Catastrophic event-survivable video recorder system

• US 7,027,719 B1
• Filed: 09/29/2000
• Issued: 04/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: OL Security LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Raytheon Company (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Schneider, Paul J., Parker, Steven E., Morgan, Stephen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chevalier, Robert
• Application Number:
  US09/676,333
• Time in Patent Office: 2,020 Days
• Field of Search: 386/109, 386/111, 386/112, 386/27, 386/33, 386/124, 386/125, 386/126, 386/117, 386/118, 386/107, 386/104, 386/105, 386/46, 386/1, 386/38, 386/40, 386/45, 348/143, 348/148, 348/144, 360/5, 360/6
• US Class Current: 386/224
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0891 Video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9261 involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

A catastrophic-event survivable video data recording system that may be employed to monitor vehicles or facilities. The recording system may include a video data compression unit operable to provide compressed digital video data in a format recordable by modified commercially available flight data recording instruments. Among other things, the system may be used to monitor vehicles, as well as land-based or sea-based facilities. The system may also be employed as an aid to research into natural and man made phenomena, such as volcanic eruptions, bomb test explosions, etc.

Claims

1. A catastrophic event-survivable video recording system, comprising:

a video data compression unit having at least a first output, said first output comprising compressed digital video data;

a solid state video data recording unit having at least a first input in signal communication with said first output from said video data compression unit, said solid state video data recording unit being capable of recording compressed digital video data in catastrophic event-survivable form; and

a video data interface in signal communication between said video compressor first output and said solid state video data recording unit first input, said video data interface being capable of converting said compressed video data of said video data compression unit first output to a compressed video data signal that is suitable for recording by said solid state video data recording unit as a signal input to said video data recording unit first input;

wherein said solid state video data recording unit comprises a conventional flight data recording unit including a processor, said conventional flight data recording unit being manufactured so that said processor runs at a first processing speed; and

wherein said conventional flight data recording unit is configured with a software modification to cause said processor to run at a second processing speed, said second processing speed being faster than said first processing speed.

2. The video data recording system of claim 1, wherein said video data interface is configured to modify the bandwidth and frame format of said compressed video data.

3. The video recording system of claim 1, wherein said video data compression unit further comprises at least a first input, said first input comprising analog video data, and wherein said video data compression unit is capable of converting said analog video data to said compressed digital video of said video data compression unit first output.

4. The video recording system of claim 3, wherein said video data interface is capable of converting said compressed video data of said video data compression unit first output to compressed video data output having a serial data and clock stream generated at a rate of about 256 Kbps;

and wherein said solid state video data recording unit is capable of receiving and recording said compressed video data output having a serial data and clock stream generated at a rate of about 256 Kbps.

5. The video recording system of claim 1, wherein said video data compression unit produces said compressed digital video data first output at a variable rate.

6. The video recording system of claim 1, further comprising at least one video camera, said video camera having an output comprising analog video data;

and wherein said video cameral output is in signal communication with said video compression unit first input.

7. The video recording system of claim 1, wherein said system is configured for installation on an aircraft;

and wherein said solid state video data recording unit has at least a first output, said first output comprising compressed digital video playback data, said solid state video data recording unit being capable during flight operations of playing back said compressed digital video data that is recorded in catastrophic event-survivable form;

wherein said video data compression unit has a second input in signal communication with said first output from said solid state video data recording unit and has a second output comprising analog video playback data, said video data compression unit being capable during flight operations of converting compressed digital video data to said analog video playback data; and

wherein said video data interface is capable during flight operations of converting said compressed digital video playback data of said solid state video data recording unit first output to a compressed digital video data signal that is suitable for input to said second input of said video data compression unit and conversion by said video data compression unit to said analog video playback data of said video data compression unit second output.

8. The video recording system of claim 1, wherein said system is configured for installation on a vehicle.

9. The video recording system of claim 1, wherein said system is configured for installation on an aircraft.

10. The video recording system of claim 1, wherein said system is configured for installation on a land-based or sea-based facility.

11. The video recording system of claim 8, wherein said video data interface is capable of converting said compressed video data of said video data compression unit first output to compressed video data having a serial data and clock stream generated at a rate of from about 250 Kbps to about 500 Kbps.

12. The video recording system of claim 11, wherein said solid state video data recording unit is capable of saving at least about 30 minutes of compressed digital video data recorded prior to a catastrophic event.

