamic video images on a second occasion that is later than the first occasion, and the second sequence is recorded on the hard disk. Both sequences are reproduced from the hard disk and are displayed simultaneously. Alternatively, the first sequence is reproduced and displayed while the second sequence is being recorded.

Claims

1. Video information storage apparatus, comprising:

a video camera for generating a first stream of dynamic images;

a record medium drive unit including a record medium for storing data representing said first stream of dynamic images, data representing a second stream of dynamic images having previously been stored on said record medium, and data representing a third stream of dynamic images, different from said first and second streams having been stored on said record medium;

display means for displaying a selected one of said first stream of images and said second stream of images;

output means for transmitting data reproduced from said record medium to a remote device; and

control means for controlling said record medium drive unit and said display means so that data representing said first stream of dynamic images is being recorded on said record medium while said second stream of dynamic images is simultaneously played back from said record medium and displayed by said display means, and said control means further controlling said record medium drive unit and said output means so that said data representing said third stream of dynamic images is reproduced from said record medium and transmitted to said remote device by said output means, simultaneously with said recording of said first stream of dynamic images and said displaying of said second stream of images.

2. Video information storage apparatus, comprising:

a video camera for generating a first stream of dynamic images;

a record medium drive unit including a record medium for storing data representing said first stream of dynamic images, data representing a second stream of dynamic images having previously been stored on said record;

display means for displaying a selected one of said first stream of images and said second stream of images;

control means for controlling said record medium drive unit and said display means so that data representing said first stream of dynamic images is being recorded on said record medium while said second stream of dynamic images is simultaneously played back from said record medium and displayed by said display means; and

archive means for receiving video data reproduced by said record medium drive unit and for recording the received video data on a removable recording medium;

wherein said video data to be recorded on the removable recording medium is reproduced by said record medium drive unit simultaneously with said recording of said first stream of dynamic images and said displaying of said second stream of images.