Embedded appliance for multimedia capture

• US 7,720,251 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2006
• Issued: 05/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Echo360, Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Echo360, Incorporated
• Inventors: McElrath, Rodney Dale, Geyer, Steven Lee, Allen, Geoffrey Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): PERUNGAVOOR, SATHYANARAYA V
• Application Number:
  US11/472,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20080034400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100
• US Class Current: 382/100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1059 End-user terminal functionalities specially adapted for real-time communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/762 at the source reformatting of additional data in video distribution servers H04N21/2355
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/23109 by placing content in organized collections, e.g. EPG data repository details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2343 involving reformatting operations of video signals for distribution or compliance with end-user requests or end-user device requirements video transcoding H04N19/40; media packet handling at the source H04L65/762
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/242 Synchronization processes, e.g. processing of PCR [Program Clock References] arrangements for synchronising broadcast or distribution via plural systems in broadcast distribution systems H04H20/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2747 Remote storage of video programs received via the downstream path, e.g. from the server
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42203 sound input device, e.g. microphone
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4223 Cameras H04N23/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42692 for reading from or writing on a volatile storage medium, e.g. Random Access Memory [RAM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43072 of multiple content streams on the same device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4334 Recording operations recording of a television signal H04N5/76; arrangements for recording or accumulating broadcast information or broadcast-related information H04H60/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4402 involving reformatting operations of video signals for household redistribution, storage or real-time display details of conversion of video standards at pixel level H04N7/01; video transcoding H04N19/40; adapting incoming signals to the display format of the display terminal G09G5/005; media handling at the source in data packet switching networks H04L65/764
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/443 OS processes, e.g. booting an STB, implementing a Java virtual machine in an STB or power management in an STB
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/458 Scheduling content for creating a personalised stream, e.g. by combining a locally stored advertisement with an incoming stream; Updating operations, e.g. for OS modules ; time-related management operations arrangements for replacing or switching information during the broadcast or during the distribution H04H20/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4753 for user identification, e.g. by entering a PIN or password cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6377 directed to server one-way streaming services wherein the source is controlled by the destination H04L65/613
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6543 : for forcing some client operations, e.g. recording remote booting in general G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/6582 : Data stored in the client, e.g. viewing habits, hardware capabilities, credit card number arrangements where receivers interact with the broadcast H04H20/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3261 : of multimedia information, e.g. a sound signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/3264 : of sound signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/66 : Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/4448 : for frame-grabbing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/0102 : involving the resampling of the incoming video signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/10 : Adaptations for transmission by electrical cable H04N7/12 takes precedence

Abstract

A multimedia device includes input ports dedicated to receiving a real-time media signal and a processor system dedicated to capturing the real-time media signal. The processor system defines an embedded environment. The input ports and the processor system are integrated into the multimedia capture device. The input ports include an audio input port and at least one of a visual-capture input port or a digital-image input port.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

capturing an audio signal on a processor system of a specific-purpose embedded appliance;

capturing on the processor system at least any one of a visual-capture signal or a digital-image signal, the specific-purpose embedded appliance being dedicated to capturing, processing, storing and sending a plurality of real-time media signals, the plurality of media signals including the audio signal and the at least one of the visual-capture signal or the digital-image signal;

receiving a start indicator configured to trigger the capturing of the audio signal on the processor system or the capturing on the processor system at least any one of the visual-capture signal or the digital-image signal, the start indicator being received from a control server separate from the specific-purpose embedded appliance; and

sending at least any one of the audio signal, the visual-capture signal, or the digital-image signal based on a send indicator received from the control server, the send indicator being defined at the control server based on a schedule.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

compressing on the processor system at least any one of the audio signal or the at least any one of the visual-capture signal or digital-image signal.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

synchronizing the audio signal with the at least any one of the visual-capture signal or the digital-image signal.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a physical security breach of the specific-purpose embedded appliance; and

sending an alarm indicator when the security breach is detected, the alarm indicator including an identifier associated with the embedded appliance.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor system includes at least any one of a processor, an embedded processor or a co-processor configured to operate in an embedded environment of the specific-purpose embedded appliance.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

splitting on the specific-purpose embedded appliance the visual-capture signal into a first visual-capture signal including content that is the same as content of a second visual-capture signal, the second visual-capture signal being synchronized and stabilized on the specific-purpose embedded appliance; and

sending the second visual-capture signal to an external device configured to at least one of process or display the second visual-capture signal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the capturing includes shunting the at least one of the visual-capture signal or the digital-image signal to an external device configured to at least one of process or display the visual-capture signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing includes at least one of compressing, indexing, encoding, decoding, synchronizing or formatting the plurality of real-time media signals, the processing is triggered based on the schedule.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending includes sending to the control server from a plurality of control servers via a network.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a preferred transmission time from the control server via a network; and

sending at least any one of the audio signal, the visual-capture signal, or the digital-image signal based on the preferred transmission time.