13. The video recording system of claim 11, further comprising at least one video camera, said video camera having an output comprising analog video data;

and wherein said video cameral output is in signal communication with said video compression unit first input.

14. The video recording system of claim 11, wherein said system is configured for installation on an aircraft.

34. The video recording system of claim 7, wherein said video recording system is configured to playback said compressed video playback data, convert said compressed video playback data for display, and display said compressed video playback data during flight simultaneous with recording of new compressed digital video data.

15. A catastrophic event-survivable video recording system, comprising:

a video data compression unit having at least a first output, said first output comprising compressed digital video data;

a solid state video data recording unit having at least a first input in signal communication with said first output from said video data compression unit, said solid state video data recording unit having at least a recording mode in which it is capable of recording compressed digital video data in catastrophic event-survivable form;

a video data interface in signal communication between said video compressor first output and said solid state video data recording unit first input, said video data interface having at least a recording mode in which it is capable of converting said compressed video data of said video data compression unit first output to a compressed video data signal that is suitable for recording by said solid state video data recording unit as a signal input to said video data recording unit first input; and

at least one video camera, said video camera having an output comprising video data; and

wherein said video camera output is in signal communication with a first input of said video compression unit;

wherein said video data interface is capable of converting said compressed video data of said video data compression unit first output to compressed video data having a serial data and clock stream generated at a rate of from about 250 Kbps to about 350 Kbps;

wherein said solid state video data recording unit comprises a conventional flight data recording unit including a processor, said conventional flight data recording unit being manufactured so that said processor runs at a first processing speed; and

wherein said conventional flight data recording unit is configured with a software modification to cause said processor to run at a second processing speed, said second processing speed being faster than said first processing speed.

16. The video recording system of claim 15, wherein said system is configured for installation on an aircraft.

17. The video recording system of claim 16, wherein said video data interface is configured to modify the bandwidth and frame format of said compressed video data;

and wherein said video data recording unit is capable of saving at least about 30 minutes of said compressed digital video data recorded prior to a catastrophic event.

18. The video recording system of claim 16, wherein said video camera has an output comprising analog video data;

and wherein said video data compression unit is capable of converting said analog video data to said compressed digital video of said video data compression unit first output.

19. The video recording system of claim 18, wherein said video data interface is capable of converting said compressed video data of said video data compression unit first output to compressed video data output having a serial data and clock stream generated at a rate of about 256 Kbps;

and wherein said solid state video data recording unit is capable of receiving and recording said compressed video data output having a serial data and clock stream generated at a rate of about 256 Kbps.

20. The video recording system of claim 18, wherein said video data compression unit produces said compressed digital video data first output at a variable rate.

21. The video recording system of claim 16, wherein said solid state video data recording unit has at least a first output, said first output comprising compressed digital video playback data, said solid state video data recording unit having a playback mode in which it is capable during flight operations of playing back said compressed digital video data that is recorded in catastrophic event-survivable form;

wherein said video data compression unit has a second input in signal communication with said first output from said solid state video data recording unit and has a second output comprising video playback data, said video data compression unit having a playback mode in which it is capable during flight operations of converting compressed digital video data to said video playback data; and

wherein said video data interface is capable during flight operations of converting said compressed digital video playback data of said solid state video data recording unit first output to a compressed digital video data signal that is suitable for input to said second input of said video data compression unit and conversion by said video data compression unit to said video playback data of said video data compression unit second output.

22. The video recording system of claim 16, wherein said video camera is configured for mounting on an exterior surface of said aircraft, in the cockpit of said aircraft, in the passenger cabin of said aircraft, or in the cargo hold of said aircraft.

23. The video recording system of claim 16, further comprising a video processor and a cockpit control unit;

wherein said video processor has a control input, a video data input and a video data output;

wherein said cockpit control unit has a control output, video data input and video data output;

wherein said video processor video data input is in signal communication with an analog video data output of said video compression unit;

wherein said video processor video data output is in signal communication with said video data input of said cockpit control unit;

wherein said video processor control input is in signal communication with said cockpit control unit control output;

wherein said cockpit control unit video output is in signal communication with at least one video display configured to be used or mounted within said aircraft; and

wherein said cockpit control unit is capable of controlling said video processor video data output to said video display to play back during flight operations said compressed digital video data in displayable form.

