Digital video system-intelligent information management system
First Claim
1. An information management system comprising:
- a computer;
a storage medium;
a keyboard;
a communications network; and
a docking station for docking a digital recording device.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A digital video information management system for monitoring and managing a system of digital collection devices is disclosed. Information files are automatically transferred from such collection devices to the information management system. Digitally captured information is classified to assign information attributes which are used to categorize and establish management, storage, and retention characteristics. A unique file, filename, and attributes are created for each recorded event, allowing the information management system to manage each event efficiently. The information management system automates a process to transfer digital information to other users or network-connected devices. Transfer of digital information can be done on a scheduled basis, or in response to an information request, or upon instruction by an end user. Information transferred from digital collection devices at geographically dispersed sites to the information management system are synchronized or “rolled-forward” to a master or mirrored database. Information is erased or deleted from a digital collection device once the information has been transferred to the storage and retention system of the information management system. The status of any given digital collection device is automatically determined and configuration and software updates are downloaded to the device as required. A centralized time reference may be used to synchronize such digital recording devices.
86 Citations
26 Claims
-
1. An information management system comprising:
-
a computer;
a storage medium;
a keyboard;
a communications network; and
a docking station for docking a digital recording device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
-
-
4. A method for synchronizing an information management system with a digital recording device, the method comprising the steps of:
-
docking a digital recording device in a docking station connected to said information management system;
reading a first clock signal stored in the memory of said digital recording device;
comparing said first clock signal of such digital recording device with a master clock signal stored in the memory of said information management system and determining the difference between said first clock signal and said master clock signal;
updating said first clock signal to be equal to said master clock signal and storing said updated clock signal in the memory of said digital recording device;
storing the difference between said first clock signal and said master clock signal, and the date and time such discrepancy was determined, in an error log in the memory of said information management system; and
storing the difference between said first clock signal and said master clock signal in an error log in the memory of said digital recording device.
-
-
5. A method for synchronizing an information management system with a digital recording device, the method comprising the steps of:
-
docking a digital recording device in a docking station connected to said information management system;
reading a first clock signal stored in the memory of said digital recording device;
comparing said first clock signal of such digital recording device with a master clock signal stored in the memory of said information management system and determining the difference between said first clock signal and said master clock signal;
downloading recorded information and said first clock signal stored in the memory of said digital recording device and storing such recorded information in the memory of said information management system; and
storing the difference between said first clock signal and said master clock signal with said downloaded information.
-
-
6. A method for classifying information recorded by a digital recording device, the method comprising the steps of:
-
docking a digital recording device in a docking station connected to an information management system;
uploading information recorded by said digital recording device and associated with an event to the memory of said information management system;
reviewing said uploaded information and associating additional attributes to such information based on said review to assist in subsequent reviews of such information; and
storing said information and said additional attributes in the memory of said information management system. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
-
-
9. A method for transferring information recorded by a digital recording device to an information management system, the method comprising the steps of:
-
determining if a digital recording device is connected to said information management system;
reading a first computer file stored in the memory of said digital recording device;
determining whether said first computer file has been previously uploaded to said information management system by comparing said first computer file to a table of all computer files stored in the memory of said information management system;
uploading said first computer file from said digital recording device; and
verifying that said uploaded first computer file was properly uploaded and stored to the memory of said information management system. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A method for managing the assignment of a plurality of digital recording devices, the method comprising the steps of:
-
determining that one or more digital recording devices are docked in a docking station connected to an information management system;
determining that one or more of said digital recording devices have not been check-in by querying the memory of each of said digital recording devices;
uploading end-user-specific information from the memory of each of said digital recording devices that identifies the end-user operator that last checked-out each of said digital recording devices;
verifying said end-user operators'"'"' authority to check-in each of said digital recording devices;
uploading information associated with one or more recorded events to the memory of said information management system;
deleting said uploaded event information from the memory of each of said digital recording devices; and
deleting said end-user-specific information from the memory of each of said digital recording devices, thereby enabling each of said digital recording devices to be checked-out by another end-user operator.
-
-
14. A method for managing the assignment of a plurality of digital recording devices, the method comprising the steps of:
-
determining that one or more digital recording devices are docked in a docking station connected to an information management system;
selecting a user-specific profile containing preferences associated with a given end-user operator;
downloading such user-specific profile information to one of said digital recording devices; and
commanding the information management system to release said digital recording device from said docking station by enabling the operation of said selected digital recording device; and
- View Dependent Claims (16)
-
-
15. A method for managing the assignment of a plurality of digital recording devices, the method comprising the steps of:
-
determining that one or more digital recording devices are docked in a docking station connected to an information management system;
prompting an end-user operator to select a user-specific profile containing preferences selected by such end-user operator to customize the operation of a digital recording device, said user-specific profile being stored in the memory of said information management system, and further prompting said end-user operator to select a desired digital recording device;
prompting said end-user operator to for a password thereby authorizing said information management system to download a user-specific profile containing preferences selected by such end-user operator to said selected digital recording device;
downloading such user-specific profile information to said digital recording device and confirming that said digital recording device is ready to be checked-out;
commanding the information management system to release said selected digital recording device from said docking station by enabling the operation of said selected digital recording device; and
prompting said end-user operator to remove the selected digital recording device from said docking station.
-
-
17. A method for managing a pool of software licenses, the method comprising the steps of:
-
establishing a pool of licenses by determining the total number of software licenses that are authorized for each of a plurality of software features;
determining an available pool of unassigned licenses by determining the number of such software licenses that are presently assigned to one or more digital recording devices that have been checked-out by an information management system; and
reserving one or more software licenses corresponding to the features embodied in a selected user-profile. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
-
23. A method for transferring information recorded by a digital recording device to an information management system, the method comprising the steps of:
-
determining if a digital recording device is connected to said information management system;
determining if a request from an end-user for a given recorded event has been stored in the memory of an information management system;
querying the memory of said digital recording device to determine if a computer file corresponding to such requested recorded event is stored in reading a first computer file stored in the memory of said digital recording device;
uploading said computer file corresponding to such requested recorded event from said digital recording device; and
electronically delivering said computer file to said end-user.
-
-
24. A method for transferring information recorded by a digital recording device to an information management system based on a set of rules, the method comprising the steps of:
-
determining if a digital recording device is connected to said information management system;
reading a set of rules into the memory of said information management system;
querying the memory of said digital recording device to determine if one or more such rules may be satisfied by uploading certain information stored in the memory of said digital recording device; and
uploading one or more computer files stored in the memory of said digital recording device that would satisfy each of said rules.
-
-
25. A method for transferring information recorded by a digital recording device to an information management system based on a priority embodied in a set of rules, the method comprising the steps of:
-
determining if a digital recording device is connected to said information management system;
reading a set of rules into the memory of said information management system;
querying the memory of said digital recording device to determine if one or more such rules may be satisfied by uploading certain information stored in the memory of said digital recording device; and
uploading one or more computer files stored in the memory of said digital recording device in prioritized order that would satisfy each of said rules.
-
-
26. A method for monitoring the status of software and firmware of a digital recording device, the method comprising the steps of:
-
determining if a digital recording device is connected to said information management system;
querying the memory of said digital recording device to determine the version and release level of one or more software components;
comparing said version and release levels of such software to a master reference list stored in the memory of said information management system; and
replacing down-level versions of said software components by downloading more resent versions of said software components to the memory of said digital recording device.
-
Specification