Video recorder

• US 7,667,731 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Issued: 02/23/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures II LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kreiner, Barrett Morris, Page, Joseph E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): WONG, ALLEN C
• Application Number:
  US10/674,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20050068417A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,338 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143, 348/148, 345/8, 701/35
• US Class Current: 348/143
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0858 wherein the data carrier is removable
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/0866 the electronic data carrier being a digital video recorder in combination with video camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19647 Systems specially adapted for intrusion detection in or around a vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19669 Event triggers storage or change of storage policy
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19671 Addition of non-video data, i.e. 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 5/76 Television signal recording
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/765 Interface circuits between an apparatus for recording and another apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/781 on disks or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/85 on discs or drums
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/907 using static stores, e.g. storage tubes or semiconductor memories H04N5/91 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/9201 involving the multiplexing of an additional signal and the video signal

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are disclosed for recording video data of an event. The apparatuses include a processor communicating with memory. The memory stores video data of the event captured by a camera, and the video data includes a series of picture frames of the event. A loop buffer also stores video data of the event captured by the camera. A rule-based engine stored in the memory uses a set of rules to store the contents of the loop buffer in the memory. The apparatus utilizes the loop buffer to provide video data prior to occurrence of the event.

Claims

1. A video recorder, comprising:

a processor communicating with memory;

a loop buffer storing video data of an event captured by a camera, the loop buffer storing the video data for a predetermined duration of time, after which the video data is transferred or discarded;

a set of rules stored in the memory, the set of rules describing a first event and a second event, wherein if the first event is not accompanied by the second event, then the set of rules further describes that the contents of the loop buffer are transferred into the memory and if the first event is accompanied by the second event, then the set of rules further describes that the contents of the loop buffer are not transferred into the memory;

when the processor determines that the event captured by the camera does not match the first event described by the set of rules, then the processor discards the contents of the loop buffer;

when the processor determines that the event captured by the camera matches the first event described by the set of rules and the event captured by the camera is not accompanied by the second event, then the processor transfers the contents of the loop buffer to the memory to provide time-delayed video data, the time-delayed video data only including data preceding the event captured by the camera that matches the first event described by the set of rules and is not accompanied by the second event; and

the processor tags the time-delayed video data with metadata describing the event that caused the contents of the loop buffer to be transferred to the memory.

2. A video recorder according to claim 1, wherein the memory comprises a mass-storage device, the mass storage device storing the video data of the event.

3. A video recorder according to claim 1, wherein the memory comprises an optical storage device.

4. A video recorder according to claim 1, wherein the memory comprises a memory card.

5. A video recorder according to claim 1, wherein the memory comprises a flash memory storage device.

6. A video recorder according to claim 1, further comprising an interface to a communications network.

7. A video recorder according to claim 1, wherein the set of rules specifies vehicular data that causes a transfer of the contents of the loop buffer into the memory devices memory.

8. A video recorder according to claim 1, further comprising a switch to transfer the contents of the loop buffer into the memory.

9. A video recorder according to claim 1, wherein the loop buffer also stores audio data of the event captured by a microphone.

10. A video recorder according to claim 1, further comprising an interface with a vehicle controller to transfer the contents of the loop buffer into the memory.

11. A video recorder according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for receiving vehicular data describing powertrain management system information, electrical management system information, and chassis management system information; and

means for storing the set of rules specifying the vehicular data that causes the transfer of the contents of the loop buffer to the memory.

12. A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

store video data of an event captured by a camera in a loop buffer, the loop buffer storing the video data for a predetermined duration of time, after which the video data is transferred or discarded;

apply a set of rules, the set of rules describing a first event and a second event, wherein if the first event is not accompanied by the second event, then the set of rules further describes that contents of the loop buffer are transferred into memory and if the first event is accompanied by the second event, then the set of rules further describes that the contents of the loop buffer are not transferred into the memory;

when the event captured by the camera does not match the first event described by the set of rules, then discard the contents of the loop buffer;

when the event captured by the camera matches the first event described by the set of rules and the event captured by the camera is not accompanied by the second event, then transfer the contents of the loop buffer to the memory to provide video data that only precedes the event captured by the camera that matches the first event described by the set of rules and is not accompanied by the second event; and

tag the preceding video data with metadata describing the event that caused the contents of the loop buffer to be transferred to the memory.

13. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 12, further comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to transfer the contents of the loop buffer to a mass-storage device.

14. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 12, further comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to transfer the contents of the loop buffer to an optical storage device.

15. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 12, further comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to transfer the contents of the loop buffer to a flash memory storage device.

16. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 12, further comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to transfer the contents of the loop buffer via a communications network.

17. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 12, further comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to interface with a switch to transfer video data of the event.

18. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 12, further comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to transfer audio data of the event.

19. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 12, further comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to interface with a vehicle controller to transfer video data of the event.

20. The computer-readable storage medium according to claim 12, further comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

receive vehicular data describing powertrain management system information, electrical management system information, and chassis management system information; and

store the set of rules specifying the vehicular data that causes the transfer of the contents of the loop buffer to the memory.