24. The video recording system of claim 21, further comprising a cockpit control unit;

wherein said cockpit control unit has a control output that is in signal communication with a control input of said video data compression unit, and wherein said cockpit control unit has a control output that is in signal communication with a control input of said solid state video data recording unit;

wherein said video data compression unit second output is in signal communication with at least one video display configured to be used or mounted within said aircraft; and

wherein said cockpit control unit is capable of controlling said recording and playback modes of said video compression unit and said solid state video data recording unit so as to control recording of said video data during flight operations from said video camera by said solid state video data recording unit, to control display of said video playback data during flight operations by said video display, or a combination thereof.

25. The video recording system of claim 15, wherein said system is configured for installation on an aircraft;

and further comprising a cockpit control unit, said cockpit control unit having a control output that is in signal communication with a control input of said video data compression unit and a control output that is in signal communication with a control input of said solid state video data recording unit; and

wherein said video data compression unit second output is in signal communication with at least one video display configured to be used or mounted within said aircraft;

wherein said video camera has an output comprising analog video data, and is configured for is mounting on an exterior surface of said aircraft, in the cockpit of said aircraft, in the passenger cabin of said aircraft, or in the cargo hold of said aircraft;

wherein said solid state video data recording unit is a conventional flight data recording unit capable of saving at least about 30 minutes of compressed digital video data recorded prior to a catastrophic event;

wherein said video data compression unit is capable of converting said analog video data to said compressed digital video of said video data compression unit first output;

wherein said video data interface is capable of converting said compressed video data of said video data compression unit first output to compressed video data output having a serial data and clock stream generated at a rate of about 256 Kbps;

wherein said solid state video data recording unit is capable of receiving and recording said compressed video data output having a serial data and clock stream generated at a rate of about 256 Kbps;

wherein said solid state video data recording unit has at least a first output, said first output comprising compressed digital video playback data, said solid state video data recording unit having a playback mode in which it is capable during flight operations of playing back said compressed digital video data that is recorded in catastrophic event-survivable form;

wherein said video data compression unit has a second input in signal communication with said first output from said solid state video data recording unit and has a second output comprising analog video playback data, said video data compression unit having a playback mode in which it is capable during flight operations of converting compressed digital video data to said analog video playback data;

wherein said video data interface is capable during flight operations of converting said compressed digital video playback data of said solid state video data recording unit first output to a compressed digital video data signal that is suitable for input to said second input of said video data compression unit and conversion by said video data compression unit to said analog video playback data of said video data compression unit second output; and

wherein said cockpit control unit is capable of controlling said recording and playback modes of said video compression unit and said solid state video data recording unit so as to control recording during flight operations of said analog video data from said video camera by said solid state video data recording unit, to control display during flight operations of said analog video playback data by said video display, or a combination thereof.

35. The video recording system of claim 21, wherein said video recording system is configured playback said compressed video playback data, convert said compressed video playback data for display, and display said compressed video playback data during flight simultaneous with recording of new compressed digital video data.

36. The video recording system of claim 23, wherein said video recording system is configured to playback said compressed video playback data, convert said compressed video playback data for display, and display said compressed video playback data during flight simultaneous with recording of new compressed digital video data.

37. The video recording system of claim 25, wherein said video recording system is configured to playback said compressed video playback data, convert said compressed video playback data for display, and display said compressed video playback data during flight simultaneous with recording of new compressed digital video data.

26. A method of recording raw video data onto a catastrophic event-survivable video recording unit, comprising:

compressing said raw video data to form compressed digital video data;

converting said compressed digital video data to a compressed video data signal that is suitable for recording by a solid state video data recording unit; and

recording said compressed video data on a solid state video data recording unit in catastrophic event-survivable form;

wherein said solid state video data recording unit comprises a conventional flight data recording unit including a processor, said conventional flight data recording unit being manufactured so that said processor runs at a first processing speed; and

wherein said conventional flight data recording unit is configured with a software modification to cause said processor to run at a second processing speed, said second processing speed being faster than said first processing speed.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising modifying a bandwidth and frame format of said compressed video data;

and wherein said raw video data comprises analog video data generated by at least one video camera;

wherein said compressing further comprises converting said analog video data to said compressed digital video data;

wherein said compressed digital video data has a serial data and clock stream generated at a rate of from about 250 Kbps to about 500 Kbps;

