Low attention recording with particular application to social recording

• US 7,519,271 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2004
• Issued: 04/14/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vulcan Patents LLC
• Original Assignee: Vulcan Patents LLC
• Inventors: Strub, Henry B., Johnson, Kimberly H., Reed, David P., Burgess, David A., Cohen, Jonathan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chevalier, Robert
• Application Number:
  US10/764,309
• Publication Number:
  US 20040156616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,909 Days
• Field of Search: 386/83, 386/46, 386/117, 386/107, 386/38, 386/96
• US Class Current: 386/326
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/216 Rewritable discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/218 Write-once discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3027 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/772 the recording apparatus and the television camera being placed in the same enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/185 from a mobile camera, e.g. for remote control
• 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

Abstract

The invention enables “low attention recording,” i.e., recording that need not appreciably affect interaction of a recorder (i.e., a person in control of a recording unit according to the invention) or others with the environment in which the recording is taking place. The low attention recording enabled by the invention can be particularly advantageously employed in “social recording,” i.e., recording in which multiple participants in an event are recording the event. As described in more detail below, advantageous aspects of the invention can be provided by a small, lightweight, wearable recording unit.

Claims

1. A method for recording an event, comprising:

recording a first set of visual data associated with the event using a first recording unit;

recording a second set of visual data associated with the event using a second recording unit;

the second recording unit being physically separate from the first recording unit;

marking a specified time of the first set of visual data using the first recording unit;

associating a predetermined meaning with the marked specified time using the first recording unit,

wherein the predetermined meaning indicates a level of interest;

compressing portions of the first set of visual data with one of multiple levels of compression,

wherein the level of compression is variable,

wherein the level of compression used at the marked specified time is based on the level of interest indicated by the predetermined meaning, and,

wherein the level of compression used at another time, different from the marked specified time, is different from the level of compression at the selected time; and

,

transmitting the first set of visual data to the second recording unit.

2. A method for recording an event as recited in claim 1, further comprising displaying the first set of visual data on the second recording unit.

3. A method for recording an event as recited in claim 1, wherein the first set of visual data is transmitted wirelessly to the second recording unit.

4. A method for recording an event as recited in claim 1, wherein the first set of visual data is transmitted wirelessly to the second recording unit through a transmission channel selected from a plurality of transmission channels.

5. A method for recording an event as recited in claim 1, further comprising transmitting an identifier indicating an origin of the first set of visual data.

6. A method for recording an event as recited in claim 1, further comprising storing the first set of visual data and the second set of visual data.

7. A method for recording an event as recited in claim 1, further comprising selectively storing one of the two sets of visual data.

8. A method for recording an event as recited in claim 1, wherein the first set of visual data sent to the second recording unit is compressed.

9. A method for recording an event as recited in claim 1, further comprising coordinating between the first recording unit and the second recording unit to synchronize the first set of visual data and the second set of visual data.

10. A method for recording an event as recited in claim 1, further comprising transmitting audio data from one of the recording units to the other.

11. A method for recording an event as recited in claim 1, further comprising displaying the first set of visual data on the second recording unit and switching to display the second set of visual data on the second recording unit.

13. A method for recording an event as recited in claim 1, wherein the predetermined meaning indicates the beginning or end of an activity of interest.

14. A method for recording an event as recited in claim 1, further comprising generating a synchronization pulse to synchronize the first set of visual data and the second set of visual data.

15. A method for recording an event as recited in claim 1, further comprising storing geographical information associated with the first set of visual data.

16. A method for recording an event as recited in claim 1, wherein the first set of video data has an associated first set of audio data and further comprising displaying the second set of visual data while playing the first set of audio data.

12. A recording unit for recording an event, comprising:

a data recorder configured to;

obtain a first set of visual data associated with the event using a first recording unit,

mark the first set of visual data with information associating a predetermined meaning with a specified time, wherein the predetermined meaning indicates a level of interest, and

compress portions of the first set of visual data with one of multiple levels of compression,

wherein the level of compression is variable,

wherein the level of compression used at the specified time is based on the level of interest indicated by the predetermined meaning, and,

wherein the level of compression used at another time, different from the specified time, is different from the level of compression at the specified time; and

a transmitter coupled to the data recorder, configured to transmit the first set of visual data to another recording unit configured to obtain a second set of visual data associated with the event.

17. A method for recording an event, comprising:

recording a first set of visual data associated with the event using a first recording unit,

wherein a second set of visual data associated with the event is recorded by a second recording unit;

the second recording unit being geographically spaced from the first recording unit;

marking a specified first portion of the first set of visual data,

wherein the marked specified first portion is associated with a first predetermined meaning, and

wherein the first predetermined meaning indicates a first level of importance;

compressing the specified first portion of the first set of visual data using a first level of compression,

wherein the first level of compression used is based on the first level of importance indicated by the first predetermined meaning;

marking a specified second portion of the first set of visual data,

wherein the marked specified second portion is associated with a second predetermined meaning,

wherein the second predetermined meaning differs from the first predetermined meaning, and

wherein the second predetermined meaning indicates a second level of importance;

compressing the specified second portion of the first set of visual data using a second level of compression,

wherein the second level of compression used is based on the second level of importance indicated by the second predetermined meaning, and

wherein the second level of compression differs from the first level of compression; and

,

transmitting the first set of visual data.