Mobile traffic camera system

• US 6,850,269 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2001
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: James F. Maguire
• Original Assignee: James F. Maguire
• Inventors: Maguire, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, Y YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/999,449
• Publication Number:
  US 20030128275A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,156 Days
• Field of Search: H04/N.718, 348/61, 348/143, 348/148, 348/149, 348/159, 340/905, 340/933, 340/934, 340/935, 340988-994, 340/937, 342/454, 342/457, 455/456.1, 701/117, 701/119, 701/200, 701/207, 701/208, 701/209, 701/211
• US Class Current: 348/149
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control

Abstract

A process and a system for receiving compressed streaming video image data, simultaneously and continuously from a plurality of mobile sources, which stamp the data with time, location, and source identification. The data is processed by converting the location stamps to road vector identifications. The time, road vector and source are compared with those of other data received previously and being received concurrently to develop and revise a record comprising a reference to the most recent data, for each road vector and the speed of the mobile source. The data is stored and is retrieved by selected road vector, to display a continuous and coherent video image of the most recently recorded view at the selected road vector, together with the speed of the data source.

Claims

1. A data processing device programmed and configured for storing, retrieving and displaying digital video images comprising;

means to continuously and simultaneously receive, from a plurality of mobile sources, streaming video data, stamped, at intervals repeatedly, with time, location and source identification;

means to convert the time and location to matching road vectors, selected from a geo-location table;

means to stamp the streaming video data, at intervals, repeatedly, with the selected road vectors;

means to process the road vectors, time and source identification, from stamped streaming video data, to determine and enter, as to each road vector, the identification of a most recent streaming video data;

means to store the stamped streaming video data;

means to retrieve and display the most recent streaming video representing a coherent view of one or more road vectors presented consecutively.

2. The data processing device of claim 1, further comprising means to compare the road vectors and times to a predetermined table of road vectors which are of interest and to not store stamped streaming video data which is not within the predetermined table.

3. The data processing device of claim 1, further comprising means to calculate, store, retrieve and display the speed of one or more of the sources in one or more road vectors.

4. The data processing device of claim 3, further comprising means to compare the road vectors, times and source identifications of stamped streaming video data being received simultaneously from a plurality of sources and to not store the stamped streaming video data from one of more sources, according to predetermined matching criteria.

5. A process for storing, retrieving and displaying digital video images comprising the steps of;

continuously and simultaneously receiving, from a plurality of mobile sources, streaming video data, stamped, at intervals repeatedly, with time, location and source identification;

converting the time and location to matching road vectors selected from a geo-location table;

stamping the streaming video data, at intervals repeatedly with the selected road vectors;

processing the road vectors, time and source identifications of the stamped streaming video data to determine and enter, as to each road vector, the identification of a most recent streaming video data;

storing the stamped streaming video data;

retrieving and displaying the most recent streaming video representing a coherent view of one or more road vectors presented consecutively.

6. The process of claim 5, wherein the step of stamping the streaming video data is followed by an additional step comprising the step of comparing the road vectors and times to a predetermined table of road vectors which are of interest and to not store stamped streaming video data which is not within the predetermined table.

7. The process of claim 5, wherein the step of stamping the streaming video data is followed by an additional step of processing the stamped streaming video data to calculate, store, retrieve and display the speed of one or more of the sources in one or more road vectors.

8. The process of claim 7, wherein the step of stamping the streaming video data is followed by an additional step comprising the step of comparing the road vectors, times and source identifications of stamped streaming video data, being received simultaneously from a plurality of sources and to not store the stamped streaming video data from one or more sources, according to predetermined matching criteria.