wherein said raw video data generation, conversion, compression and recording occurs on an aircraft; and

wherein said solid state video data recording unit is a conventional flight data recording unit capable of saving at least about 30 minutes of said compressed digital video data recorded prior to a catastrophic event.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein said raw video data generation, compression, conversion and recording occurs on an aircraft;

and further comprising performing the following steps during flight operations;

playing back said recorded compressed digital video data from said solid state video data recording unit to form compressed digital video playback data;

converting said compressed digital video playback data to a modified compressed playback signal suitable for processing by a video compression unit; and

decompressing said modified compressed playback signal in a video compression unit to form a decompressed playback signal.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising converting said decompressed playback signal to analog playback video data during said flight operations;

and displaying said analog playback vide data during said flight operations simultaneous with recording of new compressed digital video data.

30. A catastrophic event-survivable video recording system, comprising:

a video data compression unit having at least a first output, said first output comprising compressed digital video data;

a solid state video data recording unit having at least a first input in signal communication with said first output from said video data compression unit, said solid state video data recording unit being capable of recording compressed digital video data in catastrophic event-survivable form; and

wherein said solid state video data recording unit comprises a conventional flight data recording unit including a processor, said conventional flight data recording unit being manufactured so that said processor runs at a first processing speed; and

wherein said conventional flight data recording unit is configured with a software modification to cause said processor to run at a second processing speed, said second processing speed being faster than said first processing speed.

31. The video data recording system of claim 30, further comprising a video data interface in signal communication between said video compressor first output and said solid state video data recording unit first input, said video data interface being capable of converting said compressed video data of said video data compression unit first output to a compressed video data signal that is suitable for recording by said solid state video data recording unit as a signal input to said video data recording unit first input;

wherein said video data interface is configured to modify the bandwidth and frame format of said compressed video data.

32. A method of recording raw video data onto a catastrophic event-survivable video recording unit, comprising:

compressing said raw video data to form compressed digital video data; and

recording said data on a solid state video data recording unit in catastrophic event-survivable form;

wherein said solid state video data recording unit comprises a conventional flight data recording unit including a processor, said conventional flight data recording unit being manufactured so that said processor runs at a first processing speed; and

wherein said conventional flight data recording unit is configured with a software modification to cause said processor to run at a second processing speed, said second processing speed being faster than said first processing speed.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising modifying a bandwidth and frame format of said compressed video data;

and converting said compressed digital video data to a compressed video data signal that is suitable for recording by a solid state video data recording unit.

38. A catastrophic event-survivable video recording system, comprising:

a video data compression unit having at least a first output, said first output comprising compressed digital video data;

a solid state video data recording unit having at least a first input in signal communication with said first output from said video data compression unit, said solid state video data recording unit being capable of recording compressed digital video data in catastrophic event-survivable form;

wherein said system is configured for installation on an aircraft;

wherein said solid state video data recording unit has at least a first output, said first output comprising compressed digital video playback data, said solid state video data recording unit being capable during flight operations of playing back said compressed digital video data that is recorded in catastrophic event-survivable form; and

wherein said solid state video data recording unit comprises a conventional flight data recording unit including a processor, said conventional flight data recording unit being manufactured so that said processor runs at a first processing speed; and

wherein said conventional flight data recording unit is configured with a software modification to cause said processor to run at a second processing speed, said second processing speed being faster than said first processing speed.

39. The catastrophic event-survivable video recording system of claim 38, wherein said video recording system is configured to playback said compressed video playback data, convert said compressed video playback data for display, and display said compressed video playback data during flight simultaneous with recording of new compressed digital video data.

40. A method of recording raw video data onto a catastrophic event-survivable video recording unit installed on an aircraft, comprising:

compressing said raw video data to form compressed digital video data; and

recording said data on a solid state video data recording unit in catastrophic event-survivable form; and

playing back said recorded compressed digital video data during flight operations from said solid state video data recording unit;

wherein said solid state video data recording unit comprises a conventional flight data recording unit including a processor, said conventional flight data recording unit being manufactured so that said processor runs at a first processing speed; and

wherein said conventional flight data recording unit is configured with a software modification to cause said processor to run at a second processing speed, said second processing speed being faster than said first processing speed.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein said method further comprises playing back said compressed video playback data, converting said compressed video playback data for display, and displaying said compressed video playback data during flight simultaneous with recording of new compressed digital video data.