Frame grabber

• US 7,668,403 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2005
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Kanowitz, Scott M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehta; Bhavesh M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Koziol; Stephen R
• Application Number:
  US11/168,615
• Publication Number:
  US 20070285438A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,701 Days
• Field of Search: 382/284, 345/632
• US Class Current: 382/284
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/13 Satellite images

Abstract

A method for producing images is provided. The method involves acquiring images, acquiring data corresponding to the location of the acquired images, and transferring the images and data to a frame grabber. The method also involves combining the images and data within the frame grabber to provide a plurality of imagery products.

Claims

1. A method for producing images, the method comprising:

acquiring images of a geographic location with a monitoring vehicle;

acquiring data with the monitoring vehicle, the data corresponding to the geographic location of the acquired images;

transferring the acquired images from the monitoring vehicle to a frame grabber;

transferring the acquired data from the monitoring vehicle to the frame grabber; and

combining the acquired images and acquired data in approximately real time within the frame grabber as the acquired data and the acquired images are received from the monitoring vehicle to provide a plurality of imagery products.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the acquired images are from a video source.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the acquired data are from a telemetry source.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the acquired images are processed from a first remote location and reflected to at least one viewer.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the acquired data are processed from a second remote location and reflected to at least one viewer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring the acquired images to a frame grabber comprises broadcasting the acquired images to an image information server using an encoded video stream.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein transferring the acquired data to a frame grabber comprises broadcasting the data corresponding to the location of the acquired images to a location information server using a telemetry stream.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein combining acquired images and acquired data within the frame grabber to provide a plurality of imagery products comprises:

transferring the acquired images from the image information server using a video stream; and

transferring the acquired data from the location information server using a telemetry stream.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of imagery products includes synchronized still-frames that provide both the location and the representation of the acquired images.

10. A method of remote imaging and telemetry processing, comprising:

gathering video data of a geographic location from a video source in a monitoring vehicle;

gathering telemetry data from a telemetry source in a monitoring vehicle, the telemetry data corresponding to the geographic location of the gathered video data;

combining the video and telemetry data in approximately real time, as the video and telemetry data are received from the monitoring vehicle, to create intelligent frames;

ensuring video tags correspond with provided telemetry data; and

producing a variety of imagery products based on the intelligent frames created.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein intelligent frames are formed when network synchronization is used to combine reference tags in the video data with matching telemetry data, taking into account any network delays inherent in the process.

12. A surveillance system, comprising:

a monitoring vehicle with at least one source of imagery data and at least one source of location data; and

an information server, responsive to at least one imagery data stream broadcast from the monitoring vehicle and one location data stream broadcast from the monitoring vehicle, the information server adapted to combine the at least one imagery data stream broadcast and the at least one location data stream broadcast in approximately real time as the at least one imagery data stream broadcast and the at least one location data stream broadcast are received from the monitoring vehicle to produce a plurality of imagery products.

13. The surveillance system of claim 12, wherein a monitoring vehicle is capable of reflecting at least one imagery data stream broadcast to at least one viewer.

14. The surveillance system of claim 12, wherein a monitoring vehicle is capable of reflecting at least one location data stream broadcast to at least one viewer.

15. The surveillance system of claim 12, wherein a plurality of imagery products includes captured digital video.

16. The surveillance system of claim 12, wherein a plurality of imagery products includes geo-referenced still-frames.

17. An apparatus for producing images, comprising:

means for acquiring images of a geographic location with a monitoring vehicle;

means for acquiring data with the monitoring vehicle, the data corresponding to the geographic location of the acquired images;

means for transferring the acquired images from the monitoring vehicle to a frame grabber;

means for transferring the acquired data from the monitoring vehicle to the frame grabber; and

means for combining the acquired images and acquired data in approximately real time within the frame grabber as the acquired data and the acquired images are received from the monitoring vehicle to provide a plurality of imagery products.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein means for acquiring images comprise means for a video source.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein means for acquiring data comprise means for a telemetry source.

20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein means for acquiring images from a video source comprise means of processing from the first remote location for reflection to at least one viewer.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein means for acquiring data from a telemetry source comprise means of processing from the second remote location for reflection to at least one viewer.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein means for transferring the acquired images to a frame grabber comprises means for broadcasting the acquired images to an image information server using an encoded video stream.

23. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein means for transferring the acquired data to a frame grabber comprises means for broadcasting the data corresponding to the location of the acquired images to a location information server using a telemetry stream.

24. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein means for combining acquired images and data within the frame grabber to provide a plurality of imagery pro ducts comprises:

means for transferring the acquired images from the image information server using a video stream; and

means for transferring the acquired data from the location information server using a telemetry stream.

25. An apparatus for remote imaging and telemetry processing, comprising:

means for gathering video data from a video source in a monitoring vehicle;

means for gathering telemetry data from a telemetry source in a monitoring vehicle, the telemetry data corresponding to the location of the gathered video data;

means for combining the video and telemetry data in approximately real time, as the video and telemetry data are received from the monitoring vehicle, to create intelligent frames;

means for ensuring video tags correspond with provided telemetry data; and

means for producing a variety of imagery products based on the intelligent frames created.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein intelligent frames are formed when means for network synchronization are used to combine reference tags in the video data with matching telemetry data, taking into account any network delays inherent in the process.