11. An apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of input ports dedicated to receiving a real-time media signal, the plurality of input ports including an audio input port and at least any one of a visual-capture input port or a digital-image input port;

a processor system dedicated to capturing, sending, processing, and storing the real-time media signal, the processor system defining an embedded environment, the processor system configured to define a confidence monitoring signal based on at least a portion of the real-time media signal, the processor system configured to send the confidence monitoring signal to a control server separate from the specific-purpose embedded appliance via a network,

the plurality of input ports and the processor system being integrated within a multimedia capture device, the processor system configured to receive a schedule from the control server; and

a memory configured to store the schedule, the processor system to capture the real-time media signal starting at a first time based on the schedule, the processor system to send the real-time media signal based on the schedule at a second time after the real-time media signal has been stored, at a third time after the first time, at the multi-media capture device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor system is configured to operate based on a hardened operating system integrated into the embedded environment, the hardened operating system is configured to allow the capturing, sending, processing, and storing of the real-time media signal without providing support for installation of a general purpose application.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor system includes a single processor.

14. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a co-processor configured to control, based on a schedule, a processor from the processor system.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a scheduler configured to communicate with the processor system, the scheduler is configured to send a start indicator to start the receiving the real-time media signal at the multimedia capture device based on the schedule.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein

the memory is configured to communicate with the processor system, the memory is configured to store the real-time media signal until the real-time media signal is sent to the control server based on the schedule.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

an alarm module configured to send an alarm indicator to the control server when a physical security breach associated with the multimedia capture device is detected.

18. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a compression module configured to compress the real-time media signal associated with the audio input port and the least any one of the visual-capture input port or the digital-image input port.

19. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising at least any one of an Ethernet switch, a power over Ethernet (PoE) port, a visual-capture signal splitter, a visual-capture signal distribution amplifier, or a visual-capture sync stabilizer.

20. The apparatus of claim 11,

wherein the schedule is configured to trigger the processor system to send the real-time media signal based on a network traffic condition.

21. An apparatus, comprising:

at least any one of (1) a visual-capture processor module configured to receive a visual-capture signal and to operate based on a hardened operating system (OS) integrated into an embedded environment, or (2) a digital-image processor module configured to receive a digital-image signal and operate based on the hardened OS; and

an audio processor module configured to receive an audio signal having a synchronized relationship with the at least any one of the visual-capture signal or the digital-image signal, the audio processor module configured to operate based on the hardened OS,

the visual-capture processor module or the digital-image processor module, and the audio processor module collectively defining at least a portion of a specific-purpose embedded appliance,

the specific-purpose embedded appliance configured to receive a start indicator configured to trigger the receiving of the audio signal or the receiving of at least any one of the visual-capture signal or the digital-image signal, the start indicator being defined at a control server separate from the specific-purpose embedded appliance,

the specific-purpose embedded appliance configured to send at least any one of the audio signal or the at least any one of the visual-capture signal or the digital-image signal based on a send indicator received from the control server, the send indicator being defined at the control server based on a schedule.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the hardened OS is configured such that access to the audio processor module and the at least any one of the visual-capture processor module or the digital-image processor module is limited to at least one predefined user.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the audio processor module is configured to compress the audio signal simultaneously into multiple formats.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least any one of the digital-image processor module is configured to compress the digital-image signal or the visual-capture processor module is configured to compress the visual-capture signal.

25. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the at least any one of the visual-capture processor, the digital-image processor module or the audio processor module are included in at least any one of an embedded processor or a co-processor.

26. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the hardened OS is configured to allow the capturing, sending, processing, and storing of a plurality of read-time media signals without providing support for installation of a general purpose application, the plurality of real-time media signals includes the visual-capture signal, the digital image signal, and the audio signal.