Digital security surveillance system

• US 20070166001A1
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TiVo Solutions Inc. (Adeia Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Alan Moskowitz, Andrew Goodman, Ching Chow, James Barton, Jean Kao, Roderick Mcinnis
• Inventors: Kao, Jean, Goodman, Andrew, Barton, James, Moskowitz, Alan, McInnis, Roderick, Chow, Ching
• Granted Patent: US 9,002,173 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 386/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 20/52 Surveillance or monitoring of activities, e.g. for recognising suspicious objects recognising microscopic objects G06V20/69
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/216 Rewritable discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2562 DVDs [digital versatile discs]; Digital video discs; MMCDs; HDCDs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/2575 DVD-RAMs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/455 said record carriers being in one device and being used as primary and secondary/backup media, e.g. HDD-DVD combo device, or as source and target media, e.g. PC and portable player
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 2220/90 Tape-like record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/002 Programmed access in sequence to a plurality of record carriers or indexed parts, e.g. tracks, thereof, e.g. for editing; transfer of record carriers from magazine G11B15/68, G11B17/10; G11B17/22
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/024 on tapes G11B27/028, G11B27/029 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/031 Electronic editing of digitised analogue information signals, e.g. audio or video signals
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/032 on tapes G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/034 on discs G11B27/036, G11B27/038 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/105 of operating discs
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3027 used signal is digitally coded
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 27/3054 Vertical Interval Time code [VITC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4147 PVR [Personal Video Recorder] H04N5/76 takes precedence ; arrangements for broadcast with accumulation-type receivers H04H20/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42615 involving specific demultiplexing arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4263 involving specific tuning arrangements, e.g. two tuners
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43072 of multiple content streams on the same device
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43076 : of the same content streams on multiple devices, e.g. when family members are watching the same movie on different devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/432 : Content retrieval operation from a local storage medium, e.g. hard-disk details of retrieval of video data and associated meta data in video databases G06F16/739
• 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 21/4341 : Demultiplexing of audio and video streams
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4344 : Remultiplexing of multiplex streams, e.g. by modifying time stamps or remapping the packet identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4345 : Extraction or processing of SI, e.g. extracting service information from an MPEG stream
• 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 21/440281 : 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 21/4532 : involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/454 : Content or additional data filtering, e.g. blocking advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/472 : End-user interface for requesting content, additional data or services; End-user interface for interacting with content, e.g. for content reservation or setting reminders, for requesting event notification, for manipulating displayed content end-user interfaces for retrieving video data from a database G06F16/739; network services for supporting unicast streaming H04L65/612
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 : for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4884 : for displaying subtitles
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8456 : by decomposing the content in the time domain, e.g. in time segments
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/8547 : involving timestamps for synchronizing content
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/76 : Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/775 : between a recording apparatus and a television receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 : on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/782 : on tape
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/783 : Adaptations for reproducing at a rate different from the recording rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/7921 : for more than one processing mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8042 : involving data reduction
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 9/8063 : using time division multiplex of the PCM audio and PCM video signals

Abstract

A digital security surveillance system allows a user to store selected security surveillance feeds while the user is simultaneously watching or reviewing another feed. User control commands are accepted and sent through the system. The system parses the resulting digital stream and generates identifying information associated with at least one video segment of the digital stream. The video segments are stored on a storage device. When a security surveillance feed is requested for display, a corresponding stored digital stream is found and its video segments are extracted from the storage device and sent to a decoder that converts the digital stream into display output signals. The security surveillance feeds can be simultaneously sent to an external storage device such as a DVD recorder or VCR.

Claims

1. A method for storage and display of video surveillance data, comprising the steps of:

receiving a plurality of video signals from video surveillance feeds in a video surveillance system;

storing each video signal on a storage device as a digital video signal;

accepting a command from a user to view a specific video surveillance feed;

extracting a digital video signal for the specific video surveillance feed from the storage device;

sending the extracted digital video signal to a display device; and

wherein the sending step further comprises;

switching between stored digital video signals in response to a command from the user to view specific video surveillance feeds.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a user controls playback rate and direction of each displayed digital video signal individually and simultaneously to perform variable rate fast forward and rewind, frame step, pause, and play functions.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a user controls the playback rate and direction of a displayed digital video signal through a remote control.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the storing step further comprises:

simultaneously sending received video signals to an external storage device.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the external storage device is a video cassette recorder.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the external storage device is a DVD recorder.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending stored digital video signals to an external storage device.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

allowing the user to queue up stored digital video signals to be sent to the external storage device.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

allowing the user to schedule time that the stored digital video signals are sent to the external storage device.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the external storage device is a video cassette recorder.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the external storage device is a DVD recorder.

12. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

sending a title page to the external storage device before a stored digital video signal is sent to the external storage device.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

scaling stored digital video signals to fit onto an external storage device by speeding up play speed of the stored digital video signals to the external storage device or dropping frames from the stored digital video signals being sent to the external storage device.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein any number of stored digital video and audio clips can be lined up and combined by a user.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the user selects a specific video surveillance feed using a remote control

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selectively capturing portions of a video surveillance feed based on information such as current time, a specific time span, or via a remote control button press by a user.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to a user command, switching to a second storage device.

