Self-healing video surveillance system

• US 9,571,800 B2
• Filed: 11/14/2013
• Issued: 02/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: James Carey
• Original Assignee: James Carey
• Inventors: Carey, James
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THAI Q
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mesa, Jose
• Application Number:
  US14/080,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20140270682A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 386/223
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/55 Detecting local intrusion or implementing counter-measures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/78 to assure secure storage of data address-based protection against unauthorised use of memory G06F12/14; record carriers for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2347 involving video stream encryption
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/2743 Video hosting of uploaded data from client
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/77 between a recording apparatus and a television camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/181 for receiving images from a plurality of remote sources

Abstract

A self-healing video surveillance system is described. The self-healing video surveillance system includes one or more surveillance cameras that are configured to store configuration data of a network video recorder in operable communication with the surveillance cameras. The network video recorder includes configuration data, and a module configured to store the configuration data on the surveillance cameras and/or retrieve configuration data stored on the surveillance cameras. A new network video recorder introduced into the network retrieves the stored configuration data to self-configure with minimal or no human interaction. In embodiments, configuration data is distributed among a plurality of surveillance cameras, and may be stored in encrypted format.

Claims

1. A method of configuring a network video recorder in a network of at least one surveillance camera, comprising:

storing, in a surveillance camera, a configuration data archive relating to a first network video recorder;

determining, by a second network video recorder whether the surveillance camera has stored therein the configuration data archive relating to the first network video recorder, the second network video recorder being distinct from the first network video recorder; and

in response to a determination that the surveillance camera has stored therein the configuration data archive relating to the first network video recorder, transferring data from the configuration data archive stored in the surveillance camera and relating to the first network video recorder to the second network video recorder to enable configuration of the second network video recorder as a replacement for the first network video recorder, based on the data from the configuration data archive stored in the surveillance camera and relating to the first network video recorder.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the storing is performed in accordance with a schedule.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the storing is performed in response to an event.

4. The method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the event is selected from the group consisting of an intrusion alert, a hack-in detection, a virus detection, a malware detection, a premises burglary alarm, a malfunction detection, a software crash, a hardware error, and a power failure.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the configuration data relating to the first network video recorder is stored on the surveillance camera in an encrypted format.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the surveillance camera is an IP-based video camera.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

placing the second network video recorder into operable communication with the network of at least one surveillance camera.

8. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

configuring the second network video recorder with the data from the configuration data archive relating to the first network video recorder.

9. A method of configuring a network video recorder in a network of surveillance cameras, comprising:

transferring configuration data of a first network video recorder to a plurality of surveillance cameras, wherein the configuration data of the first network video recorder is apportioned among at least two of the plurality of surveillance cameras such that each of the at least two of the plurality of surveillance cameras stores a respective portion of the configuration data of the first network video recorder that is less than all of the configuration data of the first network video recorder;

identifying, by a second network video recorder, which of the at least two of the plurality of surveillance cameras has stored therein the configuration data of the first network video recorder; and

transferring the stored portions of the configuration data of the first network video recorder from the identified at least two of the plurality of surveillance cameras, respectively, to the second network video recorder to enable configuration of the second network video recorder as a replacement for the first network video recorder, based on the configuration data of the first network video recorder.

10. The method in accordance with claim 9, further comprising:

reassembling the transferred configuration data of the first network video recorder from the portions of the configuration data of the first network video recorder.

11. The method in accordance with claim 10, wherein the reassembling the transferred configuration data of the first network video recorder from the portions of the configuration data of the first network video recorder includes confirming that the transferred configuration data of the first network video recorder is complete.

12. The method in accordance with claim 9, further comprising:

configuring the second network video recorder using the transferred configuration data of the first network video recorder.

13. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the configuration data of the first network video recorder is stored on the surveillance camera in an encrypted format.

14. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the transferring is performed in accordance with a schedule.

15. The method in accordance with claim 9, wherein the surveillance camera is an IP-based video camera.

16. The method in accordance with claim 9, further comprising:

placing the second network video recorder into operable communication with the network of surveillance cameras.

17. A self-healing video surveillance system, comprising:

at least one surveillance camera; and

a first network video recorder,

the at least one surveillance camera being configured to;

store configuration data of a second network video recorder, the first network video recorder being in operable communication with the at least one surveillance camera, and

transfer the configuration data of the second network video recorder to the first network video recorder to enable configuration of the first network video recorder as a replacement for the second network video recorder, based on the data of the second network video recorder;

the first network video recorder including;

a processor, and

a memory including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

determine whether the at least one surveillance camera has stored therein the configuration data of the second network video recorder, and

in response to a determination that the at least one surveillance camera has stored therein the configuration data of the second network video recorder, obtaining the configuration data of the second network video recorder from the at least one surveillance camera to enable configuration of the first network video recorder as a replacement for the second network video recorder, based on the obtained data of the second network video recorder.

18. The self-healing video surveillance system in accordance with claim 17, wherein the at least one surveillance camera includes an IP-based video camera.

19. The self-healing video surveillance system in accordance with claim 17, further comprising:

a plurality of surveillance cameras configured to store respective portions of the configuration data of the second network video recorder,

wherein instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to store the configuration data of the second network video recorder among at least two of the plurality surveillance cameras such that each of the at least two surveillance cameras stores a respective portion of the configuration data of the second network video recorder that is less than all of the configuration data of the second network video recorder.

20. The self-healing video surveillance system in accordance with claim 17, wherein the configuration data of the second network video recorder stored in the at least one surveillance camera is encrypted.

21. The self-healing video surveillance system in accordance with claim 17, further comprising:

a plurality of surveillance cameras configured to store the configuration data of the second network video recorder,

wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the processor to store redundant configuration data of the second network video recorder among a subset of the plurality surveillance cameras such that the subset of the plurality surveillance cameras stores the entirety of the configuration data of the second network video recorder.