Apparatus and method for recording data

• US 20040183912A1
• Filed: 03/21/2003
• Published: 09/23/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Gray, William Hastings, Szolyga, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,319,485 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 348/207.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19669 Event triggers storage or change of storage policy
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19673 Addition of time stamp, i.e. time metadata, to video stream
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19676 Temporary storage, e.g. cyclic memory, buffer storage on pre-alarm
• 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 21/44004 involving video buffer management, e.g. video decoder buffer or video display buffer
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/440281 by altering the temporal resolution, e.g. by frame skipping television signal recording using magnetic recording on tape for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate H04N5/783
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/915 for field- or frame-skip recording or reproducing

Abstract

The present invention includes a method and apparatus for recording data. According to the present invention, the method and apparatus includes the implementation of a “circular” buffer whereby data is capable of being recorded in a circular fashion. By implementing a circular buffer, large amounts of data can be recorded over long periods of time without the use of cumbersome video tapes and the like. An aspect of the present invention includes an apparatus for recording data. The apparatus includes an input sensor for receiving data, a buffer coupled to the input sensor wherein the buffer includes a plurality of storage portions, a central processing unit coupled to the buffer and the input sensor wherein the central processing unit stores the data in the plurality of storage portions in a circular fashion and an interface coupled to the buffer for allowing a remote data accessing device to access a specific portion of the data stored in the buffer.

Claims

1. An apparatus for recording data comprising:

an input sensor for receiving data;

a buffer coupled to the input sensor wherein the buffer comprises a plurality of storage portions;

a central processing unit coupled to the buffer and the input sensor wherein the central processing unit stores the data in the plurality of storage portions in a circular fashion; and

an interface coupled to the buffer for allowing a remote data accessing device to access a specific portion of the data stored in the buffer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input sensor comprises an optical sensor.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the input sensor comprises an audio input sensor.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the interface is capable of transmitting and receiving a wireless radio frequency link.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the wireless radio frequency link further comprises a Bluetooth link.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein each of the plurality of storage portions is configured to store data at a different rate.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the plurality of storage portions further comprise a first storage portion configured to store data at a first rate, a second storage portion configured to store data at a second rate and a third storage portion configured to store data at a third rate.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein storing data in a circular fashion further comprises:

storing data from the first storage portion into the second storage portion once the first storage portion reaches a predetermined threshold; and

storing data from the second storage portion into the third storage portion once the second storage portion reaches a predetermined threshold.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the first rate comprises 1 image per second, the second rate comprises 1 image per minute and the third rate comprises 1 image per hour.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a solar power source coupled to the central processing unit.

11. A method of recording data comprising:

receiving data from an input source;

storing the data in a circular fashion in a buffer wherein the buffer comprises a plurality storage portions; and

providing an interface for allowing a remote data accessing device to access a specific portion of the data stored in the buffer.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the plurality of storage portions further comprise a first storage portion configured to store data at a first rate, a second storage portion configured to store data at a second rate and a third storage portion configured to store data at a third rate.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein storing data in a circular fashion further comprises:

storing data from the first storage portion into the second storage portion once the first storage portion reaches a first predetermined threshold; and

storing data from the second storage portion into the third storage portion once the second storage portion reaches a second predetermined threshold.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the first rate comprises 1 image per second, the second rate comprises 1 image per minute and the third rate comprises 1 image per hour.

15. A video surveillance camera comprising:

an optical sensor for receiving data;

a buffer coupled to the video input sensor wherein the buffer comprises a plurality of storage portions wherein the plurality of storage portions further comprise a first storage portion configured to store data at a first rate, a second storage portion configured to store data at a second rate and a third storage portion configured to store data at a third rate;

a central processing unit coupled to the buffer and the input sensor wherein the central processing unit stores the data in the plurality of storage portions in a circular fashion; and

an interface coupled to the buffer for providing access to a specific portion of the data in the buffer by a remote data accessing device.

16. The video surveillance camera of claim 15 wherein storing data in the plurality of storage portions in a circular fashion further comprises:

storing data from the first storage portion into the second storage portion once the first storage portion reaches a first predetermined threshold; and

storing data from the second storage portion into the third storage portion once the second storage portion reaches a second predetermined threshold.

17. The video surveillance camera of claim 16 wherein the first rate comprises 1 image per second, the second rate comprises 1 image per minute and the third rate comprises 1 image per hour.

18. The video surveillance camera of claim 15 wherein the interface is capable of transmitting data from the buffer via a wireless radio frequency link.

19. The video surveillance camera of claim 15 wherein the interface is capable of transmitting data from the buffer to a network.

20. A system for managing data comprising:

a recording apparatus wherein the recording apparatus comprises;

an input sensor for receiving data;

a buffer coupled to the input sensor wherein the buffer comprises a plurality of storage portions;

a central processing unit coupled to the buffer and the input sensor wherein the central processing unit stores the data in the plurality of storage portions in a circular fashion; and

an interface coupled to the buffer for allowing access to a specific portion of the data stored in the buffer; and

a remote data accessing device for accessing the specific portion of the data stored in the buffer via the an interface.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the interface is capable of transmitting data from the buffer to the remote accessing device via a wireless radio frequency link.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the remote data accessing device comprises a personal digital assistant.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein the remote data accessing device comprises a computer system.

24. The system of claim 21 further comprising another recording apparatus coupled to the recording apparatus wherein the remote data accessing device is capable of simultaneously accessing the recording apparatus and the another recording apparatus.

25. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for recording data, the program instructions comprising the steps of:

allowing data to be received from an input source;

allowing data to be stored in a circular fashion in a buffer wherein the buffer comprises a plurality storage portions; and

allowing the buffer to be queried by a remote data accessing device in order to access a specific portion of the data stored in the buffer.