18. A method for storage and display of video surveillance data, comprising the steps of:

receiving a plurality of video signals from video surveillance feeds in a video surveillance system;

storing each video signal on a storage device as a digital video signal;

sending a plurality of digital video signals from the storage device to a display device to be displayed to a user; and

wherein the user controls playback rate and direction of each displayed digital video signal individually and simultaneously to perform variable rate fast forward and rewind, frame step, pause, and play functions.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein a user controls the playback rate and direction of a displayed digital video signal through a remote control.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the storing step further comprises:

simultaneously sending received video signals to an external storage device.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the external storage device is a video cassette recorder.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the external storage device is a DVD recorder.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

sending stored digital video signals to an external storage device.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

allowing the user to queue up stored digital video signals to be sent to the external storage device.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

allowing the user to schedule time that the stored digital video signals are sent to the external storage device.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the external storage device is a video cassette recorder.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the external storage device is a DVD recorder.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

sending a title page to the external storage device before a stored digital video signal is sent to the external storage device.

29. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

scaling stored digital video signals to fit onto an external storage device by speeding up play speed of the stored digital video signals to the external storage device or dropping frames from the stored digital video signals being sent to the external storage device.

30. The method of claim 18, wherein any number of stored digital video and audio clips can be lined up and combined by a user.

31. The method of claim 18, wherein the user selects a specific video surveillance feed using a remote control

32. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

selectively capturing portions of a video surveillance feed based on information such as current time, a specific time span, or via a remote control button press by a user.

33. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

in response to a user command, switching to a second storage device.

54. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the external storage device is a video cassette recorder.

55. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the external storage device is a DVD recorder.

34. An apparatus for storing and displaying video surveillance data, comprising:

a plurality of input devices that receive video signals from video surveillance feeds in a video surveillance system;

a module for storing each video signal on a storage device as a digital video signal;

a module for accepting a command from a user to view a specific video surveillance feed;

a module for extracting a digital video signal for the specific video surveillance feed from the storage device;

a module for sending the extracted digital video signal to a display device; and

wherein the sending module further comprises;

a module for switching between stored digital video signals in response to a command from the user to view specific video surveillance feeds.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein a user controls playback rate and direction of each displayed digital video signal individually and simultaneously to perform variable rate fast forward and rewind, frame step, pause, and play functions.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein a user controls the playback rate and direction of a displayed digital video signal through a remote control.

37. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the storing module further comprises:

a module for simultaneously sending received video signals to an external storage device.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the external storage device is a video cassette recorder.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the external storage device is a DVD recorder.

40. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

a module for sending stored digital video signals to an external storage device.

41. The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising:

a module for allowing the user to queue up stored digital video signals to be sent to the external storage device.

42. The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising:

a module for allowing the user to schedule time that the stored digital video signals are sent to the external storage device.

43. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the external storage device is a video cassette recorder.

44. The apparatus of claim 40, wherein the external storage device is a DVD recorder.

45. The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising:

a module for sending a title page to the external storage device before a stored digital video signal is sent to the external storage device.

46. The apparatus of claim 40, further comprising:

a module for scaling stored digital video signals to fit onto an external storage device by speeding up play speed of the stored digital video signals to the external storage device or dropping frames from the stored digital video signals being sent to the external storage device.

47. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein any number of stored digital video and audio clips can be lined up and combined by a user.

48. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the user selects a specific video surveillance feed using a remote control

49. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

a module for selectively capturing portions of a video surveillance feed based on information such as;

current time, a specific time span, or via a remote control button press by a user.

50. The apparatus of claim 34, further comprising:

a module for switching to a second storage device in response to a user command.

51. An apparatus for storage and display of video surveillance data, comprising:

a plurality of input devices that receive video signals from video surveillance feeds in a video surveillance system;

a module for storing each video signal on a storage device as a digital video signal;

a module for sending a plurality of digital video signals from the storage device to a display device to be displayed to a user; and

wherein the user controls playback rate and direction of each displayed digital video signal individually and simultaneously to perform variable rate fast forward and rewind, frame step, pause, and play functions.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein a user controls the playback rate and direction of a displayed digital video signal through a remote control.

53. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the storing module further comprises:

a module for simultaneously sending received video signals to an external storage device.

56. The apparatus of claim 51, further comprising:

a module for sending stored digital video signals to an external storage device.

57. The apparatus of claim 56, further comprising:

a module for allowing the user to queue up stored digital video signals to be sent to the external storage device.

58. The apparatus of claim 56, further comprising:

a module for allowing the user to schedule time that the stored digital video signals are sent to the external storage device.

59. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the external storage device is a video cassette recorder.

60. The apparatus of claim 56, wherein the external storage device is a DVD recorder.

61. The apparatus of claim 56, further comprising:

a module for sending a title page to the external storage device before a stored digital video signal is sent to the external storage device.

62. The apparatus of claim 56, further comprising:

a module for scaling stored digital video signals to fit onto an external storage device by speeding up play speed of the stored digital video signals to the external storage device or dropping frames from the stored digital video signals being sent to the external storage device.

63. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein any number of stored digital video and audio clips can be lined up and combined by a user.

64. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the user selects a specific video surveillance feed using a remote control

65. The apparatus of claim 51, further comprising:

a module for selectively capturing portions of a video surveillance feed based on information such as;

current time, a specific time span, or via a remote control button press by a user.

66. The apparatus of claim 51, further comprising:

a module for switching to a second storage device in response to a user command.